Experiencing the moment

To make it clear, the Dubai stone is not an ancient Rosetta type artefact or a geological feature of this arid area.

It’s not an urban myth either, it’s an unpleasant result of city living and high temperatures and ..ok…I have to be really honest reluctantly, indulgence, availability of temptation and lack of restraint … in my case it has become a reality.

When first heading over here, plenty of folks were quick to warn me of the Dubai stone, the dreaded weight gain, commuter life, lack of exercise, living in a high rise,…Ha! I thought, no way, that will not happen to me.

So, so wrong Victoria…

Three years on with this unwanted excess sitting uncomfortably around my life, I have more than a few regrets and a tedious winter of restraint, lettuce and coconut water ahead.

Week life is ruled by rush hours, work, 31 floors up, home, 35 floors up, no space for cat swinging, let alone swinging myself to whichever online exercise class looks like it will give me the instant result.

After 5 long work and rush hour days, going down in the lift 35 floors to start an exercise process looks like a huge effort from the sofa. Well, it is a huge effort, the motivation part of my brain seems to have died….. probably shrivelled up in the intense heat.

The 2 days of weekend life are out and about, travelling, exploring, walking, but, when it’s over 40+ in the hot months, you can’t actually exercise, it’s more of a dash outside for 10 mins, back to the car and blessed air-con, drink water, repeat the process.

How could you possibly exercise in this sort of climate? Ok, ok, the pool is chilled, there is a gym, but hey, it’s 35 floors down and motivation, as explained earlier, suffered heat stroke in year one and seems not to have recovered..the sofa is so comfy.

Now the climate is starting to return to bearable, it’s the perfect time to lay down the law to myself, but, the temptations are huge, al fresco dining, camping and barbecuing, a few drinks …. Eeeww, the temptations are so evil, but such fun.

Before Dubai, the first sign of not fitting into my jeans had me straight on a rigid diet, I thought I was fat when I arrived here….but ..looking back, No I wasn’t fat, I was in pretty good shape for my age, it was my psyche telling me I was fat, but when I arrived here, said psyche took a back seat, maybe it was exhausted after 50 odd years of having to step up to my tedious demands … so, determination recovered, this winter, it’s the long haul, time to rid myself of the Dubai stone ….  motivation needs nurturing back , the psyche needs a slap down to get into shape and yup, so do I…!

I foresee a painful journey ahead!