What was I thinking?

I woke up the morning of my first personal training session in June excited, anxious, ready to start this journey of mine. My first dilemma however was "What do I wear?". I didn't think to go out and buy myself an outfit that would remotely help me feel fit. So I put on an old pair of black bike tights that were too small - but I figured thats why they called them TIGHTS :), and one of Stephen's t-shirts. Up went the hair in a pony tail and I whacked on a cap. I was ready! Or so I thought.

My first class was a fitness assessment. Oh boy! This was to be an eye opener, but even with all the dread I held in my heart i was really ready for the answers. I needed to see where I stood and what it was going to take to get me where I wanted to be. I can remember looking at Barry (the trainer) and thinking lets get on with it. I am sure he felt my anxiety and as such he proceeded gently and cautiously so as not to bruise my already battered self image.

The fitness assessment went as follows:

• Flexibility - +1
• 50m run - 10.4 seconds
• Push Ups - 20
• Sit Ups - 30
• Chin Ups - 0
• Steps Ups in 2 min - 53
• Beep Test - 3.7
• Rating - Cat 7

I only found out recently what the Category 7 stood for - VERY POOR. I thank him with all my heart for not having given me the "very poor" status as I think it may have just crushed all my hopes. I thought there were 10 categories, not 7!!!

That very night I could hardly walk. The pain in my back was excruciating. I felt deflated - how was I going to cope with doing exercise if my back couldnt cope with an easy fitness test. I went to bed that night and cried. But when I woke up the next morning, although my back was sore the defeatist attitude had gone into hiding and there was a tiny spark of the old Barbara resurfacing. I got up, took the kids to school and went for a swim with my friend.