By David Tepera, July2, 2025

I’ll be turning 64-years of age soon, and I’ve been weight training for almost 40 of those years. I guarantee, I’ve made plenty of mistakes along that journey. Besides training mistakes, this includes diet and supplements.

When I first started lifting, I didn’t understand proper form and technique. I was in my 20’s, so my body was invincible. Every once in a while, I’d tweak a muscle or joint, but would bounce back relatively quick. I will say, I was surprised how much my body responded to a steady lifting program. The compliments from other people was addictive because I was a skinny kid all the way through high school.

Okay, throughout the younger years, I was lifting way too heavy and frequently. The problem with most young men, especially back in the day, is that they want to be king of the gym. Guys are always sizing each other up to be the biggest and strongest. Today, it’s comical to me because grown men can be so immature. Right ladies?

Now, ladies you don’t get a free pass out of this. Fellas, in case you haven’t caught on, when women get all dressed up for a date or an event, they don’t do it to impress you. Nope, women try to out do all the other gals in the room. Women size each other up just like men do in the weight room. Why do you think women buy expensive clothes, purses and accessories? Men have no idea how much anything you’re wearing costs. But, all the ladies in the room do.

Alright, sorry, I always get off track from my message.

I’ve written about this plenty of times before, but at any age, weight training will change your life. For all the elders, I know box gyms can be intimidating, but you need to find a gym close to you that’s comfortable. I promise, elderly people get respect in all gyms. Don’t be afraid to ask anyone how to use a piece of equipment. People will feel honored to help you.

What I learned over the years of training is understanding the different hand grips and range of motion to reduce any chance of injury.

Also, throughout my journey, I got suckered into trying all kinds of supplements. For me, it was a big waste of money. When I was competing, I received all my nutrition needs through a healthy diet, not all the internet gimmicks.

Anyway, there’s so much more to understanding weight lifting, but I encourage everyone at any age to get started. Please, reach out to me for any questions. We give free advice to people all over the country.

By David Tepera, June 24, 2025

When Tina and I met many years ago, she soon realized, I didn’t have any close friends. I explained that being a single dad for over 10-years, there was no time for anyone but my children.

My kids gave me power that can’t be explained. I’m sure there are many of you out there who can relate. I loved being their father, plus quickly learned the roll as a mother. I know longer cared about anyone’s thoughts because these are my children and I’m here to not only protect, but raise as respectful people.

Okay, that’s enough about us. Where do you get your power? Can you dig deep within and find strength, or are you weak and need approval from others?

Listen, people really don’t care about anything but themselves. If they talk negative about you or others, then they lack confidence amongst themselves. It’s obvious, weak people put others down.

Now, where are you in life? Are you out there battling the world? People want you to fail, so leave them in your dust. At the end of day, the only thing matters is how you feel about yourself.

 What internal power is needed to get your health back? How many hours to you spend in the doctor’s office compared to the gym? How many prescriptions do you take compared to eating healthy? I know those are hard questions, but someone needs to call it out.

We all know our bad habits and destructive behavior. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not casting stones because there is a time to reap the rewards of good old country cooking, and a few cocktails.

As you all know, Tina and I practically live in our gym and keep a healthy diet. But, when on vacation, there is nothing healthy about it.

We always crack up when registering at the front desk of a resort. The clerk looks us up and down, then informs that the gym is located on the third floor. Our reply is we don’t want to see a gym, so can you direct us to the bar.

Okay now, this is your day to decide what power to pull from. Why can’t today be a life changer? What’s holding you back? Everything about your life is your decision. Your stronger than ever imagined, so get up and do something about it.

By David Tepera, June 17, 2025

I believe we can all relate to today’s topic. Think about certain negative events in your life that led to good news.

Here are some of mine; after 20-years in orthopedics, it was time for me to resign. The industry was changing and my character and reputation was to be protected. You see, I’m old school where a handshake and words are stronger than the pen. It was time to control my destiny.

This forced Tina and I to look for other opportunities and start our own business. We were both already professional athletes in the body building world, so we created a special niche to weight train the older population. Of course, this was the beginning of the Ageless Muscle Fitness Center.

At first, we were concerned about losing a good career without direction. Believe me, we looked into many other business ideas before choosing our gym.

