*yawns*
Sorry, I haven't written anything of value in a really long time. I'm just tired, I guess. And I don't have a whole lot to say.
I've been good about sticking to the gym. I go Monday, Wednesday, Friday without fail, and sometimes Saturdays or Sundays. I added leg curls for my hams and quads to my routine (started today, actually), so I now have 9 weight machines to train on, 2 sets of 15 reps each, plus stomach crunches (would be 10 machines, but I can't work out how to use the stomach crunch machine, LOL - and I need to, because they're murder to do without a machine; they kill my neck). Plus stretches and cardio stuff. I'm usually there a good few hours, although admittedly I'm still spending a half hour in the shower. The sauna was finally back on on Monday, too, so I used that Monday and today. I have a mild claustrophobia, plus I hate places that are really hot and enclosed - even if it's a house or something. I can tolerate heat outside, but it's hard for me when it's inside. So there's always this moment of panic when I shut the sauna door. But I force myself to do it, and eventually it'll get better. I am not someone who's willing to be at the mercy of involuntary reactions.
I'm even learning to use that stupid crosstrainer. It knackers my knees if I use it properly i.e. going forward, but I find if I pedal backward it's not so bad, almost like dancing. And I love the treadmill, and the recumbent bikes are fine, although I stay away from the upright ones, they hurt my hips.
I'd kind of like to start using the rowing machines too, I think my back and arm muscles would benefit from it.
All in all, I'm usually in the gym for about 3 hours. Maybe 45 minutes on the weights, 45 on the cardio stuff, a half hour stretching, a half hour in the shower, and a half hour for sauna and changing clothes, both before and after.
I did find out today that I can pay per session for the sunbeds, but the price change is ridiculous. If you pay per session, it's £10 for 10 minutes. If you book a course of sessions it's usually £34.95 for 100 minutes, but at the moment they're doing £34.95 for 130. Even without the special deal on, that's a third of the price it would be if you paid each time. So I need to rustle up £34.95 from somewhere, hopefully soon so I can be nice and glowy for the wedding. Which isn't going to be easy; payday is every second Tuesday, and I got paid yesterday, but nearly all the money has to go back to the bank for the car payment. Unless I go into my overdraft for a couple of days, which I suppose wouldn't be the end of the world, as long as it really is only a few days. Two Tuesdays from now is what, the 12th of August? My car payment goes out on the 9th. So I'd only be overdrawn for 3 days...yeah, if worst comes to worst, I'll have to do that. I may have to do that anyway, because I still don't have a wedding present for Tony and Debbie.
Which is something else annoying. We were going to get them a hot air balloon ride. Tony mentioned it just before Christmas, so I've been looking for literally SEVEN MONTHS for the right one, and I was just days away from booking and paying, when I found out that some jackass gave them one the other week. OK, OK, whoever it was wasn't a jackass. It was a really nice thing to do. But now I'm crazy panicked about what to get them, and Mom can't find the damn wedding invitation with the details of the list on it. (I knew I should have hung onto it, but no no, she wouldn't possibly lose it. Which is now exactly what she's done.)
We found out about the balloon ride on Thursday, at Debbie's hen party. Tony knew that we were planning to get it for them, but Debbie didn't, so she had no idea how we'd feel when she started telling us about the wonderful present that some friends of hers gave them. And of course I had to smile sweetly and gush about what a nice, thoughful thing to do it was, when really I wanted to throw a tantrum right there in the restaurant. What really pisses me off is that Tony didn't think to call me and say, "hang on, better not get us one of those, someone already did". If she hadn't mentioned it, I would have booked and paid, and it's not like you get your money back on those things.
Oh, I don't know. I know I'm being immature about it, and what's important is that they had a great time, but...ehh. Buying them bed linens or something just doesn't measure up to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It was a nice hen party, though. We went to Prezzo, which is this new Italian restaurant on Verulam Road. The food was pretty good - not a huge amount of flavour, but nice enough. But I didn't get a starter or a dessert, because I thought that we didn't have enough money, and then Mom DID - and she NEVER gets starters, so that surprised me. And although my linguine carbonara was really nice, my stomach was growling by the time I got to bed. Although I suppose the personal trainers at the gym would be proud of me. And a couple of girls who used to work with Tony brought funny things - little sparklers, and drinking straws with little rubber penises on them, and after dinner dick mints. Classic hen party stuff - not that I would know, I'd never been to one before. Most of my friends are guys.
Anyway, it was a nice evening. And the gym is great, and my muscles are pleasantly sore by the end. And Oli's good too, but it's 5am and I'll have to leave that for another post.
