Keep on running: Rebecca on the treadmill with personal trainer Maurizio Deufemia keeping watch
Sessions 1 and 2
Having not stepped inside a gym for a few years now, I was a little anxious but also quite up for improving my uninspiring fitness and energy levels at the Kinetika gym at the Malden Centre.
However, I was even more hopeful when I discovered that I was guaranteed results within five weeks with the Kinetika Journey, which involves five individual sessions with an instructor in your first month of membership, to assist you in reaching your aims and objectives.
The sessions last just half an hour, so there's no problem - and no excuse - to schedule them into the busiest of working days. While I have been a member of other, more well-known gyms in the past and literally left to my own devices, I was impressed with the thoroughness of my first session, which included an assessment and review of short and long-term goals, a flexibility test, and recording of weight and measurements for comparison at the end of the five weeks. I was also given some useful nutrition and exercise fact sheets for reference.
The second session involved a warm up and some cardiovascular training on the treadmill and exercise bike, before we moved on to upper and lower body weights (resistance training). My instructor also gave me some useful tips and advice on the importance of using the right technique and what to do if you feel achy the day after your workout.
Time seemed to fly by, and as we wound down the session with some squats and stretches, I felt like I'd had a good workout but with minimal effort - the ideal way for someone as unfit as me to start an exercise programme!
Session 3
I'm not quite sure what possessed me to book a personal training session on a Monday evening, although I was feeling slightly guilty, having had no time for a workout since the last appointment. Considering my below average level of fitness, I seemed to get away with minimal aches and pains following my first two sessions, so wondered what was in store this time round.
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I checked in at the gym reception and was met by Maurizio, my trainer for the half-hour session. Maurizio explained what he had planned for me, which included cardiovascular interval training to improve stamina and fitness, and some core stability exercises, which are great for posture and strength.
Once again I was given lots of useful information to help me get the most out of my session and exercising in general. However, this wasn't going to be a walk in the park as Maurizio pushed me to working at about 60-80 per cent of my aerobic capacity on the cross-trainer, and after 15 minutes I certainly felt as though I had been put through my paces!
Lift: Rebecca works on improving her stamina and fitness with trainer Steve Rawlings
We then moved on to the mat to do some core stability exercises - this involves retraining all the muscles in the body to ensure they are working correctly. Technique is very important here to achieve results, above and beyond the number of repetitions you do, and Murray kept checking that I was performing them correctly.
We finished once again with some cool-down stretches, and I was presented with a useful fact sheet on eating and exercise. I felt like I'd had a good, albeit intensive workout, and promised to visit the gym before the following session to continue the good work.
Session 4
Despite all best intentions, I hadn't managed to get to the gym once following my last session, partly because I'd suffered with a few post-workout aches and strains, and partly because I was just too busy to get there. I knew I was going to have to work harder on this, my fourth session.
My trainer Maurizio, informed me that this workout would be more motivational, and we started by warming up on the treadmill, followed by some distance training. My target was to complete a distance of 2km, ideally jogging, but I could also walk if the pace got too much.
I started off walking to warm up, and then upped the pace into a steady jog. Things were going well but my legs started to tire after four minutes. Maurizio asked what I had eaten that day, giving me tips on what I should be eating (basmati rice and brown pasta being ideal) a couple of hours before exercising to maximise energy levels.
Following 15 minutes of walking and jogging on the treadmill, we moved to the mat. Making the decision to avoid abdominal work as this was where I felt the strain the most following session three, Maurizio got me to do a couple of leg stretches, before we moved onto some lying down stretches, getting my muscles back to their pre-exercise state to avoid further aches and pains, and of course cooling down.
Before I knew it the workout was over, and I once again promised to do a few more workouts before my final session two weeks later, as I did have some catching up to do if I was to see results in my stamina and fitness levels. I am determined to be able to run for the bus even if it kills me!
Kinetika at the Malden Centre
Blagdon Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4TA.
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