vijay

I  saw this article on the online Daily Telegraph, that plans for a Sikh Regiment had been scrapped by the British Army over fears of being considered "racist". It’s actually supported by UK Sikh Community leaders and I can safely say that it would be supported by most Sikhs in the UK. I think this would’ve sent a great signal as to the reality of integration into UK Society. Too often people question the loyalty of those who are from Immigrant families, especially in the post 9/11 and 7/7 era. In the US Sikhs wearing their turbans were mistaken for Taliban and attacked.

This move for a UK Sikh Regiment was reportedly backed by Prince Charles but obviously Political Correctness has won the day but that still doesn’t stop the British Army recruiting from Nepal for the Gurkha Regiment!

At a time when the British Army is struggling to recruit and is over-stretched with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, then this would help to ease the burden.

The Daily Telegraph (not known for its Left Leaning view) also has an article on Sikh Gallantry and the fact that the British had a Sikh Regiment previously which also fought in the Two World Wars with 10 Victoria Crosses won and the Indian Sikh Regiment is the most decorated Regiment in the Indian Army. But you won’t hear their stories on Armistice Day on the televised broadcasts on Remembrance Sunday. Yet, we’ve had to fight to wear our Karas in State Schools and other religious symbols and that is why I say we’ve earnt our rights.

I did something remarkable last week and started going to the gym! Like many people I’m sure, I’d been paying for a local gym but never using it. I managed 3 sessions last week and plan to keep this up. I started all this by going running with my son who is 8.5 years old on a mile long run and it was hell (for me at least) and I had to keep stopping. That’s pretty pathetic as I have in the past run a couple of half marathons at about just under the 2 hour mark and a 10K in about 47 mins. I know I’m not going to break any world records as I’m not really a distance runner. I only ever did it because I was playing rugby (before I broke my arm and had to have a metal plate in it) and five-a-side league football. The training was a means to an end i.e. to play competitive sports. Training and keeping fit for it’s own sake was never my thing.

After the initial pain and just wanting to give up I’m starting to enjoy it and even within a week and a half I’m feeling much better and enjoying it. There’s no competitive end to it now, so it’s just about getting fit and staying healthy. It’s easy in the jobs we do to be just stuck sitting down and eating rubbish food, that is when we actually grab any lunch.

The gym sessions are for fitness are split in two. The first bit is all aerobic with a 10 min run on treadmill (approx 1.5km), 6 min (1000m) rowing, 6 min cyling. The second bit is weights (not heavy weights) with 12 x 3 reps of each and ending with situps. I could see from the heart rate monitor on the bikes my heart rate was high at about 170, meaning my body was having to work quite hard but in this week that has started to come down with doing the same intensity a sign  that my body is adjusting. Already, I’m thinking of mixing this up with some circuit training and running in between the gym sessions. I’m trying to make time to do this and not make excuses as to why I shouldn’t go.

One of my motivations is my wife who been getting up at 6.00am and going running for quite a few months which is very impressive and made me get off my backside. The kids keep trying to check for my six pack but that’s never going to come!

As they say, a healthy body a healthy mind.