The swimming pools of London: AKA Bec gets fit

Hey, so here as promised, episode 2 of my obsession with London.

Back in November I joined a gym, I know, I know, how am I always so ahead of the trend! Anyway I joined a gym and they gave me a number of different offers for membership.

'This one', they said 'comes with full-access to the track and field and racquet sports'...*tumble-weed. Please, its November, who wants to be outdoors! I did in fact choose this option because, aside from the appeal of hurdling outdoors at 5 am in minus temperatures this membership also enabled me to use the sauna and steamroom (come on why do we really go to gyms?!) and any of classes, gyms and pools of the branches in the BETTER network.

X-TREME AQUA FIT IN LEYTON

The swimming pool opened about three weeks before I returned and is the oddest shape known to man. 25metres but with a funny bulge at the deep end. Ooer matron. This was the first pool I used and was the location for the SAS style aqua-fit I did back in Autumn. When I got in the pool, and the water was calm, it reached the top of shoulders, when the water was in motion it was sometimes above my head! This was particularly the case whilst doing push-ups on the side of the pool; extend your arms or drown was the order of the day.

the flume pool, where children play.

LAUNDRY AND SPIN CLASS: IRONMONGER ROW

Now technically the closest to this pool I've got is the changing room but its so convenient for work that I regularly use the gym and have tried three classes there; I like the Spin class, v good humoured. Anyway, the building is fascinating. Back in 1929 only 4% of homes in Finsbury had private baths so the Council built a bath-house. The renovators have kept one slipper-bath as an exhibit, it took all my will-power not to jump in! The original building also featured Turkish Baths, because you know, if you're gonna get clean you might as well do it in style! The pools joined the outfit in the 1930's and a laundry in the 1970's. The building is an inspiring place to exercise in; its almost like exercising inside an archaeological site in a very positive sense, and without the dirt.

see look how lovely and light it is!

AN OASIS IN THE CITY: OASIS

I've kept my favourite until last. I have often walked past the grey, concrete exterior of this leisure centre en route to Covent Garden and bustling about the city centre. I had no idea the gems hidden beneath. The changing room has a plasma screen showing the news for a start! And the sauna is not bad. But the real gem is the outdoor, heated, eccentrically distanced (27.5m) pool. Within 5 mins walk of Holborn station you could be swimming outdoors; and looking at the stars if you are doing backstroke after work! I've used the pool several times and I'm always surprised by how much distance I cover - those extra 2.5 metres in each length add up - but also the cool air kept me refreshed and invigorated. Plus you can bring your towel out pool-side. Its worth knowing this as I definitely walked round the centre in my swimming costume alone, fine when you're dry. Less funny when you are leaving wet puddles in your wake!

Oasis: in summer

p.s. Just to be really clear, BETTER have not sponsored this post, as far as I'm aware they don't even know it exists :)

New Year, New Me, well ish, kinda

Hi Everyone,

How are you? How is January going? Set yourself a series of super goals?

I like the idea of goals and the high you get off achieving them so I've set some: I'm off alcohol and coffee for January - I want to know I can do life, even when its tough, dark and cold without these things - turns out it can be tricky but so far so good.

Having said that I read this article on LinkedIn over New Year that said he'd given up Goals because he finds they don't make him happy in the long run. And I kinda understand that - you run at all these targets thinking they'll make you happy because you will have achieved something; but actually it lasts like 5 minutes and then I'm dissatisfied with something.

(image from: ASDA)

In the article he says he has put aside the immediate satisfaction of goals for longer term processes that bring him life. This means, especially where his gym technique is concerned, sometimes he misses out on short-term goals like a run, in favour of long-term health i.e. going home and not spraining a knee to reach the day's goal in favour of still being able to attend the gym tomorrow.

So I'm doing a bit of that as well. Trying to find processes that do me good. I'm trying for at least 3 sessions in the gym, if not 4 per week. I feel like this is semi-sustainable in the long-run; especially since I discovered gym branches near work which opens up the opportunities. But to be honest, exercise before work is still a bit of a stretch.

(image from Happy Place)

The other process, which I'm close to flouting right now is no tech after 10pm, and aiming at an 11pm bedtime. Luckily its just a guide so the occasional late night or tech-heavy evening isn't going to kill me. I got into a routine where bedtimes involved being snuggled up with my laptop - watching endless youtube videos or watching films. Whilst I always nodded off eventually I wondered if the times I was going to sleep (between midnight and 2 am) and all that brain activity before bed was really a good idea. The results of my findings are; I have some more energy in the mornings, I don't jump out of bed with a cry of joy, but some things seem easier, and my concentration is a bit better in the mornings. I think I need to wait a bit longer and see. But this process has been particularly hard to stick to, I love nights out with friends, and tech is a little bit addictive...right, its 10:10, I'm turning this off!