The world is your gym

The countdown to Christmas is approaching and many of us are beginning to think about attempting to shift the pounds in attempt to fit into that perfect office party dress.

Joining a gym or health spa (and paying a usually steep and contract binding membership), or hiring a personal trainer would, of course, seem like the perfect fat busting solution. But if I was to go by recent high street sales figures and the frenzy of the credit crunch- I could assume that many of us will be struggling with our finances more than ever this year and really cannot afford this.

Don’t let this deter you from doing exercise. The world is your gym. There is very little that can be done more effectively in a gym, than without the use of expensive gym equipment, and pushy membership contracts.

Admittedly a personal trainer provides many of us with the self motivation, that many of us lack when it comes down to convincing ourselves that 30 minutes of exercise actually will make us feel (and of course, look) ten times better than curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea. (No, lies; this is a proven scientific fact. Exercise is good for our mental wellbeing.) But they’re expensive and we don’t NEED them. They’re this generations new craze, a perfectly good idea, but not necessary. Motivate yourself. It worked for years before somebody tapped into how appealing, our progressively ‘lazy’ society, would find someone willing to essentially do the hard part (getting yourself out of bed/ or off the sofa) for them.

Run in fields, swim in the sea, lift cans of beans, bound up and down the stairs. Walk, everywhere and walk fast. Dance in your living room, dance with friends and dance in clubs. Stretch. Do pull up’s on (strong) tree branches, pretend to box.
Do whatever you please- just don’t pay for it.

And we all enjoy a spot of exercise. Dont we?

As we all know eating healthily is just not enough. We must also indulge in that dreaded word; 'exercise.' Exercise involves moving your body to burn calories, strengthen your muscles and heart. A simple concept with many torturous connotations. An absolute chore, but essential to maintaining a healthy body.

The word automatically draws up the mental image of a sweaty gym full of miserable red faces. I refuse to believe that anyone (who has not falsely convinced themselves otherwise) actually enjoys working out in these places.

The 30-minute slog on the treadmill- spent viciously cursing the slow moving clock. Enviously staring at the woman in the corner, who has smugly finished her workout and is on to lapping up cups of cold, refreshing water. All the while I consider whether the intense overheating and the fact that I feel that I may collapse with tiredness or just boredom alone is actually worth the two pounds that I may lose. (If I don't devour my body weight in chocolate again tonight!)

Reading back over that last paragraph caused me to highlight many similarities to a prison camp- ok, so I've just over exaggerated a little. But the overall feeling of torture and pain bears its resemblance. Surely?

I present to you the reality that; we can actually enjoy exercise. There is so much to choose from. In my opinion, there is nothing better than a thirty minute swim in the morning to wake me up. Its not too strenuous and I don't get sweaty or smelly.

Trampolining is also tremendous fun, and excellent for building muscle and burning fat and calories. You will become so involved with learning the skill that you'll forget you're working out. Brilliant!

The key is to learn a skill. Find something you enjoy, and then concentrate on training to better yourself. Why make exercise a chore?

Mumps jab..... Have you had yours??

Mumps jab…… Have you had yours??

And somebody else has mumps…. I automatically cringe after hearing this.
Firstly, because this; when in living in close quarters as I am at university, is usually followed by the word ‘outbreak’, and I assume it has got out of hand. It always appears to be uncontrollable!
Secondly I’m a complete hypochondriac, I don’t like illness. Frankly it scares me.

My concerns are completely irrational and totally unjustified as I have little knowledge of what it actually entails. Except that I’m sure it causes you to have a hamster like resemblance which doesn’t appeal to me at all.

The university website has kindly calmed the panic with a notice causing me confusion as to whether I have had the MR or MMR jab?! Apparently I should have records of, or at the very least have some sort of idea of how many of these jabs I’ve had. I hope I’m not alone in having absolutely no recollection of receiving it once let alone twice!

The symptoms (which I plucked up the courage to read before I began my self diagnosis) include; fever, shivers, tiredness and painful swelling of the glands. Men come off worst from the virus as their testicles swell (painfully apparently!) It can also reduce their fertility. It’s not treated with antibiotics…. unusually. Painkillers simply do the job.

There are complications. For the benefit of the over paranoid among us I wont list them.

According to the very reliable BBC health website the prevention is of course the bloody jab! You receive the first one when you are between 12 and 15 months and you receive your second jab when you are between 3 and 5 years. And there is my explanation as to why I can’t remember having it!

For more information check out the BBC Health website, (a recommended source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mumps2.shtml
See the university website for information on 'the probable outbreak': http://resources.glos.ac.uk/staff/news/mumps.cfm