personal trainer

In 2003, I hired a personal trainer, Jonathan, at the local Gold's Gym, where I already had a membership. It was a life-changing experience. He was a big guy who could probably have lifted my weight with his ears. But I never felt intimidated by him. I ended up signing up for 12 sessions over a one month period. He gave me a nutrition plan to follow, and also asked me to keep track of my cardio sessions in a fairly simple way. Also, I was supposed to arrive at the gym early enough to spend ten minutes warming up on a bike or some other machine.

First, I will say it was expensive. The only reason I splurged on it was that my husband got a bonus and we had a little extra cash. The last bonus he got, he spent on getting a new bike to ride to work to keep in shape, so I figured it was my turn to do something for my health. My youngest was about 10 months old at the time and I was getting antsy about being tied to the baby, which always happens to me. I love nursing babies when they are small, but I get tired of it and continue out of obligation mostly (and frugality).

Second, I will say I did not lose weight. According to the measurements Jonathan made with his computer, I also did not lose any body fat. But this was patently ridiculous to anyone who saw me over this one month period. My body shape changed a lot. My clothing fit differently. My face looked thinner. And also, I was demonstrably stronger in every way. Jonathan made me run for the first time in ten years. I had knee problems, so I had stopped running in grad school. I kept swimming, but nothing that would stress my knee. I explained this to Jonathan, and also that I sometimes felt like I was going to pass out while running. He made me run anyway. Guess what? I got faster. I felt better.

Not everyone has an interest in becoming an obsessed triathlete like I am now, but let me tell you that then, I was simply someone who went to the gym 3-4 times a week for a half hour. I swam and did occasional spin classes. I hated aerobics. I hated running. I hated treadmills and almost every kind of cardio equipment. I also thought of myself as a non-athlete. I was an intellectual, see? A writer. Writers don't compete in athletic events. They certainly don't do marathons or Ironman competitions. Those were for crazy people. I didn't lift weights, because that was for weird weight lifters. I didn't have muscles that showed.

Until I stared at myself in the mirror one day when I was lifting weights in a shoulder routine and I could see my muscles standing out. I began on a journey with that personal trainer. I know not everyone can afford a personal trainer, but if you want to get in shape and you have a little extra cash, it is a great investment. You learn a ton of things about what you can do, about how to set up a routine, how quickly you can push yourself, and just plain confidence. Because you will be doing things you never did before, but with someone right there to tell you everything you need to know.

If there were writing personal trainers, there would be better novels out there. Actually, now that I think of it, there are writing personal trainers. We call them editors. Or sometimes writing groups. Or friends.