Trainapist

Okay, that is a terrible portmanteau for the words “trainer” and “therapist,” but I am sure it’s straightforward.  This idea of a trainer being a therapist has been something that I have often thought about, as someone who has used a few trainer, not to mention many, many coaches since elementary school.

The coach aspect is slightly different, because you are performing for them and they have more at stake.  For example, if it were the coach of my team, they get a W or L just like I would.  If it was a coach I was using on the side, too many L’s means I get rid of him.  With a coach, therefore, one would assume there would be an involved level of “therapy” or “mental/emotional” coaching; anything to get the W. 

With a personal trainer, though, things are a bit different.  People hire personal trainers to achieve physical goals.  Sure, getting stronger may not necessarily get you a W, but at least you got stronger, and that is why you hired the trainer.  Is the line between personal trainer and therapist one that shouldn’t be crossed? 

Training Wheels touched on this when he mentioned how some of his clients, uhm, go a little far with text messaging him.  Now, that is a line that probably shouldn’t be crossed.  I guess it depends on the people involved and the situation.

In any case, does being a therapist mean someone will be a better trainer.  On some level, yes, but in general, I really would have to say no.  Some of the best trainers, the most motivating and knowledgeable, might just not be the best listeners or “therapists.”  If anything, I would think the notion of a trainer being a therapist would be somewhat antithetical.  I use a trainer to push me, motivate me, and be tough on me, not baby me like a therapist would.  Then again, people don’t hire trainers for therapy, right?

Of course, in this season of Work Out, Jackie Warner launches the “brand extension,” Sky Lab, with the intention of having her trainers act like therapists for their clients.  Now, for sure these clients need both trainers and therapists.  It certainly helps that these trainers can serve the role of a therapist as well, since the Sky Lab clients have pretty much proved they have deep rooted issues that go beyond pure fitness and healthy eating deficiencies. 

Clearly, being a “therapist” for a client might help in your training sessions, but I wouldn’t say it is the be all, end all. It depends on your client’s needs (and some clients sure are needy!).  But, if a client really “needs” someone to listen to their problems, maybe they should find better friends or buy therapy sessions instead. 

Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 6 – Recap – “Jackie swallows her rage!”

A lot of different things happen in this episode.  However, no HLA.  We (I) also learn that there are probably another two episodes before the finale. 

We pick back up with the crying session from last week.

Laurie is talking about her dad, and how he committed suicide after he killed her step mom. Jackie feels a real bond with Laurie since both of their fathers committed suicide.  

All the trainers are shocked by both Laurie and Jackie’s stories. 

Jackie’s takeaway is to allow yourself to be yourself and be vulnerable.  Love fest. I’m almost throwing up already, and it is only 5 minutes into the show.

You don’t know who someone else is until you connect with them.  Everyone is fighting to better themselves.  Healing. Take care. Honor.  Sky Lab is going to go to another level now that the trainers understand the clients.  The crowd cheers.  Silently.

This is all bigger than the trainers’ petty disagreements with each other

Back in the gym.

Jesse is talking to the camera, Rebecca is sitting on Jackie’s lap in her office (Okay, mild HLA)  Jesse regrets saying what he thought to Rebecca and now wants to bury the hatchet.

New day.  Jesse apologizes to Rebecca.  Blames it on his personal life.””  What he said to Rebecca was out of line.  He is trying to hold on to Jackie and he is jealous. Both Jackie and Rebecca deserve to be happy.   Jesse promises never to attack Rebecca again. (Damn, the water fight was the best part of this season.)  Rebecca says it takes a big “person” to admit that.  She really emphasized “person.”.

A “celebrity look alike agency” calls Jackie about Erika since he heard she looked like Angelina Jolie.  Jesse says that Jackie looks like Scarlett Johansson’s older sister, or her body guard.

Meaghan, Erika’s Sky Lab client, who hurt her knee, is late for her session with Erika.  Erika is frustrated with her.  This is the client who works for Star Magazine or something like that.  At first, Meaghan looks like she is smirking as Erika sort of scolds her.  Then she starts crying and says how high pressure her job is. Being a starf***** is soooo tiring and pressure filled.  Forget about those jobs where you have other people’s lives or hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, writing about other people is the s***. 

