It's not about diet and exercise. It's a whole new life.

2010-11-29T17:04:00.001-05:00

2010-09-14T20:41:00.000-04:00

2010-06-29T01:51:00.001-04:00

Kai Hibbard, from Biggest Loser 3, speaks out.

2010-06-20T18:53:00.002-04:00

I was just thinking today about how at one point I would forgo my normal one teaspoon of sugar, because it was 30 calories. I can related to what she's saying, now that I'm behaving like a normal person again.

2010-06-11T06:00:00.002-04:00

Dine out for the Gulf Coast

2010-06-09T00:17:00.001-04:00

DINE OUT FOR THE GULF COAST

EVENT DETAILS

Time: June 10, 2010 to June 12, 2010
Location: Savannah's Café
Street: 1113 Central Ave
City/Town: St. Petersburg
Website or Map: http://www.Facebook.com/Savan…
Phone: 727-388-4371
Event Type: fundraiser
Organized By: Jeremiah Charles
Latest Activity: 13 hours ago

Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)
Invite More People

EVENT DESCRIPTION

From June 10-12, 2010, participating restaurants throughout the United States will set aside a portion of profits to help those directly affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and to support the long-term restoration of the treasured coast.

Savannah's will be participating by donating a portio...n of our proceeds for the 3 days to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund and will be featuring drink specials on Deep Blue Margaritas, Hurricanes, Pimm's Cups, and a new, original creation called the Oil Slick

More details as they develop will be forthcoming. In the meantime, to learn more about the initiative, you can Google "Jimmy Galle Dine Out for the Gulf Coast" to see recent press on it or visit:

http://dineoutforthegulfcoast.org/

Another idiotic study

2010-06-02T03:11:00.002-04:00

Bogus Study

So, here's the headline, "Milk: Two glasses a day tones muscles, keeps the fat away in women, study shows"

Here's the abstract to the study: http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/2010/06000/Body_Composition_and_Strength_Changes_in_Women.11.aspx

The basis is all wrong to begin with: "Purpose: We aimed to determine whether women consuming fat-free milk versus isoenergetic carbohydrate after resistance exercise would see augmented gains in lean mass and reductions in fat mass similar to what we observed in young men."

So, they were trying to first determine if protein (vs no protein) would aid in building muscle...because that's never been looked at. THEN, they follow with pondering if more lean muscle will burn more fat...because, well, who knows?

You could have saved them a few thousand dollars by sending them a MM2K from 1993.

OK, I'm done. Off the soap box. This horse is dead. I'm being redundant, repetitive...and repeating myself.

2009-04-13T00:53:00.001-04:00

From It's not about diet and exercise. It's a whole new life.

More proof America will be the next third world country

2009-02-05T12:27:00.004-05:00

You can now buy a desk (no doubt, made in China) that holds your Valuemeal allowing you to simultaneously ruin your waistline, contribute to waste in landfills, and perpetuate the illegal alien issue by supporting cheap labor at fast food places. Not to mention you're giving extra oil money to nations that support terrorism. Why do I picture a fat ass sitting behing this "meal-wheel" listening to fat ass Rush Limbaugh complain about "The Liberals" being the problem.

Be the change you want to see in the world. ~Ghandi

Nope, there's no help for us.

2009-01-25T20:09:00.001-05:00

Fast-food outsourcing gets trial run in Charlotte

The Associated Press
Posted: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009
MORE INFORMATION
http://www.charlotte.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A fast-food giant has been trying to determine whether its easier to place your drive-through order with someone around the world instead of around the corner.

Jack in the Box Inc. has been outsourcing order-taking for some Charlotte-area restaurants to a call center elsewhere, testing whether the idea could improve efficiency.

Company spokeswoman Kathleen Anthony told the Charlotte Observer that the technology is intended to improve speed, accuracy and service. The San Diego-based restaurant chain hopes the process will free up on-site employees to process orders, accept payment and address other needs.

"It is something we're testing, not something we're necessarily committed to at this point," said Anthony, declining to discus the results of the Charlotte trial that began in the middle of last year.

Anthony told the Observer that the orders are routed to a Texas call center operated by Bronco Communications, and she said some orders may be routed outside of the country.

Restaurants including McDonald's and Wendy's franchisees have tried centralizing orders but neither has used the program nationally because they have found it difficult to prove it saves money, said Sherri Daye Scott, editor of QSR Magazine, dedicated to the quick-service restaurant industry.

Customers in Charlotte have noticed heavy accents among order-takers only to find different workers at the drive-through window.

"I had noticed it (several months ago), but I just thought the person taking the order was somewhere else in the store where we couldn't see them," said Elizabeth Banks, a Charlotte teacher and mother of three. "It never occurred to me they might be out of the country."

Kate Mosteller, marketing director of Andover, Mass.-based Exit 41, which focuses on off-site order taking, said the technology can help eliminate barriers between customers and employees who speak different languages. But it can also be difficult to match order-takers with customers who may have different dialects or expectations.

"You want someone who's friendly and articulate and who can understand ... different nuances," Mosteller told the Observer. "(Otherwise) you're going to know you're (being routed) somewhere else, and that's exactly what you don't want to do."

Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotte.com

Our new VP gets it!

2009-01-19T02:45:00.001-05:00

Maybe there's hope for us?

Why is America fat. No...REALLY?!

2008-11-19T11:17:00.001-05:00

I couldn't have summed it up better myself. Well, unless I simply said, "Overfed and undernourished."

Obama or McCain?

2008-10-31T11:46:00.001-04:00

We go right to the center of the most intelligent minds in America...Muscle Beach.

How much oil in a large fry?

2008-01-26T12:27:00.000-05:00

Check out this video: how much oil in a large fry? - goodbye art

I am blogging from my...

2007-11-24T00:59:00.001-05:00

I am blogging from my new jott.com account. I didn't actually type this message, I am talking it into my cell phone, this will be amaizing if it actually works. listen

Powered by Jott

2007 Mr. Olympia Winner Jay Cutler

2007-10-01T12:57:00.000-04:00

This is not the freakish, 5 foot 9 inch 274 pound 2007 Mr. Olympia Winner Jay Cutler. No, I just wanted to see if saying "Jay Cutler, 2007 Mr Olympia Winner" would increase traffic on this page.

This is a healthy, 190 pound Frank Zane from 1983. How did the sport go from 190 pounds of artist like sculptured physiques to nearly 100 pounds heavier FREAKS? Welcome to America where bigger is better, and we don't know when to quit.

Exercise, Caffeine Fight Skin Cancer

2007-08-29T13:58:00.000-04:00

WISH TV 8: Indianapolis News and Weather - Exercise, Caffeine Fight Skin Cancer

More good news for coffee drinkers. It just keeps coming. Can anyone find me a bad article for caffeine? I swear, Starbucks is behind this.

One more reason to avoid fast food.

2007-08-29T13:18:00.000-04:00

I'm just bringing you the facts.

News Story - Verizon Online

2007-08-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

Will it ever stop? Fat kids in India and around the world.

Indian Schools Asked to Ban Junk Food

New Rule!

2007-08-02T15:39:00.000-04:00

From Bill Maher, August 29th, 2003's show Real Time, during his "New Rules" segment:

All right, New Rule: No more celebrating gastric bypass. Carny Wilson, Al Roker and now Starr Jones are all being heralded by the media for stapling their stomachs shut. They shouldn't be. They're not making a brave choice to change. They're giving money to doctors to reroute their ability to turn food into crap. It's like kicking cocaine by crazy gluing your nostrils shut.

This is why I love Maher. Blunt, but honest, and pithy. I couldn't agree more. Really, people who cut their guts by literally cutting their guts are a direct insult to the rest of us who didn't resort to supergluing our nostrils shut. People ask me all the time when I tell them I lost 100 pounds, "Did you have surgery?" I want to punch them in the face.

Changing your life isn't easy. It isn't something you can go check into a clinic for, and walk out a new man. It's gut wrenching, 100% honest with yourself, painful growth. It's character building. I don't know how to describe it other than what I always say, "The weight is simply a byproduct."

Honest, the weight loss is a secondary effect of you living a healthy life if you're doing it right; mentally, spiritually, and physically. Do it wrong, and you're like the angry excuse making idiots I meet who got surgery. Honestly, I deal with many of them, and they're the angriest most emotionally immature people ever. They come to me looking for things like vitamin B when the weight starts coming back on because they think that's the problem. No, fatass, you've stretched your stomach out again. Face it.

I suppose I've been trained to be hard on myself. Even too hard on myself. However, I'd rather err on that side of the fence than the school of "it's not my fault I'm fat." Therefore, I will take 100% responsibility for my actions, and in this, I know I can be 100% responsible for my future results.

If you've had surgery, and want to defend yourself here, go for it. However, know you cannot talk your way out of a situation you acted yourself into. Tell me "Obesity runs in my family." I'll tell you, "No, the problem is NO ONE runs in your family, slacker."

I'm a bit sick of these people.

Barry Bonds didn't do steroids?

2007-07-31T03:35:00.000-04:00

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1640086_1640085,00.html

Let's end this right now. If wasn't steriods, then it was human growth hormone (HGH) or both. There's no question. Men simply cannot put on that much muscle that late in life due to DECLINING testosterone levels.

I'll update this to spell it out a bit more. For now, follow the link and just look at how Bonds gained throughout the years.

It feels good to not be a loser

2007-07-25T17:01:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I forget it sometime, but I do. When I'm down, I choose to stay down, and act like a loser. After going to the gym and beating myself senseless the last 2 days, I wonder why in the HELL I would ever not go work out and feel good.

Working out doesn't feel good. After the workout does. Honestly, I beat myself senseless in the gym. I can only stand 20-30 minutes anymore because I'm hitting things so hard. I love the new intensity, and efficiency. You know, there are even a few moments in the gym that I do have fun. Like when I see my bicep bulge as I do a curl, and think, "Damn, I'm a stud." It's fun in an 8th grade sort of way.

Then today, I sit here resting, taking the day off for recovery, and feeling sore all over. My biceps got the smackdown. My chest and back are screaming from Monday. Every way I move, all throughout the day, my body says to me, "Congrats, you're back on it."

Here's an update on the weight. It's around 216, on any scale I step on. I'm going back to NIFS to get my bodyfat checked, my lean mass weighed, and in 8 weeks I will have dropped 16 pounds overall. It'll probably have to be 20 pounds of fat, and add 4 pounds of muscle. I've done this before, I'm doing it again, and I can just fell that my head is finally back in it.

