Gym and fitness

Hi, I'm Aylin. You're my personal trainer? Great. Today's my first workout, so please go easy on me.

Okay, ten squats, no problem. Now I pick up these two dumbbells? Wait, they're really heavy. Are you sure they're the small ones? And ten push-ups? Dan, I can do three. Maybe two. Two and a half.

Look at me, I'm so sweaty. My face is red and my legs are shaking like Jell-O. Same time next week? Sure. But please bring a towel, a bottle of water and a chair. Or an ambulance. No, I'm kidding. I think.

Guess what? My new smartwatch buzzed at me this morning: "Personal best!" I ran three miles in thirty minutes. Mom won't believe it.

I did a bit of cardio before work, and I even walked to the office. The watch says I burn calories when I'm sitting at my desk too. That's the best news this year. I'm going to sit very hard today.

Tomorrow is a rest day, because my legs need it. The watch just buzzed again. It says, "Time to stand up." It never stops! Fine. I'll stand up. And then I'll get a cookie.

Okay, Emre, one more rep. Good! Don't push yourself too hard, though. I don't want you to pull a muscle on your first day.

You said, "No pain, no gain." That's an old gym joke, not a rule. Pain is your body saying stop. Come on, put the bar down. Slowly. Slowly! There. You did eight reps, and Dad can only do five.

Okay, you should rest up tonight. Eat something and sleep. Mom made your favorite, so dinner is at seven. Tomorrow you won't be able to lift your arms to eat. Don't worry, big guy. I'll cut your chicken for you.

Everybody in this gym wants to lose weight. I want to gain weight! I know, I know. I'm very skinny, and my buddies call me "the stick".

So this year, I want to get in shape and build muscle. I go four times a week, and I have a protein shake after every workout. It tastes like chalk with a banana, but I drink it.

It's already the fourth week, and my sneakers still look new. Will I keep up the plan until March? I hope so. My mom says if I keep going, she'll buy me bigger shirts. That's a pretty good reason to carry on.