This episode progresses to Jackie’s clothing line.

April Han, clothing designer, comes in to talk to Jackie about the clothing line, LIFT.  Jackie has teamed with a crack team of clothing manufacturers and a retailer named Paiva. 

Jackie is waiting for samples to show to Paiva. 

Commercial

Erika is in to talk to Jackie, who starts telling her bout the celebrity look alike site.  Jackie explains it is about Angelina Jolie, Erika says I don’t think I look like her at all, Jackie says I don’t either.  I don’t either, but she’s still gorgeous.

Jackie says she loves taking clients to the grocery store, and there the Sky Lab clients are.  They are all confused about apples.  Tidbit, when you lower the fat, you need to increase flavor, often using sugar, which is why non-fat cheese is bad.  Clients are more confused bout food than training!

Jackie taunts the clients by walking them through the candy aisle. 

Another tidbit. Nothing snacky at night, even if it’s sugar free.  This is to instill discipline in them.  Looking at the Sky Lab clients, you know they lack discipline.

Back to the painful fashion story line.  I will explain why it is so painful later.  Jackie finally receives clothing samples from her manufacturer, and everything is wrong. 

Jackie wants to “blow someone’s brains out.”  “**** what’s the matter with people.”  The editors dropped the ball by leaving that line in for this week’s episode. 

Paiva calls to check in.  Buyers are excited, Jackie tries to cover and lies about how her line and visit will be so special.

Commercial

Peeler is with Floyd, trying to “bring sexy back.”  Are people still allowed to say that?     Floyd looks like he is going to pass out from the work out.  Peeler says no breaks. Go go go.  Looks like a great workout.  Floyd’s initial goal was to drop from 240 to 185.  Floyd is moved to tears because Peeler tells him he is proud of his work.  Wait, so he is paying for a trainer, and actually working hard during his session.  His trainer says he is proud of him, and so now he wants to cry.  

Jackie is talking to Rebecca as she packs to go to Paiva.  Rebecca had come over “to say goodbye.”  They wonder about Doug. 

Erika is meeting the celebrity look alike agency.  Apparently, in international commercials, they use people who resemble the famous.  They do her makeup.  Then a Brad Pitt look alike walks in, and then, and only then, does she realizes how cheesy this is.  Zen comes to visit.  Actually, Erika actually kind of does look like Angelina Jolie when she does that thing with her face.  They squeeze her breasts together. 

Back to Jackie, who is PISSED and at her meeting with Paiva.  Her best friend Erin is with her. I wonder if they are getting it on as well.  

Commercial

We’re back with Meaghan and Erika.  This time, Meaghan is going to get her dress from some guy who was on Project Runway (shameless cross promotion). Meaghan tries on a dress.  They say it’s a size 4.  They SAY.  

Back to Jackie again, who is talking bout how her manufacturer had let her down.  Jackie is PISSED, again.  She can barely contain her anger.  She says it is all wrong.  The manufacturer says her vision is good, but it’s not retail.  Jackie has to “swallow her rage.”

We move on to the presentation with the Paiva people, and Jackie starts trying to sell her clothing line as something you can wear out and about and also at the gym.  In fact, she says you can “Go to lunch straight from the gym, or to cocktails from the gym.”  So this is where I have an issue with her business idea.  If you’ve just worked out, it would be pretty gross to go out in your sweaty, smelly work out clothes.  That’s just wrong, and coming from me, someone who does battle with certain, ahem, hygiene related issues, that says a lot!!  Paiva mentions something along the lines of, maybe stopping at a store or a coffee shop after the gym.  Clearly, even they don’t want to go out in their sweaty gym clothes.

Commercial

We have a short scene with Dr. Shirlie with Jackie talking about wanting to go home and mourn her father.  Set up for next week, when it looks like we learn the truth about Doug.

Spring has (finally) sprung

A very, very long time ago, I had written about how I was going to be spending a whole lot less time in the gym, and a whole lot more in the gorgeous spring sunshine, riding my bicycle or running along the West Side Highway in NYC. After all, it was almost the middle of March, and I was ready to stop spending so much time inside of the gym, and a whole lot more outside. Boy, did Mother Nature totally NOT get the memo.

