TRAINERS HUH? WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR...

I feel as though I’m officially a broken record. I have been screaming the merits of personal training for no less than three weeks now because I really believe in what they do. I had my third and final training session with Brendan last night. He had given me a head’s up the previous week that we were going to be doing something he likes to call “POWERBURST”?!?! Say what? I tried to negotiate with him the previous week, explaining that I was fat and unfit so maybe this “burst” would be a terrible idea. Nevertheless, he assured me that I would do little harm to myself by trying it once, in spite of my lesser degree of conditioning.

With that I arrived after work yesterday terrified and knowing full well the workout ahead of me was going to render my muscles useless for many days post the fun time!!

The workout:
JUMP SQUATS – 30 seconds
(I started in a squatting position and did a 2 footed jump up onto a platform 10 inches from the ground, then back down into the squat, continuous motion, no rest)
PLYO STEP-UPS – 30 seconds
(I stepped up onto a platform 14 inches from the ground then jumped onto my other foot and back down again, very similar to a basic in a step class but jumping between each foot, continuous motion, no rest)
SLALOM JUMPS – 30 seconds
(side to side jumping over a bar)
MEDICINE BALL BASKETBALL JUMPS – 15 reps
(squat down and pick up a 6kg medicine ball, pushed it over my head and jump up into the air, like I’m doing a jump shot in basket ball)
MEDICINE BALL TWIST AND THROW – 10 reps each side
(squat down and pick up 6kg medicine ball, stand up with arms extended crossing the ball across my body and throwing it to a partner 6 feet away)
PLYO LUNGES – 15 reps
(lunge down and then jump into lunge with other leg, continuous motion)
ONE LEG DEAD LIFTS – 15 reps per leg
SQUATS – 15 reps
(fifteen squats on the half exercise ball in order to work core balance)

I know what you’re thinking, so what? That doesn’t seem like much. I will mention that there was only a one minute rest at the end of completing the entire set and then we started it all over again. We did this three times and then worked on some core exercise. I became nauseous about 15 minutes into the workout and I can barely remember anything that happened after that. I was sweating so profusely I was certain that I’d taken a shower with my clothes on.

After the workout was over, Brendan and I talked about whether I planned on continuing with him. Even though I believe that I’ve worked out harder in the three sessions with him than I have in the past five years, I can’t find a way to justify a $400/month exercise bill. If only I was able to buy one or two sessions a month I would be there but only if he promised never to mention POWERBURST ever, ever again.

So it goes; we went our separate ways with a handshake and some advice to eat some protein and STRETCH because tomorrow is gonna hurt!!!!

It’s tomorrow…I’ve been investigating buying a catheter online for the past 10 minutes because I can’t bear the thought of making it to the bathroom one more time today! My legs are officially on strike and it doesn’t look like they plan on going back to work any time soon.

Trainers are...

…worth all the money you paid for them!!

I worked out last Wednesday with my trainer before step class. That’s right training and then step class! We did what he called super sets – back & biceps. You pair up one bicep exercise with one back exercise and you just jump from one exercise to the next with little rest attempting and work your muscles to exhaustion. And yes, it’s just as fun as it sounds!!?!?

My final set which included assisted chin-ups, CHIN-UPS, the super set had already left my hands so weak that I slipped off the bar!! So graceful…

The next morning I had a great deal of difficulty brushing my teeth. And shortly after that point I could barely move my arms and my hands werw all but useless save for the shooting pain that they kept sending out. I felt weak and nauseous and all that for the discount price of $35!

I'm dreading next week. Appparenly we're doing something called "Power burst"?!?! Oh F*CK!!

Exercise, exercise and more exercise...

This past weekend I competed in the last duathlon I have planned for this season. It was f*cking HOT!! I felt like I was competing on the sun. The temperature in the shade when we entered into the bike portion of the race was 34 degrees!! WTF??

In any event the race came and went. I put in my strongest cycle leg of the whole season but also the worse run portion. It seems that I can't get both cycle and run on track for the same event. Oh well, next year is a new season.

I will say that I enjoy competing in these types of events very much but the fact that I can complete these events and still not move the scale is getting me down. I even thought seriously of picking up smoking again this week just so that I can see the scale move in my favour once this year.

As you may or may not know I'm actually up one pound from our original start six weeks ago. I know...I can barely believe it myself. However, in the spirit of this blog and of not giving up I read a few stories today of how to bust through a plateau and I'm going to do my best to stay focused and tackle this hurdle.

So in that vein, tomorrow I'm back with the trainer from hell Brendan and then off to another humiliating step class. The following day I have plans to hop around with a noticeable limp acquired from time spent with Brendan, I will weigh myself to add insult to injury and I will look my closet straight in the eye and say: YOU WILL NOT WIN!

-Erica

Exercise Numbers:

Sunday - 1 hour, 45 mins run/cycle/run
Monday - zip, zero, nada

Tuesday - 27:47 run, set of lunges, set of leg push offs

Why we need trainers?!?!

Last night I worked out with my trainer, Brendan, for the first time.

