At some point, I realized that I was being sent a sign from the personal trainer gods. Brian Fracassa's Body Works Personal Training ads and pamphlets were turning up everywhere...at my dentist's office, at my Shaw's supermarket, in this magazine. He looked intimidating. I grabbed a brochure and called him anyway.

At our first meeting, Fracassa patiently taught me how to use the weight machines so that I worked my muscles properly and didn't injure myself. He pushed me so that I felt it all the next day...and the day after that, too. I knew that meant progress. We met a few more times, but he didn't make me commit to a schedule; just told me to call when I was ready to increase my work load.

Then, the inevitable happened. I fell off the wagon. Weeks went by and I hadn't exercised. Then, it became too late to call Fracassa, I felt; I'd let too much time pass, and he'd think I was an uncommitted loser. But then Fracassa called me. He was just checking in; he wanted to see how it was going and if I'd like to meet again to get back into it. No guilt, no judgments, no pressure. He was nice. I fessed up, admitting how hard it was for me to commit to regular workouts. He told me that I wasn't alone-that he has clients he gives wake-up calls first thing every morning to get them out of bed and working out. So far, I'm not one of them. Body Works Personal Training, 463.8500 - Best Of Rhode Island Winner, Congratulations. By Ann Moan