When did this happen?

When did I get FOUR pairs of gym shoes? When did I get two different pair of running shoes? When did I become particular about what shoes I wear for certain workouts? Crazy isn’t it? I literally laughed out loud when I noticed this in the closet. This is SO not me. Well, I guess it is now. I’ve morphed into one of those people who gets a little stir crazy if I’ve missed more than one day at the gym. I have favorite classes and favorite instructors. I look forward to seeing people who I only know by their first name that I only see at the gym. Hopefully not too annoyingly, I’ve become one of those people. *sigh* I never intended it to happen. But here it is: I’m a happier girl if I’ve had a workout. Did I just say that outloud?

Let me see, where did I leave off with my Lifetime Fitness saga? I think I left you somewhere around Christmas, on my own, without the trainer, and still trying to reach my original weight-loss goal.

Well, I did survive the holiday season while maintaining my weight, which means I was disciplined on my own to get my butt to the gym and work. No easy task mind you. I make deals with myself while I’m working out, “If I run two more six minute intervals I’ll only have to do the circuit twice (instead of three times)” “If I make it five more minutes on the treadmill I’ll do extra push-ups and sit-ups instead of completing my treadmill workout”. Again, When did this happen?!: When did push-ups become the EASY part of my workout? Seriously. Now granted I’m still talking the girlie push-ups, but still, I’ve NEVER looked forward to push-ups, EVER in my life. (By the way, because they’ve become easy the trainer would say it’s time to do more, different, or harder push-ups.)

Back on track. Christmas led to January and JD’s back surgery and some schedule craziness. We didn’t finish our taxes until the deadline so I didn’t know if there was any “extra” (I use that term loosely) money hangin’ around. All the while I still maintained and actually worked an additional five pounds off. Yeah me! My original plan after working with the personal trainer was to get at least ten pounds off and then utilize his help for the last ten. When it became evident that the next ten (OK, actually five, following my math?) weren’t going to come off easily (has any of this been easy?! OK, except for the aforementioned push-ups) and our finances cooperated, I hired him again, to kick my butt, again. And it worked, again.

I’ve tried to figure out what it is about working with a trainer that makes the weight come off. There are several things I’m sure, but the ones that have become evident to me are:

1. I have paid someone to meet me at a certain time so I don’t cancel (or make excuses as I would if it were just me having a PMS day)
2. The personal trainer pushes me harder than I would push myself. There is some trust involved here. I’ve got to say that after he’s told me what we are going to do I’ve laughed, but I’ve never not done it.
3. After paying someone to kick my butt I am much less likely to eat a whole sleeve of Girlscout cookies, or eat the whole box of mac and cheese, or pint of ice cream or whatever.
4. By working with a personal trainer I have added one more supportive person to my team who asks me if I’m reaching my goals and keeps me honest about it.

After the second set of sessions with the trainer (which got me through the summer by the way) I didn’t lose as much weight as I did the first time, but I did lose a little and my clothes definitely fit looser. For those of you who ask, “what did you do?” This was my summer routine: Monday Step class, followed by 30 minutes on the elliptical. Tuesday weights and maybe 30 min of cardio. Wed off. Thursday w/ trainer. Friday Spin class, followed by 30 min on elliptical. Saturday off and Sunday w/ trainer. I haven’t kept a food diary since November. Should I? Yes. It’s laziness on my part. I know I eat healthier when I have to look at it and calculate it. So to those of you who ask, “How did you lose weight?” The first part of the answer is, “I did not LOSE it, I do not want it back. I WORKED it off, it is not lost.” The second part of the answer is, “Diet and exercise.” It isn’t sexy, but it’s the truth.

Posted by: Jenn | 09-02-2008 | 12:09 AM
Posted in: LTF | Pieces of Me