<p>Aha, so I answered it correctly. I’m going again (another free session) on Thursday, and I’ll see what she says about that. I’ve been watching some of the trainers in this gym and my analysis is based upon looking for someone non-irritating who seems interested, instead of bored and irritating. Okay, this is not a big $$ gym, but it’s nearby!</p>
<p>Non-irritating would definitely be a big plus! I wake up from nightmares thinking I’m doing a workout with Jillian Michaels. OMG, the first time a personal trainer got in my face and yelled at me would be the last time… :)</p>
<p>I’ve worked with a trainer off and on; right now, I’m working with a trainer once again. At this point, I could work on my own, but I find that the trainer pushes me more than I push myself. Many times I’ll do an exercise with her that I never tried on my own because I didn’t think I could do it. I’m not a disciplined person and it’s easy for me to turn over and go back to sleep. However, when I have an appointment with the trainer, I don’t do that.(Right now, I go at 7 am 2X a week). </p>
<p>Training is expensive–so I think it’s important to find a trainer with whom you work well. If you don’t click with the trainer, then don’t work with her/him. I’ve worked with two trainers. One was a little older than my oldest child–she was wonderful. She left the gym to manage a chain of fitness centers in our area. She referred me to my current trainer–who’s about my age and has two kids in college. She motivates me and I like her style. She’s also likes to use kettle bells, TRX, the sled thing, and is keen on getting me to use heavier weights (all of which I like). I’ve noticed that the other trainers keep a lot of their clients using the weight machines (which I don’t like very much).</p>
<p>Shoveled snow (we’ve got about 8 inches) off the steps and cleaned the cars, walked the dog about for a half mile in the snow, and finished up with a Rachel Cosgrove workout from Utube.</p>
<p>A few years ago I took a class at a hospital based fitness center; there were four of us, each trying to lose weight for various reasons. Three times a week we would talk about health and nutrition, and then we would engage in “small group” exercise. I liked that a lot more than one on one with a trainer. Cost prohibitive now, unfortunately! Planet Fitness has a trainer that is free and available at certain times. Haven’t done it yet. What I’m doing seems to be working. For now. </p>
<p>Class last night with sabadog, which is a lot of work. Spent most of today trying to find replacement dog food for him; Innova had a big recall (their first ever) and of course his food was part of it. It is not easy to find in my area to begin with so that made my day kind of a grumble. If there’d been donuts in my office I would have eaten them. Found out I was passed over for expanded hours at work because one of the attorney’s children needed work, so they were going to hire her part time instead of making me full time. Glad I started the day at the gym. Pass me some red wine and chocolate.</p>
<p>I want your trainer, Bromfield. I do have a box of Jillian Michaels tapes waiting for me, but at least the humiliation will be private.</p>
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<p>Amen. If you can find a trainer that wants you off the machines and using kettlebells, TRX, dumbbells, etc. you already know you have a better than average trainer. Actually, bootcamps are so popular now that I’m guessing there are quite a few decent trainers.</p>
<p>Going to try one of those bootcamps tomorrow. Sounds interesting.</p>
<p>My trainer worked me too hard yesterday. I did not need the snow shoveling today.</p>
<p>Some slow mitochondria building (hopefully) elliptical today.</p>
<p>Hike today. Snow and ice the last mile, so glad I had my YaxTrax. Super windy at the top, glad for my trekking poles, too.
No snacks, just water.
Statistics
Roundtrip : 8.0 miles
Elevation Gain 3150 ft
Highest Point 3900 ft</p>
<p>Took about 3 1/2 hours including water break, putting on the trax and a couple of brief convos with people coming down.</p>
<p>CJane, good work! Did you put anything in the mailbox? Have I got the right hike?</p>
<p>Ohio, mitochondria building, hm?</p>
<p>I like my current trainer. I tend to better overall with male trainers, not sure why. </p>
<p>It is essential to me that the trainer sign on to my approach. So, they have to be okay with big weights (none of this low weights, super high reps stuff) and low carb. I also know what I will always need correcting on, so if they don’t get around to pointing those things out relatively early on, I know that aren’t paying attention and/or aren’t knowledgeable enough on form.
Mainly, they have to give me the feeling that they are truly invested in my success. (I don’t care if they are faking it, they just better be faking it well.) My current trainer and my favorite one at my previous gym, treat me like I am some kind of world class athlete. I am willing to go along with the pretense for an hour.</p>
<p>No, Deborah! This was NOT nearly mailbox! This was a much more manageable hike than that.</p>
Still sounds plenty challenging to me!
<p>Repeated the 28 minute beach run this morning, keeping the HR under 150 except for a few intervals of 155 and higher–still researching what I can do. Sand was a little softer, pace slow, but I’m happy to know I can run this long. Yay. Added some walking for a total of about 5 miles today. And (thinking of Sabaray and her dog) took one strong willed male shiba dog for a walk.</p>
<p>College S and GF and i went on a boat outing and we had a bunch of dolphins follow and leap in the wake for miles. Gorgeous, strong, fast, athletic, playful animals.</p>
<p>Ahh… beach fun, so jealous of you, PlantMom. Although I do know how strenuous running in the sand can be.
AND dolphins? Perfection.</p>
<p>It’s been quite a few years since that visit to Key West, as in more than 25 – <em>warm</em> sand and dolphins is sounding very appealing…</p>
<p>8 miles 3100 feet elevation gain 3.5 hours. I am definitely not worthy! 
I’m doing flat lander snow shoeing tomorrow. Nowhere near 8 miles worth. Trying to pick a day for a trek up to the mountains.</p>
<p>Sounds like CJane went up Mt Si. Not an easy hike, but yep, Mailbox will kick your butt a lot more than that. If you made it up and down in that kind of time, you are in shape for Mailbox. My husband did Si last weekend and said he was just slipping around on the snow, he needs better equipment.</p>
<p>Sounds like you have a great trainer too.</p>
<p>I just put on the Jillian Michaels workout. Barely made it through the 5 min warmup, this is so much harder than running and biking.</p>
<p>You got it, busdriver. Yes, I am still terrified of Mailbox. Especially, since going through the posts, I realized that you are some kind of stair climbing champion! So NOT my forte. If the person who participates in stair climbing events says it’s hard… :eek:</p>