No, I'm not leaving beautiful Edinburgh and moving to edgy Gotham City. Well, not just yet anyway. And I haven't suddenly become some dangerous psychopath either. "So what's with the dramatic headline Derek?" I hear you ask. Let me explain.
Last week I reached the end of a particularly challenging workout programme with Luke at Luke Bremner Fitness. The Tuesday sessions at Jamaica Street were tough. But with excellent motivation from Mr Bremner, I managed to improve either the number of reps or increase the weights I was lifting almost week-on-week.
My Thursday and Sunday workouts, also prepared for me by Luke and his team, haven't been a walk in the park either. The biggest concern I have with these solo routines, that I do in my home gym, is that I may accidentally hurt myself through bad technique or incorrect posture.
So recently I've been videoing these sessions at a midpoint, for Luke to review. He then provides me with some feedback and I can make adjustments as required.
So recently I've been videoing these sessions at a midpoint, for Luke to review. He then provides me with some feedback and I can make adjustments as required.
From the footage of my last Thursday routine, Luke identified that my grip for the declined bench press wasn't correct. He gave me with some guidance on what I should be doing and emailed a link to a blogpost, written by another personal trainer, that was most helpful. I made, what I thought, were the necessary changes, and continued on my merry way.
Fast forward several weeks to this week's Tuesday workout. Luke and I had agreed to revisit a series of routines that I hadn't touched since the summer of 2015. The first exercise of the morning was the flat bench press.
"Woo, Derek!" Luke said, as I lifted the barbell off the rack to start a warm-up set. "Your shoulders and arms aren't in the right position."
"But I thought this was what I was supposed to be doing based on the feedback." I replied.
"Good job we're revisiting this particular exercise together." continued Mr Bremner, as I put the barbell back into the rack.
"Let's get you into the right position first, so you'll find the exercise easier."
And he was right. With a few positional adjustments I managed to do four sets of 8 reps unaided. This was particularly pleasing as it was with a weight that I'd had great difficulty in lifting only six months ago. So I was happy chap.
Chatting between reps, Luke tried to find a simile for me on what I was doing wrong.
"It's like your Batman or something, just about to jump off a tall building. Your shoulders are all hunched-up. When really they need to be down and back."
"Okay. I need to try and remember that." I said.
"It's easy to remember," Luke continued, "it's time for you to kill Batman!"
So with that particular superhero being dealt with, I now need to focus my attention on 'showing the wall my elbows'. But that will be another story for another day…!
"Woo, Derek!" Luke said, as I lifted the barbell off the rack to start a warm-up set. "Your shoulders and arms aren't in the right position."
"But I thought this was what I was supposed to be doing based on the feedback." I replied.
"Good job we're revisiting this particular exercise together." continued Mr Bremner, as I put the barbell back into the rack.
"Let's get you into the right position first, so you'll find the exercise easier."
And he was right. With a few positional adjustments I managed to do four sets of 8 reps unaided. This was particularly pleasing as it was with a weight that I'd had great difficulty in lifting only six months ago. So I was happy chap.
Chatting between reps, Luke tried to find a simile for me on what I was doing wrong.
"It's like your Batman or something, just about to jump off a tall building. Your shoulders are all hunched-up. When really they need to be down and back."
"Okay. I need to try and remember that." I said.
"It's easy to remember," Luke continued, "it's time for you to kill Batman!"
So with that particular superhero being dealt with, I now need to focus my attention on 'showing the wall my elbows'. But that will be another story for another day…!
