Healthy B.P.M.

As a fitness professional I pride myself on my skills. Having lost over 80 pounds and kept 75 of them off I believe I have a pretty good handle on weight loss. Common sense and years of experience let me know that what works for me won’t work for everyone else. Part of my job is to help them find what works for them, and keep them motivated and inspired to do it. As a rule this works and my clients trust me with their wellness, money and time. Sounds like everything is running smoothly right? Yes, for the most part. What gives me pause for concern is my family, close and extended. I’m trying to figure out why they don’t have that same trust in my skills as a fitness professional. Of course I have their support and they are my biggest cheerleaders; when it comes to training other people. I’d like to know why they don’t feel my skills will help them?

On occasion someone may ask a question about what or what not to eat or a certain exercise. I’ve learned to answer the question and leave it at that. My son’s are deep into body building, one is a trainer and has competed; the other two could throw their hats into the competitive ring at any time. One daughter-in-law just became a certified trainer and I couldn’t be more proud. In all fairness they don’t all live here in the same town with me so proximity does play a part. That being said they seem to think that they know all there is to know about fitness or at least more than me. Are my feelings hurt, a bit, at times. I recognize that they’re adults and come to their own decisions about what’s right and not so right for them. Each one has to blaze his/her trail without the watchful eye of mom correcting them or making suggestions.

When my youngest daughter was working towards her degree at the college I worked at, she had no choice but to take one of my wellness classes. She didn’t protest, it was a given. Now she takes aerobics classes with someone else and pays for them no less. Our home is equipped with more weights than anyone would ever want to lift, cardio machines and an assortment of other fitness do-dads. It’s enough to keep my clients occupied and motivated. Still they’d rather go somewhere else, and pay someone else. Am I being selfish and possessive? I don’t think so. I tap into their individual expertise whenever I can and am grateful for it.

Oh and the extended family. They’d rather walk hot coals than trust me to train them. Some have asked for advice and seemed to be snippy about what was given. Yes, I do turn a critical eye to how I dispense advice and don’t flaunt my skills. Asking them why they turn a deaf ear would be like trying to find out who left the ice-cream sitting on the counter; they’d clam up. I’m not done mulling this over and I will continue to monitor myself. In the meantime, well we’ll see.