DAY 1 (MAY 26, 2004)

Today was my first day at the fitness center, and my first day to meet my trainer, Jeremy. He was a super guy! At first, I felt a very slight sense of apprehension about having a male personal trainer (didn’t want to be embarrassed, you know), but then I realized that this was better than being paired up with the “I just came in third at the World Beautiful Bikini Babe Fitness Fest and would have won if my thong wasn’t so wide” instructor. I don’t know if they even have a female fitness trainer at BMC, but this would have been my luck.

Anyway, I met Jeremy and set up a schedule of 12 meetings through August along with a personal check. I knew to make it through the first two months I would have to invest money and be accountable. We set up a Saturday morning meeting for the dreaded initial get-your-measurements meeting and the other 11 for during the week. I really hate that initial assessment. That’s one of the reasons I rarely followed through with any fitness plan…the initial assessment. It’s like a cruel joke! I already know I am overweight and overfat; that’s why I’m there! Do I really need it validated? Do I have to see the numbers that fall in the red “you’re so high risk it’s hard to believe you’re still alive” category?

After chatting with Jeremy, I told him I wanted to get started on the treadmill today. Given that I had been in there the day before and saw that they had about 8 treadmills and it was an 8:20 am light crowd, I thought this would be safe. But noooo! I was on the treadmill next to “Senior Miss Universe cover of 60+ stay fit magazine running 5 miles per hour on an incline” phenom! Every now and then she would slow down and rest at 4.5 mph, but then she would be off and running again. I kept looking at her and thinking, “That is not humanly possible,” but there she was, just a-runnin’. Oh the humiliation! I decided if I can make it through this morning, I can do this.

I walked only 20 minutes because I had to get to work. I walked out of the center, which is deep in the bowels of the medical center, and could not find the entrance I had used. And my legs were hurting! I didn’t realize Jell-O had pain receptors! All I could think about was sitting in my jeep, but I could not find the blasted door! When I finally made it to the parking lot, I could not find my blasted jeep! I tell you, that curb was looking mighty comfy. I found my jeep, sat down, and realized I was feeling a sense of satisfaction. I had done it. I completed my first day. And, I was happy.