Why did I take such a long break? More after a few more days of good workouts and higher consciousness.

Countdown Clock 3

2007-07-19T00:30:00.001-04:00

Cheese and wine for health?

2007-07-07T13:33:00.000-04:00

From http://www.cheese_wine.iblog.co.za/2006/09/

"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities" The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy, 5:23. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) (who claimed the discovery of vaccination and pasteurisation) said that wine was by far the best anaesthetic and analgesic on the planet (he was also renowned oenologue - a wine scientist).

I love, ABSOLUTELY LOVE reading things hundreds, or thousands of years old that support my way of life. If you didn't know, I've upped my intake of fermented foods, and wine. I may need to enjoy my wine a tad less, but I do know that it's antioxidant effects combined with it's uhhmmm...calming effects are a magic combo for me.

Do you know?

2007-07-01T14:32:00.000-04:00

Do you know what it's like to look in a mirror and not recognize yourself? I mean, literally, look, look away, and then realize a moment later..."That was ME in that mirror!"

Have you ever wept tears of joy looking at the man you've made of yourself?

Do you know what it's like to have women hounding YOU?

Ever look at at beautiful woman only to realize she is the one doing a double take back at you?

When was the last time you surprised; nay, flat out SHOCKED yourself with something you've accomplished.

Have you ever said, "I never knew I could be so happy." So happy, that you're almost scared at how good it's getting. In awe, wondering, "How much better will this get, and who will I be then?"

And that's where it ended for me. As soon as it was all going great, I threw it all away. As soon as I started wondering, questioning, doubting if I could handle it all, it all went away. I didn't throw it away consciously. I just focused for a moment on fear, took my eye off my goals, and they were swallowed alive by life itself. Life interrupts death; death conquers life.

So be it. This has happened to me before. Hopefully, it won't happen again. There's no reason to worry about that right now though. For me, for now, I need 100% focus on my upcoming success.

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting for the old, but on building the new.”Socrates

Rob is moving again

2007-06-07T13:49:00.000-04:00

A consumate mover and shaker, Rob Cooper, aka "Former Fat Guy" is back to blogging. Check out his new blog here: http://www.formerfatguyblog.com/

Whereas people are shocked to hear I was once 300 pounds, Rob once lost 300 pounds. What a feat!

I'm not lighting farts on fire any longer. No...something dumber.

2007-05-09T00:56:00.000-04:00

Change of scenery this week. New job too. And for the last two days I've hit every meal exactly at 2.5, exactly as I set out to do. Well, aside from a little pre/post workout experiment tonight.

I'm back on it. I'm going to let this build this time. No extreme bs. However, in 20 weeks I'm going to be extreme. I'm looking at a bodybuilding show in Indy. Check the OCB website for details. www.theocbwebsite.com

Yes, I know, that's crazy. I don't know if my skin will snap back into shape in time, but I'm going to train like it is. I'm going to have to get the majority of the bulk off quickly if I stand to make it.

Rough outline:
weeks 1-10, lose 2 pounds a week
weeks 11-28, lose 1 pound a week

That's 28 pounds, which puts me at 190 according the 218 I weighed today on the "heavy scale". That would be the scale that reads a little heavy, at Cardinal Fitness. I'll check myself a couple different places this week, to get a rough idea. It's not important aside from tracking my trend; making sure it trends downward.

What about those last two weeks? If I get on stage, it'll get real odd on the scale due to carb and water depleting, reloading, etc.

Here's what I've been doing.

2007-04-12T13:21:00.000-04:00

Michael Pollan - The Omnivore's Dilemma

2007-04-09T21:31:00.000-04:00

Michael Pollan - The Omnivore's Dilemma

Blogging in rhythm and sorrow

2007-03-26T23:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know what that title means. I'm writing this one, sans any plan whatsoever.

I know not what I'm going through. I'm telling myself I need one week to get it out of my system, and then I'm 100% all in. That is, I am doing whatever I want this week, party hardy, and then I'm back like I was last summer; meals spot on, timed, measured, planned workouts, the whole 10 yards. I don't know what "the whole 9 yards" means, as a first down is 10 yards.

And no I don't care.

I honestly think, my best guess, is that the extra 15-20 pounds I'm carrying has changed my hormones to the point that I'm less conscious than before. I've always talked about building the body for the sake of development of the mind. Well, it stands to reason that I let the body go a bit, and the mind has followed.

I'm just not as mentally sharp, emotionally stable, or positive, clear minded, etc, etc...etc! New goal? See how conscious I can become. If you were paying attention, that means I'm going to see how fit I can become. That's overall health, along with weigh reduction. Did you know the only PROVEN thing to increase lifespan is reducing calories? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorie_restriction

The plan of attack?

Stupid clean eating, 6 days of cardio, with 6 days of weights. My workouts will be short, intense, with an high emphasis on form and building a tighter neuro network of brain cells. Think I'm nuts? Exercise grows brain cells, as shown in this study http://www.news.uiuc.edu/scitips/03/0127exercise.html

Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot. Day 7? Steven Covey would call it "Sharpen the Saw". A renewal; a day of rest. Whatever. I call it Zen Buddhism Meditation and Yoga. Again, this just improves the mind more, as shown here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051110215950.htm

I'll update everyone with the details of the diet which is going to be heavier in raw foods, especially fish and seaweed.

Nudists sweatin' it out at the gym - Fitness - MSNBC.com

2007-03-21T11:13:00.000-04:00

Nudists sweatin' it out at the gym - Fitness - MSNBC.com

At Krispy Kreme, Whole What? - washingtonpost.com

2007-03-16T01:14:00.000-04:00

At Krispy Kreme, Whole What? - washingtonpost.com
This proves that everyone wants to lie to themselves about weight loss. The average American will come buy a weight loss pill from me for $50 a bottle, after eating a $5 breakfast consisting of a whole wheat Krispy Kreme and a Grande Mocha (low fat, please!), they'll skip lunch because they're too busy at their 9-5, and then eat a shit sandwich washed down by a low carb Michelobe Ultra.

I'm crazy because I enjoy $.20 worth of oats every morning, eat my own meals that I make, and when St. Patty's comes around I'm drinking mass quantities of $5 a pint DARK beer. Life is too short for lite beer. I'm sure I'll be hung over the next day and I'll eat a REAL Krispy Kreme with my coffee.

Hey, every now and again, you need to go off. It's what we do 90% of the time that makes this little diversions so much (guilt free) fun.

Moving from survival mode.

2007-03-13T00:43:00.000-04:00

I was just listening to Zig Ziglar, one of my favorites. He suggested that some people might just be in survival mode, and we need to move from survival to stable, to success, and then to signifigance. Interesting thought.

7%! Rob, I'm all in!

2007-03-10T22:08:00.000-05:00

I'm done with debating it. I know what I want. I want to be stupid lean. Why?

WHY NOT?

I've got my reasons. One, is because I know what it will take, and that means getting my entire LIFE in order, on a schedule, planning, etc. That means I can enjoy some anticipatory excitement, as well as the actual excitement of doing what I've planned.

Also, I'm vain, and need to admit it. I'll set out knowing that I'm doing this for vanity, and accept it. In doing so, I am thinking I will lose some of this damn ego I have.

It's odd. Everytime I give up my pride, I gain it ten fold. Perhaps I need to quit trying to give up my ego, as it only seems to grow when I do so. Instead, I'll use a little negative psychology on myself, admit I'm vain, and in doing so, lose my vanity.

Or, am I just crazy? Who cares. I'll be crazy at 7% bodyfat which will be better than whereverthehell I am right now.

I'm proud of myself, and I can do better

2007-03-08T00:57:00.000-05:00

What does that mean, exactly? Well, on the one hand I cannot feel too bad, because I came from 300. On the other, I know I can do better. So I must celebrate the fact that I did pretty good whilst knowing I can do better. I DID good. Now, I must DO good. Better. My best.

The picture is from not my worst, but close to my best. I never got much leaner, and now I'm a tad heavier. I've got to come up with my "WHY?" Why do I want to be totally ripped? Vanity? Attention? Marketing myself? Personal Challenge? What am I looking for???

Personal Challenge. I have no other right now. That's what I'm going with, for now. "Why's" change.

You know, there are some things I do in life that I'm not sure at the outset why I'm doing them. This is part of enjoying the journey.

Blogging while on the eliptical

2007-03-02T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is GREAT! I work in a supplement store. There's a personal training studio in back. So, right now, I am:

1) Working, and getting paid
2) cruising about 8MPH on the eliptical
3) surfing the web
4) watching an educational DVD on nutrition
5) blogging

I can multitask, get fit AND paid!! I'm sweating on my keyboard though.

Loving life right now. I'm overeating, gaining weight, and looking better. When I finally cut this summer, I will look fuller at sub 10%. WooHOOO!!

Inspired by Twice the Man

2007-02-18T23:48:00.000-05:00

My buddy GR, aka "Twice the Man" got back to the weight loss again. Way to go, bro! http://twicetheman2.blogspot.com/

In light of this, I thought I'd start posting more often. This should help keep me on track while I try to bulk a little in the next month and a half. It's an odd mindset to actually try to overeat after being so damn strict for so damn long. I need this though. In time, I'm certain I'll feel the urge to get lean.

So today, I woke up to my normal bowl of groats already cooked in the crock pot. What's a groat? Well, before oatmeal becomes a "flake" it's on the plant as a grain with a hull. Remove that hull, and it's just a groat. Steam it and squash it, it's a flake (old fashion oats). I like mine less processed, thus, the groats. Here's a more detailed explaination:
http://www.karenskitchen.com/a/recipe_oat.htm

Thanks, Karen! A great low GI, and raw food resource. Keep it raw, unprocessed, and REAL.

So, onto the short winded rest of the day.

Meal one, groats and whey.
Meal two, oats and whey (hey, I knew I need the carbs for leg day)
"Meal" three, MetRX Big 100 bar and two Venti Starbucks drip coffee. Uhm, yeah, that is PERFECT pre workout nutrtion. <-That's sarcasm, if you missed it.

