By David Tepera, September 25, 2019

Recently, I was leading a discussion with a small group covering diet tips.

As each person gave their dieting failure testimonies, it became obvious there’s more going on than just bad food choices.

My question to the group was, “What are you feeding your brain?” It seemed like everyone had a bad attitude toward life and others. My mission for the rest of the session was to bring uplifting and inspiring suggestions.

Now, let’s turn this question to each of you, “What are you putting into your mind throughout each day?” Why are you wasting time with negative thoughts? There is so much good in this world, but we can’t seem to find it or focus on it.

I’ve stopped watching news and political channels because of all the negativity. We know there’s evil in this world but choose not to get caught up in it. The only way to stop it is within ourselves. I can’t control the actions of others, but I sure can control mine.

I often get asked how I come up with so many different inspiring topics each week for this column. It’s easy because my mind has been trained to love everyone, plus finding the good each of us has to offer.

Just know, when we meet, I see only beauty, not ugliness. The only way you can turn me away is if you treat others with disrespect.

I love coming home in the evenings to see my family because we all have the same positive attitude. My family is full of love and laughter. Why don’t you be the one in your family that makes everyone happy.

If you’re still struggling to find happiness, maybe you should reach for spiritual help. There is always a higher power waiting on you. It’s just a prayer away.

So, remember, as you start putting things into your body, don’t just reach for healthy foods, include creative positive thoughts, including love through spiritual being.

It might take some time to develop this new habit, but I promise, it will change your life.

By David Tepera, September 18, 2019

I’m sure about everyone reading this column has failed a diet or two. Today’s dieting world is extremely confusing because of the variety of programs thrown at us each day.

I’m not here to say anything negative about any diet. I’m only going to share a simple system we use, along with some of our clients. Even though we are professional physique competitors, this system works for all body types and genders.

Now, if you have a medical condition, you should check with your doctor before you start any diet or exercise program. Most of our medical clients are sent to us from their doctors, and we take great pride improving their lives.

OK, here it is. It’s all about carbohydrate manipulation. Now, you’re probably saying, “What? That already sounds complicated.”

Look, carbs are your friend or your enemy. It just depends when and how much you’re eating. You must remember, carbs are your energy source. Just like a car needs gas to run, your body needs carbs to maintain energy through the day.

The simple system is this: load carbs for breakfast, have a moderate amount of carbs for lunch and a small portion for dinner. If you need to lose a significant amount of weight, no carbs for dinner. Eat all the protein and veggies you want.

Notice, I didn’t mention anything about skipping meals, starving yourself or taking anything out of your daily diet. Just know, we eat at least six meals per day.

Instead of snacking in-between meals, we eat a full meal. It’s definitely recommended to eat healthy snacks between meals, but don’t worry if your snack is unhealthy at this time.

As for today, it doesn’t matter what your diet consists of, try to manipulate your carbs as I described, and the weight will start to fall off.

All our meals consist of meat protein, green veggies and carbs. Yes, we are carnivorous. Don’t judge others. If you use plant-based proteins, good for you.

Just to name a few carbohydrates that we incorporate into all our daily meals: rice, potatoes, oatmeal and sweet potatoes. Notice what you didn’t see: bread, pasta, sugar or dairy products. We save those for the weekends when we are not dieting. You must reward yourself on the weekends.

If you need example meals or want weekly dieting and exercise tips, like our Facebook page Ageless-Muscle to get on our list. We help people all over the country with simple, easy tips.

So, my message today: If you need a simple and easy system, try carb manipulation and watch the pounds melt away.

By David Tepera, September 4, 2019

Where ever you are at this moment in life, take one more step each day. This doesn’t just pertain to walking, it’s for every purpose you possess.

For example, read one page from a book, drink one cup of water, accomplish one part of a project, delete one negative contact, perform one more pushup, and so-on, according to your situation.

Most clients that come to us have failed every diet and exercise program imaginable. What happens is people try to jump into a new diet with all cylinders firing, but soon, run out of gas.

