Summer is officially here!!!! The sun is out, the temperature is hot and the patios are packed! I love it!

This summer is especially special (can I say that?) for me as it’s the first summer in 5 years where I’m not on some kind of crazy contest prep diet. As some of you may  know I am a local competitive natural bodybuilder and have been competing on stage for many and I mean MANY years….

Training for a fitness show is quite the experience. Your carbs are low, your emotions run high, your energy is pretty much non-existent and your social life…..well let’s just say you have none.

So why do it? For the $5.00 trophy you receive when you win? For the status of 1st place in a local competition that 95% of the population have never even heard of? For the ripped hard physique that is nearly impossible to maintain for more then a few days after the show has finished?

Well I can’t speak for other competitors but for myself personally, it has always been for the process. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of depriving myself of short-term gratification for the feeling of long term satisfaction. But I’ve also wondered at what point is enough enough. I’ve competed in dozens of shows and have even won a few of them, but at what cost?

I’ve cancelled on numerous social events, work functions, and family gatherings all because fitness overwhelmed my life. I had to count my macros, perform cardio religiously and wouldn’t skip a meal if my life depended on it.

Now by no means do I regret competing. In fact, I’m sure one day I will even step on stage again (even though I announce my retirement after every show I do. Ugh, I’m worse then Jay-z). I just feel that I need a break both mentally and physically from the stage for now.

The funny thing is that even though I’m not competing I still live a somewhat of a competition lifestyle. I train everyday and I mean everyday. Apparently I don’t believe in rest days or recovery days for that matter. (Clients take note – Do as I say, not as I do.) I also stick to a fairly clean diet for most of the time that consists mainly of chicken breasts, ground turkey, oatmeal, quinoa and yams.

Competing all these years has also taught me how to become more disciplined with my own lifestyle when it comes to work and play. It’s no secret that I like to play hard (ask any of my buddies from back home) however work must always come before play in my life. It’s not rare for me to start a work day at 4am and finish at 10pm and then go do my own workout afterwards, while finishing off with some paper work and emails at 11:30pm at night. The sad thing is that I actually love the insanity of a crazy non-stop day.

I feel extremely grateful to be at a point in my career where I can actually fill an entire day by helping people become more fit, healthy and improve their overall quality of their own lives. As a personal training company we really do feel that we have the best clients and I personally  believe to be the best yourself you have to surround yourself with the best. And I’m fortunate enough to be able to do this everyday with both my co-workers and clients that I get to work with.

So even though this Summer I will not be competing you better damn well believe that I will be pushing every single workout as if it were my last. I will continue to eat clean because I truly do not know any other way. And yes, I will be enjoying my double Scotch on the rocks on a patio with a water view at least 1-2 times a week.

So in closing yes it’s ofcourse important to try and find a happy balance in your life. And Even though I personally might not have the ideal one, I still enjoy my life immensely. So as a self-proclaimed health and fitness expert my advice to you this summer is to play hard, train harder and work your butt off every single day.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
President
Forever Fit