All in all, things aren't bad right now...there's just not all that much that's new to talk to you about.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Monday, 28 July 2008
A Shorter Quiz From Tommy
SECTION 1 - THE BASICS+ Known as: On here? Rose. Just Rose.
+ Born: 3rd Feb. 1984
+ Hair color: Blonde
+ Eye color: Blue
SECTION 2 - HAVE YOU EVER
+ Fallen off the bed?: It happens fairly often actually. I sleep on a mattress on the floor now. I toss and turn in my sleep all night.
+ Broken someone else's heart?: Meh. Probably.
+ Had your heart broken?: Not really broken. Bruised a bit now and then. Some times more than others.
+ Had a dream come true?: Well yeah, I'm a precog. It's what I do.
SECTION 3 - CURRENTLY...
+ Wearing: Nothing at all.
+ Listening to: Nothing. I might put YouTube on in a while, if I decide to stay on the computer after I finish this.
+ Located: On my bed.
+ Chatting with: Oli and Angel Eyes.
+ Should REALLY be: Eating or sleeping, probably.
SECTION 4 - DO YOU...
+ Have any piercings: Just ears. Very boring.
+ Drive: Meh. I have a car, I had my test booked, and then I injured my back and couldn't drive for ages. So I don't have a license. I should get it soon, but I don't have the money right now.
+ Drink: Now and then. Not often.
+ Have a cell phone: Yes. I don't know anyone in England who doesn't.
SECTION 5 - LAST PERSON YOU...
+ Hugged: Mom
+ Talked with on the phone: Mom
+ Texted: Sasha
SECTION 6 - PERSONAL...
+ What do you want to be when you grow up?: I don't know. Something that pays well, LOL.
+ What comes first in your life?: I'm not sure, honestly. I'm just trying to survive with my morals and my sanity intact.
+ What do you usually think about before you go to bed?: Making sure I've done everything necessary, just checking the house over.
SECTION 7 - FAVORITES
+ Show: Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice.
+ Store: For clothes, probably H & M. For furniture and fun, Ikea.
+ Food: Right now, everything. Working out at the gym is making me hungry.
+ Color: All of 'em.
SECTION 8 - DO YOU...
+ Like to give hugs: Sure, I'm a pretty tactile person. I like hugs and kisses and all that.
+ Like to walk in the rain: Sometimes, as long as I know that afterwards I can come home and take a hot bath.
+ Prefer black or blue: Depends what it's for.
+ Sleep on your side: No, I sleep on my stomach.
+ Have stuffed animals: Yes, I seem to have more of them every year. I don't know why.
SECTION 9 - THIS OR THAT...(pick)
+ Pierced nose or tongue: Ehh. No preference.
+ MTV or BET: We don't get BET here so I'm gonna have to go with MTV. Channel U is best though.
+ 7th Heaven or Dawsons Creek: Don't really watch either. I used to like Dawson's Creek, but I never watched it religiously. I've never seen 7th Heaven.
+ Chocolate or flowers: Probably flowers. Although not when I'm hungry.
+ Color or black-and-white photos: Both, for different occasions.
+ Stay up late or sleep in: Stay up late. I like getting up early, doing what needs to be done for the day, taking a nap in the afternoon, waking up at 9 or 10 pm, eating dinner and watching some TV, and then going to bed at 1 or 2.
+ Hot or cold: In what context?
+ Sun or moon: Both, depending on my mood.
+ Left or Right: *shrug*
+ 10 Acquaintances or one best friend: Oh...I don't know. They both have their pluses.
+ Spring or Fall: Fall is my favourite of all the seasons, but I like Spring too.
+ Happy or sad: Happy.
+ Wonder or amazement: Aren't they more or less the same thing?
SECTION 10 - FIRSTS.
First Screen Name: Nope, not telling you.
First self purchased CD: LOL, I bought three CDs at the same time, a couple weeks after I got my first CD player when I was 11. The soundtrack for "Dangerous Minds" (STILL one of the best CDs I own), and the singles for "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis.
First pet: I don't know, actually. We had a lot of cats when I was growing up that just sort of adopted us.
First piercing/tattoo: Ears - they're the only ones I have. I must have been 10. I know I was the last of my friends, and I was so mad at my mom because she wouldn't let me get it done for ages.
SECTION 11 - LASTS.
Last GOOD cry: For me there's no such thing as a good cry.
Last phone call: Mom
Last time showered: At the gym on Friday. (I bathe every day, though.)
