Who doesn’t love the song by LMFAO “I’m Sexy and I know it”??? Such a good song that just makes you want to…ummm…wiggle?!
I have played soccer for many years now. I have been an assistant coach, a head coach, but more than anything a player. I did stop for a few years near the end of highschool because I was working at camp and there would have been no way I could make it to practices/games. Plus that was when I was my heaviest as well and moving a 274 pound body around a field is not easy.
When I started losing weight with weight watchers I joined back up with soccer and couldn’t get enough of it. I was playing at least two games a week and practicing when I could. I am no super star but I’m not awful. Since most of my younger years in soccer was playing goalie my footwork needs some help, but for the most part I do alright.
Two summers ago I switched clubs that I play with and have been with them ever since. I did change teams due to time commitment and personal reasons. Last year I had a blast with our team – and we did alright. We travel to places around London and overall had a great time. I am going to be going back again this year to the same team. I did want to move up a level this year, but with my time commitments it’s just not possible.
As I was losing weight I spent a lot of time at the gym. Now before I continue I want to add that I truly believe that you do not need a gym membership to lose weight. Get creative and find ways to move and you don’t need to spend the money for the membership. Sign up for classes in your spectrum (often costing a great deal less than the gym).
BUT for some people, the gym is great. I happen to be one of those people. Although I have not been as much as I should lately, I really do enjoy the gym. I used to hate the fact that the gym had mirrors everywhere, forcing myself to see what I didn’t want to see. Now when I am there I spend most of my time starring in the mirror! Checking my form, of course.
I don’t go to the gym that much in the summer because there are so many ways to be active outside, and in the winter it can be hard to stay motivated, so here are a few tips I found to keep me going:
1. My iPod. As you read in my previous post, music is very important to me. I love going to the gym when I have added new songs to my playlist to workout to. This is even great for warm up and cool down – change the pace of the songs and try to match your breathing to them.
2. Classes. The classes at your gym are a great way to keep yourself motivated and give you new workout ideas. One of my favourite classes is Zumba. Not only do you get a good work out, you have SO much fun doing it! Go at your own pace and don’t care what others around you are doing.
3. Have a workout partner. This is something that I don’t have, but I do know that when I have worked out with people before, time goes by MUCH faster.
4. Don’t be afraid to try new machines. The big thing here though is to make sure that you learn how to use them properly. The staff at your gym should be willing to show you how to use the machine so you don’t get hurt. Most of the machines also come with written instructions and pictures on them. I cringe when I see people using the machines wrong because a) they could get really hurt and b) they are being completely ineffective.
5. Youtube. Youtube is not just for music! There are thousands of videos showing you different workouts/ activities you can do. Don’t know how to do a proper bicep curl? Look it up on youtube. That is why the mirrors are there, so you can check your form and do it right.
6. Personal trainer. I know that personal trainers at the gym are really expensive (at least at my gym), but they usually offer one session for free. Using the session will give you some ideas of workouts you can do. Another thing you can do if you have the money, is to find a PT that is not affiliated with a gym. They usually offer much cheaper rates and you get the same benefit. I had to go to a few different ones before I found the right fit – but I will talk about him more in a minute.
7. Start slow! When I was first starting my gym sessions were like 15 minutes. I did a 5 minute stretch and 10 minute cardio. Then I left. I SLOWLY built up from there. If you are starting any kind of new exercise program, talk to your doctor first. Take baby steps. Your weight did not go on in one night and it sure as heck will not come off in one night!
8. Food/drink. Make sure you drink plenty of water during your workout to stay hydrated. If you are doing a hard workout you can drink h3o to stay hydrated and replace your electrolytes without all of the additives that come in sports drinks. LiftOff, is a great way to give yourself the energy boost you need to help you reach your personal records. Eatting something small before you work out is a good idea to give you energy but be cautious to not eat too much. Your body needs the energy to be working out, not trying to digest your food. *Remember I am NOT a doctor, or dietitian, this is just what I have learned over the past few years of becoming healthy.
So that is a few of my tips for now – I’m sure I’ll have more at another time.
I’ll share a little bit about my trainer. He was training my soccer team once a week when I first met him. This was around the time that I was trying to find a personal trainer and I had some bad experiences. I found out that he also did one on one sessions, so I gave him a call to set up a first session. Ever since then I have been going there.
He does it two different places. If it’s nice (summer), we workout outside at a track, and if it’s crappy (winter) we workout inside. When I did my first session I told him that I couldn’t do push ups – literally, not even one. So, one of the first things he makes me to…push ups! Way to open my mouth. I had to do 5 – and it took me forever to do them. I figured that when he saw that I couldn’t do them, he wouldn’t make me finish. Mistake number two. You ALWAYS have to finish, no matter what. Not even crying will get you out of finishing something; it just makes him push you harder – which is what he is paid for after all.
So I managed to do 5 extremely pathetic push ups, and we moved on with the rest of the workout. A lot of the things that we work on are quick feet and our starts. So for example – when you go to sprint in soccer, how fast you can get going. Since I have been working with him, my coaches have commented how much they notice a difference.
I do complain a lot during our sessions, which are often held in small groups, but I always feel better after the workout (even if my legs are quivering so much I can barely walk/drive). I try hard not to mention drills that I really hate because then we just do them even more. I secretly think he finds joy in making us hurt. But seriously, he pushes us all really hard, he knows when we can give more, and even when we can’t he still pushes us. He cares about each one of us and how we are doing/progressing. It would be really easy for him to just show up, run the session, and leave having no contact in between sessions, nothing – but he’s not like that. Anytime you have a question he answers it, if you’re struggling, he’s there to tell you to smarten up.
And he’s tough, very tough, but would you want your trainer any other way?