Wait, some might ask, “but FitFiend, we thought you liked working out, what happened?” Well, I do, but there is only so much time you can spend indoors with a bunch of machines and a bunch of other smelly, sweaty people, some of whom probably contributed to my feet issues. These are same people who wear gym clothes too many days in a row without washing, and the same ones who sometimes forget that just because you are listening to your IPOD, doesn’t mean that nobody else can hear or smell when you are baking brownies (Disclaimer: I am by no means 100% innocent of any of this).

Also, I will certainly still be hitting the gyms, but just not spending as much time in them as I had to over the colder months. While most of my cardio will be outside, there are still certain spin instructors who make life worthwhile. That’s right, a great spin class can be the highlight of my day, sometimes even week. Sure, some spin instructors revel in their classes pain, but if they are any good, I usually like it!

That said, these last 3 days in NYC have been gorgeous. I was trapped inside working on Saturday, so I couldn’t enjoy a run or a bike ride, but I have made up for it the last few days. Unfortunately, I have checked up on the weather, and I think that Mother Nature was just teasing us, because it is going to be headed back into 50s and raining later this week. This means, I will have to back inside and aside from lifting, and probably spin, I will be stuck to the treadmill or stair mill, both of which I hate. If only running on a treadmill was as much fun as this looks.

Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 5 – Recap – “You’re the poster girl for drama! You’re the poster girl for hooker!”

Last week, the group finds out about Doug’s illness. Rebecca has no problem with Jesse, “except he’s schizophrenic.”

We start off the show with Peeler blowing off steam as he is pretty upset about what’s happened to Doug, and how much he means to him.  Doug has helped mold him, and he’s glad that he’s getting better.

Sky Lab is Jackie’s biggest challenge and the trainers are distracted.  Peeler mentions that his client has been away 18 days.  Jackie is upset that the trainers are not training with the Sky Labbers enough.  She thinks that the trainers are lying, so she does some fact checking with the clients.  Jackie is pissed at both the trainers and the clients.

After the phone calls, she goes to cool off out of the gym.  Jackie went to do yoga with Dhyana, a yoga instructor.  She couldn’t concentrate because of all the stimuli around her.  You know, the fish, birds, fountains, and Dhyana. 

Yoga is just not for Jackie.  She couldn’t look within to find her quiet place because of Sky Lab. Jackie is still fired up after yoga, and says that there will be boot camp in the morning.

Jackie runs the boot camp and is an unforgiving hardass on the Sky Labbers.  They aren’t getting in enough of their sessions, and the trainers are 50% to blame.  Time for a weigh in. half way through the Sky Lab program. 

Rita gained 6 pounds

Kiki gained 6 pounds

Carol lost 1.5 pounds

Dina lost 1 pound

Amy lost 2 pounds

Tess gained 15 pounds – she breaks down.  This freaks Jackie out.  Guess who’s to blame!?  Her trainer, Gregg! 

 It’s just as important that the diet is as well thought out as their workouts. Jackie reads their eating diaries and doesn’t believe them. 

Tess admits to cheating over New Year’s Eve.  She asks, how many people gain 15 pounds in a month?  Gregg says that she is reshaping her body, and that she is gaining muscle and this contributed to her weight gain.  15 pounds of muscle in a month. Wow.

Gregg questions the decision for the weigh in at this point because the Sky Labbers are lifting.  Jackie says that her trainers have to do it her way or things just aren’t going to work.  She “almost fired” Peeler in Cycle 1 because of a difference in training philosophies. 

Commercial

Jackie has a trainer meeting to get them back into the game and hear her message.  She explains what happened with the Sky Lab clients, and how Tess is destroyed.  Jackie explains that there are no excuses for the clients, so there will be no excuses for the trainers,

Rebecca says that they needed to hear that to kick it into gear. 

Jackie decides to organize a retreat with the Sky Lab clients and the trainers.  When she asks them to bring it to the table, they do, so Jackie is confident.

Laurie, Doug’s former trainee, is now training with Jackie, who Laurie says is tough (no doubt).  Jackie says Laurie brings a lot of “therapy” into the session. 

Rebecca and Jackie go out on a romantic date, and start talking about acronyms.  I think they are a little confused and Jackie asks, is it anachronism?  In any case, Rebecca is DFW, Down For Anything. Gee, there’s a shocker.

