Vanity turned me into an obsessed fitness addict

(The Scotsman) - MAYBE I’M a tad vainer than the next man, but beauty has always been a big incentive, which is why this summer I’ve unveiled the new me. Not only did I hire a personal trainer 18 months ago, having bruised my ego during a similarly hot summer, but I’ve just upped the ante to a six-week, intensive, four-sessions- a-week programme.

For someone who used to loathe all forms of exercise - especially gyms - I’ve become something of an obsessive, constantly marking my weight and admiring newly honed muscles. I confess, I’ve become an addict, and no-one’s more surprised than me. Two weeks ago, I even found myself in one of those bleak-looking stores selling nothing but strange-looking protein powders for dedicated bodybuilders.

My trainer - James, a former soldier who fought in Iraq and is, as a result, both big and bossy - had complained that I wasn’t eating enough to sustain my current muscle growth and recommended a new range of protein powders. Protein powders? Muscle growth? As a few friends have recently pointed out, my obsession knows no bounds. Surely there are easier ways to look good in a T-shirt, they argued. Sadly, there aren’t.

I recently took my first holiday from work since last July. I was exhausted. But instead of heading off for a few days to Sardinia or a jaunt to Jamaica, I spent every day at the gym.

I’ve been taking my revolting, chocolate-flavoured Met-Rx Engineered Nutrition protein-plus drinks twice a day, and make sure I eat lots of fish and chicken for protein. A while ago, I stopped eating red meat, wheat, dairy products, tea and coffee - although I do make an exception for dinner parties. I might have become a gym bore, but I am determined not to become a food bore, too.

I am now, rather extravagantly, a member of two gyms: one is a swish, discreet sanctuary in the basement of a hotel near my office, the other a less-swanky place near my home which I use at weekends.

I work out with my trainer during the week, mostly with weights, but do cardio on my own at weekends. I can only think of two occasions in 18 months when I’ve cancelled through illness: come rain or shine, flu or virus, I’ll be there.

There are three main reasons why I’ve turned into a minor-league gym addict. One is my annoying competitive streak; two is a more than healthy dose of vanity (we’re back to those summer outfits again), and three is the fact that - and I must confess, this one surprised me - it turns you into a brighter, sharper, happier person.

Read more...