Desperate measures (or rather measurements!)

Having failed miserably to dramatically improve my fitness levels through my own efforts this winter, I have now enlisted the help of an expert in the form of a personal trainer who is very enthusiastically throwing himself into the challenge of whipping me into shape for the climb.

His first task was to measure my vital statistics and current level of fitness. The resultant report makes for very sober reading. Resting heart rate - high; blood pressure - high; body fat content - high ....in fact - everything high!

He then put me on a treadmill - a mile walking as fast as possible while at the same time being grilled about my knowledge of carbohydrates, sugars, insulin, glucagon etc. My mind was reeling and my heart was leaping about in my rib cage like an angry kangaroo.

His prognosis was that there is a lot of work to be done. You don't say!