How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

I'm sure you well know that actor Patrick Swayze died this past Monday at age 57 after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Last night there was a Barbara Walter's Special on where they showed the various interviews Barbara did with Patrick over the years. One of the questions that Barbara Walters asked was, "How do you want to be remembered?"

Patrick Swayze's response was something along the lines of him hoping he had made a difference in other people's lives.

I couldn't help but put myself in Patrick Swayze's shoes. Here is a man who is facing death and he is so filled with gratitude for the "life" that he has lead. He stated that he felt like he had lived 1,000 lives in all that he had seen and done and that he was okay with dying. It was at that point that I became overwhelmed with emotion and tears started to flow. Those of you that know me know that this isn't unusual for me.

I started to think about my own life and could I say that I have lived so well? Could I say that I am okay with dying if faced with a terminal illness? Has my life helped others in a significant way? Now ask yourself those same tough questions. What kind of answers do you come up with?

In my personal life I'm a father and a husband, a brother, a friend, a cousin, and an uncle just like many of you. Those monikers are fairly easy to come by. But what I dedicate my life to is excellence in everything that I do.

In my professional life I write newsletters, post articles on my blog, make workout videos, run boot camps, teach nutrition and healthy lifestyle, coach semi-pro football, lead a hiking group, and volunteer. But sometimes I wonder if I am really making a difference in people's lives. I'd like to think that I am. It certainly is my mission to accomplish just that.

The "take home" point I want to make is that having a full life is about a lot of things. Sure we focus on being healthy and lean, but that's just a piece of the puzzle. I hope that if any of us finds ourselves in the throws of a terminal illness we can have the courage of Patrick Swayze. He has reminded me that I have slipped into my life's routines and too often forget to be grateful for the truly wonderful life I have in my good health and loving family.

I have never thought of Patrick Swayze as a great actor. He's had some big movies and will forever be remembered as Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing" and as Bhodi in "Point break". It is only in his final weeks of his life that I really began to take notice and come to admire and respect this man.

Patrick Swayze showed us what he is made of in his final days. During his last project for television (the Beast) he was going through chemotherapy. He refused to take pain killers as he said that they dulled his brain and his senses. He didn't want to let his illness take away from his ability to be the best actor he could be. He chose to endure pain over sacrificing quality of what he does best.

I am saddened by his passing as he truly had a lot more living to do. I am humbled by the words he spoke in his interview with Barbara Walters and the courage he displayed, and I don't think he was acting.

Rest in peace Mr. Swayze.

Ride Your Bike To Help Cure Cancer

I hope you are having a great Summer. September will be here before you know it and for many people that means "back to school". But for some of us it means something else entirely.

For example, my good friend Scott Glickman is working his tail off to launch the Century For The Cure Bike-a-thon to raise money for the Cancer Institute for New Jersey. This is a great event for a cause that touches us all, fighting cancer. I encourage you to consider riding this year. I understand they are also adding a shorter distance ride for those who aren't up to 100 miles in a day.

Join us as we pedal towards a cure for cancer in the 5th Annual Century for the Cure. Choose either the 100 mile or the 40 mile option, as we ride through some of the most scenic back roads of Central New Jersey.

You will have a truly memorable experience, fully supported by enthusiastic volunteers along the way. Raising money for research at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, you are guaranteed to cross the finish line with an emotional reward, knowing that you have helped others and been part of an experience larger than yourself.

Please visit the CFTC website. You'll find everything you need to know about the ride, the Cancer Institute of NJ, how to register, and hotel and lodging information if you are coming in from out of town.

I look forward to having you join us!

Larry Wasserman

EXCERPT FROM THE CENTURY FOR THE CURE WEBSITE:

The Century for the Cure is a one day, 100 mile bike a thon which raises money for The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ). The event is a ride, not a race and is sure to be an uplifting and rewarding experience. Our success is built on the support of passionate riders and volunteers who finish the day knowing that the event is about more than just the day.

