Well I have a good story:

On Monday I had my first appt with a personal trainer to help me with preventing my pre-diabetes from becoming diabetes! I've also started taking a nutrition class which is on Mondays. So when I finish the nutrition class, I go to see the trainer.

Okay. I'm a 62 year old female who has thought that my physical condition is poor. SURPRISE!

He, 'R', had me do 6 evalution tests, a Fitness Profile.

1 Cardiovascular
2 Flexibility
3 Muscular Strength-Bench Press
4 Muscular Strength-Leg Press
5 Muscular Endurance-Sit-ups/Curl-ups
6 Muscular Endurance-Push-ups

I scored High Superior in both flexibility and Leg Press! I leg pressed 300 pounds! That means I have the strength in my legs of a 20 year old female of my weight, 146!!!!! And the flexibility of a 20 year old blah, blah, blah!

For the sit-ups, I scored a Mid Excellent, if I'd done just 5 more, I'd have been in the Superior group. What I did was as many sit-up as I could in 1 minute. I concentrated on my form the first few more than speed, so I think I really could have done the extra five.

But at Mid Excellent, that is where females of age 25-(I think) score.... The other areas I still scored in the Mid Good scale.

I did good.

Now, R and I will work up an exercise plan/routine for me on Monday next week.

I have filled out a short term (2-4 months) and a long term (5-12 months) goal form. One of my short term goals is to look HOT for an up-coming family wedding I have to go to in late June. I haven't seen my family since 1997, so this is really special for me.

At my present weight of 146 I'm still about 25 pounds over weight. I'm small, or used to be anyway, and my BMI is still in the obess column.

I don't know why I'm so surprised that I have more strength that I "thought", but it makes me feel so good to know I'm not weak. Although I did fail on the push-ups, I didn't even complete one! So I have something to work on now, and I like it.

It is a lot of our thinking that gets us into trouble when we are depressed or anxious. I know, I've been there and back a few times.

For me I know I do my 'work' better if I have someone to be accountable to besides myself. Not in a bad way, but I lack the motivation a lot. Going to the nutrition class for 12 weeks, and a personal trainer and I joined a 6 week (or 12 sessions) of an aerobics class - where I'm with other people, I hope to gain the will power to go it alone when I need to.

I'm not working and have tons of time on my hands. I don't have to pay anything for the once a week nutrition class or the personal trainer. That is provided to me because my husband is retired military and it is something that the base here has going on right now.

They know that medical costs go down when people are fit, healthy, active. It is wonderful to know about such support groups that are available. The aerobics did cost, but not out of my reach. And I have met a wonderful group of women of all ages at the community based aerobics class.

Being connected is what is going to keep me working onmy own fitness and health.