Fitness, the "Big Picture"

As most know I've been a fitness junkie for many years and a Beachbody P90Xer for going on 2 1/2 years. With the current P90X infomercial and P90X print advertisements as part of the personal validation that hard work, good nutrition and P90X WORKS, I've looked at how my personal fitness journey has effected others most wouldn't consider to be part of the fitness demographic.

In considring this post, I thought about all the people in the last two plus years I've pointed toward a healthier lifestyle. Many who are like me, 30-50 years old and looking to make a change etc. I'm so very proud of all the people I've helped inspire, I can't tell you how happy I am for each and every one of you out there!!!

The other day I got a message from a client who said she went from 175lbs to 145lbs because I helped her understand what "clean" eating was. She said that after evaluating how she had been eating she was convinced she wouldn't live to see 50. "You're my hero", she said. While that's very flattering, I quickly let her know that she was the hero because she was the one who had to eat properly and make time in her busy life to exercise.

This brings me to the "Big Picture". Back in July I was asked if I would be the conditioning coach for my son's soccer team. Never having actually applied my knowledge to 10-12 year old boys and girls I was a bit apprehensive as to what to expect.

I have to say I've been very pleased with not only the kids response but also how it's effected their play in games and practice. The kids and coaches call my conditioning workouts during practice, "Torture and Pain". While some may HATE them many of the kids look forward to the challenge. My philosophy is to push the kids beyond what they "think" they can do. So many people out there just don't know how far they can push themselves because the quit way before they should...where have we heard that before? :)

Stressing proper nutrition PRIOR to coming to practice so they're ready to give 100% is a constant theme. Eating ice cream or some sugar laden snack just isn't going to get it done. Far to many of the kids have had to stop during the drills because they had an upset stomach. After investigating further the answer I get to the question; "What did you eat before you came to practice"? is "you don't want to know coach"... Needless to say, the point is made not only to the kids but to their parents, sitting on the sideline, that it really does matter what their child eats before a game or practice!

At this point in the season both the U10 boys and the U12 girls teams are undefeated! The girls have yet to be scored on while the boys have had a couple close games however they're fitness level is such that by the end of the games they're running circles around the other teams! I'm not taking 100% credit for their success, don't get me wrong, however I think you'll get no argument from the other coaches and parents that the kids are in far better shape then ever before and that it has had an effect on the teams success.

So while P90X has been a life changing program for me, it's done so much more for so many other people near and dear to me. Some of the girls from the soccer team are telling me they've cut two minutes off their time in the mile runs they do at their school PE class. I've had parents ask me for fitness and nutrition advice.

All because I watched a P90X infomercial late one night and wanted to make a change in MY life.

I have become as the kids call me, "Coach Brad"! :) Thank you Coach Scott for taking the gamble on introducing a "conditioning coach" for U10 and U12 soccer!