Trainer Trouble

There's no point in lying to your personal trainer, so don't even try. There's no point in fudging the numbers about how often you've been to the gym, or trying to deny that pound of fudge: the trainer will always find out. Since I last saw Gwyn, she was training for the Hy-Vee triathlon (which I am pretty sure she won), and I was eating things I shouldn't, in quantities that I shouldn't, staying out too late, and skipping workouts, and generally behaving like a fitness slacker. I have all kinds of requisite excuses (I was sick! We are moving! It's rainy!), but excuses don't burn calories.

So, bearing my reemerging muffing top none-too-proudly, I returned to my training. Gwyn, of course, was gracious and charming, and she put me through my lower body weight lifting training plan. For some reason, the weights always feel heavier when Gwyn is watching and counting, and while I shuffled up and down off the stair step, I confessed my bad behavior to Gwyn. Understanding as always, Gwyn focused on figuring out a plan that would work for me.

Now, after my workouts, I have to text her and tell her what I did. It feels pretty remedial, after all the work I put in last spring, but apparently it works. Today, I killed 45 minutes on the elliptical trainer, then rocked my upper body, and did some ab-work, all of which I happily reported to Gwyn. Her response: "looking fwd to hearing about tomorrow!" And, tomorrow, no matter how sleepy I am after a long night class, I am going to get myself out of bed and into the YMCA. Same goes for Saturday, and Sunday, and every day after that: I've got homework.

Forbes.com makes a case for applying the Meyer's Briggs personality test to your fitness goals. I'm not sure if this works for me. I am a competitor for sure, but I hate tennis. I am a social butterfly, but I hate chatting at the gym. Maybe I am best motivated in a student role. Give me an assignment, and I will do it. Perhaps knowing that I have to report back on my homework will keep me moving. The kind motivation I felt during the challenge still eludes me, but being in trouble with my trainer might just the be clue I need to help me find it.

Hip Update: after about a week off of workouts, the hip was feeling great. Now, that I am back in the gym, it is stiff and limp-inducing again. Anyone know a good sports medicine doctor?