There’s not many people who, if the brakes went out on their car, would attempt to fix it themselves by turning wrenches and moving random parts around until everything suddenly – magically – becomes good as new.
And yet many people think they can fix their own bodies even if they’re not sure what they’re doing.
Sometimes you need a mechanic for your car. And sometimes you just need a trainer for your body.
It’s unfortunate that some people – especially in the
Emily Todd also once figured she could do it on her own after gaining 30 pounds in the span of only a few months. Then suddenly, her wedding date was quickly approaching and she couldn’t fit into her dress anymore.
“I was doing what I learned from fitness mags,” she says. “And I just wasn’t sticking to it.”
So she turned to the help of a personal trainer at Bally’s. To date, she’s lost more than 10 pounds of fat in a little over a month. She shared what it’s like to work with her first personal trainer.
Why did you go the personal trainer route?
I just decided I’d done it all by myself and wasn’t maintaining my progress, so I have to try something different. I’m not gonna lie, it’s not cheap. For 24 sessions it’s about $1200. But it’s an investment in my body and I only get one body. I like that I have a standing appointment with someone who’s only goal is to get me to my healthiest.
What is your trainer’s style?
Nick is not the cheerleader type. He’s very calm, cool and collected. If I’m doing an exercise wrong, and if I’m not hurting myself, he’ll have me finish the set and then correct it for next time so I can feel the difference. He’s supporting, not intimidating, and is just great to work out with.
What are the workouts like?
Our workouts are about 45 minutes to 1 hour, 2 or 3 times a week. We do A LOT of circuit training, and I like it because I don’t get bored and it works my whole body. Sometimes we use weights, sometime just my body weight. I have never sweat so much in my life as I do during one of Nick’s workouts.
What caused you to gain weight?
Honestly I believe it was combination of nesting and laziness. Living with my fiancé has been the hardest on my diet. We work opposite schedules so cooking now takes a lot of planning. It was a lot of quick foods, eating out and eating out of boredom because I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with my fiancé.
What’s your goal?
My most immediate goal is to fit into my wedding dress. My next goal is to lose another 10 pounds of body fat. Overall, I’d like to ripped. Not like gross steroid-ripped, but like that woman you see at the gym with that awesome athletic and muscular body. I want to be her!
What has been the hardest part of the process?
The diet. I have a weakness for processed food. The hardest thing that I still struggle with is having no carbs after 3 p.m. I now eat mostly all-natural foods every three hours, so I always have a snack on me in case I’m out during my scheduled snack/meal time. I replaced all the processed food with the natural/ organic versions which honestly taste SO much better, and you feel so much better. My new favorite food is coconut milk ice cream.
What’s the best part of all this?
Watching my body change and how I feel with all the good stuff I’m putting in it. My muscles, especially in my arms and back, are much more defined. My butt is bigger from squatting, but that’s OK. I have a lot more energy and my body looks completely different to me. I feel great, and am inspired now to reach the rest of my goals. And now my fiancé can’t keep his hands off me.
Did you have any setbacks?
Who doesn’t? I get frustrated when I don’t see the numbers on the scale go down. I have to constantly remind myself that in this process I may actually be heavier than when I started, but my fitness and body fat percentage will be completely different.
What’s surprised you most about working with a trainer?
How much it has worked. It’s way better than I expected. I thought I’d have this ridiculous gym rat as a trainer, but I got Nick and he’s amazing.
Any final advice?
Aside from the obvious of stick it out? Honestly, if you can afford to spend the cash, a personal trainer is AWESOME. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Training with Tim is arguably