Rebecca starts pumping Jackie for Tiffany info.  Though she keeps maintaining that she is not possessive.  Jackie says they can go back to her place and have some dessert there. Pimp!

For some odd reason, we cut back to the gym for a 30 second scene with Zen’s client Carol, who comes 56 miles to see her.  They see each other minimum 5x a week.  Food, shopping, and snowboarding are Carol’s favorite things. 

Jackie and Rebecca are back at her place, and are actually having fondue with sugar free chocolate.  Rebecca starts talking about how things just are not that romantic.  The smoke alarm goes off, as obviously neither of them is very good at making fondue. 

They grab some champagne and move to the couch, but before they sit, they compare heights, and Jackie says, you’re almost as tall as me. Rebecca says “I can go down,” Jackie says, “those are the magic words.”  The two head to bed to “watch a movie.  Rebecca says it was time to take the relationship to the next level, since up until now, sexual attraction with Jackie has been like French Fries, compared to sexual attraction with men, which has been like steak.  French Fries, Steak, Fondue. Damn I’m hungry now.

Commercial

Jackie is surprising the trainers with a retreat to Lake Arrowhead, and surprise, the Sky Lab clients are coming too.  The gang is in the van and talking about Doug and how he is doing.

Rebecca feels Jackie up.  Some mad tension between Jackie, Rebecca and Jesse in the van. Things are going to heat up!

Jackie decides to take the group ice skating.  Peeler proclaims he is the champion of falling down.  Erika, on camera, starts laughing that Jackie fell down and almost broke something.  She seemed to think that it was really funny.  Must be pent up resentment since she was Jackie’s pet two trainers ago.

Ericka, Peeler, and Jesse are at the bar and gossiping about Jackie and Rebecca when Rebecca walks in and hears.  She and Jesse exchange a few words, nothing too serious. 

We move to the dinner table, where Jesse accuses Rebecca of taking advantage of Jackie’s vulnerability, and that she is taking advantage to advance her career.  Peeler tries to tell them to calm down. There Peeler goes being all mature again.  Rebecca calls Jesse a poster girl for drama.  He calls her a poster girl for hooker, and a slut.  Rebecca throws a glass or water all over Jesse.  This has got to be one of the funniest catfights ever!

Neither of them will leave.  Jackie arrives at dinner.  Jesse and Rebecca both tattle on each other. 

After dinner, Rebecca came back up with Jackie to her room.  Jackie tells Rebecca that she won’t let Jesse get away with it. 

Commercial

At breakfast the next day Tiffany calls Jackie.   Rebecca gets all bothered by the phone call. Jackie talks about how difficult it is juggling her girls. She’s a player, looks like she is doing a banging job.

The clients arrive and go for a snow walk with their trainers. . 

Next we are at the lodge and Jackie brings in a therapist to talk with the trainers and clients about eating disorders.  She wants to discuss why people use food for emotional reasons. 

The therapist says that people with eating disorders often are kind, caring people when it comes to others, but not so with themselves.  They need to start looking at themselves like they would someone else, to treat themselves better. 

Carol tells her story, cries.  Tess tells her story, cries. She lost her job and then her brother sort of disowned her. Wow that is pretty whack.

Commercial  

Laurie tells her story, cries.  She’s always been the fat girl. Her dad committed suicide.  All these things have contributed to her using food for emotional reasons.  Jackie confides that her dad committed suicide also.  All the trainers are moved to tears. 

Next Week

Jackie starts flipping out about her clothing line. 

Spin Class (Part II)

While I do love my Spin, not every class is as good as the last.  There are certain elements that contribute to a great class, and that includes the instructor, the music, and also the energy of the other participants.  Of course, the music is a function of the instructor, and both contribute to the energy of the class.

What do I think makes for a good instructor, or for that matter, a good class?  Everybody has their own preferences, and I can tell that some people actually like some of the things I hate.

In my opinion, there are two kinds of “rides.”  There is the class that is conducted like an 80s style Jane Fonda aerobics class, or else there is the “ride” that is conducted like an actual indoor cycling class.

No instructor switches between.  They are either the cycling type or the aerobics type, and let me tell you, I have a huge problem taking an aerobics type spin class. 

