episode_0018

I found out about it through YouTube before I came. If you underestimate, you’ll be exposed.

These days, even if they call themselves trainers, it is said that at fitness centers, they sometimes hire non-professionals, just ordinary people with good bodies, or instructors without dedication. Therefore, it was said that if you know the instructor’s background, awards, and information well, you are much less likely to fall for such scams.

“Can I see your credentials and experience?”

Kwon Young-soo, the trainer who had a very bewildered expression until just now, finally understood the meaning of what I said and nodded.

“Oh, I see. Haha.”

Pointing to the wall poster, he briefly explained his background. After hearing his explanation, I felt a little relieved.

“I’d like to take a look around the facilities first.”

I came for market research, so it didn’t seem very appealing to me that he immediately handed me documents as if I should register.

“Of course. Let me guide you.”

Then, he left the consultation room and explained the equipment in order.

“First, the treadmill has incline functionality. As you can see behind you, we have a total of 10 cycles prepared generously. In addition, basic equipment is set up with two of each, and as far as I know in this neighborhood, we are the only ones with two rowing machines.”

Although Trainer Kwon Young-soo proudly introduced various things, I don’t really understand what kind of machines they are.

“These are the machines, and over there is the bodyweight exercise area.”

The area covered with thick black rubber mats had full-length mirrors attached along the front and sides so that people exercising could check their posture.

But as an outsider, the only question I could think of was,

“Do you provide workout clothes?”

“Of course. Well, female members usually bring leggings or workout clothes, but we provide workout clothes and towels as standard. Oh, would you like to see the changing rooms?”

Then, Trainer Kwon Young-soo stood at the entrance and headed towards the changing rooms.

“Would you like to take a look inside?”

It’s probably impossible for a man to go in. Of course, I’m a man too, so I was a bit cautious about going in, but there was no need to arouse suspicion, so I cautiously checked inside. Fortunately, there was no one there at this time. Checking the shower room, it was clean and nice. The facility looked good, indeed, as big and fancy as it was.

Exiting the changing room, I relayed my impressions to him.

“It’s fine.”

“Haha, we’ve only been open for less than a year, so the facilities should be overall clean. Well, the facility tour ends here. Shall we go back to the consultation room?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Returning to the consultation room, when he asked,

“Have you ever tried working out?”

“No. Except for lightly trying it out with a trainer friend, I’ve never properly done it.”

The intention behind this statement was a warning not to try to deceive since he has a trainer friend. Of course, whether he understood or not depended on the trainer’s judgment.

“Well, then, would you like to try an InBody check for a moment?”

Pointing to a strange device installed in a corner of the consultation room, Trainer Kwon Young-soo asked. I didn’t know what it was, but I nodded my head anyway.

“Alright, please take off your shoes and socks and step up.”

The trainer took off his shoes and socks as instructed, then climbed onto the equipment. Extending his arms, he grabbed the handles that were on either side and operated the computer next to him.

“Lean forward towards your chest….”

After a moment of silence, Trainer Kwon Yeong-su turned his head, surprised, and Trainer Kwon Yeong-su, who turned his eyes even though I didn’t look, knew exactly where he was looking without looking.

“Ahem, straighten your back. I will take measurements.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the percentage value on the interface of the equipment rapidly increased, reaching 100% in no time, prompting me to get off the machine.

Strange graphs began to appear on the computer screen, and a table based on that graph was soon printed out by the printer.

“Height is 176 cm, weight is 60 kg. Hmm, considering you haven’t exercised, your muscle mass and body fat ratio are quite good. Not bad. You really haven’t tried exercising, have you?”

Trainer Kwon Yeong-su exclaimed as he looked at the table.

“Uh… no. I just go for walks and follow various things on YouTube, but I’ve never properly learned.”

Although I tried to avoid it by saying I hadn’t done any exercise, this person probably doesn’t know that it’s impossible to achieve such results as a byproduct of illness.