How about you? If you lost your job, this could create better opportunities. Search for a higher paying position or start your own business. It’s totally up to you.

There’s many of us that experienced the end of a long-term relationship. At first, there seem to be a heart break, but hang in there because something better is on it’s way. This is your opportunity to grow, possibly travel and pursue personal passions, which could eventually lead to meeting your soul mate.

I will confess, this is how Tina and I became best friends and married for life.

How many of you received bad news from the doctor? Your cholesterol is high, you’ve become diabetic, possibly multiple cardiac issues, early stages of cancer, or you fill in the blank.

You can either throw in the towel and feel sorry for yourself, or finally start a healthy lifestyle. When Covid became a challenge for many people, my sister Karen and her husband Tod decided to make the best of it. They both started riding bikes and cooking healthy meals, which led to the healthiest they’ve ever felt. What we all thought was bad news, they made it good news.

Listen, what ever you are facing in life, find a way to see the good. When a catastrophe hits, neighbors connect and become friends. It’s sad, but at funerals, old friends and families find each other again. We all learn that life is short, so what may be perceived as bad news will lead to good news.

By David Tepera, June 8, 2025

It’s funny, back in the day, when I was in my 30’s and 40’s, it was common for young men to ask “dude, how much do you bench press?”. I always smiled for the compliment, but my response was “actually, you should be asking me “how long you’ve been lifting?”.

You see, muscles only grow through time, proper diet and consistency. This didn’t happen yesterday, it started years ago.

 We now live in a society that can only be satisfied with immediate gratification. To me, I feel people should be rewarded for the work and dedication put in. It’s not how much you lift, but how long you’ve been lifting?

Think about it. Did you receive a degree or certification overnight? No, it took years. Did you lose 30 pounds in one day? Of course not, it took months of sacrifice. How many risks did you take to become wealthy? I guarantee, successful and wealthy people failed more times than winning.

Now, if you want to improve your life, you must start now. Just like weight lifting, you won’t see results at first, but when you stay with it, you will conquer and prosper, how cool is that?

We tell all our new clients, you won’t notice the changes for at least 5-weeks, but you will feel gratification relatively quick. The most important life changing goal for you is to be consistent. All our trainers can change your life, but what you need to do is show up and want it.

What changes do you need in your life? We all need to be healthier, so are you ready to start today?

If the doctor gave you a bad report, it wasn’t from what you did yesterday, it was from years of abuse. But, guess what? You can start the path of a healthier lifestyle today. That is totally up to you. You can either feel sorry for yourself, because no one else does, or you can let go of the “pity party”, and start lifting today.

I hope you understand my message. It’s about staying on course no matter what obstacles confront you. That’s what builds strong character and success.

You have control of your life, so it’s no longer about how much you can lift, but about how long you’ve been lifting.

By David Tepera, June 4, 2025

We are all in this game of life together. Some get lucky breaks, while others create lucky breaks. It all comes down to surviving.

Listen, we’ve all faced difficult times. It’s how you take on challenges that will define you. Yes, it’s easy to give up, throw in the towel and curl up in the fetal position, but that’s not you or me.

I’ve been sucker punched so many times through out my life, but I never got knocked out. I’ve dealt with divorce, bankruptcy, unemployment, death and much more that I can’t put into writing. But, guess what? I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself, my children needed a strong father, and that’s what they got.

How about you? Even though we can’t control the environment we grew up in, we can definitely control the life we live now.

Don’t let your life be about excuses. No, you’re better than that. Too many people want to point the finger at other’s for their failures.

I don’t care what your situation is today. If you’re not happy, then what are you going to do about it?

How many of you have scars? This isn’t just physical, it includes mental scars as well. As most of you know, our gym trains people of all ages, with the majority being elderly. There’s not one of them without external scars from experiencing life. Each scar has a great story, but the best part is, their body healed and kept surviving.

To me, if you end life unscathed, then you didn’t give it your all. Come on now, we don’t know when the end comes, so why not keep fighting?

When we lose loved ones, it scars our heart and mentality. It’s understandable to be depressed, but you have to find a way to fight back and become a survivor. I’m sure there’s plenty of people who need your strength in the time of need.
So, are you ready to take back life? What’s ever weighing you down, get up and punch depression in the face. Be a survivor, be a fighter, and don’t let anyone or any situation keep you down.

