NOT what my fitness-guy looks like. I mean, look at this asshole.
Is it totally self-indulgent and stupid to pay $40 a month on top of my (to be fair, very reasonable) gym fee to have a nice and not scarily-muscular man act as my personal trainer once a month? He would make me a program that I could do three days a week and then one day a month he would do the program with me (and I hope, tell me what I needed to do next to avoid plateauing). I met him the other day for my "fitness assessment" wherein he a) made me think I might vomit from the exercises he did to gauge my health but b) did not make me feel bad about myself. I think this is a good sign.
Arguments for:
- My schedule is so stupid that exercising is hard but when I don't exercise I feel bad physically and beat myself up emotionally.
- Once I do get to the gym I honestly have no idea what to do and so end up running and making a feeble effort to lift weights without any knowledge of how to do so in order to actually get stronger.
- This guy doesn't skeeve me out and might actually help me learn about how to exercise.
- I really do want to feel better and healthier and like I am taking care of myself. I'm also pretty sure that this is not a time in my life when I will work in yoga or long runs outside or anything else that takes initiative and discipline and scheduling. I need something easy and thoughtless.
- A little external pressure might help me actually go to the gym.
Arguments against:
- It feels really indulgent. I can just make myself go to the gym three times a week. Really if I run half an hour and do a few weights I should be fine. I did this in the past and felt okay.
- I worry that I am just giving into some ridiculous vanity-thing, or even worse am sliding into a very-ugly-American tendency to spend my money on selfish wrong-minded things like the shape of my triceps.
- It is $40 a month! That I would be spending just on myself. When I could just save that money and, I dunno, have some willpower to exercise.
- I hate gyms, and gym people. They terrify me with their perky attitudes and tendency to wear track pants everywhere.
Thoughts?
I'm very stuck on this issue as well. I hate the gym, but love how I feel when I'm fit, but hate the process of getting there from here (lardy couch potato). I often think a personal trainer would be a splendid inducement to exercise, especially since weights machines and the blokes who grunt on them terrify me, but have never been able to bring myself to actually get one. Thing is, now that 30 approaches I'm thinking I need a spot of help. I'd think of it as an investment in yourself.
ReplyDeleteyou PROs list is a good one. 3&5 are totally cinchers. you're not giving in to vanity. $40 is a great investment in your long term health! you could be blowing in tons of other trivial shit. also, it'll help motivate you to go.
ReplyDeletexo!
(granted this is coming from someone who does not work out at all, but i plan to after grad school is over! maybes w/a trainer too, because i know i'd flake out if it was just up to me.)
Man, I struggled a lot with the choice in joining a yoga class, for the same reasons you listed. But the result was good (despite hating freaking side plank!), and now I can do routines without going to a class. The benefits are good. I would like to invest time into learning more about weight lifting, for career and personal reasons, but I would encourage you to try it. If you hate it... well, quit. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is self-indulgent at all to do something that is good for you and your health. I hate going to the gym and I don't know what to do either. Two years ago buying a class package at the yoga studio felt like a lot of money, but now I can't imagine not going to the studio, even if it is just once a week to the five dollar community yoga class. I have gone to enough classes that I can practice at home and feel like I am getting a good session in, but mix it up and keep me disciplined by going to the studio once a week.
ReplyDeleteAll of this just to say an investment in yourself and your health is a good thing. After you do it for awhile, you should be able to work your way through the gym on your own without the aid of a trainer.
and like blind irish pirate said, if you don't like it, quit. :)
DO IT.
ReplyDeleteI've never felt better than when working with a competent, professional trainer who kicks my ass. I squirm over the money part and feel a bit yuppy, but the health benefits alone are worth it! Good luck!
ReplyDelete