walkte walkte...

yunhi koi mil gaya tha... walkte walkte

or walkte walkte, mere yeh geet yaad rakhna, kabhi alvida naa kehna...

well! no such romantic things happen to me when I finally not just decide, but also set an alarm, wake up at the said time and go to the park and well WALK!

Being sick of not finding those nice clothes in size required (which at this point can be called VERY BIG) and not having brains to get them tailored, the only way out is to lose some weight and hope to fit in at least old clothes and not having to wear maternity jeans even now! Apparently even Lycra can stretch only as much. Sigh! People are talking about Size 0 and I am in double digits of very unhealthy kinds!

I don't remember the last time I tried to push myself out of the bed at 630am. It's even more difficult when Bangalore has this rainy and gorgeously cuddly weather. Of course thanks to Cubby who sleeps between us, not much cuddling happens, so one can get up and get out!

I find a pair of capris and a tee which isn't worn otherwise, comb my hair, wear my mostly ignored sports shoes, get on the bike and reach the park! It's cold enough to keep the jacket on even when you walk. Off the mark. I am walking quite fast and thinking "Girl! You are doing good!"By the time I am starting my second round I realise I am huffing and puffing! 60 year old aunty wearing saree with a pretty shawl has already overtaken me! The potbellied uncle is actually jogging past me and my legs are killing me.

I push myself and manage one more round and then scoot off to do some stretching. I actually cannot touch my toes and my back is stiff like a wooden stick! I almost cried out aloud that I could touch my toes without bending my knees even in my 7th month of pregnancy much to surprise of my Doctor Evil!

In few tries at least the middle finger is brushing against the ground and I think I am exercising for hours. I look at the watch and its been 6mins36secs! WTF!

Anyway, humbled I go back home. Of course that didn't stop me from showing off to M saying "See! See! I went for walk! I will become thin and you will stay fat!"

It's been 5 days now, excluding Saturday and Sunday which are no walk days! Yeah Yeah! I decided on the holiday list even before starting work. I seriously hope I can keep at it consistently this time around!

I have been doing this on and off walking thing for quite some time now. In Mumbai, Five Gardens was closest to home. I was always amazed as to how so many people come for years together. Be it rain or sunshine you always see those people walking or jogging at a brisk pace and looking fitter than ever. There have been times, I went back an year later and still some of those faces were still there.

There is an easy camaraderie between people who walk regularly. A wave to say hello or doing their stretching together or just talking shop. Inadvertently groups form and it becomes almost a social activity rather than just a fitness regimen. many a deals are struck and friendships made. One of my friends was pleasantly surprised to find that her father-in-law to be was a fellow walker with whom she often exchanged smiles! :)

You get to see so many kinds of people. Saree clad aunties wearing their beloved Bata, uncles with bellies really testing the quality of the T Shirt, young girls with perfect bods wearing Lycra and making heads turn, young guys wearing tracks and vests trying to show off their existent / non-existent rippling muscles and old uncles wearing tracks and Nike shoes gifted to them by their US returned bacchas.

These places also have thriving businesses too. At FGs there would be guys coming on cycle and selling juice in their different coloured plastic jars. Another enterprising fellow would be trying to sell some ayurvedic powders and the nariyal paani guy would do brisk business too. The park I am going to here has couple of subzi wallahs who almost always end up selling their entire lot by the time the walkers finish their day of exercise!

All in all I am loving it! Of course I am a tad more grumpy as M insists on pointing out verrry often due to lack of sleep. I think it's only till my body gets adjusted to this routine!

Then I will be slightly patla too and if not, I will sue the park! :p

Just hope I too, like Johnie, can Keep Walking!