January 10, 2017

Trainer Tip Tuesday: We ALL Need A Little Help

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

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