Don’t let another day pass you by. Clinch your fist, grit your teeth, put on your mean face and start attacking the world. You are no longer a victim, you’re a survivor, so keep on fighting.

By David Tepera, May 28, 2025

I do realize Memorial Day passed a few days ago, but I thought to share some history and facts surrounding such an important holiday.

Most of you know, I lost my oldest son Army Specialist Dustin Ray Tepera, who served in the Iraq war from 2008 through 2012. He was a gunner who road last at the back of convoys. Dustin’s job was to protect the squad from the enemy attacking from the rear. Well, Dustin was involved in combat and was awarded for his bravery. He did help save his brigade.

So, Memorial Day weekend is a little different for me and all those families who lost loved ones who fought for the United States of America.

Now, how did this holiday weekend get started? Just know, Memorial Day is for all those who lost their lives serving this country. Veteran’s Day is for those both deceased and living who served.

Its roots trace back to the aftermath of the Civil War (1861-1865). Communities and towns began spring-time tributes to all the fallen soldiers. At that time, it was known as Decoration Day.

Memorial Day was officially declared a federal holiday in 1971 and is observed on the last Monday of May.

Some people don’t know, but at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, all Americans are asked to pause and reflect.

The good news is, Memorial Day weekend also marks the beginning of summer, so let the barbecues begin.

Sometimes, we must ask ourselves “I might not be a soldier, but how can I serve?” What are you doing in your life that helps others?

Those of you in management, do you lift up your employees or bring them down? This is the same as coaching. Players and employees will pick up skills and perform at their best when there is great leadership. That’s how you develop a winning team.

There are lots of you out there volunteering to make lives better. I commend you for helping those in need. Nothing is more precious than giving your time to others because we have limited time on this earth.

None of us will be around forever, so when the day comes, how will you be remembered?

By David Tepera, May 21, 2025

If you watch sports, especially football, then you’re familiar with the “loser’s limp”.

How many of you watched a receiver drop the pass and then grabs his leg to imply an injury? Yep, he really wasn’t hurt, he needed to switch blame due to the embarrassment of failure.

It really gets old watching basketball players cry to the ref about getting fouled because they missed the shot. Just own it and get back in the game.

This excuse can be used in many categories besides sports. People in sales that don’t hit quotas, usually blame the market or territory. But really, it comes down to work-ethic.  

We’ve all use the loser’s limp excuse at some point in our lives. It’s a form of self-protection to avoid responsibility, blame and one’s ego.

The problem is, some people live in a loser’s limp mindset. They have an excuse for every failure. Once you can accept failure, like dropping the ball, then self-growth will begin.

What ever is going on in your life, including status quo, it’s completely your responsibility. Are you financially struggling? Who’s spending your money?

Some of you might be in a destructive relationship. Why are you still there?

Who is at fault for being obese, addicted to drugs and alcohol or unemployed? This list could be endless, but it can stop with you. All you must do is own it.

Believe me, there was a time I had an excuse for all my setbacks. My children were my driving force to never give up. I just shook the dust off and got back in the game.

Look, you might be facing health issues, bankruptcy, divorce or unemployment, but that’s not what defines you. Just own it and start problem solving. It’s time to stop being the problem and start winning.

Yes, that’s who you are. There’s no more living in the past. What you accomplish today will determine what tomorrow will bring. Don’t waste another day. It’s as easy as cleaning your house.

Now, sprint to the endzone, catch the ball and score the winning touchdown. You’ll never limp again because you own it.

