“Let’s start off on an elliptical.”
That was my initial request of my personal trainer in 2012.

“Okay,” I thought to myself. “A warm up would be amazing…”

He continued: [Lifting weights is too challenging].

“What?” I exclaimed, puzzled at this statement of too hard. Why would they say such an absurd thing?

He continued: “After all, we must work that tummy off!

Confused and ashamed, I looked down. Like everything else about me, my tummy had also expanded considerably over time.

That was never my reason for signing up for training, however.

My nails pierced through my palms.

Perhaps, I thought, if I explained my background and goals he’d understand them more readily; unfortunately my desire to please kept me silent.

Instead, I started exercising on an elliptical.

“See you next session,” he announced after finishing up.

“Yes,” I replied. But there would never be another session with him.