In the aerobics type spin class, the instructor is constantly providing instructions.  You are never in the same position on the bike for more than a count of two.  This type of class usually requires that the instructor have an exaggeratedly high level of energy, which, in theory, is a good thing.  However, when it essentially translates into an aerobics class, hopping and dancing around on a bike, it is an awful, awful thing.  These are the classes where the instructors make you to shimmy or do the cabbage patch or switch your hand positions on the handlebars repeatedly.  For me, being in a class with an instructor telling us to do these weird things is strange enough, but seeing that the rest of the class is actually following the instructions is an even weirder thing.

If you tell me we are going up a hill and to get out to third, do not then make me switch back to 2^nd then 1^st in counts of two while still on this hill.  Actually, I feel bad, slightly, because it is in these classes that I pretty much do my own thing, or else just leave.

An aerobics class, to me, should be more like this.

My ideal type of spin class is one where we may do interval training or an endurance type ride, where the instructor tries to make you think you are on an actual outdoor ride.  True, even the best will throw in jumps, but that is to keep the class interesting and engaged.  It is more of a pace changer than the basis of the class.  I would any day prefer to be on a 7 minute hill than 7 minutes of constantly switching positions. 

The best spin classes are basically indoor cycling classes, where your core is engaged the entire time and your hams, quads, and glutes are all working.  Sprints are mixed in with inclines and declines and flat roads. 

When I think of what a spin class should look like, it would be something like this.

There are spin instructors who I avoid at all costs, because I have taken their classes and even given them second chances, but I just can’t get down with the bike aerobics nonsense.  Does that mean they are bad?  Absolutely not.  In fact, there are definitely a lot of people who enjoy that style; I’m just not one of them. 

Shocking the body and the 300 Workout

I think it is a pretty safe bet that following the same workout regimen for too long will limit your body’s upside over time.  The body becomes accustomed to the same workouts and needs change to shock the system. 

For about 3 months, I had a regimen of 4 day cycles for strength training.  One day back and calves, one day squats and arms, one day hams and shoulders, and one day chest.  I would throw in cardio, abs, and an occasional day off.  At the beginning of the three months, there were noticeable gains in appearance and strength.  However, by the end, I was putting in my time at the gym and just not seeing the same types of gains.

Obviously, I figured this meant it was time to change (in actuality, I was probably a month behind).  Now, I have switched things up a bit.  I take one week and alternate between 2 major muscle groups.  For example, last week was back one day, alternated with ham days.  This week, today will be chest, tomorrow squats, and Wed. back to chest. 

So far, I have been doing this for close to a month, and I definitely feel stronger and see some visible gains.  

 

Another thing I have incorporated into my “workout week” is the “300 workout.”  Yes, I am jumping on the bandwagon, and nearly every single fitness related site I have visited lately has something about this workout.  Let me tell you, there is a reason for this.  I haven’t seen this movie yet (partly because of the concern I have with its historical inaccuracy, which is neither he nor there), but I do know that these actors have some SICK bods.

Wow.  I have only done it a few days, but it just kicks butt.  It is extremely intense, and part of the objective is to finish it fast.  The main 300 workout that I have seen is like this:

25 pullups

50 deadlifts at 135lbs.

50 pushups

50 jumps on to a 2 ft. platform

50 floor wipers at 135lbs

50 kettlebell clean and jerk (25 with each arm)

25 pullups

I have been throwing in some extra exercises as part of this circuit, including 50 squats with 135 lbs., 50 curls with a 45 lb bar, and 50 dips. 

The best part is, the workout takes about 20 minutes, with some additional time for the extra things I throw in.  Adding in about 20 minutes of abs and a half hour of cardio, and that is a pretty great, fun workout that really changes things up. 

Spin Class – Part I

This is an overview one of my favorite cardio workouts is spin class, or, the ride. It’s an indoor cardio class on stationary bikes, which you have complete control over in terms of how heavy the tension on the bike is and how hard you work.

Now, if you have never done a spin class, it might sound boring (a classroom full of people riding stationary bikes) or, intimidating, considering the loud thumping music emanating from the cycling studio.

The classes I take are usually in a big room with lights out, black lights on. The spin instructors play music ranging from Evanescence and Justin Timblerlake to Joy Division and the Cure to the Chemical Brothers and Commander Tom, and everything in between. You lose yourself in the waves of the music while you are sweating so much that there are giant puddles on the floor.

