I used to read on the elliptical too! I wasn't fooling myself because I was very aware that I wasn't working out that hard but I figured it was better than sitting at a desk eating
Le sigh indeed. How annoying about the trainer! One of my good friends meets with a trainer and luckily for her from what she tells me he is pretty tough. I would hate to have to argue with her about things a trainer told her about using light weights/high reps!