He says because I had a foundation (I have been doing pump classes for quite some time) he wanted to give me something different and interesting.
"Your body gets sick of doing the same thing over and over. This programme will get your heartbeat up and push your aerobic fitness level up."
It certainly works. I have to stop and breathe quite a few times.
I have to do this programme twice a week, as well as two pump classes and two cardio sessions. I have been going to RPM (stationary bike) classes as one cardio session and was wondering last week what I could do for my second.
That problem was solved on Saturday morning when I went to a pump class. Jamie said to me: "I'd like you to walk up Te Mata Peak this afternoon." I laughed - he was serious. Visions of the first and last time I did this flashed through my mind as I numbly nodded in agreement.
It was about eight years ago, I went with a colleague. I thought I was quite fit. We went up the goat track, it was bloody hard. In fact at one point I sat down and said: "You go ahead and collect me on the way back." They were not keen on that idea and I was dragged to the top. Great feeling but I've never been back.
This time I was on my own and anyone who knows me also knows I have a terrible sense of direction.
I parked at the gated entrance and asked some young men in a car which was the quickest route to the top.
They pointed the way, told me to skip the Redwoods and just go through the gully. This I did and guess what? I was on the goat track. Oh my goodness. At one point I was grabbing handfuls of weeds and pulling myself up, praying they wouldn't rip out in my hand.
I lost count of how many times I stopped to catch my breath.
Then I couldn't see the track at all, but there was someone going down on the road so I called out to them and they pointed me in the right direction. I came out on the road with a short distance to go.
Phew. Rested for 10 minutes then down I went. However, I came out in a different place so asked a man the way to the carpark. Off I headed and ended up at the carpark at Tauroa Rd. I swore. Up I went. I saw a sign ... this way to peak carpark. I took it, it looped around and brought me back to to Tauroa Rd.
I swore again. Up I went. This time I encountered a couple walking their dog. They told me to stick to the wide track and it would take me to the gated carpark. Two hours later, I was never so glad to see my car.
I think I'll take someone with me next time.
Jamie has also asked me to go for a 15- to 20-minute walk within 15 minutes of eating my evening meal. I have really enjoyed doing this. It's an easy thing to fit into my exercise programme. The reason for it? "Most people sit down after their evening meal," Jamie said.
"Some evidence shows that if you do some light-to-medium activity it encourages food to move more into your muscles and less into storage. In other words, it might go to your leg muscles rather than settle on your hips." I'm all for that.
I'm feeling good and have had lots of encouragement from not only family and friends but from readers and work colleagues.
Next week I'll have some results and I'll talk about the eating plan.
For more information about Aspyre Fitness, ph 876 0539
For tips and advice go www.aspyre.co.nz
Linda Hall is a paying member of Aspyre Fitness