Of course, it’s not just the music that makes the spin class what it is. One of the things that is often important to a class is the energy of the people. It shouldn’t matter but it does. How hard are the people around you working? Is everyone really into the class? These are things that help you push yourself harder. I’ve even written before about an unspoken rivalry I seem to have with someone else who takes most of the same classes that I do; I guess it’s because when I feel like I am tiring, I look to other people to draw from their energy, and then I try to “beat” them.

Aside from the energy of the class, the instructor is also huge. Sometimes their music is crap, and they walk in early on a Saturday morning saying, “Hey guys, let’s get ready for my theme of the week, bad 80’s karaoke!” I’ve had another one yell out at one point, “Okay, now do the Cabbage Patch, and then shimmy!” And still, there are others, who want to manage every second of your ride. I get up and walk out of these classes, they just don’t do it for me. However, the rest of the class usually stays, because these instructors are just catering to their “regulars,” the people who show up to their class every week.

But those are anomalies. Most spin instructors focus more on either endurance or some type of high intensity interval training, and even try to make the entire class into a cardio-abs class by making us focus on our core the entire time.

It really can be a phenomenal workout. For me, a less intense class, whether it is my own fault or because I am not being pushed hard enough, which to some degree is still my own fault, I burn a minimum of 450 calories in 45 minutes. I have gone over the 600 mark in 45 minutes, and that is when there is sweat dripping off the brim of my hat. Also, while most spin classes are 45 minutes, one of my friends often offers up 2 hour classes. Heck, I’ve even done a 3 hour. These workouts are just so great, and I would recommend them to anyone.

In some upcoming posts, I will tell you more about some of my favorite instructors (ones who don’t try to make their students shimmy). But for now, I’ll leave you with this guy.

Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 4 – Recap – “Are we talking furniture, or are we talking sex?”

Last week, we left off with the Work Out crew at Sushi Dan. Rebecca and Jackie had just “come out” to the group, and the sh*t was hitting the fan.

We pick back up with Jackie and Rebecca making out. Jesse is commenting on how grossed out he is by the whole thing. Jesse decides to take off, as he was super upset that he didn’t know anything about this.

Erika comes to Jesse’s defense, and says that he is sensitive, while Rebecca tells the camera that he needs to suck it up, in not so many words.

Brian explains why Jesse was upset. Jackie points out that Jesse has always had a problem with Rebecca. I never picked up on that before.

Peeler comments that they aren’t judging, and they are just having a hard time absorbing it all. He compares it to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. Jackie’s response? “Furniture, I thought we were talking about sex.” Is it just me, or does Peeler get unfair crap most of the time? He usually is on point.

Tiffany walks in to the restaurant, and plants one on Jackie. Oh snap, catfight on tap. Tiffany scoots in next to Jackie. Rebecca asks Tiffany to move so she isn’t so squished. At this point, Jackie starts ignoring Rebecca and only plays with Tiffany. Rebecca is clearly super jealous at this point, especially when Jackie tells her to stop eating off of her plate. Ouch!

Erika says its time to go because she feels that Rebecca must be uncomfortable. Nice of her, considering that she is supposed to be “the bitch.” They all get ready to go except for Jackie and Rebecca. Andre makes some comments that offend Jackie, who says it’s because he is jealous, since Rebecca and Tiffany are supposedly heterosexual, but she can get in their pants and he can’t. When they leave, Andre says to Zen, “are you gonna be next?” That is what I said last week when Zen was in her nightie.

Jackie and Tiffany are talking first about Andre and then Rebecca. We find out that Jackie and Tiffany had had a hot, torrid affair for 5 months (this was while Jackie was with Mimi). In Episode 2 they had mentioned dating, but never said it was for that long.

Jackie says that Tiffany has gotten much better at sex, (Let’s guess what’s for dessert). and that she has changed; she is more masculine, and Jackie digs that. She also claims that she is normally such a sexual aggressor and now Tiffany is stepping it up a bit more.

Yes, they go back to Jackie’s drink champagne, make out on the couch, and then Jackie suggests they go to her bed. Damn Jackie got serious game!

