Rusty (my training buddy) and I have a saying… “It’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what you’re doing.”

However, I’d like to go back and start a couple of decades ago to tell my story. A story of my health and fitness evolution. A journey from from FAT to FIT. A transformation of BODY, BEHAVIOUR and ATTITUDE. A new REALITY with potential for a lifelong relationship with movement, activity, exercise, training, sport, good nutrition and a positive mindset.

FACT: I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for that one day in the early summer of 1991. Like a tale of revolving doors, chances are I would be overweight, unfit and unhealthy. I would not have had the same thrist for knowledge and information leading to a career in the health and fitness industry. There is no way that I would be married to Vicky – she would have zero interest in the opposite version of me. Therfore, I would not have the two beautiful, energetic, healthy kids that I’m lucky enough to be a parent of.

It was a hot day and I was cooling myself off in the shallow end of my family home swimming pool. My father arrived home from work, walked over to the pool to say hello and right away I could see the disappointed look on his face. I now realize that he was looking at a past image of himself and did not want his only son to live a life of having constant concerns of being overweight. “We’re both going to get fit,” he said. “Training starts tomorrow morning. The gym opens at 5.30am.” I don’t recall objecting or putting up a fight. I knew that I needed to do something different if I wanted to change.

Lesson Number 1: If you want a different (i.e. better) result, you need to do something else.

Question: How much longer are you willing to continue to live as you are? One more day? One more week? One more month? One more year? Several more years? What aspect of your health and fitness would you like to change (i.e. improve)? And when would you want this change?

It was not easy at first. Waking up when all my friends and peers were fast asleep. The daily chore of circuit training, awkwardly lifting, pushing, pulling, stair running and jumping rope. But then it happened. The shift. The change. I remember it. Arriving home from the gym, wearily climbing the outside stairs, my mother greeting me at the kitchen door, and then she said it. “Your posture is so much better.” That was it. If my father was the spark, my mother was the fuel. The fire deep within was lit, and now doused with fuel to burn forever.

Lesson Number 2: Words of encouragement are a powerful tool to inspire positive change.

I began to feel the change – increased energy, self confidence, a peaceful happiness and a greater awareness of myself and my surroundings. The mirror became my friend of truth. I began to see the change – improved posture, less flab, more fab (i.e. muscles). And even more important, people noticed the change (and kindly let me know) – adding more fuel to the fire.

21 years of daily exercise, working out, training, competing, learning (formally at university, and informally through practical application and professional development) and sharing (consulting, treating, instructing, presenting and writing). I have the knowledge, intellect, expertise, and practical application to assist you to become a better version of you. Your only limitation is deciding when you want that change. Your Health & Fitness BluePrint is waiting…