I'm going to warn you right off the bat, this is a long one that may induce some soul searching. I recommend you set aside about 15 minutes of undisturbed time to read through it and allow yourself some processing time and flow with it.

Now, the big question, is it all worth it?

What exactly am I talking about? Fitness in general. Whether you do kickboxing, karate, weight lifting, CrossFit, motocross, running, TRX, cycling, hiking  etc. ... is it worth it?

During the workout you can't breathe, everything hurts, it's hot, it stinks, other peoples sweat is flying onto you, you look like a goof, you get blisters, you tear muscles, you sprain joints, you break bones, you feel like jello, your face is all red, everything’s moving around, you can't go out after, you can barely move...

After the workout you're sore, you're stiff, you're miserable, you want to call in sick, you can't stand, you can't sit, you can't lift your arms over your head, you can't cough, you can't laugh, it takes you five minutes to get into your car, forget about getting out, and the list goes on. You get the point.

Again I ask, is it worth it?

I know what you're thinking "wow, Al, talk about motivating, have you been drinking?". Actually it's a nice quiet night right now, I started typing this Chapter at around 8:30pm, all three of my kids are asleep, my wife went and got us some Starbucks and we are relaxing on the couch. It's cozy, the TV's off, she's lying beside me reading a book and I’m typing away sipping a Cinnamon Dolce Latte, life couldn't get any better.

So what brought this on? Believe it or not, a standup comedian. He was going on about how he'd much rather die doing what he loved, like eating a cake, than working out. He's a 350 pound guy, on good day, and the way he delivered his performance made it funny, and the crowd was cheering and laughing.

I feel like anyone with low self-esteem will be easily influenced by this comedian, and in my eyes, it will ruin a lot of lives because being overweight is NO laughing matter. Now, I am no "finger pointer". I do not believe in "no fault living" and am NOT saying it's the comedians fault in any way, we ALL make our OWN decisions.

So, is working out worth it?

Let's tackle a few reasons why it MIGHT be worth it.

These are my thoughts, ideas and concepts from over almost 15 years in the fitness industry. Maybe a few of them will be your reasons also. There are 3 main ones I'd like to chat about.

Let's get the obvious one out of the way first. Is having a slim, sexy, beautiful body worth it? I don't know about you, but I like being able to take my shirt off at the beach and feel good taking it off. And don't get me wrong, unless I’m at  home or somewhere appropriate, you won't see me with my shirt off. I do believe there is a line, but in a socially acceptable place and time, I believe the positive, damn good feeling of being secure and knowing you are sporting what you worked so hard to get, is worth it.

I believe that when it comes down to business with your partner in life, being comfortable with the ligths on or off is worth it.

I think heading to a public swimming pool and being able to jump off the diving board and only worry about the jump, not the body, is worth it.

I think seeing that cute dress, cute jacket, cute top or cute outfit, and knowing you can rock it is worth it. I think being invited to any type of social event and being comfortable in your own skin is worth it.

I think being at a wedding, dancing away and if you get coaxed into the middle of a dancing group and you can dance your heart out, even if you are a crappy dancer like me, but you are comfortable with yourself, is worth it. I think looks alone is worth it. Is it worth it to you?

I sometimes overhear folks say "looks aren't important to me", and I feel bad for them. To me, that's someone who has given up on themselves. I'm not saying plastic surgery is the answer, but I think being as healthy as you can be and having your body reflect that is important to one’s self esteem.

Moving on to number two, enjoying life. This same comedian had another joke about how he once owned a beetle bug car and his friends laughed at him because he didn't fit in it. To me, that's sad. Not funny, but literally tugging at my heart sad. Every person should be able to enjoy everything life has to offer. Your own body should NEVER be the deciding/limiting factor!

Money, family, where you live etc. MIGHT affect what you do, but you should NEVER have to say "no, I can't do that, I don't fit", or "No, I can't go to that super awesome theme park because I’m too heavy", or even not fitting into a restaurant booth or plane seat.

If there is anything in life you do not want to do, it should be a conscious choice from you, not a forced choice because you chose to put your own health aside.

To me, every human being should be able to go for a hike, jump on a dirt bike, ride a peddle bike, go water skiing, go for a job, ride a moped, go skating, ride a skateboard, go down a water slide, jump off a diving board, go on a four wheeler, walk through the forest, play a game of baseball, go fishing in a canoe, go white water rafting, you get it. If you don’t want to go kayaking, that's ok, but it should be your choice, not your bodies. Now, there’s always someone who emails me commenting that sometimes people have physical limitations they were born with or what not, and obviously that’s not what I’m talking about, or who I’m talking about. I’m talking about the limitations that are a result of being overweight and obese.

We are human beings and are meant to live life to the fullest. We were created to live! People without life (purpose) perish. It's time to live a little. Live a lot. Life's daily activities should NOT be an impossibility because of weight.

We can all enjoy life. To me, that’s worth it. Is it worth it for you? Are there things you wish you could do but are limited at the moment?

Now the third point, the most important, family. I have 3 kids. I love my kids. I love running around with my kids. I love being able to throw them over my shoulders, bend over and swing them between my legs, run through the park with them, etc. I love being able to be a kid with my kids.

Next, my wife. To me, and this is just my personal opinion, my wife deserves a fit and healthy husband to be there for her, to protect her and help her around the house, but also to motivate and support her when she needs it.

The other day I took her go-karting. She absolutely did not want to go. I had already bought the tickets, we were already at the entrance and she was fighting it! I tried dragging her, literally, didn't work, she's tough. So I did what I had to do, I grabbed her and threw her over my shoulders and carried her to the starting line. You should have seen the look of the kids working there. She went with me and we had fun, I think. Being healthy for the ones you love is worth it. Now, let's get grim for a second. What if you passed away today, who would you be leaving without a dad, a mom, a brother, a sister, a friend? Living life to a ripe old age is not only what you are meant to do, but it is being responsible and should be part of the plan. To me, being here for my family, and being here in a way that serves them, is worth it. Is it worth it to you?

So day after day, I burn in the gym. I put my hours in, and I love every minute of it. I don't, and never have felt like it was something of a punishment for being bad. It's a reward. Because you love yourself and because you love your family you get to love your life. Working out is not a means to an end. It's a way of life, I know, an old, tired cliché, but true none-the-less.

I workout for myself.

I workout for my family.

I workout for my life.

Why do you workout?

I hope this had stirred up some feelings, some thoughts, and some emotions. There are countless reasons to workout, find yours. Once you have your reasons, you’ll find your way.

I am here to tell you it IS worth it.

It will always be worth it.

You alone are worth it.

I hope you see that.

To your success, 

Al