After settling into university, my housemate and I both agreed that keeping in shape would be an issue. However, funding this issue would also become an issue. Students aren't exactly renowned for being money-making machines, and the gym costs are a little excessive. We therefore got thinking. How do we keep in shape (or get into it even) without busting the bank? Running is far too time-consuming and often leads to embarrassment if running in public. Even in Bournemouth, there will be somebody driving past who will find my beetroot-coloured face amusing. Getting up early to avoid this isn't even an option, and hitting the gym without paying will also get me in trouble.
Googling this one night, we came across the P90X chin-up bar; a clever invention which hooks onto the door frame without needing to drill holes in the wall to keep it in place. Our student house deposit would therefore be safe, and the bar would be mobile so when Ben isn't using it, I can. We compared it to it's main rival, the JML IronGym, but the P90X was cheaper, and JML only reminded me of the Ped Egg. For twenty-three quid, it was a good investment.
The bar itself comes with more screws and holes than a French orgy. Assembling the chin-up bar (after working out what went where) ended up burning more calories than actually using the thing, not to mention the exercise used in catching the free bus into town to get a spanner. The first impressions were not so great. When I'm actually using it however, it seems fine. My muscles ache after a measly number of pull-ups (weed) and I'm out of breath from just hanging on it. Going to the gym in college was clearly a waste of time knowing I did jack over the summer. Fail. I suppose in conclusion, apart from forgetting it's on my door and hitting my head on it, the P90X proves itself to be a safe little bit of equipment that doesn't break the budget - just my door frame.
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