Gym Slips (6)

The "Summer Brides" season is just about over at the gym. This is the time when a number of new lady members suddenly arrive on the scene and spend weeks in earnest and persistent exercise, as they tone their figures for their forthcoming weddings.

In some cases they hire the services of a fitness instructor. As these charge about £30 per hour, it gives you some idea how seriously the pursuit of a better shape is taken. As a result of these endeavours, most brides-to-be look far better than when they arrived and in a few cases they appear unrecognisably different.

Then they disappear, presumably to get married and live happily ever after. But just occasionally they reappear. Typically a couple of years will have gone by and a baby has been produced and nurtured. Now the battle begins again. It is hard work to get your figure back when you are an "Autumn Mum." I admire their tenacity.

Gym Slips (5)

An overweight young chap was exercising in the gym this morning. He does not wear socks and is famous for foot odour. As he squelched his way through 40 minutes of cross trainer motion, his feet emitted little puffs of pong-laden dingleberries. It was like those adverts for sprays of aerosol toilet air fresheners, but with a reverse effect.
I'm not normally fastidious about smells, but this was too prime for me. I just could not stay in the vicinity and everyone else also moved away. The smell of that famous rotting fungus is nothing compared to the sickening stench of his feet.
We would all benefit if he could be told about this. It is not that we are craven cowards, but rather that none of us can get near enough to deliver advice on foot hygiene.

Beetroot Juice.

We came across this article recently and as one of us was training for the rugby season, he was volunteered to test the stuff. Verdict: Has a strong after-taste. Is like being punished. Makes your pee go pink.

Science Daily (Aug. 7, 2009) — Drinking beetroot juice boosts your stamina and could help you exercise for up to 16% longer. A University of Exeter led-study shows for the first time how the nitrate contained in beetroot juice leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring.

I also tried it and found it not too bad. I have not put my stamina to the test.