Sometimes It's Best to "Call the Guy"

I've learned there are two types of people in the world, which are you?

The two types of people are those who are DIYers (Do It Yourselfers) and Call the Guy guys (or gals).

I’ve always been a Call the Guy guy. This has served me well in many instances, but has also kept me somewhat ignorant of being able to make even the most basic of household repairs.

My wife, on the other hand, is almost to a fault a DIYer. She is driven to learn how to do things. She takes pride in it. She has the patience to invest time in learning it. I don’t.

So, when it came time to get back to physical activity after my bout with pneumonia that kept me bedridden for three weeks, we began going back to our gym. We would do 3-4 times each week, building our cardio strength with a bike spin class and working through the gym’s X-Force weight machine circuit.

After a couple of weeks I didn’t feel like I was making progress in the right areas doing it myself. So, two weeks ago I hired a personal trainer.

This morning I completed my third session. Already I’m seeing and feeling a difference.

The very first session I was able to get into a squat position I hadn’t been able to in so many years, I can’t remember when. That blew me away.

The trainer did it by having me hold onto gymnastic rings for support as I lowered myself down. It worked. And, ever since, I’ve been able to get into the whole child’s pose yoga position with my butt resting against the back of my legs.

My trainer is designing a workout regimen specifically designed for the areas of my body that need to build strength, flexibility, and range of motion so that I can get back on the tennis court and enjoy playing competitively again.

I couldn’t have done this by myself. My training at the gym has been way too generic and untargeted. The targeted exercises I’ve been doing with this trainer also have broader impact, so I’m confident over time I will be stronger, more flexible with a greater range of motion than I have in a long time.

The point I’m making here is that if you really want to make progress in your health and physical capabilities as you age, you have to call the guy. Call an expert who knows exercise physiology.

In three sessions I feel stronger and more capable in the body parts we’re working on than I did after 12 sessions of physical therapy targeting the same areas. PT is a great start, but you need more intense focus to make real progress.

So, my recommendation is that when it comes to your health and well-being, be it your physical strength or your nutrition, don’t be a DIYer, Call the Guy.

What do you think?

‘til next time…

All My Best,