Yesterday, was the 5th anniversary of the day I walked into Lifetime Fitness and became a member and started my weight loss and fitness journey. Who knew that five years later – to the day – I would start my journey towards becoming a fitness trainer? Yesterday, was my first lab class. In 39 more weeks, I will be a NASM certified personal fitness trainer. I am super excited. I still remember the day, I walked into Lifetime Fitness. I had never been in a gym before in my life. I was nervous and scared. I joined a Team class for weight loss and before I knew it, I had lost my first 11 pounds. Because of some really great and awesome fitness trainers who motivated and encouraged me, I eventually lost 100 plus pounds. I weighed 300 pounds when I started and I had a myriad of health problems, from pre-diabetes, neuropathy, asthma and high triglycerides in the 500+ range.

Now fitness and living the healthy way of life is one of the most important aspects of my life. I’m not perfect at it. Every now and then, I like to eat something sweet or get a kids meal at McDonalds (gasp!). The thing is – the more I live this healthy way of life – the more “fit” I get, the healthier I feel, the more I notice how others are struggling.

I’m not the only one who struggles or who has struggled with depression, or battles loneliness, but when I start listening to other woman talk, I start thinking, Wow! I live a charmed life – these are women who are seriously hurting – emotionally, spiritually, and physically – and I have been there. Like me – they eat their stress and their emotions – I still do – sometimes. But – I have found that there is a healthier way to cope and it is through exercising and eating well. It’s through living a healthy way of life.

I’m also finding out that there are 3 schools:

1. Those who love fitness and fully embrace the healthy way of life
2. Those who shun fitness and want nothing to do with the healthy way of life and often put others down who do
3. Those who kinda want to be fit and live the healthy way of life, they see the benefits of it, but they don’t want to commit to it and make the excuses.

I have been to all three schools. These are the people I want to help – the ones who are in the third school. They are hurting, they want to stop stress eating or eating their emotions, they want to workout, but they don’t know where to begin. Those are the people I want to help. Why?! Because – I HAVE BEEN THERE!!! Right where they are at. Not knowing what to do – or even caring. Not knowing how to change or get rid of the hurt or the stress or the pain.

Does the stress, the hurt and pain ever go away? No – not really. It’s a part of who we are. Does it become easier to handle? YES! A thousand times Yes! CAN I = Constant and Neverending Improvement. Can I? Yes – you can. When your body feels healthy, your mind feels healthy, when your mind feels healthy, your spiritual side feels more in tune. It is all one. How we treat the body affects the mind and how we think affects our faith and beliefs.

It is my opinion that some churches only preach the spiritual but leave out the physical -when even the Word of God teaches that our bodies are a temple. So we get the spiritual healthy but mentally, emotionally and physically we are still lacking. When one is lacking in any area – it becomes easier to complain and be negative – when we shouldn’t!!! We should be joyful, happy, empowered and full of salt and light. Why! Because we are healthy in every way!!

We take care of our bodies. We feed it right and move it. We scrapbook to help give us a creative outlet for our emotions and to help us heal from our past. We hang on to our memories that bring us to a happy place. We encourage each other that life is OK!

Positive Journey – my journey has only been successful when I remain positive.

I want to be that fitness trainer that encourages and motivates others.

Enjoy the Moments… Positively!