I get home from work yesterday, everything seems normal...I go into my bedroom and see my three hounds slinking out the door with their tails between their legs...and then I see it..."the horroraaaaahh."
My beloved hounds managed to pull the box my Personal Health Coach sent me off my dresser and helped themselves to chia seed, farrow grain and spicy seaweed and some dried fruit...I was not happy...that was the downside. The upside, my dogs won't have to worry about fiber or getting enough high protein grains for a few days. I just hope they don't get sick.
The bummer side of it is now I have to go out and buy chia and farrow along with dried beans so I can make a couple of Coach's bean recipies. I'm hoping to make the red beans and rice and one other bean recipie this week and just fuel up and rock!
I stepped on the bathroom scale 2 days ago and got a definative measure of 195lbs! Its the first time I've been 195 since 2006 when I ran the Air Force Marathon. So needless to say I'm very excited.
I ran my new 4+mile loop today and only stopped for a quick 100 yard quick recovery walk about 3 miles into the run then ran the remaining mile+ home. I'm very tired but I feel really good regardless. All day today I thought about Coach and how much she inspires me to do good all areas of my life. She's really trying hard to get me to focus on my spirituality and fitness telling me in so many sweet words that if I take care of my spirituality, the rest will follow and I'll be happy too. She didn't use those exact words but I am recieving her sweet message loud and clear and I love her so much for treating and caring for me as a total person and I really appreciate that she tells me that her mentoring comes from a place of love for me and caring about what happens to me down the road. I'm so blessed to have her leading me. I hope some day I can in some small way contribute to her efforts to help others...I love her so much and the work she's doing. I'm all in with what she is about. I just hope some day to do more and stay on board with her and be part of her team even if she only needs me just a little bit...anything I can do to help her for all she's done for me....seems so understated.
Again thank you coach...Thank you for "taking whatever was broken and endeavoring to help it become whole." Thank you.
Cheers!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
When is Dinner...not...Dinner
Today was a pretty good day. I got in a nice run (4 miles...ahthankyou!) and after showering and scrubbing up my lymphatic system :) my wife and I decided to go for a drive after running a few errands.
Our drive took us to Clinton, Missouri...a small town about 25 miles south of Warrensburg. Actually the town's population is larger than Warrensburg but the sheer ruralness of the town is somewhere between small town USA and Winter's Bone." (Its a movie). We hit a few antique shops and bumped around the town square for a while...a lot of the shops have since closed/went out of business. My favorite place in the square was an ecclectic and eccentric shop called; "The White Rabbit." Great place. There were skeletons dressed in a top hat and tux holding a raven ("ever more!") and another one with a blond Marilyn Monroe wig and a gauze wedding dress. I did mention it's ecclectic right?
Around 5pm my wife announced she was hungry so we started hunting for something to eat. The hunt took us to a little Mexican resturant at the south end of town. Can't go wrong with Mexican food right? I mean for a burgeoning vegan, there's always veggie fajitas chock full of jalepenos right? I'm cool with that...however-dot-com...this place was much, much different...even Different would say; "this is a slightly odd place with a side order of not normal." kind of place.
The help was great. Our waiter was prompt, kept our glasses full of water and was attentive. We ordered veggie fajitas for me and cheese enchilada with refried beans and rice for my wife. When our food came my fajitas were mostly red onion a slice or 2 of green bell pepper and a fist full of jalapenos...there was a condiment plate with sliced iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes and a golf ball size blob of guacamole. The hot sauce tasted like tomato sauce with cayane pepper, a dash of chili powder and a notion of cumin...and who knows what...pretty elementary school lunch room-esque. My wife's food; a cheese enchilada, refried beans under (yes I said under) melted cheese and some rice...she said tasted like cheese wrapped in a tortilla drowned in melted velveta...in a word...gross.
So not exactly Taco Bell and not exactly elementry school cafeteria either...somewhere south...I mean way south of that. When we first walked in the resturant I noticed that there were only 2 people in the place eating. I sort of in an off the cuff manner said to the girl who seated us..."I think we just doubled your business." My wife choked and tried not to laugh and said to me as we were seated, something about me being an a-hole or something as she's holding back tears laughing. After my "onion" fajitas, I have a slight clue as to why the place was so bereft of clientelle. Might have something do with the food... It was just not...let's just say if I were the infamous Simon Cowell of the X-factor and late of American Idol...my critique would be: "that was just dreadful...if I'm being honest."
