Congratulations, you’re the fattest boy in camp OR Encourage Someone!

In the movie Heavyweights Ben Stiller plays a exercise guru that buys a summer camp for fat kids and tries to convert it into a weight loss camp.  The movie is hilarious.  In one of my favorite scenes his assistant Lars is weighing the boys in.  He tells a camper named Sims: Congratulations Mr. Sims, you are the fattest boy in camp.  To watch the clip, click here, the scene starts at 1:31. 

What gets cut out is the reaction of all the other boys watching the weigh in.  They all cheer for Mr. Sims, the fattest boy in camp.

Last night I went to boot camp at my gym Work Out West in Greeley.  Like Mr. Sims, I was the fattest boy in camp.  Boot camp is like a one-hour visit with Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser.  The trainer Kim is a fitness competitor, she is one tough lady.  There were about 40 fitness models, I mean participants in the class and I felt like Kevin James in a P90X video.

Anyway, about halfway through I didn’t think I was gonna make it.  I’m mentally writing out my will and reviewing my life when I look over and Kim smiles at me and gives me a thumbs up.  Now I’m 38 years old and I’ve done a good amount of motivational speaking for others but I was hurtin for certain.  Her thumbs up ENCOURAGED ME!!  There were about 20 minutes left in the hour class and that small gesture kept me going.  It gave me a second wind and sustained me until the end. 

Each of us need to be encouraged sometimes.  We need to know that others believe in us and that others care and are watching.  I could have quit and maybe nobody would have cared but Kims encouragement kept me going. 

So today, let me encourage you.  Don’t give up, you’re almost there.  I read a quote yesterday that said: no one was ever declared the winner of a race halfway through.  That’s true, you WILL WIN, but just don’t give up.

I bet there are people around you that also need to be encouraged.  Would you consider being an encourager today?  Paul tells us in the Bible: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess 5:11)

Has anyone ever encouraged you when you were about to quit?  Comment below about it.

Don’t give up, even if you are the fattest boy in camp!

Thanks for reading, talk to you soon.