1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
My name is Thom W. Newcomb, I have just turned 40 years old and I am a financial advisor with TW Newcomb & Assoc a platinum firm with Ameriprise Financial.
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
Ironically it was my Brother who inspired me to eat health and stay fit. I say Ironically as he currently fights weight issues and it appears the roles have reversed as I am now the one to encourage him.
3. What did they do to inspire you?
My brother inspired me to compete in sports including wrestling where health and fitness is key. My brother was at every match and pushed me to be better, stronger, and more athletic than even he was. The majority, if not all, of my athletic achievements were a direct result of his encouragement to stay fit, eat healthy, and push myself to the next level.
4. How did their lesson change your life?
My brother was top of his class for fitness and athletics, was voted athlete of the year,breaking records along the way, he achieved starting positions and awards, and at a predominantly younger than normal age. And while I looked up to my brothers achievements he wanted me to be even better. Many want to maintain the glory for themselves but he looked at me as a person to achieve as much or even more. I never genetically achieved the size and muscular build my brother naturally had, but he believed that by maximizing my quickness, lean muscle, and athletic ability, I could still out achieve him. While I doubted this, I later came to realize… he never did. He believed in me until my own belief kicked in.
I too achieved athlete of the year, national medals, college scholarships and a fit and healthy life that I never could have imagined. I easily could have coward in his shadow, but he certainly was not going to hear of that, he raised me up on a pedestal that without him never would have existed.
5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?
Yes, I now volunteer my time to youth programs focusing on positive attitudes and finding that hidden talent that many don’t realize they have. I dedicate a great deal of time and energy giving to others with the hopes of helping them feel the way my brother helped me feel. While I may never be able to dedicate so focused on one person like he did,I hope my motivation as well as personal example leads others to the light that I found, which was all originally shown to me by my brother… the one who believed in me more than I did in myself.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
Healthy living and fitness serve more purposes than just athletics. You have to pursue fitness as a way of life.
Yes,living a healthy life takes discipline ,commitment and sacrifices, but the rewards are far greater than our investments. If you set the foundation now, with healthy choices, you might sacrifice some instant pleasures in life ( being able to play video games instead of exercising, eating fast-food instead of quality food), but you will be rewarded by the quality of life that you later get to lead.
By doing the things others will not do now( exercise and give up unhealthy foods) you will be able to do the things others wish they could do later (enjoy life with no health problems).Healthy living is about leadership and you have to play the leading role in your own life.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?