Our drive took us to Clinton, Missouri...a small town about 25 miles south of Warrensburg. Actually the town's population is larger than Warrensburg but the sheer ruralness of the town is somewhere between small town USA and Winter's Bone." (Its a movie). We hit a few antique shops and bumped around the town square for a while...a lot of the shops have since closed/went out of business. My favorite place in the square was an ecclectic and eccentric shop called; "The White Rabbit." Great place. There were skeletons dressed in a top hat and tux holding a raven ("ever more!") and another one with a blond Marilyn Monroe wig and a gauze wedding dress. I did mention it's ecclectic right?
Around 5pm my wife announced she was hungry so we started hunting for something to eat. The hunt took us to a little Mexican resturant at the south end of town. Can't go wrong with Mexican food right? I mean for a burgeoning vegan, there's always veggie fajitas chock full of jalepenos right? I'm cool with that...however-dot-com...this place was much, much different...even Different would say; "this is a slightly odd place with a side order of not normal." kind of place.
The help was great. Our waiter was prompt, kept our glasses full of water and was attentive. We ordered veggie fajitas for me and cheese enchilada with refried beans and rice for my wife. When our food came my fajitas were mostly red onion a slice or 2 of green bell pepper and a fist full of jalapenos...there was a condiment plate with sliced iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes and a golf ball size blob of guacamole. The hot sauce tasted like tomato sauce with cayane pepper, a dash of chili powder and a notion of cumin...and who knows what...pretty elementary school lunch room-esque. My wife's food; a cheese enchilada, refried beans under (yes I said under) melted cheese and some rice...she said tasted like cheese wrapped in a tortilla drowned in melted velveta...in a word...gross.
So not exactly Taco Bell and not exactly elementry school cafeteria either...somewhere south...I mean way south of that. When we first walked in the resturant I noticed that there were only 2 people in the place eating. I sort of in an off the cuff manner said to the girl who seated us..."I think we just doubled your business." My wife choked and tried not to laugh and said to me as we were seated, something about me being an a-hole or something as she's holding back tears laughing. After my "onion" fajitas, I have a slight clue as to why the place was so bereft of clientelle. Might have something do with the food... It was just not...let's just say if I were the infamous Simon Cowell of the X-factor and late of American Idol...my critique would be: "that was just dreadful...if I'm being honest."
And Now, Without Further Adeiu...RUUUUUNNNNN!
Finally...I get a run in. Dang after like 4 days I miss running and so its frustrating not to get to do that. Thankfully I have managed to stay on task with what I eat and drink. Over a month and no barley pop or visit to my old nemesises Jack Daniels and Capt Morgan (life love and loot my ever shrinking backside!) Its safe to say thanks to milk thistle and proper diet I no longer have a "little Captain in me."
Last week this time I stepped on the scales at the local gym and it read 203! Not too shabby. Today before my shower I stepped on my bathroom scale and it read 195lbs! Okay it might be off a few lbs either side of that so I'm not going to do naked cartwheels down my street or anything but if it's even 3 lbs off either side that means this will be the first day I've been below "2-bills" since like 2008. Four years of lugging that extra weight around. Makes me wonder what it did to all my internal organs and joints and my spine.
I have my wonderful Personal Health Coach to thank for her support and care and nurturing nature and her always encouraging me, helping me and keeping me focused when I feel like straying off course. Every time I think about dropping in on the Taco Bell drive through or ordering something I shouldn't eat from Arby's or something, I think about having to come clean with her face to face and the look of disappointment I might get and that's all it takes to keep me focused and "just say no."
My run was awesome. Albiet on the treadmill, I ran the entire 4 miles on a 2.5 uphill grade and averaged about an 8:45 minute per mile pace. On my next run I'll adjust it to 3.0 degree uphill grade and see how my pace is. While my hip is touch and go, I think indoor running with outdoor in the sunshine stretching post run is better for me. I am going to see the "bone cruncher" tomorrow to get adjusted and see if I've got joint issues in my left hip socket. As of right now an hour after my run my hip doesn't feel sore or hurt so maybe some thorough stretching post workout will keep me upright and going forward toward my goal to run a marathon this fall.
Okay, so I'm off to make Mushroom stew and possibly some jalepeno bisque' which I love. Kale salad and Quinoa cereal for my afternooner snack sounds about freaking delicious with blueberries, black berries, a splash of coconut milk and pure organic maple syrup. Tomorrow morning breakfast...green pancakes and ham...er um not ham just green pancakes lol (SYKE!)
