Introduction:
Hello and welcome back to: Becoming a Skinny Legend with Claire. Also, Happy Valentine’s Day! Last week I decided to visit a personal trainer. Full disclosure, I have used a personal trainer in the past, however not for a good three years. I’ve been meaning to get back into it, as personalized instruction is so valuable. I’ve always assumed personal training to be a modern day phenomenon, but after some research, I was proven wrong. The idea of having a “personal trainer,” and following a certain regime dates back to Ancient Rome. Here, powerful people in the military would act as “personal trainer” in order to strengthen their soldiers. According to the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers, the modern day gym as we know it did not emerge until the late eighteenth century, when “French strongman turned fitness entrepreneur Hippolyte Triat, is often credited with being the earliest to open commercial gyms with the first in Brussels, and then in Paris sometime during the 1840s.” Now, having a personal trainer is somewhat common and becoming increasingly accessible.
Experience:
I chose to go to Limitless Fitness Training in Wellington, Florida. I have many friends that go there already and have only heard glowing reviews. Limitless Fitness is run by Mikerlange Barthelemy. I was particularly drawn to this gym because they have experience with equestrians. As a competitive showjumper myself, it’s crucial that a personal trainer knows the correct muscle groups to strengthen in order to improve performance while on horseback. Mike has experience training Olympians in the sport, so it seemed like the ideal match. I went with a friend who goes frequently, so I wasn’t too intimidated walking in. Mike and the other trainers instantly gave me a warm greeting and after discussing my physical history, we got to work. The workout began with a 10 minute warm up on a stationary bike. Next, we did various strength exercises, and finished with some stretching. One interesting thing about Mike’s program is that he does four rounds of each exercise, increasing the amount of reps with each round. In the past, I have only done three rounds with the same amount of reps each time. Throughout the workout, music was blasting and dogs (which were allowed) were playfully running around. The atmosphere, along with having my friends there, was light and fun.
Criteria:
Calories burned: I burned and average of 350 calories, which isn’t as much as previous workouts. However, this session was strength based rather than cardio based like OrangeTheory and boxing, so this should be expected.
Quality of the workout: Having someone keeping an eye on my form and counting reps for me was extremely helpful. It made my workout more efficient. Furthermore, Mike was very encouraging which made me want to try my hardest. He was clear at communicating and it was evident that he was extremely knowledgeable. Other than occasionally getting distracted by my friends, I would say this was a high quality workout.
Fun: As I mentioned before, the music, dogs, friends, and Mike’s cheery attitude made a very difficult workout surprisingly fun. Although it was extremely challenging, I got through it without wanting to die too badly.
Would I go again?: I’d absolutely go again! Although it’s difficult and not the most enjoyable at times, it is clear that Mike’s program works, as seen through his impressive clients, and would better my riding. Additionally, working out with a friend and adding that competitive aspect makes it more bearable.
Looking Forward:
One downside of personal training is that it is quite expensive. However, I do believe the price point is worth it when you have the right trainer. A quality program and facility can greatly help improve fitness for either personal or competitive reasons. Next week I will be trying one of Miley Cyrus’s favorite workouts: Pilates! Stay tuned!
Becoming a Skinny Legend with Claire 