July 7th: 5,000 steps and 35 mn aerobic on the Wii. I have figured out the rythm boxing, more or less and love it as it’s pretty demanding.
July 8th was a world première. I went to the swimming-pool with my daughter and her boy-friend. Hadn’t been either to the beach or a swimming pool for the last four years, since I had cancer surgery, as they recommended not dipping into the water completely for a whole year, and I guess that afterwards, I just didn’t feel like it. Anyway, I used to swim reasonably well, but not any more. I am totally out of shape! 
You should have seen me huffing and puffing. Stopping every now and then, and sort of urged on by my daughter, I managed 400m and got out feeling that I’d never walk again.
Mind you, the next day, it was all forgotten!
Still, they always tell you that in the water you weigh nothing and that it’s easier than walking.
Well, folks, not for me, it isn’t.
I haven’t done it again, but am supposed to go with my daughter tomorrow…
July 9th: one hour stretching class, drove to Normandy and walked 6,000 steps
July 10th: pedometer said 7,000 steps.
July 11th: 48mn walking fast, pedometer said 15,200 steps
July 12th: 8,300 steps. Intended to go to the swimming-pool but couldn’t find motivation
July 13th: train back to Paris, walked 15,000 steps.
I always find it more difficult to find motivation when I’m in Normandy. There are all these things that remind me of my childhood, I feel like eating all the time and when the weather is bad, I could just stay at home all day long. Have to kick myself to get going.
This coming week, am going for a short trip to Geneva and maybe a couple of other places with a friend. I know I’ll be walking a lot!
6 Comments
July 15, 2008 at 12:52 am
You’re doing great, Claude!!!! And swimming is excellent exercise!!! Both my kids were swimmers in high school and college and I’ve never seen leaner, fitter athletes. It’s total aerobic exercise. I so wish I could swim but it requires for good limbs.
Bon voyage for your trip to Geneva!!! How I envy you!!!!
July 15, 2008 at 6:09 am
Well, if that is slacking off, you put us all to shame (smile). Seriously, you did manage to do a very fair amount of walking and certainly you can pat yourself on the back for walking against the tide of just settling back and doing nothing.
July 16, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Claude, I agree with lilalia, I think you did beautifully! I was brought up in the country too and when I am there, I pretty much just want to read, since that is what I did when I was young (and turned into a bookworm!). I was also depressed and lonely a great deal of the time. The city is associated for me with happiness and company (when I want it) and it’s much easier to get motivated.
It must be nice to be able to remember when one could swim well! I could never swim well, I was always afraid in the water — I made myself learn to swim, even so, but I have never gotten good enough to enjoy it. I agree that water is HEAVY and no matter what they say about your weight, every move you make in water takes more energy than a similar move in AIR. So bravo to you for making an attempt to find your inner swimmer again…bonne chance la prochaine fois!
July 17, 2008 at 1:21 pm
In the midst of reading this a phone call from a neighbor, “Just saw a woman on the street with tee shirt message, ‘Never stop moving,’ and thought of you.” I, in turn, think of you.
Yesterday he and I met in front of our building and I extolled the marvelous pedometer. He called from his car! He’s been on rigorous diets/exercise in the past but makes the mistake of going to extremes. As you have warned on these pages: that does not work.
All this to say how delightful it is to read of your determination, your chronicle of the ups and downs of latelife change. And 15,000 steps while on a train, must be a vigorous trip to the station!
July 20, 2008 at 7:13 am
Naomi, I walked to the station from my place in Bénerville. Then the train ride was two hours and then, as the weather was nice, I walked from the station to Quartier Latin, which was quite a walk and finally took the subway home. I didn’t have a suitcase, which helps!
July 24, 2008 at 8:21 am
Very well done – especially the swimming. (I still haven’t mastered it at all).
It really sounds as though you’re pretty fit now, so a day off on July 14th was well deserved.