Thanks for the input on CTX. I am really liking this series. For those who asked, here's the skinny on my PT fiasco.
I wanted to do it in my home because I have 3 small kids. So we started in late October - she came over 1x weekly and put together a great workout for me. I have dumbbells up to 40#, a barbell up to 70#, an elliptical, treadmill, and a Rockit (squat machine). She's also a registered dietician and reviewed my diet. I had convinced myself that I'm carbohydrate sensitive and so was doing lower carb. I weighed 133 when we started and really wanted to lose body fat.
She reviewed my diet and advised that my protein was way too high, and carbs not nearly high enough - she said it was doubtful that I gain weight with carbs - my portion control was wrong. So she put me on her program, which is 60% carb, 25% protein, 15% fat. As I worked with her I learned more about a vegan diet (she is a vegan) and tried that approach starting just b4 T'giving. She planned a diet for me that included a lot of whole grains. She reviewed my diet weekly and told me I needed to increase my calories (I was around 1500). She said for as much as I work out I really needed those calories to rev up my metabolism.
All the while she came over 1x week and we continued to work out. In mid-December I told her that I didn't feel as lean as when we started and wondered if it could be the carbs. Absolutely not she said. Toward late December she advised that I had maxed out on the weights I had available in my home and suggested that I begin using the machines at her 2 different facilities (different machines at each location.) So I went to both places and she established a routine on the equipment for me. (These are great gym "weight stack" machines and I can get a totally different workout from them than from my in-home stuff.) I paid her $25.00 a month for open use of the equipment - which I think is a good price.
Going there does however defeat my purpose of wanting an in-home trainer. Once she established my routine there (BTW - she doesn't work with me there - I'm on my own) she stopped coming over to my home. Two weeks ago I had a dr. appt and weighed in at 142 (OUCH!!!!) I told her that I had gained almost 10 pounds since following her program (and I followed it to the letter!). She told me it was probably muscle, but my clothes are tight now so I know that's not the case. I asked her again if she thought it was the carbs and she again said no. I suggested that I cut the grains out (see TLT discussion on cutting grains if you're an "O" blood type) and she said she would put a diet together for me. That was 2 weeks ago and I haven't heard a word about the diet since. I do still see her when I go to her place to work out, but no additional help. And I'm so frustrated that I don't even want to ask - but I will go to use that equipment when I can.
So I kicked my a** into gear last week with David Kirsch for 2 weeks and then I'm going to zig-zag my calories again. Ladies I really know my body and I am more convinced than ever that I cannot do high carbs without gaining weight. I know a one-size fits all approach does not work and I hope she now knows that as well. I finished the 3 months of really committed work on her program with weight up and much more "jiggley" than I started out. But what really got me is how she just kind of let me go into oblivion. So I went back to what worked for me on my Cathe's (2 days of circuit followed by one day of strength, and a lot of cardio). As soon as I get back to where I was before I started with her, I'm calling the male trainer. (I've already spoken to him and he couldn't believe that high of a carb base when a knowledgeable client says she's carb sensitive.) So that's my long-winded story about my not-so-good experience with my trainer / dietician. UGH! (Thanks for letting me rant.)
Lorrie