SECTION 12 - CURRENT.
Current mood: Kind of hungry but too sleepy to cook.
Current food: None, sadly.
Current hair: An annoying length.
Current annoyance(s): Aside from the hair? I don't know. I need to change my bed. I should do it now, really, but it can wait until tomorrow.
SECTION 13 - WHO LAST...
Made you smile?: I'm not sure. Oli last night, I think.
Saw you cry?: *shrug*
SECTION 14 - WOULD YOU RATHER...
Be serious or be funny?: I don't know. I'm generally a pretty serious person. Sometimes I think it would be nice to make people laugh though.
Drink whole or skim milk?: Semi-skimmed - that's 2% fat to you Americans (I think).
SECTION 15 - DO YOU PREFER...
Do you prefer gray or black?: Both
Lust or love?: LOL, who says you can't have both? I think a healthy relationship should have a good dollop of each.
Sunrise or sunset?: Both. (LOL, seeing a pattern here?)
M&M's or skittles?: Peanut M & Ms.
SECTION 16 - ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...
Do you like anyone?: I like lots of people.
Do you believe in love at first sight?: I'm sitting on the fence on this one.
Do you fall for the wrong guy or girl?: It's been known to happen. I'm trying not to let it happen so often these days.
+ Born: 3rd Feb. 1984
+ Hair color: Blonde
+ Eye color: Blue
SECTION 2 - HAVE YOU EVER
+ Fallen off the bed?: It happens fairly often actually. I sleep on a mattress on the floor now. I toss and turn in my sleep all night.
+ Broken someone else's heart?: Meh. Probably.
+ Had your heart broken?: Not really broken. Bruised a bit now and then. Some times more than others.
+ Had a dream come true?: Well yeah, I'm a precog. It's what I do.
SECTION 3 - CURRENTLY...
+ Wearing: Nothing at all.
+ Listening to: Nothing. I might put YouTube on in a while, if I decide to stay on the computer after I finish this.
+ Located: On my bed.
+ Chatting with: Oli and Angel Eyes.
+ Should REALLY be: Eating or sleeping, probably.
SECTION 4 - DO YOU...
+ Have any piercings: Just ears. Very boring.
+ Drive: Meh. I have a car, I had my test booked, and then I injured my back and couldn't drive for ages. So I don't have a license. I should get it soon, but I don't have the money right now.
+ Drink: Now and then. Not often.
+ Have a cell phone: Yes. I don't know anyone in England who doesn't.
SECTION 5 - LAST PERSON YOU...
+ Hugged: Mom
+ Talked with on the phone: Mom
+ Texted: Sasha
SECTION 6 - PERSONAL...
+ What do you want to be when you grow up?: I don't know. Something that pays well, LOL.
+ What comes first in your life?: I'm not sure, honestly. I'm just trying to survive with my morals and my sanity intact.
+ What do you usually think about before you go to bed?: Making sure I've done everything necessary, just checking the house over.
SECTION 7 - FAVORITES
+ Show: Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice.
+ Store: For clothes, probably H & M. For furniture and fun, Ikea.
+ Food: Right now, everything. Working out at the gym is making me hungry.
+ Color: All of 'em.
SECTION 8 - DO YOU...
+ Like to give hugs: Sure, I'm a pretty tactile person. I like hugs and kisses and all that.
+ Like to walk in the rain: Sometimes, as long as I know that afterwards I can come home and take a hot bath.
+ Prefer black or blue: Depends what it's for.
+ Sleep on your side: No, I sleep on my stomach.
+ Have stuffed animals: Yes, I seem to have more of them every year. I don't know why.
SECTION 9 - THIS OR THAT...(pick)
+ Pierced nose or tongue: Ehh. No preference.
+ MTV or BET: We don't get BET here so I'm gonna have to go with MTV. Channel U is best though.
+ 7th Heaven or Dawsons Creek: Don't really watch either. I used to like Dawson's Creek, but I never watched it religiously. I've never seen 7th Heaven.
+ Chocolate or flowers: Probably flowers. Although not when I'm hungry.
+ Color or black-and-white photos: Both, for different occasions.
+ Stay up late or sleep in: Stay up late. I like getting up early, doing what needs to be done for the day, taking a nap in the afternoon, waking up at 9 or 10 pm, eating dinner and watching some TV, and then going to bed at 1 or 2.
+ Hot or cold: In what context?
+ Sun or moon: Both, depending on my mood.
+ Left or Right: *shrug*
+ 10 Acquaintances or one best friend: Oh...I don't know. They both have their pluses.