Commercial

Jackie is in therapy, talking about how she feels in control and over Mimi. Dr. Sheryl prompts her to talk about her current dating life. Jackie says she is dating two people right now. Dr. Sheryl points out that both people Jackie is dating should know. Jackie owns up about dating one of her trainers, and seems to not need to talk about it that much, and acts like everything she is doing is completely on the up and up.

Meanwhile, the guys are talking about Jackie and Rebecca and the sushi night. Gregg points out that probably the worst thing was how Tiffany came to meet them while Jackie and Rebecca had just started defending their “love” for each other to the gang.

Jesse and Jackie start talking in her office. Jesse says that she can’t make out in public bathrooms anymore. Jackie counters that all the guys had too many problems, especially Andre. Jesse says that lesbians can’t casually date.

We jump to Peeler and Andre talking about the situation and how it isn’t ethical for the boss to date one of the employees.

Jackie tells the camera that trainers date trainers, trainers date clients, so why can’t she date who she wants. Methinks Jackie doth protest too much.

Jackie walks in on Peeler and Andre, and starts discussing the issue with them. Andre owns up to being jealous, and they have a lighthearted conversation. Doug points out this is just “gym drama,” ending the issue, for now. Jackie says that in her pool, her fish are hotter and she will always get them more easily than Andre will. That is because Jackie is a man-eating, no, woman-eating shark, and she will prey upon all the impressionable, curious, heterosexual chicks out there. successful, attractive woman.

Peeler is working out with his client, Floyd, at Sky Lab. We then find out that Doug’s birthday is the next day, and once you hit 40, you really feel it (he’s turning 44).

Cheo, Doug’s ex-partner is back at the gym to work out with Doug. He had kidney failure and needs to get in shape before his transplant. Some sappy stuff between Doug and Cheo. Where did it go wrong, etc. Sorry, not much detail here.

Creepily and ominously, Cheo tells the camera that Doug Blasdell’s parents didn’t live past 43, and that is Doug’s age now.

Commercial

Rebecca walks in to Jackie’s office and asks about Tiffany; she says that Jackie omits details. Jackie claims that she feels bad that she might have inadvertently hurt Rebecca’s feelings. Rebecca claims that she doesn’t really feel jealous, but Jackie sees through it. They make plans to hang out on Thursday night. (Will Jackie flake on Rebecca?)

Jesse comes up to Rebecca and says that some of his clients are lesbians (he has the Sky Lab lesbian couple as clients), and that she shouldn’t casually date one of them. Rebecca finds this inappropriate, I find it hysterical. Jesse then goes to train his clients (they really are lesbians) and refers to himself as the “lesbian whisperer.”

We go to Doug’s 44^th party, a joint party with Erika (don’t know how old she is). Rebecca comes dressed up, but without any underwear. Jackie calls it “understated sexiness,” and that she taught Rebecca everything she knows. Erika shows up late, to her own party, which was low key, not like their last outings. Very slow, makes me want to drink, heavily, for them.

Commercial

Andre is working out with his client Kiki. She’s doing well, but just has a problem with Jackie’s meal plan. She ate two Eggo waffles instead of Jackie’s morning protein shake. (Which is a delicious concotion of whey protein, liquid amino acids, Mega Green powder, Flax seed oil, mixed berries, and milk).

Doug is with his friend Cheo a the hospital. We get to see some medical procedure that I won’t go into detail about. Arteries, blood, needles, oh my!

Doug is sitting through the procedure, and starts looking woozy, dizzy. Cheo says he is dehydrated.

We cut back to Sky Sport and Spa, and Erika walks in to train a client, and tells Rebecca that the crack is back (Crack is Whack!!) Erika’s client is Megan, who wants to fit in a dress by the Oscars. Erika is training her and tells her that consistency is key, and that she is doing a workout (peripheral heart action) that quickly shifts the focus between the upper and lower body. Would be interesting to learn more about this type of workout. I think it keeps your heart rate consistent while working out different parts of the body.

Jackie hasn’t seen Doug since his birthday party. The trainers are standing around and realize that nobody has seen him.

Commercial

Doug hasn’t trained anyone at Sky Sport for a week, and none of the trainers have seen him since the party. Jackie gets a call from Cheo. She feels numb, wants to walk away, but she can’t because she has to stay strong for her trainers.

