Fitness Fridays

This week You Gal Stacy decided to write about her strength training regime. I must admit that it has not always been a joyous occasion. I remember when I first started to meet with my trainer I thought he was killing me. I often wondered why I chose to pay for torture and why my trainer insisted on beating me down. Working out was certainly a love/ hate relationship.

I can remember giving my trainer dirty looks, cursing him out under my breath, panting for air, and thinking I was going to die. I would wake up in the middle of the night with pains all over my body and muscle cramps. I was feeling muscles in my body that I did not think ever existed.

I will never forget the first time we did an upper body workout - I was doing bicep curls, triceps pull downs, push ups, reverse curls and bench presses. The next morning I woke up in excruciating pain and I could not put my arms down. I literally spent the next day at work unable to stretch my arms and looked like I was holding a tray in my arms. It was so hilarious!

Now here I am 5 months later and loving my workouts! I eagerly look forward to my next session. I have become so much stronger, leaner and focused. What I appreciate about my trainer is that we never keep my workouts the same he often changes them up and includes interval sessions, he is also so encouraging and knows what he is doing. This has aided in my continual weight loss. Although my workouts are still very much challenging my attitude towards them have changed. When I am feeling like the workout is overwhelmingly hard I look in the mirror and focus on the changes in my body, I focus on the muscle group being worked and try to feel each contraction and I breathe through each movement.

Here I am 41lbs lighter, my muscles are pushing through the fat and my waistline is back - all because of the hard work and dedication I have put in.

Here's to sweat, pain and dedication!!!