Confessions of a Personal Trainer

Far too many times, when I say I am a personal trainer and that I teach yoga and pilates , people act weird around me; confessing laziness and poor nutritional patterns, looking at me as if I just said, “I think Hitler was a swell guy.” I always want to say, “I am not a priest or counselor, what you do with your body is truly your choice; as long as you are happy with those choices, that is all that matters.”

What people do not understand is, at least for me, knowing the science of exercise and nutrition , does not always mean that I practice it. After spending 8 hours a day in a gym or exercise studio, the last thing I want to do is get up an hour earlier to exercise or stay after work to workout. I stay physically active just from the sheer nature of my career. However, it is not enough. My body adapts to activity the same as everyone else. I, too, must continually challenge myself in order to meet my physical goals. Groan.

I get it. It is hard to push yourself. Unless you are a bit on the narcissistic, vein side, it is so much easier to not go through the torture of working out at a gym or (eek) going for a run alone! My ipod shuffle is permanently set with a mix just for running. If I am forced to run without my partner, those beats are probably the only thing keeping me going. Yoga is my passion , but after teaching three or four classes a day, it is challenging to go to a studio to practice, and well, you already know I won’t do it alone. I was devastated when my favorite instructor changed her schedule to no longer teach on my non-yoga teaching days. I tried dvd’s to motivate me to practice, but there is something about the energy of others that keeps me going. The silliest thing is that I know what I tell my clients is true, you will feel better after your workout.

You may think because I am a trainer and teacher that I know some secret that you don’t about feeling good and looking great. It’s true, I do. Buy clothes that fit you well and hide your poor choices. Okay, just kidding. I know more than that. Find activities that you love to do and do them. It is always easier to do with a friend and your relationship will certainly benefit from the time invested. For those with friends who are not interested in this kind of bonding time, get a dog to going you, running and playing. Chase each other a bit, it is good for both of your hearts. Set a goal to accomplish something that seems unattainable- a marathon, a dance class, climbing a mountain, etc. If you start small and just take the first step, you can do anything you set your mind to do!

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Know that your body is like a bank. Food and beverages are the deposit, exercise is a withdraw. The more you deposit, the larger your account. The more you withdraw, the smaller the account. Whatever choice you make about nutrition and exercise , be aware of it and happy with it. The next time you meet a trainer, instead of confessing your guilt, proudly share your successes or ask how you can make your program better. Trainers want to help people be healthier. It is a motivation for us and you might even inspire us less than perfect trainers make more time our own workout!

The Anti-Gym, Won’t-Take-Forever, I-Can-Do-This WorkoutWith any new workout regime, please consult your physician before beginning.

Lunges with bicep curls and overhead tricep press
Push-ups
Trunk lifts
Crunches: traditional, feet-up, feet down with knees 45 degrees to the side (each side)
Reverse crunches (hip lifts)
Arm circles with arms extended out from shoulders

Jump rope or jumping jacks for one minute between the exercises to help give your body a cardiovascular increase. Invest in a pedometer and aim for 10,000+ steps per day. While it sounds daunting, the steps you take daily accumulate quickly. You can add small activities like 10 squats before using the bathroom, taking the stairs, parking farther away from the entry to your destination, doing 10 heel lifts before reaching up to an upper shelf, and using commercial breaks for push-ups, lunges, abdominal and low back exercises.