Dan Clark » Nitro

Warrior Dash!!

Dan — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:48:04 +0000

Are you ready? Every once in a while there's a crazy, killer, off-the-hook, event that lets you find out what you're made of. It's a chance for every man and woman to stand up and be counted and see how they stack up against the

I'm talking about the Warrior Dash!

It's a reason to train. It's a goal. It's an adventure.

It's happening this weekend 4/10/10 in Orange County, California.

Haven't signed up yet? Don't bother. It's sold out.

What is Warrior Dash?

It's the ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes. It's an obstacle course from hell. There's beer. There's booze. There's babes. There's mud.

It sounds like the perfect event. And, oh yeah. Everyone who enters gets a Viking helmet, a T-shirt, and a medal.

I'll post pictures after the event. But I don't know if you'll see me in the crowd. If you go, look me up. I'll be running the 3:30 wave and hosting or judging the costume contest after.

Man, this so reminds me of college! I'm pumped up! I'm going to try and taste the glory of my youth, but will probably end up with a mouthful of mud.

Be Brilliant!

Dan "Nitro" Clark

Technorati Tags: Warrior Dash, Dan Clark, Nitro, Dan Nitro Clark, Dan Clark Gladiator, Nitro American Gladiator, Fitness run, Dan Clark Gladiator,

Being on The Tyra Banks Show

Dan — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:18:51 +0000

Ever wonder what it's like to be on the Tyra Banks Show, or any other major talk show? In this post I'll take you through a step by step description of the process of getting on her show — from the initial phone call to hugging her goodbye after our segment.

The first thing you need to know about Tyra is that she works her tail off and has a great, hard working staff. It's her vision, but they make it happen. A special shout-out to exec producer John Redmann. The next thing you need to do is be ready and bring your "A" game 'cause it all happens fast.

I got the call from Tyra's staff asking me if I would be interested in coming on the show on a Friday to talk about my memoir "Gladiator – A True Story of 'Roids, Rage and Redemption." Then Saturday I did the pre-interview.

Monday I'm on a plane from Los Angeles to New York. Tuesday I'm on the Tyra Banks show. The reason the pre-interview you is because the want to make sure you're lively and great on the phone — meaning you will make a great guest.

The pre-interview was a new experience for me. Most of the talk shows I've done were for the American Gladiators. There have been numerous — from Good Morning American to the Tonight Show — and I simply showed up on set and talked about Gladiators — talked about being Nitro.

Being on as an author was definitely new territory. I knew I couldn't go on and be that cocky-guy who lead with his fist — but I also wanted to be exciting, interesting with a touch of salaciousness. The pre-interview went on for nearly 90 minutes. Even though I knew I was going to be on the show, I was nervous, thinking I was going to screw it up somehow.

I think the most important thing is being true to yourself and your message and not pushing or forcing to try and be something you're not, so they'll think you're great.

I arrived in New York late Monday night for my appearance the next day. I won't bore you with my nightly rituals, except to say — I called my girlfriend, told her I missed her, then drifted off to sleep.

My publicists and I arrived at the studio in the early afternoon and were immediately buffeted into a dressing room. No sooner had I put my bag down, when a bouncy producer walked in and handed me my script and asked me if I wanted to run through it once. Huh?

Remember that pre-interview?

Well, they take all of the good stuff, put it into a question answer format, and basically hand you an outline of the show. This is what Tyra is going to ask you. This is how you're going to respond, or at least did in the pre-interview. Hint- hint. Wink-wink.

Bouncy, cute producer tells me she's going to be Tyra and I'm going to be me, and wants to run through it once to see how it plays. Alrighty, then. We go through it once and I'm disappointed because all the questions are geared around sensationalizing the side-effects of steroids.

I'm more then disappointed, I'm disheartened.

Because I know my book goes miles deeper and at the heart of it, it's about: identity, love, family, addiction and survivorship told through the prism of celebrity. I also know that to connect and really resonate with Tyra's female audience I had to find a way to work in the "human" side of the story into my segments.

I had to let her audience know this book was an emotional journey — about a little boy whose parents we're divorced when he was 5 years old and who cried inconsolably until a man told him "big boys don't cry."

That boy took those words to heart and didn't cry when he was ten years old — and his older brother died in his arms — then spent the rest of the life trying to become whole again, trying be human, trying to feel.

Yes, this journey involved drugs,women, celebrity — but I also knew even at the darkest points my humanity shined through in my life and on the page.

