hsapiens: strutting human skeleton (Default)
hsapiens ([personal profile] hsapiens) wrote2008-04-16 11:15 am
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Took the Plunge

I've been putting off dealing with the fact that I need more exercise for a long time. Yesterday I finally pulled up my big girl pants, joined a gym -- and got a personal trainer. It's not cheap but I feel as if I need one. I hit plateaus that can last for months; that just demoralizes the hell out of me and I do the unhelpful thing: I stop working out. I've never before had a personal trainer. I'm so out of shape right now that I expect I'll see some immediate results (I picture some perky coach telling me, "nowhere to go but up!" but thankfully my trainer seems friendly but not perky) but eventually I'm going to hit one of those speed bumps. Hopefully, this will help me break the doldrums before I allow myself to give up. My membership includes 3 "free"** personal training sessions but I bought a few more because I need that motivation while I'm learning to make this a habit.

The gym has lots of classes, including some that sound cool: dance, pilates, and balance ball. I'll finally try out an elliptical trainer, something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I'm actually looking forward to dancing again on a regular basis; I've really missed it. There are also the much-dreaded weight machines. It has been 20 years since I last used one. I'm going to have to learn to not hate them but that will be a...challenge.

I still don't want to exercise but I want even less to suffer heart disease and crumbling bones. (And, you know, in the short term I'd like to lose body fat and be able to climb four flights of stairs without losing my breath.) At least, that's what I think now. We'll have to see how I feel on Friday after my evaluation and first workout. ;)

** "free" being code for "already added into the original membership price we quote you"

[identity profile] la-directora.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I loved loved loved working with a personal trainer. I REALLY miss it. One of the best things about it is having an appointment with SOMEONE ELSE to exercise. The accountability of that is very useful. And learning exercises from an "expert" actually makes the weight machines less scary. If you're lucky, maybe your trainer will have the same philosophy mine did - work with an exercise ball and free weights, which is more fun and gets faster results than the machines.

Go, you! I'm right behind you, as soon as I have a job again. :)

[identity profile] selmak.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Good for you! I actually broke down and joined one a month or so ago. Don't think I'm up to classes, but it's nice to be able to use the tread mill without a wildly barking dog (Who barks so much he pukes).

:D

[identity profile] mi-nion.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Trying to reorganize my schedule to rejoin the gym. I feel my body screaming at me very morning and I know thios is what I need.

[identity profile] txduck.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I need to join a gym as well. My only exercise these days comes from is chasing my kids, but if I get anymore out of shape, I wont be able to catch them ;)
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[identity profile] tejas.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
The kid and I have a membership at the Y, but do we go? *sigh*

Maybe I'll go this weekend.

Or maybe I'll soak the pneumonia recovery for a little while longer. (It's not like taking a deep breath is all that easy yet.)
superbadgirl: (dean in light)

[personal profile] superbadgirl 2008-04-16 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Go, you! I always get to the "I should really do this" stage, and then just stop. I'm incredibly self-conscious, so the thought of someone else getting up close and personal makes me skittish. I have a friend who's a personal trainer and I'm sure he'd be good for me...well, except for the fact he's told me on more than one occasion he wants to shag me. Uhm, no, and sorry for that bit of unneeded info.

I consider it a success when I can drag my sorry butt out of bed in the morning to get the exercise over with (nice attitude, right?) instead of the relying on the lunch breaks, which doesn't work so well during the summer months.

Also hated the weight machines, though when I used them I did feel and look better.
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[identity profile] paxm.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I wish I had your discipline! I do pilates, but nothing compared to a workout with a personal trainer.

[identity profile] tubin.livejournal.com 2008-04-17 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Committing to working with a trainer was the thing that finally worked for me. Since I started that (5 years ago?) I've never had a week with fewer than 2 workouts, and most weeks I hit 5 or more.

During that time my weight's gone up and down, but my bone density is great and my cholesterol profile is really good. And I enjoy having good basic strength.

Of course I managed to work late tonight and sat down to pet kitties and read intrawebs rather than hitting the treadmill - but maybe I'll get up and do it now that you've made me think about it :)