The only thing better than saying you have a personal trainer is actually having a personal trainer. Meet Gwyn, my personal trainer. Don't let that sweet smile fool you. In our first session, she put me through a workout so tough I wanted to throw up just to catch my breath.
Jokes aside, I love Gwyn. She's got the perfect balance of kindness and drill sargent. She's not afraid to kick me when I start whining that my hip injury is going to "ruin my life forever." She laughs at my jokes, and she's also got a vast knowledge base.
For example:
Lauren: "Gwyn, my hip hurts, can you give me some swimming work outs until I recover?"
Gwyn: "Yes. Here you go."
Lauren: "Gwyn, I want to train for Ragbrai, can you help me with that?"
Gwyn: "Yes, I've done Ragbrai a bazillion times. I won back in 1996." (She didn't say that, but I am sure it's true.)
She's also promised to hook me up with her other clients for group workouts. One is a beginning runner, the others are cyclists who, she promised, are patient with beginners.
Yesterday, I met Gwyn for my first official fitness assessment. This is a service that is free to all YMCA members. Before the assessment, though, there were some protocols.
No workout 12 hours before--yes!
No alcohol 48 hours before--Boo.
Fast 4 hours before--okay, except that I accidentally ate some jelly beans at Back Country
Drink lots of water--define lots.
Then, we got down to business. Here are the "tests" and the results.
Percent Body Fat
We used a digital scale and the bioelectric impedance analysis. The bioelectric impedance analysis is the tool that looks like a hand-held game controller. It sends a current through the body. Body fat and bone show higher resistance versus muscle tissue.
Weight: 219.5
Percent Body Fat: 42.5%, BMI 40
Blood Pressure: 120/62
Measurements
I really have no basis for comparison with my measurements. I haven't done them since college when I went on the Atkins Diet. I can say that I am a far cry from the 36/24/36.
Arm: 13.25
Chest: 43
Abdomen: 38
Hip: 50
Thigh: 27.5
Fitness Testing
The fitness testing was the strangest of all. First, I had to step up and down on a step bench at a tempo of 96 beats per minute for 3 minutes. No talking. No use of arms. Then, Gwyn measured my recovering heart rate. Then, I did sit-ups for one minute, reaching from one line on the mat to the next. Then we did the push-up test. Gwyn counted how many push ups I could do in a row without breaking form. (Lowering your head is breaking form). Finally, I had to reach between my legs to a yard stick on a board to figure my flexibility.
Step Test: 87
Sit-Up Test: 29
Push-Up Test: 23
Sit and Reach: 11
Analysis
Then, we compared numbers. With the exception of my Sit and Reach, my fitness levels were all good or even excellent for my age-range, which was comforting. My Sit and Reach was "poor." I am excited to know that while I am overweight and I am many more inches that I would like to be, my level of fitness is pretty good. Having a high level of fitness should help me achieve my weight loss goals. We'll measure these again in 8-weeks and see how far I've come.
Goals
With my running career sidelined temporarily thanks to my bum hip, I am going to put aside my dreams of running the Dam-to-Dam 5k and focus on my next goal which is getting "ripped for Ragbrai," which is only 94 days away. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I know that I want to be at a level of fitness that Ragbrai is more fun than agony. I'd also prefer not to drag that extra 19.5 pounds across the state of Iowa, so I am hoping to have lost that weight by then as well.
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