“Anyway, what is your purpose for exercising? If you want to do personal training, it would be best to tailor an exercise plan to that.”

After thinking for a moment in response to his question, I bowed my head deeply.

“Oh, do you have a reason you can’t tell me? It’s usually better not to keep secrets about this so that our trainers can design accurate workout routines…”

“…Yes.”

“What? I didn’t hear you well.”

“Because of my… chest.”

As I blushed and spoke, Trainer Kwon Yeong-su sighed as if he understood immediately.

“Is it rude to ask, but what size…?”

“H… yes.”

It was very embarrassing. My exercise goal was to strengthen my chest, even though I was a man.

Whether he understood the significance or not, Trainer Kwon Yeong-su looked at me with a very sympathetic expression.

“Well… this is the first time I’ve had a member like you, but in that case, it would be good to focus more on upper body and core exercises. Once you register…”

After that, basic explanations followed about registration fees, benefits, and gym operating hours.

Upon reflection, I realized that if I went elsewhere, I would have to repeat this numerical play at each place. So, let’s just register here. Manager Song said that bigger places are better.

“I-I’ll register.”

Having made that decision, I was about to fill out the membership registration form when…

“But would personal training be a bit cheaper if two people do it together?”

“It would probably be. While concentration might decrease a bit, there are plenty of merits from a cost perspective. Do you have someone to do it with?”

I asked because if we were going to exercise, maybe it would be nice to do it with Dabin or Dayoung.

“Oh, I was thinking of doing it with my son or daughter…”

“Your… what?!”

Trainer Kwon Yeong-su was so surprised that his reaction could be heard outside the partition. Well, it was a familiar, if not boring, response.

It was the same reaction I experienced when buying clothes after watching a movie recently, or when meeting Lee Young-woo, the author, for the first time and having a conversation before that.

“Excuse me, may I ask how old you are…?”

And when I mentioned my age…

“Wow, you really don’t look your age. I thought you were a college student, seriously.”

“Haha, I hear that a lot.”

Now, I can say such things without changing my facial expression.

“Just in case I ask, how old are your son and daughter? If they are too young, exercise can actually be harmful.”

“They are 17 and 16 years old. Older sister and younger brother.”

“Hmm… It’s a bit ambiguous if they are middle school students… I recommend that instead of personal training for the younger brother, it would be better to just enroll him and focus on aerobic exercises. As for exercise, I will take care of them while you and your daughter watch, so if there’s anything they don’t know, I can help out for a bit.”

With all three of them registering together, it seems like they are willing to accommodate such conveniences.

“Oh, but I am certain about this, so I can register now and go, but I haven’t asked my children yet. So, should I go today and talk to them to see if it’s okay to decide…?”

When asked this, Trainer Kwon Young-soo readily nodded his head.

“Oh, yes, please feel free. First, have your mother make the payment. If you later decide to add your children for registration, you only need to pay the additional amount that has been DC’d at that time.”

“Okay, please do that.”

After finishing the conversation, she handed him her card. He took the card, left the consultation room, soon returned with the card and receipt in hand.

“Here you go.”

After receiving the card back, they briefly discussed the class days, made decisions after coordinating with the children, and left the center.

“Phew, now we really have to exercise diligently…”

I never knew when the day would come in my life to have a personal trainer, but now that I’ve decided to start using my time more systematically, I should practice living that way.

So, when I got home until dinner time, I studied editing a bit on YouTube, and then it was time for the kids to come home from school, so I prepared dinner.

And during dinner, as we talked about exercise around the table, fortunately, the kids showed positive reactions.

“I’m fine with it. Since exercising won’t harm my physical strength anyway. It’s good to learn systematically. Above all, viewers keep nagging me to exercise because they say I’m weak.”

“I think it’s a good idea too. I’ve been sitting in front of the computer all the time at home, so my physical strength has declined. I used to play soccer outside with the kids before, but recently, I can’t do that well because of my shoulder pain, you know?”

That’s how our family started exercising together, each for their own reasons.