+ Spring or Fall: Fall is my favourite of all the seasons, but I like Spring too.
+ Happy or sad: Happy.
+ Wonder or amazement: Aren't they more or less the same thing?
SECTION 10 - FIRSTS.
First Screen Name: Nope, not telling you.
First self purchased CD: LOL, I bought three CDs at the same time, a couple weeks after I got my first CD player when I was 11. The soundtrack for "Dangerous Minds" (STILL one of the best CDs I own), and the singles for "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis.
First pet: I don't know, actually. We had a lot of cats when I was growing up that just sort of adopted us.
First piercing/tattoo: Ears - they're the only ones I have. I must have been 10. I know I was the last of my friends, and I was so mad at my mom because she wouldn't let me get it done for ages.
SECTION 11 - LASTS.
Last GOOD cry: For me there's no such thing as a good cry.
Last phone call: Mom
Last time showered: At the gym on Friday. (I bathe every day, though.)
SECTION 12 - CURRENT.
Current mood: Kind of hungry but too sleepy to cook.
Current food: None, sadly.
Current hair: An annoying length.
Current annoyance(s): Aside from the hair? I don't know. I need to change my bed. I should do it now, really, but it can wait until tomorrow.
SECTION 13 - WHO LAST...
Made you smile?: I'm not sure. Oli last night, I think.
Saw you cry?: *shrug*
SECTION 14 - WOULD YOU RATHER...
Be serious or be funny?: I don't know. I'm generally a pretty serious person. Sometimes I think it would be nice to make people laugh though.
Drink whole or skim milk?: Semi-skimmed - that's 2% fat to you Americans (I think).
SECTION 15 - DO YOU PREFER...
Do you prefer gray or black?: Both
Lust or love?: LOL, who says you can't have both? I think a healthy relationship should have a good dollop of each.
Sunrise or sunset?: Both. (LOL, seeing a pattern here?)
M&M's or skittles?: Peanut M & Ms.
SECTION 16 - ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...
Do you like anyone?: I like lots of people.
Do you believe in love at first sight?: I'm sitting on the fence on this one.
Do you fall for the wrong guy or girl?: It's been known to happen. I'm trying not to let it happen so often these days.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
What's The Noun Of Surreal? Surrealness? Surreality? Surrealism?
WARNING: This post contains sexual references.
Whichever it is, I'm feeling it now.
So you have a crush on a guy, right? All well and good. He's even a slightly-in-the-public-eye guy* - not everywhere, but amongst certain circles. You don't crave fame for yourself, but you think, OK, I can cope with that. It's not like he's Paris Hilton. (That's an amusing piece of irony, actually.) He's sweet, he's funny, he's smart. He wears mascara and guyliner sometimes, but you don't really have a problem with that as long as he doesn't start wearing your panties.
And then you randomly do a google images search for him, like you sometimes do for yourself or your best friend or the guy you dated in high school (just curious, really)...and one of the things you find is hardcore porn pics. Not just hardcore porn, but hardcore orgy porn.
So you're not a person who's easily surprised, and even when you are you don't always react much. So half of you is thinking, Ehh, we all have our kinky sides...but the other half is going, Meh, that's just too kinky for me.
Oh, and by "you", I mean "me", BTW.
So it's been a slightly odd evening. What makes it even odder is that I'm actually turned on by these stupid orgy pics.
Ja, I need to get laid.
______________________________
Other news...I had my gym induction today, and Ola taught me how to use the weight machines. I'm starting off small, lifting about 25 kg each time (although more for the back extension machines), but hopefully in time I'll get it up a bit higher. There was a point in my life where I could lift my own body weight (and a little more, actually) without a huge amount of strain. Which sounds bizarre, and even the gym guys would go "WTF???" when they saw me do it, because I don't look like a bodybuilder. Actually, I look like a soft fluffy marshmallow who should have trouble lifting her gym bag, let alone however much I weighed at the time.
However, that time was half a lifetime ago, or nearly. OK, 10 years. Not quite half a lifetime, but near enough. And these days, the fibromyalgia is a lot worse than it was back then, and there are days when I have trouble lifting a full kettle, so as I said, I'm starting out small with the weights. But I get to work my lats and pecs, then my adductor and abductor muscles (those are the ones in the inside and outside of the thigh, in case you didn't know), then my biceps and triceps. And hopefully soon my abs and quads and everything else.
Y'all are probably sick to death of hearing about my gym stuff, but it's exciting to me.
