Monday 10 March 2008

The Gym

What with sorting out pensions, visitors and selling Brian's place we have not been many places of interest this last few weeks. The only place we have really been to is the gym, which we go to 3 times a week, we enjoy it a lot and I can see a difference in how fit we are.

We went today when it was siesta there would not be many people in as I did not think it right to take photos of others doing a workout.

When we got there, there was only two persons in so that suited us fine.

This is the gym you can see how quiet it was,we usually go about 10am and there is a good few people there at that time.
We use most of these benches and weights, but in a way that you are not building up mussels just to tone up.

Most of the photos are of Brian using the equipment as I was taking the photos, but we use the same ones only Brian has more weights on than me(not surprising is it).

We start a warm up on the cycles for half an hour, then move onto the benches, on my time on the cycle I do between 8 and 10 mile depending on how fast I my legs can go.





This contraption is for the legs and lower back, your knees start up at you chest and you have to push on the metal plate till you are stretched out, I started at 10 kg . and thought it was hard to push it, now the trainer has me up to 40kg.that is hard work, but who ever was on the machine before me had 85 kg. on, it must have been a man.

Each weight is 10 kg. 40kg. is 85 lbs. so I feel I am getting better at it.


This one is great, it is for your circulation, you feel like a jelly on a plate wobbling all over, you stand different ways for where you want the vibration to reach, Brian is leaning forward so that it will do the back only, if you stand straight it does every part of the body, bend knees only the bottom half of the body gets done and if you cross your legs only your bottom gets done.

Now comes the hard work, these are like steppers and you have to keep them going while moving your arms as well, I can only manage 10 Min's. on this but as it was only 3 Min's. when I first tried it there is hope for me yet. We go on the tread mill to finish that is half an hour at 5 miles per hour for me it's a pretty fast walk, There is an old lady of 82 goes to the gym, she is crippled with arthritis and is blind, she only goes on the tread mill at 1 mile per hour for 8 Min's then rests then does another 8 Min's. she does this three times so she has done24 Min's. on it.
She says the slow walking helps with the pain and keeps her from stiffening up, you have to admire her.
Well after all that it's time for the steam room and then a shower.

I must say you feel good when you come out of the gym and I am not tired any moor when I finish, I can now talk while on the tread mill without getting out of breath, so it must be doing some good.

Jeanette Spain