Breaking up
This post is dedicated to the existence of the slow cooker.
Without you, we’d get takeout a lot more often.
Leaving for work this morning was a little on the hectic side. I ended up getting my first class covered so we could take Liv to the pediatrician -her eye was looking a little funky but they think it’s just allergies- made it in time to work for Zumba, came home for lunch:
(greens, tomatoes, artichokes, tempeh, lemon and olive oil dressing, toast with green chili goat cream cheese)
put dinner in the slow cooker:
and headed back to work. Some friends and I decided that we’re going to record some Zumba dances and put them up on YouTube- I’m pretty excited about it!
When I got back home, the chicken was ready for shredding:
Liv and I ate an early dinner since we knew the Pilot would be getting home as I put her to bed- he flew later today. She spit out and gagged at the carrots I made her, and was ALL OVER the avocado. I couldn’t give it to her fast enough. Definitely our child 😉
I had a weight room shift as my last hour, and while it used to not be my fave -it was tiring standing and cleaning treadmills with a super preg belly- I don’t mind it at all now. I get the chance to chat with guests, who often amaze me with their stories, and it’s good, quiet, thinking time as I walk around and clean. Since there were personal training sessions going on, I found myself thinking about past clients I’ve trained: the ones who became lifelong friends (especially Lisa aka Tinkerbell- I miss that lady so much), the ones who didn’t quite work out (literally?) and the ones I had to break up with.
I’ve written about breaking up with your personal trainer before, but sometimes it goes the other way, too. There can be little things like personality/training differences, or what I’ve dealt with a few times in the past: people want to change, but think it will happen by writing a check instead of going to their appointments and putting in the effort. This was hard for me because I hate to see people waste their money and it also wasted my time when I’d go to the gym and wait for them to not show up. I’d train them for a while, and after consistent no-shows and scary food journals, I kindly told them that I didn’t feel right accepting their money when we weren’t training together and maybe it would be better to wait until they’re able to commit to regular training schedule and cleaning up eats.
This is a huge reason why I won’t preach to others about about working out and eating well: if they want to do it, like REALLY want to make it happen, they’ll do it. What I say has no difference at all, and while I’m happy to be the one to encourage them along the way and help develop strategies to encourage their success, my words won’t be their firework that sets the ball into motion. Their inner desire and motivation to achieve their goals are what will make them succeed.
Fellow trainers, have you had to deal with something similar in the past?
Non-training friends, what was the firework that made you decide to change something, or has health always been important to you?
Hope you’re having a great day so far <3
xoxo
Gina
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Another comment, pertaining to personal trainers, is from a friend’s standpoint. My friend hired a personal trainer and loved her. She went to her for a year. My friend was 75% committed, which is good for her. She thought more about her eats and showed up to the gym 5/week. She lost 10 lbs and in a year. I had another friend that stopped me and was talking about their training sessions. He is a health nut. Eats right, exercies daily, ect. He was telling me that my friend’s trainer wasn’t getting the job done. He said my friend barely breaks a sweat when working with the trainer. I hated to see my friend so excited but not get the results she wanted. How do you tell your friend that the trainer they LOVE, isn’t pushing them hard enough? Now she has moved to another state and thinks she is just destined to be overweight since nothing works.
While I’m not a personal trainer, I completely agree that people have to motivate themselves to become healthier before they will actually make a change. Both my husband and I have family members who we wish would make healthier food and lifestyle choices, but none of them have found the internal motivation to do anything about it yet. We try to gently encourage them, but with family it can be difficult because they can get easily offended. Has anyone else had this issue with family?
I’m glad to hear that you’ve “broken up” with clients who aren’t ready to make a change yet instead of just continuing to charge them for visits. That’s definitely the right thing to do, and maybe it will make them wake up and realize that they need to motivate themselves!
I’m a weight loss dietitian, and there’s a quote I LOVE: People want to change, but they don’t want to be changed. It’s gotta come from within, for sure!
I want to see the Zumba YouTubes!! Fun!!
My mom was a personal trainer, and now teaches small groups for pilates reformer. She’s had groups in the past that she hasn’t clicked with or that just never showed up. It usually takes her a while because she doesn’t want to offend them, but she will eventually “break up” with them. She actually has a group now that she keeps debating about dropping. I’m glad you did this blog post because I want to show it to her, so maybe she’ll get up the courage to “break up” with them.
She isn’t the only reformer teacher at the club she works at, so if she doesn’t click with a group, she usually suggests that they try another teacher who might work better with them. I think that’s a good option because then if they want to keep training, they still can, but with the appropriate trainer.
