There's no greater motivation than seeing and feeling results. But before I get into that, I have to admit, from November of last year, until May of this year, I let my work-out regime and eating habits slack, a lot. I had been working almost around the clock, not hitting the gym with any real frequency and eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods. Am I describing modern life on Earth? Of course I am - but there's hope.

The hope I'm talking about is a reaffirmation that the foundation for a productive life, is built upon our health and fitness. I think most people have an intellectual understanding of this fundamental principle of living. However, it's the consistent application (the putting into action), where most people falter. Modern life, simply gets in the way.

It's easy to prove this, as gyms are disproportionately populated by men and women in their 20's and 30's. There's a clear drop-off rate as we age. In fact, I get excited when I see people in their 40's, 50's and 60's hitting the gym. Yet, for all of our "work" and changing family priorities, we cannot let our health and fitness slip (too far).

Two months ago, I once again decided it was time to "step-up" my workouts and make some dietary changes. A few weeks into it - I wasn't seeing or feeling any results - but I stuck with it - and today was really the first day that I noticed two things: 1) My gym shorts fit better - a little looser, and 2) I had more endurance and stamina during my cardio workout on the treadmill and while lifting weights.

On the treadmill today, I said to myself, "welcome back Mike, that's the guy I know, that's the guy I am." The message here is simple - stick with it; it will take time to see and feel some results and in turn, it will be your results that feed your motivation to continue.

I surf with a rag tag group of guys: sure, there are much better surfers out there -you've probably heard their names -and then, there's us.

Unlike the guys you've heard of, we pretty much only surf on weekends, when all the rest of the working stiffs are out too. So we pretty much always surf in the same spot (mostly due to the availability of parking). Our crew met because a few of us lived in the same building in Hollywood, thus the name “The Wood Crew.” Get it? When we first started out, all of our equipment was crap and our skills were mediocre, but our attitude was great. Back then, when we hit the beach, we looked like dogs off a leash - just happy to be out.

The conditions never mattered to us (and maybe they still don't) -heck, we surfed in water that should have been issued a "small craft advisory" and the scum we paddled though, well prudence (can't say we have it when it comes to surfing) would have dictated wearing bio-suits. Most of our equipment had the unstated label of “community property.” I had a new wet suit that was returned a year after I loaned it to a buddy, only to have it snatched up by another buddy. I don't know where it is, but I heard it's in Mexico -with my friend? Anyway, that’s okay, I was surfing on a borrowed long board last year and ended up snapping it in September… I still don’t know who's board it was.

We've all come a long way from those old times and our skills are much better now. Most of the guys have upgraded to epoxy boards with spares in the quiver. I’m old school though, so I'm sticking to my original board, a nine-foot “Bear” surfboard that’s as yellow as a banana and has so many patches that it looks like that baseball Bugs Bunny through around the world. I love my board, it’s still the sweetest ride around and has taught a lot of people to ride. In fact, it’s been nicknamed “The Couch” because a family of four can sit comfortably on it. Oh, and it's as heavy as a refrigerator, but it’s mine… “There are many like it, but this one is mine….“

So, surfs up and the summer is here… we’re going to Huntington Beach this weekend because a buddie's work put him up in an apartment there for the summer, just blocks from the beach... Hmmm, you don’t say… I’m sure we’ll destroy it, but I’ll give you the full report when we get back. To read more about the Wood Crew - click Brian on Surfing on the left menu!