In the Media
2006-04-03, The Edmonton Journal
New Year New You: Week 11
Chris Zdeb; journal staff writer, Edmonton
Preparing for independence, Bobbi moves her routine to her workplace gym
In one more week, Bobbi Robbins will have completed her free 12 weeks of training with Alexandra Senkow at Defining Eve.
“I’m actually sad that it’s ending because I’m enjoying it so much, but I’m leaving with a lot of confidence,” Robbins says. “I know I want to keep it up and I’ve got a lot of good tools in my toolbox now that enables me to do so.”
To ease the transition for her working out on her own, Robbins and Senkow headed to the weight room at Ross Sheppard high school, where Robbins is a teaching assistant, to work out where she expects to continue exercising. (Because the centre is a busy place, especially at this time of year, Robbins and her fiancé Todd are also thinking about getting memberships to nearby Peter Hemingway Fitness and Leisure Centre.)
“We’re taking more steps to help Bobbi build her independence and more of a routine,” Senkow says, explaining the change in location.
Workout adapts to new venue
“It’s really important to get accustomed to exercising in an environment you’re going to be using, otherwise you won’t feel comfortable working out on your own,” Senkow says.
The trainer adapted Robbins’s workout to fit the equipment on site, including a Plyo Box, usually used for jump training, but which Robbins used for step-ups to work her legs.
She took into account the more crowded space of the weight room and had Robbins do ball crunches with her feet against a wall so she won’t get trampled exercising on the floor.
With all that she has learned in the last 11 weeks, Robbins was also able to program her own interval training program on the cross trainer, a program she has been doing at the fitness studio.
“Many people don’t realize how steep the learning curve is in terms of learning new exercises, how to work muscles in different ways,” Senkow says. “Now instead of saying this is the exercise we’re going to do and demonstrate it, Bobbi automatically identifies the name of the exercise, the muscle that she’s working.”
Earlier in the week, Senkow took advantage of the nice weather to get Robbins outside and running intervals. She still doesn’t think she’ll become a regular runner, but she said the same things about bike riding and is now hooked on spin classes. So much so, that after running intervals last Monday, she took an unexpected spin class when a bike became available.
“I was pretty shocked,” Senkow says laughing.
“I really enjoy spinning,” Robbins explains. “That’s something I would recommend to anybody. I find its such an awesome upper body workout because you’re doing all your push-ups and stuff on the bike as well as working your legs.
“I do it Saturday mornings and it’s so nice to get up and get the workout over and done with. You feel so productive for the day,” Robbins says, “and Greg (her spin class fitness leader) is amazing.”
The women are discussing ways to keep Robbins accountable once she starts exercising on her own. That may mean Robbins checking in with Senkow to adjust her workouts on a continuing basis.
Starting weight: 199 pounds. Week 11: 192 pounds.
Bobbi Robbins won 12 weeks of personal training with Alexandra Senkow, fitness director at Defining Eve personal fitness studio, in The Journal’s New Year, New You contest.
