As a parent to a seven year old boy who is my heart and soul I am at many times maybe to truthful to him.  He asks me questions and I give him answers.  For example on Monday he asked how long it was going to take our flight from Charlotte, South Carolina back to Denver, Colorado was going to be and I told him the truth, two hours.  Ok yes there are a couple of time zones to deal with but I knew he was going to be sleeping on the flight back home since we left at 11:00 PM and he would not know the difference.  Ok another one for you that I have told him, and that is you can only count on yourself and no one else.  In an issue of Muscle & Fitness a while back Gunnar Peterson wrote a great article about when it comes to working out and having a workout partner is great but you can not always count on them or even yourself showing up everyday.  I SO agree with that and here is how I can prove it to you in my own world. 

 

I workout with a good friend of mine named Patrick who runs our local recreation center; he and I have been doing the Insanity workout program since March 22.  Now there have been a few days where at 5:30AM I am there at the gym and he can not workout because somebody either did not show-up for work or he has to cover when people are on vacations.  I am not going to cancel my workout just because Patrick canâ??t. I will admit in the past my excuses for NOT working out were pretty lame and I was only hurting myself when I did not get my fat butt out of bed.  I knew this week that Patrick was unable to do Insanity with me and we are on month two and from what I have heard is VERY hard.  Today I went to the gym to do a full body workout and then later he and I are going to do our Insanity cardio at his house.  Here is my point, you can not always count on others but you can count on yourself to push yourself to another level.  My question to you is â??Why do you even workout?â??  Do you have your fitness goals written down?  Have you put dates next to them? 

 

I want to tell you the truth that my goal that yes I wrote down and put the date down of June 1, 2010 to of had my weight down to 175.  I did not achieve that goal, and yes I was disappointed in me but I am going to keep going and knowing only I can push myself even harder to get my fitness where I want it.  We sometimes say WAY to many times that we canâ??t do X but have you really tried?  My son is going through swim lessons and he whines that he does not want water on his face; I ask him will it hurt if water gets on your face?  He says yes.  Well of course he will say yes he is only seven.  However what is the reason why you are not pushing yourself?  Oh is it because it will hurt or it is not easy?  Well it is not meant to be easy and yes pain will be a part of this.  I went on a hike last week here in Colorado and if I had not been working out, there was no way I could have made it on our eight hour trek up paths, climbing up and down rocks.  Yes the next day it HURT but I did it!  I did it because I pushed myself in the gym and out of the gym and you can push yourself to achieve what ever you set your mind to.  All you have to do is count on yourself and most importantly believe you can do it.

 

Lastly is that you have the tools not only with this website but you have so many resources at your finger tips.  Diet + Cardio + weight training/resistance training = SUCCESS.  Please stay focused and the eye on the prize of the goals you have set for yourself, my goal is simple and that is for you to who you should be not who you were in the past, and that is the truth.

I had a brainstorm of reality the other day and I am ok with what the conclusion is.  I realized that my goal of being down to 170-175 range by June 1 is not going to be achieved. Yes I am upset with myself but realistically as long as I feel good of where I am at physically is what matters to me.  For example I had a goal to fit into a pair of dress pants I bought almost a year ago.  I was going to the Colorado Chapter of the National Speakers Association, and I thought I wanted to look professional but not overly dressed up so I tried on the pants.  I thought it would be a good measuring stick, wholly cow they fit!  I have what I call my â??Goal Posterâ?? that is a Yellow piece of poster board with pictures of things I want to accomplish in my life or receive.  I have a picture of a Black suite that George Clooney is wearing and somehow that type of suit will be mine.  Well I have a picture of these pants and I can now check off that accomplishment.  I know that the weight is coming off slowly and even too slowly for an impatient person like me but it is coming off week by week.  I know that as long as my workouts continue, my clean eating (including one cheat day), and finally the cardio then my journey will be complete to that point.  Then next part is to maintain and my new mantra (from 5-11-10 Biggest Loser) is the fact that I do not want to go back to the weight I started off at.  Again I know the goal I set out is not going to hit the bullâ??s eye but it will happen, so stay tuned.   

I will not lie to you because we are friends and that is so wrong.  Let me put it this way.  Many years ago I worked for a VP that had a saying that I enjoyed but no one else did and it dealt with Mondayâ??s.  When people would say something about not happy that it was Monday or is it Friday yet, he would say â??Pretend it is Friday.â??  Like I said many people either did not get it or like it when he said it.  People did not get it because they did not understand what he was getting at.  The point was basically changing your attitude from a negative thought to a positive one. 

