New regime - 23 January 2009

Posted by Paul Collins 1 comment

Most of us have similar intentions at the beginning of the year. This year, I’m going to get fit. If I start off by getting fit, it will be much easier to maintain it through the year, so that by the time the holiday/wedding/graduation/next Christmas comes around I’ll be in shape, and I won’t have to do this again…

I’ll readily admit to this – the consequences of a big family- and food-centred blowout over the festive period have left their mark not only on my waistline, but also on my psyche. The looseness and lethargy of my belly is matched by the lethargy I feel when the prospect of exercise or – gasp – dieting rears its ugly head.

Therefore, I’ve decided not only to make sure this year I follow through on at least some of the promises I make to myself, but also hopefully to empathise with the struggles we all face in trying to get in shape. I’ll set myself some goals, try to accurately tell you about my successes, failures and moments of weakness, and along the way, will be looking into some of the most popular books, expert tips and new exercise fads that hit the streets.

Firstly, a bit about me. I’m a reasonably healthy bloke, approaching 31, who inhabits that grey space between being properly overweight and being in shape. Never happy with my efforts, or my inability to get rid of that last bit of gut, I’ve tried a huge amount of different ideas to get to a level of fitness that almost maintains itself (does such a thing exist?). The major problem appears to be the fact that I like food. And beer. Now, I’m not some binge-drinking thirtysomething trying to cling on to the social life of a 20 year-old, but I do like to unwind with a glass of wine or three.

Add to this the fact that my job is reasonably sedentary, despite the fact that I always seem to be running around, and that I have very little free time, and it makes for a difficult time trying to fit in exercise, shopping for and cooking healthy food, and having some fun. I’m not in this to be fit and miserable – there has to be a way of keeping in shape and having fun…

I’d like to feel like I’m fit this year. I don’t mind how I get there, but that is the ultimate, somewhat vague, goal. I’d like to enter a 10km run this year - following a brutal half-marathon last year - possibly the Great Manchester Run in May. I’ve always toyed with the idea of a triathlon, and I have been challenged to take part in the truly worrying Tough Guy race in January 2010 by a former rowing crewmate (and possibly former friend by the end of this…). This may, however, be several steps too far. I’m open to other suggestions of goals and things to try out – just don’t make them too crazy!

But first things first. As something of a cynic when it comes to ‘the latest big thing’ in health and fitness, I’m going to look at what can be done by not changing much at all! How much extra exercise can we get from our daily routine, and will it really make a difference?

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