lostcarpark | Nineteen days and counting!

In just under three weeks I'll be in the alps with Stef and the gang, looking for the big powder.

The only problem is that at the moment I'm seriously unfit.

madangie and I have been intending to join a gym since we moved. We'd even checked out a couple when we were looking at houses, and had picked the one we wanted to join. So yesterday we filled out the forms and handed over our cash and now we're members. I have a fitness assessment booked for Thursday, but I'm not waiting till then to get started.

Yesterday I had my first brief session. Got on a cool machine that simulates running, which was pretty cool and good for getting started. Then I tried the rowing machine. When I was fit I could comfortably go for fifteen minutes at a fairly hard pace. So I though I'd try ten minutes and not push too hard. However, after two minutes I was in agony, so I stuck it out to five minutes and then threw in the towel. Then I did some cycling to cool down. I thought I might make it for a quick swim, but didn't manage to.

Today I arrived a little earlier, so had more time. I did the same sequence of machines, but gave them all a little longer. I survived six minutes on the rowing machine, which I've always found is the best all-over workout. And I made it into the pool and had a very enjoyable swim, followed by a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi.

I know I haven't really pushed myself yet, but hopefully I've begun the process of easing myself back into a fitness regeime. I don't expect to be super-fit by the time I land in France, but hopefully I'll at least be slight less unfit.

By the way, this is the first of several new icons I'll be trying out over the next while.