In order to reach our goals, we ask that each rider raise a minimum of $500. It is safe to say that there is not a person reading this that hasn't been affected in some way by cancer. With the collective energy of the group, we can make a difference. In 3 short years, we have raised over $185,000, 97% of which was donated to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

www.centuryforthecure.com

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Here's an email from Scott Glickman, founder of Century for the Cure

Dear Friends:

September 12th, 2009 will mark the 5th annual Century for the Cure charity bike-a-thon, benefiting The Cancer Institute of NJ in New Brunswick . I will once again "celebrate" the occasion by cycling 100 scenic miles through the beautiful central Jersey countryside, starting and ending at Camp Riverbend in Warren , NJ .

When I started this event in 2005, it was my goal to not only raise money for CINJ, but to bring awareness to the wonderful work they are doing. I certainly did not imagine the degree of success we would have in such a short period of time. Starting with only 13 riders the first year, 60 riders the second year, and we expect well over a hundred this year. Cumulatively, the event has raised over $310,000, contributing over 95% of the money raised to CINJ. This years fundraising goal is aggressive - $150,000! But, hey, you gotta have goals.

The money we have raised over these short 4 years has been put to dynamic use by CINJ, developing life saving, novel therapies that have saved lives. Without being too dramatic, these therapies would not have been possible without our collective contributions. We hear it often from the many charities out there, but WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE - and we are not going to stop until we eradicate cancer.

With your help we can get closer to our goal. You can contribute in two ways. One is online by credit card, going to our website, www.centuryforthecure.com, clicking the "donate" tab and typing in my last name (Glickman) as a rider. The other is the old fashioned way - but equally effective. Checks can be made out to Century for the Cure, and mailed to me at 18 Crown Dr, Warren , NJ , 07059 .

And as always, you are invited to come ride or volunteer. This year, we have added a shorter, 40-mile route option. It is an energetic, exciting, feel good day and I would love to see you there.

Thanks again for your past and future support!!

Regards,
Scott Glickman

www.centuryforthecure.com

Boot Camper in the Spotlight

Do You Know Joe?

At first glance Joe Hirschman is just an average guy. But there's a lot more than meets-the-eye with Joe. He joined Body Basics Boot Camps last January and has been a regular ever since. From day one Joe understood what boot camp is all about. He is always the first one to arrive at 6am and starts his own warm up whether it be running a lap or doing light calisthenics. I imagine Joe's a self-starter in all that he does.

Like many men his age, Joe had let his diet and exercise take a back seat so-to-speak to his work and family. It happens to the best of us Joe! I wouldn't be here today if I didn't have my own story to tell.

But unlike many people, Joe decided to change his life, and man is he is on a roll! Below is Joe's story in his own words. As you read Joe's narrative, imagine what you would challenge yourself with. What makes Joe so special? Well, in two worda, "Joe does", and that makes him our boot camper in the spot light.

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Joe's Story

As a prefix to this story, I realized at this point in my life I want and need to challenge myself. Most people reach a point and everything becomes routine or work-related, but they are unchallenged on a personal level. Last September I took on 3 distinct and new challenges.

In no particular order:

1. To perform 35,000 pushups in one year.
2. To start exercising on a regular basis and drop 20lbs.
3. To learn a second language.

I started doing 25 pushups each morning and night. Soon after a co-worker told me I inspired him to do 75 a day. Doing this many push ups a day would really add up and I decided I would do 100-a-day for an entire year or 35,000 pushups. One hundred a day would be a bigger challenge and just seemed so much more impressive.

Forty-five weeks later, I have now done over 32,000 pushups and I am now shooting for 36,000 to 37,000 total pushups for the year.

This takes determination and a some effort. In addition I train four days-a-week at 6am. I have greatly improved my diet and I am in better shape than I have been in for quite a few years. Our 6am workouts with Larry Wasserman at bodybasicsbootcamps.com are an even bigger challenge with bigger results. Not only am I reaching new goals, but I am taking better care of myself.

My third goal is also a work in progress. I have been taking Greek lessons for the last 6 months. I am able to read and write in Greek which even impresses me! I have a decent vocabulary but stringing together more than a simple sentence and conjugating verbs is very complex.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. My message to you is to ask you to challenge yourself. Every day we are challenged professionally and invest a huge amount of time in our family lives, but we don’t create personal challenges since we are so busy at home and at work. There is much more time than we realize. Turn off your TV and turn that time into something more productive. You just might amaze yourself.