There's this one guy at the gym, he's a personal trainer there. And since I saw him the first time, I've had this sense that I knew him from somewhere. He looks a little like one of my cousins, a little like an old friend I used to have, a little like a guy from my English class a couple of years ago. But not quite like any of those people. I figured the sensation of knowing him was just due to the resemblances.
Either way, I've had a thing for him since I first saw him.
He doesn't wear a nametag, and I'm not entirely sure, but I think I heard someone call him Chris today.
I ran into him outside the gym, and he gave me a smile and a wave. And what a smile it was. It made my heart flutter and my stomach flip over, and it's been a long time since any guy's done that with just a smile.
So I'll keep you posted.
______________________________
* No, I'm not telling you who he is or what he does. Or anything else you can use to identify him, for that matter.
Whichever it is, I'm feeling it now.
So you have a crush on a guy, right? All well and good. He's even a slightly-in-the-public-eye guy* - not everywhere, but amongst certain circles. You don't crave fame for yourself, but you think, OK, I can cope with that. It's not like he's Paris Hilton. (That's an amusing piece of irony, actually.) He's sweet, he's funny, he's smart. He wears mascara and guyliner sometimes, but you don't really have a problem with that as long as he doesn't start wearing your panties.
And then you randomly do a google images search for him, like you sometimes do for yourself or your best friend or the guy you dated in high school (just curious, really)...and one of the things you find is hardcore porn pics. Not just hardcore porn, but hardcore orgy porn.
So you're not a person who's easily surprised, and even when you are you don't always react much. So half of you is thinking, Ehh, we all have our kinky sides...but the other half is going, Meh, that's just too kinky for me.
Oh, and by "you", I mean "me", BTW.
So it's been a slightly odd evening. What makes it even odder is that I'm actually turned on by these stupid orgy pics.
Ja, I need to get laid.
Other news...I had my gym induction today, and Ola taught me how to use the weight machines. I'm starting off small, lifting about 25 kg each time (although more for the back extension machines), but hopefully in time I'll get it up a bit higher. There was a point in my life where I could lift my own body weight (and a little more, actually) without a huge amount of strain. Which sounds bizarre, and even the gym guys would go "WTF???" when they saw me do it, because I don't look like a bodybuilder. Actually, I look like a soft fluffy marshmallow who should have trouble lifting her gym bag, let alone however much I weighed at the time.
However, that time was half a lifetime ago, or nearly. OK, 10 years. Not quite half a lifetime, but near enough. And these days, the fibromyalgia is a lot worse than it was back then, and there are days when I have trouble lifting a full kettle, so as I said, I'm starting out small with the weights. But I get to work my lats and pecs, then my adductor and abductor muscles (those are the ones in the inside and outside of the thigh, in case you didn't know), then my biceps and triceps. And hopefully soon my abs and quads and everything else.
Y'all are probably sick to death of hearing about my gym stuff, but it's exciting to me.
There's this one guy at the gym, he's a personal trainer there. And since I saw him the first time, I've had this sense that I knew him from somewhere. He looks a little like one of my cousins, a little like an old friend I used to have, a little like a guy from my English class a couple of years ago. But not quite like any of those people. I figured the sensation of knowing him was just due to the resemblances.
Either way, I've had a thing for him since I first saw him.
He doesn't wear a nametag, and I'm not entirely sure, but I think I heard someone call him Chris today.
I ran into him outside the gym, and he gave me a smile and a wave. And what a smile it was. It made my heart flutter and my stomach flip over, and it's been a long time since any guy's done that with just a smile.
So I'll keep you posted.
* No, I'm not telling you who he is or what he does. Or anything else you can use to identify him, for that matter.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Pick-Up Lines
OMG, I just got an email with the most priceless pick-up line, and it's actually one I haven't heard before.
Some guy who found my msn space by a post on the Big Brother blog sent me this:
"You must have been well watered cause you've grown into something nice!"
LOL...I thought I'd heard them all.
Actually, I might add him. He made me laugh more than anything else did today.
Some guy who found my msn space by a post on the Big Brother blog sent me this:
"You must have been well watered cause you've grown into something nice!"
LOL...I thought I'd heard them all.
Actually, I might add him. He made me laugh more than anything else did today.
All You Need Is Lust - And A Gym Membership, And A New Pair Of Nikes
Finally, this girl has become one of the legging-clad denizens of the gym.
