Over the weekend I coached a client through a local 5K. We were not looking to break any land speed records. Our goals were simple: No throwing up, finish strong, don't die.

"No Pain, No Gain" is a saying that has been thrown around forever. But what does that mean, exactly? More importantly, what should it mean? After all, any new training program is going to be challenging. There will be sweat, soreness, and for some people, a lot of swearing. Truly, if there were no discomfort during any workout, then working out would not do much for us at all.

The decision to hire a personal trainer is a very personal one. You are entrusting your well-being to a person who, aside from your initial assessment, may not know anything else about you. So it's understandable that this is a very nerve-wracking process. Just like any profession out there, we have people who are really good at guiding and training others, while other trainers are still - to put it diplomatically - learning their craft.

Recently, I asked several fitness professionals about some of the myths and questions they often field from new clients so that together, we can finally lay some of these misconceptions to rest! My goal, of course, is for anyone considering personal training to read this and understand that a good trainer will always hold your best interests in mind. Sure, it does take some time to find the trainer who is the perfect fit for you, but if their answers are similar to the replies you read here, you'll know you have found someone worth sticking with!

Whether you have been working out for as long as you've been able to move, or you are just getting started on your fitness journey, many people face the temptation of going all out to achieve the results they are after. Of course that is what people think makes the most sense: Move more, burn more, improve faster, lose more weight.

But you can't drive very far when your gas gauge is in the red, and your body can only push so hard for so long before it, too, will leave you stranded in the middle of the road. That, of course, is the worst-case scenario, but here are a few tips to avoid burnout from over-training:

There are a number of things that often hold someone back when it come to making a major change in one's life. Embarking on a new routine, for one, is enough to make anyone apprehensive about taking on a new task or challenge, especially when it feels like it may turn your entire day and routine on its head!

For me, it's starting a business. Specifically, being my own business. There's no HR department. No billing department. No social media manager. Just. Me. I haven't been this nervous about something since I packed a (tiny) U-Haul with all of my things and moved down south to get married!

This is scary, ya'll!

Welcome to JenRabyFitness.com, version 1.0. I'm still learning the how-to's of running a website and tweaking my design, but it's time I get my rough draft out there for everyone to see!

In this blog, I plan to highlight important and relevant health and fitness information that I feel everyone - not just my clients - ought to know that will help you on your way toward self-improvement. I will also share with you some of the "secrets" about my approach to personal training that I feel are the most effective in ensuring results. For my current clients, I want you to be able to use this blog as an additional tool along with our sessions so that you can make the most of your training experience.

So if you want to know more about fitness information you've heard or read, want to touch base with other clients and followers to talk about your struggles and successes, or want to reach out for additional guidance and support from others, then please feel free to ask, comment, and share here!

I am looking forward to getting to know you, and hopefully having the pleasure of training you soon!