- Joe Hirschman

What's Really Stopping You From Getting In Shape?

Last night I received an email from someone who informed me that he may join boot camp, but he has to check his schedule with his employer. I wrote him back with this message,"Good luck, hope it works out".

I was angry at myself for letting him off the hook so easily because this person just "doesn't get it". He doesn't understand that boot camp is a metaphor for life. Nothing ever seems to fit into my schedule in a way that is perfect. It seems that no matter what I plan, no matter how far in advance, something comes up that throws a monkey wrench into the works.

In the end we are left with having to make a choice. We can move forward as planned and deal with the inconveniences (or consequences), or change our plans to accommodate an easier plane of existence, i.e., less stress and greater peace of mind.

Well, I've lived long enough to be able to look you straight in the face and tell you that "option B" will get you nowhere. If you are willing to give in to whatever will keep you from your dreams and goals then you will never accomplish anything in life worth while.

If you are the type of person who always changes course the minute things get tough, so that you'll have a more comfortable life then you also need to evaluate what it is you are asking for. Take health and having a lean muscular body for example. Do you think the people that look amazing have lifestyles that allow them the ease and flexibility to go to the gym everyday? Do you think that none of them have marriages, kids, or careers?

Take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself, "What is it that I really want?" What ever it is, if you want it bad enough, you'll do whatever it takes to get it. And if you don't, then either you don't want it bad enough, or your "fear" of success and thus lack of confidence is running the show behind the scenes.

If you desire to be fit, there are tasks you must do every day and that require focus, diligence, and the tenacity to handle life's unpredictable events. Unfexpected chaos is around the corner all day long. Sometimes its a business meeting that could keep you at work for an hour longer than you planned. So, do you skip your "after work" training session altogether, or do you just go an hour later? Depends on how bad you want the end result, right?

So back to my young man who clearly hasn't learned this lesson yet. He doesn't know what he really wants, or he doesn't want it bad enough.

T. Harv Eker has a great saying. "How you do anything is how you do everything". Think about your life. Where do you put the majority of your focus? What events occupy your time the most? Are you out of balance? Maybe it's time to shift your priorities a bit.

Changing the way we do things is often the hardest thing to do for some people. You have to really want to make change in your life. You have to be very emotionally distressed by your circumstances to effect great change. It always comes with a price. You must also be willing to make the necessary sacrifices and that means being uncomfortable to a large degree.

In the end having a lean muscular body or achieving anything for that matter boils down to three things. They are: knowing what you want, having powerful reasons 'Why" you must achieve it, and then be willing to be uncomfortable until you suceed.

Press on!
Larry

Boot Campers in the Spotlight

I think it's important to recognize people's strengths and character. One of the things I love about being a Coach is helping people discover their "inner strength".

But some people have their own brand of character that drives them. I want to share these moments with all of my readers and celebrate these individuals. They are many in number, but from time to time some stand out for the little things they do. Mostof the time they don't even recognize their own strengths. I'm not talking about how many burpees or pushups they can do, but their strength in determination and drive to change their health and ultimately their lives.

This week's Member in the Spotlight is a two way tie. On the left is Mary Grace Suitovsky and on the right is Rosanne Lemongello. This is Mary Grace's first week of boot camp and she came to two classes in one day on Friday!

On her very first day this week, MaryGrace was a bit timid and held back. It appeared that she was not sure that she had made the right decision about joining boot camp. But look at her now, just a few days later swinging a dumbbell into a wood chop. That's just awesome MG!

But not to be outdone is Roseanne Lemongello who came to Friday night boot camp direct from work. She didn't have time to go home and change her clothes. She is pictured here swinging a kettlebell in her bare feet as she couldn't maintain a stable stance in her shoes. Look at the photo, she's actually barefoot and wearing her work clothes. Wow! Can you say determination?

Way to go ladies. You rock! Keep up the great work!