Jolly

Jolly is my Personal Fitness Trainer...don't laugh...even if her name is Jolly. One of the great things about Ozone, compared to most other gyms, is that many of the staff are either native English speakers or can speak English well enough to make the experience seem a lot like home. If there is a problem, you can actually find someone who understands and can help. Jolly is one of those who speaks English well. She is a level one trainer; if I'm not level 0, then I guess I'd be level one.

Ozone provides 2 free fitness sessions with membership, so Jolly was right there to ask me when I wanted to start my sessions. But first she needed to take my personal fitness history and measure my body fat. Right! The history wasn't too painful, but the body fat was an exercise in psychological torture. I really needed a sense of humor, so it was a good thing Jolly was jolly. She took out her little calipher and grabbed some loose flesh on the back of my arm; I'm sure it has a name other than flab, but I don't recall what it is. The brain cells that handle that information have been dormant too long, just like the muscle cells that used to reside in the floppy blob she was holding in her hand. While she easily latched on to a good-sized handful, she said to me, "Most women don't have any fat back here." Thanks a lot, Jolly. After that she managed to remain quite detached until she got to my waist. Placing the measuring tape around my middle, she couldn't manage to stiffle a small gasp. "Is it that bad?" I asked. "No, no, not so bad", she lied, as she wrote the amazing number on her chart. When that ordeal was finished, I stepped on the scale, and to my pleasure and amazement I had lost 6 pounds. One small victory. Am I ever glad I didn't do this 3 weeks ago when I first arrived!

My first real training session with Jolly was last Monday, September 29. She took me through all the machines that should help firm up the jelly-like features of my body, which just about covered all the machines that exist. Most of them were easy, but the stair climber defintely needs work. She put it down to the easiest level and I could still barely manage it. Jolly promises that in 3 months I will notice a difference in the body tone...it's a goal I hope to reach.

An after thought...The best thing about my first workout session was the 2 hour massage that followed it...one hour foot, one hour body. The foot massage was exquisite. The masseuse found the scar tissue from planters fasciitis in my left foot and really did a great job on it. He could have gone a little easier on my neck and shoulders which really hurt for the next few days.