Then came the workout. OUCH! I freakin' WRECKED my legs. All I did was squat and calves, but I hit PERFECT form, and I'm hosed for the next 3 days. Seriously, the hardest leg workout I've had in 6 months. Therefore, the rest of the story goes like this:

Post workout shake, 35g's whey and 60g's carbs
Post workout meal 6 oz sirloin, double chicken breast, baked potato, mixed veggies and two glasses of cabernet. Hey, it's SUNDAY! And I did it post workout. AND I'm bulking.

and I'm making excuses for my overindulgence.

The wine doesn't help any. Alcohol blunts testosterone, and that was kinda dumb considering how bad my legs hurt. Maybe I could justify that if I blunt my test production at dinner, it'll have a rebound effect (hormones always do) later tonight when I'm sleeping? Maybe I needed the cleansing effect of the antioxidents in the red wine post workout?

Maybe I can justify anything.

Meal 6 was 50g's whey (because my legs are telling me they're going to need it) and an slice of Oreo Cheese Cake (because my belly tells me I WANT it).

So there's my leg day, and my cheats. Not too shabby. At least I'm cheating at the right time and getting my protein. Well, not too shaby aside from drinking wine post workout. And the Oreo thing. And too much whey rather than real food. And that sugary MetRX bar. And, and, and....

I'M BULKING! Lemme alone!

The old, LONG story

2007-01-28T23:19:00.000-05:00

I never posted this here before. It was on my old site, so I figure I should, before it gets deleted.

It's something I did to chronical my thoughts/feelings while they were fresh. I've always hated the length and lack of creativity in this piece, but it not intended to be creative. Just that facts. So, with that cavaet, here 'tis.

How do you lose 100 pounds?

First, you must know...

How does one become 300 pounds in the first place?

Louie Anderson used to have a punch line…”It’s not like I woke up one day, looked in the mirror and said, ‘Oh no! Look at what happened.’”

But that’s kind of what it’s like. You don’t gain it all at once. You don’t see it go on. It was only about 10 pounds I gained my first year in college. Then another 10 the next. Throw in a bad relationship, a failed business, and ten years later, I wake up and said, “OH NO!”

If you could actually know what was happening, when it was happening, it obviously wouldn’t happen. However, the problem with denial is, well...it’s denial. You simply cannot face what has happened, and what is happening. So you keep lying to yourself. Telling yourself you’ll get in shape for next summer, when the weather’s nice. Then next summer, you again cannot take your shirt off on the lake, and you’re talking about getting in shape in the winter. Winter comes around and you say “after the holidays.” The holidays pass and you’re too damn depressed to get up at all, and the cycle goes on, and on, and on.

So how do you stop it? You simply do. Change may take years, but in the end, it happens in a moment. There is a moment, however brief, that you finally just decide. Not think about it, not plan it, not talk about it, you actually break down and get serious with yourself. In one moment, that voice inside your head finally speaks clearly to you. And that is it. No fancy plan here.
I look at it as a cycle. If you can imagine a wheel spinning, you have a cycle. If that cycle is a negative one, get out a wrench and throw it into the spokes. It’s not a process, it’s a moment.

Get real with yourself!

What really happened, the details.
I was honestly at the Taco Bell drive through. I had thought about losing weight for about 10 years, but never did anything besides lie to myself about it. And then it happened, in a moment.
My normal routine was to get really trashed at the bar each night, drink another few at home alone, and pass out on the couch. Wake up, get some coffee and cigarettes, then a couple white bagels with butter. After the nicotine, caffeine, insulin buzz subsided, I’d make my way to a fast food joint. And that’s where it happened.

I backed out, and drove to the store. All I knew at the time, June 2003, was that everyone was losing weight low carbing. I had heard of no one that didn’t lose 5 pounds or so the first week. So I figured, what the hell? I had never lost weight before, and figured I’d start out making sure I would lose.

And lose I did. I dumped 5 pounds, as predicted, week one. Another 5 the next week. Six weeks later, I’d lost 30 pounds. I felt great about the weight loss, but that was all I felt great about. I knew eating bacon and eggs every morning, and bunless double cheeseburgers at night wasn’t the smartest thing to lose weight. The lack of energy and constant constipation confirmed that. If you want to know what carbs do, try eliminating them from your diet.

Phase Two, Intelligent weight loss.

So I began my real search. I was on the hunt for what used to be Cybergenics. I wanted the workout, the meal plan, and the supplements in one box. I wanted it all. It doesn’t exist.
HOWEVER, my search led me to Body For Life, by Bill Phillips. It was the closest thing. The supplements were simple; Myoplex meal replacements. The meal plan was simple; eat 6 smaller meals a day consisting of protein, carbs, and a fruit or vegetable. And the workout? Simple. Weights one day, cardio the next.

I read the book in one night. The next morning, with new inspiration, I began the cardio portion Body for Life style. I walked, then jogged, then ran for 20 minutes. With 270 pounds crashing down on my legs, I got shin splint so badly that I didn’t run again for another year.

HOWEVER, I stuck to the diet. A few weeks later people started to take note. No one had said much during the low carbing. Amazing, 30 pounds and I didn't look much better. But eating a balance of carbs, proteins and healthy fats, and I was looking better, as well as feeling great.
Stalling out.

By eating right, and more often, ala the Body for Life plan, I managed to lose another 20 pounds by that November. So why would I stall out?

I hadn’t left my past life in the past. Through it all, I was still holding onto the old, fat, unhappy me. Steve Chandler, in his book, “100 Ways to Motivate Yourself” talks about selling your house. Not the physical house you live in, but the emotional house you’ve become attached to. You see, no matter how messed up that house is, you still have a hard time selling it because it’s your house.

During the week I was healthy guy. However, when the weekend hit, it was game on. I had lost 50 pounds, was looking pretty good, wanted to go out and drink and show off a bit. So I did.
Then Friday and Saturday night turned into Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It was football season after all. So then, who could skip Monday night football? And Tuesday nights are pint night at a local watering hole, and well, so why not get cheap beer? Before I knew it, I was right back in my old house.

I didn’t gain weight here. I just stalled after incredible momentum. How could I have let that happen? In hindsight, I realized how terrified I was to leave that old emotional house. You see, I hadn’t been in any serious relationships since I had become 300 pounds. Now, the ladies were noticing, and I was going out on dates. In my mind, dates could lead to romance, romance to relationships, and relationships meant pain. Subconsciously, I sabotaged my progress by staying fat. The ladies I attracted were marginal in appearance and personality, so there was no risk. I could remain safe. I could remain in my house.

How to make a change-Step one, a have massive anxiety attack.

Skip to July, 2004. I’m on vacation in Texas, starting at 240 pounds. Another 10 down, even through all the partying. Upon arriving in Texas, I meet up with an old high school friend, and begin drinking beer and eating Jack in The Box tacos...at 9 am. The vacation went downhill from there, and nearly 2 weeks later, I’m on the road home to Indiana.

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas, with the nerves shot from the previous night’s partying, compound by the massive amounts of caffeine I ingested in an attempt to counteract the hangover, I begin to feel some anxiety. Within a few miles, I’m at the next exit, paralyzed by it. I find a motel, and lock the door. I promise myself I’m done. I’m finally going to get it together.
Upon returning home, again, I don’t follow through. It’s amazing what it takes to change. I had gained 15 pounds on vacation, freaked out to the point I should have been at a hospital, not a hotel, and I still cannot get it together?

The real way to make a change-Surround yourself with positive people

For the first time in my life, I surrender to the idea of asking someone to help me. I went searching for a trainer. I knew if I was to spend the money on a trainer, I wouldn’t spend it in the bar. I might have wasted a lot of time, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to waste my money.
Fate, karma, God, some higher power, whatever, sent me into Healthkick, a local nutrition store. I immediately noticed two biceps attached to someone seated behind the counter. Later I learned it was Ryan Benroth, owner and operator. He gave me a card for Dane King, personal trainer. So it was on, right?

Sooooo...September, I finally make a call to Dane. He gave me a pretty hard sales pitch. I knew I needed to change, but was still resisting. However, in a moment, I finally gave in, and signed up for 4 weeks. In the end, a decision is just one moment.

Like this story has drug on, the time it took me to change drug on, and on, and on. The only thing I regret today about my weight loss is that I didn’t do it earlier. I know that sounds cliché; but it’s 100% dead on. Of course I knew that I should lose weight when I was fat. But if for one moment I could have felt how I feel now; the pride, the self respect, the confidence, all the things I feel today, I would have not hesitated a moment. Oh, if only the new me could go back and give the old me a swift kick in the ass.

But it matters not now. The past is in the past, and must be left there. That’s half the battle of losing weight. You get into such a cycle of beating yourself down further because you have let yourself go. In doing so, you defeat yourself before you start. So the negative cycle spins further down.

Allow the positive cycle to spin

I now give everyone the same advice on losing weight. Don’t fight it, and DON’T FORCE IT. Of course, then everyone asks, “What is that supposed to mean?” You have to go through it to understand. The best I can describe it, you simply surround yourself with the positive circle you need, and then allow the cycle to spin. It’s not about psyching yourself up. Will power is overrated. If you’ve truly made your decision, you won’t be fighting urges, or forcing yourself to go to the gym. You’ll simply do it.

However, you need to set up the cycle around you. The means leaving some old “friends”, figuratively and literally. You know who and what they are. They need to be left behind. Trust me, once you change, you won’t miss them. In the beginning, my biggest fear was that I would lose my favorite friends; drinking and smoking. Today? Are you kidding me? I enjoy a beer ten times more now that I rarely have one. Smoking? I tried to go back to it once after quitting. With a new, healthy LIFESTLYE, it was mental trauma to try to inhale.

Looking back, I didn’t just start working out, or start a “diet”. I started a new life. I would wake up, eat, get dressed, and head to the gym, first thing. The workout was simple enough, with weights Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by cardio, and cardio alone on the other days. Sundays? OK, maybe on Sundays I was still a drink. Hey, it was football season again.
But the other 6 days I was living a healthy lifestyle. The workout was followed by a stop off at Healthkick to grab a post workout shake and discuss weight loss/muscle building theory with Ryan. Upon returning home, I’d usually surf the web for more info while cooking a post workout meal. That is where I first found bodybuilding.com. I tore into information on insulin and cortisol, testosterone and human growth hormone, whey and casein, whatever I could wrap my brain around, and some articles I couldn’t quite understand at the time.

I ate 6 meals a day, Body for Life style, and was spot on for 6 days. How did I maintain such a strict new life after being such a clown for so long? I had a support group I had surrounded myself with. Ryan, Dane, and Maggie. Maggie?