A few weeks ago I decided to take advantage of a promotion at my gym. I bought three training sessions for around $70. They were practically giving the training away, so I thought why not? My thought process was that I would have the trainer develop a weight training routine and I would do the routine at least once a week to expedite my weight loss. Do you see that this was all part of the grand plan?

The one thing that I failed to plan on was the extreme pain I would be in the day following the session with the trainer and the fear that the second day after is always the worst!! If you're catching my drift you know by now that I expect that I will be completely immobile tomorrow after my muscles atrophy during the night. I only have a one hundred count bottle of advil on hand so I fear I may not make it until morning. Oh God, help me!

I had thought that I was in relatively good shape and I believed that the session with Brendan would not be a walk in the park but I would manage without being tested. I thought I might be pushed to my limits but I never expected the "no pain, no gain" adage would involve so much pain. This has led me to two conclusions:

1. I AM OUT OF SHAPE and;
2. Working with a trainer is a valuable use of money and if you had lots and lots of it, you should use it to work with a trainer every time you can.

Ahhhhhhhh, if only I had lots and lots of money...

-Erica

Exercise numbers:
Wednesday - 1 hour weight training & 1 hour STEP class
Weight - 188lbs. (up 1/2 pound from initial weigh-in)

FIVE Weeks IN

Last week I did not exercise! I repeat I did NO exercise. I'm not sure why I decided to take the week off but I guess I felt I had earned it. That's interesting because I didn't earn it by eating well or because I'd lost some pounds, I think maybe my motivation is waning like every other time I've decided to get fit and healthy!

I'm not sure what my problem is but I've decided to get back on track. I've decided to go back to managing my food a la the Weights Watchers Points method and do at least 30 mins of exercise a day. I had once lost a significant amount of weight counting points and I'm hoping the formula will work it's magic again; fingers crossed.

In the spirit of our open and honest relationship I also took my measurements today. I had put it off long enough; it was time to face the music.

Chest: 39" (no change)
Waist: 36" (down 1 inch, YAHOO)
Hips: 43.5 (down 1/2 inch, YAHOO)

So in spite of myself I've managed to move off an inch and a half! I've been telling myself for awhile that this quest will be about inches and not about weight but secretly I'm hoping for great results with all numbers.

I have yet to weigh-in but when I know, you'll know...

-Erica

Exercise: Run 31:17 mins.

How to Look Good Naked

Oh my God! Today I finished my application to be a contributor on the TV show How to Look Good Naked.

Holy f*cking cats!?!?!

I'm still in shock! The application required me to provide not one, not two but three pictures of myself dressed only in my underwear. I can't believe that I sent a group of total stranger a portfolio of half naked pictures of myself. I must be insane OR desperately looking to regain the confidence I once had? I'm still not sure which.

Here is the link to the application:
http://wnetwork.com/BeOnTV.aspx#How-To-Look-Good-Naked-Canada

Pass it on to anyone you think would benefit from the experience. I believe in anything that is going to help you love the skin your in (thanks Dove) and I have my fingers half crossed that I'll be chosen for the show.

-Erica

I like to move it, move it!

Here are a few of the songs keeping me moving right now:

Love Game - Lady Gaga
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Final Countdown - Europe
Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
Elinor Rigby - David Cook
When Love Takes Over - Kelly Rowland
Battlefield - Jordin Sparks
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Beat It - Fall Out Boy
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

I know, I know I love me some pop music. Don't hate me because I'm so mainstream!!

-Erica

RAINY Day

Hi there, it feels as though it's been too long!
Last Sunday I participated in my second duathlon of the year. I'm thrilled to say I finished and not last (second last)! The duathlon was in Kingston this time round. I have a friend who lives there so I packed up my gear and headed to Kingston on Saturday night. The weather in Ottawa and Kingston was just beautiful Saturday and I was looking forward to the same for race day. Since I had to pick up my race kit and have my bike safety checked before the race I had to get up EXTRA early for the duathlon. I woke up just before 6am to get myself up and ready for the race. I woke up to pouring rain and stormy gray skies!?!? WHAT? I thought I was going to just take part in approximately three hours of exericse in the breezy, hot sun?? BUT no, no it was pouring rain with zero clearing in sight. Sucks.

The first leg of the race, a 4K run was done in almost darkness but only misting style rain. I finished the run in just over 22 mins and headed to the transition zone to get ready for the bike. Helmet on and bike in hand I headed out to the bike. I had already been warned that it was "slightly hilly". HOLY cats! Only 5 minutes into my 30K bike ride I learned that "slightly hilly" was a collosal understatement AND there came the rain!!! Torrential downpour. Cue winds, cue hail, cue slippery handle bars and soaking wet everything!

I ended finishing the bike in good time and took off for the last leg, a 7.5K run. The last run was good but filled with many walk breaks. The rain had broken and was only coming down sporadically. I ended up finishing to the surprise of my parents, boyfriend and friends cheering my on! AND almost like it had been ordered...the sun started to shine.

TOTAL exercise time: 2hours, 47 minutes, 38 seconds
I highly recommend a race, the sense of accomplishment outweighs all of the struggle it got to get there!!

-Erica

P.S. I haven't exercised since the race. BOO! I need to get myself back on track!

(no proofreading done)