Feel good factor

I'd forgotten all about endorphins. They really work! The most noticeable side-effect now (after the enhanced taste sensations) is that I'm no longer pissed off most of the time. I can't say I'm jumping for joy yet, but there is a noticeable shift away from the negative.

Plus, my belt is one notch tighter. It took 10 minutes on the treadmill (fast walking pace) before I broke into a sweat today. When I first began a few weeks ago, I was on the brink of heart failure within 20 seconds. What will 6 months of this bring? See - positivity is creeping in.

All the heavyweight machines are proving to be "enjoyable". But I have encountered a strange kind of evil. One that is becoming obsessive.

The most innocuous of equipment, the 65cm ball.

It happened during my first session of stomach crunches. The phenomenon that ensued must have looked something akin to a fathomous creature from the deep being hauled onto a dry dock. It was extremely dramatic and I'm thankful that I remain in one piece. Even before the first crunch, somewhere around the time my brain heard the "how to" instructions, my stomach muscles began to realise that the game was up. No longer were they to be used solely to hold in the bloated aftermath of a Chinese takeaway.

Crunch ONE: My stomach began trembling before I'd even lifted 10cm off the ball.
Crunch TWO: The trembling very, very rapidly became shaking.
Crunch THREE: The shaking, which was becoming a matter of concern, deteriorated into rapid vibration.
Crunch FOUR: I could barely see by now. I felt like my stomach was on the receiving end of this.
Crunch FIVE: The vibrations spread outwards from my stomach, travelled up to my chin and were now causing my eyeballs to jiggle loosely inside my head.

"Okay, half way now, just 5 more" Kristy motivated.

"Half way! Only half *&$£"&* way!". Another 5 and I would surely be crippled for life.

I swear if you had hooked up my belly to a wave machine I could have fed the national grid.

The same effect is still reproduced now, even after 4 attempts. But I've concluded that 65cm gym balls are not only for girls and I've bought one for "private" use. Yes, it's disturbingly enjoyable.