Even though I was 250 pounds of flabby misery when I started, I had started. I was feeling great every day after I got out the gym. Before the weight came off, I developed a new glow, a new confidence, and a new girlfriend. And she was into working out! I could cook healthy meals with her, do some extra cardio with her, and also go to the gym to do some extra cardio with her. Most of all, I had yet another person to be accountable to.

So the cycle spun faster. I felt like I was making a positive decision waking up to work out. Upon completing the workout, I’d get this wonderful euphoria that would last for another few hours. I knew from the information on bodybuilding.com, that I needed to feed the muscle, so I ate great. Eating great made me feel better, eliminating the highs and lows I previously had from starving and stuffing. I was doing great, and dropping weight, every week. Everyone I ran into was telling me how great I looked. The cycle spun and spun.

I lost a little, and Maggie would tell me I’m doing great. She also gave me a little encouragement in the personal appearance arena. I cut the hair. That really got the cycle spinning. I went out and bought some new shirts to keep updating the look. Some I bought to wear right away. Others I bought skin tight, as I knew I would be wearing them soon. And soon I was. What a time. Positive energy breading positive energy.

The scale is only one tool. Measure, measure, measure.

Before I knew it, it’s the middle of February, and I’ve dumped 25 pounds. Twenty five doesn’t seem like much, I know. But I wasn’t just taking it off. I was adding lean mass almost as fast.. I had the measurements from when I started with my trainer, and my current measurements. I could imagine what it was like 25 pounds ago, let alone 75 pounds ago. It just didn’t seem real.
That is, until I took the first after pictures, and got them developed along with my before pictures. I was beyond shocked. I had actually believed that I didn’t look that bad at 250. After all, I was 50 pounds lighter than 300, right? Well there I was, side by side with my new self, and the reality set in. I almost broke down in a confusing mess of resentment at my old self, and pride of the new self. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

I got these two pictures back February 19th, 2005. That’s only 25 pounds. It’s not about the scale.

Those pictures are now up a lot of places. I don’t even relate to the guy in the before pictures. I don’t want to know him anymore, I cannot understand why he liked the things he liked, and I certainly don’t want to be him again. I wouldn’t even want to hang out with him. It’s really a different person to me.

Weighing in is only part of the story. A small part. If I had relied on the scale, I would have failed for sure. Thanks to my trainer, I had measurements taken every 4 weeks. I continue to measure inches and body fat percentage along with weight. Of course, I continue to update the pictures. Whenever I’m feeling down, and think I haven’t progressed, I’ll measure again, or take another picture. It’s hard to see the little changes, especially of you only are measuring the weight.

I’m going to preach a little more about the scale, as I think it’s important to totally, completely and fully hammer home the point that it’s NOT ABOUT THE SCALE. I weigh in everyday. I highly recommend daily weigh ins. Not to see weight loss, but to see how pointless a pound or two, even three or four can be. I fluctuate as much as 4 pounds from day to day. When I was 250, it was more. Why?

Sodium (salt) makes you retain water. So does carbohydrates. Just having water in my stomach will cause me to weight in a pound or two heavy some days. What if you weigh in one day and haven’t passed things through your system as much as the previous day? That will add a few pounds. The most I remember fluctuating was 9 pounds in a week.

With all that said, looking at a scale once a week can really throw you off. What if the scale reads the same one week? Did your body fat stay the same? Or did you lose fat, and gain muscle? Did you actually gain a pound, but are more dehydrated? There are too many variables to tell for sure. So weigh in daily, and just make sure it is trending downward.

Failing to plan is planning to fail

As well, I kept a food journal. The journal was a HUGE part of my success. I planned all my meals ahead of time, then recorded what I actually ate. You must plan on succeeding to succeed. Most “diets” fail not because of lack of willpower, but simple lack of planning. If you don’t know what you’re going to be eating next, there’s a distinct possibility that you’ll be caught unprepared, and make less than ideal choices.

Planning ahead insures you’ll be eating the right things. As well, if ever I felt as if I was hitting a plateau, I had a record of why. And those days I weighed in too high? It was easy to trace it to something I had the day before.

I also planned my workouts upon going out on my own. The planning process, I believe, is key to continuous gains. My routine has changed many times. Keeping a record of planned workouts, and actual workouts has been a key to keeping the progress going. Again, if ever I get down, I can look back at my workout log, and see how far I’ve come.

And how far is that? Take a look at that first before picture, with the long hair. Now picture that guy showing up in the gym, 10 AM. He’s got a pair of giant yellow swim trunks on because he hasn’t bought a pair of shorts in 6 years. The t shirt he wears is from the Go-Kart track he got fired from, and is XXL. The sweat is so profuse anytime he turns his head his wet hair sends sweat flying. His three sets of bench press are 85, 75, and finally 55 pounds. All three sets need a spot to get to 10.

Fifty five pounds. To be clear, that is the bar with two fives on it. We’ve all gotta start somewhere. Just start. The people in the gym aren’t judging you in a negative light. They admire you, and are think, “Hey, at least he’s trying.” Really. I know, I’ve been on both sides.
So where does it end?

Good question. I don’t think it will. I learn something new about myself nearly every time I go to the gym. I continually impove upon my diet, as I learn new things and get new discipline. Do I do everything perfect now? Hell no. Far from it.

I think that’s a big misconception when people start out. They believe they need to go from total failure to 100% success without falling. Guess what? Notgunnahappen. Nor should it. Take your time, and learn a little about yourself along the way. Most of all, enjoy the journey, it’s a GREAT one.

I’ll be waiting for you on the other side. The view from here is AMAZING. When you get here, drop me a line and tell me how you got here, so we can direct others to where we’re at.

2007-01-17T20:06:00.000-05:00

Streetman’s one page weight loss AND maintenance plan.

You don't need a book. You need simple rules you can live with.

Eat at least six modest sized meals and/or snacks each day to keep blood sugar stable. Eat to feel satisfied, not full. You can eat again around ever three hours.
Eat breakfast immediately upon waking. You are "breaking the fast" and this is the key to getting your metabolism fired up, and elevating blood sugar and energy levels immediately upon waking.
Each meal should consist of a protein, carbohydrate, and a fruit or vegetable. Proteins rebuild muscle, carbohydrates provide that muscle energy, and fats are necessary for cellular rebuilding and hormonal health. Portions can be calculated with one of three methods:
1. Use your plate. Get a 10" plate, and visualize three equal sections, like a three piece pie. Section one protein, section two carbohydrate, section three vegetable.
2. Use your hand. Eat a protein portion the size of the palm of your hand, the carbohydrate the size of your fist, and eat vegetables until you feel satisfied, yet not full.
3. Count. Eat one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight, the same number of carbs, and fats grams should be less than half of those. For example, a 200 pound man would have roughly 200 grams of protein, 200 grams of carbs, and 90 grams of fat. This will provide roughly 1/3 of your calories from each macronutrient.
Avoid the “whites” as much as possible. White rice, white potatoes, white flour, white sugar. These spike blood sugar levels faster than their counterparts which provide a steady increase and added fiber. Avoid “white fat”. White fat is any fat that is solid at room temperature and will be high in saturated fat.
Fats should come primarily from fish, nuts, seeds, avocado, eggs. UNSaturated fats; not saturated. Practical application: Replace butter with olive oil whenever possible. Natural fats are high in Omega’s (essential fatty acids). Omegas are essential for mind and body health.
Eat like an animal. Natural, unprocessed foods and colorful fruits and vegetables. The deeper the color, the better. Colorful foods provide needed vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Drink like a fish. Your body knows no difference between being full from food, or full from water. You'll be less hungry with more water. Drink .01 gallon per pound of bodyweight. ie: If you weight 150 pounds, drink 1.5 gallons daily. Water removes waste and toxins from your body.
Avoid ALL chemical food such as Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and other Glutamates (hydrolyzed proteins), High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Trans fats (aka partially hydrogenated oils). Although certain chemical additive often don't have calories, (one such example is Acesumate Potasium), there are numberous scientific reports indications many increase hunger sensations.
Weight loss begins at the supermarket. Stay in the outside aisles, where you find foods that spoil. The inner isles should only be shopped for things such as oats, rice, nuts and seeds.
Read the label on BACK of foods. Ignore the front label which may state "NO MSG", as it still might have other, similar glutamates. It may say "Lite" which can mean light in color or texture.

Final thought: What is an acceptable level of anything? Well, how healthy do you want to be? Nature works in balance. Don’t be extreme in any way, Don’t over or under eat, Don’t be unnatural.

Eat:

Six meals a day, every three hours or less

Breakfast immediately upon waking

Protein, fats, and carbs at every meal

Vegetables and drink water for satiety

Snacks between meals

Naturally occurring, unsaturated fats

Like an animal, drink like a fish

DO NOT

Eat the "whites": Rice, flour, potatoes, fats

Eat carbs within 4 hours of sleeping

Eat any meal that makes you "stuffed"

Skip meals

Eat chemically altered food (MSG, Hydro’s)

Shop in the isles at the supermarket

Get hungry or get stuffed

Flawed questions.

2007-01-17T13:39:00.000-05:00

I dated this girl a while back who told me that chocolate milk is perfect post workout because she read it in a magazine. Is she a moron? Nope. To the contrary, she was highly educated with a prominent position in the city. Why, why, why would she think such a thing?

Well, it appears that some numbskulls set up a "scientific" study to prove their hypothosis that chocolate milk is, indeed, better for you than...what? Better than carbs alone. That's proven.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE BEST, PERFECT, OR EVEN CLOSE TO IDEAL!!!!

This pisses me off so bady, that I'm just going to show you the blatant bias of the "scientific" study here. The questions you ask will determine the conclusions you come to.

Let me ask you, "Do you walk to school? Or do you bring your lunch?"

Let me ask you something else, "Do you still beat your dog, yes or no?"

What's better post workout? A stick of butter, or a stick in the eye?

As an educator, philosopher, and all around proveyor of truth I AM PISSED!!

Just look at the last two lines, the ones I put in red, and in bold.

