Decision to see a Personal Trainer

Shortly after I moved (back) to NJ, a gym opened around the corner.  I know this because it was right next to the cupcake bakery and easily visible from the Wawa across the street.  I'd never been to a gym.  I don't know the proper way to lift weights.  There's probably mountains of quality, free information on the 'net and in the library.  In nearly 36 years, I haven't read a page of it.

I occasionally surfed to the local gym's website.  They offered a free sales pitch personal training consultation.  There wasn't a single event that got me to fill out the form.  I didn't hit "rock bottom" in the same way an alcoholic might; nonetheless, I filled out the form.

I went to the consultation.  Sure, it was designed to get me to sign up, but it wasn't the hard sell and never-ending contract that I expected.  It involved some measuring, some fitness tests, and yes, some sales pitching.  The test put it down on paper for me.  Black and white. Man In the Mirror.  Beat It.  Wait, no.  That's Michael Jackson.  I was in bad shape and probably set a high score for body fat percentage.

I decided to sign up, not just for the gym, but for the training.  I need the accountability.  I can count to 15 on my own, and look up routines, but a trainer teaches me proper form, designs my workouts, and makes the time I spend in the gym more efficient.  A trainer pushes me when I'd otherwise take it easy.  But it's keeping the appointment and knowing that I have to have already gotten in my cardio when I get there that gives me the accountability.

So now I've got a fitness plan.  I show up, do what I'm told, and by the time the pool is in, I should be ready to show off my stretch marks.