Suspect when the 12-week program starts next week, I'm in for a shock.
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CONFESSION. When it comes to health, mine is a world of excuses.
Healthy eating. Well, I'd like to, sure, but, you know, just haven't got the time to go down and get a salad sandwich. A chocolate bar or a couple of coffees will get me through the day.
Exercise. Nah, too busy to walk. Haven't got time for gym. Too big to run.
In my world burpees are what you get if you eat tea too fast.
A beep test is controlling your language when Essendon is playing badly.
A sit up is something you do when that 20-1 roughie you've backed at Flemington on a Saturday afternoon bursts out of the pack 50 metres from the post.
Planking is a stupid craze that swept social media a few years back.
There's my problem. I don't take this stuff seriously enough which is astounding considering my life is on the line.
The result of my lack of discipline and laziness is there for all to see. I'm grossly overweight. Puff heavily after climbing stairs or walking any distance. While I'm loathe to openly admit it, I probably sit in every danger category going around, especially heart disease and diabetes.
Little wonder men's health nurse practitioner Peter Strange from Bendigo Community Health Services and Amy Holmes from Shape Fitness came knocking when they were looking for suitable candidates for a 12-week exercise program to promote Men's Health Week in September.
So, I've signed up. As has City of Greater Bendigo chief executive officer Craig Niemann, ABC Central Victoria's Jonathan Ridnell and three other brave souls.
For the next 12 weeks Amy Holmes will take control of my eating habits and smash, sorry, guide me through an exercise program. What's in store? Not sure. But I suspect I'm about to learn burpees are more than something you get after eating too fast.
Amy was quite nice the other morning when I did some pre-program testing at Shape Fitness.
She counted two push-ups. I'd say it was more like one and a half at best.
She said my planking test was fantastic. It was crap.
She was gracious when I stepped on the scales and got FFFF instead of a number. Wonder what FFFF means... fat or fail. Certainly wasn't fantastic!
Suspect when the 12-week program starts next week, I'm in for a shock.
So, what are my goals? Get healthier. Lose weight. Welcome back my neck which has disappeared of late. Learn more about a lifestyle which can allow me to live longer, no doubt.
Above all, show others who share some of my bad traits that doing something about changing your lifestyle can make a difference.
Stay tuned!
Note: Check out Amy's regular Bendigo Advertiser column on page 37 of today's printed edition.