Friday, January 13, 2012

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With One Step

I'm back. And I'm exhausted and achy. And it feels pretty good! I don't like the fatigue or the pain, but It really does feel good to have gotten started.

I first met with Brooklyn, the manager of the personal trainers. We took inventory, and here's what we found:
  • Height: 5'6" (used to be 5'7").
  • Weight: big fat secret.
  • BMI puts me in the category Obese Class 2. 
  • Max VO2 (something about oxygen level while on the treadmill) in the low range.
  • Bicep strength = GOOD! 
  • Sit and reach (sititng on the floor and seeing how far forward you can reach with your hands) Average
  • Body composition (percentage of body made up of fat) Oh. My. Gosh. On the border between high and very high.
  • Overall Fitness: Fair.
  • Body age: 60. Seven years older than my chronological age.
Afterwards, I went to the Aqua Flex class. It's a class in the pool, for people who can't really do aerobics but need a zero-impact way to increase flexibility and range of motion, and get some gentle strengthening. It's a place to start.

The instructor's name is Peggy, and she has fibromyalgia! She said she was using a walker the first time she walked into Lifetime Fitness, and now she's an energetic, fit water-exercise instructor! That was very inspirational to hear. 

I only made it through 25 minutes of the 60 minute class. Can't push it, I just can't, or I'll end up in bed. Slow and steady wins this race, I think. I'll be back next week, and maybe try for a full 30 minutes before I bail. Peggy said she couldn't make it through a class at first, either.

When I got out of the pool my legs felt like lead weights. I'm wondering what I'll feel like in the morning. But I go back at noon tomorrow to see Brooklyn again, to finish my assessment. 

Tomorrow afternoon I have a massage scheduled. I feel like I'll need it!

I'M ON MY WAY. 





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