Sport results (and side-effects)

[akk]

Completing your doctorate is good for your career, but sadly not so much for your shape. To correct the physical result of my degree, I started doing body weight exercises regularly since last summer (thirty minutes on four days a week). By now I can sum up the results:

on the plus side:

1. my scale shows approx. 10 kg less (yay!)
2. I can run up the stairs up to the 3rd floor without getting out of breath (never could that before, so - wow!)
3. I actually manage pull-ups instead of "hanging limp like a dead pig"s (double-wow!)
4. my back aches are gone
5. my knee aches are gone (and I haven't stumbled or lost my balance anytime since last Autumn)
6. I've got a posture that (a) tempted my physician to compliments and (b) gets people in the supermarket to stay the step back required not to bump into me, my bags, or the produce I'm examining without me having to growl (wow-yay-finally!)

on the down side:

1. I learned that sore muscles can hurt like hell even when you don't move!
2. because my upper body circumference changed, I have to replace my blouses a size larger (whine for the money)
3. because waist and thigh circumferences changed, I have to replace my trousers a size smaller (whine for the money)
4. I have yet to find the courage to try on the (expensive) graduation suit and see if a good tailor can salvage it!

Overall, a thumbs up. I've finally found exercises that (a) work, (b) require a manageable amount of time, and (c) don't bore me to death. I'm going to continue them. Next target: consecutive pull-ups instead of single ones.

Comments

[rheasilvia]

Whhhooo - excellent! You go, girl! :-) I reluctantly bring myself to go to the fitness studio, but I've given up hope that I will ever find a form of exercise that I actually find non-boring...

Well, I did quite enjoy badminton, but that's difficult for other reasons. ;-)

Did you put together your exercise regimen by yourself, or consult a trainer?

[akk]

No fitness studio. These exercises are done at home, on your carpet, sometimes using a window sill or a door frame.

A fitness studio would mean additional time loss due to having to go there, change, bear with other folks seeing your initial clumsy attempts... nope. that's not for me.
When I said "30 min for 4 days a week", I mean 30 minutes taken off the schedule (ok, maybe add 10 minutes for panting afterwards ;) ), but not 30 minutes + 1 hour driving to and fro some gym with obnoxious gaffers!

I remembered some of the exercises my uncle taught me 30 years ago, but those weren't sufficient. I then used those he showed me to find a book detailing more options. Mark Lauren's "You Are Your Own Gym" was most helpful.

[rheasilvia]

Yeah, I got that you aren't going to a fitness studio. I am, though. :-)