The trainers gather, and Jackie informs them that right around his birthday, Doug got a really bad flu. He was so dehydrated that his kidney shut down. The doctors put him into a drug induced coma, and he developed a really bad infection. However, he is out of the coma and recovering. At this point, Jackie is saying that she thinks he will be out of the hospital in a week or two.

Next week. Another team building session, with Rebecca throwing a glass of water at Jesse. I guess there really is tension between them. Drama!

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It’s all about the core!

Core training is enormously important for, well, anyone. For people who work out a lot, and for people who don’t work out at all, a strong core is essential.

In the case of athletes and exercise freaks, a strong midsection serves a functional purpose. It helps the body adapt to different levels of physical stress and stabilize itself. As an athlete growing up, I was well aware of how important a solid core was, and now as someone who continues to train in and out of the gym, it has not lost its importance. I feel that any strength gains I have seen in certain fundamental exercises such as bench pressing or squatting has only been possible because I make sure I hit my core.

In terms of people who do not do any real exercise, they don’t need a stronger core to help with their squats, obviously, but rather, for their everyday functioning. The most prevalent physical ailment among US adults is back pain. Some sources of back pain come from poor posture, and again, just everyday functioning, whether holding a bag of groceries or picking up their child. A stronger core defrays the stress placed directly on the back, which is why it is so important.

One of my favorite things for core strengthening is the Swiss ball, or exercise ball. There are so many exercises that you can do with this simple accessory. There are the standard crunches that you can do that increase your range of motion, hitting your upper abs even harder, but there are also a whole lot more things you can do.

Some simple exercises that you can do with the exercise ball for your core are bridges. These are great for people beginning, and you can do more variations as your core strengthens. For example, you put your body into a plank position, only your feet are on the of the ball, while making sure your abs and back are tight and your body is straight. Once you can do this easily, a variation would be to have your hands also on an exercise ball, so your body acts as a bridge between the two.

One of my most favorite core exercises to do with the exercise ball is the jackknife. You position your body as you would in a bridge with only your feet on the ball, then you roll the ball into your body with your feet, then you roll your feet back out. It is sick for your lower abdominals.

Another really advanced core exercise to do with the exercise ball is stand and balance on it. I haven’t been able to do more than get on all fours and balance on it, like I am a frog. Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to do this; it takes a SICK core to be able to get on the ball and balance.

These are just a few things you can do, other than the standard crunch on the exercise ball, that will really work out your core. Watch the following video, though, for some things NOT to do with it.

Enjoy!

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Not so humongous fungus (for now)

Disclaimer – About two weeks ago, someone contacted me to review a product. They sent me the product, along with a fancy new gym bag and a pair of flip flops.

I already have a system with my gym bag(s), in terms of what goes in which bag when, and where I put my bags so I never forget to move things between when necessary, like, my lock or Ipod. (Things can get kind of confusing, since I use different gym locations, and have a rental locker at my main one) So, I would be willing to part with the gym bag they sent me; it’s pretty nice. If you want it, let me know; I’ll even post a picture of it if you like.

As far as the flip flops, I’m keeping them. Not because I am going to use them in the locker room and wear them when I shower, that might make sense. In fact, a few of my friends asked me why I don’t use them, and well, they’re just nasty. Imagine carrying around a pair of wet flip flops that have been all over a disgusting locker room floor, gross. They tell me it will prevent Ahtlete’s Foot, but I don’t buy it. I’m just going to hang on to them, in any case.

So, a week ago I wrote about my battle with Athlete’s Foot. Some people were sympathetic, some people were curious, and a lot were disgusted. Anyway, the product I received is this new Advanced Lamisil Gel AT.

I have been using it for the past week, and I am impressed. I only use it once a day, before I go to bed. Other things I have used usually merited using multiple times a day.

More importantly, the results have been great. I have no more fungus. Since it is basically still winter (It is snow showering right now in NYC on April 5^th), my fungus hasn’t been so bad, but it still hadn’t gone away. After all, showering in a locker room is and walking around barefoot is pretty gross. And note, I haven’t been peeing on my feet.

We’ll see how well the Lamisil works over the warmer months when I am swimming and sweating a lot more. But, for the time being, nobody needs to ask me to put my socks on when we go to bed.

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