Joys of Parenting- Sharing Children’s Accomplishments

One of the joys of parenting is the opportunity to share in your children’s accomplishments. As a child matures, the achievements reach even greater heights. This past weekend, I was thrilled to be a part of a New York City celebration. Our second son, Adam Bornstein (BornFitness) and his co-author, John Romaniello (Roman), launched their book, Man 2.0 Engineering the Alpha: A Real World Guide to an Unreal Life: Build More Muscle. Burn More Fat. Have More Sex.

Adam, had previously published 4 books through Rodale Books.

• The Men’s Health Big Book: Getting Abs: Get a Flat, Ripped Stomach and Your Strongest Body Ever–in Four Weeks
• The Men’s Health Diet: 27 Days to Sculpted Abs, Maximum Muscle & Superhuman Sex! 
• The IMPACT! Body Plan: Build New Muscle, Flatten Your Belly & Get Your Mind Right! 
• The Women’s Health Big Book of Abs: Sculpt a Lean, Sexy Stomach and Your Hottest Body Ever–in Four Weeks.

While all of his other books have made distinct contributions to the health and fitness industry, his latest endeavor has the potential for a wider appeal since it was published by Harper Collins, one of the world’s largest publishing companies.

Man 2.0 Engineering the Alpha was released last week with glowing reviews from health and fitness experts. Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced the book with an engaging foreword. Due to a conflict, Arnold was unable to attend the gala events. Adam and his co-author, Roman, were surrounded by many of the top names in health and fitness. Other notable celebrities dropped by as well.

Over 400 people filled the Chelsea Manor. Many of the attendees had traveled a distance to attend. Roman and Adam autographed well over a 100 copies while the guests listened to music and enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Money was donated to a Boston charity and a few lucky people won luxurious raffle prizes. The party went strong into the early hours of the morning. Swag bags were filled with a plethora of health related items.

Additional smaller gatherings occurred throughout the weekend. Some were limited to just our family while others included Roman’s entourage.

As I sit back and reflect on the whirlwind weekend, I also recall Adam’s younger days. Ira and I always modeled a healthy lifestyle by eating home cooked meals and engaging in a multitude of athletic activities. While Adam’s food choices were sometimes limited and favored my homemade desserts, he learned to appreciate the finer aspects of food. We rarely ate at fast food restaurants. Pictures from his younger days reveal a pudgy compact sized boy.

Suffering a debilitating back injury and a prolonged undiagnosed fever in high school, placed Adam on the sidelines. His promising Glenbrook North High School tennis competitions quickly evaporated. Months of enduring a high fever eliminated all of his excess fat, but at the same time left him weakened by the ordeal. Despite these obstacles, he persevered. By the time Adam started attending the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2000, he became intent on strengthening his body. His determination fueled his interest in learning more about what it meant to be physically fit while he pursued a major in psychology. In 2004, we were thrilled when he received the honors of  summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Even though he excelled in psychology, he sought out a new endeavor. University of Florida-Gainesville became his next alma mater. He chose that school for its exemplary reputation in journalism and his desire to be a sports writer. His mentors at the University of Florida helped to define his career path. Juggling the demands of being a teaching assistant while also pursuing a graduate level degree in a new field illustrated Adam’s tenacity as well as his ability to multi-task. Just a few months before graduation, he hit a tree while skiing in Colorado. Neither his second concussion nor a case of mono deterred him. He finished graduate school with his class. Once again it was not surprising that Adam would be recognized. Adam was acknowledged as the outstanding grad student, an amazing accomplishment for someone who had never taken any undergraduate journalism classes.

He started his career as the assistant fitness editor at Men’s Health. Unlike some fitness writers who don’t practice what they preach, Adam modified his diet and intensified his exercise routines. While not being blessed with the same height or build as his father and three brothers, he maximized his strength and endurance. He never missed an opportunity to workout with professional athletes and fitness gurus.

A few years later, he married the love of his life, Rachel.  Shortly thereafter they left Pennsylvania. Adam accepted the position as editorial director at Livestrong.com in Santa Monica. A few months ago, Adam decided to seek his own path. BornFitness has now become his trademark. Adam’s zest for life has intensified as he has matured. He is intent on helping others fulfill their goals.

All weekend long, I watched him interact with his circle of contacts and at times had the opportunity to meet a few. There is no doubt that Adam has become a significant influencer in his field. The accolades abound both in person and in print. Tim Ferriss’ blog posting provides additional insight as well as Greatest.com, Sharecare, and Shape Magazine.

When I look back to his early days living in Northbrook, Illinois, I never saw any indication that he would become a maven in health and fitness or would strive to improve other people’s lives. However, I knew that his integrity, motivation, and intelligence would provide a strong base for any career path he chose. We felt that he would eventually pursue his dreams.

I look forward to witnessing and sharing his future accomplishments.The joys of parenting would not be complete without the perk of watching adult children succeed. I wish the very best to Adam and Rachel. Mazel Tov (Congratulations)!

Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon.

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