The Soul Searching Process

Lately I've been through "one of those days" when your spirit is down and you need a lift. I guess we all experience this and perhaps at some point we break down. And then I came across a line that said: "The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul."

For me these where powerful words, I mean for someone who preaches and encourages everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, to be fit and positive; it really meant a lot... and made me reflect on my life.

I'm a really positive person, but I must admit that life challenges and obstacles can be a burden. How we deal with these issues can have a profound effect on our health, body, mind and soul. It's all about having the right atittude and the right mind set; it's about having a warrior like focus that no matter what... you will prevail. To be honest I've always felt I'm a natural born champion, not because I've won many times... but because I never give up, I refuse to.

I know I'm hard headed at times... I guess it's made me into who I am, it has allowed me to develop characther, be compassionate, to care for others, to cry with my friends or clients, who ultimately become my friends as well, when they go through their ups and downs. For example, the other day during a fitness consult with a new client of mine, after going through a series of questions I asked her to really express to me 'why or what was driving her to be here in front of me and start this program'... she broke down in tears.

That's the soul searching process... It hit her deep down and she opened up. At that moment for an instance she faced her fears and built courage and determination to start on a journey that would improve the quality of her life.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's an easy task, the main reason being that there are things in life you can control and things you can't, but in this instance you can chose to make the best of it.

On the other hand if you are realistic then you know you won't be able to change your life from one day to another... but you sure can change the direction of it, and that's where it starts.

Only you can determine this, if you are honest with yourself, what really bugs you and then develop a positive outlook that you can change and be different. For any given person it could be so many things; childhood traumas, obesity, a life filled with hatred and pain, drug or subtances abuse, the lost of a loved one, your own image... who knows what else. But once you've identified the cause, then you are ready to heal and move forward, at times these burdens may requiere help from other people even professionals who are better equipped to help you reconstruct your life.

In the process you may find yourself lost, confused, afraid, alone... but in the end you've probably saved your soal, found yourself, became a leader. And I know because just like you I've been there. However my biggest obstacle has been to allow myself to be surrounded by negative people. Not people who are seeking for help, rather those who suck the life out of you, because it makes them feel better- these people drain the energy out you, and slowly en up destroying your soal.

However just like everything else I've mentioned above; this too you can change. At times it's a painful process, because for whatever reason they are attached to your life, and some of these changes requieres letting go, finding new friends, new loved ones...

Through this process I've learned the value of pain... I've learned that I can only help those who allow me to help. And I can only help, if I have saved my own. I'll admit however that by getting rid of all the negativeness in my life I became a very lonely person for quite some time. But looking back I have no regrets, I changed my ways from a self destructive mode to knowing who I am, where I am and where I want to be. I have learn to forgive and move on, to live the life that I want and I've found again that positive person I've always been.

Someone once said that 'good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement...' I must say that I have learned from every experience in my life good or bad; and for that I am grateful because it has made into who I am.

My comfort has been exercise, sports and fitness. Also I've manage to find new friends and motivate others in the quest to healthier and fitter them.

I guess in the end we are no different from each other and probably thats why we need one another. May you also find the will and strength that you need to become a better you.

Author: Eduardo Lorenzo, NASM-CPT specializes in sports performance, injury prevention, corrective exercises, physique enhancement, Boot Camp and weight loss programs.

Motivational Words...

I was reading online (as usual) and came up with sort of a quote or actually more of a poem... I don't know. Anyways as I read it I though to myself... 'self this is exactly how you feel, day in and day out since the moment I wake up, till the moment I lay down to sleep and I realize that at the end I've survived'...

I don't have a clue who wrote this, but anyways I'll post it and share it with you...

Every morning in Africa,
A gazelle wakes up.
It knows that it must run faster
Than the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up.
It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle
Or it will starve to death.
It doesn’t matter
Whether you are
A lion or a gazelle…

When the sun comes up, you had better be running!

Awesome workout today at Boot Camp, it seems as everyone is pulling together once again. The new recruits are doing great at getting the job done and working through the pain and hard workouts.

Yet I was dissapointed today because the forecast had rain for us and nothing :-(

Where's the rain?????

Anyways just remember: "Losers visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success." ... YEAH BABY!!!

Author: Eduardo Lorenzo, NASM-CPT specializes in sports performance, injury prevention, corrective exercises, physique enhancement, Boot Camp and weight loss programs.

Why I do What I do...

I get asked sometimes why I am the way I am, why I do what I do, and also how I do everything I do?

I guess it starts with the right motivation, the right focus... which is YOU! seriously...

Besides the obvious that I am passionate about what I do and who I am, I just can't seem to get YOU out of my mind. If you've ever received some of my e-mails you'll notice that at times it says 1am or another random hour.

See the issue is that when I am faced with a challenge, I just can't let it go till I find the best way to address it and then attack. This is what keeps me up at night, I am constantly thinking how to better serve you, how to help you reach your goals. While others sleep I am doing research, I am reading, I'm online, I call my friends and wake them up when I need help (they don't like that, but anyways they understand because they share my same passion). And since everyone is different is a huge challenge, one that I love having.

I guess the favor is returned because in the process I become better at what I do, my mind and body feels better, and I am at peace with myself because I have done what I was supposed to do and some more. My knowledge grows... so many things.

Yet just like everyone out there I have my own "drama" and problems to deal with; and life do becomes crazy at times. My schedule is packed most days starting at 5am with the morning Strength & Conditioning Boot Camp, training clients, working on the business, writting articles, educating myself and running other group fitness program late at night as well.. Oh and then there's my personal workout program...it all adds up.

You know - I never really think about it (my schedule that is), I just do it and I guess it works. How is it that I can keep it up? We'll I wake up most days at 4:50AM or 6:20AM and it usually ends close to 11 - 12 night, except when I am still wide awake thinking about you!!!!

I eat well, at least 80% of the time; I do try to rest and sleep as much as possible, I do foam roller and body rolling to alleviate the muscle tissues (just like you I get sore muscles all the time) and I seldom drink any alcohol and I have no addictions.

But more importantly I have YOU! I feed my energy through you or maybe it's the other way around... anyways it works wonders for me. At the same time that is why I take so seriously when we work together, when I set a cardio and nutrition plan, when I expect you to show up on time and workout hard. I expect you to eat well when away from the gym and your house. That is the same reason when a client of mine fails or falls off the wagon it gets to me, I take it personal, I get emotional and then that's when I need to go to war for you.

On the other hand when you succeed I feel proud and I get happy. See... I do what I do... because of YOU!

So to YOU I say thank you for your trust and believing in me.

Enjoy your day... I got Boot Camp in a couple of minutes and these ladies are in for a crazy workout!!!!

Author: Eduardo Lorenzo, NASM-CPT specializes in sports performance, injury prevention, corrective exercises, physique enhancement, Boot Camp and weight loss programs.