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 It's all too common for software developers to get burnt-out or demotivated. One recommendation that pops up time and time again on forums is to exercise regularly.
I never really took any notice of this advice - figuring the respondants were just some sort of religeous health freaks, decked out in leg-warmers and bandanas. I'm not even remotely athletic - indeed, the very worst moment of my entire school life was having to run the 1,500 metres on sports day in front of the whole school population. It was an abject study in humiliation - I finished dead last, my lungs were on fire and my feet felt like they'd never walk again (all my own fault, though, since I never actually trained a single second for the event...).
But lately, I - the archetypal anti-Olympian - have got the fitness bug. After the excesses of Christmas, I piled on some weight and have found myself uncomfortably short of breath even on relatively short walks.
So, instead of buying a PS3 to make myself feel better, I bought a cross-trainer and a home gym instead. In fact, in total, they cost less than a PS3.
The best investment I've ever made, tbh.
When I first started off on this cross-trainer thing, it was just like those 1,500 metres all over again. In fact, come to think of it, I did manage 1,500 metres on it with my first attempt. However, with that evil and horrific way history repeats itself all over again, I felt just as awful as I did on that dreadful school sports day.
This time though, 2 days later, rather than moping around feeling sorry for myself, I jumped on and did another 1,500 metres. And, while I felt truly appalling and exhausted yet again, I noticed I recovered a lot, lot quicker. By my third attempt, I still felt quite wiped out, but I recovered within just a few minutes.
And now, I've been gradually upping my distance. From 1.5k, to 2.5k, to 3k, to 4k.
While the cross-training wipes me out, the multi-gym is the exact opposite. After a full session on there, you just feel such a rush, such a high, it's ...well...indescribable. I just really enjoy my sessions on there and that's what keeps me hooked and coming back for more.
I can't get over the difference it makes to my everyday life, though. I feel energised. I feel much healthier. I no longer get out of breath. And, although this is all to do with making my body fitter, my mind definitely feels sharper too. All this in just over 4 weeks.
I know a lot of IT folk who do little or no exercise at all. What my new fitness plan has shown me is there is a healthier way. A better way, and it really doesn't cost that much. It just takes a little effort, a little willpower. But the results could be life-changing.
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