On the eve on my one year anniversary as a personal trainer at Equinox, I can't help but reflect back on what lead me to this point, all the decisions I made to get here, all the time and effort, blood, sweat, and tears.
As most of you know, I have been on my weight loss journey for quite some time now - nearly 6 years! It has been full of ups and downs, quite the roller coaster in fact.
Weight had always been a struggle for me, and believe it or not, I had managed to lose about 50lbs in law school. After graduating and taking the bar, I was diagnosed with mono and spent the next several months in bed, and quickly gained back everything I had lost.
When I could finally stay awake for more than 30 minutes at a time, I knew that something had to change. I knew I had to stop running my body into the ground, stop treating my body like a garbage disposal, and start moving my body more. What I didn't know is how much help I needed.
I researched the gyms with zero initiation fees and the lowest monthly dues, picked a no frills gym, and went in with a free 1 day pass. I did 20 minutes on the elliptical and thought I was going to die. I signed up as a member.
The person working the desk asked me if I wanted to complete my free assessment with a trainer. My first instinct was to say no - I already knew I was out of shape, overweight, and in desperate need of a health overhaul. What else could they tell me??
But I knew that having an appointment would get me back in the gym, so I made the appointment. The next day, I came in and met Adam. Despite the basic workout he put me through, I spent half the time on the floor, dizzy, light headed, and completely embarrassed. I was at a cross roads - all in, or all out.
I bought 8 personal training sessions that day. I committed to seeing Adam twice a week and coming in to do cardio on the elliptical at least 3 times a week. I lost 10 lbs in the first month.
Then it was time to reign in my nutrition. I started seeing a nutritionist. We did NOT see eye to eye. So, I started seeing a health coach who I am now pleased to count among my close friends.
Fast forward 18 months later ... I was still training with Adam twice a week, and seeing my health coach once a month. I was down over 70lbs.
Shortly after the 18 month mark, I accepted a job in Southern California, and moved 400 miles away from my support system - my trainer, my health coach, my family, etc. I went through trainer after trainer and couldn't find one who stuck - too flaky, too immature, didn't know as much as I did, horrible bootcamp style, etc. I hit a plateau and for nearly 2 years didn't lose a pound.
In 2014, I found out about at-home workouts and online accountability groups from a girlfriend of mine. Though extremely skeptical, I figured I would give them a shot; it wouldn't hurt. I committed to 30 days. I lost 8lbs and a dress size. The next month I lost 7lbs. Three months later, I hit the 100bs lost mark!
Being part of these accountability groups opened my eyes to how much I loved fitness and helping people, and how much knowledge and support I had to share with the world with it came to health and fitness. I decided to change careers.
I quit my job as an attorney, moved back to the bay area, and spent a year remotely coaching others while getting certified as a personal trainer. In December 2015, I took the NASM certification test for Personal Training and passed. I applied to Equinox, was hired, and started within 3 weeks ... one year ago tomorrow.
If you have been following me on Facebook, you will know 2016 was not the easiest year with all these adjustments. I am up a few pounds to say the least, but I am still working on ME ... using at-home workouts, training with a trainer, adjusting my nutrition, trying new types of exercise, researching self-care, and taking from all this what I like while discarding the rest. I AM a personal trainer and a coach, but I also HAVE a personal trainer and a coach.
My biggest takeaway from my first year as a personal trainer is this: If you are stuck in a rut, do something else, but get the guidance and support you need to make the change you want.
Thanks for reading a little bit about me and where I am coming from as a personal trainer and as a coach, and thank you for being on this journey with me. If there is some way I can support you, don't hesitate to reach out.
This blog post is part of my weekly series called Trainer Tip Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I send a "Trainer Tip Tuesday" email, with a great tip/article I've come across recently, a recipe I have tried, or something health/fitness related that I personally experienced. If you would like to subscribe to the email list and get my Trainer Tip Tuesday posts a week before they are published here, please CLICK HERE
As most of you know, I have been on my weight loss journey for quite some time now - nearly 6 years! It has been full of ups and downs, quite the roller coaster in fact.
Weight had always been a struggle for me, and believe it or not, I had managed to lose about 50lbs in law school. After graduating and taking the bar, I was diagnosed with mono and spent the next several months in bed, and quickly gained back everything I had lost.
When I could finally stay awake for more than 30 minutes at a time, I knew that something had to change. I knew I had to stop running my body into the ground, stop treating my body like a garbage disposal, and start moving my body more. What I didn't know is how much help I needed.
I researched the gyms with zero initiation fees and the lowest monthly dues, picked a no frills gym, and went in with a free 1 day pass. I did 20 minutes on the elliptical and thought I was going to die. I signed up as a member.
The person working the desk asked me if I wanted to complete my free assessment with a trainer. My first instinct was to say no - I already knew I was out of shape, overweight, and in desperate need of a health overhaul. What else could they tell me??
But I knew that having an appointment would get me back in the gym, so I made the appointment. The next day, I came in and met Adam. Despite the basic workout he put me through, I spent half the time on the floor, dizzy, light headed, and completely embarrassed. I was at a cross roads - all in, or all out.
I bought 8 personal training sessions that day. I committed to seeing Adam twice a week and coming in to do cardio on the elliptical at least 3 times a week. I lost 10 lbs in the first month.
Then it was time to reign in my nutrition. I started seeing a nutritionist. We did NOT see eye to eye. So, I started seeing a health coach who I am now pleased to count among my close friends.
Fast forward 18 months later ... I was still training with Adam twice a week, and seeing my health coach once a month. I was down over 70lbs.
Shortly after the 18 month mark, I accepted a job in Southern California, and moved 400 miles away from my support system - my trainer, my health coach, my family, etc. I went through trainer after trainer and couldn't find one who stuck - too flaky, too immature, didn't know as much as I did, horrible bootcamp style, etc. I hit a plateau and for nearly 2 years didn't lose a pound.
In 2014, I found out about at-home workouts and online accountability groups from a girlfriend of mine. Though extremely skeptical, I figured I would give them a shot; it wouldn't hurt. I committed to 30 days. I lost 8lbs and a dress size. The next month I lost 7lbs. Three months later, I hit the 100bs lost mark!
Being part of these accountability groups opened my eyes to how much I loved fitness and helping people, and how much knowledge and support I had to share with the world with it came to health and fitness. I decided to change careers.
I quit my job as an attorney, moved back to the bay area, and spent a year remotely coaching others while getting certified as a personal trainer. In December 2015, I took the NASM certification test for Personal Training and passed. I applied to Equinox, was hired, and started within 3 weeks ... one year ago tomorrow.
If you have been following me on Facebook, you will know 2016 was not the easiest year with all these adjustments. I am up a few pounds to say the least, but I am still working on ME ... using at-home workouts, training with a trainer, adjusting my nutrition, trying new types of exercise, researching self-care, and taking from all this what I like while discarding the rest. I AM a personal trainer and a coach, but I also HAVE a personal trainer and a coach.
My biggest takeaway from my first year as a personal trainer is this: If you are stuck in a rut, do something else, but get the guidance and support you need to make the change you want.
Thanks for reading a little bit about me and where I am coming from as a personal trainer and as a coach, and thank you for being on this journey with me. If there is some way I can support you, don't hesitate to reach out.
This blog post is part of my weekly series called Trainer Tip Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I send a "Trainer Tip Tuesday" email, with a great tip/article I've come across recently, a recipe I have tried, or something health/fitness related that I personally experienced. If you would like to subscribe to the email list and get my Trainer Tip Tuesday posts a week before they are published here, please CLICK HERE
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