Describing your daily routine

Diego. I see your blood pressure is still a bit high for your age. You must do something about it.

That worries me. What should I do to recover, doctor?

The first thing is to eat lots of vegetables and cut down on salt almost entirely.

Of course, doctor. I'm starting my new diet today. What else should I do?

The second thing you should do is to increase your level of physical activity. This is vital.

Doctor, I go jogging every Sunday. I usually jog from eight to 09:00 in the morning. Then I exercise in the park until 10:00 in the morning.

Yes, that's good, but it's not enough. You have to increase the frequency with which you exercise.

But I work every day from seven o'clock in the morning, so I can't do it.

Well, you don't have to jog every day. But you can join a gym in the evenings. For example, let's see, what do you do on Mondays after work?

On Mondays I pick up the kids from the dance academy at seven in the evening. With the city traffic we usually get home at eight in the evening. Once we get home, we prepare something to eat and watch TV for a while. Later I go to bed before my family, because on Tuesdays I have to take my wife to work at 6.20 in the morning. I barely have enough time to get to my office afterwards.

I understand. But you can go to the gym in the evening, can't you?

Impossible, doctor. I go to mass with my wife on Tuesdays. She's very religious. If I don't go with her, she'll kill me.

How complicated! I guess Wednesdays are okay, then. Right?

Oh, doctor. What happens is that on Wednesday nights I have my French class at the academy. It's from seven to nine in the evening and I can't miss it because it's a requirement of my job.

I can see that you are a very busy person Diego. Tell me what you do on Saturdays.

Well, since I don't work on Saturdays, I usually get up at eight o'clock in the morning or so. I prepare breakfast for me and the kids, because my wife does have to work that day. Then I take a shower and organise to take the children to the stadium. On Saturdays they have their swimming class. I wait for them and after their class we all go to pick up my wife from her office. Afterwards we spend the whole afternoon together in a shopping centre and go to the cinema. We usually get home around eight o'clock in the evening, resting from a busy day.

Now I understand why you only have Sundays to exercise. For now, make sure you change your diet. Then we'll see what other options we have for going to the gym. Maybe Friday nights.

Complicated doctor. Fridays...

Don't bother explaining. I can see you and gyms don't get along.