I’m hot and sweaty. Fresh (if you could call me that) from the gym. I
went to Body by Kris for a test
workout to see if using the treadmill for 20minutes would damage my already
damaged ACL. Or if time on the rowing machine would irritate my damaged rotator
cuff. So far so good. I did some stretches as well, but next time (if there is
one) I’ll do the stretches that I learned from my yoga class before the
workout. Makes sense.
In the US, I always belonged to a gym. One time I was training to go with
a boyfriend to climb to Base Camp on Mount Everest in Nepal. Boy, did I train.
I was a machine. I had heard the horror stories of people dropping like flies
who weren’t in shape for just Base Camp and I didn’t want to be one of them.
Unfortunately I never got to find out how I stood in the mix as the man who was
sponsoring the trip had a heart attack. How rude of him; after all my training!
The rowing machine at Body by Kris
was like going home; so familiar and welcoming. I know how to row. I was a member
of the Long Beach Rowing Club for several years and learned from former
Olympians. I even raced with a team of eight. Today I could only do about 5minutes
on the machine, but I have a feeling that that’s the machine that will get me
into shape. I was never in better shape than when I rowed. Too bad it’s not on
the water, in a real shell. Perhaps if I get strong enough at the gym I’ll have
enough guts to check out the rowing club in Colombo!
I’ve gotten fat in Sri Lanka. Not during the first two years when I
lived down south and went swimming every day, walking up and down the hill that
the hotel sat on, but the last few years is when I’ve ballooned up. Lack of
exercise is the main reason. Oh I’ve tried. I used to walk early in the morning
on the sidewalks around my other house. But the sidewalks here are uneven and I
found myself, more than once, face down from tripping on the curbs that are all
different heights.
Now that I’m near the beach, I’ve gone walking on the beach, but I find it
very difficult to walk on a slant and in the sand. When I tripped over the
railroad tracks to get to the beach and sprained my pinkie finger, I gave up
the those walks. I don’t know why I fall so much, except that I’ve always been
doing it. One year I was on crutches more than I was off them, from sprained
ankles. I’ve sprained my left one 15 times (yes, it’s true!). I started young;
when I jumped off the barn hayloft next door on a dare.
So, for now I’ll stick to the treadmill where I can hold onto the sides
and walk evenly and hopefully day dream without looking at the lighted numbers
on the control panel every 5 seconds! One
more minute down, another 14 and counting. 55 calories and counting. It’s
annoying!
I didn’t sign up today for the ‘over 60’ package; am waiting for tomorrow
to see how my body holds up to the pounding I gave it this morning!
20mins at speed of 4.
I did it!
My favourite, the rowing machine!
The 'before' picture.
You'll have to wait awhile for the 'after' pic.
A team of eight. I pulled this photo from
the Long Beach Rowing Club site.
To train for a race, we used to do (4) 2,000meter sprints at 5AM!
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Lankan wedding photography, travel photography, portrait photography, female
photographers, commercial photography at my website at:
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