My Trainer and the First Workouts

So after my Wednesday meeting with the sales pitch trainer, I got to meet my actual trainer on Friday. His name is John Smith and he’s a really nice guy with, wait for it, RED HAIR!!! He’s not really the Jillian Michaels kind of trainer, but he still pushes me really hard in a nice way.

As of today I have worked out with John 4 times. Interestingly enough, we have yet to do the same exercise twice. Each visit is 30 minutes long and consists of a circuit of exercises. It’s kind of amazing to me how all of these exercises work so many different muscles. I’m finding that I’m sore in places I didn’t even realize were muscles.

After the first workout I was terrified. My thighs hurt so bad after that workout that I could barely walk for over 3 days. It comes and goes though. I’m sore somewhere new everyday, but it keeps me going somehow. I’ll try and keep you posted on my workouts and how they are going. I will say that it’s a lot like doing aerobics with weights. My heart rate is up the whole time.

After each training session I’m supposed to get on the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes. The first visit I only made it about 10 minutes and as of today I made it the complete 30 minutes. I really hate the elliptical machine. It does however, burn a lot more calories than the treadmill does. I guess no pain, no gain.

I'm Back

Hey there! Did you miss me? I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I updated this. I owe anyone that actually reads this a major apology for my slacking. I’ve had MANY blog worthy stories to share this year. I just never could find the time to write them down. Actually, I think the correct statement is, I just never took the time to write these stories down. So, I’m back on track. I plan to be much better about updating my blog and I also plan to try and retell some of the more unbelievable stories I missed this past year.

I’ve made some big changes in my life recently. First and foremost, for those of you who didn’t know I QUIT SMOKING!!! For real this time too people!!! I know I’ve said that before but this is really it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still really want a cigarette, but I am done. I’ve made it past my milestone and won’t smoke again at least until I’m in my 80s and it doesn’t matter anymore.

The second big change in my life is I joined a GYM. No, this isn’t a joke, there is no hidden camera. I really did this.

For those of you who know me, you know I HATE to exercise. I think most of that is from when I was on the swim team in High School and the coach there scarred mea for life. We worked out 3-5 hours a day, 5 days a week, and probably 50 weeks a year. I did this for 3 full years and then quit the team due to events for another story. Nevertheless, I haven’t really worked out or been to a gym, more than 10 times since 1993.

To make matters even more exciting and strange, I hired a personal trainer. Knowing myself as well as I do, I knew I wouldn’t work out or push myself without someone making me do it Jillian Michaels or HS swim coach style. I’m lazy. I know this, you know this, and now the world knows this.

I do want to change though. I want a smoking hot body and to not get winded sightseeing on vacation.

So, how did all this come to pass? Well, to start with, most of the people I spent all my time with had babies this past year and therefore I never see them anymore. Then, I quit smoking and suddenly I had nothing but free time on my hands. When I first quit smoking (October 3rd) I had to stay busy to keep from smoking and so I finished almost all of my outstanding projects. Once they were all done, I realized I wasn’t doing anything except watching TV and knitting. So, I decided since I was gaining all this weight, was out of shape and had the time, that I should go sign up for a gym. The theory was that if I paid even just a little for a membership I would feel obligated to go and not waste my money. So, I signed up for a membership and it came with a free session with a personal trainer. What I now know is that these “free” sessions are well designed sales pitches. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am super glad I am doing this. However, after being weighed (no, I’m not sharing that awful number) and having my bmi (yes, he told me I was obese) taken by some hot young trainer and then doing what he called a 10 minute easy workout (totally lies). I was so worn out that my legs gave from under me and I wiped out on the stairs in front of the entire gym. I knew right then, I really needed help and so I signed the contract for 1 full year with a trainer.