Friday, 11 December 2015.

I am hop skip and jump on the way to not only not putting any weight on,but also to losing some.How much I have lost I will know on my return home.The scales in the gym are accurate only when the ship is stationary.I have been eating less and working out more.Two-three days I worked out in the mornings and in the evenings,but this was a mistake.If your body is not used to exercise, it is best to start slowly.So now I get my daily dozen most evenings.To my regret I have been using the gym on the ships the last year only,thinking I would be making an idiot of myself when around beautifully toned bodies.But no body is perfect.Slowly,slowly my aching muscles have become accustomed to running,pulling,lifting.I still do not know what machines I work out on, are called,but I now know how to use them and use most of them.I am concentrating on tightening my stomach muscles.Slowly,slowly I am beginning to see results.If I can advise any-one, whatever the age-start small, watch the professionals,listen and learn, adapt more difficult exercises to your own capabilities and gradually you will surprise yourself how well you are doing.I do not like group exercise classes,I am too independent for that,I simply do not like dancing to any-one's tune.But I have watched, listened and learnt and now have my own simple but effective routine.I start with a ball [the ship has three different sizes,I prefer the smallest, so that my fingers can touch the floor when the ship rocks and believe me,it can rock,it can!]So I do exercises on the ball and with the ball, then floor exercises,stretching,then lifting and pulling and pushing,and then I run.It has been recommended by various medical bodies to walk fast enough so that you cant talk anymore but can still sing,Or is it the other way round? Well, I do walk very fast.I do not run.Ever. I walk,not run,to protect my knees and also because I have not yet found a decent sports bra,that would give me a good support.I work out for over an hour.Hence the loss of weight.My sister-in-law is going to be given lots of underwear and masses of shorts, trousers and tops!So this worst ever cruise I have ever been on, has had some silver lining.And it is the way life usually turns out to be-that in something bad something good can be found.But there is not much good in the GB being battered by gales.My heart goes out to those, who have lost all their possessions.You work hard all your life,save hard,do your utmost to provide for your family, and then one stroke of nature and you lose a lot, if not everything.It is when I read about the misfortune of others, that I realize how very, very fortunate I am.The Mail is organizing a collection to help these unfortunate people,so I can also help,not just commiserate.