Extreme fitness challenge: Hi I’m Emma, sorry I’m late!

Dunedin hairdresser Emma Rastrick has bravely decided to take on World Fitness Centre's TribeFIT training programme with the aim of getting in shape in just six weeks. 

Week 1 Day 1: Yes I was late and yes, they had to call out a search party to come and find me during my workout.

Went to bed early so could get up early to prevent the very thing that ended up happening anyway. I hate being late, especially when I don't know people and I stumble in late looking like a hot mess.

I walk in and everyone was already warming up, not good.

Alannah (my TribeFIT trainer) introduced herself to me and got me started with some burpees. The problem was I had never seen a burpee so poor old Alannah had to get down and show me how to do them (sorry Alannah).

I'm not exactly what you'd call "sporty or athletic", far from it. In school I remember always being picked last for team games. I've tried to get into shape with the exercises that most people use, such as running and skipping etc. I also have a rowing machine and an exercise bike, but they pretty much just sit there as stand-alone clothes hangers.

Anyway, Alannah pointed to a big whiteboard with all of the exercises for the session and I had absolutely no clue what they were...it was going to be a long day.

So my very first training session had begun.

I did 10 burpees followed by squats then we went up to 20 burpees followed by more squats . . . then 30 burpees . . . at this point I'm not feeling too good. In fact I'm sweating like crazy and my body felt as if it was drunk, like I forgot how to use my legs!

Alannah could see me struggling and kept talking me through the whole thing and encouraging me to keep going. At one point she even moved me over to the fan to help me cool down.

Time to go around the block for a run. . . . I'm knackered.

"Hold on! Where's Emma?"

I must've been away on my run for a while because a group came back to find me. The great thing was the other girls were amazing. They kept encouraging me to keep pushing on.

I didn't finish the session I still had exercises left to do at the 40 minute mark (each session goes for 40 minutes), but I felt I gave it everything I could.

The hardest part by far was the burpees. Not a fan of them at all. The best part was the running, it was just good to get out into some fresh air.

By the end I was shattered. I have never experienced anything like this and if I had to be honest I don't think I would've put my hand up if I knew what it was going to be like.

The funny thing was this weird sensation after the workout which is hard to explain. My skin feels like it's buzzing. It's a great feeling, not sure whether that's because I actually survived or because of the endorphins but it's pretty cool.

I've got another workout on Wednesday and I'm a little scared about what they're going to put me through next!

Pray for me guys.

Emma is a born and bred Dunedin girl and has been a stylist for over 13 years. She's somewhat of a public figure around here and has been involved in many competitions, with one recently being held in Australia working behind the scenes on fashion models. Like most of us, starting a programme and sticking with it is the big challenge so she's hoping that these 6 weeks will be the kickstart she needs.