All you accomplished was to set yourself up for failure. Most programs will only work if you take it one step at a time. Remember, getting in shape or finding success in life is like running a marathon. It’s not a sprint.

Nothing that has true purpose happens overnight. There has to be a long-term strategy because failure comes along with it. We tell everyone to not beat themselves up for failure. Regroup and keep moving. You’ll eventually create new healthy habits.

Before coming to us, one of our clients set a goal to lose more than 50 pounds within a short period of time. Because Sarah was starving herself, every few days, she was gorging on junk food.

We helped her through a whole new diet program that requires carbohydrate manipulation. This process is for another article, but understanding how to manipulate carbs will keep you from starving and blowing diets.

Once Sarah understood the marathon process of healthy eating, the weight started falling off.

How many of you are wanting to start exercising, but can’t seem to get motivated? Why not sitting on your knees to perform some push-ups? Then, just add one more each day.

If you want to educate yourself on a particular subject, try reading one article a day.

If anything, try being nice to one person a day, and before long, you’ll be the kindest person in the room. Just have sincerity.

Hopefully by now, you’re recognizing by adding “one” into your daily routine isn’t all that difficult. So, start today to change your life and before long, you’ll be number one.

A quick shout out to my dad Ray Tepera. Tomorrow is his 79th birthday, and he just had his first knee replacement. Love you dad. You will always be my hero.

By David Tepera, August 28, 2019

Recently, I was a guest for a small group of leaders. I asked each one to name a few expensive items they once thought had value, but it really wasn’t what was expected. People were naming motorcycles, boats, jewelry and so on.

My purpose was to lead them to the most important question: “What do we all possess that’s most important?” After a few thoughts from the group, I proceeded to explain the importance of “time.”

Our whole lives are based on a time scale. We are on this Earth for only a certain amount of time. Some more than others, so how do you spend yours?

I always explain to our clients during the first consultation of how Ageless Muscle values their time. Our training sessions typically only last 40-45 minutes because most people have busy lives. We are not going to waste time by unnecessary conversation while on the clock. You’re going to come into the gym, hit the weights, accomplish your goals, and go back to your family or work schedule.

We must all recognize when people are helping us or doing for others. It’s the value of their time that means the most. It’s good that people give money and certain needed items to charity, but your time of volunteering is what’s special.

How many of you are waiting for your kids to grow up before starting an exercise program? Are you waiting for retirement to take the ultimate vacation? If you’re in a bad relationship, why are you still there?

When’s the last time you visited a relative or more important — your parents?

Until about a month ago, our company was involved in meal prep. We would cook Saturday evenings and all day on Sunday making about 200 meals for clients.

After about eight months of no days off, I finally told my family, we’re done with this part of the business. It was not worth the time because we were in a position to never see our families.

We had lost the value of time. I wanted our lives back. It was the best business and personal decision to date.

Since then, we have been visiting family each weekend and developing stronger relationships.

Look, I understand timing is important, but sometimes, you shouldn’t wait because you’ll just keep pushing the time frame further down the road. Of course, it’s never too late, but take a realistic look at your life and find a way to make it happen now.

By David Tepera, August 21, 2019

Today’s article is a big shout out to my good friend and client, League City Mayor Pat Hallisey.

I’m sure most of you are familiar with Hallisey’s near-death experience, where he lost one leg and has limited mobility with the other. This all took place during Hurricane Harvey where he spent three months in the hospital.

Well, as you can imagine, being laid-up for such a long period will create massive atrophy of all your muscles. Pat went on a long road of recovery through the medical center’s TIRR system and local physical therapy.

Over the past several months, Hallisey has been weight training through our Ageless Muscle program. He is now more than four times stronger, plus his quality of life is getting back to normal.

What impresses us the most comes from his work ethic. Here is one of the busiest and most powerful men in League City, but he finds a way to improve his health and fitness. When Pat is in our gym, he is attacking the weights like a young athlete. He doesn’t let his physical disabilities slow him down. And, of course, this is the same effort he brings to League City.