Suddenly a producer popped in — whisked me down the hallway to the stage area — all I can think about is how to get the story I want tell across while still satisfying the producer's needs. Now, I'm standing behind a curtain at the back of the stage while they are doing my introduction and it's really something.

"Most famous Gladiator, huge hunk, every women's fantasy." I feel myself swell up with pride until — the announcers says — "Who grew breast from steroids. Welcome Dan Nitro Clark!"

The stage manager pulled back the curtain and tells me to "Go, Go!" I stumbled on stage feeling awkward as hell, not sure whether to smile and wave, or hang my head down in shame and embarrassment. I kinda did both. I think. You'll have to watch my entrance and let me know.

So, I'm sitting next to Tyra, still a little thrown by the introduction — being in front a live audience staring, by having three cameras targeted toward at me like canons. But now, I'm more determined then ever to tell the story I want to tell and not get caught up in this whirlwind of sensationalism about steroids.

I make up my mind right then and there that no matter what she asks me — I'm going to answer her question then start talking about "human" aspect of the journey. Tyra asks me the first question, "When did you start taking steroids?" I give her the one sentence answer and dive into, "But what I really want to talk about is how we stereotype boys and girls at a young age."

I could see Tyra look at me a like, "Ahh, what??".

I keep going and tell the story about my parents being divorced, being inconsolable, the words big boys don't cry, and how it affected me. I tell her about my brother dying in my arms, and how I didn't cry.

I tell her about how I spent the rest of my life building this huge body, all to protect that kid inside.

And I'm talking FAST. Real fast, just trying to get the story out. And I'm aware that I'm talking hyper-fast which makes me even talk faster. I keep thinking at any moment they are going to "Gong me" and stop shooting and tell me to get the hell back to the script.

As the words keep spilling out of my mouth, I see Tyra keep eyes shoot down to her script then back at me with a glare that says, "What the hell are you talking about?" I now realize I've been talking non-stop for close to a few minutes when Tyra suddenly looks at me and says: "Oh my God, how did your brother die?"

Her question is sincere and her eyes are full of compassion. I take a deep breath in and tell her the story. Then we took the interview from there moment by moment.

Kudos to Tyra for letting me have that moment and being such a pro that she knew a better story when she heard it, and for trusting herself and me to go with it.

Be brilliant and please check out my book "Gladiator." I think you'll be stunned and shocked. It's actually good.

Dan "Nitro" Clark

On the Beach. Smiling. Walking toward a place I want to go in my life.

Technorati Tags: Tyra, Tyra Banks Show, What's it like being on Tyra, talk show guest, Dan Clark Book, Nitro, Dan Nitro Clark, Gladiator, American Gladiator, Memoir, Dan Clark Gladiator, Gladiator A True Story of Roids, What it's like to be on a talk show, Dan Clark, Nitro, Nitro Gladiator Book

Last Minute Christmas Gift!

Dan — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:22:52 +0000

Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? I've got something that will make a PERFECT stocking-stuffer and has zero calories. It's even kind of heavy. One could perhaps lift it over and over again and blast a few calories.

More than anything this gift will ease the eternal chatter in ones brain and ease up on the straightjacket of consciousness for a few seconds.

What is this thing?

It's a book. Humbly, my book: Gladiator – A True Story of Roids, Rage and Redemption.

My powers of persuasion are not great. Instead I share with you what others other are saying about this last minute stock-stuffer:

"This book is triumphant!"

- ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

"Nitro's respective is a ripping good read!"

- SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

"If you read one book one vacation this year, this has to be it!"

– CHUCK PALAHNUIK (Fight Club)

"Inspiring, courageous and compelling. I cried four times."

– KAREN LUTZ (Legally Blonde, The Ugly Truth.)

“Dan Clark possesses the emotional honesty, humility and depth together with the innate literary talent and stylistic sensibility to execute this memoir with stunning eloquence and power. His lean, muscular prose never wavers off course as it leads us through his unspeakable loss, overwhelming success and ultimately into a kind of acceptance and redemption. As readers, we are fortunate that not all talented writers march automatically through grad school and into publication; some first become comics and undertakers and whalers and American Gladiators.”

-AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS (Running With Scissors)

Hopefully the words of others will entice you to pull the trigger and grab the book. I think you'll be surprised and pretty stunned by it. It's so not what you expect!

And in the spirit of Christmas — if you really can't afford the book (Amazon has it on sale) email me and I'll SEND you one. It's meant to be a GIFT. And I truly mean that!

