It's NOT: "Keep Your EYE On the Ball"....

OK, for those of you who commented about the trainer, I can keep quiet about it no longer! I've watched the trainers at the YMCA for months and thought about how much I'd like to have one. When my friend Debra mentioned doing it together, I thought it was perfect. We had our first "real" session last night.

I should start by saying that Debra and I are not small women. So, when the trainer took us to the weight corner and said, "We're going to work on the core and use the weights." I thought, "OK...no big deal." But he soon added, "You'll both need a ball."

Note: I've never sat on one of these before last night, but let me just tell you I was REAL happy when I downloaded this picture just now and it was labeled "Anti-burst Exercise Ball". WHEW!

Not one to back down from a challenge, I went and got the "pretty green ball" and took it to the corner. He showed us how to sit on it and keep from falling off. Just when my tail feathers started to go into "show-off" position, he said, "Now, that you know how to SIT on the ball...you need to learn to LAY on the ball. And you have to go from one position to the other without falling off or getting up. It's just one fluid motion."

I tucked my tail feathers back in and promptly laughed at the man! He, however, was not amused. Before I could practice rolling into that silly laying position "fluidly", he put 8 pound weights in each hand and said, "We're going to use these when you are in position." (And I was happy to use the two pound weights at Aerobics the other night!) I explained that I only throw an 8 pound bowling ball..that's FOUR pounds for each hand. He laughed and said, "Not after working out with me, you won't. It'll be time to get a larger ball." (Well OK, then!)

Reminding myself that I am paying this man for the hour of entertainment he is obviously going to receive working with the two of us, and knowing the gym is crowded with plenty of people who could easily move up and down and all around on that ball, I promptly rolled myself into position and prepared for the pain. I wish I could report that I looked as relaxed (and as flat stomached) as this man does on the ball, but I can't. I chose this photo because it best shows the position we were in for the FIRST exercise.

There was absolutely NO easing into anything! The session was spent about 1/2 on the ball with weights and 1/2 on the machines to work the legs. Today I can tell I worked, but I'm not in pain (thank goodness). On most weeks we'll see him two days. This week, however, it's only one.

As I left the gym, I felt pretty good. But the thought that kept running through my mind was:, "We used to say, 'Keep your eye on the ball.' But now that's all going to change for me. No. My mantra has to be: 'Keep your rear on the ball.' Followed closely by: 'Keep your head on the ball!'"

I'm sure there'll be MORE blog fodder where this came from...stay tuned!!