3 Things I Learned from My Trainer
I have a love/hate relationship with my job.
Probably like most of you, I spend a bazillion hours every week sitting alone with my computer. I’m a busy writer, which provides a daily mental workout. But it does nothing for me physically. Actually, according to recent studies, it’s killing me. Have you heard all the experts warning us about our sedentary lifestyles?
Sitting is the new smoking. So I recently decided to add some years back to my life with a personal trainer.
Enter Nick: A 23-year-old college-football-playing certified personal trainer who’s hellbent on giving me defined shoulders and rock-hard abs (which I haven’t seen since I gave birth to twins). By May 31. In three short months. Just in time for swimsuit season. What the what?
I typically work out about four or five times a week, but I always stick to the corner of the gym with the ellipticals. Often followed by a taco. I decided I wanted to venture into the far corner with the weights and ropes and benches and intimidating meatheads—minus the taco. But I knew I’d need some handholding. Thus, Nick.
Before my first session, I grappled for a good 48 hours with the question, “What does one wear in the weight training corner if you don’t own a wife-beater or Under Armour?” Settling on some fashionable black capris and my Firespring T-shirt, I then had to decide, the one with the pink Nike swoosh or my gray Adidas? You know, my water bottle.
It’s all about the accessories. Workout wardrobe, check.
The day of our session, Nick called with this warning: “Carb up about an hour before our workout. Not gonna lie, it’s gonna be tough.” Gulp. Suddenly fashion was no longer a deal. Survival was. And did “carb up” mean a box of donuts?
Thankfully I lived to tell about it and now with a few weeks under my belt, my quads are fiery hot (not the good hot), my abs are shaky and my delts feel like they’ve been shredded. But I’m more determined to reach my May 31 goals. And I’ve learned some important lessons.
1. I can hold a plank way longer when someone is standing by my head with a timer. Call it accountability. Motivation. Pressure. Not wanting to look flaky in front of your ripped football-playing trainer. Whatever it is, there’s value in being pushed by someone else to do more and better. I’m fairly self-motivated, but I was physically capable of more than I expected each time Nick added another 10 seconds or 5 more reps. And it’s always gratifying (albeit painful) to know what you’re capable of.
2. Encouragement is priceless. I gave Nick permission to kick my butt in our sessions—I have aggressive goals. So I expected the workouts to be hard and the days after to be painful. What I didn’t expect was the high that came when he’d say, “Lisa, great job! You’re strong,” or he’d fist bump me with a big smile after a circuit routine or text me, “Awesome job in the gym today.” Encouragement is empowering. Never mind the fact that my workout is like a warmup to him—that he could run circles around me in that corner with the weights and ropes and benches. His encouragement (and fist bumps) make me feel like I’m the biggest meathead in the gym. I am woman, hear my roar.
3. It’s not just about what you do when people are looking. I meet with Nick twice a week, and those will be intense workouts, no doubt. No way am I going to wimp out in front of him and the other gym rats glancing to see if I can really lift that extra 10 pounds Nick just added. But that’s just two hours. Reaching my May 31 goals will be impossible if I don’t drag my aching quads and shredded delts to the gym on my own.
When I’m alone, I’m still tempted to camp out in the corner with the treadmills and ellipticals for 45 minutes, eschewing the weight training corner and avoiding my painful ab routine. But really, what’s that going to accomplish except allow me to have another taco? I’ll only reach my goals if I work out the way I need to when Nick’s not standing there.
Success comes when you want it regardless of who’s watching you succeed. I’m thankful for my sessions with Nick and the encouragement, motivation and education he’s providing. But lasting change and self-improvement? For all of us, that’s an inside job.
