Hello
I have never posted on this forum before - usually on Off Topic, but I have recently had some personal training sessions with a trainer and wanted to share with you what I've been taught because I've found it invaluable. I've been working out in the gym on my own for years, and thought I knew quite a lot about what to do and how to get fit / lose weight. But I've learnt quite a bit recently and thought this would be worth sharing.
Previously, I would go to the gym and do maybe 40 minutes cardio, then a few weights (nothing serious), and some sit ups / floor exercises. I would come away feeling good thinking I'd worked hard.
Then I signed up for 10 personal training sessions with a specialist one-to-one only gym - not my regular Virgin Active. And boy, that's when I realised what working hard means!
Twice a week, I have had a 1 hour session there. I run there from my office (5 mins) so I'm warm when I arrive, and I do some warm up exercises, then I do weight training for 30 minutes in two 15 minute sections. The first 15 minutes I repeat 3 different exercises which I do 5 reps of each and continue that for 15 mins. All with weights or push up / pull up bars, or resistance machines. Intially I thought the weights were way too heavy, but each week I have improved and so my weights have gone up. (By doing weights that are really challenging, you are actually building muscle, which uses more calories than fat at rest, so it helps you to lose weight naturally). Once I've done that, I do 15 minutes interval training on the spinner. So I'll do 60 seconds at a high level, than drop for 60 seconds on a more manageable pace (rest period). I've also been doing interval training on the rower which I swear burns more calories than the other machines. Interval training has been shown to be more effective than cardio for fitness and calories burning, and you don't need to spend as long slogging out on a machine as you would do if you did a steady pace throughout.
I now look at women in my local gym and realise that they don't push themselves enough. Okay, it's great to get there, and doing anything is better than nothing. But my philosophy now is to work extra hard in that time I'm in the gym, and it's been getting results for me. I feel much fitter, stronger and more toned.
So if any of you out there are bored with your gym routines, or are finding a lack of motivation, then I would strongly recommend investing in a few personal training sessions if you can afford it, but do research your trainer and get someone knowledgeable. It's been life changing for me! If you're a member of a gym, you might be able to get a free review of your programme and ask them to build in weight training and interval training. It really works and is more fun than just doing boring cardio.