Have a Merry Christmas! Stay safe!! And thank you for the support and friendship and good times this past year!!!

Dan Clark

Technorati Tags: Last Minute Christmas gift, last minute gifts, Xmas Gifts, best books, Augusten Burroughs, Gladiators, Dan Clark Nitro, Nitro, American Gladiators, Chuck Palahnuik best books,

From Smashing Heads on TV to Oprah.com

Dan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:56:54 +0000

From Smashing Heads on TV to Oprah.com. We all go through some kind of transformational journey in life to figure out what our gift is — to figure out what our expertise to share with the world is.

Take me for example. I went from the blustery world of Red, White and Blue spandex starring as “Nitro” on the American Gladiators for 7 years to reading Oprah.com.

And yep, I take a lot of flak for it from my buddies. It usually sounds something like: "What happened to you? You used to be a man."

The truth is, I’m still a man. Just a better man.

Once I let go of the old ideology of what it meant to be a man – the transformation began. When I was young I believed a man was the toughest guy in the room with the icy stare who was impervious to feeling anything.

In the past, I often led with my ego and my fists, because violence or at least the threat of it was just easier. But then I realized I was isolated. I was a prisoner locked inside my meat-suit.

It wasn’t until I made the transformation from “man” to “human being” that I was free live as a:

Father, teacher, student, writer, friend, and a fully conscious being who could feel. My mind set went from "what's in it for me?" to "how can I help you?"

The point I’m trying to make as the end of the year rapidly approaches is:

Are you living your best life? Are you walking toward a place you want to go?

Or is there some type of transformation you need to make to become the better version of yourself?

If so, now it the time to act.

There will never be another moment like this.

There will never be a better time.

There will never be another now.

Time flees so fast it’s hard to fathom. Hopes, dreams, great ideas, become time-worn relics in the chest of “what could have been.”

Take in a stiff breath of courage. Take those first few steps. Start making that transformation. Start on that path to a happier and healthier life. Start walking toward a place you want to go.

You deserve to be happy. You really do.

Here are a couple question that may help you along the journey:

What do you love to do?
What makes time disappear?
What makes you smile when you think about doing it?
What do people say you’re good at and have a knack for?
What comes easy to you that other people find challenging?
What have been some of your most rewarding experiences in the past?
How would you finish this question: "If only I could make a living at… "

Good luck along the way. Be brilliant!

Dan Clark

Pic of Me and Kid Rock goofin' around.

BTW – about Oprah.com. I’ll take good information from anyplace I can get it! Including GQ, Men's Health, NY Times, Esquire, Best Life, and Shape.

Technorati Tags: Dan Clark, Nitro, American Gladiator Nitro, Best life, Fitness tips, Life Transformation, Shape, GQ, Men's Health, Oprah.com, Oprah, how to live a better life, how to become a better man, living your best life, how to be happier, how to be healthier, what is a real man?

American Gladiators: Red, White and Blue Spandex to Big Screen

Dan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:22:05 +0000

Since American Gladiators first hit the airwaves in 1989 there have been rumors that the Red, White and Blue clad super heroes would hit the big screen in an American Gladiators movie. I remember back in those first few years, Samuel Goldwyn Company (the producers of the original show), hired an "A" list screenwriter to write a draft of a screenplay.

The writer would come by the set and ask us Gladiators all kinds of questions.

"What would you do if the end of the world came?" "What would you do if you someone kidnapped a family member?" "You ever kiss a guy?"

Okay, I'm lying about the last question. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention!

But seriously I always thought given the popularity of the Gladiator franchise that a movie would get made. I just didn't think it'd be 20 years later!

Well, now it's more than a rumor. I've known about the new project for some time, but didn't want to say anything until people started spending money. In Hollywood – when they spend money it always makes it more real. Not a "given" by any mean… but at least it's now worth mentioning.

Here's the Variety (Hollywood Trade) paper Article announcing the American Gladiator Movie.

Seems they've got a producer and hired screenwriter Peter Iliff of "Patriot Games" and " Varsity Blues" fame to write a script. Peter and I've talked — and at least he didn't ask me if I'd kissed a guy. And rumor has it — there's a part in it for me.

I think my part will probably be like the Original "Spock's" in the new "Star Trek" movie. I'll be the old sage who comes back and gives the new kids tidbits of wisdom. Ha! I hope that's only a joke cause I've just got my spandex dry cleaned.

Let me know your thoughts… and what you THINK THE MOVIE SHOULD BE ABOUT or at what you think would be COOL to see in the MOVIE!

