Thursday, November 19, 2009
Under Pressure
A few weeks ago, concerned about the weight I have been piling on since I left the gym all those months ago, I went to my GP’s surgery to have my blood pressure tested by the nurse. I have been keeping half an eye on it myself with a little monitor thing I bought from Boots but I wanted it checked by a professional and to anything needed to be done about it.
She ended up using the manual method known variously as sss-sss or jumpy spider (http://www.auntiemomo.com/cakeordeath/unrepeatabletranscript.html - scroll down to Cats and Dogs). Basically she pumped up the cuff by hand and listened to my pulse in a stethoscope. I’m not sure that was accurate as, while the systolic reading (the bigger of the two) was about what I was getting on my home kit (150), the diastolic reading was way off at 100 instead of 90-ish. Anyhow, I have to go back in a month to see if it has decreased.
In the meantime, I have improved my eating habits (fruit for breakfast, salads for lunch and, the worst one, no salt on anything) and returned to the gym. I went three times last week and four this week so far.
I have a week or so to go before I go back to the nurse but I think something is working. My home BP readings have reduced a bit AND I think I have lost about half a stone in weight. That’s about 8 pounds for any American readers and three and a half kilos for anyone who’s feeling a bit metric.
I can also comfortably get into jeans that previously were on the tight side and had my stomach hanging over the top in a rather unattractive way.
I don’t know why I have been able to make progress with my diet and exercise regime this time when I haven’t at others. Not without help anyway. Perhaps knowing that there is a measurable detriment to my health is spurring me on and knowing that it is starting to produce an improvement is also helping.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Stinky
The showers at the gym stopped working between the start and end of my hour-long intense session with my personal trainer.
I had to make do with a quick wash in the sink using my T-shirt as a flannel and then use more deodorant than a teenager on his first date.
I feel rather unpleasant right now. I don't know if I smell bad. All I can smell is deodorant.
Labels: Gym, Shower, Smell, YMCA
