HAPPY BIRTHDAY VINCE!

Well said Vince! Life is a journey and if you see the bad as a way to learn and appreciate the good, then there really isn’t any “bad” per se. We all make choices, that is what free will is all about. You just showed us what quiet time is meant for, be still and listen to your inner voice. Well done!

Here is something to think about daily (or your birthday present):

Gratitude………

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

…..Melody Beattie

In all things give thanks, so thanks Vince for being who you are.

Sean

Wow!!! This was the message I needed to hear today. I’m in a hot “fire” with a family at work and am literally in the “Am I going to be able to finish this” place! Guess I’m fully living!!! What an encouraging reminder. Thanks for sending this to me Rosetta. You must be very proud of your son. Vince is using his gifts and his talents and connecting in such a way that the world is able to listen and hear things through his life that can move them to a good wrestling place with Jesus. I truly believe that it’s out of our comfort zone where we can hear the best!

love Cath

Happy Birthday Vince !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your words really got to me, and I got off my ass and I will do my exercise.Thanks for the nice interruption to change some comfort and get into a another zone.

Happy Birthday again !

Elke from Yellowknife,Canada

Vince,

The way you operate has had such a positive influence on my life, I just had to share.

I’ve been training with only dumbbells for a year and a half. This week, after saving my money, I bought a power rack, olympic bar and around 400 lbs of iron off Craig’s List. Tonight I get to challenge myself to find my working weight for squats and deadlift. I’m as excited as a kid before Christmas – and a little scared. This challenge has been a long time coming and I’m ready. I have no idea what I’ll be able to lift, but the mystery and the potential for growth and the challenge of not just the weight, but the deliberate approach (just because I’m stoked doen’t mean I can’t be safe) has kept me buzzing all day.

Happy birthday and thanks again.

Vince,

I’ve been perusing your emails for a couple of weeks, interesting stuff. I’m 46 and trying to get back into a “fit” condition. I normally don’t respond to a lot of email and marketing stuff, but I felt this e-mail deserved a response.

The analogy of the EZ chair is perfect. I believe the majority of people today fit into that category. Your perceptions spoken in your email depict a great mindset. Most people today, again just my opinion, never find these truths, much less find them by the ripe old age of almost 29.

Congratulations and here’s to hoping you have a great birthday.

Joel

My Dear Vince – via Rosetta:

You don’t know me but you have inspired me to tears this morning. 29? Hmmmmmmm…………. Try 60! My husband turned 60 yesterday. We celebrated by planning our new business – getting excited about the future and drinking wine and eating chocolate birthday cake over the lunch hour while the Bell Canada guy installed our new high tech phone system. We sat – perhaps on that very same bench in Central Park – just a month ago planning our lives, thanking God for our energy and enthusiasm and each other. Despite the fact that my husband has prostate cancer, a lung condition that prohibits him from even walking fast, he exercises daily and never complains about anything and loves life.

Kip and I studied in a small group – It All Goes Back in the Box last spring and it has continued to change our lives, remind us daily of what counts and watch everything around us to see the signs from God and watch his miracles unfold in our lives and in our family’s lives. This email today is just one more gygantic message from God through you Vince and your wonderful Mom and Dad that we are on the right track. We’re not crazy to want to make a difference at 60 – some think we’re losers to have left corporate life to start our own company managing non-profit organizations. We don’t need to RETIRE. We need to start living and watching and learning. We don’t own an EZ chair and never have. We bought my Mom her first EZ chair for her 89th birthday – her last year of life. Up ’til then – she was a mover and shaker and lived a very full life. People saw her coming and moved over – after they hugged her.

Please publish this message you have created somewhere for all to see. With your permission I’ll send it to our kids and kids-in-law. All 7 of them throughout North America. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Elizabeth

Excellent.

I like this part:

“I don’t believe anybody who lives a comfortable life is truly living and I believe that only people who say yes to challenge, demand and risk are ever fully alive.”

True. Period.

Thanks for passing it on.