Be Brilliant!

Dan Clark

Btw — if you haven't gotten my memoir Gladiator – A True Story of Roids, Rage and Redemption – there's no time like the present. It'll make a great X-mas gift! And it's getting amazing reviews and people are saying it's the best sports memoir they've ever read and Chuck Palahnuik of "Fight Club" fame picked it as one his 5 Best Books of the Year!

Technorati Tags: American Gladiator Movie, Dan Clark, Dan Nitro Clark, Nitro, American Gladiators, Nitro Gladiator, American Gladiators Film,

My Best Friend is Dying…

Dan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:26:08 +0000

Our dog Sam yelps. This is what he does when he needs my attention. It wasn’t always this way. When I’d come home I used to hear the skittering of his nails across the hardwood floor before I would see him. Then moments later 80 pounds of white fur and exuberance would barrel into me from around the corner. But it’s different now. Sam yelps to let me know where he’s at in the house, so I can come and find him. He is old. His legs no longer work. Father time has come for him. I’m just not ready to let him go. He is my friend. My best friend. At times he’s been my only friend.

The noise he makes is not a whine.

It is not a whimper. It is not a wail. It is a cry for help.

Help me… Help me friend. I cannot walk.

I remember the first day his legs gave away and he fell to the floor. He looked up at me stupefied. He looked up for me for an explanation. He looked up at his best friend for help. I remember not having the words to explain it to him.

Some days when I come home, I find him in the living room looking out on places where his legs used to carry him. When I enter the room, he looks at me and I look at him. It’s hard for me to look at him. I know his time is measured in minutes, hours, days. I know that the cancer eating away at him will soon be too much for him. But I also know he won’t let go easily. I know he will hold on longer – longer than he should – because he thinks that’s what I want. And because he’s a proud, strong dog who wants to make sure the rest of our family is okay. It’s a duty he’s carried across his broad-chest swollen with pride for the last 13 years.

It crushes me to know that when his times comes – I’ll be the one who has to make the decision for him – for us. All dog owners know this is one of the hardest decisions we have to make in life. There is nothing humane or pleasant about it. I only hope that when the time does come I have the strength to do what is right for – my friend, my best friend, at times my only friend.

There are good days. Days when he smiles and wags his tail as I pick him up and carry him to the backyard to do his business. There are bad days. Days when I can see shame tinged across his face because I do have to carry him. Days when I can’t get to him in time and he’s lying in a puddle of his own urine. The look on his face is one of complete embarrassment and humiliation. I don’t know which one of us feels worse, him or I.

I believe dogs have a sense of pride and dignity. And I promise myself I won’t let him live an undignified life. Every day I ask, “Sam, please let me know when it’s time to go old friend.”

Sadly, tragically, heartbreakingly… Sam lets us know.

Last Friday morning when we came home Sam was in the pool. The same pool he’d swam in for thirteen years. The very same pool he’d dive into and retrieve the ball over and over again. Only this time it wasn’t the same Sam that went into the pool.

The legs that would no longer carry him, were no longer enough to help him swim. They were no longer enough to let him get to the stairs. They were no longer enough to save his life. My friend, my best friend, at times my only friend… drowned.

I’d like to believe that he knew we didn’t have the strength to do what was necessary… and that his time had come… and that we were keeping him alive for us… and that this was his proud, strong, dignified way of letting go.

We’ll never know for sure, but there are empty places looming large inside of me. I… we miss him.

He is my friend. My best friend. At times my only friend.

Good night, sweet Prince.

Good night.

Technorati Tags: Dan Clark, Dan Nitro Clark, Nitro, American Gladiators, Gladiator Nitro, Dog, Nitro loses his dog, A tribute to my dog, My best friend is dying, Man's best friend

My Top 3 Must-Read Diet Books of 2009

Dan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:01:30 +0000

I hate using the word "diet" yet it seems to be a word that everyone relates to. But the truth is my favorite "Top Pick Must-Read Diet Books" of the year are NOT diet books at all.

They are LIFESTYLE – NUTRITION books.

Why?

Because study after study show that diets don't work. Yet diet books continue to follow the typical formula: First there's the sympathy for the would-be weight loser, blaming the excess pounds on everyone but them. Then comes the revolutionary formula that will torch those pounds forever.

How many of you have tried the "in" diet before? And how many of you have initially lost weight only to fall off the wagon and eventually gain it all back? Count me right in there with you.

But you know what I learned over the last 25 years?

