I was recently asked to be a coach to the participants of a contest at my gym based on the Biggest Loser. Below is a portion of the email that I sent them that I wanted to share with you (the portion missing was just my contact info and stuff pertaining to the contest)

Hello all,

-SNIP-

I'd also like each of you to contact me and tell me about yourself. You can do this through email or over the phone. I'm interested in knowing why you're doing this...what your purpose is in completing this program. Taking action is wonderful, but it's the purpose behind the action that will keep you motivated.

Hopefully, at some point, I will also get the chance to work out with each of you. I do work during the day, but I wake at 4 am every morning, so am available in the mornings from 5 am (when the gym opens) to 6:30 am to work out. I'm also available most evenings after 6 pm. My schedule changes a lot in the evenings, however, but I am free most days.

The decision that you made in signing up for the Biggest Loser contest is one of the most important you will ever make...the decision to make your life better by improving your health.

However, this decision is only the first of thousands you will make over this six week period. You'll make decisions about whether to get up in the morning or evening and go to the gym. You'll make decisions about how often to go to work out, or whether to work out at all. You'll make decisions about what to put in your mouth during this six week period.

Make no mistake about it. The next six weeks will come and go for sure. The question becomes, what decisions will you have made for yourself during that six weeks? Those decisions will determine where you stand with yourself and, (to a lesser extent) compared to everyone else. At the end of the six weeks, only you will know if you truly did your best. Only you are responsible for your choices.

I am here to push you and motivate you, but I only am able to help if you let me help you and consistently take action for yourself.

The quality of our life comes down to the actions we take. The actions we take are determined by the questions we ask ourselves on a consistent basis.

What are you going to ask yourself tomorrow when the alarm goes off? I challenge you to ask yourself a question such as, "What can I do right now that will better my quality of life...that will better my quality of fitness?"

 Fitness should be a "must" in your life. What I mean by that is I know there are things in your life about which you have said, "I know I should do this". The key word there is should. If it's a should, you won't do it. If it's a must for you, you will ALWAYS find a way. Make fitness a must in your life. Your life will improve in almost every area just by improving the area of health.

Fitness is not a destination. You will not be completed at the end of six weeks with your mission. Fitness is a journey...most likely one of the most rewarding you'll ever undertake in your life. Remember, the longest journey begins with the first step. You have taken that first step, for which you are to be congratulated. Now, take the second, third, fourth and fifth.

It's somewhere between the third and eighth day that most people give up or stall on a fitness program. If you do that (or maybe have already), don't despair. Just because you "failed" a minute ago, or an hour ago, or yesterday, or last week, or last month, or last year, or for the last sixteen years... means NOTHING. The question that you should be asking yourself (instead of focusing on what has been) is what are you going to do right NOW to make your life better?

So, what have you done today to make you feel proud?

Keep rockin',

Adam Roehm

-End of email-

I hope that by me posting this that it makes a difference to someone here as well. I truly believe anyone can change their life in an instant if they make the decision to do so...to cut off any other possibility other than the one they've committed to.

Keep rockin',

Adam

2007 was a fantastic year.

I bought my first house at the beginning of the year...my first house ever, and I jumped right into it. My house is a very nice (for me, anyway) two-story, 2800 square feet with 500 feet unfinished. The house sits on 2.36 acres of land in a rural area. I put up a new garage door. I took down a swing set that my wife and I acquired with the purchased of the house, board by board...that was a fun day. I also helped a neighbor move an old playhouse (also acquired) onto a trailer so he could move it to his house for his children (instead of me busting it up). I put up a new mailbox. I pulled down all of the wallboard in the garage and put up insulation (because the guy who built the house "forgot" to do that). I pulled up the carpet that came with the house (had new put down...I haven't figured out how to lay carpet yet). I put a new toilet in and repaired one (learned a lot this year about house repair and maintenance). Painted a few rooms. I took down a privacy fence that surrounded the whole back of my yard (not much into fences). That took about 45 minutes to knock down the actual fence and three weeks to dig up (or cut) the posts and remove the wood.

Straight out of the box, I obtained three "upgrade" computer certifications before the end of January. A+ Depot Technician, A+ IT Technician and A+ Remote Support Technician.

In July, I also took 70-216 (Network Infrastructure) and passed it (after three no-shows...THREE...talk about sabotage...by the way, this represents $375 down the drain, just because I didn't show up)(Go figure...I passed the first time I actually showed up). This test was the fifth (of seven) test taken and passed towards the MCSE 2000.

In August, I also took and passed 70-217 (Directory Services) towards the MCSE 2000. This was the sixth (of seven).

In October, since I am a master instructor for the last three version of Microsoft Office (2000, 2002 and 2003), I was offered five free vouchers and an application waiver for the new version of Microsoft Office (2007) in order to become an instructor on the new version.

I studied for a little over a month and over the course of two days in mid-November, I took (and passed) the five tests towards that certification (they now call it MCAS instead of MOS...whatever ). Since I was in a testing center that offered it, I also ordered the three vouchers while I was there and took (and passed) the three IC3 for 2005 (and subsequently filled out the application to become master instructor for those as well). That particular certification doesn't mean much to me, but it would be useful if I ever teach again.