 

Today it was rough getting out of bed at 5AM; oh heck I did not get out until 5:05.  By 5:35 I was still feeling how tired I was and just was not feeling it today.  Then I was thinking as I was cursing this dude named â??Shaun Tâ?? and his â??Insanityâ?? workout, that all I needed to do was pretend it was Friday.  The negative thing currently is the fact I am out of work and well everyday is Friday.  But that does not give me an excuse to have a negative attitude because I truly believe in the philosophy that someone is worse off then I am.  I am grateful to have a nice place to live, a loving son, and a great network of friends. 

 

Yes for you Mondayâ??s due suck but why?  It is all a mental attitude adjustment.  We all know that working out is so good for us physically as well as mentally.  I know that at my morning workout I struggled but my new goal is to workout twice a day.  I did it last week and feel sore as heck but I know the vital thing is to get me out of the house.  I do feel I have accomplished something and can look at myself in the mirror knowing I am that much closer to not only my goal weight but just looking healthier.  I look at if I do suck in the morning workout I will need to push myself in the second one harder and I know I can.

 

I always say to people â??Well look on the Brightside?â?? and they wait for me to GIVE them the answer.  That is not my job that is yours to look on the Brightside and to figure it out on your own.  For me the Brightside is that in my mind it is Friday and I actually do look forward to a second workout.  I also have to say that who knows maybe today is the day I get a job offer?  Have a day and HAPPY FRIDAY!!   

I was playing phone tag today with not only a great human being, a mentor, and a very good friend of mine named Ed.  He was telling me that he is still working in NY but it will be coming to a close because of the project he is currently on.  I was on the same project before I jumped ship.  Anyway I was very sad to hear that he will be out of work like many of us but it really got me thinking (well one I had not showered yet) of maybe expressing what I do during my day that might help you get through job searching.  I hope these tips will help and maybe even if you are currently working you could use these as well or possibly pass them on.  These are in no particular order but more of guidelines.

 

1. I can not tell you that to me the most vital tip I can give you is physical fitness.  I am currently workout six days a week and sometimes twice a day.  Now please do not go to that extreme, I just like to get out of the house.  Sometimes my second workout is a simple walk or a bike ride.  However create a routine and write down your workouts on a calendar.  Please try and set goals as well.
   

 

1. We just talked about writing down your workouts on a calendar well do the same for your day.  We all need some type of structure so create how you want your day to go.  For example I am in the gym by 5:30 AM (yes in the morning) and usually home by 7:30 AM.  I then make breakfast and do not power on my laptop until I am done eating.  I also set a time when I power off my computer because I do not want to be tied to it, so by 7 PM I shut it down.
   

1. I would highly recommend dropping financial things you currently do not need.  To some of you there is the thought of â??DUHâ?? however I just need to mention it.  I looked at my cell phone and changed my plan to save money.  I have not had any cable/satellite so that is one financial that I do not incur.  I watch a lot of DVDâ??S/VHS movies.
   

1. This is a great time to really re-invent you as well.  Dig deep in your soul and ask â??What is my true passion?â??  Is this the opportunity to go after that goal you have always wanted to try?
   

1. Since January of this year I am working on finishing up my degree.  If you have yours maybe do you want to go for your masters?  There are also certificate programs you can look into for example maybe project management or becoming a personal trainer.
   

1. Nothing is permanent.  Please remember that this situation is just a bump in the road and you will be working.  Along with that keeping a positive mind is SO vital.
   

1. Get out and have coffee with a friend who might be in the same situation as you.  I have a great friend Denise who is also someone I consider as a mentor.  She has been out of work close to a year and we had coffee a couple of weeks ago.  Not only could we simple vent to each other but exchange ideas of job hunting.
   

1. I have through the years collected business cards.  I have gone through these cards and sent emails to contacts.  I have received responses back, not from all I have emailed but it keeps your name out there in case they hear something. 
   

1. I know to some this is going to sound â??hokeyâ?? but I firmly believe this is a necessary tool for everyday life.  I watch several times a week the documentary â??The Secretâ?? and I learn something new every time I watch it.  For example I did not know there were bloopers on the DVD.  Who knew?  Not me. 
   

1. What the heck how about creating your own blog?  Maybe even a video blog?  Being creative will help produce other thoughts that you might not have thought about in your job search.  I am even learning how to write proposals for speaking engagements.
   

