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The Email That ‘CHANGED IT’ For Me

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03/08/2012

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The Email That ‘CHANGED IT’ For Me

Last week I sent this letter to a fitness company that I have a very high regard for.  It’s an honest and open letter where I put myself out there, and even though I haven’t gotten a response from them, it’s what started the whole “If you don’t like it, change it” ball rolling for me.  I wanted to share it with you all because it’s what flipped that switch in my head and what caused me to write these two simple sentences on Facebook and Twitter;

“Ever have a moment where it all changed for you? Where your mindset changes? When you realize YOU need a change? I just had that. #dreambig”

“Life is short and you should do what makes you happy.”

And now the letter:

My name is Scott Thomson and I’m a health and fitness blogger on a quest.

This isn’t a quest to get you to read my blog. This isn’t a quest to go out and get a job or try and convince you to hire me. This isn’t a quest to try and make money. This is a quest to better myself and better my life, and by doing so, hopefully bettering the lives of those around me and the lives of those who need it as well.

Six years ago I decided to change my life for the better. I decided I was tired of being the brunt of fat jokes, tired of being the token fat guy and tired of being unhealthy. But before I get in to that, let’s go back 15 years to when I was a competitive athlete and winning championships in every sport I played, and I played a lot of them.

I was a healthy and active teenager. I played hockey, golf, baseball, rugby and I was a gymnast at one point. I trained hard. I played hard. And I won. I’m as competitive as they come and I get it honest enough as I come from a very competitive and athletic family. My father was an outstanding hockey, softball and soccer player, playing and competing at a provincial level, and to this day still has a golf handicap below five. My mother was one of the best second basemen (basewomen?) in Prince Edward Island and still holds the record for lowest Goals Against Average in the senior women’s hockey league in PEI (0.00 GAA). I’ve got good genes when it comes to sports. Hell, my brother was a 1st Team All Canadian Soccer player for UPEI, and their captain, and was also a stellar hockey, baseball player and golfer in the day.

I played and competed in Atlantic Championships in every sport I played in and to this day, I’m still not 100% sure what happened, but after college, I lost it all and I packed on over 100 lbs of fat. I went from a lean healthy and active kid, to an overweight man who weighed over 265 lbs, ate fast food at every meal, drank way too much beer and smoked a pack and a half of cigarettes a day. I lived this unhealthy lifestyle for over five years and I say this quite often, because I feel it’s true, but I was on the fast track to a short life.

I’ve struggled long and hard with my weight loss but I have successfully lost and kept off 100 lbs of fat for over five years. Even after a devastating motorcycle accident where I got hit by a car, was launched off my motorcycle, physically hit by the car again and was then sent over 25’ through an intersection and missed a light pole by less than a foot, I’m still determined to never be that unhealthy guy again. I’m still determined to be as physically active as my body will let me and I’m still determined to push my limits every day.

I started YourInnerSkinny.ca to keep myself accountable. What I didn’t see happening was that I was going to be inspiring others. Sharing my story and motivating others wasn’t my initial goal in creating the website, but it has now become my biggest passion in my life. Being able to reach others via my blog, via Twitter and via Facebook and to have them tell me that I inspire them and that I help them and motivate them is the best feeling in the world. I can’t even put in to words what it means to me to read those kinds of emails I get. But then again, I’m sure you hear and get it as well and THAT’S why I’m reaching out to you today

I’m inspired to change people’s lives. I want to help others get healthy. I want to help develop young minds and bodies. I want to help people rehabilitate. I want to do what I did for myself and pass it on to others. I’ve got over 11 years in web development, web marketing and social media but I can’t do this JUST from behind my desk anymore. I need to be out there helping. My blog is a powerful tool and I’ll always keep it going, but I want to be hands on as well.

Last year I started the process by taking the Fitness Theory and Weight Resistance Trainer courses through the Health and Fitness Alliance as well as the Personal Training Specialist course through CanFitPro, but I never did write the exams. I have the knowledge and the experience, just not the piece of paper. I’ve decided that if I need that paper to move forward with my plan and my goal, I’m willing to do it all over again and whatever else it takes to get me to where I want to be. I’ve been sitting on my ass, behind a desk, for far too long and I need to do what my heart is telling me to and I know this is what it is.

I really don’t know if this is going to get me anywhere or what the next step is, but I realized today that I just couldn’t wait for something to happen, I have to make it happen. I need to take the same advice I give all of my readers and clients for weight loss and healthy living. My motto in the gym is “No Excuses” and I’ve got to stop making them in my life.

I know this is a ridiculously long email, and to be honest, I don’t know what I’m looking to accomplish by sending it to you, but I know this is just the beginning for me. I’ve got lots to give and I’m determined to take the next steps in getting to where I need to get. In the mean time, if you have any advice or direction as to my next steps, I would appreciate anything you can share. Again, I’m not sending you this to hit you up for a job (although, I wouldn’t say no to one, that’s for sure), I just needed to reach out to you and tell you that I appreciate what you do and admire what you do for others.

Thank you for your time!
S.

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My Fit Dad Life

I lost 110 pounds and then I got fit. Now I'm trying to be a fit dad.

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