I started working out with Leslie in May. My number one concern was that I had to learn how to exercise in a manner that would be safe for my knees. Top of my list. Next on that list, I wanted to strengthen and develop the muscles that support my knees to help protect me from re-injuring myself. Last on that list, last, was to lose weight. Leslie was very pleased to hear this. She said so many of her clients would come in with an unrealistic expectation to have XX pounds of by XX date. When she told them it just wasn’t going to happen, they would get angry. It was never about reaching a weight goal for me. This was about learning how to exercise again. You work hard and you do the best you can with the information you’ve got only to find out you may actually be doing yourself more harm than good. Before I started working out with Leslie I would spend an hour or more on the elliptical working myself up to a heart rate of 170, or higher. I knew I had a good workout when the sweat would accumulate behind my knees and I’d feel it trickle down my calves. Turns out that’s the worst thing you can do. For me, my target heart range is in the 130’s, although Leslie will allow me the leeway of the lower 140’s. I wasn’t seeing results because I was working too hard.
Working out with Leslie these past five months has been an amazing journey for me. We have added weights to my routine, along with weighted bars, kettlebells, resistance bands, and bosu. Leslie has given me several routines, some I do at the gym, some I can do at home when I am feeling restless and just feel like I need to get up and move. I workout with Leslie and she always brings something new to the table, I watch her demo what she wants me to do and I think, you’re out of your freakin’ mind. There’s no way. Then I do it, and I amaze myself. I worker harder now and do so much more now than I ever did bks. I can’t believe I can balance on a bosu and do crunches, or jump half turns without falling to the floor. I can’t believe I can toss a kettlebell like nobody’s business, or do push~pulls. It’s been a journey of realizations, that once again, spill over into every other area in my life. I can do amazing things, I can do the unthinkable, I can do the impossible. I can do ANYTHING. There’s nothing holding me back, there’s nothing standing in my way but myself, so I’m moving over and making room for a new life. It’s not about “getting there”, there is no “there” to get to. It’s about the journey, it’s about challenging yourself to do more, to demand more out of life and to take a risk. Success taste sweet! Don’t think I am up to the challenge? I’ll meet you at the gym and show you how it’s done.
P.S. I kick ASS!
