PT Diaries

Two sleepless nights and too many GG martinis made it difficult to wake up this morning. I pried myself out of bed and shoehorned a cup of Cheerios and skim milk down my throat. It was another gorgeous West Coast morning, the sun was shining but the city was still sound a sleeping. I ignored my dehydration and set out slowly trying to stay focused on my breathing.  As I neared the second kilometer my mind drifted and for some reason I started to think about the Personal Trainers in my life…

I signed up with my first Personal Trainer in search of a quick fix to shed few pounds. I didn’t enjoy working out, I was closed minded, stubborn and above I refused to set foot in a gym.  My first trainer Steve had the biggest challenge; not only did he have to train me in the rain; he would have to change my mind set on fitness.  In the end, he definitely played a role in my new found love of exercise. I gained confidence during our time together by running my first 10 km race and overcoming my fear of gyms. (For more on Steve refer to blog entries February 1 & 3)

I meet my second Personal Trainer Greg at the Steve Nash Sports Facility where he taught a spin class. Fourty-five minutes of nonstop spinning combined with cranked tunes and his vibrant energy made for an awesome workout.  By the end I was soaked and instantly infected by his positivity. I was determined to hire him as my personal trainer.

Yup! It was that easy; I cheated on Steve and coming clean was the only thing that would ease my guilty conscious. I dreaded having to call Steve and tell him I wouldn’t be seeing him anymore. I remember a moment of sadness while saying goodbye and said “This isn’t personal.  I’ve had great time training with you. Keep in touch.”

Since my cardio was decent now Greg thought it was time to focus on developing my overall strength. Weights and fitness equipment were foreign to me which made the training sessions with him challenging.  Lunges and burpees were his favorite torture devices. I wanted to curse him so many times… but he was so nice, I just couldn’t. This past summer, trying to schedule my sessions with him proved difficult due to an increase in my workload, so I decided to take a few months off from Personal Training. The weather was fantastic and I took advantage of it as much as possible, clocking 30-40 kilometers of running a week.

Now they say “the third ones a charm”…

My current and third Personal Trainer is deWolf.  We meet a few years ago when Steve sent him as a substitute to one of my sessions.  Back then any kind of stand-in or unfamiliar person training me would have normally sent me into a tizzy but deWolf had a calming aura and his “leave your drama for your momma” * straight forward attitude was refreshing; we quickly develop an amusing banter. I wanted him as my trainer from that day on but we don’t always get what we want…not even me!

Circumstances changed and we’ve been training together for the last six months. I’ve never felt stronger and I’ve never been faster.  deWolf knows how to push my buttons and get’s me to work hard. “My pain is his happiness!” I smirked.

“HONK!! HONK!!” the sound jolted me back to reality. Startled, I looked up and quickly dodged a three thousand pound metal weapon “Sweet Jesus! My bad, my bad” I sighed, waving apologetically at the annoyed driver. My heart was pounding so hard I could see it rise through my lululemon shirt. Once I crossed the street I stopped and took a couple deep breaths to try and calm my palpitations. I realized I couldn’t hear anything around me and turned down volume on my iPod then checked my Garmin watch. I couldn’t believe it; slightly hung-over and totally sleep deprived I had just ran thirteen kilometers in one hour and fourteen minutes. (My race pace last year) Ecstatic with my progress, I dashed for home quickly forgetting my about near death experience.

PT Girl xo

*deWolf

December was a busy month filled with travels and festivities.  In January I got back in the swing of things, working out with my Personal Trainer twice a week and running two to three times as well. I haven’t been to the Steve Nash Sports Facility in two months but yesterday morning I packed my bag and committed to going to my favorite spin class. The class doesn’t start until 5:30 p.m. but I knew if I wasn’t there by 5:20 p.m.  I risked the chance of not getting a bike. I rushed out of work, battled the traffic across town and arrived at the gym at 5:10 p.m. A lineup of 25 people has already formed in front of the class room.  “Jeez this class is getting popular! I didn’t leave work early for nothing; I better get a freaking bike!!” I groaned as I darted to the changing room, stripped off my clothes and changed into my workout gear as fast as humanly possible. With my laces still untied I grabbed a face towel and dashed to the end of the lineup.  I stood there tapping my right foot nervously. The lady in front of me turned and asked “How many bikes in the room?” “I’m not sure, maybe 30.” I responded. She glanced at the line and shrugged.

