A couple of years ago I had to have an operation on my nose.

I had these weird, harmless small "tentacle" like benign tumours growing up my nose of my sinuses called polyps and they needed to be removed because:

A) They were growing down into both sides of my nose which apparently can be a sign of something more sinister.

and 

B) My relationship was at breaking point as I was depriving Frankie (Mrs JB) of her sleep due not being able to breathe through my nose, and this equals one HEAVY snorer. 

We're talking snoring that measures on the Richter scale type stuff here.

Anyway, I had the op which all went fine and I was well on the way to recovery.

The only down side was having these enormous scabs up my nose thanks to the cuts the surgeon had to make during the operation.

The following week I was back working, training clients as normal. In one session I got the urge to have what would normally be an innocent little cough, only this time it ended up with a bloody scab flying out of my mouth, ricocheting off of my hand and landing perfectly onto my client's pearly white trainers.

I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed (and simultaneously revolted) in my life. 

(Actually, I have another really embarrassing story involving getting in a fight with a handbag snatching street performer but I'm sure I can fit that into another email somehow)

Once I'd apologised profusely and after plenty of wiping with paper towels, my face stopped being a deep shade of red.

My client was lovely about it, and once she had stopped running the risk of wetting herself laughing and insisting all was fine, we resumed the session.

My immediate thought was one of worry that she'd be SUPER hacked off with me for nearly ruining her trainers and never want to train with me again, but actually all was fine.

What can we learn from this?!

This fear of being judged or being embarrassed seriously puts on the brakes for a lot of us. 

For example, I've heard:

- People not training because they're worried about their partners not liking their new "shape"

- Women being scared to go into the free weights area of the gym because of the "meatheads".

- People concerned with what their mates will think when they go out and don't drink.

- Guys who are worried about people laughing when they try out a new exercise in the gym in case they get it wrong.

When the reality actually is that people have usually got so much of their own stuff going on that they don't really care or worry about what you're doing!

So don't let others' thoughts (that are potentially made up in your own head) hold you back from what is going to take you forward.

Much love,

JB

P.S. If you want to share your embarrassing fitness related stories to make me feel better then you're more than welcome!

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