Breaking up
This post is dedicated to the existence of the slow cooker.
Without you, weโd 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 itโs 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 weโre going to record some Zumba dances and put them up on YouTube- Iโm 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 couldnโt give it to her fast enough. Definitely our child ๐
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 donโt mind it at all now. I get the chance to chat with guests, who often amaze me with their stories, and itโs 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 Iโve trained: the ones who became lifelong friends (especially Lisa aka Tinkerbell- I miss that lady so much), the ones who didnโt quite work out (literally?) and the ones I had to break up with.
Iโve 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 Iโve 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 Iโd go to the gym and wait for them to not show up. Iโd train them for a while, and after consistent no-shows and scary food journals, I kindly told them that I didnโt feel right accepting their money when we werenโt training together and maybe it would be better to wait until theyโre able to commit to regular training schedule and cleaning up eats.
This is a huge reason why I wonโt preach to others about about working out and eating well: if they want to do it, like REALLY want to make it happen, theyโll do it. What I say has no difference at all, and while Iโm happy to be the one to encourage them along the way and help develop strategies to encourage their success, my words wonโt 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 youโre having a great day so far <3
xoxo
Gina
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Another comment, pertaining to personal trainers, is from a friendโs 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 friendโs trainer wasnโt 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, isnโt pushing them hard enough? Now she has moved to another state and thinks she is just destined to be overweight since nothing works.
While Iโm 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?
Iโm glad to hear that youโve โbroken upโ with clients who arenโt ready to make a change yet instead of just continuing to charge them for visits. Thatโs definitely the right thing to do, and maybe it will make them wake up and realize that they need to motivate themselves!
Iโm a weight loss dietitian, and thereโs a quote I LOVE: People want to change, but they donโt want to be changed. Itโs 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. Sheโs had groups in the past that she hasnโt clicked with or that just never showed up. It usually takes her a while because she doesnโt want to offend them, but she will eventually โbreak upโ with them. She actually has a group now that she keeps debating about dropping. Iโm glad you did this blog post because I want to show it to her, so maybe sheโll get up the courage to โbreak upโ with them.
She isnโt the only reformer teacher at the club she works at, so if she doesnโt click with a group, she usually suggests that they try another teacher who might work better with them. I think thatโs 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! ๐
I have not always been concerned about my health. What made me change was finally stepping on a scale. ๐ 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 Iโm quite happy with my body. This fit time around, Iโm focused on keeping this activity going b/c itโs so hard to start back up when you fall off the wagon. Iโm 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 comfortโฆ see where Iโm 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 donโt even think about it. It just happens because I make sure to find time for it โ just like I make sure to brush my teeth, take a shower, etc.
Canโt wait to try these tacos!
I worked as personal trainer on a cruise line recently, so I completely understand that sometimes you just donโt 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!! ๐
I like the idea of slow cooker for Iโm belong. Truly the food looks delicious and healthy to our body. Iโm craving to taste this one. I will try this menu too.
Those tacos look like something I have to try ASAPโฆthanks 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 โperfectโ, 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 canโt 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 itโs 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 โactive restโ 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 havenโt ever taken that many, because Iโm not super flexible) and ended up really liking it!
Definitely looking forward to sticking with the rest of the Summer Shape up! ๐
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, โyou should have been in better shape going into your pregnancy.โ Wellโฆ I broke up with him โ week 2.
Then, the amazing happened. I started Stroller Strides, and after Body Back. Taught by three Mommaโs. 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 hurtโฆ 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.