A Hodge Podge…
…of randomness today.
I know this is shocking, but I’m going to post a few of my favorite workouts that I’d put my clients through. Yes…a post without butter, chocolate and enriched flour products, but I promise I’ll be back in full force tonight with a tasty recipe for you.
I believe in a good ole’ meat and potatoes workout when it comes to strength training. Stick to some basics, do some compound movements to work multiple muscle groups, and use a challenging weight. Challenge yourself, baby!
And by challenge, do what challenges YOU. No one else. Is it lifting heavy weights with a long rest in between? Taking a strength training class where others can help motivate you? Yoga or Pilates?
I believe all of the above are important. I love doing different workouts and keeping the body guessing. So here are a few oldies but goodie – some ‘circuit’ style workouts I used to beat people up.
Cardio Burst Puke-Up-Your-Lunch Circuit
20 squats with an overhead dumbbell press
20 walking lunges
20 pushups
60 second plank hold
60 second cardio burst – the hardest you can go! (elliptcal, tread run, stepper)
2 min. Rest
Repeat 5 times.
I-Can’t -Walk-Today and Hate-My-Trainer-Circuit
20 alternating side lunges
15 dumbbell chest presses
30 seconds high knees
45 second plank hold
20 alternating reverse lunges
15 seated rows
60 seconds jumping jacks
60 seconds bicycle crunches
12 squat jumps
15 side raises
15 tricep dips with straight, elevated legs
15 burpees
Repeat 2 times.
(Note: all of these exercises were done under supervision and with very active, in-shape, clients. If you try this MAKE SURE you are using proper form and are supervised by someone who ‘knows what they’re doin.’)
I must admit – I love a hard worker. I want a client with their game face on. No complaints.
This is a really hard subject for me to discuss, but I recently left my full-time job as a Personal Trainer. I trained and taught classes full-time for about 5 years. For those of you that ARE trainers, you know how difficult it is to be full-time and make a decent living. I worked ALOT. And I absolutely LOVED my job. Loved the people I worked with, loved (the majority of) my clients. For the first few years I probably worked between 60-70 hours per week. I had over 50 clients and did between 13-22 appointments a day. It never felt like work. As most of you know, you have to be there when the clients can be there – before work, for stay-at-home moms, the lunch crew, and after work which can be anytime from 330-7pm. I never minded the mornings – I love to be up early and get the day started. Sometimes the night’s got a bit long.
Somewhere in the past 2 years my mind began to shift. I love fitness. It is my absolute, undying passion. I have lived and breathed fitness and nutrition from the time I was 13 years old. My dad always exercised in our basement when I was little, and I wanted to be exactly like him (I still do). I began working out at age 13 and never suffered from obsessive exercise or an eating disorder. I loved and appreciated my body how it was. I could sit for hours and research fitness and nutrition – and I have.
I guess it was a long time coming, but I eventually began to feel that my job WAS work. I wanted more professional and personal growth. I believe that it is possible in the profession, but unfortunately not where I was at. Plus, I just didn’t know if I LOVED it anymore. Please no one takes offense, but for every 1 client (like Kema) who gives you their best, you have about 10 who complain and don’t want to work. Like I said, I love hard workers. I want your all. I want to be your Jillian. Without the profanity. Maybe.
Perhaps it is because kids, young adults and even people in their 20s and 30s don’t seem to have much of a work ethic anymore. Does anyone else see this? I believe in working hard. But I want to enjoy what I am doing. I actually love to work.
I felt the the time had come to leave my job. It was pretty hard. I still talk to many clients almost everyday and work on their workouts and nutrition with them. Some I meet in the morning to work out with. I still research fitness and nutrition for hours on end. I still love it more than anything.
But I am not sure that I want it to be my career.
So this is my journey. I am gathering ideas on what I want to do when I grow up – what I want to do and LOVE. When I was younger, I wrote stories and poems everyday. My mom always said I should write. In between school and dance and cheerleading and life, I got away from it. That is another reason I love writing the blog so much. It HAS brought me back to life and I LOVE it. So thanks for all of you reading. :)
Whew! I never meant to write that much. I know my blog has not had a serious undertone until now, but I hope you will keep on reading because I heart you! And I have a DELICIOUS recipe to come this evening – just wait.
This also may be a one-time occurence, because as my best friend Kelly knows, I am a Scorpio and like to keep things bottled up until I explode. But now you know a lil’ bit about me. :)
29 Comments on “A Hodge Podge…”
those workouts have amazing names.
and loving what you do is important! good luck!
What a great post, Jess. Thanks for sharing!! You need to follow your heart and it seems like you did just that. I can totally relate as I am going through a weird job transition/period of not enjoying what Im doing. Anyways, I appreciate the story and look forward to hearing what you decide to do “when you grow up” lol :)
Wow! Those look like some tough workouts!
Loving what you do is extremely important! It takes time, patience, & passion. Best of luck to you :)
How cute are those workout names? :) Thanks for the strength exercises! That is one thing that I really don’t know how to do.
YAY for you for making the best decision for you!! I know what you mean about work ethic- it’s really sad. Everyone wants instant gratification and people who have everything handed to them are celebrities…
Looking forward to tonight’s recipe :)
Great post! I love learning more about the bloggers I follow. I grew up similar to you, in that I had a good role model(s) to teach me the ropes of nutrition and health. My parents were always into biking, which I got into for a while, but they’ve both slacked a bit in their old”er” age :) Like you said, it happens I guess. But I refuse to let it happen to me! I’ve make working out and eating healthy a lifestyle, not a job, and like you I ENJOY IT! I am working on the other end, with food, while you are the exercise expert, but like you I LOVE my job and I appreciate motivated people. Trying to get people motivated as you is almost IMPOSSIBLE sometimes!! ISn’t it?! We have a lot in common. Good luck with your future job goals, I think writing is something you could combine with your personal training, quite easily!
