Since moving to Riyadh, I barely can go walking around the streets like I used to when I was in Beirut.
Walking in Beirut made me fit and healthy.
In Beirut:
- I barely used a transportation (car or taxi ride) unless I was visiting somewhere far away or when I had to go for dinner at night.
- I used to walk back and forth to get my grocery at least 4 times per week
- I used to go walking for several errands around the streets for shopping or paper work or paying the bills, or meeting someone over coffee or lunch.
- I used to walk down to work (yes a downhill with steepy and long stairs), and my work also involved alot of standing and moving around.
- I also used to swim on Sundays for around 40 minutes.
After moving to Riyadh:
- Since I cant drive, I used to walk to my work (15 minutes a way).
- I had to keep my eating habits normal and in check, not overindulge in meal portions and in desserts/sweets. This way, with the 15 minutes walking and eating average, I maintained a balance in my weight.
- Working on a desk all day, I found my body was losing alot of body muscles and thus had severe back pain for months, and had to treat it by physiotherapy sessions and instructed home exercises.
Solutions
- GYM: First thing to come to your mind. I tried to search for a ladies gym nearby by home. I found two who were smaller than my house, with low quality and quantity equipment. So you have to fight for the treadmill.. As for the pool, it was surely not deep or even big and perhaps is suitable for 13 years old.
With all these factors, I wanted to register for the classes. Yet if i want only the pool I would pay minimum 1100 riyals around 300 dollars per month!! I still didnt add the prices of the classes. - Walk more?Not possible in a hot setting like Riyadh where temperatures reach 40 during the day and at night you need a "male" companion in walking in a public street.
Also changing my work, thus the location was a bit far from my home, so I cant possibly walk each morning other I am working from a desk, eating all day and barely walking around... - Buying a treadmill for my house wasn't an option, since there is no place in it there....
- My last option was doing my own gym classes every two days. I used this youtube channel for doing the 37 minutes ! It is fun, and even more relaxing; You can pause anytime you want and take a break.You can sweat as much as you want and dont care about how you look...
I also have the chance several times in the week to run around my nephew. Little Boys are the top in making you run after them or play with them by jumping crazily and dancing.