2008 - Autumn

[El Gordo]

I don't think pilates would do an awful lot for upper body strength, Dan. Its focus is the trunk -- the 'core'. I've no doubt that regular pilates would help running performance, general fitness, and toning (especially abs), but it wouldn't build the usual upper body muscles.

What you say about nothing beating running for CV benefit, seems to be borne out by my recent regular use of a variety of CV machines. I don't take seriously the exact calorie loss figure you get on these machines, but relative to each other, the treadmill shows a much higher figure. My current routine is to do 6 minutes on each, and then repeated. The 'calories burned' figure on the treadmill is at least 20% higher than the figures for the others. Next best is the elliptical cross trainer, followed shortly afterwards by all the others around the same mark.

At the moment, I'm quite liking the gym. I don't get any great pleasure from the act of exercising there, but I do enjoy the feeling that I'm doing myself some good. A bit like running for me, where the true reward and satisfaction comes with the post-exercise, post-shower afterglow.