Thank you Coach! You inspire me to be better than I am every day...if not for that I would only be as good as I am right now and therefore stale,stagnant and FAT!!!! :)
Cheers!
SYS
Last week this time I stepped on the scales at the local gym and it read 203! Not too shabby. Today before my shower I stepped on my bathroom scale and it read 195lbs! Okay it might be off a few lbs either side of that so I'm not going to do naked cartwheels down my street or anything but if it's even 3 lbs off either side that means this will be the first day I've been below "2-bills" since like 2008. Four years of lugging that extra weight around. Makes me wonder what it did to all my internal organs and joints and my spine.
I have my wonderful Personal Health Coach to thank for her support and care and nurturing nature and her always encouraging me, helping me and keeping me focused when I feel like straying off course. Every time I think about dropping in on the Taco Bell drive through or ordering something I shouldn't eat from Arby's or something, I think about having to come clean with her face to face and the look of disappointment I might get and that's all it takes to keep me focused and "just say no."
My run was awesome. Albiet on the treadmill, I ran the entire 4 miles on a 2.5 uphill grade and averaged about an 8:45 minute per mile pace. On my next run I'll adjust it to 3.0 degree uphill grade and see how my pace is. While my hip is touch and go, I think indoor running with outdoor in the sunshine stretching post run is better for me. I am going to see the "bone cruncher" tomorrow to get adjusted and see if I've got joint issues in my left hip socket. As of right now an hour after my run my hip doesn't feel sore or hurt so maybe some thorough stretching post workout will keep me upright and going forward toward my goal to run a marathon this fall.
Okay, so I'm off to make Mushroom stew and possibly some jalepeno bisque' which I love. Kale salad and Quinoa cereal for my afternooner snack sounds about freaking delicious with blueberries, black berries, a splash of coconut milk and pure organic maple syrup. Tomorrow morning breakfast...green pancakes and ham...er um not ham just green pancakes lol (SYKE!)
Thank you Coach! You inspire me to be better than I am every day...if not for that I would only be as good as I am right now and therefore stale,stagnant and FAT!!!! :)
Cheers!
SYS
Friday, April 20, 2012
Mall Food
Yesterday began another long and arduous day of looking for a home in the KC-metro area. It also presented me with another challenge of finding something to eat that didn't derail my diet.
After 5 hours of looking at houses my wife and I were both hungry and the closest thing was the mall...and the impending food court. There was everything there from fruit smoothies to pizza to sushi to Greek gyros to Thai food or more likely something that resembled Thai food...made by real Mexicans :)
After looking at all the different places to try and get my Vegan grub on (and there were many of them) I finally settled for a place that made salads and panini sandwiches. But let me digress here for a second. It seems every single place in the food court had some dude or dudette with a tray carring a rolled up mystery something or other skewered with a toothpick saying; "you wanna try?" Really? I guess if I weren't concerned with what I eat...I could just fill up on samples of mystery meat roll-up and beat feet outta there and not drop a single thin dime in the place but honestly I'd have been better off eating the toothpick and throwing the mystery blob in the trash. So there's that. Everything has its price.
So we ordered. My wife a Ceasar salad (w/chicken and parm. cheese) and I had a portabella and avacado panini with romaine, red pepper, red onion (which I asked them to not include) and tomato (which they forgot to include)...which I guess happens when you're 30-40something being paid minimum wage and it's the only job you can find. Regardless she did a great job, notwithstanding the missing tomato and unsolicited red onion, the sandwich was delicious and filling and I was able to enjoy it without "going off the reservation." I was really proud of my wife too for going with a salad...and we might have found a house...maybe :)
Cheers!
After 5 hours of looking at houses my wife and I were both hungry and the closest thing was the mall...and the impending food court. There was everything there from fruit smoothies to pizza to sushi to Greek gyros to Thai food or more likely something that resembled Thai food...made by real Mexicans :)
After looking at all the different places to try and get my Vegan grub on (and there were many of them) I finally settled for a place that made salads and panini sandwiches. But let me digress here for a second. It seems every single place in the food court had some dude or dudette with a tray carring a rolled up mystery something or other skewered with a toothpick saying; "you wanna try?" Really? I guess if I weren't concerned with what I eat...I could just fill up on samples of mystery meat roll-up and beat feet outta there and not drop a single thin dime in the place but honestly I'd have been better off eating the toothpick and throwing the mystery blob in the trash. So there's that. Everything has its price.
