What does Confidence mean to you?

Many of you will have arrived on my mailing list via an ad I've been running on Facebook, that mentions getting fit for summer and forever.

However it previously had the headline 'Hello Body Confidence!' - which at the time I thought was pretty cool and worked with the image (me, topless, in a very posed scenario - which it obviously was).

I changed the wording as it received some negative criticism, namely that I was implying you can only have 'body confidence' if you have muscles and a socially-accepted form of male beauty.

When I was putting the ad together, it didn't cross my mind that it would come across like that.

But I get that that was how some people interpreted it.

So I changed it - there are enough pressures on us all anyway, without some personal trainer adding to them - especially because more than anything, I want you to be happy in your own skin.

The reason I didn't put two and two together, is because since I started going to the gym, my confidence HAS improved/increased - but not just how I feel about how I look.

Whatever people say about the media making us feel we have to look a certain way, I know, inherently inside me, I feel more capable, and even more powerful knowing that I have a stronger body.

Which I why I focus on strength with my workouts and with the workouts that I sell online and with which I train my face-to-face clients.

From my own experience of improving my strength, I know that in line, I have also improved my strength of character.

This can manifest itself in a number of ways, but it's given me the courage to leave a full-time, well-paid job in a marketing agency and going it alone as a personal trainer.

It gave me resolve when I split up with my last boyfriend.

It's a general feeling of I-can-do-this-ness.

Of learning not to sweat the small stuff.

Confidence isn't arrogance.

Confidence is knowing you can handle whatever comes your way, and it is NOT to be underestimated.

Yes part of this will come simply with life experience and growing up, but I know a large part of mine has come from getting stronger.

Of course, I would be a filthy liar if I said I wasn't happy with the aesthetic changes as well.

But feeling stronger (than yesterday - thanks Britney) means I'm simply more able to Get Shit Done - GSD as I'm going to start calling it.

So, it may be Friday, but you can still GSD*.

So off you go.

Go out there and own Friday.

And GSD.

Best wishes,

Matt "GSD" Boyles

*New tattoo idea ahoy