-Josh

hey vince,
i just wanted to say thanks for your emails, i really enjoy reading them, and find them a great inspiration for me, ive gone down from 205 lbs to 187lbs, and i dont think i wouldve done it as quick without your tips, its took me about 3months, but im gonna start doing free weights from this weekend when my training partner returns from working away, and ill hopefully be able to loose whats left of my belly and tone everywhere up, fingers crossed and thanks again
rick

Hey Vince, happy birthday man!!!

Really enjoyed your e-mail; I completly agree. You only live once, and why waste it with comfort when challenge is so much more rewarding. I have been following your 6-pack quest 4-day workout routine with high intensity for about 2 months now, and was stopped 3 times in the gym yesterday evening with people complimenting my gains. Although it gave me a breather, which I wasn’t looking for, it was really great to hear. It is working buddy, I am really enjoying your program.

I seem to have done quite well with the exercise protion of the program, I am
however struggling a bit with the nutrition. I am excelent each day through
about 6 PM, eating veggies, oatmeal, fish and flaxsdeed oils, limited olive oil,
egg whites, lean chicken, and other various lean protiens. I do have a tough
time with the carbs and sweet tooth in the evening however; I have been working
very hard to try and curb that temptation.

Things overall are going great though, and wanted to thank you again. Keep
the e-mails coming, I read each one!!

Have a great birthday Vince, I will be in touch soon with some pictures.

Pete

Your words ring true Vince. It amazes me how many people expect to get somewhere by sitting on their asses. THE ONLY PLACE YOU’LL GET BY SITTING ON YOUR ASS IS FURTHER FROM WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. Taking action is the only solace we can take upon what we don’t like. Let me share something I’ve learned over the years… it’s that, unless you change what you hate, you end up hating it more and more until it looms so large you it’s a permanent part of your life. So take action or deal with the consquences, whatever they may be.

Happy Birthday Vince and Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!

Feel Free to go to my blog, just click my name!

Imran

Upsy Happy Birthday “Vinnie the kid”! Oh yeah I meant to comment on your comfort zone heh. Just one thing dude…Who da hell is living in a comfort zone and following your program? I mean every time I go to the gym I’m like “oh my god am I gonna be able to lift this that many times, I’m freakin increasing the weight EVERY WEEK, can I really be doing this? What if when I military press the barbell crushes my skull” which almost happened one time actually Comfort zone? What da hell is that?!

Congratulations on your 29th! I hope you’re not the type to rest on your laurels, or the type that does the Jack LaLanne challenges. Neither is beneficial, at least mentally.

At 61 I remember all of those that said I wouldn’t make it past 30, due to the intense way I worked at building a corporation, having 8 sons (2 older then 3 sets of twins……….my wife wanted a daughter, so at the end I gave her a Princess Benjamina doll and said that was her daughter………….she didn’t talk nicely to me for two weeks).

I joined Bill Pearl’s and Vince’s Studio City gym back in ‘63. I got a lot out of seeing the “stars” like Larry Scott nad Bill Pearl (my eternal hero). Then I joined Joe Gold’s, when he was on 3rd Street before they built the mall and he moved to 2nd St. All that was a very long time ago, but it has helped me maintain my sensibilities, focus, and health. I always get a flu shot, and keep track of my immune system which is important if you hope to be a Centengenarian. I, since developing Type 2 Diabetes (pills not Insulin), maintain my exercise level at the gym, love to take walks and hikes after dinner, and basically try to help those around me feel better about themselves, mentally and physically. Depression is a real disease when you get past 50, and you need to make sure to get boosters for the DPT shots every cycle that you got when you were very young. Always eat a large breakfast, a good lunch, but a small dinner!

Keeping a positive lifestyle, and helping others to learn new things is rewarding. I help other Seniors here, in San Francisco, to read English as an ESL, and try to help as many as I can in Computer knowledge. Just walking the hills of San Francisco can be a workout, but you need more than just that. Relaxation is important, whether it’s reading a book to keep your mind alert, Tai Chi, or playing Scrabble with someone younger than you. The gym is still 5 days/week in a staggered system, and it helps to meet new people, even if it’s only to learn how they might be different from you. Never isolate yourself, or if you do as a result of being shy, try to just get out and watch others and how they live life.

