Just a few weeks ago I had experienced something that had been the hardest physical activity I

had ever endured. I work out four times a week at the Athletic Proving Grounds, which is a local
gym that was built out of my trainers garage. I have been training there since the eighth grade.
We have specific workouts designed to better each and every person that goes through there. I
have trained for soccer and track but recently I started training for powerlifting. My trainer
wanted me to cut weight to get into a lower weight class, which I was perfectly fine with at the
time. So, he put me on a meal plan and I had to weigh in every Monday morning before school
at 5:15 A.M. I was already behind on my weight goals that he made at the beginning of the
process so I had to run to burn more calories after my workouts which ranged from two to five
hours. The first week wasn’t so bad. I would go workout and then burn the rest of the calories I
had to do for that day. The next Monday came around and I had only lost two pounds that week,
which is what is predicted on the meal plan, but I should of lost more because of the running I
was doing. So, I was once again behind on my weight and had to run this week once again.
Monday, after school, I went to workout and my trainer told me I was just going to run, not
workout, and burn fifteen-hundred calories, which was way more than I had to do last week. I
began my running and suddenly felt I couldn’t do it anymore. After hours of already running, I
broke down and started walking out of the building, sobbing in tears. My trainer caught me and
asked me what I was doing and I told him I couldn’t take it anymore. Going through this problem
was really tough because of the amount of work. Also, if I were to not complete my four days
that week, I would be “kicked out” and not allowed back for six months. I didn’t go back on
Tuesday, but Wednesday I went back. My trainer and I got in an argument just about
powerlifting. I didn’t work out on Wednesday, and Thursday I received a text from him,
explaining how much I needed to be there and what it meant to my trainer. Today, I am still
working out there, now training for track and soccer. I have learned that hard times bring out the
toughness and strength in me and also there are other options you can build from. This affected
me pretty severely because my trainer and I are very close because he has taught me there is
more to life than sports and I am thankful I always have someone I can talk to and support me.