When I started this blog my intention was to write inspiring articles that would help people achieve their weight loss goals.  While the content for this site usually focuses on health and fitness issues I have decided to share more in this post to provide insight about where I find my motivation.     

Since helping other people is a part of my daily routine anyway, I figured that sharing my ideas and strategies for weight loss would be a great experience for me, and for the readers.  I hope that I have helped at least one person thus far….   

A few readers of this blog, particularly those with intense interest in health and fitness, have requested that I dedicate a post to share the particulars of my day job, if I can even call it that.    

What is it I do exactly?   

Believe me, there are some days I wonder the same thing, but after several years of educating our youth I can confidently say that I wouldn’t trade this occupation for any other, besides full time fitness blogger…just kidding.  I am aware that there are usually two camps when it comes to the public opinion of teachers.    

There is the camp that believes teachers are powerful, and extremely valuable, then there is the camp that believes teachers are overpaid, expendable, and should never complain because they get the summers off!  Before you join camp hate, think about your favourite teacher, boss, personal trainer, manager, etc…   

Teachers are extremely powerful and exist in all places of work (which can be good, or bad) – This video was shown at our first staff meeting this year as a pump up for the coming school year.  I know it is a long clip, but this kid knows how to captivate an audience.    

If I had to list my daily roles and responsibilities in no particular order it would look like this.   

• Coach
• Counselor
• Teacher
• Facilitator
• Personal Trainer
• Group Co-coordinator
• Leader
• Nurturer
• Provider
• Communicator
• Motivator

Now, I can understand the argument for both camps, but if your child is lucky enough to have a teacher that cares about their job, understands their responsibility, and still continues to learn, then you should value that teacher.    

OK, summers off are a nice perk. Especially In Maui!

While I have a zero tolerance policy for complaining, I do believe that a career in teaching is not for everyone.  In my first three years of teaching I have learned so much.  I wonder sometimes if I am learning more from the students then they are learning from me.  I have such a different perspective now then when I started, and that will continue to evolve as I age.    

I have learned so much about how to keep a level head when faced with difficult situations.  For example, I have been told to F**k off on several occasions.  If you have teenagers or are one, you know how difficult it can be to reason with them!  

Leaning on Great Mentors  

Like any job, having a knowledgeable veteran to lean on is essential.  I am lucky to have had such a great mentor who calmed me down when I was nervous, and who knew how to push me when I needed it.  Nothing can replace a great mentor.  He even reads this blog sometimes, and always call me out on my spelling mistakes!  Thanks Man!  

Continuing to learn   

“The day you stop learning, is the day you stop living”   

I have always had a thirst for knowledge and continue to.  Having a fresh positive outlook everyday is not always easy.   

The lessons I learned in my first few years of teaching actually helped me achieve my weight loss goals believe it, or not.    

Image is Important, but Authenticity reigns supreme 

I spent my first few years learning how to build a rapport with students as a means to inspire and motivate them to learn.  My experience has shown that getting to know your students or clients is an extremely important process but to be effective it must be authentic.   I began to realize that to love my work, I had to live it.   

Teenagers, like some adults are quick to judge and formulate an opinion.  After reaching an unhealthy weight of 215lbs, I didn’t feel authentic anymore, and I’m sure my students didn’t take me as serious as they do now.  How could I motivate or inspire my students to live a healthy life when I wasn’t living it myself?  This was a huge turning point for me in my teaching career and in my personal life.   I began to Live the part, and not just act it.  

If you have a chance to work with children I would encourage you to go for it.  Be careful though, because they can sniff out an impostor quite easily! 

The primary goal of my teaching career is to inspire and motivate others to be the best they can be, and the most effective way to do that is to live that mantra myself.    

I would say that I have earned the respect of students by changing my body and my actions around the school community.  Students will find me after hours working out at the school gym, and ask questions about fitness and exercise, which is definitely an authentic way to teach and increases my authority for sure.    

While I have had many amazing, life changing moments at school there is one moment that epitomizes my desire to continue teaching.    

I had a student that reminded me of myself in high school.  Low self confidence, slightly above average body weight, but full of life. When the semester began he did not perform well on our first fitness test, particularly the beep test.  The second round of fitness testing came along, and he performed better, but did not reach his goal.    

The next day after school, he asked if I would run the beep test with him just for the fun of it (not for grading/evaluation) because in his words “you motivate me Mr. Fig”.  I was very proud of the compliment, but more importantly that the student wanted to participate in fitness testing for the “fun” of it. I try my best to model the “fun” part of fitness, and I think I may have reached this student!    

Teaching is like art, as it is constantly evolving.  It is not always easy to quantify or qualify your achievements as a teacher, but moments like that make all the hard work worth it.    

Lastly, if you have considered a career in teaching which includes (coaching, training, etc) understand that it is extremely challenging but equally as rewarding. 

Don’t forget to stay up to date on all the latest health tips, and weight loss strategies by “liking” The Healthy Teacher Facebook Page!