It's simple, consistent actions taken every day that make the difference when it comes to health and happiness. It's never about a diet and ALWAYS about making lifestyle changes.

It's finding nutritious foods that you love that you can eat every day that you also find satisfying so you're never feel hungry or depleted. It's making exercise a daily part of your life. I'm not talking about moving mountains – I'm talking about simply getting yourself moving every day. The key, just like when it comes to food, is finding something you love to do. It doesn't matter if it's yoga, pilates, boxing, swimming, fitness walking – find what you love and enjoy and it won't seem like exercise. It will… get this… it will be FUN.

This really is the secret not only when it comes to food and exercise but to everything in life. Find what you LOVE to do and it will never seem like work. Learn to make your vocation your occupation and you are truly a wealthy person.

What do I love to do?

I love helping people change their lives so they can live a happier, healthier more fulfilled life. To that end I give you my three favorite nutrition books of the year.

I've attached a link to be helpful because I know we buy things on the spur of the moment and also when they are easily accessible. So just click on the book and it'll take you to Amazon.com so you can start enjoying the benefits!

"Sugar Blues" by William Duffy. I first came across this book when I was reading Jenny McCarthy's blog on Oprah.com. Yep, that's right. I went from beating the crap out of guys on TV to hanging out on Oprah.com. Hey, I'll take good information from any place I can get. This classic, bestselling book is a stunning expose about what sugar does to the body. I knew it was bad, but I had no idea it was THIS bad. Be sure to pick up this oldie but goodie. You'll never look at sugar the same.

The End of Over Eating by David Kessler. This by the former head of the Food and Drug Administration is a must read. It looks at our growing obesity problem and our inability to control our food intake as a culture. It talks about how the food industry is in collusion with the advertising industry and how they spend of 30 billions dollars a year enticing us to eat! It also provides his take on a solution so you'll never overeat again.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan. The best line of the book is the first line and a line I LIVE by: "Eat Real Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants." So forget the diet and do just that. This book shows you how and informs you about how processed and nutritionalized food have replaced real food. It's a real eye opener and a quick, informative read.

There you have it. Please enjoy and let me know if they work for you and also share with me some your favorite nutrition books!

Be Brilliant!

Dan Clark

BTW — Here's my absolute favorite protein powder - Sun Warrior Brown Rice protein. It's all I'll take now. I ran out of it — went back to whey and almost vomited — I wish I would've because my stomach was upset all day. I know brown rice, vegan, raw, with no added sugar is a little more expensive than the other proteins, but you are so worth it!!! Check it out by clicking the link above.

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The Worst Diet Ever…

Dan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:15:16 +0000

I just read a Los Angeles Times article about the HCG diet. It may be the WORST DIET ever. This comes from a guy, who has tired every diet on the planet from the Zone, Atkins, Jenny Craig, South Beach to high protein – low carb, grapefruit, vegan, raw food, all the way to the “Eat Right For Your Blood Type” diet. I've food combined, food separated, fasted, cleansed and even tried a tuna shake diet.

The HCG diet calls for eating just 500 calories a day while taking daily injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone produced by pregnant women and excreted in their urine.

You heard me correctly. "It comes from pregnant women's piss."

HCG has recently splashed across the headlines as the drug disgraced Los Angeles Dodger Manny Ramirez used that lead to his 50 game suspension from baseball. Now people are using it to try and lose weight thanks to Kevin Trudeau's 2007 book, "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About."

Somethings are better off not knowing. This is one.

Using HCG as a weight loss tool only spells one thing: DISASTER. Not only are there hundreds of possible harmful side effects, but it's been proven time and time again, that fad diets simply DO NOT work. They are a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

Take this statistic into consideration:

Last year, we spent an estimated $45 billion on diets and diet-related products, yet we’re still the fattest nation in the world. To add insult to injury a recent government study found that two-thirds of American dieters regained all the weight they had lost within a year, and 97 percent had gained it all back within five years.

What does work?

First we have to realize that there is no "silver bullet" solution when it comes to weight loss. Losing weight is not a sprint, it's a process. It's a lifestyle. It's about doing simple things on a daily basis that will change your body and life forever.

Over the upcoming weeks I'll happily share some of the simple things that I've learned over the last 25 years that have put me on a path to a happier, healthier more fulfilled life, and have allowed me to obtain and maintain the phenomenal health I enjoy today.

Stay tuned!

DAN CLARK

BTW — the BEST PROTEIN POWDER I've ever tried is Sun Warrior protein. It's from brown rice and digest easily and the assimilation into the body is the highest on the market and it's the only nutritional product I recommend on my website. Check it out.

