After being laid off and reviewing my wish list of things I would do if I didn't have to go to work and years of New Year's Resolutions, I realized I now had an opportunity and time to finally put getting in shape as a top goal during my career transition. I filled out my form brutally honestly and called Alta to be matched with a trainer. The trick was finding a trainer that understood my goofy, irreverent sense of humor; kept me motivated and interested in coming to the gym since I get bored quickly and can be lazy; and would push me just enough when I became whiney or resistant. Sam is my perfect fit!
What I didn't expect to happen was how much I enjoy the atmosphere. Being in an environment with other women (no meatheads sweating all over the machines or leering), similar in age (no 21 year old models parading around looking for validation and attention), staffers who learned my name immediately making me feel like Norm from "Cheers" and a whole gym cheering me on, laughing with me when I'm flopping around like a dead fish trying to do an exercise and celebrating the day I was finally able to touch my toes. The gym feels like a community of empowered women who don't judge each other but instead challenge and support one another.
I also didn't expect to start actually looking forward to coming into the gym (not every time but 90% of the time). After being in a job that had me chained to an office and computer most of my day, my body started to resemble a Pringle-curled forward, rigid, with my shoulders up to my ears. Just getting into the gym and actually moving these old bones became medicine, and the sense of accomplishment that I actually showed up and made some progress left me riding a high for the rest of the day. After 6 months of training, I have become more limber (did I mention I can finally touch my toes?), much stronger, and feel like a human again. I'm constantly amazed at the possibilities of this machine called my body. Who knew I wasn't just an old, broken-down jalopy!! I think I'm more of a Honda now (respectable and reliable with a decent resale value) and am working toward becoming a sleek, well-tuned Porsche at some point. Now I know it is possible!
Sam is my perfect angel. She changes my workout almost every session to keep me interested and engaged and learning. She watches my form like a hawk to keep me from injuring myself (or others). She listens to me whine and complain and acknowledges it but pushes me to do just 3 more gently but firmly (I am an expert whiner). She listens and adjusts when I'm feeling low energy or am getting over a sickness. And she lets me box away my frustrations when my teenage son is driving me crazy. She customizes each session just for me and whatever is going on in my head and body at that moment. And through it all, she counts my reps, reminds me to push myself just a little farther when I think I can't take any more darn burpees, fetches my sweat towel when I'm too tired to find it in the gym, and never yells at me when I am physically unable to do any more (or when I grind mud on the carpet from my shoes). Sam keeps me engaged, striving, and best of all she laughs WITH me every session. She has a yoda-like ability to know when I'm just about to give up and will encourage me to do just 2 more reps (which amazingly I can always squeak out even if they aren't pretty). I want to do her proud as well as myself.
And she celebrates every small achievement with me from dropping a pant size, to increasing the height of the bench she makes me jump on top of, to finally being able to remember a series of 4 boxing moves without messing up and almost punching her in the face. And she helps me set goals in my personal life, keeping me accountable and making adjustments when I don't quite hit them. It's about progress not perfection!
I'm still working on getting as close to Jennifer Aniston's arms and shoulders as possible and sculpting my stumps into something closer to Miranda Lambert's legs. And a waist that is indented and not part of my upper torso and hips are my top goals right now. With the nice weather just around the corner, I want to learn how to increase the gain of my outdoor activities to help me achieve my goals (maybe swap a quick hike while camping instead of a nap and a margarita?). I'm excited to see how my strength has improved (I can probably chop firewood myself now) and my endurance has increased (I can leave my boyfriend in the dust on a mountain bike ride). Pretty soon, I'm going to have to learn how to push myself just as gently and firmly as Sam when she's not with me.
I spent time and $ converting a storage room in my basement to a beautiful workout studio. I bought equipment, videos, and all of the things to motivate myself to start moving my body, but I didn't have what was going to make it work-consistency and accountability. Personal training is not cheap (especially when you are unemployed), but I closed my eyes and swiped my card and I don't regret it one bit. From the unexpected compliments about the small changes my friends and family see (that I don't most of the time), to the decrease in back and neck aches that used to be a normal part of my day (how sad to accept that as just normal living), to the sick pleasure I receive when I can wrestle with my boyfriend and finally win (girl power), I have learned consistency and am gaining faith in myself and my abilities. It has been the best investment in myself I have made in years! Even if I backslide and become a pudgy slug again in the future, I have the tangible evidence that I can make a change. And that internal knowing alone is key to getting up out of bed and starting the journey again-priceless. Now who is up for a nap and a margarita?
