Having had an action-packed Tuesday (spin, HIT and my regular evening yoga class), I allowed myself a rest day yesterday, ready to try a new activity today.  

Life Circuits, led by Terry, proved to be less daunting than it maybe first appeared.  Once I had got my head around the playing-card scheme which Terry had devised to spread participants between the cardio machines and the additional activities (such as lunges, press-ups, lifting kettle weights and rope-wiggling), I began to enjoy it.

It's funny how four minutes can seem very looooong (we switched activity type at 4 min intervals).  The enforced variation was actually good, as there was no escape from things I would probably avoid like the plague not enjoy quite as much...

On Tuesday I had another go at Spin - this time with a group of ITS colleagues committing to get fit in May.

Our instructor was kind, as many of us were first-timers.  I must admit that it felt a little easier the second time around, and my muscles weren't complaining too much, either.  However, there was one part of me that was sore, so I actually preferred standing in the pedals towards the end.

We had some punchy tracks to inspire us, although we were pretty much drowned out by the Zumba class going on in the hall below!

It was pleasing to note that by the end I had covered a 'distance' of 18km :-)

The ITS team consists of 13, we range from inactive couch potato(es) to very active people, but we've all committed to improve something.

We got off to a cracking start as one of our members, who will remain nameless, Gill Powell, harangued all staff in the building and gathered enough people to win the coveted “University of Sussex Boundary Walk Most Departmental Participants 2013”. With shouts and heckles from smaller departments we strode off for a thoroughly nice walk. I asked one member of ITS why they were doing it, “Gill was right in front of me, I just couldn’t say no” was the reply.

Group activities started with Wii Fit. With our BMIs and Wii Fit ages we booked ourselves in for Body Composition at the Sports Centre. 3 of us done and Terry runs out of sticky pads – so I’m afraid folks you’ll have to wait on our comparison.

Individually, we worked towards our goals in various ways such as buying tracksuit bottoms and gym kits. One of us went to a rave. One of us has now given up smoking, another has cut down. Other activities tried out are handball, running, boxercise, mountain biking, trampolining, horse riding, rowing, spin, headstands and tennis. 3 of us attended Terry’s interesting talk on Food.

Next week we have a table tennis tournament and a group spin class AND will Terry’s sticky pads arrive?

Well, I knew it wouldn't be as relaxing as yoga, but had thought - with it taking place mainly in a seated position - that it wouldn't be THAT hard work...

IBeing a fairly frequent jogger, I thought that my legs were in pretty good shape.  Huh - clearly different muscle groups, as my knees were really not very happy when we stood up on the pedals.

Really worked up a sweat, and was happy when the 45 mins were over.   Damn - I was so keen to dismount, I forgot to check the overall distance covered.  But that said, I think I'll give it another try tomorrow...

After getting back from a holiday in Crete, in which I indulged in rather a lot of moussaka and too much raki, I decided to jump on the 'Commit to Get Fit' waggon and start to do something to lessen the damage.

What Crete did teach me was how it was good to keep hydrated (lessens the hangovers!) and that salads can actually be quite amazing; although granted, we were blessed with the finest Greek tomatoes, picked straight from the vine, compared to the bland orange affairs that you find nestling in the salad aisle in Sainsburys.  So that's what I've decided to incorporate into my CTGF programme: more exercise; more water and more fruit and veg.

So whilst all my colleagues are entering into week 2 of their CTGF, I'm coming to it all a bit late.  I already am a gym member and enjoy the odd H.I.T and Step class with the lovely Ria - as well as the odd bit of Zumba, which is so fun, it doesn't feel like it should even be legal, let alone good for you!

I had been looking to try my hand at some of the taster sessions on offer - trampolining looked fun and had heard good things about Power Hoop, but found, to my disappointment, that most of the classes I had my eye on had already been booked up.  So, I think that next week I'll try getting in early, or book from the usual menu of classes, but maybe try something new...

After my first week, the fruit veg and water thing has been going pretty well.  I'm definitely over my 5 a day - whereas usually I see a packet of crisps as a step in the right direction!  I even tried my hand at making a low-fat vegetable moussaka, which was pretty yummy, if not particularly authentic!  Also I've been drinking over 2 litres of water and haven't even had any sneaky glasses of wine after work!  All good for my first week and looking forward to week 2...

Week one

Hooray, I have achieved my first week of ‘Get fit’ challenges. I am beginning to remember how much I enjoy doing ‘sporty things’ My aim is to do 4 activities a week in a quest to find some new easy ways to do regular exercise.

I started with Trampolining, which was very  was scary but I learnt a few easy exercises that I can use on our garden trampoline. The boundary walk reminded me just how much I enjoy walking and I hope to walk more regularly.

I run (badly)  every Saturday  around our local park and over the years I have learnt that  I am more likely to maintain a  small exercise goal or routine.  I am also much better when I play games as opposed to some gruelling workout.  Games always  allow me to be tired and exhausted without giving in to the pain. So with those rules in mind, an hour of  badminton was a great success even though I had a very tender backside and arm for several days afterwards…. I like to think it was a good pain.