After a couple of weeks of should-I-shouldn't-I wavering about whether I should really spend such a heap of money, and ten days of wondering how to GET to the damn place, I finally went down to Christopher Place on Friday and found the entrance to the Fitness First gym. I had an eye test on Friday, and I figured hey, might as well kill two self-improvement birds with one stone.
And it wasn't actually as nervewracking as I expected it to be. Pete, who showed me round and explained everything to me, was really nice. And although my bank account is screaming at the £85 upfront costs (plus first month's membership) and the £38.95 per month thereafter, my body will thank me, I'm sure.
So after signing up and being shown round, I went to the sports shop and spent another obscene amount of money - £34.99 on trainers (which were the cheapest decent ones I could get, but at least they feel good on my feet), £9.99 on a sports bra (when you wear a D-cup, it's a necessity rather than a luxury) and £4.99 on a pair of shorts (which I then found are too small, but will be fine in about 10 lbs time) - and then came home exhausted, to nap and sleep. What with the gym and the trainers, I don't think I'm going to be getting contact lenses soon. (I couldn't believe they charge you £40 for the initial session, which is basically to show you how to put them in!) I was hoping that the NHS would pay, but apparently the rules have changed. (Although...remind me to look into that tomorrow.)
I hate spending money. At least when it's such a huge amount. I don't think I've ever spent that much in a single day, barring the days that I bought my car and my laptop, and paid for a year's college courses. And the amount I spent on the car didn't even register, really - I got the bank loan, went straight to the dealer, and gave them a check. (And have spent the last 3 1/2 years paying it off. *rolls eyes*) Never saw the money myself, so it didn't feel like spending hard cash - more like spending the money you use in Sims or something.
But Friday...yeah, that hit me hard. I had the money my Dad gave me for a wedding outfit, plus the check I got from Kell for the last job, but still. It hurt. Especially with the sports clothes on top. Nobody can believe that I haven't owned a pair of trainers since I was 16, but I just don't wear them. They give you osteoporosis* if you wear them too often, and I know if I had them the temptation would be to wear them all the time, so I just wear sandals and flat pumps, and the occasional fuck-me pair of heels.
But it had to be done, and I always do what has to be done, so I'm trying not to whine too much.
So yesterday (Saturday) I went back to the gym and got my BUPA health check, as part of my introductory passage. Which wasn't too bad, actually. A little embarrassing, considering that I'm kind of chubby, and gyms are always full of scarily-fit people, but it's just something that you have to suck up and get on with, or you'd never get started. So I got poked and prodded and measured by many different machines. I am 168 centimetres tall (don't ask me how many inches that is, because I don't know) and weigh quite a bit more than I should. Although a nice surprise was to find that the recommended weight for someone of my height is 78 to 84 kilos. That's what, about 150 lbs? And here I thought I should be working towards 105, 110. I guess I have unrealistic expectations, as most women do.
Much of the health check was a pleasant surprise. My BMI is horrendous, but that's nothing more than I was expecting, and doesn't bother me too much - a weight-height ratio is a ridiculously unscientific way to measure obesity. It doesn't take into account bone density, or muscle mass, or somatic type...anyway, I've been railing against it for years, and doubtless will continue to do so until it's been chucked out. (BTW, going by BMI alone, Brad Pitt is considered overweight and Tom Cruise is obese.) My body fat percentage, however, is just on the borderline between normal and high, as is my waist-height ratio. Nowhere near morbidly obese. That was a nice surprise.
Other stuff? My resting heart rate is 70 bpm - pretty damn good (especially for someone overweight). My flexibility is excellent in most of my body, although only average in the backs of my legs, which is where they usually test from. (I've always had shortened hamstrings and calf muscles - too much dancing on my toes when I was a kid, and wearing heels in my teenage years.)
My grip strength is good; I can grip 34 kg with my right hand and 26 kg with my left. And my lungs are excellent, and my FEV1/FVC ratio - that's the percentage of your vital capacity that you can blow out in one second - is an extraordinary 97%. (In an average person it's 70-80%, although professional athletes and opera singers have higher; I credit mine to my doc's orders to sing opera in the bath to ensure I can breathe properly even when I get pneumonia, which is unfortunately something that happens fairly often.)
And then you have my blood pressure, which she measured twice as 219/123 mmHg.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that either she didn't know how to take it, or the machine was broken. There are certain things that can cause blood pressure to get to that level - pulmonary oedema, bleeding in the brain, eclampsia, overdose on PMA** or something similar, possibly a couple of other things - but I'm pretty sure I'd know if I were that ill.
