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Staying Fit in Paris

June 28, 2013 by Hugh Nelson 6 Comments

Hugh in front of Health City
Hugh in front of Health City on Boulevard Saint Germain

When we left the US, I belonged to the Poulsbo Athletic Club and Brenda used our Nordic Track and took pilates classes from Jo Carter. We were relatively fit and were interested in staying fit in Paris. At first we had a fitness center at our hotel, but once we moved into our apartment we needed a place to work out.

We ended up joining a chain of health clubs called Health City. We needed to have a local bank account before we could join. That’s a winter photo of me – the weather is getting warmer believe it or not. Every other day we head off to the club, about 5 blocks from our apartment. As you might expect, Health City costs more – a little more than twice as much as Poulsbo Athletic Club. It has more machines and types of machines, as well as free weights and more treadmills and eliptical machines. It doesn’t have an exercise pool, a physical therapy center, or racquetball courts. It does have free exercise classes, sauna and steam room. On good days I can run outside – Paris is great for that – of course so is Poulsbo. The staff is professional – everyone there is really into fitness. Our orientation one day was by a member of the French national water polo team. Many people use personal trainers. It seems like most people working out are training for something, not just trying to stave off old age like us. The place is often very busy.

We haven’t met too many new friends at the club. One trainer who was from Iran speaks pretty good English and always talks to us when we see her. Her core fitness class was a killer, by the way. Along with walking more and eating a better diet here (it helps to have more time to focus on these things), the health club has made a difference. I can’t say exactly how much weight I’ve lost, but I have to buy a waist size 3 inches smaller now, so it must be making some difference.

Bank of treadmills and eliptical training machines
Front entry desk. Access is controlled to the facility.
Some of the exercise machines. There are also free weights.

Filed Under: Living Tagged With: fitness club, health city

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dianne Rodway says

    June 28, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    Wow, three inches smaller? Now I really cant wait for Paris and for a time in my life when I choose to make more time to plan meals and exercise.

    Reply
  2. Liz Murray says

    June 28, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    It makes me hurt just reading about it!!! Go, guys, and live forever!

    Reply
  3. Ardis Morrow says

    June 29, 2013 at 3:31 am

    wow, too bad you had to move to Paris to do that but congrats on
    working at being so fit.

    Reply
  4. Maureen says

    June 30, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    3″! That’s great! Sorry we won’t connect this trip. We will be in Paris and Nice in 2014. Time to start French lessons !

    Reply
  5. Ardis Morrow says

    June 30, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Brenda and Hugh: Changing the subject. Went to a movie yesterday
    and some of the scenes were Paris, including the bridge of locks where
    you put one for me on my birthday.
    Ardis
    P.S. The movie is “Now You See Me” and it is sooooo good.

    Reply
    • Hugh Nelson says

      June 30, 2013 at 11:27 pm

      Ardis, thanks for the movie recommendation. We’ll look for it. Hope your doing well and thanks for keeping up with us through his blogs. I always look forward to your comments.

      Reply

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Hugh Nelson and Brenda Prowse

Hugh Nelson and Brenda Prowse on Pont Alexandre III
Hugh Nelson and Brenda Prowse on Pont Alexandre III

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