Discovering My Fitness Sanctuary: From Gym Tourist to Dedicated Enthusiast

“I have been a gym tourist for a while.  I have jumped from boot camp to Pilates studio to yoga sessions and at each, I have liked them ok enough to finish up the intro deal but never really stayed beyond that. I have found that my 6:30 am workouts with my trainer really are different.  First, in simple terms, I appreciate the time and the place.  It is close to where I live and the timing works for my busy life as a mother of three. More than that, though, I love the workouts.  That is shocking to me because I do not like exercising and do it only to try to trim down and stay healthy.  Usually, workouts are something I endure.  What is different is, I have found, are three crucial areas:  My Trainer is not like other personal trainers.  I have tried personal training before and felt over coached or over cheered.  My trainer strikes a perfect balance of telling me to adjust and encouraging without making me feel singled out or like a ‘beginner.’  I appreciate that I REALLY AM allowed to work at my level and yet, after every workout, I am sore in a new place.  At other places, I have felt like the ‘fat girl’ because everyone else seemed to be in perfect shape with perfect form.  I also often felt either ignored or over focused on, but my trainer has never made me feel like that. The variety in the workouts, coupled with the simplicity in the moves, makes it really accessible but keeps me interested.  I really appreciate how different every time is, but since so many of the moves are the basics, I don’t ever feel lost.  Again, at other places, I have felt like a beginner every time.  I really like the way my trainer uses basic moves that I know (mountain climbers, push ups, squats) but really mixes it up to keep it changing.  I also feel like this is a big reason why I like it so much.  It’s accessible, but still a real challenge. The challenge never stops.  Like I mentioned before, I have been sore after every workout.  Not unbearably sore, but enough to remind me that I have a goal and I have been working out.  That helps when I go to grab some junk food.  If my arms hurt when I reach for the chips, it reminds me not to… it’s silly and simple and it really works.  I have also been going three times a week for two weeks and I swear… I feel stronger already.  I never felt that with other workouts.  I felt uncomfortably sore and never really felt stronger.”