I was two months into my 22nd year on the day when I bought a membership to the gym that was only a few moments away from my home. I had walked there from home wearing a back pack.
Never having seen the inside of a real body builder's gym, I needed some pointers. I spent a few moments watching other people work at the pulley driven machines and free weights. On one wall there was a plaque describing different exercises. It illustrated how one did them and which muscles they worked. I took a few moments and read it.
Barely 130 pounds, there were no defined muscles on my body. My pectoral muscles were flat and the lateral muscles were nearly straight. Rollerblading and cycling around my neighborhood had been the only exercises to which I was accustomed.
Knowing I needed more assistance, I looked back at the desk. They should come help me here I thought.
"Is there a physical trainer available?" It occurred to me that one should be included with the fee that I paid.
"Yes," replied a handsome young male. " I can help you."
He was clad in red gym shorts with a white T shirt. His wore his pecan brown hair in a buzz cut that was spiked up in the front. He looked to be not much older than me.
The trainer came over to me.
"What would you like to accomplish?"
"I would like to gain about 20 or thirty pounds."
"Muscle is made of protein. To build it you need lots of calories from protein."
By now he had peaked my curiosity. "Protein comes from what kind of foods?"
"Fish, meat, and eggs, " he said.
That said he began describing exercises.
"If you do a lot of repetitions at light weight that gives you muscle tone. A heavy weight but fewer repetitions will create bulk. You need to eat a lot more."
We walked over to a bench whose uprights held a long barbell. He put plates on each end and totaled them for me.
"There's a hundred pounds. This will work your pectoral muscles which is your chest."
I lay down and grabbed the weights from behind me. He walked behind the bench.
"Breathing is key. Breathe out when you're pushing up."
I lowered the bar and pushed it up then repeated the exercise. It seemed to move up on column of air as I let out my breath. After a few reps it was beginning to feel heavy.
"All you, " said my trainer. "It's all you!"
I moved on from exercise to exercise. Todd explained them. I did them.