1. Read books or magazines that not only keep your interest but help you stay focused.  I broke down and subscribed to Success Magazine.  The very cool thing to me about Success is that with every issue it comes with a CD of the people who were interviewed for that particular issue.  The current issue has Jillian Michaels on the cover who is one of the personal trainers with the TV show â??Biggest Loser.â??  If you have read my blog before I also recommended the book â??Get Hired Fastâ?? by Brian Graham.  This is a great book to help with the job search and different ideas to get interviews.
   

1. Stay focused on house chores.  The little things to stay on top of like; laundry, vacuum, and the dishes.  I make my bed everyday because this was a habit I did while I was working and it makes me feel good.
   

1. I have several comedies I watch just to laugh.  I will watch stuff like; Ron White (who will be here on May 15), Jeff Dunham (Walter is my favorite) and a concert DVD of â??Blueman Group.â??  If you have never heard of these people look them up and get their stuff (what else are your going to watch?).  I have Blueman on right now.
   

1. I have spent time at the school that my son Connor attends as a volunteer.  That is a lot of fun and I get to see him in his own world.  My point here is to volunteer your time and you never know who you might meet?
   

1. My first week out of work was very hard (this is week five) and knowing I needed to create a daily routine was something to me that was very important.  If you feel that maybe you are getting depressed (it is natural) seek some type of help.  This is not an easy time but I have stated that you need to stay positive and remember that when you get an interview (or several) and they do not hire you.  That is that companies failure not yours.  I can not emphasis the importance of happy thoughts.
   

Thank you for reading this blog, and I have also created another one about being a divorced dad.  Please go and visit beingconnorsdad.blogspot.com.  Again thank you for all of your support during my time of also job searching.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you as well.  Finally I have received emails from friends asking how they can find out when my newest blogs come out.  Well if you have a Twitter account you will locate me at: motivationbytdm or just ask me.     

 

What happened to us?  We used to be full of energy, run around, and go all day.  Then we forgot that the world IS a playground and decided that it was un-cool to run like Phoebe from friends.  I will tell you where we went wrong and it is simple, we grew up.  WHY?  Sure there are bills to pay, garbage to be taken out, and what ever life tosses in our face.  I for one am not going to put up with this any more.  I do not care that when I ride my bike the word â??goofballâ?? comes to mind as I come zooming past you.  Ok not really zooming but, well, um, at least I am doing something. 

 

The past two weeks my workouts have changed to try something new.  I am trying to keep up (not even close) to a cardio work out called and IS â??Insanity.â??  Let me tell you a little bit about this crazy workout if you have never heard of it.  First the trainer on the DVD is named Shaun T and he is a look a like of San Diego Chargers player Shawne Merriman (must be the first name), if you are not familiar with Merriman look him up.  This whole workout is non stop of one exercise to the next.  I need to tell you the setting of this work out is in like a high school gymnasium in â??Any Place USAâ?? and besides MR. Shaun T there are about 12 people on the DVD also doing the work out.  For me the best part is when these VERY fit people have to stop and grab water.  I am huffing and puffing during the ten minute warm up and it is not easy, well for me.  I again have to admit that it is a relief to see these people stop and take a breather.  Ok I know it is a little (or a lot) sadistic but it does make my day. 

 

I try and instill a sense of why it is important to exercise to my son.  When he is over on the weekends he is my side kick for a run.  He rides his bike and I get to hear him complain the whole time why his legs are tired.  However when he is at the park running around or jumping from one part of the elaborate jungle gym to another he is in his â??Kid Zone.â?? That to me means simple that he is not thinking of the fact he is getting exercise VS having to ride his bike with dad.  I just hope that someday he will realize that I was not trying to force him to get exercise I just want him to continue with exercise for life.  I donâ??t want him to forget when he knew that yes the world is a playground, his playground.

I had an awaking moment in the gym and it has really opened my eyes.  I was doing my routine of arms/back/abs by using the P90X workout.  I know what the routine is; I know how many sets, and my goal of reps I want to accomplish.  I have come to grips that the ego has to be left outside in the parking lot, oh heck leave it in the car.  You see when I was traveling for work and I would fit the time to workout or if the hotel even had a gym I brought my ego with me.  I would try and lift as much as I could because my ego and I wanted to show off.  If you are not familiar with the routine of a P90X it can be very intense and you are constantly moving to keep your heart rate up (oh and burn many calories) while you are going from one exercise to the next. Today I was using 20 pound dumbbells for this routine and even dropped down to 15 pound dumbbells for some of the triceps moves.  I do feel what I have done the next day. 

