“I want my kids to remember me as a Dad who was always actively involved in what they were doing. I want to show them that you can be an athlete at any age.”

The Athlete of the Week series was created to spotlight the amazing people around us who are not only moms, dads, workers and friends but they are superstar athletes as well. Being an athlete does not always mean that they are Olympic level in their sport. It doesn’t even mean that they compete, or that they would beat anyone else if they tried. It means that they have made a commitment to their health by staying active and changing their lifestyle to do so. They inspire me every day, and I hope they inspire you as well.

Every Friday, look for a new installment and a new athlete spotlight. If you’d like to be featured, just email me at curvyandfit@gmail.com!

This week’s Athlete of the Week is Lance Holter, a dad of two boys who lives in Fort Collins and swims on the master’s swim team. He inspires me by leading his lane at swim practice most every day. He swims with grace and humility, but he knows when to pull out all the stops and go for his goals. He makes others feel great, as he makes sure to say “Good job today!” to his lanemates at the end of practice. Here’s Lance’s story:

Age:

44

Mantra:

The simpler, the better.

What’s your absolute favorite activity/exercise

The activity that gives me the absolute most pleasure is “boarding.” In the winter, there is nothing I like more than bombing down a ski run covered with a foot of fresh powder. In the summer, I achieve that same feeling wakeboarding behind the boat. I’m not outstanding at either activity, but I absolutely love the freedom I feel when I’m doing them. As far as exercise, I swim to stay in good enough shape to do the other activities I enjoy. Sadly, I’m not a big fan of weight lifting, but when I’m in a lifting pattern, it seems to provide the most physical fitness benefits.

What Keeps Me Exercising?

My Dad and my kids keep me exercising, but for very different reasons. My Dad…and his Dad both have serious coronary artery issues. My Dad had quintuple bypass surgery when he was in his early 50’s. He’s never been overweight. He’s never smoked. My Dad’s Dad died of a heart attack at age 63. Knowing my family history, I bust my ass…to keep the blood pumping through my arteries. The other reason I try to stay fit is because I don’t want to miss out on interacting with my kids. I can’t swim as fast as they do, but I swim enough to converse with them on the topic. I don’t ski as fast as my kids, but I can make it through the day with them. I want my kids to remember me as a Dad who was always actively involved in what they were doing. I want to show them that you can be an athlete at any age.

How do you work exercise into your busy life?

I fit exercise into my “busy” life by always doing it first thing in the morning. I’ve been a morning person my entire life, so swimming is a good fit for me. Exercising first thing in the morning is my coffee!

Who inspires you?

Is it cheesy to cite a television show as inspirational? Our entire family watches The Biggest Loser. Each season, I’m totally amazed at the effects intense exercise and controlled diet has on the contestants. Watching them inspires me to continue exercising and to try and eat better. The joy the people experience through their weight loss journey inspires me to stay healthy.

Do you have any words of advice for new fitness enthusiast, regarding sports, exercise, and/or life?

1) Find an exercise partner or a group exercise class. I’m fortunate to have swimming lane mates at the pool. At home, my wife and I exercise together. At one point in my life, I did a lot of running. I always ran alone, and over time, I got really bored with it and stopped.

2) Ease into new activities. I’m seen way too many people start a new exercise routine, go great guns for about a month, and then quit all together.

3) Mix it up. I swim, snowboard, wakeboard, golf, hike, and travel.

4) Routine and discipline. Swimming works for me because it is scheduled. The advice I give my boys is, “Don’t think of swim practice as optional. Don’t let yourself make a decision about whether or not to go.” Too many times, if we give ourselves a decision about whether or not to exercise….we make the wrong choice.

5) Record your exercise. It’s a good way to see that you’re making progress.

6) Schedule some days of “intense” exercise. Do intervals with short rests. Occasionally, some of the exercise you do needs to make your heart race and get you breathing hard.

7) You have to match healthy eating with exercise. Unfortunately, I’m horrible at this. I’m very disciplined with my exercise. I’m the opposite with my eating. Often, it’s not so much what I’m eating, but how much of it I’m eating.

Favorite vegetable and why?

Do potato chips count? I’m going to have to say carrots….but I also like asparagus. I won’t touch cauliflower.

Thank you, Lance! 

Stay tuned for next Friday’s spotlight on a new Athlete of the Week!

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Love to you!

Sara