The Efficacy of Chocolate Milk as a Recovery Aid
[Annual Meeting Abstracts: C-34 - Free Communication/Poster: Post-Exercise Nutrition]
Karp, Jason R.; Johnston, Jeanne D.; Tecklenburg, Sandy; Mickleborough, Tim; Fly, Alyce; Stager, Joel M. FACSM
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
Email: runman@indiana.edu
0850
Sport nutritionists recommend that endurance athletes performing two workouts a day ingest carbohydrates immediately following the first training session to rapidly replenish muscle glycogen. To meet this need, many nutritional products have been marketed as carbohydrate replacement drinks (CR) or fluid replacement drinks (FR) containing less carbohydrate. Since chocolate milk has a similar carbohydrate content to that of many CR, it may be an effective means of recovery from exhausting exercise. PURPOSE: To test the efficacy of chocolate milk (CM) as a recovery aid following exhausting exercise. METHODS: Nine male, endurance-trained cyclists (22.1 ± 2.0 yrs, VO2max 65.0 ± 9.0 mL.kg-1.min-1) performed an interval workout to deplete muscle glycogen (Kuipers et al., 1987), followed by four hours of recovery, and an endurance performance trial to exhaustion at 70% VO2max (Fallowfield & Williams, 1997), on each of three days. Immediately after the first exercise and at two hours of recovery, subjects were given isovolumic amounts (based on body mass) of CM, FR, or CR, in a single-blind, randomized design. The carbohydrate content (1 g.kg-1 body mass) was equivalent for CM and CR. Blood lactate concentration, body mass, and total body water (TBW) were measured pre- and post-exercise. Time to exhaustion (TTE), average heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and total work (WT) for the endurance exercise were compared between trials using a oneway, repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: TTE (40.0 ± 14.7 min; 41.3 ± 15.0 min; 26.8 ± 10.3 min) and WT (626.5 ± 262.7 kJ; 590.5 ± 218.7 kJ; 398.6 ± 185.0 kJ) were different (p<0.05)>

CONCLUSION: As compared to the commercial products tested, chocolate milk is an effective recovery aid following exhausting exercise.

Supported, in part, by a grant from the Dairy and Nutrition
Council, Inc.

John Wooden's Seven Point Creed : eConsultant

2007-01-15T20:25:00.000-05:00

John Wooden's Seven Point Creed, given to him by his father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school:

Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day."

Alrighty, what have I been doing?

2007-01-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

Before I get to that, let me tell you the current status first. I'm a little off from where I was, but getting back into the routine. The eating and workouts are not clockwork, like before, but they're getting done. Maybe a C+ or B- right now. It's a process.

So, what happened? I went 13 weeks with no alcohol, no sugar, no TV, no internet at home (admittedly, I became hooked on free WiFi), etc. etc. I alienated myself from most people. I even turned off my cell phone at times for full days so no one could find me.

Why? Self reflection/growth/introspective. Why not?

Now, two things happened. One, I learned about myself; A LOT about myself. I went hiking, rock climbing, camping (both regular camping and nudist colony), I went to live performances on small stages, organic farms, and other random, new activities. However, I usually did everything ALONE.

It sucks that in Indiana the oddball is the person who eats for health as opposed to making eating into a sport. I'm a freak because on a Friday night I'll seek out the local performing arts scene, as opposed to the bar scene. You will just as soon find me in my local Starbucks, in front of the fire reading something enlightening as you would find me in the local pub arguing religion and politics.

But I was alone.

So, October came along, and I got out a bit. Then the cold hits, and it's easier to go warm up with friends and libations than sit alone in front of the fire. Don't get me wrong, I love my fireplace, but I must balance.

Christmas brought the old friends back in town, and predictably, more going out. Now, I'm trying to swing the pendalum back the other direction, and balance. I'm not going another 13 weeks (for now), but I am more focused on fitness.

More focused? I'm getting it done. It's building.

The one good thing about this last few months of introspective reflecting, and all out social interaction is that I'm now dating quite a bit. I grew a TON last year through all my time alone, and it shows with those I am attracting now. The best advice I ever heard in regards to finding women is to quit looking. Just work on yourself, and they'll find you. Done.

So now, I am working some workout dates into the mix, some dates without drinking, some activities that stimulate the mind and spirit as much as the physical. With this, I crave the physical exercise again, which in turn I feel my mind become a more fertile ground in which to plant intellectual seeds.

It's a cycle. It's beginning to spin again. I love this.

I'm web famous

2006-12-07T23:30:00.000-05:00

http://wltips.com/body-for-life-Josh.html

The Weight Loss Tips site just posted my recent interview. It's a great site that very much exemplifies what weight loss is really all about. We all find our own path to fitness. These are stories that show those transformations. From Atkins to Body for Life, there's a program out there for you.

Take some time to check out all the stories at Http://www.wltips.com

Study: Lifting weights attacks belly fat

2006-10-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

Study: Lifting weights attacks belly fat
March 3, 2006 JAMIE STENGLE

ASSOCIATED PRESS DALLAS -- By just lifting weights twice a week for an hour, women can battle the buildup of tummy fat that often takes hold with aging, a new study suggests. And they didn't even diet.

The study focused on intra-abdominal fat, the deep fat that wraps itself around organs and is the most unhealthy because it's linked with heart disease...more

2006-10-09T06:10:00.000-04:00

Starting my BFL business. What should I include? I'm not just talking here. I have a retail location, ~700 square feet waiting, a marketing company I'm working with, multiple trainers waiting to train, and a nutritionalist waiting to help.

Yet I have no program.

Here's my thought. You can get a diet and workout program anywhere. I'm going to take people through what I went through. I'm going go to the grocery store with them, and show them exactly WHY you buy what you buy. Then, I'm going to buy them not just the fruit, but the fruit basket to go in front of their "snack spot" in the house. I'm going as far as buying them a crock pot for hot oatmeal in the morning. What else?

I want to give people all the little things they need to succeed.

Of course, I'll have supplements and the shaker cups to go along with them. The BFL book, and probably audio book. A custom journal, etc. etc. I do have someone who can cook all their meals for them.

Should I take it that far? What would you want?

What were some of the things you bought or learned, or struggled with, or WHATEVER. I am going to be the teacher/coach. I'm doing the educational side, and having trainers and a nutritionalist do the rest. I'm going to teach a weekly class, and give them every article/book I've read. Hey, 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week times 12 weeks is 18 hours of audiobook time.

MY audiobook???? Hmmmmm...

If you could walk into a business, and 12 weeks later walk out a new person, what would you require? What would it be worth to you to walked through a plan where you could not fail?

Transformation: How to Change EVERYTHING: Books: Bill Phillips

2006-10-03T12:07:00.000-04:00

I'm soooo envious of this title. It captures EXACTLY how I feel. I had a transformation, more than simply losing weight. When people ask, "How I did it?" the closest answer is "I changed everything."
Amazon.com: Transformation: How to Change EVERYTHING: Books: Bill Phillips

Key to long life may be mom's age at birth - Aging - MSNBC.com

2006-09-25T07:27:00.000-04:00

There's some interesting stats in here, aside from the main story. One that stuck out to me, as I'm on a HUGE family/organic farm kick, "spending part of one's childhood on a farm," is listed as a stat many centenarians share.

Hmmm...natural living and following the laws of nature is good for you? I swear, every study I see shows that science has proven that being healthy is good for you!

Key to long life may be mom's age at birth - Aging - MSNBC.com

Greek Philosophy: Aristotle, The Doctrine of the Mean

2006-09-19T14:37:00.001-04:00

Greek Philosophy: Aristotle, The Doctrine of the Mean

This is the type of stuff that REALLY gets me jazzed up. I can read the timeless works of Aristotle and see that what I preach is old news. As you read this, think of how it relates to fitness. Especially the questions that everyone always ask me, "How much protein do I need?" "How many calories?" "How often do you work out?" "Should I do cardio fast or slow?" Blah, blah, blah.

Aristotle says what I always say. Do what is right for YOU, and only YOU know what YOU need.

In another passage in Nichomachean Ethics, Book II, he is more concise when he says:

Too much or too little gymnastic exercise is fatal to strength. Similarly, too much or too little meat and drink is fatal to health, whereas a suitable amount produces, increases, and sustains it.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

This is just the start.

2006-09-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

I've gotta start a list of books/authors I've listened to, and their works. I don't just read and think, "That was interesting." I practice what I read daily. Those that I can think of, at this moment, that have helped me in my Transformation:

Natural Hormonal Enhancement, Rob Faigen, www.extique.com
Steven Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (my bible)
Bill Phillips, Body for Life
Shawn Phillips, Absolution
John Wooden, Victory, Values, and Peace of Mind
Zig Ziglar, Goals
Deepak Chopra, 7 Spiritual Laws of Success
Victor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
James Radfield, Celestine Prophecies

I'll post more later. Was is James Radfield? James someone. The book rocked. The movie caused me to die a little inside.

Nudist Colony audio

2006-09-12T13:26:00.000-04:00

Hotel abs

2006-08-27T22:41:00.000-04:00

After getting out of the hot tub, I noticed that the lighting in the hotel bathroom was just perfect for me to see the outline of the top few abs. Cool.

This has been, and is going slllllllloooooooooowwwww as opposed to what I thought would happen. The original goal was to be showing all 6 by the 4th of July. Now? I just know when they get here, they'll be here for good.

I took another pic, just to make sure I wasn't lying to myself. Nope. I can see em...albeit barely. This pic shows my obliques pretty good. I can see them all day now, not just morning. I'll get there!

2006-08-02T23:28:00.000-04:00

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic: How to Think Like a Thin Person

2006-08-01T11:53:00.000-04:00

This really hit home with me. It speaks to my belief that everything is created twice. Once in the mind, and once again when it appears in the physical realm. Think about it. Literally.

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic: How to Think Like a Thin Person

As for my update, I'm 200 pounds or under most days, and plan on working 50 hours in the next 4 days. That's manual labor to lose weight.

Also, I'm on a mission to find sushi grade fish so I can eat without cooking. I'm off to a supermarket/distributer in Chicago. Yes, I'm serious.

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic: The Dream Diet: Losing Weight While You Sleep

2006-07-30T00:57:00.000-04:00

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic: The Dream Diet: Losing Weight While You Sleep

No, I haven't gone mad. It's an article about the hormones leptin and ghrelin. I'm telling you, if you'd learn about hormones, you'll know how to lose weight.

If you're weight training, I'd highly recommend ZMA before you sleep. It's one of the few supplements I can say, without a doubt, works as advertised. I sleep DEEEEEEEP when I take it.

