Social Workout

Ask the Trainer

Persisitance is the cure for the ills of discouragement.

I recently read a post from a brave soul who worked out for the first time with a personal trainer. Her experience was lackluster, to say the least, and she wondered what to make of it, and how to judge her trainer. Good question. Having trained hundreds of "first timers," I want to first congratulate her on actually having the initiative to get to the gym, and find a trainer. Personal training can be intimidating, expensive, and hard work. It can also bring about one of most important transformations you make in your life! For personal training to work, however, I've found that both trainer and trainee have responsibilities. Personalities come in all shapes and sizes, of course, and some people just don't "click." Still, there are certain basics that must exist. Following are some of my rules of thumb...

Ask the Trainer

And When Exactly Do I Look Like the Girl in the Magazine?

Kwalsh writes: "I'm feeling frustrated because I killed it with my ab routine today- I do stuff in reps now that I wouldn't even attempt before- but I don't see it..."

K., I hear this often, especially from new recruits to fitness, and more often women. Intial excitement turns into frustration. Too often they miss out on the bigger changes in their bodies because they are spending too much time staring at the mirror naked. You are getting compliments, you are fitting into clothes that you haven’t before, your energy has skyrocketed, and on and on! These are the rewards of your hard work. Can you do more? Yes, but at what price?

Start mini rant: Are you looking to have the body of a magazine cover model? Don’t waste your time and energy. The image you seek is not real. Magazines want to make money. They are banking on our fears and desires. Special lighting and airbrushing go a long way. Teenage girls are getting more cosmetic surgery than ever! The athletes that are true to their image have earned it through dedicated diet and exercise and fortunate genetics. The Hollywood image is a less than reasonable goal.

Right. Rant over. That said, here's how we step up our training...