Personal Trainers...They're Just Like You!

One of my favorite clients, let's call him "Tim", starts off each session with his "agenda". He has a list of topics and questions to chat about during the warmup and, he knows I know this, uses said topics and questions as stalling techniques during his hour-long session. The other day, he said something to the effect of, "Amy, last night I was eating something delicious, which means you probably think it's terrible! I don't know why I automatically assume that, but I just do..."

We shared a good laugh, and I explained that I, like everyone else, am far from perfect and that I sometimes indulge too often.

The exchange got me to thinking about the many situations where my clients assume that I am an absolute saint. Sorry, kids. I hate to tell you you're wrong, but, here goes...

I am just like YOU.

I know, you're gasping. It's okay. Inhale nose, exhale mouth. 


I'm going to prove it:

1. Food isn't just fuel. It's fun.

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is pull a recipe from Food & Wine or Bon Appétit magazine and open a bottle of wine with my husband. We make an evening out of it and it's a nice time to unwind and catch up on our week. If we had children, I would hope to involve them in the cooking process and show that kitchen time = family time. And it's fun to try new foods and recipes.

Yes, I use butter, I eat cheese, I love a good dessert and almost every night I have a square of dark chocolate. My favorite brunch treat is french toast and I could live off of good bagels with cream cheese and lox. Every once in awhile I'll have a regular Dr. Pepper. Do I eat like this all the time? Of course not. And it's not even every weekend that I cook like Julia Childs. But I do on occasion and I don't feel guilty about it. If I were training for a competition, wanted to improve my race time or had severe dietary restrictions, that would be different. For me, it's all about moderation. And let's face it: we're not 18 any more! Bouncing back from a heavy dinner or one-too-many cocktails is rough.

2. Others help hold me accountable.   
When I lived in St. Louis, the gym uniform I was required to wear said PERSONAL  TRAINER in big block letters across the shoulders. Like most folks, I would do my grocery    shopping after work...in uniform. I can't tell you how many times that shirt kept me from reaching for my beloved Salt & Pepper Kettle Chips or childhood throwback, Macaroni & Cheese. Even the impulse buy of Haribo gummies or Peanut M&Ms was a no-go. Why? At least half of the people that I passed in the store took a long look at my shopping cart. And whether or not they knew it, they passed judgment.
   
Living in Clovis is a little different. It doesn't matter if I am wearing any of my Elevated Fitness gear; after living here for 5 years, I can't pop into the store without running into at least one person or family that I know...which is just as bad as the giant PERSONAL TRAINER shirt. And yes, I look in your carts, too.

3. Some days I just want to sit on the couch.

Since my job requires me to be on the go between different gyms, parks and clients' homes, not to mention on my feet and engaged with each client, it's nice to just turn my brain off and watch some tv or soak in the tub with a book. 
  
Lately I have had a very hard time getting motivated to exercise. This may be a sign of some recent health problems, a crazy work schedule or maybe just life. Everyone has  reasons for hitting the wall from time to time. Most days I push through and do what I need to do, but more frequently I will take a day or two to help recover. Did I mention that I fell asleep in the bathtub last month? 

Most of the time, putting yourself through the pain of a workout or recovery massage (see left) is worth it and very necessary. But it's important that you listen to your body and know that rest is just as important as hard work in a well-rounded regimen.



4. I struggle with making friends.
I am okay at making small talk and attempting to engage with one-on-one clients, but
I have never made friends quickly. I find that being a business owner makes it that much more difficult. There are lots of clients that I make connections with, but I am hesitant to reach out to them because it might be viewed as 1) favoritism or 2) unprofessional. There is also a tricky balance: do we hang out and I make you accountable for your potentially unhealthy choices (thereby being more professional) or do we hang out and I don't make you feel guilty for choosing to live the way you're living (a friend)?

5. I put my foot in my mouth. Daily.
After moving to Clovis, I had to holster my middle finger. I was used to receiving the occasional obnoxious honk or holler from passersby while running. My initial response was to throw up my middle finger. I learned my lesson after almost flipping off one of my high school swimmers. 
The point is, I don't want to ruin the reputation of my business by saying or doing something inappropriate. I guess this means I am officially an adult. Shit! I mean, darn it! 
Who wants to hire someone that goes on public rants or makes a spectacle of herself? But, guess what? Sometimes I drink, cuss, and shoot the bird, just like your embarrassing cousin.

6. Yes, those weirdos at the gym annoy me, too.

There are countless stereotypes and personalities that definitely make my in-gym work and personal workout time less enjoyable. Maybe the guy who interrupted a client's session to ask if  I could take a picture of his triceps while he worked on his dips; the girl who refused to ask if she could work-in on a piece of equipment and instead shot me dirty looks and then talked about how greedy "some people" can be; the guys (and gals) that have unfortunately made the acquaintance of the ever-present sleeve monster. The girls who think they are so tough that they have to wear a pink tank top, pink shoes, pink headband and pink gloves to prove, well, I don't know what. By the way, don't get me started on gloves. Or another favorite: the gallon-jug that doubles as a water bottle. That has to be the most inconvenient water vessel known to man, especially when filled with your neon-blue supplement of choice.
But MY workout is about ME, not about other people or what those people might think of me. I'm sure there are a couple people wondering why I'm doing squats in running shorts, or why I use a SPI Belt that looks like a mini fanny pack. Let's face it: the dude who wants a photo of his triceps is definitely not watching anyone other than himself. Stop worrying about judgement from others and start moving more.
(photo courtesy of http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000010273794-ahnt0m-crop.jpg?435a760)

8. I love my job, but there is more to life than work.
If my husband reads this, he will probably drop dead. I said it...don't let work rule your life. When I started training in St. Louis and again when I started my own business, I created an unwritten rule to not say "no". Saying "no" meant that I was limiting opportunities to grow my clientele. If that meant working at 5am M-F or Saturday evenings, I did it. But after a few years, Elevated Fitness is well established and I feel much more comfortable setting limitations on my schedule. I am taking more time to do things that I enjoy, including taking weekends off to race and using my free time to help organize events like the Texas 4000 welcome party.

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What's the most human thing you did this week?