Have you ever pushed yourself beyond your comfort zone?

   When working out, have you ever willingly taken yourself to that totally uncomfortable place? Or did you have to pay someone to take you there? You know the place: The body is shuddering and quivering and you are sure if you lunge one more time, you’ll fall to the floor. You feel nauseated and lightheaded. And yet, someone is standing next to you, telling you to keep going.

   It is so easy to let ourselves down and quit before we ever reach that point. Most times, we really do think we are working as hard as we can. That is, until we are worked out by a personal trainer. It’s harder to let someone else down than it is to let ourselves down. Plus, sometimes our egos get in the way and we want to work harder and longer.

   I heard on the news that having a personal trainer is the smartest way to spend your money for an effective workout. You definitely get the most bang for your buck. I’ve been certified as a personal trainer for a couple of years now and I absolutely love it. Some of my clients call it “personal torture.” I won’t tell you what they call me. I don’t take no for an answer and I don’t understand the word “can’t.” I absolutely love to watch my clients get stronger and fit. They are ALWAYS stronger than they think they are. Always!

   If you think you need a boost in your workout or are at a weight-loss plateau, personal training might be for you. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish when someone is rooting for you. With that said, one day I found a letter on my desk from one of my clients. She decided to write a bit about her experience during personal training. I have to admit, it is all true and quite funny! Keep this in mind, though: No matter what happens during our sessions, all of my clients have walked away with a smile and a great sense of accomplishment!

   1. I started personal training because I hate running and I needed some effective ways of exercising not involving running. Janet makes me run on the treadmill. Since my legs are long it looks “effortless,” so she makes me sprint. Even better.

   2. One training session I almost died. As I was taking what felt like a final breath while I jumped rope for the millionth time, Janet said, “If you get caught on the rope, you start over.” As she said this, I envisioned things I could do to her with the rope. Since I zoned out, I got caught on the rope. I didn’t start over. Janet seemed disgusted, even though my skin was turning an abnormal shade of white. I would’ve run away, but since I couldn’t pick up my legs, she definitely would have caught me.

   3. The session following my near-death experience, I had heart palpations thinking of training on the way up the stairs, but felt good I survived the brutal torture. During this session I was working quite hard and feeling good that it wasn’t as bad as the last, but I apparently did not have the right form as I lunged, squatted, pulled a band behind my head, twisted my arms together, flexed my triceps, contracted my abs, squeezed my glutes, and “remembered to smile,” because Janet found that the appropriate time to ask, “Are you really getting anything out of your training sessions? Is it making any difference? Are you pushing yourself?” I wanted to throw something at her, but my body was tangled in itself and I couldn’t.

   4. Janet made me use a medicine ball to lift my arms while I squatted. She wants me to “write out” numbers with the ball as I move my arms around. That was dumb. Minutes of my life I’ll never get back. I can spell a lot of things in the air, and they are not the numbers one to fifty.

   5. Some days that follow training days, I have trouble standing in the upright position. As in anything outside of lying flat on a bed after taking a bath in Bengay followed by several Advil hurts. Lifting my legs to walk hurts. Lifting my head normally hurts. Breathing hurts (i.e. breaths coming in and going out). This can’t be normal (or legal).

   6. When I work so hard that every muscle in my body shakes and is convulsing, you would think this is a sign of something not healthy. Janet says, “Perfect. Right where I want you.” In a really sweet voice, of course.

   7. I pay for this?

JANET NEVILLS owns Ladies Fitness Zone in LaPorte, where she teaches Jazzercise, Pilates and Yoga. She is　also a Certified Personal Trainer.