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The scariest thing I’ve ever seen…

Dan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:43:11 +0000

I’ve seen men hacked up. I’ve looked evil in the face. I’ve laughed at death. I’ve seen violence brutal, savage, rageful. But I’ve never seen anything as scary as this.

And I’m a pretty tough guy (well, I used to be) but when I saw this it literally made me freeze, my mouth went bone dry, my stomach dropped to the floor, and I think for a second I actually died.

It is something so grisly, so heinous, that I cannot describe in words.

What I saw was this:

BOO-YAH!!! Now isn’t that scary! A "NITRO" Halloween costume!! Forget Mike Myers, Chuck, Jason, or Freddy Krueger. I can’t imagine any kid, adult or animal not being scared senseless by this costume. The guy who used to play Nitro is a beast!!! :>

Here’s another funny scary thing called "Monster Baby" on youtube for your enjoyment. It’s pretty damn funny!Enjoy: MONSTER BABY.

Be safe 2 night! Remember more trick than treats!! And everything in moderation!!!

Dan Clark

Technorati Tags: Nitro, Dan Clark, Dan Nitro Clark, American Gladiators, Halloween Costume, Scary baby, Monster baby, the scariest thing I’ve ever seen, Want to see something really scary?

The Absolute Best Way to Stick to Any Exercise Program!

Dan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:41:19 +0000

Why are some people healthy, happy, and fit and others are not? It's simple. There are those who "do" and those who "do not." It's pretty clear which category the fit people belong in and which those who struggle with obesity fall in. But the more importantly: Why and how are some people able to stick with programs and others are not?

Personally, I've been training all of my life and HAVE managed to "stick with it" for over 30 years. What's the secret? Well, instead of giving you a Top 10 List — which we've all read countless times – I thought it'd be more effective to share with you a "real-life experience" that will illuminate what I think is the absolute best way to stick with any exercise program.

It started a few months ago when a very good friend of mine (we'll call him Dave) begged me to help him lose weight and start some type of exercise routine. I hemmed and hawed and was reluctant to because I didn't know how serious he was, but also because I was seriously over-extended and didn't have time to help him. I had just started writing 2 books and was in the beginning of creating a program called "Ten Thousand Pounds" which is my and my partners take on tackling childhood obesity in America. But Dave wouldn't give up. He relentlessly hounded me to help him, and it's literally impossible for me to turn down someone (especially a friend) who wants to better their lives by becoming more healthy and fit.

I finally agreed to meet him at the boxing gym a couple days a week at 6:30am — even though it is the absolute "worst time" of the day for me — because I get my most productive writing done in the morning between 6:30am and 1pm. Normally, I cherish and guard that time with a religious fervor. But I figured if I could make an impact on his life, it'd be worth it.

Dave started off like gangbusters. In the first month we banged it out and he got GREAT results. He lost 25 pounds, his cardio increased, and he dropped 6 inches from his waist! Now, that's what I'm talking about!! It was a big sacrifice but I felt for me it was time well spent. I am helping him change his life!!!

Then a funny thing happened during the second month.

Dave's enthusiasm started to wane and he dropped from 4 times a week down to 2 times. I did everything a workout/accountability partner should. I motivated, inspired, castigated, pleaded – whatever it took to get him to the gym; nevertheless, he didn't even show up for our first workout of our third month. When I pressed him as to why — he came up with the normal laundry list of excuses: Tired, had a meeting, it's hard, was out late the night before, and the classic: "you like it, it's easy for you."

What Dave doesn't realize is that I have all the SAME excuses as he does: I'm tired, I've got a meeting, I don't have time, I don't want to, I was out late the night before.

The difference is fit and healthy people ACT in SPITE of their excuses.

Does that make sense?

If there's one thing that I can share with you that has made all the difference in my life, it's the simple secret of ACTING IN SPITE OF YOUR EXCUSES. Be a person of ACTION and learn to IGNORE that voice that tells you: it's too hard, I'm tired, I don't want to; and LEARN to take ACTION in SPITE of it.

If you do this one simple thing, if you learn to act in spite of your excuses, I promise you it will make all the difference in your life. I know it has in my life.

Now go and be brilliant!

Dan Clark

Btw – that's me below not listening to all the excuses, and jumping on the back of crazy damn bull and riding it. In this case, I probably should've listened, because I quickly discovered getting off the bull HURT a lot more than getting on it!

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