End of week one and I’m already looking forward to next week

Work has been getting in the way of my sporting activities ... it's not so much 'what shall I wear for today's meetings' but 'have I packed a clean pair of socks and cleaned my trainers'.   I believe we all live it and breathe it in ITS at the moment.  Our new routine/regime is broadening our friendships, making us laugh and in my opinion, making work a happier place.  I think it should be compulsory. Benefit 1

I'm still not smoking (12 days) and I don't think I ever will again - that's a strange and empowering feeling after 35 years on the tobacco.  One of the reasons (apart from the obvious) is that it seems to make me a better person - by this I mean I set myself goals most days because I have some faith now that  my health and fitness actually will improve.  I laugh loudly (because I don't cough afterwards) and I think about who I'm with rather than looking for an escape route to have a ciggie. Benefit 2

This week I found that combining social 'activities' (in the active sense) with friends/partners filled in the gaps between organised events.  As you may remember, I went horseriding on Saturday, they gave me a bigger horse, the lovely 'Harvey' and I still stayed on.  We were all officially middle aged and required the steps to get on our mounts so we didn't feel too silly.  Actually, I had trouble getting off because my knees had slightly frozen up.  As I did the plank manouver across the saddle, followed by the seesaw action, I was nearly left dangling as I caught my jacket on the saddle.  I landed, stayed still for a moment then managed a 'robot come John Wayne' walk until all was well.   The views across the South Downs from the Happy Valley riding school were brilliant and horses incredibly well behaved -I would recommend. 

We took off to Arundel with friends on Sunday and did an 18 hole putt, then walked around the castle for 3 hours.  On Monday we went for a 2 mile walk, short and sweet but more than I normally bother to do! I was also left to do the rowing for the best part of 30 minutes on the pond whilst he nursed a hangover and reminded me I used to row in a four so therefore should be better at it!

I've been to the talk on nutrition - I never knew that Carbs were non essential (not my opinion on chips), played badminton, boxercise (really enjoyed that as a new sport) and nearly died mountain biking.  I'm okay with speed but if I see a hill-  that goes up - I just get off.  Sandy on the other hand  just kept going up the hill, I take my helmet off to her.  Thanks Simon for pushing my bike the last 100 yards and to the other chap who made sure I was alright (keeping up the rear as they say).  For me, it was the hardest thing I've done in years - I couldn't get enough breath in to keep me going.  I guess my challenge should be to try it again at the end of the month but I feel sick thinking about it :-(

Even though I've not lost any weight, I'm feeling skinnier on the inside and the size 10 hiding in there is trying to pull the overcoat off. My strength has improved for sure and it can only get better.  Benefit 3

Can I change my literary character?  I think I'm more like Dumbledore, or is that Dumbledoris?  The Boundary Walk yesterday was fantastic and I only stopped once, you know, to hold up that tree at the steep bit.  It was such a treat to be outside in such lovely weather and with such a good crowd.  Well done to the IT team for their great turn out, you may have heard a whoop when DARO was mentioned, my dear colleague whooped prematurely thinking we'd won the prize from the Pro-VC, anyway, to keep her company I whooped too, so now you know who we are.

The last bit of the walk was lovely, even with the sound of the A27, and is the first time I've walked there in over thirty years.  That last time was with my first love as we walked to Mandela Hall to see Nine Below Zero.  So now you know my age and that I'm facing my mid life crises - plural.

That cliché we all dread, 'if you don't use it, lose it' ... it really happens and I'd already lost it.  Keeping fit is more of an event, like staff leaving do's i.e. a few come up a year and they're not something you look forward to.  I've had over 18 months off any regular exercise following a knee injury and surgery - CAUSED BY EXERCISE.   So, be warned of the 'Zumba knee'.  As advised by my consultant, it's rapidly becoming an epidemic!

Preparations for the commit to get fit started over a week ago. I had already signed up to give up smoking (I'm on day 4 of being fag free after err many many years) disgusting habit. I can't believe all the spare time I've gained!  Anyway, benefits of not smoking were quickly evident (I have a good recovery rate), meaning I only stopped once for 2 mins up a VERY steep hill on the entire boundary walk, and managed to hold a conversation virtually all the way round. This was a disproportionate shift from Neanderthal grunts and hand gestures in that 'don't talk to me I can't breathe’ way. At least I was better company, kerching! benefit numero 1 ...

The preparation phase (Sunday 28th) involved a bike ride from Shoreham to Worthing/Lancing border.  Yes, I know it's flat but it's a start (and the cheese toastie was worth it). The diet only started today and does not exclude cheese anyway (sorry to those on cheese embargos).

Digging at the allotment for an hour twice during the week is also on the list of 'active pastimes' (it's a regular weekend activity anyway).  Sadly, apart from leeks and sprouting broccoli, there's nowt to eat but I'm thinking of growing sirloin steaks - genetically engineered to reduce the fat content, of course.

Looking to the near future, Saturday, 3PM, 4th May, rather stupidly involves a horse (I put the time as a sort of memorial). Anyway, consider it my legs, bums, tums class.  Apparently, the horse is called Oakleigh, Oakley?? and he's small haha haha, so really he's a pony. Now I'm really LOL.

Good luck to all in the forthcoming weeks!

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