I have always been an active person who played tennis, exercised 5-6 hours per week on the elliptical and the treadmill, and worked out on Nautilus equipment 3-4 times a week. Unfortunately, I never really saw much progress in spite of all this. I continued to gain weight, lose strength, and struggle with balance and coordination. I was a mess!
Weight Watchers helped me trim off some pounds, but the exercise issue was still problematic. At 56, I was anxious to find a way to better my overall health and become a stonger person.
As luck would have it, I ran into one of my husband's former basketball player's one day, so I knew her and we started a conversation. As a trainer and a person, you know she can hold her own conversationally... and I'm the same, so it was quite a while later when we got around to the fact that she is a personal trainer. Here was exactly what I needed... and I knew her and I was willing to let her see how ridiculously pitiful I was. It was karma, or destiny, or fate, or just old-fashioned good luck.
The first few months were a little sporadic because our shedules didn't mesh as well as we'd hope. However, by January we were into a routine and were training twice a week. I have taken the bands and Fit and Fine's workouts to Spain, taken the ball and hand weights for a beach trip, and have been faithful with the strength training and cardio. I usually complain and call my trainer names while I'm doing the exercises, question her sanity when she comes up with some of those torture routines, threaten to expose her on TV... but I always do what she tells me to.
I started off unable to do many of the exercises at all, and constantly had to cheat to keep my balance with many others. All the while, my trainer was patient and full of encouragement. Whenever I thought I'd gone as far as I coud go, she challenged me to do something different or more difficult. In six months of regular training and cardio, I have lost 14 pounds, 10.5% body fat, and a total of 30.75 inches. Yes, I'm including the 0.75 inch because I'm sure I had to do something terrible with a 15-pound weight to lose that!
My balance is much better, my coordination is coming along, and I'm addicted to strength training. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself and I have Fit and Fine to thank for it... even if I do call my trainer the Gym Nazi under my breath.
Sheryl --- Kennesaw, GA
