Desperate Times Call for Desperate Sweatpants: The Journey of a Fitness Phobe

I never thought I’d be the type of person who willingly wakes up at 5 AM to have someone cheerfully tell me to do “just five more reps” while my arms feel like overcooked spaghetti. Yet here I am, six months into my relationship with Core Progression Personal Training, and I’ve developed what medical professionals might diagnose as “workout Stockholm syndrome.”

The Beginning: When Moving Off the Couch Was an Athletic Achievement

Let’s rewind to last year. My idea of strength training was carrying all the grocery bags in one trip. My cardio routine consisted exclusively of panicking when I heard the ice cream truck driving away. I had reached the point where my “skinny jeans” had become theoretical physics – they existed in theory but not in my reality.

The Intervention

My wake-up call came when my cat started judging me. I swear she would look at me, then at her treadmill wheel, then back at me with those judgmental yellow eyes. When your pet has better fitness habits than you do, something has to change.

What I Expected vs. What I Got at Core Progression

• Expected: Militant trainers screaming in my face
• Got: Supportive professionals who somehow make burpees seem reasonable
• Expected: Immediate regret and possible hospitalization
• Got: Customized weight loss programs that didn’t kill me (surprisingly)
• Expected: Gym bros judging my form
• Got: A community that celebrates every victory, no matter how small

The first month was humbling. I discovered muscles I didn’t know existed – primarily because they were sending me angry pain telegrams the morning after each session. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO US?” they screamed as I attempted to shampoo my hair without lifting my arms above shoulder height.

The Transformation

Six months later, I’ve gone from someone who considered “sitting up straighter” as exercise to someone who voluntarily does extra reps. I no longer need to take a recovery nap after taking the stairs. My sweatpants, once stretched to their constitutional limits, now require a belt.

The trainers at Core Progression locations across Denver, Arvada, Lakewood, Northglenn, Boulder, and Austin aren’t just personal trainers – they’re part-time miracle workers and full-time motivational wizards who somehow make fitness feel attainable, even for former couch enthusiasts like myself.

So if you see me jogging through the neighborhood at dawn, don’t be alarmed. I haven’t been possessed – I’ve just been Core Progression-ed.