Day 4...costarring Patrick on video

Today was the first official day of training.  I almost died.  I have only two significant things to say today:

1.  Whoever invented the stairmaster was spawned from the devil and should be shunned from all human interaction forever more.
2.  When you transition your diet from 0 grams of fiber to A LOT of fiber, best to stay close to home.

My terrific trainer Greg, whom I'm sure I will soon hate, started me off on what I think is interval training.  I used 4 different aerobic machines, doing several minutes on each, adding up to about 30 minutes.  God, how I miss the brisk walk.

Everyone has expressed so much support and a few folks have expressed some concern about what I'm getting myself into.  No need to worry.  I am aware of exactly how far out of the bell curve I fall!  This is why I am working with Greg Cadichon at Rebound Fitness in Northbrook.  He is an athletic trainer...NOT a personal trainer.  I myself just learned the difference.  I always thought that the athletic trainer who ran onto the football field to the aid of a writhing player was some guy who really loved sports, took a First Aid course, and found away to parlay that into a career.  I'm serious.  And now I'm also embarrassed because an athletic trainer is really a rehab specialist who has extensive education, board certified and has a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

This is not my first time at the fitness/weight loss rodeo.  Like most overweight people, I actually know a lot about what to do and how to eat...I just don't do it and several therapists' kids have enjoyed a high quality college education funded by my efforts to figure out why.  I have started gym training programs many times.  Inevitably, whenever I went to a gym and hired a personal trainer, I was paired up with a 21 year old Popsicle who looked like she was 15.  Or a 21 year old chiseled man who looked like he was a 12 year old with chest hair.  Neither of them knew what to do with me.  They had no idea what to do with those of us who are outside the bell curve.  Greg does.  His first words to me were "you know you are at risk for a heart attack.  We are not getting into weights.  We are just going to work on building your cardiovascular endurance.  Having said that, I know you can do this."  Sounds good to me.

I am ending with a video of Patrick.  I worked with him tonight and told him I wanted to include him more in the blog.  You will not hear his voice because he is not yet able to talk.  He looks up for yes and down for no. You have to be careful what you ask a 19 year old.  So we talked about goals.  This kid is unbelievable.