Pain And Gain*

“You’re early,” my trainer says, smiling, at nine o’clock this morning.

“Yes,” I say.  “The panther’s gone.  Been awake since six thirty nine and…”

“I’m just going to put my bag in the office,” she says, tying her long hair up.  With her hair down, she could be any pretty girl.  Hair up, she’s transformed into a powerful trainer.

“I was thinking: can I put my leg press weight up to a hundred and fifty five?” I say, when we’ve warmed up on the bike and rowing machine and stretched.

“I think we only started doing a hundred and fifty last week,” she says, as we slide the weighted discs onto the machine.

“No, it was definitely two weeks ago,” I say.  “Anyway: my mood has come up now: I’m stronger and…”

“Yes, I can see it in your face,” she says, smiling at me.

“Can you?” I say, sitting on the leg press machine, feet pressed against the weighted platform.

“Yes: you look completely different,” she says, flicking the switch on the machine to release the weights.

Pushing the platform up, I feel the weight of the 155kg bearing down on me.  Gritting my teeth, I push against it.

“Well done,” she says.  “Let’s do a set of twelve.”

So I do.  And then I do three further sets.

Have just put all the recycling in a bag; had a bath; made a new recipe – tomato, chickpea and cauliflower curry with spinach.  Now am going to make some supper.

It’s so nice to be without my panther.

The attached photo is the Christmas tree at the flats that has just arrived.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

*2013. American comedy crime film directed by Michael Bay, starring Mark Wahlberg.

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