It has been just over one week since I had my consultation and I have not yet heard back from the gym. To be honest, I was told it could take one to two weeks before a slot became available, so I am not overly concerned. What does concern me is that my enthusiasm is already beginning to wane, which does not bode well!

I have spoken about my self-imposed challenge to a few of my friends and they generally think I am slightly mad. Only yesterday my closest friend asked whether I had considered counselling — he has a point: even I recognise that something is not quite right in my head at the moment and perhaps I am having a mid-life crisis. But that is not the point.

My biggest worry (apart from the fact I have no idea how my future trainer will be and whether he will eat my head after he kills me) is what the shower facilities are like. I have this morbid fear of communal shower rooms. The mere though of them brings back memories of my school days and being towel whipped by the bigger, more popular boys. Why the hell did I not ask about this when I went for my orientation? Is it permissible to go to work after gym without showering, alas not!