personal trainer: day one.

Today was my "first official" training session, although I'm fairly certain last week should have counted because boy, was I sore after our initial "get to know you session".  We worked out together for about 20 minutes, and then I couldn't walk up and down stairs for the next three days.

Anyway, today we met for my first "official" session and I was still worn out, but it was manageable. I could do everything she asked me to, although I needed some breaks in between (like instead of doing 15 reps in a row, I would have to do 5 or 10 and then rest and finish out the set).

 

So, in an effort to try and remember what the workouts were and to give you a general idea of what I am doing, I wanted to blog some basics about the workouts that I'm doing. Although I'm a healthcare professional, you should obviously seek the advice of your physician, not me. And I'm a nurse, not a personal trainer, so don't ask me the real terms for half of these moves, because I don't know. 

Warm Up: 

15 shoulder presses using a TRX rope 

20 jumping jacks

15 arm circles forward, 15 arm circles back

20 jumping jacks

After the warm up, we dove right in.

• First, we did some "wall ball squats" with some sort of ball (sorry, I am so official..) that weighed 10 pounds. You squat, then using your legs, throw the ball up against the wall as high as you can. Repeat times 15. 
• 15 shoulder rows using the TRX rope. 
• 15 backward lunges while holding a 20 pound kettlebell on each side. 
• 15 "push ups" using the TRX rope. 
• 30 crunches while holding a 20 pound weight
• 30 second plank
• Jog down then sprint up 2 flights of stairs...repeat 4 times.

Then...repeat again.

It might not sound like much to someone who is in shape, but I'm not. And it's hard. I'm wiped out still 5 hours later.


My "homework" is to do 2 days of cardio before I meet with her again next week. Anyone have suggestions for some fun workouts I can do (cardio OR otherwise) in the next few days? I'm wishing I had better balance because yoga sounds delightful right now.

So, even though I'm exhausted, this is the thought that's running through my mind:

the day I discovered I had a hidden talent

On our Michigan trip last summer, Sam and two of our friends convinced me to go fishing. I had not been fishing in many, many years, and wasn't super excited to do so again. Several reasons for this: one, worms are disgusting. Two, fish are mean. Three, fish scales are painful. Four, while I'm not a vegetarian, I don't find it entertaining to maim animals (including fish, excluding deer) for fun.

Sam is a great fisherman, as is evidenced in this photograph of Sam from when he was a small child. 

Look at Tiny Sam with his Tiny Chucks.

So we headed out to the middle of Lake Leelanau and cast our lines. And although I was not the first to catch a fish, I certainly caught the biggest.

And the most. *

This is actually Sam's fish. He did catch one. Or two. Not six like me.

I'm also humble.

Such a pro I don't even lose the worms, say whaaaat?!

You'll notice that Sam is holding most of these fish. Although I'm great at reeling the fish in, I'm not as interested in touching them once they are in the boat. Therefore, Sam was in charge of unhooking them and tossing them back.

There you have it. My secret talent. If you ever need a fishing buddy, you know who to call!

*No fish were harmed killed in the making of this blog post.

getting "personal"

You may have noticed this tab on my blog at the top of the page: 500 Miles in 2014.


My friend Leah once blogged about how she was trying to run 500 miles in a calendar year, and I thought it was a great idea (I still do), so I tried to do the same thing in 2012. I think I ran around 100 miles that year. Needless to say, not quite 500.

I decided fine, 2013 was going to be my year. I turned 25 and wanted to get in shape and be fit. I was finally off orientation at my job, and was starting to settle in to living in St. Louis a little more.
 

You know what's coming. I ran a total 7 miles in 2013. SEVEN. I used to run 7 miles in a day and it would be no big deal. Instead of doing something about it, I continued laying on the couch on my days off, justifying it by saying, "Well, I'm on my feet for 14 hours during my average work day!" That's true. I'm not saying it's not tiring, because it is. But guess what: my friends who are nurses do CrossFit, and run marathons, and go to kickboxing, and spinning, and are active. They work just as hard as I do and they are just as tired, and some of them even have children to take care of, or pets. I don't have either of those things.

I knew it was all just an excuse, and I was tired of it. I began to change my eating habits, and even though they are not perfect (and likely never will be), I have gotten better about the choices I'm making.

 Choice #1: Join a gym.
 I joined the same one that Sam & his mother belong to, so I have a built in gym buddy. I like this one for several reasons. One, exercise classes are included. Yes. Check. I hate it when gyms charge you extra on top of the membership fee you already pay. Lame.

Choice #2: Cut out soda.
 It's hard. Every single day this is a challenge. I go a few days without it, then I have a lapse. I'm constantly trying to work on this and hope that someday, I will be able to go more than a few days without Coke. And don't bother suggesting I drink Diet Coke, because I'd rather die. Ok that's dramatic but I seriously. hate. diet. coke.

Choice #3: Hire a personal trainer (note the title of this blog post.
 This was an expensive choice. I doubt that it's one that I'll be able to keep up with. Right now though, once a week, me and my personal trainer Malinda are going to be working it out. And let me tell you, how sore I was after the first day is a definite motivator to get in the gym on the days I'm off work because I never want to feel like THAT again.

Choice #4: Be happy.
And even though it's a struggle sometimes as well, that's what I'm choosing today, and hopefully most of the other days in the future.