Now, my question to you is, “If the mayor can do it, why can’t you?”

I can’t express enough the importance of weight training, especially as we get older. Not only do your muscles and bones become weak, but your mental and overall health will decline. Yes, weight training will improve all the above.

We train people of all ages, with many up into their mid- to late-70s. It’s exciting for all of us to watch them regain strength to increase energy and longevity for life.

Just know, Hallisey still spends most of his time in a wheelchair while continuing strength training for his prosthetic. His beautiful, amazing wife Janice keeps our leader on the go, and ensures Pat’s never late throughout his busy schedule.

Come on now, no one wants to hear your excuse for not exercising because if the mayor can do it, why can’t you?

By David Tepera, August 14, 2019

Recently, I read a study of how the participation in youth sports is down 39 percent over the past many years. I do understand several factors could be involved, from single parenting to finances.

As you all know, I was a single parent for more than 15 years of two kids. They were in second and fourth grade when all this took place. Yes, there were many challenges, but since I was raised in an athletic environment, I wanted my children to have the same experiences.

In today’s world, kids are locked up on their phones and laptops thinking that social media are their friends. We are losing our kids to understanding the importance of socializing in the real world. It is the only way to become independently successful, and not a cyberbully.

So, what are the benefits of youth sports? At an early age, kids learn that it takes practice to improve skills, lessons from losing and failing, the joy of victory, success through teamwork, getting back up after falling and the list is endless. It’s no secret, all these lessons will carry over into adulthood.

People who’ve played sports develop a competitive spirit that will help catapult them into our society’s workforce. Typically, that’s who you call a boss or owner. If you don’t like it, reignite your competitive self and begin the journey to control your own destiny.

Now, for those of you who have challenges to get your kids involved in youth sports, here’s my best suggestion. Look into your city’s parks and recreation department. The youth leagues are the least expensive, practice only one hour on one day out of the week, with all games on Saturdays.

As parents, you’ll develop friends with other teammates’ parents, where some carpool to help get kids to and from practice or games. Through each season, I personally made new friends, as they all stood on the sidelines cheering for everyone. I felt fortunate because I was typically the head or assistant coach. I wanted to make sure every kid had a great experience, along with equal playing time.

There were times where one of my children’s teammates had physical challenges. It was heart warming to watch kids learn to help someone who might seem less fortunate to have the same experiences.

So, my lesson today is for you to find a way to help get our kids back involved with society. They are our future and must learn the importance of getting along with others and contribute to making this world a better place. Maybe, it can all start by having fun playing youth sports.

By David Tepera, August 7, 2019

Back in 2000, I ran the Houston marathon for my 40th birthday. My daughter Daylyn was born several months before, and since I did most of the early morning feedings, my training had come to a halt.

Believe me, by the time the race started, I was not in long distance running shape, but I decided to give it my best.

It took me more than five hours to complete the race, but I crossed that finish line. I wasn’t only a physical mess, I was mentally depleted as well. I was crying like a baby crossing the line because I didn’t know if I could dig it out.

During the race, I reflected over other areas of my life where I needed to dig deep to cross the finish line. Just like you, there are many.

What parts of life are you running a marathon? How many of you, after a hard day’s work, are going to night school, taking online classes, going to trade school or working a second job to help pay the extra bills?

Most of us have been involved with failed relationships, but did you give it your best? How many of you have ever started a project and never finished? Look around the house, it’s still waiting on the final touches.

We all have those days where we want to throw our hands to the sky and just give up.

During my children’s childhood, they played multiple sports. I wanted to expose them to as many sports as possible, so they could find their passion by high school. There were only a few sports they didn’t care for, but I made them finish the season. I didn’t want them to be quitters because that’s the easy way out, and all of us can quit.

The message today is to find a way to cross the finish line in everything you do. Finish your education, be an equal partner in relationships, seek higher power and continue to explore ways to be a better person.