So all in all, it wasn't too bad. The blood pressure was nonsense. The weight problem I already knew about - well, that's why I'm going to the gym in the first place. The only other real problem I have is that I'm severely dehydrated, so I'm pouring water down my throat at every opportunity.
I didn't go today, and I actually feel weird already. I love the gym. I expect there will be times when I hate it with a vengeance, especially when I reach those points where exercise actually gets harder rather than easier, and you just have to push through the pain barrier. But so far, I love it. I love the way it's airy and cool in there. I love the rows of strange machines, just waiting for me to use them. I love the fact that I don't have to feel fat and unhealthy when I'm there, instead I can feel slightly overweight and like I'm doing something about it. I love not having to worry if I'm sweating, because at the gym sweat's a good thing. I love being able to spend half an hour standing under a cool shower. And when they've finished the construction project, which should be in about two weeks, I'll love the sauna and steam room, I expect. And the sunbeds, if I ever have the money to spare for them.
Ooh, and I get to go to free classes. I'm hopefully going to do Pilates and Yoga and maybe Street Dance. And hopefully when I'm fitter, Capoeira. That's something I've always wanted to learn.
I met a couple of excellent guys, just on my first day. It's funny, because in the past I've never gone for the pumped-up gym-going type of man. I usually like mine lanky and smart-looking. But there's something to be seen about a guy who can make his pecs dance and his abdominus rectus ripple. Even if I'm not interested in dating them, I can still look.
So this week, I'm generally a happy bunny.
Maybe I'll even be one of those Energizer bunnies, one day.
______________________________
* Truth. Nobody believes this, either. But you need regular shocks to your bones in order to build more and keep the density high, and good trainers - Nikes and Adidas and stuff - cushion your feet so well they don't get the shocks they need. Sports shoes should be worn for running and other hard sports, but not for day-to-day life.
** PMA is paramethoxyamphetamine, a cousin of ecstasy (MDMA), that has an extremely toxic effect on the body. You'll have to go research it if you're bothered, because I'm not going into all that here.
After a couple of weeks of should-I-shouldn't-I wavering about whether I should really spend such a heap of money, and ten days of wondering how to GET to the damn place, I finally went down to Christopher Place on Friday and found the entrance to the Fitness First gym. I had an eye test on Friday, and I figured hey, might as well kill two self-improvement birds with one stone.
And it wasn't actually as nervewracking as I expected it to be. Pete, who showed me round and explained everything to me, was really nice. And although my bank account is screaming at the £85 upfront costs (plus first month's membership) and the £38.95 per month thereafter, my body will thank me, I'm sure.
So after signing up and being shown round, I went to the sports shop and spent another obscene amount of money - £34.99 on trainers (which were the cheapest decent ones I could get, but at least they feel good on my feet), £9.99 on a sports bra (when you wear a D-cup, it's a necessity rather than a luxury) and £4.99 on a pair of shorts (which I then found are too small, but will be fine in about 10 lbs time) - and then came home exhausted, to nap and sleep. What with the gym and the trainers, I don't think I'm going to be getting contact lenses soon. (I couldn't believe they charge you £40 for the initial session, which is basically to show you how to put them in!) I was hoping that the NHS would pay, but apparently the rules have changed. (Although...remind me to look into that tomorrow.)
I hate spending money. At least when it's such a huge amount. I don't think I've ever spent that much in a single day, barring the days that I bought my car and my laptop, and paid for a year's college courses. And the amount I spent on the car didn't even register, really - I got the bank loan, went straight to the dealer, and gave them a check. (And have spent the last 3 1/2 years paying it off. *rolls eyes*) Never saw the money myself, so it didn't feel like spending hard cash - more like spending the money you use in Sims or something.
But Friday...yeah, that hit me hard. I had the money my Dad gave me for a wedding outfit, plus the check I got from Kell for the last job, but still. It hurt. Especially with the sports clothes on top. Nobody can believe that I haven't owned a pair of trainers since I was 16, but I just don't wear them. They give you osteoporosis* if you wear them too often, and I know if I had them the temptation would be to wear them all the time, so I just wear sandals and flat pumps, and the occasional fuck-me pair of heels.
But it had to be done, and I always do what has to be done, so I'm trying not to whine too much.
So yesterday (Saturday) I went back to the gym and got my BUPA health check, as part of my introductory passage. Which wasn't too bad, actually. A little embarrassing, considering that I'm kind of chubby, and gyms are always full of scarily-fit people, but it's just something that you have to suck up and get on with, or you'd never get started. So I got poked and prodded and measured by many different machines. I am 168 centimetres tall (don't ask me how many inches that is, because I don't know) and weigh quite a bit more than I should. Although a nice surprise was to find that the recommended weight for someone of my height is 78 to 84 kilos. That's what, about 150 lbs? And here I thought I should be working towards 105, 110. I guess I have unrealistic expectations, as most women do.
