My comments to Steve, personal trainer, after my workout with him last Friday, was that it didn’t hurt too much.  WRONG THING TO  SAY!  He made sure this week I would feel the burn!  And feel the burn I did.  I could barely lift my arms over my head by the time he was finished with me.  I thought my arms had turned to jelly.  I have to say it was a great workout.  I recommend people get a personal trainer to help them on their weight loss journey, as you will really get pushed beyond where you think you can manage.  The zone where you make ‘real’ progress is not the warm up, but the last few reps that you are struggling to get out.

This is how I felt after my workout

Steve was funny today – my workout started with me having to piggy back him THEN do steps – he weighs 68kgs, and I had to do three reps of 10 per leg steps!  It must have looked totally hilarious to anyone looking on.  Later in the workout, he forgot how to count.  ONly 4 more..3 more.. 2 more..ok… 2 more..now 2 more.. 1 more.. good.  Hmm.  Hold it for 5 seconds… 5….4…3…2…..2….2….2…..1  or 5…..4…..3…..2….long pause of 10 seconds…..2…..  All in all, a fun workout, but one I am still feeling tonight.  As he said, no workout over the weekend, so my muscles have a couple of days to recover.

I won’t bore you with the whole routine today, suffice to sya, there was a lot of focus on the upper body strength.  Hence the arms of jelly.  Also noticed my right knee has a bit of a twinge, will have to be careful on this.

Today I had a one hour session with my personal trainer.  Before that of course, I had my usual morning walk, although with the torrential rain, had to time it well and dodge a few raindrops!  Easy to let the weather be an excuse but I enjoy my morning walk and am not letting excuses dictate to me!

you get better results with a trainer!

The workout with Steve went very well – for starters, I didn’t throw up all over the gym.  In fact, this time I found the going pretty good in that I did not feel ‘puffed’ or nauseous at all.  However, I certainly felt it in my muscles.  The great thing about today’s workout was the variety.  I actually enjoyed it.  If someone told me three weeks ago that I would ‘enjoy’ an hour long workout with a personal trainer, I would have laughed.  Progress!  Steve is good in that he doesn’t just stick you on a machine and make you do boring reps.  He mixes it up, and keeps it interactive and fun.  I can categorically say there is no way I could push myself as far or as hard in a workout on my own.  Having a trainer with you really helps push past limits you didn’t know you could.  If you are reading this and wondering why your gym isn’t working for you, I recommend you look into getting a personal trainer.

So my workout today included (it was all new exercises, so I describe them as best I can)

2 min warm up on rowing machine

Power set = 12 x vertical push + 16 x steps (including kicking medicine ball on up step) + sitting pull thingees x 14.  Repeat 3 times with some little variations in the angles etc.

Press ups x 10 (reach up and hit his hand after each one)

Press ups x 10 (balance one hand on medicine ball, do press up, change hands, do press up)

Press ups x 10 (one hand on box, press up, move hands over eachother so other hand on box, press up)

Sitting Shoulder Press (free weights) x 12 – repeat 3 times

Super Set – Bicep curls x 14 + front pulls x 14 – repeat 3 times

Squeezeball hammies (lie on back, heels on squeezeball, raise hips off ground, pull squeezeball in and back out) x 10 – repeat 3 times

Ab Superset – situp and punch trainer hands x 14 + lie on front raise arm and opposite leg x 14 – repeat 3 times

I think that covers it all, I know it was a great workout.  I considered a run afterward but my knee is a little sore so I decided to rest it.  Not an excuse, genuinely being careful as my right knee has been a bit sore.

I have to admit I felt like I had hit a wall today.  I did my 35 minute walk and stair climb no problem.  I felt fine, and went to the gym as usual, and started my workout, but found it difficult to push myself.  It was like my brain just did not want to do it!  I am glad I have a stubborn streak, as I forced myself through it.  It is hard to describe what hitting the wall felt like.  Maybe this is where self discipline has to assert itself.  However, it will not be a problem, I finally let my persistent personal trainer talk me into weekly sessions (Fridays) with him over and above the half an hour I get with the 12 week transformation challenge.  So that means I spend one hour on Fridays for the remainder of the program, and I am sure I will not be allowed to hit any walls!

As I have been in the gym every week day since I started the program, I have been able to observe Steve in action.  Although his sales attempts could do with some work (maybe I should offer him half price sales coaching), he really knows what he is doing on the gym floor.  I see him pushing people hard, and they keep coming back for more!  But from those I have spoken to, they are happy with his methods and results.  He genuinely seems to care about the people he works with, so what do I have to lose, apart from weight?  So now fatbird will spend an extra hour per week with him and we will see what happens!

Today’s workout

• Squeezeball squats x 14 + press ups x 14 – super set, repeat three times
• Push ups x 10 – wanted to see if I could do more after my super set above
• Sitting Rows x 15 – repeat 3 times
• Lunges x 16 – repeat three times (definately still my most hated exercise)
• Squeezeball Ab crunch x 15 – repeat 3 times
• Lateral Pulldowns (shoulder press) x 15 – repeat 3 times
• Flying Dumbells x 12 – repeat 3 times (this one is hard!)
• CARDIO – 17 minutes on the treadmill at a good pace!

So despite it being hard, I managed to push on through the training and felt damned good at the end.  After a workout, I usually take the lift up to my apartment, but today I must have been daydreaming and found myself on the stairs before I realised it!  So two stair climbs so far today.

Woke up feeling very ill this morning.  I had been viciously attacked by mosquitoes and had a few big itchy lumps on my arms and hands.  I felt totally flat, slightly feverish, and a little dizzy.  I skipped my walk.

Evil little monsters!

As it neared 12pm, I came very close to postponing my one hour session with Steve, my personal trainer.  I guess I surprised myself with my level of determination, because I went to the gym anyway.  I am not going to let a little dengue fever (eek, I hope not) stop me from achieving my goals!

Steve was great, warmed me up on the cross trainer (it burns over 700 calories an hour!).  Then he ran me through a whole lot of different exercises, I enjoyed the variety.  He seemed to sense when I was near my end and let me rest as needed, but made sure I did every rep he asked for!  Chin ups, pull ups, press ups, squats, lunges, etc etc.  I am pretty sure I had nothing left to give at the end of that workout, except bucket loads of sweat.

phew! tough workout!

Now, an hour later, I am feeling much better, and don’t feel sick like I did this morning!  This shows me how important it is to push through when the going gets a little tough.  I am glad I went today, or I would have missed learning what pushing through a barrier felt like!  Now I know I can do so much more!  Looking forward to week one weigh in!