judaism decca: Fitness Friday :: Hire A Personal Trainer

Today I?m linking up with my friend Sherry over at Super Exhausted?for her Fitness Friday link-up.

By the way, have you seen these adorable super hero capes that she makes? So fun.

I recently started a strength training program.

Yes, in addition to running.

My commitment to running has a lot more to do with my mental and digestive health than it does with my desire for cardiovascular fitness. I am convinced that running cured me of the winter doldrums I used to struggle with. It also seems to keep my digestive system moving in the right direction. I can tell when I slack off on the running?because?I start to feel bloated, and my acid reflux flares up.

Seriously, I could go on and on and ON with the benefits of running, but I?knew that without any strength training, I was sorely neglecting an important part of any fitness program.

I?ve heard it said that you do cardio to extend your life and you do strength training to improve the quality of your life. That makes sense, although as I said above, I am pretty sure that running has done a lot for my quality of life. But strength training?is really crucial to maintaining your health and vitality as you get older.

Why Strength Training?

Here?s a break down on what strength training can do for you:

Improves bone density, which helps fight?osteoporosis?(a condition that runs in my family).
Improves balance, protecting you against injury as you get older.
Increases your lean muscle mass, enabling you to fight more fat and calories all day long (so you can eat more, YAY!)
Tones your body and makes you look better.

I?ve always been what I jokingly refer to as ?skinny fat? ? meaning I?m relatively thin, but not necessarily healthy and fit.

I really want to feel strong and fit as I head into my forties. And to achieve that, I felt that I needed to get back to strength training.

I?ve lifted weights before, and I always enjoyed it, but I never stuck with it long enough to see really great results.

So a few months back when I was feeling the burden of the BIG 4-0 rapidly approaching and I was fighting with a few extra winter pounds, I?inquired?about personal training at my local YMCA. My mom actually inspired me. She has been working out with a personal trainer for about a year and she?s had tremendous results.

I feel a bit sheepish admitting this because it seems so indulgent when there are people all around us struggling to put food on the table. I ?mean, why the heck can?t I just go to the gym and work out by myself?

Yeah, well. I?ve tried that. Over and over and over for the past 25 years. It has always ended in defeat and frustration.

Why I decided to try personal training:

I have no idea what I?m doing when it comes to strength training, and I really want to make sure I?m doing it right.
If I?m going to take the time out of my crazy schedule to work out, I want to get the maximum?possible result.
I wanted the accountability of having an appointment.
I didn?t want to do the work of figuring out a workout program. I just want someone to tell me what to do.

Sure, I could have tried to do it on my own, but I knew that having a trainer would go a long ways towards increasing my potential for success and sustainability.

I was able to look at a wall of pictures and choose the trainer I wanted to work with. I immediately honed in on a attractive woman that looked about my age. I filled out the forms, scheduled my first appointment, and purchased the largest package of training sessions they offer. I was fully committed to making this stick and I didn?t dare allow?myself?the temptation of giving up before I had a chance to see results.

Little did I know what I was getting myself into! This lady?s is a task master. She takes no prisoners. WHICH is exactly what I need.

Also? Ironically? She?s a runner. Like a real one. She runs marathons and actually places and stuff. Plus she?s a mom so we have plenty to talk about while she?s putting me through numerous?torturous?maneuvers.

So, how?s it going?

I. Love. It.

I. Hate. It.

It?s empowering.

It?s demoralizing.

I dread every session for the pain I know I?m going to feel, and I look forward to every session for how amazing I?m going to feel walking out of there when it?s done.

I enjoy the camaraderie?of belonging with the other moms who are there, like me, making their health and fitness a priority.

And yet.

There is nothing quite as depressing as seeing that flabby 39-year-old woman in those full length mirrors, struggling to keep those pitiful-sized weights from bonking her in the head while the muscle-bound guy next to her heaves giant barbells up and down and right and left like they?re a sack of potatoes.

And then realizing, that flabby 39-year old woman is ME!

So yeah, it has its ups and downs.

But at this point in my life, it is what I need.

Why I Like It

The accountability of having an appointment has helped me be consistent.?I can fit in the running ? it only takes 45 minutes out of my day. But going to the gym takes an entire morning out of my work schedule. It is REALLY hard to walk away from the computer and lose a morning of work. Having a set appointment is the only thing that gets me out of the house most days.

I?ve learned that I will never push myself as hard as I do when there is?someone?standing over me with a whip. Plus, the slightest shift in position makes a huge difference in how effective the exercise is and which muscles you are actually working.?I love that she can tell me to shift my feet just an inch or bring my arms closer to my body, and I am working out an entirely different muscle. It would take hours of study and experimentation to figure out those?intricacies?on my own.

I love that I?don?t have to put a program together or figure out how to make sure I work every major?muscle?group.?I just have to do what she tells me.?She can see where I have weaknesses and knows what exercises I need to do to help me achieve my goals. If I?d had to take the time to figure all that out, I?d never have gone back to the gym.

And also, I like how she changes up our routine every time. We never do the same routine twice so it doesn?t get boring. Plus, if I HATE a particular exercise, I?know?I don?t have to do it over and over again every time I work out. And this way my body doesn?t get too used to the same exercise; by constantly changing it up, I?m getting better (and faster) results.

What are the results?

I am slowly starting to see changes in my strength and muscle tone.

My arms look more defined, for sure.

I keep watching my stomach and tushy to see if they are getting tighter, but so far I don?t notice much visible difference. I have always hated my midsection and was hoping working out like this would tighten it up. I suppose I need to give it more time. It?s only been about four months.

But I FEEL So. Much. Different.

I feel strong. I have more energy and more confidence. It?s incredibly empowering to build muscle strength and endurance, especially for a person who has never been the least bit athletic.

My?husband?is totally on board, as he sees the results too.

Next week I?ll tell you about the program we?re doing and how she introduced me to TRX ? a crazy suspension training system that is so totally different from anything I?ve ever done before.

About Jo-Lynne Shane

Jo-Lynne Shane has written 2889 posts..

I'm a transplanted Virginian living in the suburbs of Philadelphia with my husband and three lively children and author of this mom blog. When I'm not buried under piles of laundry, you will mostly likely find me with my nose stuck in a book or hanging out on Twitter: JoLynneS.