Overcoming Fear

How are you doing? I hope all is well and that you took advantage of our recent 3-day weekend to have some fun and exercise. As you might know, President's Day is meant to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and George Washington (February 22). I happen to share the same birthday with Lincoln; I just turned 44.

This year represents a milestone for me. That "before" picture of me at 368 pounds standing alone on a beach was taken 10 years ago. I had recently celebrated my 34th birthday but the way I was going, it was doubtful I would reach 35. I had every medical problem you could imagine and I was showing signs of congestive heart failure. You don't have to look hard at that picture to see the unhappiness I felt, but what I remember the most was how scared I was.

It wasn't that I was necessarily scared of dying; my big problem was I was scared of each single step I took and where it would lead. I got a lot of advice from a lot of people about what I should do, and being the CPA that I was I analyzed each and every step and never moved. I was suffering from paralysis by analysis. Rather than dip my toe in the water, I stayed in one spot on the beach.

I don't know how it happened, but I came to realize that I could not have been in a better position: that if I didn't move from that spot on the beach I would probably die; however the flip side was that whatever move I made could not possibly make my situation any worse. In fact, any move I made would likely be an improvement.

I bought a Lifecycle and rode it every night while watching the movie Rocky. Like Rocky, I wasn't out to win any medal; I just wanted to "go the distance." I struggled to ride 2 minutes at a time as I watched Rocky struggle to run up those stairs in Philadelphia, but eventually I managed to ride that Lifecycle for 30 minutes with little effort. Anytime I felt discouraged I told myself that whatever I was doing was more than I did before. I saw and felt results and my fear turned into determination and persistence that fueled me for the 4 years it took me to transform my body and my life. Whatever I lost in body weight I gained in courage. I needed that courage to face up to my next step...

My employer decided that since I had undergone so much downsizing, I probably wouldn't mind some more. My job was eliminated. The old Mark Davis would have spent months figuring out the next move and not making it. I decided in one day to walk away from my CPA and MBA career and become a personal fitness trainer. I had to start from scratch and go back to school, but once I took that first step, I kept on walking and never looked back. Today I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people I know: I love what I do and I have a chance to help other people overcome their fear and take their first step.

I recently did a TV interview and an interview for Men's Health Magazine. Both reporters asked me the same question: What one thing would I tell people to do that will help them in their struggle with weight? Hopefully my answer will appear in the story the way I said it. Just in case, here is my answer:

"Do what you can, when you can. If you have 2 minutes to exercise, do it. If you have 5 minutes, 10 minutes or whatever amount of time to exercise do it. Because whatever amount of time you exercise is probably more than you ever did before. If you continue to exercise regularly, you will inevitably improve your life and your health."

Men's Health asked me what inspires me to exercise. I told them that seeing my clients working out in the gym on their own inspires me each and every time. I hope to continue to get a lot of inspiration from you as you take your next step. Keep up the good work!

"Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln

"I will prepare and some day my chance will come." -Abraham Lincoln