Sunday, July 24, 2011

Facing My Fears

I have another confession to make...  I'm kind of a pain in the ass!  I don't mean to be.  In fact, the episode that I'm thinking of was done purely out of fear.  Fear of failure to be exact.

I had mentioned that after a rowing class, we plugged in numbers and I came up less than poor in my effort, yada, yada, yada.  I also mentioned that we were insured by the instructor that the site was wrong and that in fact our efforts were very good.  I actually had a meeting scheduled with the trainer so that he could re-evaluate things.  I show up for the appointment fully expecting to plug some numbers into a different program and have the results spit out within a few minutes.  No problem.

When I get there for my evaluation, he clicks the mouse on the computer to start the program.  I'm then asked if I hear the beat on the computer.  I do.  I'm then asked if I see the step in front of me.  I did, but I got a little feisty asking what in the heck the step had to do with the rowing challenge!  Well, I put two and two together as I'm told I had to step on the step, keeping the beat from the computer.  This will last about 3 minutes, then my heartbeat will be taken and we'll go from there.  Really?  Because all I wanted to do was plug in some numbers and go about my business.  I didn't want any part of doing an activity and then have to be judged on it again!  So I said that I really had no desire to do it.  He really did try to talk me into it.  He tried to tell me that with all the rowing, spinning and step I do, my evaluation should be really good and I can see how much progress I've made.  I still wasn't convinced, so I didn't do it.  I joked around a little bit, then left the fitness office.

Looking back now, I feel bad about it.  The trainer stayed there specifically to do this test with me to help build my confidence.  Instead, I let the fear of failure get the best of me.  I was so worried that I'd "fail" the test or have rotten numbers.  I was afraid I'd find out that all my hard work hadn't done any good and I was still horribly out of shape.  I wasted his time, which was very selfish.

So, I've decided to bite the bullet and do it.  I'll start off with a necessary apology.  I'm then going to come clean and fess up to the fact that I was scared.  I don't know how on earth I expect myself to be able to train with a trainer when I can't even do this simple thing in front of one!  I need to stop thinking that I'm going to be judged by someone more physically fit than I am.  Those trainers are there to help me, not judge me.  I swear, I felt like I was back in high school and the skinny girls were watching the rest of us exercise!  Not at all what was happening, but that's so how I felt.

So, despite the ridiculous butterflies that will be in my stomach, I'm going to pull up my big-girl panties and take the test.  Fear won't get in my way again!

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