You do need to maintain some fat on your body, just to help your system. Being in contest shape always can be a bore, and hard on your body. Keep your eating habits, but limit the fats to a low level, carbs to a low enough level to process your protein intake, and think positive thoughts no matter what.

That’s my outlook on life! I hope someone will comment. I never worried about being in a contest, as my wife always thought I’d won the one that I needed to when I obtained her. However, some need those for their ego……..I just feel secure enough to not have been in one.

hey., many many happy retruns of the day and happy birthday.hey, i just want to thank you for all the mails , that inspired me to focus on my gym regim and making me aware of all the possible ways of increasing my muscle mass and am really thrilled to tell you that i have increased my body weight from 67 kgs to 74 kgs in 3 months , and it feels great now …having height around 5″10.

Happy Belated Birthday Vince!

It’s rare that a guy will give others a gift on his birthday but that is exactly what you did. Thanks. This blog post kicked my ass out of my comfort zone on many fronts. Life is meant to be lived, not watched. You help me and other people live.

Live hard, work hard, play hard!

Scott

HI VINCE!

WELL SAID! My B`-day is on Dec 3, and I´m turning great 43. The best thing this year was getting out of my Confort Zone and becoming fit in 8 months. Setting goals every single day for exercise and healthy eating, and now looking 10 years younger. I`m grateful every day for taking the right desicion. You have been part of my inspiration, thank you again Vince!

XXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOO
Rosie

Thanks for sharing your wonderful perspective, Vince! Following your analogy, I’d rather be on a bike which can be uncomfortable and requires constant adjustment, but it takes me places!

Vin,

I’m sorry I only came across this post today. You’ve done more in your 29 years than most 45-year-olds could ever dream of. Congrats on your reflections and realizations…and your success!

Happy Belated Birthday, big man.

Chris Lopez

Vince,

I want to take time out to just give you a shout to thank you and craig and the rest of the boys that have been an encouragement to me (46yrs old) to keep working out and eating better… i have a young wife and four young kids and needless to say they keep me busy with the amount of energy they require(and i want to give)… the last few months i had been on a quest to get six pack by thanksgiving, and though i had worked out consistently the last couple of years, i had not been able to make any fat loss gains until i took some of your free advise(only cause I’m cheap) and followed your turbulence training advice and diet recommendations… unfortunately only made it to a four pack, but my wife has commented that she never has seen me thinner and more fit… thanks for
all the generosity with the info….

Now, it’s my turn to give back to you, to have you sit an ponder this life that we have been given temporarily… we should know that physical exercise is good, but spiritual exercise is better… i was were you were at age 29, reflecting on the truth, the purpose of this life, observing the constant physical, mental and spiritual attacks that we face from entertainment(TV, creature comforts, foods, etc..) and how, for the most part, marketting of most of the these products that attack our health, mental and spiritual well being, involves the lust for more $$ without the thoughtful consideration of anyones health or person… (ie food additives, bogus workout machines, fake diets, bogus mental health advise, false religions, etc, etc, etc…) not to mention the ones that are being invented as we speak….

With all these attacks we, who are the leaders of this world, are called to do something, right??? and even though we step up to the plate and lead by example, and teach, there seems to be more and something missing, right??? if you haven’t felt that feeling, then wait a few years, some folk feel it earlier others later… however, this does not define our purpose, for we know that this life is fleeting, then what??? what assurance do you have at the most inevitable, most unavoidable, most definite moment of your life, your eventual demise?… after all no amount of physical work and good treatment of our
body can keep that from occurring, right??? even if you prolong it, you are still going to die, then what???

Like i said, i have been there, and considered myself quite the philosopher , more than most of my friends anyway… but could not get any permanent assurance of my purpose, no matter how successful i was with whatever i tried… Now, here is the kicker, no matter what we do during this life, we will never be truly good people, we can become better than others, but never truly good.. hard to admit, but true… only because in order to be good there has to be a line between good and evil… if we try to draw that line and relatively apply it to ourselves and others, than how do we know we are right??? who has the
perfect knowledge, the perfect standard to decide what is good and what is not??? why do we want to be good, anyway?? so that others can think we are good?? so that we can feel better???

