I’m having a contemptible physical affair. It gets hot and it’s always heavy.
I leap out of bed looking forward to the early morning rendevous.
I come home pumped and full of energy. My amicable husband greets me, “So how was it?”
“Awesome!”
Thus, sums up my personal training weight sessions at the gym
In fear of sounding like a complete wanky fitness freak, if running helps clearing the mental cobwebs, doing weights is empowering.
50 kg barbell squats and 17.5 kg dumbbell shoulder presses will do that.
Aside smugness and gloating, it can’t be ignored that all this hard work takes time, much guidance and proper supervision.
Thing is – and as Mr Surfer very much aware – I don’t take orders. I will face palm.
Who doesn’t?
My personal trainer, Nugsy left the gym recently (sob, sob). Funnily, he was one person who I didn’t mind giving me instructions.
When he first suggested I shoulder press 17 kg dumbbells, I started searching for his crazy eyes. Was he for realz?
3 sets of 12 reps, MOFO!
By the eighth rep the wobbles started. By the tenth, my brain and my arms would not sync.
Brain: “Lift! Lift! LIFT!”
Arms: “F%&K RIGHT OFF!”
Apparently, this is what is called the “sticking point”.
An intuitive personal trainer knows exactly when their client reaches this stage. Although, they won’t make you stop.
Just as I was in fear of those dumbbells crashing down, Nugsy would slightly touch my wrists, gently guiding my arms up.
“Thanks for finishing that set off for me, Nugsy,”
“Didn’t do a thing, mate,” he’d say.
There was possibly no way I solely lifted what was almost equivalent to my boys’ weight. Above my head, no less.
Apparently, this is called the “Feather Touch” – subtle, almost non-existent assistance to finish that rep, that entire set and ultimately, your goal.
No loud, raucous, unrealistic commands or orders.
Guidance without guiding.
So while B busted her butt running her marathon in the Sydney drizzle, I thought I’d try out my own Feather Touch.
Obviously it was dumb to think that she would be reading those texts while pounding the 42.2 km pavement. But there was no harm in letting her know I was thinking about her.
That I was with her every step along the way.
Because there have been so many occasions when family and special friends like B who instinctively know when I’m at Sticking Point.
And unbeknownst to me, they reach out with a Feather Touch.
Been at Sticking Point lately? Who’s been there for you with a Feather Touch? Does your personal trainer have crazy eyes?
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JodY At Six Little Hearts says
Go you! I am envious of your personal training sessions! Perhaps, with time, I might have one too one day.
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Amy @ handbagmafia says
No. Thankfully, no crazy eyed men called Nugsy are feather touching me! 😀 It’s definitely always good to know that someone has your back though!
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Rebecca Bowyer says
Oh what a lovely concept! I’ve never had a personal trainer. Just the thought of going to the gym gives me crazy eyes 😉
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Ingrid @ fabulous and fun life says
I haven’t been doing personal training sessions for the last couple of months now but I should get into them again because I did always achieve more in those sessions than I do training on my own. My trainer was known as The Smiling Assassin!
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Lydia C. Lee says
Good for you!! I really need to get fitter – or do something!
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Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
Good on you, like he said, it was all you! And I think we should all be feather touching each other – that sounds wrong, but you get me.
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natalie @ Our Parallel Connection says
Love it Grace. I have just gotten back from my PT session – and I feel great. It is always so hard to get up in the morning but once its done – YEAH I can now think about wine tonight
natalie @ Our Parallel Connection recently posted..Don’t take it personally, it’s just normal teenage behaviour
Desire Empire says
I don’t have a personal trainer. I just muddle along at the gym OMO, but there are plenty of them at the Gym and some ladies swear by them And I agree exercise is best done before the day starts.
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Denyse says
Well-done you….and I say go for the strength training because it IS empowering. I only went to the gym for training a couple of times before the arthritis sent me away (couldn’t hold the barbells etc) But I loved the ‘sit down and push the weight with your legs’ thingy. Go G.
D x
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Pinky Poinker says
It’s old ladies like me who should be doing weights! I think I need a personal trainer to get me motivated too. You go girl! Lookin good 🙂
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Dani @ sand has no home says
Alas, no sticking point when my only exercise is walking in the mornings 🙂 Though there are hills, biggish hills haha! Well done you 🙂 x
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Mumma McD says
I love the idea of the feather touch, sometimes we just need to know that someone is going to catch us if we fall 🙂
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Alicia says
I can imagine the feather touch is like real life angels who hover over you. Always there to guide you x
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Deborah says
Great work on the PT sessions! I arranged a free 7day trial at a gym nearly 2mths ago and am yet to start it. Not sure what’s stopping me… So I think it’s great you’re pushing yourself AND supporting others at the same time.
I love the notion of the ‘feather touch’ by the way as I’m likely to rebel if someone’s too hard-core!
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Ai Sakura says
I just started my PT sessions again on Tues!! Wow 17.5kg for DB press is strong!! I just managed 14.5kg when I ended my last cycle.. You’re my inspiration to go harder!!
And yes, my fave PT has crazy eyes too. And I guess that’s what I like about him – that he’s able to push me past what I think is my own limits haha
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Brenda says
I love you. Then End. See you tonight! xxx
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
I’m blessed to have a personal trainer who’s also a great friend. She’s all about the feather touch and she’s always got my back. It is totally true what they say, pain is temporary but awesomeness lasts forever!
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Sally@Toddlers on Tour says
I’m so impressed you do the Gym thing with a – I’ve always trainer. I’ve always thought that the trainer is a bit of a” wanker” thing to have, that really only is only good for making more money for the gym. But perhaps it really comes down to the trainer – like anything get a good one and they are worth their weight in gold.
Sally@Toddlers on Tour recently posted..How to Keep Fit while Travelling
Emily says
You’re such a fantastic friend! And I love your analogy. Plenty of moments in life are sticking points, and feather touch is SO important. Applause for you, Mama Grace. x
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Robyna | The Mummy and the MInX says
Man, I admire you. I did an exercise session for the first time in MONTHS and I can barely walk.
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Haidee@Maybe Baby Brothers says
Woohoo, go you! It’s been so many years since I did the gym thing, I’ve forgotten what it’s like!
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sarah@tomfo says
Sticking points and feather touches…
I’m lucky too, I have a mum who just knows when to hit me with a feather touch,
and another couple of mates who do too.
It’s such a special thing, I love this post.
Good on you for dishing out the feather touch Grace.
And
Yay for training, can you do some for me!
Happy weekend. xx
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Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions says
I love this post Grace! It’s so true! Somehow they always know exactly what we need. It’s why we love them, I guess!
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Zoe Meunier says
There’s definitely not enough feather touching in the world, let’s all spread the feather touching love, it’s a wonderful – if slightly kinky – concept!
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Laney@thelaneyfiles says
Oh go you! I SOOOO need to get to the gym – I have no muscle tone and my core strength is zilch. You’re very impressive.
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Emma @ Life, kids and a glass of red says
Awesome effort on the weights! I was fading rapidly in my gym session the other day, so the trainer did jump squats with me until I finished my set 🙂 I thought that was pretty cool and it definitely helped me push through.
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Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
I can’t wait to get back into exercise. Although my twice weekly physio sessions are kinda like personal training sessions..my physio seems to come up with something more challenging for me each time!
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Erika @ Ever-changing Life of a Mum says
Go you and that feather touch at the gym! I have never heard of that saying before, but I think I need that kind of attitude on my really sleep deprived days 🙂