The door to the spinning room opened at 5:15 p.m. sharp and the people from the earlier class came out and the line slowly marched in. When I got near the door I noticed there were few bikes still available and jumped on the first vacant one I walked by.

Tim walked in and headed to the instructor bike at the front of the class. I noticed he bleached his hair since I last saw him.  “It suits him” I thought to myself as I started warming up to Lady Gaga on my iPod.  Twelve minutes before the start of class and all the bikes were occupied with eager cyclists.  A few stragglers came waltzing in and stood at the front door with a stunned look on their faces, scanning the room. “Sorry we’re full.” Tim said with a smile.

“Ok class, lets get’s started….” Tim said enthusiastically. I took off my ipod and braced myself.  Tim’s spin class is broken into three equally painful sections.  His music selection is high energy and carefully synchronized to his prearranged workouts. While a class setting can be impersonal compared to a one on one personal training session, Tim has a unique way of connecting with the group and pushing us beyond our limits. Personally I’m not big on inspiration talk but he delivers his motivational lines without the cheese factor. “What brought you here today? Think about your goal. Are you trying to lose weight?  Going on vacation?  Training for a specific event? See your goal, reach for your goal. It’s at the top of this hill.”

Half way through the second section of the class I was drenched in sweat and a puddle had started to form under my bike; I’m working much harder than I did in the past but I was barely winded.  “Yeah yeah yeah” Tim shouted out.  I gave even more effort; if Tim said to give a half a turn on the dial I would give it a full turn and still managed to find the strength to spin faster and faster.  The calisthenics and weight training I’ve been doing at deWolf Training is definitely paying off. I was feeling like a real athlete when out of nowhere I got the worse cramps. I check the clock to my right and saw there’s only 10 minutes left. “Are you on your edge? Are you giving 100%?  It doesn’t matter to me, only you will know. But you came all the way why not give it your all?” Tim asks. I took a big gulp from my water bottle and told myself “Ignore the pain and finish strong!!” By the end of the class my body was definitely fatigued but I felt great! “My glutes will hurt tomorrow.  Let’s hope my deWolf doesn’t have squats on the menu.”

If you’re looking for a hard core cardio workout that is different every time I highly recommend Tim’s Wednesday 60 minutes 5:30 p.m. Spin Class at the Steve Nash Sports Facility. He has a great energy and teaches a unique and intense spin class. Oh yeah… and if you still have oomph after he’s spun you out, feel free to join him right after for a killer 30 minutes abdominal workout.

PS – Don’t forget to arrive early.

PT Girl xo

My fitness journey started about three and half years ago… let me rewind.
I wouldn’t say I was fat  but soft and definitely out of shape. At 27, standing 5’6” I weighed in at 140 lbs. Ok…ok… I lie… 145 lbs. I loved smoking, especially when I consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. (I’ve managed to give up the smoking a few years ago.)

On the weekend I’d eat out with friends, consume thousands of calories in wine, GG martinis and shooters. When the dj went home and the lights were turned on I would head to the nearest drive-thru for my night cap.

My exercise routine involved online shopping for Billy Blank Tae Bo tapes. I attempted the workouts a few times telling myself that Billy’s 30 minute routine would melt away the cheese curds and gravy from the last poutine I ingested.

So how did I end up in a park discussing my fictional fitness goals with Steve the Personal Trainer of Pulse Personal Training I asked myself as I sat in the spring grass trying my damnedest to look interested in his pitch. I was completely out of my element; I hated everything about gyms (hence the outdoor meeting), my cardio was horrible. I wasn’t able to jog for more than 5 minutes and my attempt at doing a push up was comical.

Over priced Lululemon wear, skinny bitches & meatheads made me nauseous… and yet there I was nodding my head in agreement to Steve’s every word as he kept nattering seemingly unaware of my discomfort. As my uneasiness transformed to irritation I couldn’t help but to think about the two people who were to blame for me handing over my first of many cheques to Steve, not to mention that my ass was now wet!

Who are the culprits responsible for me dishing out tens of thousands of dollars on Personal Training? Mike a coworker and overzealous fitness freak who was training for his second Iron Man and Julie a good friend who always shared in my over indulgence of food & booze. Mike’s daily tales of swimming, running and cycling and Julie’s admission she’d been seeing a personal trainer was just the right formula to summon guilt about my own complacency. I cursed them both as Steve said “12 more squats, come on!”

PT Girl xo