Let's get physical! Reporter Calum Corral is put through his paces at the new Inverclyde Sports Centre gym.

A special DrEAM health initiative to 'drop everything and move' in Ayrshire was launched last week to improve general health and fitness.
So I carried through this out to the letter of the law, and as soon as last week's 'News' deadline was safely out of the way, I dashed up to new state-of-the-art Inverclyde Sports Centre for a training session to put me through my paces with professional fitness instructors Duncan Liddel and Nicola McCrorey.
Inverclyde Sports Centre have been working with K:A Leisure and North Ayrshire Council offering special offers, including a completely free community programme of clubs and activities, and it was only apt that I visited on National Fitness Day on the 27 September.
The range of fitness equipment was the first thing that struck you as you walked in the door, and both Nicola and Duncan were determined to give me a full body workout, so I got underway with an old friend in the rowing machine which is usually my first port of call when visiting a gym.
A range of new equipment was then tested out by myself, including the new Power Mill machine which is cutting edge, a new step machines which goes round and round, and is the equivalent of walking up a set of stairs. It is enjoyable but testing, with similarities to a cross trainer. I was surprised to find that I have climbed six floors, before moving on to two new machines which employ ropes, and it was almost like pulling a church bell. The rope goes round in a rectangular set-up, and I was encouraged to speed it up over 10 second phases, which was quite an effort as I already thought I had been going fast. 
Moving a heavy weight from side to side in a device called the 'landmine' was the next challenge, before holding on to a wire and pull-ups, and then it was time to let of some excess deadline steam and test out the punchbag which involved balance, co-ordination, and a good thwack!

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Both photographer John Keachie and myself were intrigued by what appeared to be a trolley for moving weights around the centre, but Duncan shook his head and pointed out that this was actually one of the exercise devices. Gulp.
So without much further ado, with the aid of a pulley, I had to pull the buggy in a straight line down the race track, but that is a challenge in itself as the buggy moved to the side, which means one foot is stronger than the other. Duncan added that means we now know which leg to concentrate on.
Using the new 20 metre 3 lane indoor track, I pulled the trolley down the way, before taking over the controls and driving it back.
You sit at the front and walk the buggy back to the starting line using your heels, and Duncan explained that this was a good device for improving your hamstrings. 

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Both Duncan and Nicola provided a thorough approach with expert information on the sport science involved in the range of different exercises and the benefits to your body.
There was no doubting that even thought this was just scraping the surface in terms of the gymnasium equipment on offer, it was hard work but fun and the new range of equipment certainly gives you a different insight to various improvements that you can make to your health on a daily basis.