By Sheri LeClair Banitt
Life has given me many opportunities to pivot recently. With many things out of my control, I have been focusing on the things I can control and looking for new ways of being.
Shortly after my husband died unexpectedly, I realized I needed something to give me a lift when other things were definitely pulling me down. That is when I joined a gym and signed up for an hour of training, 2 days each week.
The first few sessions with Javier were awkward, frustrating, and exhilarating at the same time. It had been so long since I paid attention to my body and movement, so it was surprising to see where I had to begin. But he calmly showed me what to do and explained the correct form. He laughed when I laughed and cried when I cried but always kept me working on the task at hand, even when I reminded him that I had no muscles.
I stopped training with Javier to focus on work as we went back to the office three days a week but kept my gym membership. I continued to work out once or twice weekly. I was maintaining but not progressing with my fitness.
Fast forward to today. I am retired and have more time to focus on me. Now I have decided to get out of my mind and into my body. I joined an 8-week, one hour each week, group training session. There are four of us ladies working to be healthier and stronger selves. We are working on balance and flexibility. Whew! It is hard. I am sore after every move and sometimes it takes a few tries to even do the moves!
Trainer Sarah says her goal for me is to change my self-talk from negative to positive. Thanks Sarah, I like that plan and I will work on it, especially when my negative self-talk comes out as humor. Because while humor is fun, my brain believes the literal and if my self-talk magnifies my fears and weak points, I won’t make the progress I am looking for. And I do want to progress. I want to feel strong and healthy in all circumstances.
The assignment for me is to keep an exercise log. I should write down what I did and how it made me feel. Sarah says I will see changes over time that will validate all the work I am putting into my health journey.
Here’s my first log entry: August 7, 2025. I woke up early worried about my training session. There were things I wanted to do last week that were hard and I was sore for a few days afterward. To build up my courage to go, I told myself I could always stop if it was too hard. I got to the gym a few minutes early and hopped on a treadmill. I was able to do one thing this week that I was afraid to do last week, and it was fine. I did all the exercises and stretches even when they were hard. I felt good leaving and plan to do cardio every other day and strength training the other days.
Cheers to the mind/body connection.
Good for you, literally! I can’t wait to see the changes in your outlook on life at the end of the group training sessions. The physical part is important, but the mental and social and spiritual outlook is what really counts in my mind.