For me, my arms cause me much grief. I have flabby arms and they are the source of much angst and cringing come summer when short sleeves, tank tops and swimsuits are a part of the daily wardrobe.

(And, let me just say that, Yes, I'm aware that I should be grateful I have arms -- fat or not)

I'll admit I've done nothing much but bitch about my arms for 10 years. Whine and complain. Bitched and hoped. I've hated them, glared at them, wished them away and -- whaddya know -- none of that has worked.

A few months ago, an ETN reporter who was working on another story brought Mabeline Howard -- one of the owners of the Howard Blanks Virges Academy on W. 8th St. in downtown Erie -- to my desk to meet me. Mabeline -- the niece of Billy Blanks (of Tae Bo fame) looked to be about my age and was standing there in her tank top and she was ripped. I coveted her arms.

We talked about Her Times (the woman's magazine I work on at the newspaper) and I told her that I have been doing exercise class reviews and that maybe I'd have to check out a class at her place.

She told me about some of what they do at their gym and promised me a good workout.

I jokingly said, "can you get me arms like yours?"

"Absolutely," she said.

So...come time for the next issue of Her Times, I called up Mabeline to schedule a class.

Turns out what they really do best at HBV Academy is what's called their BAYB program which stands for "Be At Your Best." The philosophy being they will help you be the best that you can be. Not everyone has the same fitness goals, so they design a program that helps you reach your personal goals.

Mabeline explained that what she really wanted me to do -- rather than take a single class -- was to do an entire 6-week personal training program so I could really see what a difference a targeted, personal training program can make.

Well, sign me up!

I am a woman who actually once considered (for a very, very brief moment) surgery to "fix" my arms. And, here, I have the opportunity to "fix" them the right way -- and woman committed to making that happen.

Woohoo. I love my job.

I went in for a consultation meeting last Friday and committed to three 45-minute personal training sessions a week and to attend two classes (boot camp or tae bo) a week.

Mabeline and her mother (they run the club together) had some quick observations. First words out of Mabeline's mom's mouth after getting a gander of my upper arms: "You're not doing enough triceps..you have a bit of bicep there, but..you need some serious work on those triceps."

I wanted to fall at her feet and say...."teach me...please, I'll do whatever you say...just make them go away."

And, fall at her feet, I will. In the form of many, many, many push up and various other training methods/exercises over the next six weeks.

I guess I should fear that, but I'm smiling while typing this because I'm so excited.

I have hope that this summer I could actually walk by a mirror in sleeveless dress or run a race in a tank top with pride.

Mabeline took a few "before" shots for me.

I'll post here periodically on how it's going.