pushing yourself beyond the box...

Yesterday at the gym my personal trainer pushed me further than we have ever attempted before. I am becoming, I can happily say, day by day more of an athlete ! 

definition:  ath·lete

A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive context

I am competing with myself... as it turns out. Competing and slowly winning by teaching my body that I can do many more physical things than ever before. Yesterday my trainer had me do lower back exercises, as seen in this picture above. I had no idea I could do this. I thought for sure my body weight would pull or topple me off this thing, head first, but my back strength kept me on it, and, I was able to hold a 15 pound weight disc and pull up my back  3 sets of 15 times as well. 

In the last 15 minutes of my lesson my trainer ( or as I call her my task master.. " yes master!" )  had me do interval running again. This time 15 minutes.. not 7 minutes like last time.. plus she added more speed and more incline!! Dam I was really working hard! my heart rate shot up to 142 ! I had to fast walk at a speed of 2.8 then run at 4.0 at an incline of 3.0, all at intervals of 1 minute on each speed.  My face was beating red for 20 minutes after my work out!! But I did it! and it felt good! .... also those endorphins also helped with the joy that's it's over!! 

I have had a personal trainer now for 15 months now, and I think it's worth every penny!! $$$... For all those out there that are thinking about losing weight, or just getting stronger or better in shape.. I HIGHLY recommend you find a way ($) to get yourself a personal trainer as well.. they will push you very uncomfortably past your limit, or outside your comfort box  .. and that's what you need to really burn those calories!! and build up strenghth and muscule!!