3 years ago yesterday, I joined Balanced Fitness and began working with personal trainers to help get me into shape. Although my trainer was out of town yesterday, I still went to the gym to complete my Friday regiment, chest day (this weekend is Palm Spring Pride after all). When I arrived at 6:00AM, I immediately noticed something was different. In a first, the gym was completely empty. I had the entire place to myself. To mark the occasion, I did what any respectable gay man would do in my situation – I took some gym selfies, anniversary edition.
In the solitude, I reflected a lot on the two people who had accompanied me on my journey, my personal trainers Lynley and Colton. Lynley was my first trainer, who I had worked with for nearly two years before she moved to Houston. She had the pleasure of breaking me in when I was physically at my worst. On multiple occasions, she’d seen me cry, because I felt so out of shape and defeated by her workout regimens. However brutal, had it not been for her encouragement and support in those early days, I am confident that I would’ve stopped going to the gym, convinced myself, yet again, that I didn’t have what it took to get into shape. Through her, I ultimately discovered the benefits of perseverance. While I may have shed some tears in my time with her, upon Lynley’s departure I had also shed 40 lbs.
After Lynley moved, I mourned for a month and went at it on my own, until one afternoon I received a voicemail from Colton inviting me in for a consultation… And so began the second leg of my journey. Where Lynley had humbled and broke me, Colton rebuilt me. He entered the picture when I was going through a very rough and lonely transition in my personal life. As I weathered the storm, I grabbed onto him (and working out) like a life preserver. I credit him for not only my physical advancement, but my emotional progress as well. Unbeknownst to him, Colton did the impossible, he introduced me to that one thing that had evaded me throughout my life – confidence.
Lynley and Colton, thank you for all that you’ve done to support and develop me. Never underestimate your abilities to change and enrich the lives of the people you coach. I am a testament to your commitment and impact. Yesterday, while thinking of both of you, it occurred to me – While I was by myself at the gym, I wasn’t alone. 😘😘
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