Laura from Hampton Hill invited me to try out the Total Body Training classe she teaches a couple Saturday mornings a month.
I took her up on her offer without knowing what to expect.
I waltz into my first TBT class this past Saturday morning thinking I’d be fit enough to do whatever Total Body Training asked of me. After meeting with Laura another lady (never got her name) took me to some secret back alley in the room where I had to find my equipment for the day:
- plastic ironing board looking thing
- massive plastic blocks that elevated the ironing board looking thing
- light, medium, heavy dumbbells
After leaving the secret back alley with my gear I found a spot (near the door, I might add) in the jam-packed room. Quickly scanning the room I realized I looked a little out of place — first, I was overweight. Second, I was a boy.
After quickly setting up my “workout station” and putting the plastic ironing board looking thing on top of a couple of the plastic lego-block things the class began. Laura took the stage in front of the class and started excitedly giving out commands. I can remember that we started with holding our hands out in the air, stretching them as high as we could to the ceiling — but after that the entire hour of Total Body Training is a blur.
I’d love to be able to tell you that I was able to keep up with the other 25 women or so in the class, or that I put up a good fight, but I didn’t. The class was a mixture of yoga, stretching, cardio, weight training — maybe a “total” body workout, one might say? The class’ name quickly became apparent.
Here are just a few things we did in Total Body Training:
- Stretches
- Lunges
- Push ups
- Sit Ups
- Curls
- Marches
- Jumping Jacks
And while that list seems extensive, I know it’s lacking. It also doesn’t give you quite a depth of Total Body Training — for example, when I say we “stretched,” we did so several times targeting several different muscles.
Again, I would like to say that the guy who lost 125 pounds in the past 41 weeks and spent 3 hours doing cardio at the gym just a few months ago put up the good fight — but I didn’t. I even had to leave the class midway through to refill my water bottle. I have a huge amount of respect for the women in that class and my abs, arms, and thighs are still sore today from TBT.
What did I learn from Total Body Training on Saturday? Well, two things. First, it’s important to not keep doing exercises that your body is “comfortable” with. Yes, running on the treadmill is hard for me, but my body is accustomed to the motions and “knows” how to run. It’s important to keep my body challenged so I keep getting more fit.
And what’s the second thing? I’ll be back at TBT next Saturday morning.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
See now you’re wishing you did the yoga aren’t you?
I was shocked and impressed how hard it was. I have mad respect for those women.
Those little girly girls kicked your butt?!?! That’s so funny T, Mr. big strong man you!
That thought didn’t escape me. They were a lot more agile than I was, but I’m working on that.
Oh, that sounds like fun. I would still fall in the overweight category though. But I am a woman at least!
That’s a start!
I wish the Y had weekend classes :(
You should stop by one Saturday morning. They have a free trial, I believe.
Hey, good for you. Important point though: was there good music? PiYo about killed me. Better music would have helped.
There was music, but not my kind of music. I tend to like the stuff angry 15-year old suburban white boys like.
That’s so great, man. Way to push yourself. When I did a yoga/pilates DVD workout with my wife, she totally kicked my butt. 1/2 way through, Sweat was pouring off me and she hadn’t even broken a sweat–but I know we were doing the same exercises…yikes!
I look forward to hearing how next Saturday goes for you…
I’ll definitely keep you updated as long as I’m able to walk to the computer.
Way to go, T. I hate yoga. Never quite sure where to put my boobs.
Let’s keep it clean, kids are reading :)
Yeah, I don’t know where to put my boobs, too! :)
Good on you for trying that new class! Yes, the first one shocked your system, but I’m sure if you keep at it you’ll be up to speed in no time!
PS: It took me a few seconds, but the “plastic iron board thingy with the lego blocks” is called a step ;)
Oh, that’s right! That’s exactly what it’s called. I know someone would correct me eventually.
Tyler…for the love of all that’s holy. Lift some heavy weights!! Rest. Lift some more heavy weights!!
I am!
Good for you!!
Thanks, Jessie. Have I ever mentioned you have some great before and after pictures. Awesome job!
i’m always so scared to try those classes! you’re a rock star. :)
Do it! Try one this weekend!
But did you puke?
I didn’t. But stopping for water probably helped that.
Awesome! I definitely agree with the comments on the yoga thing. It can be very difficult. However it only took me getting Wii Fit to figure that out. :)
This Total Body Training sounds a lot like the Fitness Bootcamp class that I take. My trainer does a lot of what you’ve written above in your post. The thing is, she switches it up every class, so we are always doing something different. This keeps the class from getting boring.
Glad to hear you are trying one of the “sissy” women classes. It looks so easy from outside the glass window, but then you go inside and it’s a whole other ballgame. I struggled through my first kickboxing class. Eventually, I proudly moved up to the group of women that goes to the core class and then immediately follows with the butt kicking kickboxing class.
I only saw one guy come to class one day and he made it about 15 minutes. I felt so bad for him. Keep up the good work!
I read somewhere that it can take as little as 6 weeks for your body to adapt to a workout routine. You constantly need to change it up so your body is challenged. Watch your weight loss chug along as you add this class in!
PS, as of tonight I’ve lost 40 pounds this year on Weight Watchers!