Much of the health check was a pleasant surprise. My BMI is horrendous, but that's nothing more than I was expecting, and doesn't bother me too much - a weight-height ratio is a ridiculously unscientific way to measure obesity. It doesn't take into account bone density, or muscle mass, or somatic type...anyway, I've been railing against it for years, and doubtless will continue to do so until it's been chucked out. (BTW, going by BMI alone, Brad Pitt is considered overweight and Tom Cruise is obese.) My body fat percentage, however, is just on the borderline between normal and high, as is my waist-height ratio. Nowhere near morbidly obese. That was a nice surprise.
Other stuff? My resting heart rate is 70 bpm - pretty damn good (especially for someone overweight). My flexibility is excellent in most of my body, although only average in the backs of my legs, which is where they usually test from. (I've always had shortened hamstrings and calf muscles - too much dancing on my toes when I was a kid, and wearing heels in my teenage years.)
My grip strength is good; I can grip 34 kg with my right hand and 26 kg with my left. And my lungs are excellent, and my FEV1/FVC ratio - that's the percentage of your vital capacity that you can blow out in one second - is an extraordinary 97%. (In an average person it's 70-80%, although professional athletes and opera singers have higher; I credit mine to my doc's orders to sing opera in the bath to ensure I can breathe properly even when I get pneumonia, which is unfortunately something that happens fairly often.)
And then you have my blood pressure, which she measured twice as 219/123 mmHg.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that either she didn't know how to take it, or the machine was broken. There are certain things that can cause blood pressure to get to that level - pulmonary oedema, bleeding in the brain, eclampsia, overdose on PMA** or something similar, possibly a couple of other things - but I'm pretty sure I'd know if I were that ill.
So all in all, it wasn't too bad. The blood pressure was nonsense. The weight problem I already knew about - well, that's why I'm going to the gym in the first place. The only other real problem I have is that I'm severely dehydrated, so I'm pouring water down my throat at every opportunity.
I didn't go today, and I actually feel weird already. I love the gym. I expect there will be times when I hate it with a vengeance, especially when I reach those points where exercise actually gets harder rather than easier, and you just have to push through the pain barrier. But so far, I love it. I love the way it's airy and cool in there. I love the rows of strange machines, just waiting for me to use them. I love the fact that I don't have to feel fat and unhealthy when I'm there, instead I can feel slightly overweight and like I'm doing something about it. I love not having to worry if I'm sweating, because at the gym sweat's a good thing. I love being able to spend half an hour standing under a cool shower. And when they've finished the construction project, which should be in about two weeks, I'll love the sauna and steam room, I expect. And the sunbeds, if I ever have the money to spare for them.
Ooh, and I get to go to free classes. I'm hopefully going to do Pilates and Yoga and maybe Street Dance. And hopefully when I'm fitter, Capoeira. That's something I've always wanted to learn.
I met a couple of excellent guys, just on my first day. It's funny, because in the past I've never gone for the pumped-up gym-going type of man. I usually like mine lanky and smart-looking. But there's something to be seen about a guy who can make his pecs dance and his abdominus rectus ripple. Even if I'm not interested in dating them, I can still look.
So this week, I'm generally a happy bunny.
Maybe I'll even be one of those Energizer bunnies, one day.
* Truth. Nobody believes this, either. But you need regular shocks to your bones in order to build more and keep the density high, and good trainers - Nikes and Adidas and stuff - cushion your feet so well they don't get the shocks they need. Sports shoes should be worn for running and other hard sports, but not for day-to-day life.
** PMA is paramethoxyamphetamine, a cousin of ecstasy (MDMA), that has an extremely toxic effect on the body. You'll have to go research it if you're bothered, because I'm not going into all that here.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
~
I went to sleep last night praying that I'd wake up this morning and find that yesterday was all a bad dream. It was the worst day I'd had in months and months.
Well, that didn't happen. I guess as far as wish-granting goes, bending the laws of time is not on the approved list.
I may not be around for a while. I have a lot of things to do.
So until I'm back, take care of yourselves.
Well, that didn't happen. I guess as far as wish-granting goes, bending the laws of time is not on the approved list.
I may not be around for a while. I have a lot of things to do.
So until I'm back, take care of yourselves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
