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Friday, January 9, 2015

Life after having a trainer

As I mentioned in early December, I had signed up for personal training sessions via a Black Friday special.  The deal came with three sessions, and Beth gave me two freebies. 

Session 1
We mostly talked about my goals and did some health assessments that were a wakeup call for me.  I realized how much ground I'd lost and had to take a hard look at making changes.

Session 2
10-minute warm-up on the treadmill
Ball chest press (10x each arm)
Wall ball squat (10)
Low pulling row (10)
Step up to balance (10x each leg)
Back extension on ball (10)
Dumbbell curl with balance (10)
Deadlift (10x each legg)
Seated dips
... Oh, and I repeated everything except the treadmill warm-up three times.  I was mildly sore the next day.

Session 3
10-minute warm-up on the treadmill
Chest press with incline (10)
Lat pulldown (10)
Squat to bench (10)
Leg raises (10)
Push-ups (10)
Row (10 each arm)
Twist with cable (10 each arm)
Step up lunges (10)
Back extension (10)
Knee raises (10)
Plank (1 minute)
Side plank (1 minute each side)
Bridge (1 minute)
... Again, I repeated everything except the warm-up three times.  I was really sore after this workout.

Session 4 (Savannah joined me for this one)
10-minute warm-up on treadmill
Hammer low row (10)
Hammer row (10 each arm)
Bench press w/ leg raise (10)
Step up/lunge back (10 each leg)
Play catch with weighted ball (10)
Tricep extension (10)
Bicep curl machine (20)
Kettleball swing (15)
Wall balls (10)
Rotator cuff (10)
High five planks (10)
Bridge (30 seconds)
... Again, three times through each time.

Session 5
10-minute warm-up on treadmill
50 box jumps
50 jump pullups
50 swings
50 walking lunges
50 knee raises
50 push presses
50 back extensions
50 wall balls
50 burpees
50 jump rope
... Yeah, I was dead after this one.  She called it the Filthy 50 and I see why.

She gave me the notes from all of these workouts, and I've been doing a few of them with Savannah during our morning sessions.  (Needless to say we haven't done the Filthy 50, though I may put myself through that one day when I really need a but kicking.) It's nice to have a plan in the gym instead of just wandering and jumping on random machines.  More importantly, I know how more of the machines in the gym work.  I've always been too intimidated to ask before.

So, my sessions with Beth are over. For now.  I want to evaluate my finances and see if I can do one session a month with her. I feel like I need an extra kick in the butt now and then. Overall, I really liked the experience and can definitely see the value in having training sessions.  If I could afford weekly ones, I would totally do it.

Have you ever worked with a personal trainer?  
What was your experience like?

+++++

Last week's workouts
Friday: Bowling for work holiday party + 45 minutes of Just Dance 2015
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Off
Monday: 1 mile on the treadmill + circuit workout with Savannah
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: 1/2 mile on the treadmill + circuit workout with Savannah

This was not a good week of workouts for me.  On Saturday, I chose sleeping in over Zumba (still regretting that decision).  On Tuesday, I skipped because I thought I was going Wednesday.  And then I skipped Wednesday because the temperatures were ridiculously cold.  Next week will be better.  I promise!

3 comments:

  1. I've worked with a trainer before and it was SO helpful. I wish I could afford to do it now.

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  2. I think it's cool that you were able to explore different workouts and have a different kind of gym experience with a trainer. I've often wondered how that would improve my workouts to have a trainer but I haven't had the opportunity or pushed it. Maybe someday I will just to see.

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  3. I think anything that will help someone become more comfortable in the gym using the equipment and learning proper form is totally worth it! I've done variations of that filthy 50 and it ain't no joke. Kudos to you for getting it done!

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