I get a lot of questions on how I manage to keep fit, especially given my hectic schedule and frequent travel. I know some will say that it’s about self discipline and doing those crunches every day, but for me at least it’s a lot simpler. Just think of what our ancestors did to survive and get away from predators: did they spend hours in windowless rooms, repetitively lifting rocks? I think you know the answer. A human body was designed to roam free, varying only its own body weight and adapting to the worlds natural rhythm. As it happens, this is also what I enjoy, and I think you will too.
I once read a biography of a man who was enprisoned in Guantanamo bay. He became friendly with his captors, and being a slightly built Somali he used to ask the American soldiers who were guarding him why they were so big and focused on their muscles? There was one of them in particular who answered that it made his wife feel secure when he hugged her and held her close.
I’ve thought about that. Yes, I suppose I like muscular big men. Any woman would feel protected and secure if her man is a mountain, but these huge bodybuilder types are neither healthy nor natural, and if a woman really wants to feel secure, she will hopefully realise that someone who is fit and not too big is much more likely to take care of her, as well as living longer and looking better in a skin tight shirt.
So what kind of exercise am I suggesting? To me, the main thing is doing natural things – for both men and women. The most natural activities that I can think of are climbing or running. Obviously running needs no introduction but if you haven’t tried indoor or outdoor climbing you need to, right away. In London alone there are at least 4 indoor climbing centres, and the best one is probably West way. Good instructors, great lead climbing and ok bouldering. Once you have tried that, and got your power to weight ratio up, that’s when you can start doing more serious stuff outside.
Also, don’t forget open water swimming: now I think that triathletes actually have the “lean and haunted look” famously worn by Brutus but I don’t think us girls are that into the 0 body fat, 65 kilo guy. So no swimming 10k, just make sure next time you are in Cannes to spend 45 minutes doing some lengths up and down the beach, as well as getting that perfect tan, and you will see the results in no time. It sure works for me.
So I’d love to hear from ladies on this site who disagree with me, but I think the all natural way works best, and more importantly you will want to keep at it for longer and get better results.
