Hate the gym? Try this...
I absolutely hate gymnasiums. The words ‘yoga’, ‘step’ and ‘jog’ strike fear down my spine.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the need to look after yourself and keep in shape, but I would rather clean my oven, and my neighbour’s oven, before going to the gym.
I do, however, keep active in other ways. I walk my dog every morning on the way into work… usually a good brisk one hour walk, come rain or shine. When I get to work, I’m running back and forth like a yo-yo all day long, since my printer is over the road in another office. I’m active at home all the time – cleaning, washing, decorating and gardening. On the weekends, I’m rushing around shopping, visiting, going for long walks and occasionally dancing the night away! I eat healthily – lots of fruit and vegetables – and manage to stick around my usual weight.
The pressure to be in the ‘gym’ gang is immense. It’s like a secret society. People try to impress each other by saying, ‘Sorry, can’t do drinks at 7, I’ve got my spiral tap class’. What? Who invented that? It sounds rather painful, and definitely not for me. I know so many people who take out a gym membership to ease their guilt, but rarely use it. Instead of wasting my money on a monthly membership fee that I won’t use, I’ll save my pennies and exercise for free. After all, if I want to run on the spot, I can do it at home. And I’ll find a convenient time to exercise, rather than compromise on the important stuff of family life so I can make that 6pm aerobics class.
So for anyone else who is trying to avoid the gym at all costs but still wants to stay fit, here are a few alternatives:
• Don’t take the lift, walk up those stairs at the office. (Stick with it, it gets easier!)
• With a like-minded bunch of friends, take up an ‘alternative’ exercise like ballroom classes or salsa, rock climbing, surfing, cycling, roller-blading, or rounders. Take yourselves off to the park with a healthy picnic and have some fun while you run around on a Saturday afternoon.
• If your local shop is within walking distance, don’t drive. Take your rucksack and walk – it’s eco-friendly too. Even better, dig your bike out of the garage and cycle-shop!
• Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced, healthy diet – everything in moderation. It’s just as important as regular exercise.
• Get yourself a puppy.
No matter how reluctant we might be to do it, exercise is good for you, and it makes you feel great, too. But exercising at your own pace and in your own way will make it just that little more enjoyable… and it won’t break the bank!
Written by Emma Samuel.
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