THE time has come to have my vital stats re-checked to see how I'm responding to the circuit training and I have to admit to feeling more than a little nervous.

Partly because I had to miss both of last week's sessions thanks to a bout of laryngitis that floored me and partly because about half an hour before coming to tonight's class I foolishly ate a chocolate bar.

My first session back on Monday after my unplanned hiatus saw the whole circuit change and it now consists of four circuits, with a change after the first two with each station lasting either 60 or 45 seconds.

Noelle also thought it fun to include a minute of cardiovascular workout in between each circuit including squat-thrusts, star jumps and jogging.

I threw myself into the class on Monday making sure I tried to do everything for the full length of time and, surprisingly, I managed to.

It definitely helped that the circuit was new - with the added excitement of a climbing wall station.

Now it's Thursday and time for Noelle to re-take my stats. After publicising my weights and measurements so shamelessly when I started this fitness column now is the moment of truth to see if I'm actually any fitter or not.

"Do you feel better in yourself," asks Noelle.

"Yes," I mumble nervously, wishing to God I hadn't eaten the aforementioned chocolate bar.

I step up to the scales nervously not wanting to look down just in case I'm a lot heavier than I was before.

It turns out I've gained a pound (damn my chocolate craving) but all my measurements are the same. The great news is that the percentage of my body made up of fat has dropped from 26 per cent to 24 percent - something I am very pleased about.

So even though there may be a little more of me, at least a whole lot less of me is fat. I'm determined to keep up the good work.