Comebacks

I started www.fitnessinthebalance.com in July 2009. My original vision for the site was to create a place where people could come to learn about health and fitness, and hopefully get inspired to make positive choices in their lives. Along the way, I became affiliated with various companies whose products were worth a look. In 2010, the site went through a major redesign as I changed internet hosting companies. I added personal fitness coaching and nutrition planning. Along the way, I continued to write new blog entries. I'm proud to say that the site has garnered nearly 10,000 hits since it first appeared.

Unfortunately, as time went by, real life began taking up more and more of my time. Not that anything bad was happening. It was just the ordinary responsibilities of being a husband, father and full-time employee that slowly ate into the time I had previously devoted to the site. I recently realized that it's been months since I added any new material. The last blog entry was in October 2010, over five months ago. It's time for that to change.

If you'd come to rely on this site and this blog for information and inspiration, I apologize for not keeping it up. I know how important positive reinforcement can be when you are trying to establish new habits in your life, and you should know that I take whatever small role I may play in maintaining your motivation very seriously.

This entry was borne of my decision to re-commit to Fitness In The Balance. It's entitled "Comebacks", and the message behind it can apply to anything in your life that you may have let slide: your health, relationships, education, diet...The thing to remember, that I hope you take from this entry, is that it is never too late for a comeback.

Did you start an exercise program, maybe as a New Year's resolution, but have fallen off the wagon? Maybe you made a decision to eat less junk food, or even to try vegetarianism, but since then have had trouble sticking to it? Or maybe you have tried to improve other areas of your life, but have seen your motivation lag? If any of that applies to you, I want you to know a few things:

1. That happens to EVERYONE. Yes, it does. You are not alone. There's a reason why 95% of obese people who lose a significant amount of weight put it all back on within three years. There's a reason why so many people have tried and failed to quit smoking. The fact is, it can be hard to stick with a decision to change your life permanently. The past may not have been great, but it was comfortable. You knew what you were getting, even if you didn't really like it. Breaking out of that routine is hard. It takes positive action each and every day. That can be tough to maintain. Know that you aren't the only one having trouble staying on track to accomplish your goals.

2. It will never be easier to re-commit to your goals than it is right now. Whatever those goals are, re-committing to them as soon as possible is key. As time passes, it will only get harder. That comfortable past becomes too cozy to escape. If you truly want to make a positive change in your life, do it today. It will only be harder tomorrow.

3. Success is possible. Period. It doesn't get any simpler than that. No matter how tough it is to keep up your effort, no matter what you have to do to keep going, know that it is worth it. Success will come to those who persevere. In fact, scratch that first sentence. Success isn't just possible. If you keep up your work, success is inevitable. I'll say that again. Success is inevitable. You WILL accomplish your goals. All you need to do is keep taking the steps, every single day, that bring you closer to them.


Support from those around you is crucial. That is why I've re-dedicated myself to maintaining and updating this website on a regular basis. You support me by visiting the site, and I support you with information and motivation. We can help each other take those daily positive actions that slowly create permanent change.

On that note, I really encourage you to get involved in the site. Send me your comments and suggestions. Tell others about the site. I think one of the reasons I let other parts of my life crowd the site out is I never really got the idea that very many people were reading what I was writing. Are you out there? If so, make yourself heard!

In the coming weeks, I'll be updating other areas of the site, particularly the nutrition and supplements sections. I look forward to picking up where I left off last year, bringing you information and inspiration to motivate you towards balanced health and fitness. It's never too late for a comeback. Time to get started.