Well, I promised last week I would show you some of the exercises I have been given in my group personal training program, so Aidan, with his unfailing patience and my iPod, took a few short clips during my last session and Mike very kindly put them together on this short video. These are only a fraction of what my full program consists off but I just wanted to give you some idea of what takes place. No laughing now!!!
When I started my training with Ozone I honestly never believed I would be doing half of what I can do now, especially so soon. Take the full body push ups for example – in the first few weeks I struggled doing the half body push up and now after gaining so much more upper body strength I can achieve 3-4 sets of 10!! The assisted pull ups are tough, I won’t lie… they BURRRRN… but I am in my element doing them because when I took part in ‘Adare to Survive’ I had zero upper body strength, I just couldn’t complete any of the obstacles that required my upper body so needless to say I relied on my poor team mates to drag and pull me through. I said this to my trainer Aidan at the beginning when I was asked about my goals, I explained I wanted to gain strength and now here I am so much stronger and confident in what I can achieve – result!
Partaking in this program has assisted me so much in other aspects of my life, with other hobbies. I love to kayak but the most I ever really did before was maybe a 5k along the Kildysart Creek or up at Gortglass Lake and which on completion I would feel like my arms were going to drop off and I would look a right ‘Sweaty Betty’. Well on Sunday, Kieran and myself joined a group of great friends and we took off from ‘Worlds End’ in Castleconnell and paddled into Limerick City (as you do of a Sunday)… a paddle of almost 20km!!
The first half was full of rapids and although soooooo much fun and a MAJOR adrenalin rush, it took a lot of core strength to stay balanced and upright in the kayak…I once cursed those Russians with their twists and as for those reverse crunches, Grrr (I prefer Crunchies myself) but on Sunday those exercises came through for me I can tell you! The second half of the trip was against the wind and really tested my shoulder strength, by the time we reached King John’s Castle I had fought through the ‘delightful’ pain barrier and just found the inner strength to keep going until we reached the slip near St Michaels Boathouse. There’s no way I could have or would have even wanted to do that before this training. My trainer has always encouraged me to push through when I think I have nothing left to give and it still always amazes me the energy you find stored away when you are encouraged! This was a trip that proved to me just how much my fitness has improved.
My program is designed as an all over body workout which is fantastic because why would you concentrate on one area and leave out another?? It’s all about balance right?? This video shows a lot of the exercises that helped me improve my upper body strength and core, there’s so much more I do for the bottom half like Dead Lifts and Weighted Lunges and Back Squats etc not to mention my favourite (not),,,, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). Love it or Hate it, the training is without doubt making me a stronger and fitter person and most of all, a happier person! It’s true what they say, “your good mood is only a workout away” the rush of endorphins definitely triggers a positive feeling in the body. 
So for all those times when I thought I was going to throw up or pass out in the session (trust me I have come close on many occasions, much to the look of horror on Aidans face haha) I have come to realise that a little discomfort in the morning … one wee hour to be exact…creates a whole day of positivity accompanied with that air of accomplishment, of having achieved more than I had previously given myself credit for. I personally know I would not push myself to these limits without the support and encouragement and not forgetting belief of my trainers. As the weeks pass, dare I say it, I am starting to actually feel a wee bit proud of myself and what I am achieving. For those of you out there who’s tired of feeling tired and feeling drained of your energy and spark ….it ain’t over until the healthiest version of you sings!! There’s another you just waiting to shine, another you that doesn’t want to just give up but instead start really living and enjoying life to the fullest! Like I said this exercise program is not just about getting thinner or having a toned or stronger body, sure it’s a goal but this is also about how it makes you feel on the inside, the confidence, the good moods, the sense of accomplishments and pride and the ability to increase your energy levels phenomenally, basically it’s the rejuvenation of your once former self! Trust me, in the words of Jeff Olson from his best selling book The Slight Edge..’some things in life are easy to do but also just as easy not to’, how bad you really want it is up to you!!
Until next time,
Louise
