In the spirit of self sacrifice I have decided to submit myself to the will of one of the most experienced Personal Trainers working in the eastern suburbs - Nathan Berenger. Our sessions are at Regenesis Fitness in Edgecliff, where I am a director and conduct my own Personal Training business.
Why do I need a trainer? Well for all the same reasons you might.
- I need an appointment that I can't break without letting somebody else down
- I need somebody to motivate me so I get the best out of my limited training opportunities
- I'm making a comeback to competative sport after a baby.
I also seem to be providing some entertainment for Regenesis gym members, during my sessions. A great deal of enjoyment is being derived from seeing me experiencing fisrt hand the other side of Personal Training.
Follow my weekly progress below and pick up a few training tips along the way. You might meet a few of the Regenesis Fitness Team along the way and stay in touch with all the latest at Sydneys best small gym.
Training session 28/09/2010
I arrived at today’s session feeling well rested and ready for what Nathan had in store for me. A week off training can be as good as a holiday. Today’s session was dedicated to upper body and abdominals, as I injured my knee playing football recently and am still recovering with it.
“Training Hint”
Often when one sustains an injury, we think, I am “out of action” till I get better and avoid all forms of exercise just in case. This is not necessarily always true. In most cases there are ways to continue with your exercise program by making adjustments for you injury, so seek advice before going cold turkey.
By focusing on upper body and abdominals only, we were able to do a wider range of exercises and today my arms, back and chest feel “Well Done” and I feel great! Generally, Nathan still employed a super set style of workout however with the added time we did some fun and challenging exercises that we may well not have managed to fit in given our normal time restraints.
It was during one of these, new and challenging exercises, that we were approached by one of the members who nodded, but only later realized who I was and exclaimed that he didn’t recognize me and said, “You are looking so young and fit!” That’s the best compliment any girl could ask for. I now believe its working!!!
Training Session 6/09/2010
I woke this morning feeling energized from yesterdays training session. I have been training with Nathan now for 6 weeks and must admit it has been tough, but I’m starting to feel like I’m achieving some improvements in muscle tone and am not struggling for breath in the sessions as much as I was just a couple of weeks ago.
“Training Tip”
We did some “drop setting” yesterday which involves using a heavy weight to failure and then removing some weight and continuing right away to get some more reps out. This really burns and is aimed at increasing muscular endurance more so than increasing overall strength. It certainly leaves you “feeling the burn” and is perfect if you have been training heavily for a while and need to fit in a lighter but intense work out.
My highlight of the sessions would have to be the raised leg lunges which I didn’t think I would manage, but surprising myself, I did them well and am pleased to say I could have done a few more. Seeing this, Nathan added we could do another set!!! Ha ha, he does have a great sense of humour.
I am starting to feel the beginning of some muscle stiffness today, but will get out for some easy cardio later and a stretch, which should settle that down.
I’m feeling great bring on next week!
Training Session 30 August 2010
Feeling a little tired after a busy weekend of football I was looking forward to getting moving again without making the sore bits, much sorer … but boy was I wrong.
Our session started off with a bang, “let’s start with legs” Nathan says…. So heavy leg press for 20 reps, twice … As I said it started with a bang! Followed promptly by a super set* of leg extensions, 30x step ups throwing a medicine ball then the grueling and all together deadly, free squat and lunge combo with bar and – 7½ pounds. No that’s not lunch combo but I would have opted for that give the chance!
Onto upper body – “today we will do some antagonistic super sets*” says Nathan. So we start with as he put it, an “easy” bench press of 20 reps, ha ha, followed by TRX rows, “only do as many as you can”, and all the while he reminds me “lead with your chest”. Then I get the much deserved minute and a half or so of rest and we go again for rounds 2 and three! We somehow have time to fit in some Lateral Pull Downs and Push Ups on the Bosu ball. Work in some chest press and and and… the list goes on. Fatigue is now not even an issue, exhaustion is the only word that comes to mind!
The session comes to and end and I feel “well done” to say the least. “Great Job” he says! All I can think of is that it’s a good thing there was nothing else to do! But as I get a short shoulder rub to end the session, I find myself feeling energized by my achievements and already looking forward to next week!
*Training Tip: “Super Set” – What and Why?
Super setting refers to training involving two or more exercises that complement each other and are performed one after another without rest in between. This multi-set training not only condenses our workout time, but increases our productivity considerably. There are many different super setting techniques I will touch on in the coming weeks, but please keep in mind when you’re doing these, that they are intensity techniques and should not be used every day. Our body requires a certain amount of recovery time and using these techniques too often can hamper this.
