This photograph was taken a couple of years ago in Amsterdam. I was slightly stoned and didn’t notice the slogan I was sat upon until I returned home and looked at the photograph itself. I’m posting it now though because that was broadly how I looked; until the first UK lockdown in March 2020.
I was in decent shape, given my sedentary lifestyle of playing on a PC for most of the day writing. When I was not away on one of my expeditions I went to the local swimming pool every morning for an unimpressive eight lengths, and then engaged various stretches and gyrations to keep my ageing body supple and strong (lol).
When the pool closed due to COVID I had to adjust. Instead, I walked 20 minutes in the morning, 40 minutes at lunchtime and another 30 minutes in the evening. Plus the same stretches and gyrations.
Six weeks later I was a stone lighter (6–7kg). I was astonished. Nothing else in my life had changed, meaning that just the integration of a few walks into my day had produced a pretty dramatic impact upon my weight. I was never overweight, but now I am right in the middle of where I am supposed to be for my height, rather than edging upwards.
To the point of the post though, and I refer to this in the book: walking is also good for recovery following a heavy session with certain drugs.
For myself, this was particularly notable with speed, but it applies to many other drugs too, including methamphetamine and MDMA. Generally, it is fair to say that recovery has become more problematic as I have aged.
Recovery from a session should ideally be pre-planned. Commonly referred to recovery aids include drinking orange/fruit juice, eating a healthy meal, use of supplements, and so forth. Some people suggest a toke of cannabis to ease the discomfort and stimulate appetite.
However, perhaps understated is the idea of taking a gentle walk, hopefully without inhaling too much carbon monoxide. This aids circulation, helps digestion (re that healthy meal), promotes better sleep, and produces a whole raft of other related benefits.
