The Training Blog of cbsfitness

March 7 was the Washington State Powerlifting Championship. I once again set state records (broke my own, you may pat me on the back) and American record. But, I have yet to see this posted so I’m not sure it’s legit. Any way next meet June 27 in Seattle somewhere….

I left my job with a neat little one on one studio in Kirkland. I left in December for a job as a trainer in a not so little place called the Redmond Athletic Club. Well, I have given my notice there and am going all out and doing something that could be scary if I think about it too much: Being and independent trainer.  Why how scary can this be? Lots, lots. I have to learn to market and sell myself. I have even established yet another wp page: carriesasynuik.com. This is my “business” page. Time to take the plunge into small business ownership. YIKES!

When I first started out in the fitness industry I worked for a club in Ballard Washington. At the time it was called Olympic Raquet and Health Club. It was a higher end facility with a pool, three exercise floors, three raquetball courts, a ball room that was used for group exercise classes, and some pretty shady characters. I worked as a fitness floor “specialist.” In those days sales staff sold memberships and personal training as we know it now did not exist.

This was also a time when corporate wellness raised its little head. The wellness model was a response to the high rates of cardiovascular disease. Companies that provided corporate wellness used the medical model: Physical checkups combined with blood chemistry profiles. Once the health status of a patient was established a drug was prescribed and the patient was told to get “some exercise.” This is where personal trainers came in.

After three years at the Olympic Health Club I was recruited to work for a “Wellness” company. This company was cutting edge because it was run by a physician, a physical therapist, and had a bio-feedback / stress management team, an exercise physiologist, and two exercise kinesiologists. I was the lone theater major with a background in working out. But, my skill was in the field of practical application of exercise theory.

I competed as a bodybuilder while working with these two companies and then got out of the industry. I raised some kids and worked as an independent trainer. I quite training to go back to school full time, got my BS in Ex. Science & Wellness, and landed a job. I worked in private one on one studio for 4 years. Left there at the end of 2008 and….

Now I have come full circle: I am working in a health club facility, selling personal training packages and training the clients. Personal training is now a “revenue center” with trainers trying to become successful as small business developers within the confines of a club. Unlike a true business owner the trainers get paid a tiny commission on the package and a  small hourly wage to train the client. This arrangement can become unrewarding once you figure out how to market and sell. You realize that you don’t really need the club.

This is why studios are becoming popular.

Stay tuned for part 2 ….

I had competed in a powerlifting contest on October 18, 2008. The results are finally posted and yours truly is now a Washington State record holder. Once you click on this link go to the bottom of the page and click on “M3″ and scroll down to 123 pounds and there I am. Then click on “M1″ and scroll down to 123 pounds and see one of my training partners Laurie Lamp. Then click on “M4″ and check out the 114 AND 123 pound class. These records are held by Ita Pantilat who also trains with Laurie and I.

My next meet is March 7.

On Oct. 18, I participated in a competition. But first, I must digress……..

Once upon a time, about one year ago, I finally began training for bench press and deadlift competitions. (Don’t worry if you don’t know what this is. ) Being a “powerlifter” means belonging to a subculture. I have learned that I was not a “powerlifter” in the truest sense of the activity. I belonged to an even smaller sub set: Benchers and Deadlifters. (In addition there are not nearly as many women in these subsets as men. AND there are not many women who weigh 123 pounds or less.) At any rate I was doing just fine lifting my little poundages and improving bit by bit. (Now here’s another subset: I lift without the benefit of wearing special shirts and/or suits that can help increase poundages.) In August after my last meet I was told that a different organization was sponsoring a meet in October. I looked at the entry and saw that it would cost 130 dollars to enter two lifts. It was $80.00 is I were to enter as a “powerlifter.” Hmmmm….

Pulling out my handidandi calculator I would save $50.00 if I entered the powerlifting category. This ment that each squat lift would realize $16.67 in savings. With the economy bail out not coming into effect for several months I figured I better save some money. The pressure was on.

I get to the meet and find out that I am first up. The order is determined by opening lift weights. Mine was very low and I had to make each lift. I had not squated in competition before and there are some specific rules to complete the squat correctly. And there is an audience. (Albeit, pretty small but…. Oh, my goid!!!) I did just fine in all my squat attempts and actually set a new personal best. I missed my third bench attempt and hit all the deadlift attempts and set a new personal best in the deadlift. There was one woman lifting without gear who was 4 days out from her fourth chemo tratment and she did very well. (She lifted far more than I did in the squat and deadlift.) There was a man who had had a hip replacement who also completed his deadlifts.

The meet was in the Columbia City area of Seattle in an old theater behind the library. The day was a perfect fall day; sunny with light clouds. Inside there was also a light cloud … of chalk dust. My coach of the day, Laurie Lamp, was a great help to me and she had a good time watching and helping me out. She also made sure that my little lifts were going into the USAPL records. As I have said there aren’t many 123 pound women lifting without gear (”raw”) and especially in my age group. So, there I am a state record holder as a member of a subset of a subset of a subset.

I have my moments….

END NOTE: The posting of the meet results could take two months.