Take Your Loss to the Gym

There is nothing more difficult than the loss of someone, something or loss of self. Whether its a relationship, a job, a pet, self worth, dignity or the physical death of a person you love. It doesn't matter what the loss is; a loss is a loss and its painful. They all come in different forms of pain and grief. We all experience different emotions when we endure one of these life's many trials, but it's how we decide to push through that makes us stronger and keeps our "chin up" through the coming days.

I recently took a great loss. My Grandma, Gloria Baker, was someone in my life I was very close to. Not one of those average "oh I HAVE to go see my grandma" scenario's where most people; kids, teenagers and even adults, take for granted who they HAVE to go see.  It was a privilege for me to be able to pick up the phone and call her weekly. It was a privilege when I got the chance to see her on Holiday's or whenever I drove up from Vegas to visit my family and friends. See my Grandma wasn't a chore. She was a blessing and an amazing one at that. I could talk to her about absolutely anything I wanted; she never lied or misguided me. She was the Grandma I could always count on to make any situation lighter with her laughter, her humor, her ability to scream louder than a drill sergeant when the 49ers were losing a football game or even making a touchdown. She was the LIFE of the party at every family gathering. For me, it wasn't "I HAVE to" it was "I GET to". Something I believe and know that people take for granted. Are you getting the picture?

When we take a loss, as I said above; its not how we experience the pain, its how we make it through. I'm a health and fitness fanatic. Everyone knows that. So for me, there is nothing more satisfying to my daily routine than getting into the gym. No matter what I'm going through, I ALWAYS want to be there. And I'm not talking about your average hamster wheel spinner, your chronic cardio buff or whatever name you call it. I'm not interested in getting nowhere on a cardio machine. 

For me, its the iron I want. There is something to be said about that cold weight room when you walk in, emotion after emotion rolling through your body like an electrical current, waiting to be ignited. Its the feeling of being put in check when I step to those plates; knowing I will walk out of there a defeated happy mess. Defeated? Yep. I said: defeated. The iron ALWAYS wins. I can take any aggression out on it any time I want. I can push, press, pull, lift, curl and throw myself into the iron and no matter what, I still cannot defeat what just gets heavier and heavier with each exhausting repetition, each set that goes by; I am being defeated. The iron doesn't lie to me, it doesn't give into my problems, it doesn't care about my fears or sorrows. Its just there to release upon it the force of emotions I have inside when I'm ready. It doesn't move without me, but it always wins. 

Since before and after losing my Grandma- and many many others in between, this is my 2nd home. This is where I know I can SHUT UP AND LIFT! If I want to be left alone? Gym. If I wanna be aggressive? Gym. If I wanna beat the crap out of someone? Gym. If I took a loss? Gym. Whatever the reason may be, you can find me in the gym. I am there; giving it my ALL and fighting myself until I can't be fought anymore. I am there to leave every emotion on the ground and walk out defeated. There isn't a comfort food in the world that can leave you feeling defeated and happy at the same time.  If you have yet to experience what I'm talking about, GET YOUR ASS TO THE GYM. If you do it right, you'll walk out defeated; happy.

DO YOU EVEN LIFT???

The Diversity of Fitmark Bags

     Have you ever gone on a trip, stayed in a hotel/motel and realized you forgot your shampoo & conditioner at home? I have. Many times! Then it clicks... "I get to look forward to using one of the same old boring, nasty scented shampoo & conditioner the hotel offers". FANTASTIC! You know what I'm talking about. The ONLY 3 options you're given: 

•Dead Sea Air

•Citrus

•Melted Plastic

The only difference? The label. That's it. Not a damn thing to look forward to and no diversity in scent at all. That screams cheap to me. Of course considering how many different people they cater to, the budget does't necessarily allow for so many options at every hotel.

     So now you're wondering, what in the world do shampoo and conditioner have to do with a backpack? Its simple. Every single backpack that's been created has had the same boring theme, along with the same uncomfortable material and backing:

A few compartments, plain stitching, plain colors, oversized or too small, and treated like a punching bag; abused, thrashed and tattered. Not only are those traits a turn off but just looking at one stabs me in the back. I remember  all of Junior High through the end of High School carrying those uncomfortable backpacks where when you put your books in it and threw it on, you're guaranteed to be stabbed by the corner of the books through the bag. Eww. 

     So why did I choose the Fitmark Black Velocity and why do I talk about Fitmark bags ALL THE TIME?? To make it simple: quality, diversity, class; originality. I will only use products the creators themselves use. Why? Because I know that if the creator uses it, its without question good and its not just someone looking to make another dollar. This person believes in what they've created and if it works for them, there would be no reason they wouldn't want it to work for anyone else.

     I saw in Fitmark the same dedication to making the BEST products possible with the highest quality everything, that I saw in previous ventures my current boss, had previously embarked on. I knew that what he had created would be classy, stylish and diverse. 

     From the many different compartments, clean and precise stitching, original colors, advanced materials, the comfort of the backing of the backpacks down to the insulated water bottle holder and choice of 1 or 2 straps, I saw in Fitmark what other companies don't put into theirs; effort. Effort to make something that can suit anyone who carries any form of luggage, even when you're dressing up to go out. Effort to make sure the bag represents the lifestyle of anyone. Effort to be sure that with everything these bags represent, they would make a difference in the gym luggage and backpacking community by being diverse and breaking from the boring, expected bags that every single company creates. 

     That is why I choose Fitmark.