Exercise can kill you!

I willingly subscribe to a healthy lifestyle, especially exercise, however this truth is but one fragment of who I am and doesn’t render me virtuous. I’m extremely fond of my food – so much so that if I had twenty-four hours to live, my day would involve reclining in a tropical setting to gorge on the finest of French champagne accompanied by decadent aged cheeses. Given my penchant for sugar-laden bubbles and artery-clogging cheese; I know gluttony and slothful behaviour is detrimental to my health, waistline and bank balance.

To compensate for our vices, my darling and I are ‘early bird catches the worm’ style exercisers, opting for 5am power walks around the botanic gardens and it makes sense in Singapore, given it’s the coolest yet still steamy part of the day. Just recently we’ve started to ponder exercising habits versus longevity and we believe our daily exercise regime could in fact be doing more harm than good.

First, there’s the uneven ramp, which my beloved took a tumble on and ‘almost’ broke his ankle. Then there’s the combination of sodden, slippery paths and slimy leaves, that when approached with cardiovascular gusto, results in slapstick-style movement as we battle to regain our balance (and composure!).

Finally, the most sinister ‘danger’ is we’ve been so intent on looking downward for unsuspecting undulations, rotten leaves and Singapore’s rather porky and aggressive rats, we’ve forgotten to look up. We’re horrified by what has been dangling perilously close to us – gargantuan golden orb spiders, with webs so spectacularly intricate yet of Herculean strength designed to ensnare prey, particularly of the human variety, for ravenous arachnids!

Tired and testy from foregoing an extra hour’s sleep to ‘catch the worm’; the added dangers are too much to contend with at 5am. Until the seasons change (ever so slightly); we’re sticking to the gym and trusty treadmill – it might be boring but it beats the alternative.