Ummm, green chile goat cream cheese??? That sounds like something I would never break up with! 🙂
I have not always been concerned about my health. What made me change was finally stepping on a scale. 🙂 I was an athlete when I was younger, and I was eating like I still could eat anything and not gain weight. Then, when none of my pants fit anymore, I stepped on the scale and saw proof that I had to change my lifestyle.
My first trainer was incredibly moody and seemed kind of disinterested. Not for me at all. It took me 3 sessions to break up with her. My 2nd trainer was AWESOME!! I still love her! She pushed me hard enough but still had an upbeat personality. This was at a university so I think age also played a large part in the difference. Trainer 1 was in undergrad. Trainer 2 worked at the university full time. I need something to aim for i.e. a race. I feel unfocused without a race to focus on since I’m quite happy with my body. This fit time around, I’m focused on keeping this activity going b/c it’s so hard to start back up when you fall off the wagon. I’m pretty good at pushing myself once I start up, though.
I have no idea what I would do at least once a week without my slow cooker. I love it.
Having other people (whether it be family members, friends, or a trainer) tell you you need to lose weight is completely UNmotivating! Just makes you feel bad about yourself, which makes you want to turn to food for comfort… see where I’m going? The motivation HAS to come from within! Mine came when I ran into a college boyfriend several years & MANY pounds later & was humiliated by how bad I looked. I lost a ton of weight & while I yo-yo a little bit, I keep most of it off permanently because I just feel better when I eat right & exercise. Exercise is just part of my day. I don’t even think about it. It just happens because I make sure to find time for it – just like I make sure to brush my teeth, take a shower, etc.
Can’t wait to try these tacos!
I worked as personal trainer on a cruise line recently, so I completely understand that sometimes you just don’t mesh with your client and you need to part ways, but luckily on the cruise after about 14 days, I never saw that client again!! 🙂
I like the idea of slow cooker for I’m belong. Truly the food looks delicious and healthy to our body. I’m craving to taste this one. I will try this menu too.
Those tacos look like something I have to try ASAP…thanks for sharing!! Yummo! Your food always looks amazing!
What clicked for me was a combination of things. First of all I found a workout I love (Zumba! Which I now teach!), the opportunity and accountability when my employer hosted Weight Watchers at Work, and ultimately, dropping the idea that healthy eating and exercise is an all or nothing deal. Once I really took to heart that I was making a lifestyle change and nothing would be “perfect”, it was pretty much cake from there.
My second and third time having cancer, I started watching more what I ate and tried to eat better! Now I am facing my 4th cancer battle, and kidney failure/dialysis at the same time! I wind up eating sugar and carbs to try to keep some weight on! And have no energy, and nothing tastes good on chemo! And you are restricted on what you can eat! (fresh fruits and veggies are frowned upon, as they can’t be washed enough to be sure there are no germs/toxins on them that could kill someone with a suppressed immune system!). Hoping my chemo regimen this time is a little easier on me!
i hope so too, friend.
kick it’s ass, mmm k? sending love and healing wishes to you
Fight hard. Kick its ass. Cry. And smile. Prayers and Hugs.
I agree completely. I think if you really want to see a change, something simply clicks and after adopting a healthier lifestyle with good eating habits and physical activity, positive results make you want to continue because of how amazing you feel : ) I also did your HIIT today plus weights and am taking an “active rest” hike tomorrow with a girl friend!
My son did the same thing with his peas when he was a baby, but I kept giving it to him and after 9 times or so he loved them!!!
I flipped the schedule a bit and ended up doing my active rest day yesterday, and my HIIT and workout #1 today and it was excellent!! You inspired me to try out a new flow yoga class (I haven’t ever taken that many, because I’m not super flexible) and ended up really liking it!
Definitely looking forward to sticking with the rest of the Summer Shape up! 😀
Trainer/Trainee Commentary
I went to a chain gym, 12 weeks post Liv (I have one too). I was given a trainer for 8 sessions as a part of my membership. I was excitied. I had weight to lose. 12 ounces of liquid gold home with Dad, and an ipod chock full my non-baby-friendly music. I meet a 23 year old big-university-recent-grad, male.
I start to explain to him my very scary emergency- C-section. The staph infection that followed, and mastitis to boot. (It was a hard 12 weeks.) Needless to say, we never clicked. He actually said, “you should have been in better shape going into your pregnancy.” Well… I broke up with him – week 2.
Then, the amazing happened. I started Stroller Strides, and after Body Back. Taught by three Momma’s. They empowered me to live a healthy lifestyle, to be proud of my 2 min plank. They understood, that sometimes I had to wear Livi to get her through a work out. That sometimes burpies made my scar hurt… but they PUSHED when they knew they needed to. I lost 38lbs working out with them.. and even better 2 years later continue to maintain it and work out 3 to 5 times a week because they taught me that my body needed.
I get it. Good Luck, sometimes you win, and sometimes you have to try harder.