Day 1:
Got up at 5:30 am this morning. Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and all set to pump iron. Changed into my "lucky" maroon Ganesha shirt and shorts. I munch a banana as a pre workout meal to ensure I get my share of carbs whle working out. As I step out of my building, I can feel the winter slowly but surely setting in. The cool November morning wind blowing into my face, gives me goosebumps. My gym is located in Manpada, which is a good fifteen minutes away from home by walk. Taking the route from the Vasant Vihar bus stop, I see a lot of early birds taking their morning walks and jogging and a lot of office goers standing at the bus stop eagerly awaiting for the bus and the share autos. There is no pleasure in this world equal to that of rising up early in the morning, along with the sun and going to exercise. Inhaling the cool morning air, I increase my walking speed. I prefer outdoor exercise and sport to working out in the gym. However, a fitness trainer friend recommended weight training to enhance weightloss in addition to cardio exercises. Hence, with a very heavy heart, I reach my gym at 6:15. I find weight training extremely monotonous, akin to a punishment. "Bodyzone Gym" reads the sign right outside the gym door. I had signed up for the annual membership in January along with my friend at a very special discounted rate. I barely managed to go for 3 months after which I gave up, partly due to work pressure and partly due to my own laziness. Upon entering I say my hellos to Umesh, the trainer who aks me my whereabouts and how I have been. I have luckily managed to not put on weight all this while due to swimming. I swim 5 to 6 days a week. And I have been seriously hooked on. Umesh, seconding my fitness trainer friend's opinion, asks me to add weight training to my weight loss regimen to see amazing results in only a couple of months combined with a balanced diet and good sleep. Before I start stretching, I weigh myself on the digital weighing scale. It reads 91.5 kgs. I'm impressed with myself. The swimming has indeed helped. I started off on the weightloss journey in July this year. I then weighed an embarassing 99 kgs. Starting with some brisk walking and pranayama, I lost 2 kgs by August. A visit to the society club had me bumping into the friendly swimming coach, Ganesh. An affable chap little younger than myself, he recommended swimming as a sureshot way to lose weight, stay fit and have fun, all at the same time. He helped me overcome hydrophobia and by October I had learnt swimming confidently without a float. The brownie points being a weightloss of 6 kgs in 3 months, improved posture, better sleep, increased stamina and fitness levels and my old trousers fitting me just fine.
As KK started crooning "Khuda Jaane ke" from the film Bachna Ae Haseeno on the gym's music system, I started my stretching and warm up routine. Arm rotation, head rotation, back stretches, shoulder stretches and butterfly stretches. 15 reps of each had me warmed up good and ready. Did the following exercises today:
Machine Bench presses: 1 set * 15reps
Chest Flyes: 1 set * 15 reps
Lat Pull Down: 1 set * 15 reps
Cable row: 1 set * 15 reps
Shoulder press: 1 set * 15 reps
Shoulder side raises: 1 set * 15 reps
Dumbbell bicep press: 1 set * 15 reps
Preacher curls: 1 set * 15 reps
Alt dumbbell tricep press: 1 set * 15 reps
Cable tricep press: 1 set * 15 reps
Forearm curls: 2 sets * 15 curls
Repeated the stretching routine. Cooled down by lying down on a mat. It's encouraging to see so many youngsters early in the morning hitting the gym to workout. I'm now beginning to wonder why I delayed the weight training bit. As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was twenty years back. The next best time is now. On this note, I say good bye for now. Will return tomorrow.
Weight as on 24/11/11: 91.5 kgs
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