So we ordered. My wife a Ceasar salad (w/chicken and parm. cheese) and I had a portabella and avacado panini with romaine, red pepper, red onion (which I asked them to not include) and tomato (which they forgot to include)...which I guess happens when you're 30-40something being paid minimum wage and it's the only job you can find. Regardless she did a great job, notwithstanding the missing tomato and unsolicited red onion, the sandwich was delicious and filling and I was able to enjoy it without "going off the reservation." I was really proud of my wife too for going with a salad...and we might have found a house...maybe :)
Cheers!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
...if the foot fits
Ever have one of those days where no matter what you say...anything...gets turned around and interpreted as an affront to whomever you're speaking? How does that happen? What impish a-hole ethereal scoundrel sits up on his invisible perch and decides; "today no matter what this poor soul says to the person he cares about and worries about is going to come out as an attack and I'm going to cause her to lash out in the most hurtful and unintended manner and say things she wouldn't normally say to try and crush his feelings and make him want to leave and just sew conceit and turmoil...yeah, that's the ticket...
I've had clergy, supposed spiritual leaders and even read scripture that says; "after a trial of your faith, then cometh the blessing." Well, how'd I do? I guess the blessing is, after the end of the day, I'm still here, the furious maelstrom of emotion and anger has been forgotten and I woke up without an icepick in my skull, so I guess its all good. (sorry, a little gallows humor) Basically I'm no worse the wear and tear and I learned sometimes no matter what you say or how you say it, sometimes it's just best to zip my kale salad ® hole and just be quiet.
A lot of stressful stuff has been happening at mi Casa del Loco, and for the most part a lot of helpful coaching from my Personal Health Coach, working out and trying to focus on doing what's right, reading at least a paragraph or chapter of any Scripture from the Bible, BofM or poetry from the ancient Southwest Asian masters has helped me stay focused. But yesterday in the worst way (worst being the optimal word) I so wanted to just drown out yesterday's B.S. in the remaining Irish whiskey and beer I had left in my fridge. I'm not an alcoholic (that I know of) by any means...but yesterday it would have been so easy to just plop a low ball on the mini bar, fill that bad boy and just pour that amber anesthetic down the hatch...but that would mean that little wicked ghostly spectre of temptation wins and I'm the loser...so...in spite of how much it would have deadened the crap of yesterday...I decided it wasn't who I wanted to be...so I decided to offer the "peace sign" (the V with two fingers) to the afore mentioned imp, but I was too tired to raise the accompanying index finger. Taking the advice of Lara Bush, I just said..."NO!" Thanks Lar...(also a very awesome Texan) the other of course my PHC. So...what this all means is my "wagon" hit a very huge pot-hole yesterday on my road to wellness and low and behold the wheels stayed on and I didn't fall off and hurt my head (read hangover).
The other thing was how wonderful and comforting it was to feel the divine influence of my coach encouraging me..."you can do it, it's going to be okay. Your faith is being tested here and you're doing just fine. Trust me and you'll get through this. I love you...I believe in you. You can do it." That is what I felt her saying. What a wonderful blessing. Thank you so much, so very, very much.
Cheers!
I've had clergy, supposed spiritual leaders and even read scripture that says; "after a trial of your faith, then cometh the blessing." Well, how'd I do? I guess the blessing is, after the end of the day, I'm still here, the furious maelstrom of emotion and anger has been forgotten and I woke up without an icepick in my skull, so I guess its all good. (sorry, a little gallows humor) Basically I'm no worse the wear and tear and I learned sometimes no matter what you say or how you say it, sometimes it's just best to zip my kale salad ® hole and just be quiet.
A lot of stressful stuff has been happening at mi Casa del Loco, and for the most part a lot of helpful coaching from my Personal Health Coach, working out and trying to focus on doing what's right, reading at least a paragraph or chapter of any Scripture from the Bible, BofM or poetry from the ancient Southwest Asian masters has helped me stay focused. But yesterday in the worst way (worst being the optimal word) I so wanted to just drown out yesterday's B.S. in the remaining Irish whiskey and beer I had left in my fridge. I'm not an alcoholic (that I know of) by any means...but yesterday it would have been so easy to just plop a low ball on the mini bar, fill that bad boy and just pour that amber anesthetic down the hatch...but that would mean that little wicked ghostly spectre of temptation wins and I'm the loser...so...in spite of how much it would have deadened the crap of yesterday...I decided it wasn't who I wanted to be...so I decided to offer the "peace sign" (the V with two fingers) to the afore mentioned imp, but I was too tired to raise the accompanying index finger. Taking the advice of Lara Bush, I just said..."NO!" Thanks Lar...(also a very awesome Texan) the other of course my PHC. So...what this all means is my "wagon" hit a very huge pot-hole yesterday on my road to wellness and low and behold the wheels stayed on and I didn't fall off and hurt my head (read hangover).
