I should be at Zumba at the moment. Instead I’m sitting at my desk, writing this post. You may recall that I fell over at last week’s class… something I’ve never done in all of my years of gymming. As I said in the previous post – in which I shared an attractive pic of my slightly-swollen ankle – I suspect it was a combination of overly-grippy shoes and carpet AND the fact I’m carrying more weight than I’d like and hadn’t done a class for a couple of months.

Less than a week before the Zumba class I stepped in a pothole on a grassy footpath and fell over. Both times I felt my ankle give way (underneath my girth, perhaps!).

Not quite a year ago, in response to a blog post by Big Girl Bombshell, I wrote that ‘I felt good’. I was just starting to grapple with the not-dieting concept and when I read that old post now I am surprised that I’d also noticed the bingeing disappear (or at least diminish). Because I’ve skimmed ahead a few chapters (in the book that is my life) I know that didn’t last. I became stressed about possibly gaining weight and tried again to ‘diet’. But… I searched through my old posts yesterday to find that one because I remembered writing about how I felt, rather than how I looked.

So, although I had a stack of weight to lose, I felt mentally healthy, but… what occurs to me is that I also felt physically healthy. I felt fit. I felt sure-footed. And I felt agile.

That – sadly – is no longer the case.

On the weekend I went to watch a beach volleyball competition. More depressing than the girls in their teensy swimsuits and amazing physiques was the fact that I didn’t feel sure-footed. I’ve always been coordinated. It’s not a skill or talent, just something that’s come naturally. But, I found myself gingerly walking up the steps of the temporarily-erected grandstand and nervously stepping around other spectators. I felt as if I could fall over at any minute.

It was shocking.

The old me would have easily stepped over the seats rather than shuffle down the stairs. But not this me.

Thankfully my ankle is not terribly problematic. I’m fine to walk, but I decided against Zumba today because I can’t actually rotate it properly.

I mentioned last week (before the not-s0-fatal fall) that I wanted to focus on my fitness. (Alliteration accidental!!! 🙂 )

And that resolution has become intensified. Cos…  if I ask myself how I feel now; I’d have to say I feel flabby and unfit. I feel 45*. I feel heavy-footed, uncoordinated and fragile.

So, I’ve taken Amino Z (company offering online health supplements and personal training) up on its offer to do some one-on-one online personal training for a month. Last night I received my suggested meal plan** and training plan. And… I’m stoked because my trainer (Paul) listened to what I wanted and my training program is VERY doable. He’s given me some strength work (I sent him a picture of my apartment complex’s little gym) and allowed me to decide what cardio I will do.

And, I must confess, I’m kinda excited. Weight aside, I’m going to be leaping over those grandstand seats in no time at all!

I strongly believe someone can be overweight (even quite so) and still be fit. What are your thoughts?
What does being ‘unfit’ mean to you?

* The fact that I AM 45 is entirely beside the point!
** I explained that I didn’t want to ‘diet’ so the meal plan seems really flexible and I see it as more of a guide. (And it includes plenty of carbohydrates!)