Crossing the finish line is never easy because of all the energy spent trying to get there, but you have a passion and desire buried deep inside you. Just when you’re ready to fall on your face, dig deep, grind it out and find a way because that finish line is right there in front of you.

On your mark, get set, GO!

By David Tepera, July 31, 2019

One of the largest reasons people quit exercising is motivation. All of us can get excited about starting a new diet, cardio or a weight-training program, but sticking with it is another matter.

Bottom line, losing motivation becomes your enemy.

At Ageless Muscle, we inform all our clients they won’t start seeing results until the fifth week. You see, there’s more than just building muscle when lifting weights. Your bones will harden and become more-dense, plus tendons strengthen to bones. It just takes the body time to adjust to all the weight resistance put upon it.

My message is to never give up. Not only find your motivation but learn to keep it. We are familiar with New Year’s resolution people who fill the gym every January, and by February or March, they’ve given up. If they’ve only stayed consistent for a few more weeks, the body was ready to grow and improve.

Of course, lack of or losing motivation happens in all aspects of life. Remember how excited you were when courting your spouse? You showered them with love, showed respect and gave them your undivided attention.

Hopefully, you became best friends, but through time, you turned into a slacker, got too comfortable and lost motivation. This is when relationships start to fail.

We’ve all seen people who get divorced, then start getting in shape again to hit the dating scene. Why didn’t you do that during your marriage? Tina and I are training partners, and because of our busy schedules, the gym gives us bonding time.

How about when you started your job? Remember the excitement of a new beginning? Why did you lose interest? For every single supervisor, people don’t quit companies, they quit because of your lack of leadership.

Nothing is truly as empowering as finding a religion or church that fits your beliefs. Seeking a higher power will put you in positive mindset to go out in this world and be a better person.

Now, what kills motivation? It’s easy to slip back into destructive ways. You must create a new norm. Surround yourself with positive people. Look around, your friends could be slackers, too. Slackers want others to fail because it makes them feel better about themselves, so break away.

Today is your day to get excited about life again. All you need to do is get motivated and keep moving forward. You got this!

By David Tepera, July 24, 2019

There’s no secret, as we get older, we lose our physical strength. That’s why we are in awe of older athletes competing at a pro level.

Remember professional hockey player Gordie Howe? He played 32 seasons, had numerous record-breaking stats and played until he was 52 years old.

All you youngins need to google search Jack LaLanne. He was known as the Godfather of Fitness. LaLanne spent his entire adult life preaching the benefits of health and fitness.

He actually opened the first health club in the nation. LaLanne had many crazy stats as an older man, but one example was in 1984, at the age of 70, handcuffed, shackled, and fighting strong winds and currents, he towed 10 rowboats, one with several guests, for one whole mile.

LaLanne lived to be 96 years old and even performed his daily exercises the day before his death.

I know, I’m not even close to the same playing field as the men I just wrote about, but Tina and I take pride knowing, as a couple, we are the oldest professional physique champions in the greater Houston area.

I’m turning 58 in a couple of weeks and received my pro status at the ripe ol’ age of 55. We don’t just compete, we win!

Now, what about you? I know as you age, you feel muscles and energy slipping away. I’m telling you, don’t accept it. Yes, Father Time and gravity wins in the end, but you can still have an energetic and vital life to the end. It’s what we take pride in for all our clients.

Today is your opportunity to start setting new physical goals. What are yours?

Sixty-nine-year-old Greg wanted to surf again, so within a few months of proper weight training, he surfed Hawaii for the first time in 15 years.

Don’t let others be your role model. Be the person you inspire to be. My nephew Logan never exercised his entire life and is planning his first half-marathon. I told him that with each step, he will set a new personal record, so don’t even think of quitting until you cross the finish line.

I hope all this makes sense to you. It doesn’t matter what age or gender, we all have a strong level of determination deep within us. Once you get into motion, determination will rise to the top to accomplish any goal put upon it.

Today, would had been my son’s 30th birthday. From all his family and friends, happy heavenly birthday Army Specialist Dustin Ray Tepera.