I saved over $20,000 this year, more than in any other year of my life up to this point.

I went to training twice this year for my company (on the products I'm supporting for them). Training is "optional" at my company, but you really have to fight to get it, so going twice was outstanding, in my opinion.

I was given more responsibility at my work, without actually asking for it, which is a first. Because of the new responsibilities and the amount of hotel stays it generates, I also became a platinum member at Holiday Inn (that may seem like a trivial accomplishment, but I've been wanting it for two years...you get free room upgrades when checking in to that hotel!).

I became the volunteer "IT guy" at my gym. The first order of business, after implementing a new time card system (they were doing it manually, believe it or not) was putting up a new web site, which was completed a little over a week ago.

Speaking of the gym, I was there A LOT this year...with more consistency than I've ever displayed up until this year. The volunteering part had a lot to do with that...I "had" to be there for other reasons, which compelled me to work out more.

On a sad note, after 10 years, the band with which I performed "broke up". The guitar player in our band got a great "upgraded" job in Texas (he now affects many of you without you knowing it, product-wise). That signified the end of our partnership in what had been a wonderful set of memories...amazing times.

I started waking consistently at 4:30 in the morning.

I started taking green drink at least twice (and most days three) times a day.

I improved my diet tremendously, swinging to the extreme of eating 100% raw for spurts (thank
read more...]]> 2007-12-19 00:00:00 GMT http://toolstolife.com/users/Rockin_Achiever/blog/viewpost/6581/ http://toolstolife.com/users/Rockin_Achiever/blog/viewpost/6350/ Good morning, blog.  It's a little after five am on Tuesday morning.  I received the Yoga for Beginners last night and did approximately a half an hour this morning after finishing tools.

This video was very slow paced.  I guess that's a blessing, but I wish there was a happy medium between the first DVD I watched and this one.  

I posted another entry in my goal setting support group last night and was reminded of a very powerful thought that came across my mind while I was doing it (which, if I remember, was also presented during one of the Tools days).

When you make a decision in your life, let's say to get fit, for example, that one decision is the start of a process which incorporates thousands of decisions...meaning, your initial decision to get fit starts the process.  It directs your brain as to a course of action that you intend to take.  

When you get up the next day, you make another decision about whether to exercise...about what food to eat...how much rest to get, etc.

You're constantly making decisions and taking action...or you're constantly making decisions and not taking action.  It's all up to you and all decided by you.  

I do understand that it can be difficult with a family.  I've used my family in the past as an excuse, until I realized what I was doing.  Then, I just started going to bed earlier and getting up earlier.  That way, my "morning time" is my own.  My time for me...my time for centering myself...my time for doing chores if I want...my time for blogging, etc.  But, it's my time only.

 Remember, you control the direction of your life.  Only you.  Other people may have and hold influence over you, but you ultimately are the one responsible (100%) for the live you live and are creating, either by default or out of conscious choice.

 Keep rockin',

Adam 

I'm going to try and do the Pilates tape again.  I have to admit, it was a struggle yesterday morning (the first time I did it).  Yoga was too much for me.  I now have much more respect for people that do it. 

One of the places that I volunteer my time is at the gym at which I work out.  Today, they're having a 5K race.  I'm running the computer and logging the participants and their race time.

Then, on to doing some chores, spending time with the family, doing some reading, then studying for my next certification test. 

It's going to be a GREAT day!

Keep rockin',

Adam 

Remember, the past does not equal the future.  The past is any moment besides this moment.  This new moment.  This NOW.

Just because you failed (or faltered) a moment ago, or one day, or one week, or one month, or one year, or for ten years...means nothing.

The great and wonderful thing is, you can pick up and take action on whatever it is that you've stumbled.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  Take the first step now.  Take it and don't look back.

...and....

Keep rockin'!

Adam 

Keep rockin'.

Adam 

So, I popped that out and put in the Pilates dvd.  Similar experience.  I need to get a Pilates for beginner dvd.

However, something interesting happened.  It didn't really feel like I had done a lot of exercise.  But a few minutes later, I could feel my metabolism up, just as if I had done 45 minutes of stairs...interesting.

So, I've gone to Amazon this morning and purchased both of those DVDs.  Hopefully, I'll have them early next week and can start the process again.  

In the interim, I'm going to follow the Pilates one as best as I can.  I'm also going to do some research on stretching in general (which is something I haven't done since wrestling in high school) in order to help facilitate the process of integrating the two of those disciplines into my life (Pilates and Yoga).

Living the dream!

Keep rockin',

Adam 

One of my goals for 2008 is to implement Yoga and Pilates into my fitness regimen.  I believe there's no time like the present, so I'm going to pop in the first DVD (yoga) and just do it.  I'll share my experience in my next blog.

Keep rockin',

Adam 

Remember, consistency is key.   Taking action, day after day, moment by moment.  

It's the decisions we make, day after day, that shape our life.

Keep rockin',

Adam 

The most productive times in my life were when I wanted to achieve something and persisted through no matter what the perceived pain at the time.  The determination and the will to persevere got me through.  My grandma always told me that if I just "kept my head down" and worked through, I would get what I wanted, no matter what.  She was right.

Keep rockin',

Adam