I had my own abs to go and do but I know my limits currently.  I am not trying to be an infomercial for P90X.  For me it has worked and I have lost six pounds and two pounds a week is very good.  My point is that the ego will try and have us look stupid lifting to much weight.  Heck if you want to see someone look stupid come by and watch me do yoga, donâ??t laugh I was told these yoga tights were the latest in guys fashion

I am so in love with this workout that I should of married it years ago.  I am strating to get into a grove even though the Ab workout is still kicking my butt.  Today was back and chest and I have been feeling great.  I just need to do better on my nutrition by eating more instead of less.  Anyway tomorrow is the Plyo portion and my goal is to do this on Tuesdays and Fridays so I will let you know.

 Have a great day!!!!

Long story short, I am out of commision until Monday.  Heard a pop noise Thursday morning and kept on working out.  Anyway I am able to just walk with my dog but can get back into lifting like I said on Monday.  I will let you know how it goes but I do very much enjoy using P90X workouts.

Today was day 2 of doing PX90 at my local rec center.  Today I did bi's/tri's/shoulders but day one was legs and I still can not walk.  That is a good thing.  Anyway I am not working these days so I am going to take advantage of this.  I can not believe that I am getting up at 5 AM to drink a protein shake and out the door by 5:20 Am.  That is like in the morning.  Tomorrow is Yoga and I will let you know how that went.

 Love your show,

Tommy

All I wanted to do was prove to myself that I could loose weight and be physically fit even though I travel for work 100%. I am a corporate trainer and for work that meant being on the road Sunday through Friday.  I would either go out to eat, go to the store and pick up salads, or just not eat enough.  As of today it is over and I am happy.

 

I have been on a project for almost a year and a half.  Today I get to take time to look for a new job but it means I can take advantage of cooking for myself.  Now that makes me VERY happy.  I live in a community that has a pretty good recreation center with plenty to do.  That means it will be close but my current weight is 204 and my goal by June 1 IS to be down to 175.  This is a great challenge and I am going to give my self the chance to succeed no matter what it takes to get the weight where I want it to be.

 

I have to stay focused during the day and working out is THE vital component for my mind to stay away from any dark holes.  That means simply that in my past I have tried to end my life because life was not how I wanted it to be. Fortunate for me in reality those days are LONG, LONG gone.  I am looking forward to this new journey in my life and achieving the goal I had set for June 1 of this year. 

 

One of my goals this year was to blog here and my other motivational blog but I have not lived up to that goal.  I am sad to say that I have lost that battle but the war is not over!  Two years ago when I was out of work my ex wife claimed I was depressed (I think it was more denial) and this time I have a better support system.  I do not want to live in the past I want to move forward and with a new opportunity to get my weight and body close to where I want it to be makes me want to achieve my goal.

Quick and to the point I am back to 199!!!  It is a small step towards progress but it is a step in the right direction.  I am facing another challenge as I head to the west coast for two months.  The hotel has a decent workout room (pictures were on line) but I guess I was a bit spoiled being at a gym either at home or the hotel had a agreement with a local gym.  I know beggers can't be choosers.  I will continue my weekly goal of dropping two pounds per week.  So 197 here I come!!

Tommy

I had a set back this weekend.  AT first I was very mad but then I thought no this is a opportunity for me to grow.  My set back was that I thought my hard work in the gym was finally going to pay off, well I was wrong.  I went from 199 to 202!  I thought I ate right, had great sessions in the gym, and was really focused on my taking of my supplements.  I donâ??t know what went wrong but I was not going to dwell on it nor let it ruin my weekend.  I weigh myself normally on Saturdays because the hotel I stay at during the week does not have a scale.  You might be asking â??why donâ??t I weigh myself at the gym?â??  Well they do have a digital one at the gym but I am one of those types of people that only weigh myself in the mornings.  Ok call me crazy (I heard that).

 

I grabbed my workout stuff and headed to the gym after seeing my results.  I was even more focused with my workouts on Saturday.  Now today is Monday and I am back in Connecticut and tonight was cardio, meaning interval running on the tread mill for 60 minutes.  I was in a zone pushing myself to achieve my goal tonight of burning off 1000 calories and I did that.  My heart rate monitor was even sweating from the run tonight. 

