I was a passenger in a major car accident – the vehicle was traveling over 100km/hour, a tire blew out and it rolled three times into the median ditch. I was thrown out of the car about 20 feet into the ditch (thankfully not into traffic!).

When I landed I felt a sharp pain in my lower back and knew right away it wasn’t good. At the hospital I was told that I had 3 fractured lumbar vertebrae (spinal compression fractures). The doctor said it was likely because I had been lifting weights that prevented any serious nerve damage.

I was told not to lift heavy weights again, but it didn’t make sense to me that the same training which protected me from serious injury was now considered “bad”. So as soon as I healed and was able I began lifting even heavier!

During tough times like this I also think about those people in my life who have inspired me. For me, the most influential person in my life was my father.

My dad, Edward, was a giant of a man, standing 6′5″ tall, with broad shoulders and a full beard. He was active in our community, volunteered with an environmentalist group, and he was a family man. He was the greatest man I ever personally knew. When he passed away from cancer at the young age of 46 it turned my world upside down. But even while he was fighting cancer, I never heard him complain. There are two things he said that I will always remember:

* “Everything happens for a reason; that doesn’t mean you’re going to like it.”

* “The way to become immortal is to positively influence the lives of other people. Your actions will live on in the memories of others.”

He taught me that there is a lesson or an opportunity for growth in everything that happens to you, both good and bad. I also learned that to lead a fulfilling life one needs to have a purpose that includes helping others. Lessons to live by.

Thanks again for sharing Zach, and for giving us an opportunity to do so as well. Some of this stuff isn’t always easy to talk about, but it’s real and it’s important.

In strength,
Josh

My Uncle recently got beat by cancer and i have a client who recently had a mastectomy. Not that you’d know, part of her Lat was removed and sculpted to form a new breast. She now raises cash for a cancer support community in Dublin.

She deserves a prize. But would never ask for anything.

Keep up the good work my friend.

Regards

Dave Hedges

I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for being real and straight forward with me. I have a story just like everyone else. I was born and raised in Brooklyn and never had a Father to call my own. My Dad left my mom when I was about 4 years old. My mother worked long hours and was never really there for my brother and I. My grandmother came to live with us from Ecuador. She was a true warrior. She passed away about 2 years ago. She was my second mother. When when my grandmother passed away my wife went Venezuela for 6 months and I stayed back to work. I started working two jobs,that had nothing to do with fitness, and I did not want to listen to my heart because I was hurting too much from my grandmother passing away. I lost my grandmother that raised me ever since I was 4 years old. Well from there my life went down hill and I just lost my self.

Then I came to your gym for about a month and let you down. That also was a negative point in my life that made me feel like I had nothing. I felt like I just could not make anything good happen in my life.

When my son came back from Venezuela, I found that fight that my grandmother had (by the way my grandmother lived with liver cancer for about 15 years, diabetes and high cholesterol and never when for Chemotherapy) all her life. I felt like I was raised from the dead and found my true reason for living.

When I was at Fast Track in the last week of May in New Jersey I talked to you Zach. At first I felt bad and did not know how to talk to you. Then when we finally talked after your presentation to everyone in Fast Track you said something to me that will always stay with me forever “I believe in you”. I never in my life had some one say that to me and really place such powerful impact. It made me feel like there was actual light at the end of the tunnel.

Zach when my son came back from Venezuela I did a lot to get my self off the ground. I started to listen to Brian Tracy Law of Achievement in my car every morning and I joined Boot Camp Blue Print with Pat, Nick, Jim, and BJ and I stopped listening to the radio and started to listen to the crazy amount of Cd’s that I have bought through out the years. But there was always one thing that I would always check, I really wanted to prove to myself that I could achieve this goal, and that was your Underground Certification site. I would check the dates of the next up coming certs, re-read the text and watch the videos over and over. I feel that it is one of the biggest honors to have your certification because you make sure people take ACTION and don’t just talk smack and you care about what about people.

Just to prove to all of you guys and gals why Zach is not all talk here is an email he sent me:

bro u rock

pls post this on the blog brother, it’s a powerful story and it will move others!

share UR story and become part of the community

im proud of U bro, ur son is proud of u, ur family is proud, ur now on the road to greatness!!!

This is one of the reasons why I share this story. It still hurts me when I type and read this but I have to be strong for my Family. I can not quit.

Never Give Up People No matter how hard it gets Keep driving your feet and you will break down that wall.

Zach I added a few lines and once again thank you for your powerful and yet simple words.

I will be an Underground Strength Coach and I will make you proud.

Well see you at the top Zach

The winners for the inspirations stories (and I actually recvd many via e mail who were not wanting to post their stories here) ==>

- Joe Gagliano

- Chris Reed

- Jerry Hill

- K Man

- Adrian

Pls. e mail me and I’ll get you guys the 1 yr membership to http://undergroundStrengthCoach.com as promised

Also, please don’t fear posting comments here

I want to create a strong community here, and, often times, it is YOUR story that will inspire and lift someone else up, so remember, “Pay it Forward” – don’t be shy.

–Z–

I’m am now reflecting on the work my grandfather and father did and the people around me who have accomplished amazing things.

I have no right to bitch about things — EVER.

Loving the blog, bro. Take care.

I loved your offer for free membership, In exchange for Charitable donation. Accepted But I have a couple more things I’d like to add.

It has been almost a year since I started my fitness journey. When I started I joined a bunch of Fitness Training and motivation Lists for Fitness tips, Muscle Training advice and Lifestyle motivation. I have to say after a year Zach has the best list of the dozens I joined, Hands Down! A little soft sells and a lot of get off your ass and get moving. As a webmaster I know list are tough to do and extra tough to keep up on. So I give Zach Props for helping when I first started and giving me something to look forward too. Zach Fitness renovations has enabled me to train without putting my bank in the negative. Great Job Zach, Keep it up.

My Pay it forward! Free Webmaster Help(within reason), While I’m not an expert at anything I can do almost everything. SEO, limited graphic design, keyword research, word press or script, hosting, etc. And If I can’t help you I will see if I know someone who can.

Here is the Catch (easy), You need to have/add a link to one of Zach’s sites(affiliate link ok) or The Lift strong on the top third of the site. While I would like to help love to help everyone build a custom site from scratch I don’t have that much time. But I can get sh*t done so hit me up. Dandith /@/ Gmail.com take out the // and spaces. Put Zach’s pay it forward in the title somewhere. See if I can’t help out.

Peace.