here is the secret that people try to argue over and over again, but will all realize is the truth, either today because they ask, or after they die, when they will not have that choice… We were all made in God’s image, to reflect His love to each other and to worship Him… however, most of us choose to get caught up
in this temporary life, which gains us little as far as eternal comfort, and gains us nothing in eternal knowledge… if, you have begun to make an argument against this fact, as many do, there is one easy solution to find out the truth… seek and you shall find, ask and it shall be given to you, this knowledge you seek… if there is in fact only one GOD(by fact and definition), then this God would have to be perfect and have perfect love… all you have to do is understand
and admit that we are not good people and have ALL sinned(as i still do) and need God’s forgiveness to have this eternal life that He promises to give me
after I die…Sin is sin no matter how small or seemingly insignificant… (ie we all have lied, making us liars, we all have been selfish, angry, hurtful, at some point in our lives, and once we do something we are guilty of having done it forever…. no matter if we have stopped, you can’t take it back, right?) Since God made all of us and wants to be with ALL of us when we die, which is also why He made us, He needs us to be perfect to… well, guess
what, none of us are!!! so what do we do, or more importantly, what did this perfect, loving God do? He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay for all our
sins(I don’t yet understand why the shedding of blood is needed, but it is) and instead of us paying for our wretchedness, He paid for it for us, …

kinda like a judge finding us guilty, but then someone comes and pays the fine or imprisonment for us…. All we have to do is believe, if you don’t then
ask God to help you believe… if you can’t, ask God to help you ask…. This is the truth… the only truth… I didn’t believe it until I asked.. until God answered and He gave me His Holy Spirit(it’s real)… they Holy Spirit is necessary to understand the bible and get all the answers to every question you have asked
all the questions you will ever ask about this life and the one after… You will understand your need for Jesus Christ to be living inside you…

Vince, I hope you have taken the advise of this fan who wishes to give back, you have helped me with this life here on earth, i only wish to help you with the life beyond, both lives are inevitable… both lives are worth considering, knowledge is always free, but like you have said, if you don’t do anything with
it, what good is it? I would ask that you would please share this with others as i have your advise…

thanks for everything…

for the true kingdom come.

Happy late birthday…i really want to buy your product but its not working…u told me in an email to send you the account and u can make it manually…but what account are you talking about…the pay pal?

Vince,

What a great message! I used to lived my life in a comfort zone that got me out of shape in every aspect of my life. Spirtiually, intillectually and physically I was failing. I was 36 years old and needed to change. It all started to turn around when I made the commitment to read through the enitre Bible in January 2007, something I had never done. It ws not easy but I formulated a plan and executed that plan everyday. In March of the same year my Mother died unexpectedly from complications with type 2 diabetes. This was a hugh blow and without my faith in the Lord would have devastated me. I weighed 286 lbs at the time and was a ticking time bomb to follow in my Mothers footsteps. However, I used her death as a catlyst to begin living a healthy lifestyle. I have two beautiful daughers and needed to get healthy so I could be around to watch them grow up.

It started small making healthier food choices as well as walking every morning. After a couple months of walking I tried running, which I really enjoyed. I continued to lose weight which made the running easier. I decided in January of 2008 that I would run a marathon in memorial of my mother, not an easy task for someone who had been used to living life in the EZ chair. I began an 18 week training program the end of June 2008 and completed the Kansas City Marathon on October 18 of this year.

After achieving that goal, I set a new goal for myself to become a body builder. So far so good, I’m seeing great progress!

I guess I just wanted to say your message hit home with me, because in order to live the life I always wanted, took me getting out of my comfort zone and pushing beyond my minds limitations for myself. Great news my wife also got out of her comfort zone and has lost 58lbs and looks fabulous. Another great benefit is both our daughters are seeing our healthy life style and are already developing healthy habits themselves.

Vince buddy, Happy Birthday!

I totally resonate with you on your blog posting. Your body is like one big gigantic muscle, if you aren’t challenging it, you’ll grow weak and pathetic. It is only by trial that we can really test ourselves to see what we are truly made of. After all, no one ever won a marathon by sitting at home on an EZ-Chair.

As an artist, I know all too well that if I never challenge myself, I will never progress in skill with my art. Comfort just leads to stagnation.

Stay strong