As someone who always worked at a desk job after college, my new job at the gym is totally different.
I am slowly adjusting to my new work schedule and the fact that I am always running around like a madwoman, but I can honestly say I am loving it. The other day I was talking with a coworker about personal training and I told her that this is the first job I’ve had where I am working one on one with people to help them achieve something for themselves.
I feel truly invested in the wellbeing of another person and really want to help people reach their goals, fall in love with fitness and value their health. It’s a new challenge, that’s for sure!
I feel like my mind is wrapped up in my job at the gym these days and the success of my personal training clients. When the group exercise class schedule changes at our gym in a couple of months, I’m really hoping to pick up some additional classes and teach more than I already do which has me feeling really excited about my future at the gym. I’d love to eventually teach a strength workout class, cardio interval training class, a TRX class and possibly spinning. I already pitched my idea for a cardio interval training class to my director (inspired by Amy Dixon’s FitnessGlo cardio athletic workout) and she seemed as excited about it as I am!
Workout
This morning I arrived at the gym at 6 a.m. so I could check my workout off the list before I met with my first client at 7 a.m. I began with a cardio warm up on the stair master followed by a leg workout. It has been a while since I’ve done a straight strength workout for my legs and I felt the burn during squats!
My workout included three sets of 15 repetitions of the following exercises:
- Squats
- Deadlifts
- Walking Lunges
- Leg Extensions
Then I quickly washed my face, ate some trail mix (Kashi Go Lean cereal + walnuts + yogurt covered almonds) and met up with my first client of the day.
After our 60-minute session, I had 30 minutes until it was time for my next appointment, so I ran to Starbucks for breakfast. (I meant to bring my breakfast with me to the gym but forgot it at home. Grrr!)
I ate an egg white and spinach wrap in the car on my way back to the gym and arrived ready to train my second client. She is so full of personality and makes me laugh a lot! I have to remind myself to really concentrate on watching her form because she can easily distract me with her stories.
Now I have about an hour to kill until I have my next appointment and I am using the time to blog and update my oldies but goodies playlist for my water fitness class this afternoon.
See ya after lunch!
Question of the Afternoon
- Would you prefer to work at a desk job or one that has you up and about and constantly interacting with people?
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I definitely prefer a job that has me up and moving. Teaching is perfect for that 🙂
Hey,
I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying this website. I stumbled across it when I joined up to pinterest this weekend and I am so glad I did.
I am currently training for a half marathon and think your workouts and recipes are fantastic. There is something for what ever mood you are in.
Just a quick question: I am from England and our treadmills are set to km/h, is that the same in the US? Wanted to try one of the incline workouts this weekend and just wanted to check I would be doing it at the correct speed!
Thanks
Zoe 🙂
I would just convert the pace from MPH to km/hr beforehand! 🙂 So glad you found me!
Thanks for getting back to me. I’ve downloaded a converter app so can easily change the speeds. Treadmill session planned for tomorrow! Thanks, Zoe
I think a good mix is the key for me. I teach a lot of classes throughout the day but I also have desk time so I can program plan, create documents and marketing materials, etc. It’s great! I could never sit a desk for 8 hours a day, I would go bananas!
That sounds like a lot of fun! I’m honestly a bit of a desk job girl, but as long as I like what I’m doing at my desk, I’m good. 🙂
I would prefer interactions and more moving. I have done a desk job, but most of my life I have had a job that requires alot of moving, from being a head lifeguard to nannying kids. Interacting with others is also fun as well!!
Kashi go lean cereal is my FAVORITE. So good! I’m glad you’re enjoying your new job!!
It’s so good to hear you have found something you are truly passionate about!! I could totally relate with what you said about “wanting to help people reach their goals, fall in love with fitness and value their health.” I worked a desk job for about 2 years at an investment bank. I kind of fell into it and I’ll just say I didn’t love it. About 8 months ago, I quit that job to become a part of a start-up called Health Warrior-we sell chia seeds and chia bars-and it is definitely more in line with my interests in nutrition and wellness. Half the time I’m sitting at a desk, while the other half I’m demoing at Whole Foods, talking to customers, or attending events centered around fitness. I love it, but then again, it isn’t 100% what I want to do. I recently started training to become a barre instructor and also just enrolled in IIN. I would love to teach barre and eventually open up my own health coaching practice. I get so excited just thinking about it! Let’s hope I can make this dream happen.
Happy for you in your new endeavor!
Its great that you are loving your new job so much! 🙂 That wrap from Starbucks looks yummy. I need to try it sometime.
Ever since I started my desk job, I’ve been longing for a job that allows me to incorporate my passion for health and wellness. I know being a personal trainer would be the ultimate job for me because I did it in college and such, but I also don’t want to take away from time with my husband by working odd hours. I mentally need to get myself to the point where I put my happiness first in my career and just make the plunge.
There’s no way I could do a desk job full time. I have a hard time sitting still for a movie, let along an entire day!
I work at a desk job, where we are there 8.5 hours a day. No breaks, no lunch.. I mean we can move around, but we are pretty much stuck in the same place, so I think that I’d rather work some place where I’m moving around.
Through the way you write, I can tell you have the perfect personality for a job that’s one-on-one 🙂 I am a physical therapy assistant and so I am one-on-one with my patients and on my feet all day too! (It’s exhausting right? You ask for an hour long foot rub from your hubby when you get home too, right?!) I’m excited to read your future blog posts about these workout classes! Becoming a spin instructor is a dream of mine!
I’ve had a non-desk job for the past 6 years and most of the time I enjoy it. Its about 80% travel, 20% desk work. Sometimes the travel gets to me (not sleeping in my own bed, not having a consistent workout schedule) but I love not staring at a computer all day and interacting with people. I would LOVE a job in fitness one day!
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com
I always thought I wanted a desk job until I actually got one… then I hated sitting all day! I still love the idea of having my own desk or cubicle… but I love being on my feet and moving more. 🙂
I have to say both! I’m a teacher, so I have time where I am constantly interacting with people, but then I get a nice couple of hours to sit behind my desk with the AC! The best of both worlds. 🙂
I had the same wrap today! That thing is goooood! I loved the taste. It’s only about 300 calories and the egg whites they use are cage free whoop whoop (I obviously looked this up lol). I thought that was awesome though. Thought I’d let ya know!
I may be one of the few people that actually loves working a desk job, haha! BUT I work from home, so I don’t know if that’s considered a “desk job” so much. I still have the option of going out and about if I want to. At the end of the day, it’s flexibility in a job that’s most important to me.
I’ve mostly always worked at a desk job, except for a 3 month period when I did a work exchange program in a different country.
I feel like doing something different from a desk job would be very beneficial to me, but where I’m at, only desk jobs are valued to provide enough for a good living. 🙁
I think it’s fantastic that you’re loving the job so much and enjoying the ability to connect with people and help them achieve their goals. Whether you have a desk job or on your feet all day, I think it’s important that you’re engaged in and enjoying what you’re doing.
Desk job for now, but working on it!
You’re really making me want to get my personal training certification 🙂