IN the last two weeks I've learned two very important lessons.

The first is saying "I'm back" and actually being back are two very different things and the second is that no matter how much you think you've improved there's always someone much, much better than you.

I realised that claiming I was back in last week's column was always a risky move and it quickly dawned on me that after having a week of avoiding the high impact exercises, starting doing them again was very tiring.

On Monday night I start by doing the sprints, followed by the star jumps and by the time I come to skipping I feel just as unfit as I did when I first started these circuits.

The second circuit begins and Noelle comes up to me to ask if I'm ok leg-wise.

"I'm fine," I say, wiping a ridiculous amount of sweat from my brow, "I'm just feeling really unfit!"

I must admit, however, that despite feeling more worn out than I thought was possible by then end of the session I'm really feeling that I've achieved something.

That is until we do the stretch off and lesson two rears its head.

This time we're told to do a sit down stretch for our hamstrings and while I'm happily noticing that although I can't actually touch my toes.

I'm getting nearer than ever before, I see the woman next to me bend over completely (in half it seems) and touch her toes with ease making her rib cage touch her legs.

I can tell we're all impressed and even though I can't even touch mine yet I guess it's good to know that there's always scope for improvement. I may not be 100 per cent back - but I'm determined I soon will be.