By David Tepera, May 13, 2025

In case you don’t know the story of “kicking the cat”, here is my version.
There was this man who woke up late for work, jumped out of bed, stubbed his toe on the way to the shower, which catapulted his already bad mood. Once he finally got to work, this man was being rude to everyone, including yelling at his secretary for something that had nothing to do with her responsibilities. Now, the secretary is upset, and put in a bad funk for the rest of the day. Once the secretary gets home, her cat walks in front of her, but because of her frustration, she kicks the cat.
First of all, this is just a story with a purpose, so don’t be offended that someone kicked a cat. The whole point is that the cat had nothing to do with any of these people’s bad moods. This cat was just being himself, going about the day and got kicked for no reason.
So, what does all of this mean? Just because you’re having a bad day, it doesn’t mean you should take it out on others. We all know someone who lives in a negative world. Their conversation is only about putting down or hurting others.
We must recognize the impact we have on family members, friends, coworkers, or people we encounter. No matter what’s going on in your personal life, why not lift the spirit of others?
Who doesn’t have challenges in life, but there’s no reason to kick the cat. People around us need someone to give them a smile. That person should be you.
As you all know, we own a family business. The environment is completely under our control. Tina, Dylan, our trainers and I, make sure that when the clients walk through the door, they are greeted by name, along with a big smile.
Of course, we deal with the battles of owning a business, but that’s on us, not others. Why not go through life with a smile? Don’t put people down, lift them up.
We all get to make a difference in this world, so what are you going to be known for?
Please, don’t kick the cat, just make this one of their best days because you have that power.

By David Tepera, May 6, 2025

If you have a daughter, then this article is for you. Now, how do I begin?
You all know I was a single parent raising Dylan and Daylyn since they were very young. I had two other sons from a previous marriage who were much older. My only daughter Daylyn just happened to be the youngest and she changed my world.
I’ve always been known as a man’s man. I played multiple sports, plus competed in every athletic competition I could find. All my boys had the same experience as I. We were just a bunch of guys and I was teaching them how to be men. Just know, all my boys learned to be gentlemen and treat women with respect.
Okay, then along comes Daylyn. I thought “it’s all good, she is going to be one of the boys”. Nope, that little girl stole my heart. All of a sudden, I learned to braid hair, bake cookies with matching aprons, including regular manicures and pedicures.
So, let’s back up a bit. I chose to allow my daughter to be strong minded and take up for herself. Daylyn competed in martial arts for many years. Just know, back in the day, my little girl could beat up your son. Since she grew up in an athletic environment, Daylyn played multiple sports, with finally excelling in volleyball.
There was a time I apologized to Daylyn for not putting her in more girly activities. Her response was she hated high-heels, and would rather wear sneakers any day.
Don’t get me wrong, even though I raised my little girl to be as strong and respectful as her brothers, she is still all girl. I didn’t just teach her to be a lady, but to understand how to be treated as a lady.
Well, this Saturday, Daylyn is graduating college like many other young adults. She has had many battles along the way to reach this major accomplishment. We can’t express the pride and love for her to walk across the stage.
Daylyn has touched many lives throughout her young life from creating a children’s foundation to pursuing an elementary teaching position. I’m proud to know that my little girl who is all grown up will continue to be someone who makes this world a better place. So, look out, here comes daddy’s little girl.

By David Tepera, April 29, 2025

It’s funny because when I was in my 30’s, I would jump out of bed, run five miles, then get ready for work. Now, when I wake, I feel like I’ve already ran a marathon. Each morning, as I limp my way to the bathroom, all I hear is snap-crackle-pop. I think to myself “what happened?”.
I have to admit, I don’t have any regrets from the physical stress I put my body through from the past. Even as an adult, I competed in multiple sports and set new physical goals each year. Win or lose didn’t matter because I was testing myself mentally. I definitely took advantage of a healthy lifestyle while I was still strong and youthful.
So, here I am about to turn 64 years old, and I’m feeling the aches and pains from years past. But, besides that, I’m still a champion and why not? I take pride that I’m not the average fella in his 60’s.
It still baffles me how society has accepted the obesity epidemic. Guess who is making big profits from your laziness? Yep, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are banking. It’s easy to write a prescription and say “see you in three to six months”.
Now, for those of you who worked hard and gave this world your best, you’re suppose to have the aches and pains from being productive. But, besides that, how do you feel?
Do you feel the love of raising a family? How about the accomplishment of retirement? Where ever you are in today’s life, you should feel good about yourself. Yes, we’ve all made mistakes, but that’s what’s called “living”.
Believe me, I’ve probably made more mistakes than accomplishments, but so what. It’s these aches and pains that remind me of the past.
I’m one of those people who don’t wish to go back in the past and do things over. Nope, I’m happy where I am today and just keep rolling along.
I’m fortunate to feel love around me each day. My kids are healthy and thriving. I have an amazing wife, plus our business is changing lives.
I count my blessings because today is a good day. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so let this be the best day.
Besides the aches and pains, how do you feel? It’s your choice.