Tomorrow will be 5 weeks without one cheat meal. I feel good.

What's it like to be a normal weight?

2006-07-24T01:21:00.000-04:00

Tell me if you think that people will look at this face the same:

As they would this one:

I'm not bitching, that's just the way it is. I'm loving it now.

People often ask me "How'd you do it?" However, the more amazing thing to me now is how different the world looks at me. A bad day now is better than a good day was. My overall feeling on life is just elevated.

I'll have a video posted soon that was shot for a local TV station in which I talk about my increased confidence, self image, pride, etc. It's so much more a mental state than the 100 pounds.

But I bet you'd like to hear specifics. What's it like to be of normal size after seeing the world through fat eyes?

The world looks back at you in a different way when you're 300. You don't realize how little respect people gave you when you were fat until you're not anymore. It's the little things you notice at first like people smiling at you rather than turning away.

What else can I tell you is different? I'll just make a list:

I can get up off a couch without "walking" my ass cheeks to the edge, and rocking to stand. In fact, every time I stand up in public, I think of how great it feels to simply stand and not be embarrased.

Speaking of being in public, I can move through a crowded room with ease; squeezing between chairs or people, or whatever with no fear of my ass knocking into things of people.

That reminds me of restaruants. I fit behind a booth no problem.

I don't sweat when I eat now. I used to need a handful of napkins at each meal. That floppy hat? It was for soaking up sweat when I drank beer.

I don't sweat at all now, really. I have to bust my ass in the gym to break a sweat. I have a resting heart rate at 50. I can get into the car on a 90 degree day and get the AC kicking before breaking out.

Ever have to fit in a friend's small car and adjust a seatbelt to maximum, only to then say, "I don't want to wear it." because you can't?

I don't have body odor coming from odd places. Use your imagination for a moment, and you can probably image there are folds in odd placese when you're 50% bodyfat. Those folds and the sweat don't create a pleasant aroma.

I walked outside with my shirt off the other day without thinking about it. I was enjoying some sun when it hit me. "I like the sun???" I like it enough that I may even make this shirtless outside thing a habit.

I own two sleevless shirts, and two skintight shirts.

I had to show my ID to a group of Starbucks employess because they all had assumed I was early 20's. One had suggested late teens. I'm 31.

There's a bodybuilder at the gym who asked me if I was going to do a bodybuilding competition, because "you're all mesomorph".

I can talk to any girl I see with 100% confidence. Confident that I'm not going to get shot down for being fat. I still may say something stupid as hell, and get blown out of the water.

I can have sex in 100's of better positions now. One of the new positions is with a woman. All kidding aside, having sex even at 250 was like trying to hump with a pillow in my lap. A big pillow. It tends to get in the way of things.

One of those "things" is longer now.

The biggest thing I love, and do it often, is smiling at the ladies. All ladies. Not a dirty pervert smile, but a warm smile. Old, young, fat, skinny, 8 to 80, blind deaf or crazy, I'm flashing a smile. And you know what? Most actually smile back! Is it because of the confidence behind it? Is it because I no longer look like a psycho killer?

Who cares? Where I was got me to where I am, so I don't regret where I was. To the contrary. I have a unique perspective on life and the world that makes me appreciate what I was.

And now? I love me and the world responds in kind. It's a good thing.

Oh no! Anonymous called me out!

2006-07-23T17:00:00.001-04:00

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=22177390&postID=115336688938141051

He gets around on these blogs quite a bit.

I need your feedback. Should I audioblog?

2006-07-19T23:41:00.000-04:00

Updates next week.

2006-07-19T09:03:00.000-04:00

I've made some good gains (losses) so far, and am just getting settled into my new routine. I will update my pics, stats, plan, the whole enchilada next week. It's going to be about 8 pounds lost, as I set out to do.

Do or do not... there is no try
-Yoda

What? Too juvanile for your tastes?

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
-Michelangelo

I actually have a picture of Michelangelo's David on the wall by my desk with that quote. It would be the look of David that I'm going for, rather than that of Hurcules. Frank Zane, Not Arnold.

Off to do cardio with an empty stomach aside from BCAA's and L-Carnatine. Burn more fat while preserving muscle, in theory. I'll find and article soon.

Bill Phillips new, new radio show

2006-07-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Taken from www.BillPhillips.com:

Friends,
I am updating you on the radio show. At the request of listeners, I have made the decision to produce the shows independently and broadcast three hours of programming per week rather than just one hour, free of paid commercials (which I felt really hindered the flow and intention of the past programs). I don't accept any money for doing the show, just as I never accepted any royalties for the millions of copies of Body-for-LIFE which were sold.

Read more at www.Transformation.com

Bill, I'm waiting for you call. You've got my number.

Zen Master Yan Si Lan Liam Li

2006-07-17T15:18:00.000-04:00

No one will understand what the hell this means besides me. Or maybe a psydo-Buddhist who lifts weights for enlightenment...like me. Yes, this is very odd. Or is it?

Koan: Zen Master Yan Si Lan Liam Li says:

"A man who sees everything knows nothing. A man who knows everything sees nothing. Show me your abs and you will see yourself."

Or, does someone understand? What do you think Zen Master Yan Si Lan Liam Li is trying to say?

Men, are you ever "the crying lady"?

2006-07-13T16:37:00.000-04:00

Taken, sans permission, from http://www.hsilai.org/

There was once an old lady who cried all the time. Her elder daughter was married to an umbrella merchant while the younger daughter was the wife of a noodle vendor. On sunny days, she worried, “Oh no! The weather is so nice and sunny. No one is going to buy any umbrellas. What will happen if the shop has to be closed??These worries made her sad. She just could not help but cry. When it rained, she would cry for the younger daughter. She thought, “Oh no! My younger daughter is married to a noodle vendor. You cannot dry noodles without the sun. Now there will be no noodles to sell. What should we do??As a result, the old lady lived in sorrow everyday. Whether sunny or rainy, she grieved for one of her daughters. Her neighbors could not console her and jokingly called her “the crying lady."

One day, she met a monk. He was very curious as to why she was always crying. She explained the problem to him. The monk smiled kindly and said, “Madam! You need not worry. I will show you a way to happiness, and you will need to grieve no more."

The crying lady was very excited. She immediately asked the monk to show her what to do. The master replied, “It is very simple. You just need to change your perspective. On sunny days, do not think of your elder daughter not being able to sell umbrellas but the younger daughter being able to dry her noodles. With such good strong sunlight, she must be able to make plenty of noodles and her business must be very good. When it rains, think about the umbrella store of the elder daughter. With the rain, everyone must be buying umbrellas. She will sell a lot of umbrellas and her store will prosper.

The old lady saw the light. She followed the monk’s instruction. After a while, she did not cry anymore; instead, she was smiling everyday. From that day on she was known as “the smiling lady."

When we all have worries and problems, if we can emulate “the crying lady" and change our perspectives a little, we can transform worries and problems into happiness and fortunes. This does not require magical power.

Wendy's KID's Meal?

2006-07-10T00:04:00.000-04:00

If you want to feed your kid a 620 calorie meal, with 89 grams of carbs, feed him the new "healthy" kid's meal at Wendy's. http://www.wendys.com/food/Nutrition.jsp

Let me break this down. I am ~205 pounds right now, and work out out HARD daily. I am looking for 300-400 calorie meals. I eat 200 carbs or less daily; and little sugar. I certainly don't eat ANY meal with 34 sugars. As well, most of those sugars are lactose, which spikes blood sugar faster than even white sugar. You're going to feed this junk to your 1o0 pound kid?

What's worse? While the fat is low in relation to overall calories, it's specifically this lack of fat that will cause this meal to rapidly digest causing a spike in blood sugar. Of course, this spike in blood sugar results in a spike in insulin, which causes fat storage.

And what goes up rapidy must come down rapidly. What happens when your child's blood sugar crashes after these highs? Enjoy your cranky, overly hungry child 3 hours later.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. DO NOT try to eat healthy at a restaurant. Yes, I'm serious. You want a more glaring example? The "healthy" choice for an adult dessert would appear to be the yogurt and granola over the frosty, right? A small "fix and mix" frosty is only 20 more calories than the yogurt.

Quit torturing yourself when you're out to eat!

High Fructose Corn Syrup is of the devil.

2006-07-02T13:25:00.000-04:00

What that says is the more high fructose corn syrup we consume as a nation, the fatter we get. I'd bet we can draw a coorelation between transfats and monosodium glutamate as well. Can anyone find me a sales chart on those two demons?

Why we do what we do.

2006-07-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

This film is out there. However, if you scroll just to minute 48, and watch the part about neurotransmitters, you'll understand how your own mind works.

As soon as I saw this, I understood exactly why I used to overeat.

Chasing the Dragon

2006-06-29T16:46:00.000-04:00

When I started my Transformation two years ago I wrote a note on day one, "Chest so sore I can't sit still. Pecs twitching involuntarily." This was serious.

I told my trainer that if I have to hurt this bad, I'd rather go back to being drunk and feel the hangovers.

He told me I'd one day crave this pain. I looked at him like he was stupidest muscle head I've ever spoken to.

Today, almost two years later, I'm wobbling around today on sore legs from Tuesday. I LOVE IT! I look forward to tearing the crapola out of my chest tonight in a search for that first, elusive pain I once had.

I believe if it were heroin I was addicted to as opposed to working out, this would be called, "Chasing the Dragon." We're all addicted to something; just choose an addiction that serves you well.

Podcast COMING SOON!

2006-06-28T22:55:00.000-04:00

In his own words, Allen, aka Living Again at BodyForLife-Tracker.com tells how he went from being this guy:

To this guy, in ONLY 12 WEEKS!

I had a slight technical problem with the first Podcast, so it's going to take me until tomorrow to get the first audio up. Cut me some slack, I'm a noob!

Sneek peek, up only for today...for now.

2006-06-28T20:48:00.000-04:00

Aristotle

2006-06-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

Too much or too little gymnastic exercise is fatal to strength.

Similarly, too much or too little meat and drink is fatal to health,

whereas a suitable amount produces, increases, and sustains it.

~Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, Book II

Shawn Phillips: Igniting the Flame of Intensity

2006-06-28T03:32:00.000-04:00

Shawn Phillips: Igniting the Flame of Intensity

I cannot believe I haven't shared this here yet. The BEST article ever on what training is all about. Here are some quotes from the man best known for his abs:

"It's no longer just about the size of one's biceps, but about the nearly unlimited potential of the mind, body, and spirit—the full potential of being."

