Personal Trainer

Ok, so I decide that it is time for me to get serious about regaining my sexy. No, let me rewind that. I don't believe that I ever really lost my sexy but I will admit that it is shaped differently than it once was. So, my vanity and denial aside, I decided to go for the Holy Grail of Fitness. I got myself a personal trainer.

Today was my first day and I wanted to make a good impression so I got up early and packed my workout bag. I made sure that I had a healthy breakfast and rushed my son to school so I wouldn't be late. Then somewhere along the way, I realized that I was scared to death and it took me a minute to figure out why.

I'm a bit past 40. So when I started to think about what kind of training was in store for me, I admit that I got a little skittish. The trainer had told me over the phone that I could drop a couple of dress sizes by the new year if I wanted to work at it. At the time, I was sure I did but now that I was almost at the gym, I wasnt so sure. I have seen some of these trainers and their "take no prisoners" style on those TV shows where celebrities cry and strain to get their hollywood bodies in shape. Was that how it was going to be? Would I lose all my cool points by passing out on the track? Would I end up looking like a wussy middle aged wimp?

I got to the gym and by this time my stomach was in knots and I was considering backing out. Maybe this personal trainer stuff is not for me, I was thinking. But then, I put on my big girl panties (actually boy shorts) and made my way into the facility. I can do this! I keep chanting that to myself all the way from the parking lot, through the lobby and past the receptionist. It's going to be alright. I walked up the stairs and into the workout area.

Of course, the first thing I see are these two sweaty, cute and obviously in shape guys lifting weights. I put my bag in the corner near the door in case I needed to make a quick exit. I asked one of the guys if they knew where I could find Bert, my trainer. A moment later, Bert came swinging around the corner, told me to grab my bag and to follow him to his office. I did.

Once there, he took in my workout gear and said, "You wont be working out today. The first day, we just talk."

What? I had just pumped myself up for nothing! I didn't say a word. I tried to act like I was cool with it. We talked. Bert gave me a tour of the facility and talked about his training style. I saw him work with a couple of other women who were also a bit past 40 and I decided that I liked his style. I think I made a good choice in trainers. Needless to say,I have an appointment to actually work out tomorrow. Pray for me and I will let you know how it turns out.

Defeating Low Self Esteem

It is not uncommon for to have moments when we feel less than adequate or not as valuable as other people we see or interact with. Everyone feels like that sometimes. But when those feelings are persistent, when you continuously feel worthless or inadequate, then you are experiencing low self-esteem.

Low self-esteem can stem from depression, anxiety, stress or other physical and mental health issues. Low self esteem can also be the result of past events or situations when you were treated badly or made to feel less than others. Constant insults or abuse can contribute to feeling badly about who you are. You can even cause self esteem issues for yourself by constant harsh judgments or negative thoughts about your own looks, behaviors or situation.

The people who are important in our lives as we grow and develop are the people who impact our self esteem the most. Those people may be parents, siblings, instructors, or others we looked up to and whose opinions we respected. Negative messages from people you admire can haunt you and cause you to feel worthless, unloved, unlovely, not good enough, and on and on.

Self esteem can be increased or rebuilt but it will require that you have a desire to feel better about youself. If you are suffering from low self esteem, there are some steps that you can take that can yield results over time.

First, begin to identify the negative thoughts and feelings that you have about yourself. Take an honest look at who you are. There may be things you want to change but make sure that what you believe about yourself is not just someone else’s negative opinion. Identify what you like and admire about yourself—things you are proud of like your accomplishments, successes or challenges you have faced. Make a list of those things in a journal or notebook that you can look at from time to time.

Take an inventory of the people in your life. Who gives you support and encouragement and who are those that drain your energy and enthusiasm? You may need to make some hard decisions about the people around you. Understand that someone else’s negativity does not have to become yours. Surround yourself with people who are positive, productive and have their own healthy self esteem. You can do without people in your life who constantly put you down.

Be kind to yourself and treat yourself well. Don’t fall into the habit of putting yourself down. Practice saying thank you when someone pays you a compliment. Make it a habit to compliment yourself at least once a day. Be aware of the times that you speak negatively to and about yourself. Work on becoming aware of the things that you are good at and the strengths that you have. Develop and memorize 3-5 positive self statements about yourself. For example: “I have a good head for numbers” or “I have a great smile.”

Lastly, understand that you are a work in progress. You do not need to be the best at everything nor do you have to be liked by everyone. You do need to believe that you are a valuable person with talents, skills, and positive qualities. Focus on the positive and celebrate who