Success Story: Mary-Jane
In June of 2005 I decided to start working with a personal trainer at Defining Eve. I felt that the one-on-one attention would not only be motivation, but I would also have a program that would be tailored specific to my unique needs.
My past experiences with exercise have not been very good. Exercising in a gym atmosphere did not appeal to me and didn’t provide me with the accountability and encouragement that having a trainer does. In the past when my work schedule conflicted with my personal activities, I found I would skip out on things such as exercise classes, in part thinking that no one would notice if I was not there. I assure you that with a personal trainer you cannot escape unnoticed!
When I have started new cardio routines in the past, I quickly developed knee problems and so I would stop to recover from the injury. The result was that I never seemed to progress. In my initial sessions at Defining Eve, my trainer focused on building my joint strength to prevent injury so I could progress to a more intensive cardio program safely. As a result of working with a knowledgeable trainer and following a progressive program composed of carefully selected exercises I have since sustained no injuries.
Since the start of my program, just over a year ago, my routine has consisted of three sessions per week, complemented by a weekly yoga class, normal disruptions not withstanding. With the warmer weather I have decided to drop the Saturday class and substitute running with my dogs Saturday mornings with the intent to become more self-directed.
This year I set a goal to be able to run short, 3 km, distances with my daughter who is a recreational marathoner. With time and consistent, quality workouts- I soon reached that goal and set my sights on completing the 5 Km at the Forzani’s Mother’s Day Run with my daughter. I am proud to say that my first 5 Km run was a success! Not only was the race fun- I know how much my daughter appreciated my effort for her. During the run I focused on running and breathing; she talked and entertained. For her- it was just a nice warm up before brunch. For me- it was one of the highlights of my exercise “career”.
My plan is to continue the mix of cardio, strength and flexibility as a strategy to develop a routine (and maintain it) in which physical activity is naturally incorporated into my daily activities.
Though it may sound cliché- I doubt I could have done with out the support I received from my trainer and staff at Defining Eve. Though there were times when I could not avoid missing a session, I received ongoing encouragement to get back at it. The expectations of my trainer empowered me to reach my goal and to stay on track. My advice? Set a reasonable goal, start to work towards it, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it!