"For millions more in gyms across the country, this kind of total engagement of body, mind, and spirit has the power to transform—and the greatest impact is rarely in the weight room. Even when all else seems to be going against you, focused, mindful training can facilitate a deep and ever-expanding spiritual life."

This is why I enjoy the "practice" of lifting weights.

Glycemic Index, Insulin and more you should know.

2006-06-27T18:07:00.000-04:00

If you can just understand this, you'll be able to make the right diet choices in any situation. This site has taught me innumerable things that helped me lose weight.

Taken from WorldsHealthiestFoods.com:

What is important when differentiating between various types of carbohydrates is how rapidly a particular carbohydrate will turn into sugar and raise blood sugar (glucose) levels, the body's source of energy for most activities. Read more here...

Please, leave some feedback

2006-06-27T03:05:00.000-04:00

This blog is for you. As much as I love to feed my own ego, I want to teach others, and inspire others.

So what do YOU want to see? More articles like "But I had the Chicken!"? How about pages like the PMS page, or Thyroid Page? Audio Blog?

I'm going to start an audio blog, hopefully by weeks' end. Let me know what you want to hear.

2006-06-27T03:00:00.000-04:00

How Your Thyroid Works from EndocrineWeb.com

Day One.

2006-06-27T02:09:00.000-04:00

I've let myself go. I didn't think it was this bad. The scale tells me it's not. The pictures tell a different story.

The scale tells me 208.6. I once saw mid 198, so I'm officially 10 pounds up to start. I think I look worse than 10 heavy. However, that just tells me the first 10 are coming off quick, as it's fresh fat. Just a theory.

The blood pressure was 106/55, the resting heart rate 52, and the temp 96.89. This tells me I'm fit, yet have low metabolism. All of these taken first thing in the AM, before getting out of bed.

Why temp? Thyroid function. If it's good, I'll be warm. If not, I'll be cold. I need to get my metabolism fired up. I've always been low, but I'm not sure how low. Recently, I've been in the 96's a lot. NOT GOOD.

The high for the day was my 20 minute cardio, Body for Life style. What is a level 10? Contemplating your own mortality while trying to get your legs to move faster.

My weight goals are on fitday. My measurements will be on Body for Life Tracker tomorrow.

It's late, I'm tired, and will work more on this tomorrow. I'd give myself a 5 out of 10 today overall. I will become a much, MUCH more organized person by the end of 12 weeks.

I got it out of my system

2006-06-26T03:20:00.000-04:00

The urge to cheat, the urge to drink, even the urge to smoke.

I went out on Friday and Saturday nights, and lived my old life. Here's what I've learned. THAT is a tough life. A Body for Life way of living is cake compared to that crap. Jeez. How did I ever do it so long?

Sunday cheat day started with a mac and cheese breakfast (yeah, that's right), then a scone from Starbucks, A full slab of ribs with mashed potatoes and fried cream corn balls (don't ask). THEN I had 20 wings and a bbowl of fries at Hooters. I couln't bring myself to drink beer. I even had two smokes left over in the car, and the thought of them made me sick.

Back to Starbucks for a Vanilla something for dessert, and I feel like HELL. Throughout the day I've not only felt sluggish, but depressed and irritable, anxious (very anxious), and kinda like the world is just a crummy place to be in and everyone in it sucks. I feel no love in me, or around me.

Hmmmmm...just like I used to feel.

What comes first, the physical or the mental? Tomorrow starts the new test. I know I'll have to push through a few days here to get going again, but once I do, this positive cycle will spin...just like the negative one has.

12 weeks from now, I'll be what I've been talking about.

I've figured out my "why" and will share it in my next post. Maybe do an audio blog on that one. I'll also update my measurements, weight, plan, etc. tomorrow. I've got a good post about my normal day, and WHY I do everything I do.

Can't wait for next week!

2006-06-23T21:25:00.002-04:00

Next week I will be getting "on the plan". This time off is brutal. I'm going nuts not being in the gym. I'm eating often, and A LOT, which was needed to reset leptin, and get it out of my system. I'm soooooooooooooo sick of eating. I'm looking forward to next week in a big way.

For those of you who read my rant, sorry about that. That's the only time I'm going to do that. That helped me purge, and make changes. Here's the progress:

1) Girlfriend and I parted ways very peacefully. I love her and miss her, and KNOW I cannot ever be with her. I suppose this is what you ladies feel when you have one of them emotion thingees. God, that must suck to have these all the time ;)
2) Remaining calm, trying to get my lawyer to fight for me. So far, it's 2 months and the court still hasn't been able to provide a transcript. I'm going to get the Nixon Tapes when they're done. I'm laughing at it at this point. If not, I'd cry.
3) I took a temporary position with a fat full time paycheck. I'm going to be on the road 45 hours a week. I'll have to prepare EVERY meal ahead. I'm excited to test my discipline, and make some $$!
4) Allergies are OK; managed. Taking a nose spray about once every 4 days until I have a more permanent solution. I still hate perscriptions, but I had to do this. Next Dr. visit on Tuesday.

That's all for now. I'll update 5 and 6 as I have news.

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. I'm happy to inspire some of you. Just make sure you come back and show me pics when you're ready to. I'll be here, showing off some myself.

So I stole this picture.

2006-06-22T13:17:00.000-04:00

I stole the body in the last pic, obviously. Am I a bad person? No.

I tried to email the guy, or leave a comment on his blog, or anything. I have no idea how to reach him, but if anyone does, his site is http://barfety.com/2000/05/bodybuilding.html

Now, why did I do it? I have been stuck at around 200 for a WHILE now. Too long. Yes, I got to 11.3% bodyfat once, but that's not good enough for me. I have never seen my abs.

I believe that first you see it in your mind, and then you'll see it in the "real world". So one night, I'm randomly surfing and bump into this guy. He's wearing the same "posing shorts" as me, and standing the same.

What was I to do?

Hopefully when he finds out I stole his body and replaced his head he's flattered.

But I had the chicken!

2006-06-21T12:47:00.000-04:00

I hear it all the time. People tell me they go out to eat, but they were "good". I have no doubt that everyone tries to make good choices while eating out. However, the cold, hard truth is that unless you see the nutritional information, you don’t know whether or not you’re being good.

Let’s take a look at a glaring example. You’re going about your busy day and find that you’re hungry and need food now. You know fast food isn’t ideal, but maybe you’ll go to Chipotle and try to eat something healthy. In fact, you’re so nutritionally educated, you know to skip the burrito shell because of the white flour and high fat content that it contains.

So you’re going to do a "healthy" burrito bowl, right? You’re even going to skip the sour cream and cheese because you’re going the extra mile on your diet. Nothing but meat and veggies, right? So what’s your best choice?

Common knowledge would lead you to believe chicken and veggies is a wise choice. Let’s take a look:

4 oz Chicken, 219 calories, 101 calories from fat, which makes it 46% FAT.
3 oz Fajita Vegetables, 100 calorories, 70 calories from fat, so 70% FAT!
That doesn’t sound healthy!

In fact, the steak, which most would consider the worst choice of the three has 108 of its 230 calories coming from fat, making it only 47% fat; only 1% more than the chicken, and 23% LESS fat than those "healthy" veggies!

So how are you supposed to eat healthy when going out? In my experience, it is nearly impossible. Now, that isn’t to say I didn't or don't go out. Just when I do, I know I’m not going to know what I’m really getting, so I get what I want.

Yes, you heard me right. Ninety percent of weight loss is in your mind. So allow yourself to go out, and enjoy a guilt free meal on occasion. How can you eat out and not beat yourself up? Eat half the normal restaurant portions (which are HUGE), and eat healthy, home prepared meals most of the time.

How often is too often? Well, how healthy do you want to be?

As a sidenote, if you were unaware, it's worth pointing out that McDonald's owns Chipotle. Leave it to a clown to make chicken unhealthy.

Can Food Alter Your Mood?

2006-06-21T03:45:00.000-04:00

This is an article I LOVE and agree with wholeheartedly. I'm thinking I may bring articles like this to your attention every now and again. Should I do that here?

Feel free to leave me feedback on what parts you like/don't like so far.

Can Food Alter Your Mood?
By: Deborah Kesten, MPH

The foods you choose may influence your behavior and emotional well-being.

Food and Mood by Design

"In the past, whether food worked for you or against you usually was a matter of luck or choice. It no longer has to be that way. With all that we now know about the food/mind/mood connection...you can begin to select (food) that will power your brain, modify your moods, and in the process make you a more effective, motivated, and perhaps even more contented individual." Judith J. Wurtman, Ph.D. Managing Your Mind and Mood Through Food

Imagine choosing one type of food to alleviate anxiety, another to bolster brain power, or yet another to curb your urge to splurge on that donut. A new field of pioneering nutrition research, often referred to as the study of food and mood, is confirming what many of us have always suspected: What and when we eat can affect our mind and mood, the tendency to pile on pounds-even the quality of our lives. For example, to curb the urge to splurge on that donut, you could instead choose a lower fat sweet/fat food combination, such as graham crackers, fig newtons, or hot chocolate made with skim milk.

New blog name.

2006-06-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

I beleve I am going to change the name to NewLifeFitness.blogspot.com.

But I want your feedback first!

I see that there are a few people who have been following this blog now. I am eager to hear what you think.

I will be going "live" June 26th, next Monday. That is the deadline for this next round of Body for Life Challengers to sign up. I'm ready to finally submit my packet to them, and win what has been rightfully mine now for a year... $1 Million dollars.

Official Body for Life Challenge Registration

I'm also starting a smaller online group at www.bodyforlife-tracker.com. If you want to be a part of the group I'm starting online, I think I've got a name.

Odeo test

2006-06-17T06:41:00.000-04:00

I need just one person.

2006-06-16T06:10:00.000-04:00

Just one person to be responsible to. I'll start with just one. JUST START. Baby steps on the bus there Bob.

After I get one, I will get two. Then three. Then four. This doesn't sound like rocket surgury, does it?

But it is, if you get wrapped up into it, and forget what the first step it. And that is what?

Just one.

Clean and green.

Since no one has any idea what I speak of besides me, I'll leave you with this parabole, to make up for my foolish post today. http://www.bu.edu/prc/anx.org/beck/library.htm

For the record, I'm totally distracting myself with nonsense because of the breakup. I'm doing some dumb things right now, but will be 100% on diet and workouts June 25th. I think that's the date. It's coming soon.