 

Sometimes set backs can be good because it helps you to reevaluate what works and what does not work.  For me I know I am still not eating enough to get my metabolism fired up and staying in a constant motion.  I also need to drink more water as well.  Well we will see on Saturday and you will be one of the first to know if I achieved my weekly goal of dropping two pounds a week.  A set back is one thing but totally quitting because of a set back that is a bad idea, so if you do have a set back donâ??t stress out over it.  Just take a deep breath and tell yourself that you will do better.  Then when you do better the next time, you will feed off of that positive energy and then you will do even better.  Stay focused on your goals because the best part of the goal is the journey and seeing the finish line. 

SO I have to first say it is great to be back at Planet Fitness the gym here in Shelton Connecticut that I go to when back in town.  Normally I work out in the hotel gyms and there is just something missing that you can not get in the hotel gym.  It is strange but there is a great motivation and just the energy with a group of people working towards the same goals.  As I was looking around I felt really fat, but I am not upset about my weight (ok maybe a lot) because just being in that environment inspires me.  Then I start thinking as I was amongst the beautiful people.  I want to be in better shape, better job, and more time with my son Connor well something popped in my head and it was ?Gotta Want It? I know great English.  But it is true; I am not going to stay on the hamster wheel of life.  You really feel empowered when you control your life VS life controlling you.  For example I am back in school, I jumped off the hamster wheel and took control of my education but sure I am selfish to be back in school so I can get a (gasp) better job.

A wise man holding a Scotch we will call this man ?Coach? and he once said ?You can?t motivate people they can only motivate themselves? and the more I thought about it I thought well he is right but I like to think I try to help push people.   And people all I want to say is ?Gotta Want It!?  Don?t we all want our lives a little, just a little bit better? If you can not motivate yourself to make your life better then what can we do to fix this?  I have always told you that this is my journey and I want you to come with me, so what is it that you want and how are you going to get it? 

I want a better body so folks I am off to bed because my alarm is going off at 5:30 AM so I can sweat off some fat to fit in a pair of dress pants that I bought last year.  You know why I am getting up so early you know why I GOTTA WANT IT.  Have a great weekend.     

Not sure if you are a golfer but if you are I am using my ?mulligan? for 2010.  In golf when you have a bad shot (or in my case every shot) you can call usually a one time do over or a ?mulligan.?  I stated in my last posting that ?enough is enough? of not staying consistent not only with my workouts but with my supplements.  I am very focused with my goals and where I want to be physically not only this year but forever.  My day started off with a protein shake with creatine.  Breakfast was eggs, fruit, and black tea.  I feel that this is a very positive change in one day, why is this positive?  For me and having a travel schedule that is Sunday through Friday the eating clean is the hardest.  I am not a person who is at the fast food places every day, no for me it comes down to a lack of eating VS eating fast food.  I brought bananas from the hotel and lunch will be more protein (grab eggs from the hotel buffet, shhhh don?t tell anyone).  I know water is huge part of weight loss so being more conscience of drinking more during the day is also a vital step.  It is hard to drink more water during the winter time but I do not want to fail my goal of getting down to 175 by June 1.  Working out is not an issue as far as doing it.  I enjoy working out and pushing myself.  I am in Connecticut for the next two weeks and my gym of choice is called Planet Fitness.  This franchise gym is very old school and I love going there when I am in town.  The staff is very positive people and the members are also great to talk to. 

Back to my mulligan.  I was recently on my way of starting the ?Body For Life? program and well life just got in the way, I know lame excuse (Obstacles are what you see when you take your eye off the goal).  I lost focus so here I go, took a really bad shot that went way left (like normal) so I am calling for my do over.  Only I can control my destiny and only I can look at myself in the mirror and ask if I was successful today? 

June 1 is going to be a great day.  Why?  That is the day I am going to be 175.  Happy Monday to you.

Tommy

Every year most of us think of our New Years Resolutions that will last maybe a week or two, well I am stopping the hamster wheel of life and taking a stand.  I am tired of being constantly inconstantly by saying I am going to drop weight every year and at the beginning of the following year I am back on the hamster wheel saying the same thing.  2010 is my year of enough is enough starting off with being in better shape.  I am going to share with you my goals for 2010.  These are goals because they are written down and I have dates along with them.  New Years Resolutions are for rookies, for people who can not stick to a plan.  Now I am including not just my fitness goals for 2010 but all of my goals and hopefully some of these will inspire you as well to think of what you want to accomplish this New Year.  Ok the caveat to sharing goals with all of you is not only to keep me on task but you have my permission to call me out if I don?t hit the goal.