Making the change in yourself, helps motive others

While texting with one of my past clients recently, we touched on a common theme. He has a teenage daughter with so much potential, yet is influenced by a coach, and yes self admittedly the father (my old client) with negative eating patterns. The coach of her team has a 200 pound 13 yr old son, (a form of child abuse if you ask me!) gives the kids chips, chocolates, chex mix.....BEFORE their games. His daughter is quite talented but gets injured frequently and "runs out of gas" in the middle of a weekend long match. Of course my suggestion was conditioning, general conditioning and diet changes.

He mentions how his daughter is "unmotivated for fitness" and "hates healthy food, and I hate the complaining. She scrounges around after healthy meals too". Then he concludes with "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

To which I replied, "As for apples and trees...sometimes when you do something for someone else....a cause bigger than just your sorry asses... The food or action loses its hold on you. I found this with my own tennis...helping to keep me motivated to stay in shape and eat healthy. Plus I like to be a good example for my clients...a realistic example. I eat my share of ice cream and candy..I have my trigger foods like everyone else. I just find other things I value MORE. Early in my rowing career, I ran to it to get me out of the college party - every- night- syndrom. I valued doing well in my practices and my races more than getting drunk and feeling gross the next day. CAN YOU IMAGINE?! I FELT I COULDN'T QUIT THE ROWING UNTIL I WAS SURE I COULD NOT REVERT BACK TO MY OLD PARTY WAYS.

Well, it took ten years of dedication to that sport, to be able to leave it and carry on attempting to inspire others. I have even extended this to living happier, and more productively for the sake of OTHERS. I still require to sports aspect to keep me on track, but that is ok. I found a way to stay true to what I believe in, and help others in the process. My friend and client comes from a background that utilizes similar principles. He got the message, and I am sending out my hopes to him that he runs with the message and hellps himslef and his daughter in the process.

Much luck to you both if you get a chance to read this!