Howstuffworks "How PMS Works"

2006-06-15T00:38:00.000-04:00

Treatment for PMS: Diet

The best article to explain the coorelation between overeating, hormones, and "brain chemicals". It's real, fellas. Now read up, and sympathize with your lady, and earn some brownie points already.

I need your help and feedback.

2006-06-09T17:21:00.000-04:00

The stressors in my life.

2006-06-09T16:28:00.000-04:00

I refer to these as "stressors" as opposed to stress. Why? I honestly believe that it's only how we deal with events that cause stress, not the events themselves. That is, if someone tells me I'm fat, I have two options 1) Stress out over it because of anger, hurt, etc. 2) Think of it as a great thing, telling me I need to step it up a notch and therefore being happy that this person has helped me.

Goofy? Yes. Effective? Yes.

So, onto my list of stressors. (or is it stres-sores? hmm..)

These are the things I've choosen to focus on, rather than focusing on my goals.

1) I've breaking up with someone I love. We love each other, and hurt each other. Try as we might (even with a counselor), I cannot get myself to want this. If I wanted it, I could make it work. How can I get myself to want something?

Therefore, at this point, I cannot make this work and need to get out as unscathed as possible while not hurting her any more either. Not the easiest task. Hell, with the amount of energy I put into trying to get out, you figure I could find a way to want it, and stay in, eh?

2) I went to jail two weeks ago for contempt in a CIVIL case. I fight things on principle. There's a big long story to follow about how I fought this case on my own and made a judge rewrite an unlawful order he made. I won the case!

And then he came after me. Since then, I got an attorney, and he's informed me in no uncertain terms that I am 100% within my rights, should not have been thrown in jail, and there is no legal reason for me to go to jail, yet the judge will throw me in jail again soon if I don't settle this issue by paying.

I know this sounds like total horseshit, but I will have audio of the court transcript shortly (2 weeks) where you can hear the judge admit in open court that I did follow the order, but he decided before the hearing on what my sentance would be. HUH? That's not legal.

If I fight for what's right I go to jail. What would you do? Much, much more on this later.

3) I'm broke. Not somewhat, but I dug myself a deep, deep hole when I was fat drunk and lazy. I hang my head in shame.

My parents keep telling me they'll give me more money so I don't go further into dept. You cannot borrow your way out of debt. However, they get upset with me when I don't take their money.

Again, this is all how I handle it. I can get angry at them for it, or I can let them get upset and not respond. It's tough to do what's best for me, yet make Mom and Dad upset. I thought at age 31 I'd get over trying to please Mom and Dad.

Not sure I can get over my need to please the parents, but I need to do what's best for me. I bet you all wish your parents would give you money, eh? Trust me, you don't want it. It's torture.

4) My allergies run my life. I'm trying to manage them. I need shots. I was given oral steroids and antihistamines, an OTC nose spray and prescription nose spray, a nose washing system, prescription eye drops...is there anything else? The only other oriface they could ask me to jam something is through suppository.

And I don't even take aspirin!

I have take a little bit of what they've given me, but only when I get real bad. How bad? Sneezing literally 30-50 times an hour, eyes near swollen shut, cannot drive, hard time even breathing.

I'm not bitching, I'm just wondering what I can do with my hatred of medicine and my debilitating allergies. Suppose I'll need to get rid of one of those things. I have indoor and outdoor allergies, so I cannot stay inside and manage them, unless I have a newer house with no mold, dustmites or cockroaches (my indoor allergins).

Which leads me to my next issue...

5) I cannot sell my house until it's restored and working in this dust makes me sneeze.

Now I just feel like I'm bitching. I write to organize my thougths. Somehow reading this makes me look at these issues from an unemotional angle.

I need to:

1) End it already and move on.
2) Swallow the pride and just write a check for pragmatics.
3) Work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week now that I don't have the girlfriend.
4) Take the meds as prescibed and be a zombie until the shots start working.
5) Sell the house any way possible and move to my friend's house on the mountain (literally, ON a mountain) in New Mexico where I won't have the allergy outbreaks.

Now, why is that so hard? Why is common sense not common practice? Why do I go back and forth on each of these issues, trapping myself into a lose/lose proposition? Emotions??

I thought emotions come from ovaries. Do I have ovaries?

Step 6, get my ovaries removed.

*EDIT* You know, looking back on this, I actually feel pretty good that I'm even eating right. Most people would go to jail OR break up with someone and fall off the deep end. I've done both and come out OK. AND I've got a BUNCH of other major stressors to deal with on top of all that. I need to cut myself some slack, and be proud that I'm not gaining weight.

"The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."
Fredrick Harrison

New before and afters.

2006-06-08T05:10:00.000-04:00

This is what I look like this week:

and this is the next "after" pic, end of this summer.

Another test

2006-06-06T00:59:00.000-04:00

I know I said I wouldn't do it. However, I've got spare time...obviously. I stole this guy's pic: http://www.barfety.com/archive/2000_05_01_archive.html

I would have asked him if he minded, but I don't see how to email him or leave comments. So, I hope he thinks imitation is the most flattering form of...uhm...whatever.

John Basedow

2006-06-02T04:12:00.000-04:00

From Fitness Made Simple. I may have pasted my head on his body....maybe. I'm just seeing what I'm going to look like with sculpted abs (and oil.)

2006-06-02T03:30:00.000-04:00

An image I made for my Fitday Journal. That's where I have the core details, the "how to", the "soup to nuts", nuts and bolts, ins and outs, the DETAILS. Got it?

We'll see what this looks like. It's not a live link here, but over in the tool bar it should be. This is "none" for alignment. Yes, this is the last test.

2006-06-02T02:29:00.000-04:00

Another titleless post. Again, this is experimental.

This ought to be interesting. I just threw this together to take to Fitness by Design, a local personal training facility.

On that note, I guess I do have some content. I interviewed there last week. As much as I wanted to want the job, I didn't. I could have gotten on there, but something told me it was not the place for me. Too big, too structured, and too impersonal for me. However, it got me headed in the right direction.

Even finding the wrong path is making progress sometime.

2006-06-02T02:25:00.000-04:00

This is the most recent close up of me. I'm only posting here to see what "left placement" looks like. This BLOG is a learning experience in html design for me. It's not too difficult, but like anything new, there's a little trial and error.

Kinda like weight loss. You see what works (and will find what doesn't) until you get the hang of it.

Still eating healthy

2006-06-01T04:18:00.000-04:00

It's a way of life now. I cannot cheat during the week without feeling terrible. A cheat is now eating too early, or having a protein bar when I should be having a real food meal. My standards just keep getting higher.

Isn't that what it's all about in life? Constantly raising your standards and bettering yourself? I'm about to step it up another notch.

I'm not happy with my progress. I'll post again with the new, new plan. It's simple.

Had a terrible day.

2006-04-26T02:18:00.000-04:00

Even a champ falls down. I fell down in a big way today. Just had a bad case of poppy pants all day and skipped my workout because of it. I wasn't going to go to the gym and have a crap workout.

I'll see if when I wake tomorrow and see the mirror I believe what I see. I need to, damn it. I'm going to.

I'm the little engine that could. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Why do I torture myself? Am I not beyond this?

This is what I see first thing in the morning.

2006-04-24T09:57:00.000-04:00

Begin with the end in mind.

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday.

2006-04-23T23:19:00.001-04:00

Sunday is cheat day. That is supposed to be "free day", ala Body for Life. However, I've made it into cheat day. Now I'm done. I can't keep doing this.

Breakfast was the usual eggs, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast meats, with a side of fried potatoes. That's the usual. Felt like hell afterwards, came home and slept. Then for dinner I had a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Felt like hell again; came home and slept. And it was a nice day. What a waste of a Sunday.

So here I sit, Sunday night, wondering why I do it. Why would I do things that make me feel like hell. I guess, like my drinking used to, eating used to give me a healthy dose of pleasure. Now, the pain afterwards is about equal to the pleasure I get during my "feedings".

Yeah, I think I'm done with this whole idea of cheating for a while.

2006-04-22T11:28:00.000-04:00

Well, here I sit, with the internal cardio debate once again. I'm trying to make it to the gym on an empty stomach. Man, I hate that. Only do it on cardio days, but still hate it.

OK, I cannot sit here and debate, when I am the 2006 Body for Life Champion. I'm off to the gym. Again, I thought I was going to say something here, but this is silly. I know I'm going to feel great in 30 minutes.

Ahhh...done!

2006-04-18T23:31:00.000-04:00

Got my endorphine fix with some Body for Life style cardio. I weighed in at 209, which concerns me. However, I think that I'm taking in so much water that is to be expected. I've also been doubling up on my creatine which causes water retention. FURTHERMORE, I've made it a point to eat more carbs as I think I may have dropped them a little low last week.

Soooo...I'm chillin on it. I'll be back near 205 or 206 tomorrow morning. It's shoulder and ab day, so I'm low carbing all day. Hey, if I don't need the calories to move big weight, I'm not going to intake them.

Does this work? I think so. I just try to match my carbs with my energy expenditure. I may need to get more scientific at this point, and measure my food. However, for now, I'm still going off feel, and will remain doing so until I finally feel I cannot lose anymore this way.

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

2006-04-18T20:54:00.000-04:00

So here I am, day two of week three, and wondering if I've made any progress at all. I know I have, it's just tough some days. Why? I'm not sure.

I need some inspiration. I'm going to the gym to get some additional cardio in to get that inspiration. Yes, I'm going to work out, and then look for the inspiration. If I wait for inspiration to work out, it never comes.

2006-03-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

Wrap up of the first post. I finish with:

Intro on visualizing
Alude to brain chemestry (Much more on that later)
Ken Whitener Quote

Why not throw in a daily quote at the end of each of these? My 9th grade English teacher would be proud that I always leave my audience with a little present.

My first audio post-The Basics

2006-03-02T12:56:00.000-05:00

I talk about:

What I'm doing Here.
Diet Basics my "One Page Weight Loss Guide"
Exercise Philosophy
Visualization and Positive thinking

I've gotta pay for bandwidth somehow!

2006-03-02T12:20:00.000-05:00

This should be a button to allow you to donate to keep the PodCasts going. I only need one $20 donatikon monthly, or two $10 donations.