As you know, I’m in the process
of applying for the position of Assistant Language Teacher with the JET
Programme. I’ve also, just legally changed my name and my new passport arrived
this morning. I’ve gathered all of the documents I require for the application.
All I need to do is write up my Statement of Purpose (a bit like a cover
letter), photocopy my new passport and get my doctor to verify that I’m fit and
able to work overseas. As today was my day off, I decided to go to my doctor’s
surgery. I figured that it would be as simple as it was the last time I
applied to the JET Programme. I dropped it off with the receptionist and about
a week later, I received a signature and a stamp indicating I had a clean
bill of health.
How wrong was I.
Long story short, I explained my
situation to the receptionist and she stated that I’d need to put my request in
writing and fork over £30.
£30 for a stamp and a signature?
Really?
I paid anyway even though I’m not
exactly flushed right now and then I
went to the gym. All of this took up time, however, because I then had to visit
an internet café, type and print a letter, print off some additional
information and then go back to the surgery. I was also against the clock because
I had to return home in order to be present for a package, but all I could
think about was letting off steam so as soon as I arrived, I jumped on the
bike with intentions of warming up for 5 minutes and instead, doubled my time on it.
My usual workout is roughly
ninety minutes – forty on weights, forty on cardio, five to ten minutes to warm down. I warm up on the bike, follow it with leg weights, do
some arms, do some abs and finish on the treadmill.
Today, I had to cut this in half,
but I was unusually energetic. I raised the weight of the weights I was lifting,
upped the speed I ran on the treadmill and significantly decreased the amount
of rest time I gave myself. As soon as I was done with one machine, I’d move
onto the next without really stretching my legs in between. I had a water
bottle but drank significantly less than I usually do. I was almost violent with
myself on the abs machine, but discovered that the Tricep Extension isn’t as rubbish as I thought it was. I felt the brunt of the effects on the
treadmill, however, because I could actually feel the blood pumping around my
body and lastly, I forgot to stretch afterward meaning that right now as I type
this, I’m most definitely in some kind of pain.
What I find strange is that my
back is actually hurting me and yet I didn’t particularly lift any weights that
might impact on my back…or at least I think I didn’t. But I basically overdid
it today and even though I stretched when I got in the door, I think the damage
has already been done. Fortunately, I don’t think it’s permanent, but there’s
definitely a lesson in this.
Do you recall my earlier entry –
when I was hit by a car? Well, it seems that I unlearnt that lesson all in the
space of fifty minutes. So I deliver it to you again as a reminder. Take care
of yourself. Seriously.
Also, a few helpful tips:
Always stretch/warm up before exercise~
I have a very bad habit of
skipping this part altogether, but warming up physically prepares your body for
your workout and reduces the amounts of aches and pains you receive
afterwards.
When lifting weights, take a small break in
between reps~
There’s a saying that sometimes
you can have too much of a good thing and in this case, I think it applies.
If you don’t give yourself a bit of rest, especially while working on weights, you’ll tire
out the muscle you’re working on. You might even damage it.
Don’t lift more than your fitness level will
allow~
I think this goes without saying
really and like I mentioned above, if you try to run before you can walk, you’re
likely to fall on your face. Start moderately and then increase weight or speed
gradually. You’ll build up a better resistance that way.
Try to break things up a bit~
I’ve heard it said that
sometimes it’s good to mix things up at the gym. So, on one visit, you might
wish to focus on cardio, while on another, you might choose to focus solely on
weights. I think this is up to personal preference, however, as sometimes I
stick rigidly to my routine and other occasions, I might reduce things or cut
them out altogether.
Always warm down/stretch after exercising~
I’m not sure if this is the case,
but I contracted a case of Runner’s Knee back in my university days and I strongly feel that it was attributable to this. I
never used to stretch after I exercised, and even though I failed to do so
directly after working out today, I usually make it a habit to do this because
I find that if I don’t, I become very stiff – similarly to how I feel now.
My last piece of advice is
simple. If you’re like me, where angry or under pressure ~ don’t go to the gym.
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