Well, today I had my first visit with my new personal trainer.
How did it go, you ask? Well…it went well!
It wasn’t too strenuous, it being the first time we’d met and the first chance she’d had to see me in action, so to speak. I warmed up lightly for 30 minutes on the treadmill, and she gave me some good tips for cardio: you have to shake it up – keep your heart on its toes, so to speak. You do 1-2 minutes at a regular pace, then take it up a notch, either faster pace or higher incline for 1-2 minutes. But you don’t always do the same things for each interval or for the same amount of time. One time you increase the incline, one time the pace, maybe both…you get the picture.
So then we moved on to the strength training. A few different kinds of squats in the smith machine…that didn’t feel so great after a full 6 hours of skiing yesterday, let me tell ya!
Then some upper body work…couldn’t do more than 5 pull-ups – eek! And I actually had to lift my own left leg with my hands in order to get into the upright row position, because my hip muscles were so tight and weak from skiing:
How embarassing was that?
But I did rock the ball exercises. Seems my yoga practice has really helped with the core strength, at least! And the wickedest ab exercise EVER! You start with a plank, supported on your elbows, comme ça:
Now, you have to do this exercise on a smooth floor (wood, preferably). You fold up a little hand towel, and place it under your toes. Then you curl up your knees and pull your feet in as far as possible. Ouch! Try that ten times! (I managed 8).
So, I go back for the first real workout on Wednesday morning. I have a really good feeling about this…combined with my renewed focus on Weight Watchers, I’m hoping my ten one-on-one sessions will be what busts me out of my weight loss torpor and gets me back down to my goal.
See you in the gym!
wow, that sounds killer. how did you feel the next day? i’ve been training on and off with a trainer since march and it’s been amazing. I’ve even continued during my pregnancy in hope that the recovery this time (as opposed to the 60 pound travesty that occurred last time) can be avoided. the greatest thing is that i’ve learned so much from her that now when i walk into a gym on my own, i feel confident to do so many more things.
Try that plank exercise, but put the ball under your feet. Then flip over & do the same sort of exercise (plank but supported on your shoulder blades) pulling your feet towards you for a killer hamstring exercise (plus the great core stuff too). Sounds like you have a great trainer. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Chin-ups…I couldn’t even do one in high school! I wonder if I could do one now!
i cannot even tell you how much i’m drooling right now. i’d give my left arm for a trainer!
so you have 10 sessions in a row with him/her? or do you work out some of the time on your own? how was your weigh-in at WW?
I ran yesterday but am still a complete pig! I can not stop eating…and junk. Ugh.