Well, I’m still alive. Just.
I had my first training session with Zoe yesterday and it was actually a lot of fun! Hard work but fun, and in all seriousness I actually feel pretty good. I’m a little stiff and sore, but I feel like my whole body has done some good, hard work.
The session was an hour long and it felt like we managed to fit so much in, it was infinitely better than trying to do a DVD or something at home, which is what I’ve done in the past. I’m a little too self-conscious of my general unfitness, lack of ability and co-ordination to attempt a class yet (plus I don’t really have the time), and the one-on-one attention was just perfect for me. I was worried I might feel a little silly but I didn’t at all (well, maybe once or twice).
We started out using a Bosu ball, which is something I’ve never used before. It was like a halved squidgy exercise ball, something last used by me when trying to get labour going with my daughter! Zoe had me stand on it and get balanced, which is easier said than done at first, then when I’d managed that (with only one ridiculous nearly-fall), started me moving my heels up and down – it sounds simple but because the ball is rather like a giant jelly, you can really feel it on the legs.
After that was one of my favourite parts of the session – putting on boxing gloves and punching things – yay! Okay, well, punching pads, but it was still fun. I’m honestly not a violent person, but I do like hitting things. Is that bad? I also quite liked using the kettlebell – it was hard work but I think I’m more of a fan of simple, strong, rhythmic exercises than anything that involves any real flair.
I found having Zoe there, with her know-how and encouragment made me work a lot harder than I would do if it was just me. Even something fairly simple like using a resistance band became a better exercise than I could do on my own – she was able to correct any mistakes I didn’t know I was making, push me that but further than I might normally go, but also keep it within a level that is attainable by me, thus avoiding me feeling like I was failing. She’s encouraging in a nice, honest-sounding way not in a clapping and jumping ‘woo, go you’ sense, which would probably drive me mad.
We also did various stretches and talked a lot about how I felt about each exercise, before moving on to the part I was dreading: core exercises. Since my first pregnancy, my stomach muscles are dreadfully weak and I find core exercises really hard. We tried a fairly simple (and I imagine easy for most) plank, and I did really struggle – it was probably the hardest part of the session for me, but by doing it in shorter intervals I managed a minute or so. Probably doesn’t sound like much, but it was a lot for me.
Following a good stretch (so much nicer when someone else is stretching you and pushing you that bit further than you could do yourself!) we finished for the day and I did feel pretty shattered, though half an hour later I walked to collect my son from school and really did feel good. I also talked endlessly to anyone who would listen about it too, which I think must be a good sign!
Now I’m looking forward to next Wednesday (no session on Monday because of the bank holiday) and feeling more motivated than I have in a long time. I even skipped having a glass of wine last night despite a dreadful bedtime strop from my son. I did have a curry though… but it had lentils in it, which is good, right? Right? Ah well, one step at a time!
For more information about Zoë and what she does, check out her website Fitbugs.net or come and ask her a question in the Ask the Trainer section of the forum
