As I'm just starting this fitness routine...I thought I'd give some helpful, useful advice...
Take what you can from it, ignore the rest and of course, if you disagree with anything...let me know!
Scroll down or hit the hyperlink to take you to the essay...
So I worked out at the Y today. I went straight from a seminar that I was attending and I forgot to take off my makeup. Now this might not seem like a big deal, but when you're a sweaty blonde blob, it can be scary.
I've mentioned I sweat. I've mentioned I'm not in the best shape. When you put those things together, it spells disaster.
The first 10 minutes I was fine. As I started to increase my RPM's and peddle faster, I started to sweat. I wiped my sweat on my tee-shirt sleeve, and looked at it - it was disgusting. A beautiful mixture of peach blush, fuchsia lipstick and brown black supposedly waterproof mascara. I'm calling L'Oreal. Waterproof my ass.
There are no mirrors in the cardio room. A blessing yes, because I don't have to look at myself, but a hindrance, because when you're a sweaty blonde blob, you need to fix the face.
As I approached my car, and looked in the mirror, I had a panic attack. Across my face was a streak where blush once stood. Below my bottom lip on the concave of my chin, was my lipstick.
God, I'm a beauty. Remind me again why I don't have a steady man?
Heed my warning, no matter what occurs, take off the makeup. Bring a towel. Wipe the face on the towel.
Trust me.
I simply adore my trainer. The more I get to know him, the more I like him. I suppose I knew I'd like him, simply because he's V's brother and she's so awesome. Most brothers are cool when their sisters are cool (sadly, that didn't happen in my family, but I'll still go on the record as saying MOST of the time they are!). Anyway, from day 1, I felt comfortable with him.
A doesn't make me feel bad about the way I look. It's hard to describe, but I don't think he much cares that I'm a blob, more so that I become healthy. Now I might be totally off base and he might think I'm the most repulsive, ghastly site he's ever seen, but if he does think that, then he hides his horror pretty well. So thank God for that.
In the month or so I've been exposed to trainers and their clients - I've noticed trends and stereotypes.
Now at the risk of embarrassing my trainer, I'm going to tell you some not so secret things about him.
He's handsome and he has a great body.
I know what you're thinking - a handsome personal trainer with a good body? Can't be! They don't exist! Well it's true. Now, he's not Mr. Arnold Olympia or anything, {although V & M told me about some picture of him in a yellow thing I'm supposed to look at someday - when he was really bulked up} but he's totally fit and you can tell how strong he is.
My point is, that he's your fairly stereotypical "PT". I mean, when you think of a PT, you're not thinking they'll look like Shaggy, more like a Super Friend.
Most of the other trainers I've seen at his gym and at the Y, appear to be huge. However, I think some of it is an illusion, as they wear super tight tee-shirts and even tighter shorts or leggings. A wears loose shorts and a tee-shirt and doesn't appear to show off. He doesn't flex when he hands me things, or strain his neck muscles so they bulge when he talks to me. He doesn't taunt me with his body, or oil his skin so it glistens. He also doesn't point out my inadequacies. Although it's apparent that he could, he's above that. Difference # 1.
Most of the other trainers I've seen, talk very strangely to their clients. For example, I overheard one male trainer telling his female client that the "thong will look wrong, if you don't do this right". Say that with me again..."The thong will look wrong, if you don't do this right". I don't think I'd be out of line if I said that if A said that to me, I'd pop him in the face. Another trainer, a female this time also talking to a female client, said, "Feel my ass here, {she pointed to her flexed ass} - this is what they want." I'm assuming that 'they' was referring to the men that will obviously be swarming about her ass once it is as tight as that of the trainers. And yet another trainer said to his female client, "you are going to be so hot when we're finished".
You know what A says to me? "10 more reps". "5 more reps". " Good job K". When we talk about non-fitness stuff, he doesn't mention a thong. We've talked about writing, his son, my dogs, our jobs, families, THINGS that matter!! He hasn't asked me to feel his ass, although.... No, I kid. I'm funny, so I kid. Take no mind. I don't want him to say I'll be "HOT" when I finish training with him. I'm not training with him to become "Hot". I'm training with him to become fit. I think the thing that makes me angry is when it's assumed that you have to be a total skinny-minny in order to be considered "Hot". I'm the furthest thing from skinny, but I think there are plenty of times that I look "Hot". I think "Hot" is a state of mind. It's the way you present yourself. It also helps to have big boobs, which luckily I do. So Difference # 2 - is the way that A is normal in the way we converse with each other.
Difference # 3 can be summed up in one word - 'distinction'. I know the distinction between A and I. He is fit and I am not. He is strong and I am not. Now, let's put a 'YET' at the end of both of those sentences. I realize that he excels at fitness, because that is how he makes his living. I also realize that although I hope someday to be as fit as him, I know it's not going to happen overnight. I'm going to be patient enough to wait.
Some of these people I see either with their trainers or working out alone, have such a longing, pitiful look in their eye. I can see their obsession and it's sad. There is one woman in particular that I see at the Y all the time. If she's 80lbs I'd be surprised. She runs on that treadmill as if her life depends on it. C, a girl I met at the Y, told me that she used to be super heavy. Now, she's anorexic. She works out a minimum of 2 hours everyday.
I'm not going to let this take over my life. It's a part of it and I'll deal with it and do what it takes to finish the job up. There are many things I excel at. Maybe fitness will be one, maybe not. But I'm going to try.
So, to sum up...I adore my trainer. He is wonderful, smart, fun to be with and he is nice! Key word - NICE! He's tough, but not too tough. He's EVERYTHING BUT a cliché in tight clothes.
Call him...or e-mail him...let him train you. You WON'T be disappointed. AND tell him you heard about him from me.
Oh, and if he lets one of you feel his ass, I'll be pissed. I honestly think I should get first crack.
No pun intended.