Personal Trainer #1, 1st session with Leigh

Continuing from the previous post I now detest black folders

Arriving at The Ring (area of a local parked named back in high school), Leigh was already waiting. Bugger... quickly put out the ciggie, walk over and pass him the dreaded black folder hoping I never have to see it again. I know it sounds stupid, but it's not really the folder, it's what it represents. Anyway, he doesn't put the folder away, we start walking and he starts reading through my homework.  This ring we're at is on a decent slope, down was fine, the flat was better, then uphill was awful. I couldn't believe how soon I'd started puffing, this was nothing like the walks I do with the dog and then I worked it out. Chase stops at every single tree, so I have to stop and with his short legs, our pace is slow. With the trainer on the other hand, we're not walking for pleasure, this is exercise and there's some pace to it (although some of it may be due to his long legs haha).

Next issue hit when I stepped onto a brick speedbump in the road, I could feel my Plantar Fasciitis starting to let me know it wasn't liking this new exercise, so quick stretch and I can keep going. It's so hard to have a conversation or answer questions when your puffing away, but we kept walking and stopping to stretch my heel. There was a few people also on walks on the side path, we ventured up but by this time, my right heel is on fire. I was glad when Leigh suggested some different exercises. So onto squats, now I don't think I've squatted like that since school exercises classes, the first few felt fine but then I started feeling a different pain in my foot arch, not to mention jelly legs. Next was the resistance rope, standing on it and stretching it as high as I could, no heel pain with that one! (I had a passing thought of this band slipping and hitting me in the face, funnily though, it hit the trainer instead). Finally a bit more walking. One interesting thing was, that I felt more comfortable around him after he'd given up some information about himself, not work related but personal stuff. It made him more approachable (sure that's not the right word) knowing that he's not perfect.

Not sure how I'd rate the session having no comparison to put it against. But I agree with Leigh, that the walking was poor, I was disappointed in that aspect. The squats got better with repetition and my arm strength was good. He mentioned I seemed a lot more confident after the session and honestly, I did feel good, what I had done although minor, was productive.

All in all, I am really pleased I've taken this step. It's 17 hours after the session now and although I'm still in a lot of pain and gone through 3 ice-packs on my heel, I really can see myself continuing with this. With just this one session, I would highly recommend anyone with the slightest passing thought about contacting a Personal Trainer, to give it a go, there's nothing to loose and everything to gain.

I did make the trainer aware I was shopping around, and unexpectedly he was great about it, I have another session Saturday morning with a different company and 2 further options.

Pick Yourself Up Personal Training

I now detest black folders.

I've started checking out different Personal Trainers in the area as walking is a no brainer, I'm wanting to get more out of my exercise routine. So Wednesday morning, I met up with Personal Trainer #1 Leigh from Pick Yourself Up Personal Training at a local cafe. Chatting for a while, I explained why I'd made contact, what I was hoping to gain, mentioned my injuries and then he opened this dreaded black folder (will explain why dreaded shortly) which I hadn't noticed him holding before. Opening the folder, he explains a bit about this paperwork he has and it's homework for me! The last thing I expected was homework, having had no sleep for 2 days at this stage, drinking the previous night, thinking of the paperwork I already have to sort through later that day from my move, and a date that night I've already postponed once, I had an image of myself slapping him in the face with the damn folder (sorry Leigh!) I didn't though, wouldn't be too good to make a scene at what I guess would be my new local shoppo. So wanting to get this out of the way, we organize a trial session the next morning. As he's leaving he reminds me to be as honest and open on the forms I can be, this will only work if I'm honest to myself. As I have an appointment close by soonish, I decided to stay and get this 'homework' out of the way.

Working through the forms starts off simple... name, address, 'the usuals', etc and then it gets to what I want to achieve and I'm stumped. What is it exactly that I want? Why do I want it? How would my current injuries keep me from doing physical activities? The thoughts start flowing and they don't stop. I get to my meeting and those questions keep racing through my mind. 3 hour meeting and I don't think much was achieved. Getting home, I stash the folder away and refuse to look at it while I relax watching a bit of wrestling. I see the folder again as I leave for my date, I debate ringing Leigh and canceling the whole thing but refrain, as I really do want to do this. So date goes well and I get home after 4am (we spent the night talking, that's it! Get your mind out of the gutter) Quick change and I get started on the paperwork from the move, knock it out in 2 hours, old life gone when these hit the post office later in the morning. 

Sitting down for a break, I spy the folder. I'd put the it and the questions out of my mind till then and now I've ran out of time, it has to be completed. So after questioning my motivation, second guessing the answers in my head, I forced myself to write it all down and I'm finished. Check the clock and it's 9am, yep another night with no sleep. Not complaining, it's my own fault but it helps explain what happens next. I change again, grab the stuff I need and head off, get halfway down my street and realise I've left the dreaded black folder on the counter. Head back, get the folder and go to reverse out of the driveway. I get the shock of my life when I this horrible bashing noise vibrates though my car, there's a woman bashing on the boot! I get out and she starts with the screaming 'You almost hit me', 'YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME', I look and see I haven't even reached the sidewalk yet, she's come into the property line and I can't help but watch her with a sly smile on my face. I ask her to settle down and then the biggest shock of all comes, she's slapped me across my face. I'm dumbfounded, she then looks at me horrified and starts walking away. Seriously woman, did I really need this now? Nothing I can do, I head off to meet Leigh knowing I'll now be late. Get there, out of the car, say good morning to Leigh and he asks how I'm doing. Still a bit shocked, all I can mutter is 'been better'.