Personal Training…The End

You might know my story about hurting my knee and doing physical therapy and now working with a personal trainer because I’ve written about it before.  I like to say it was a sports injury, but it was more like I fell off my shoes on the stairs and somehow injured my right knee… 🙂

Yesterday I finished my 20 outrageously expensive personal training sessions that you pay for upfront.  I’m sure it’s set up that way because then you’re pretty reluctant to miss a session…  That’s 20 hours, people, of having someone put you through paces like you were going to play offensive tackle for an American football team.  I am serious.  I actually pulled a piece of equipment called a sled, some days with 110 pounds, other days with 160 pounds.

I did push ups and chest presses and squats and bicep curls and things I don’t even know the names of, and I paid for the privilege.  I really do think the Chicago Bears might consider using me this year…  I mean, it’s the Bears, how bad could I be?

I created waves with a big, heavy rope, with both arms, one at a time, circles in and circles out.  I rode a recumbent bike every visit, walked on a treadmill, stretched, lifted free weights, did hip bridges on a big exercise ball and glowed with the sweat of ten people!

My trainer, Keith, was very patient, always encouraging, never judgemental, but pushed me 100 times harder than I would have pushed myself, all without injury, for which I’m terribly grateful.  I’m not totally sure he got my sense of humor but we made it past the hate part of our love/hate relationship!  I haven’t lost a lot of weight, but I’ve gained a good deal of muscle, conditioning, strength and confidence in what I can do.  It’s still damn hard, but afterwards I went right over to our park district and joined the health/aquatic center.  Hubby and youngest son and I start on Wednesday and I’m kind of excited.

Keith and I said our goodbyes and I thanked him for putting up with me and he congratulated me on my progress and told me to keep working hard and protect my knee.   I told him I was just a little disappointed that there wasn’t a going away party with cake, and not any of that tofu-wheat germ crap either, and Keith just laughed.  I think he thought I was kidding 😉

~ Diane D.                                   Photos from Bing.com or my own