My workout has gone to the dogs...

I'm still fighting the good fight. I have blogged previously that my sessions with the personal trainer did not go so hot. Not to be defeated, I've found a new trainer.

Meet Piper the Shiba Inu.

Piper belongs to our good friend Kevin.

Cute isn't she? I know that looking at her evokes this kind of imagery.
I'm sure if she could surf the net and see this, Piper would be angry.

This is probably a better representation of Piper and her "preferred image"

With a perfectly wonderful and athletic dog of my own, why would I be using someone else's dog as my personal trainer? The answer is quite simple. I can't keep up with Dottie. Once we start running, my overexuberant 65lb. dog becomes a force to be reckoned with. Instead of getting a nice paced run, I am DRAGGED. It makes for a very poorly paced workout and very sore arms. This is not exactly the workout I was thinking of.

This past week I was told it was suggested that I take Dottie out for her daily walks. Dottie always goes for a walk with Piper. It was Kevin's brilliant idea that we trade dogs for these walks. Dottie runs at a pace that he likes and Piper, in theory, was a better pace for me. The walk isn't the right term. They are most definitely runs. I thought I was off the hook with Piper, but she is definitely a little powerhouse. She does not like to be left behind. This means that I have to keep up a nice jog lest she nip my ankles. Trust me when I say this is not pleasant. Piper has sharp little teeth. In a week, we've started to build a nice cadence and pace.

With a week under my belt, this isn't so bad. The first 3 days were rough --not want to vomit and die rough, but definitely challenging. I was cramped and sore, but I've kept moving. I'm also still going to the gym to lift weights. The goal is to eventually be able to run with my own dog. It sounds simple, but if you've seen Dottie in action you'd understand.

Dottie on the Trail

Now, I guess I'll need to stock up on dog treats;)

Counterproductive

Counterproductive: adjective : tending to hinder the attainment of a desired goal

I mentioned working with a personal trainer a few weeks ago. Well, I think that was a waste of my time. Nothing against my trainer. Trainer X is a good guy. He's unbelievably motivated and in amazing shape. However, not the trainer for me or the right route for me. Why you ask? Because I went from working out 4 times a week to once a week. How did this happen? Well, Trainer X pushed me WAY past my limits. I know, I know. My athletic cohorts are going to tell me that it's his job to do that. Yes and No. I actually don't need to be pushed. I'm fairly self-motivated. What I really needed was someone to just design some workouts for me. I really wish I had articulated that better.

Trainer X got all bone crusher with me for our first session. I was on the rowing machine. I did squats, hopped up and over a step, and did planks all in a 25 minute window. I literally thought I was going to vomit. The only reason why I didn't vomit is because I realized that the nearest toilet was all the way over on the other side of the gym. I like this gym. Although it's open 24 hours, I did not want to have to troll in their in the middle of the night to avoid embarrassment. Aside from wanting to vomit, I could barely stand. Never in my sports-loving life have I felt like my legs were going to collapse beneath me. The worst is that I knew I would be sore for a couple of days. In actuality, I ended up being sore for 4 DAYS!! I am not exaggerating nor am I a wuss. I have a high threshold for pain. For 4 days, I could barely move. I hobbled down the 4 stairs that led from my front door to the ground. I didn't leave my house because I didn't want to have to walk anywhere. I tried everything. Ibuprofen, Tiger Balm, and soaking in Epsom Salts. It was miserable. However, I am tough and persevered.
Next session, I told him to take it down a notch. He did. The end result? I was sore for three days instead of four days. It's progress I suppose. It's horrific in light of that fact that I am going to the gym less than before. This has, in turn, caused me to regain some of the weight that I had loss prior to starting with Trainer X. ARRRGGGGHHHH!!! I am so frustrated. I have canceled the rest of my sessions with Trainer X. I think I'm better off floundering on my own.

Next stop, classes at the gym and a few workout books. I'm still doing some research as to what might work for me, but for now... I'm just going to amp up the cardio. Who knew working with a personal trainer would be such an exercise in futility?

The shape of things

I love this scale by Angry. If only, all bathroom scales were this fun. While shopping at Costco last week, I got on a digital bathroom scale. Not so fun. I have put on some weight. I am now the heaviest I've ever been in my life. Not exactly "Roseanne" heavy, but heavy for me. I'm in the process of formulating my attack. I should have got on the Angry scale...