I may use those workouts- I love the variety the circuit style workout provides.
I 100% understand about figuring out what you want to do with your life, I am in the exact same boat!
aww this is such a nice post! I’m sorry to hear that your job eventually became work. I’m a nutrition major in college right now, because I also looooove reading about nutrition and fitness, but I actually run a small baking business. Two passions – nutrition and baking. haha. I’m just always worried that I’m going to learn to hate them when i turn them into a job (right now, selling my baked goods hasn’t made me hate baking…only sometimes, lol). I think that’s why I enjoy focusing on two almost opposite things – I can switch between two loves and stay satisfied, letting one turn into work and keep the other for pleasure, and then switch it up when it’s time. Or something like that. It makes more sense in my head than it does in writing here =)
I hope that you find something that wont be like work for you, something that you love and enjoy. You never know, you could find it again in personal training or something related, or in food, or in something completely unexpected. Just make sure you’re happy =)
p.s – My game face and extra hard work tonight in my kickboxing class will be dedicated to you.
I love the workout names! So cute!
It’s important to follow your heart. It sounds like you did just that!
I must be honest. I HATE WORKING OUT. However, that said, I go every day to LA Fitness. For an hour- whatever class interests me as I am NOT self motivated.
I have arthritis and 2 months ago had a hip replacement. The working out paid off: I was up and walking with no aids in 3 weeks and am now back in classes after only 2 months.
I have a good friend and great personal trainer who helped me get back into classes. So keep up the good advice.
(My daughter is a scorpio- tell me about it!)
Go for your dreams, I’ve been pondering what I really want to do and if I should leave my job to really pursue my dreams. I think today i will try your ”I can’t walk today/Feeling sick” workout…I added my own mix to it! lol Good luck in whatever you do.
As one of those “push it til you puke” type of people (at least before I was carrying a baby :)), I would get so unbelievably frustrated with clients who just barely care. It’s why I prefer to workout alone. I was went to the gym with my sister-in-law and she commented that I didn’t really talk to her enough. God love her, but are you kidding?!?!?! I’m trying to bust my own ass while I’m here, not trying to have a social hour…
These are so great! I love the names of all the workouts too! Thanks for sharing!! I think it’s important to do what you feel is right!!:)xoxo nat
Girl… you just go right on ahead and make this blog about you. ALL of you. I think its great you shared some fitness stuff. I am *not* so much into the fitness.
(sigh)
Will look forward to the recipe… :)
Blessings-
Amanda
I love these workouts because I can pretty much do them at home… except I don’t think I know what a burpee is.
I also love that you’re blogging (and living your life!) accordign to what is important to you. That’s what makes a blog even better to read! Excited to see the recipe. : )
Thanks so much for posting those workouts! When I was at the gym this morning I was just thinking that I needed to change things up and wish I had a PT for advice!
i wanna try those workouts for sure!
i loved this post & relate 100%. i love writing and reading and i think blogging is a perfect fit. i love yours!
Thanks for sharing that story! It sounds like it was a hard decision, but if it was right for you then it was the best choice! Things will fall into place if you work hard!
I hope you figure it out! I’m in the same place right now–and I’m desperately trying to figure out a career path that (a) I LOVE and (b) involves writing. I have all the faith that we’ll both figure it out :)
Thanks for sharing your story – I am always interested to hear from people who have worked as personal trainers, as I have tossed around the idea of pursuing that as a change in careers.
I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up too…so (also as a fellow Scorpio), I can relate ;)
Hey Jessica,
Love the work outs— I have been in quite the exercise slump… and your post was a bit of a motivation boost for me…
And, best of luck on your search for what to be when you grow up… i feel like i am in a similar situation… I’m working as a therapist.. but really want to become a pastry chef… ha.. what a change… not sure exactly how i will do i , but heres hoping! I am sure you will find what you are looking for!
Your blog freakin rocks… keep writing!
-Kristy
Great post! I think most of us are trying to find our way. You have a great attitude and I’m sure you’ll get there. Those exercise circuts sound awesome. I’m tempted to try one!
I think I’m going to definitely be trying these routines this week! Love the names for them, too :)
I get so frusterated with friend/people/family members/strangers who approach me and ask (in a bitter tone) how I stay so “thin” … as they are gobbling a huge biscuit and gravy, with their chicken fried steak! OMG – first of all, it’s not “thin” … it’s “fit” and I could go on and on.
Point is this: I never worked out until I hit 29, when I hired a trainer. He changed my life. Forever. I envy those who have the patience to train. I’m sure you have changed several lives, but I also envy those who make career changes to follow their dreams!
Good luck! I totally enjoy your blog. :)
Thanks so much everyone for all of your support. :) It means alot!
Sometimes I feel like all of life is just figuring out what to be, where you fit, who you are. That’s what’s kinda nice about joining the blogging community — there are a lot of people out there just like you, trying to do and share what they love!
I admit it. I’m more of a yoga gal than a weight training gal. I probably need a personal trainer at some point, so I’ll know what I’m doing. But being at the midpoint between one thing and another, I can really appreciate. It sounds like you’re really paying attention to your life; you’ll figure it out. :)
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