JosephCanHelp

On the weekend of 18 July 2009 I read in the newspaper that the Metro Police officers of Cape Town will have to
undergo fitness test. They have to have a certain level of fitness or else be suspended and do physical training
until they get to the prescribed fitness level.

As my weight has crept up to 103kg,and with summer approaching, I decided to take the challenge and see how fit I am.

Now the standards for men to the age of 34 is the following;
55 situps in 2 minutes;
40 pushups in 2 minutes;
Run 2.4 km in 12 minutes and
Walk 4 km in 30 minutes

For Ladies up to the age of 34;
31 sit ups in 2 minutes;
34 push ups in 2 minutes;
Run 2.4km in 14 minutes and
Walk 4 km in 35 minutes

As i am 10 years older than 34 I decided not to be as tough on myself and start with the standard for ladies.
I started on 19 July 2009 with the sit ups and push ups. Man! was I in for a suprise? I did 5 sit ups and 5 push ups!
What a disapointment. Now I know that I am a bit overweight and not super fit but still! I never thought I was that unfit!
Just last week I took blood tests for things like high blood pressure, sugar levels, liver functions, colestrol, etc, and
everything except the colestrol was fine( I gave up drinking alchohol in 1999 because my liver was about to give in
and the doctor told me I only had months to live if I carry on. Well my doctor gave me great news last week when he
told me my liver is back to normal! To celebrate the good news I started to consume alchohol again!!!! JUST JOKING)

So because of my bad colestrol results and because I am so overweight and unfit, I resolved there and then that I will
start of with the walk the next day and I decided to just check how fast(slow?) I could walk the 4 kilometre.

So off to Clanwilliam Dam Resort I went on Monday afternoon after work to do my 4 km. It is a very hilly area and just the
place for me to get fit.I have a beautiful view of the dam and the birds are singing in the trees( not that I have
time to admire the view or appreciate the singing while I am huffing and puffing because this is serious stuff and
I need to put my back into it. After all I plan to have a six pack in December to impress……. Who did you think I was
going to say? My wife off course! We have been married since 1987( yes in December it would be 22 years)
and I am sure see wants to see the man( read thin) she got married too again!!!!

You want to know how I did? I did the 4km walk in……wait for it, wait for it, drum roll……..
41 minutes on the dot!!! Now before you critisize, remember I am 44 years old and not 34. Give me some leeway.
I am planning to get to 35 minutes in 2 months time and to 30 minutes by 1 January 2010. I am sure that as Ussain Bolt
trains hard to shave .00001 seconds from the 100m world record I will be as dedicated to shave 6 minutes off my 4 km walk.

I am also having a look at my diet and on Monday only ate 2 bananas and one cup off soup.

I will need lots of encouragement and support and when I have the courage then I will post some before photos.
Please give me your encouragement by following my walks which should later become runs and if you have advise
regarding nutrition, warming up exercise, how to enjoy the view of the dam and the mountains while huffing and puffing, etc,then please send me your comments and help me reach my dream of living a healthy life until Jesus comes to fetch me
at the good old age of 120

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