I have been overweight all of my life. It has always been a struggle for me. I have tried diets and fitness regimens galore. Some have been total disasters and some have worked … temporarily. But no matter what, the weight either did not come off or did not stay off. I was the most successful during law school oddly enough (most people gain weight in law school). I followed a pre-planned meal system and found the time to exercise a couple of times a week. Plus in my second year I started doing Bikram yoga (hot yoga) which was AMAZING for both my body and my mind. I got down to the smallest I had ever been (which was still overweight mind you). Unfortunately, my diet and exercise plan dissolved when I started studying for the bar and I did not manage to pick it back up when I was done. Then when I got mono I was totally out of commission. This lead to me gaining back all the weight I had lost in the 3 previous years in the matter of about 9 months.
The day of the body test at the gym came and the results were as I expected – overweight, out of shape, and in need of some serious work. The trainer I had been set up with was young and energetic. He asked me about my fitness goals and we had a long discussion about everything that had happened over the last year and things I had tried in the past. He was certain that with my commitment he could help me reach my goal weight in less than a year. I was sold. I paid for 16 sessions with him right then and there, and vowed to stay dedicated to my goal.
We set up a session for the very next day as I was anxious to get started. It was nothing short of a disaster. I was a mess. I could not keep up. I started getting dizzy and had to lay down a couple of times throughout the session which was only 30 mins! It was crazy. I was disappointed when I finished, but my trainer was optimistic. He said this was just the beginning and that it was hard to get back into working out, especially with being sedentary so long and sick on top of it. He set up another appointment for the next day to make sure I came back.
The second session went MUCH better. I was able to keep up with the exercises and did not get that dizzy feeling I had in the first session (we figured out that the dizziness was because I had not eaten breakfast prior to my first session – a big no no!). After the session my trainer told me the cardio that I needed to do after our sessions and on days that I did not meet with him. We set up 2 more appointments for the following week. I walked out of the gym that day feeling more confident and more committed to my goals.
I pretty sure that without my personal trainer I would still be going to the gym, but I definitely would not be seeing the results I have been. I would be doing probably 25-30 mins of cardio 3-5 days a week. With my trainer I am doing 2 training sessions a week with him plus 7 days of cardio (45-60 mins depending). I am already seeing the results. Not only am I losing pounds, but I can literally see the re-shaping that my body is going through.
Trainers are professionals just like doctors, accountants, and lawyers. I would never skimp on paying for the best doctor if I was sick or paying for the best accountant to do my taxes. As an attorney, I know the importance of hiring only the best lawyer and not making money the issue whenever possible. So why would I try to go it alone when trying to improve the one and only body I will ever have? Admitting I needed help was half the battle.
Having a trainer has kept me accountable to someone other than myself which has been a huge help. When I consider cutting down on the cardio because I am tried, I know I can't because my trainer is going to ask me about it the next time I see him. When I feel like I just cannot do one more set of weights or stand-ups, my trainer is right there encouraging me and challenging me. If there is any way you can afford one, even just 1 session a week (but ideally 2 or more), I definitely recommend it ... you won't be sorry!
Admitting you need help with something and then going out and getting that help takes gumption!
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