The other thing was how wonderful and comforting it was to feel the divine influence of my coach encouraging me..."you can do it, it's going to be okay. Your faith is being tested here and you're doing just fine. Trust me and you'll get through this. I love you...I believe in you. You can do it." That is what I felt her saying. What a wonderful blessing. Thank you so much, so very, very much.
Cheers!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Thank You!
There is so much I could say about the last week. Mostly it's been a week of highs and lows. Certainly the low points were canceling a much anticipated wedding and bailing one of my beautiful childen out of jail and hearing another one might be headed there in short order...
The highs far outweigh the lows however. I'm healthy, I have a roof over my head and a job that enables me to provide that roof. It also happens to be a job I enjoy so that's a huge bonus. My increasing health and decreasing waistline is a plus as well. When I left Utah to come home I weighed myself on my sister's bathroom scale and it read 223lbs + change... I've been home a month now...4 weeks. Thanks to my wonderful (doesn't even come close to describing her) Personal Health Coach and following her program as close to the letter as a beer and bourbon drinking meat eating guy can...(NO BEER SINCE UTAAAAAH!!) I've managed to whittle away at my weight and waistline rather proficiently and haven't touched so much as a whiff of beer (in its bottled state) or bourbon or Irish Whiskey since I've been home.
Today after an hour on the eliptical trainer I stepped on the scale at the gym...it read: 204.something-something lbs. That's nearly 20 lbs since coming home from Utah. I have my evolving and progressing and continuing education about foods and what they can do for me to thank for it and of course the brains and beauty beind it...You Coach! Thank you for everything; for lovingly teaching me about food and how it can make me better, heal me, strengthen me and even slow or reverse to some degree the aging process. And for just showing me unfeigned love period. I am so blessed. If I live another 72 years, I will have carved upon my headstone: "The First 48 Years Were My Fault, The Last 72 I Have My Personal Health Coach To Thank For. Thanks For Helping Me Outrun the Grim Reaper For More Than a Century!" or words to that effect.
I'm so excited. Going to make stuffed avacado now. I love you Coach!!! ThankyouThankyouThankyou!!!!!!!
:)
The highs far outweigh the lows however. I'm healthy, I have a roof over my head and a job that enables me to provide that roof. It also happens to be a job I enjoy so that's a huge bonus. My increasing health and decreasing waistline is a plus as well. When I left Utah to come home I weighed myself on my sister's bathroom scale and it read 223lbs + change... I've been home a month now...4 weeks. Thanks to my wonderful (doesn't even come close to describing her) Personal Health Coach and following her program as close to the letter as a beer and bourbon drinking meat eating guy can...(NO BEER SINCE UTAAAAAH!!) I've managed to whittle away at my weight and waistline rather proficiently and haven't touched so much as a whiff of beer (in its bottled state) or bourbon or Irish Whiskey since I've been home.
Today after an hour on the eliptical trainer I stepped on the scale at the gym...it read: 204.something-something lbs. That's nearly 20 lbs since coming home from Utah. I have my evolving and progressing and continuing education about foods and what they can do for me to thank for it and of course the brains and beauty beind it...You Coach! Thank you for everything; for lovingly teaching me about food and how it can make me better, heal me, strengthen me and even slow or reverse to some degree the aging process. And for just showing me unfeigned love period. I am so blessed. If I live another 72 years, I will have carved upon my headstone: "The First 48 Years Were My Fault, The Last 72 I Have My Personal Health Coach To Thank For. Thanks For Helping Me Outrun the Grim Reaper For More Than a Century!" or words to that effect.
I'm so excited. Going to make stuffed avacado now. I love you Coach!!! ThankyouThankyouThankyou!!!!!!!
:)
Saturday, April 14, 2012
If We Get Chicken Soup For Our Soul, What Kind of Soup Does the Chicken Get?
A father receives a frantic phone call at 4 in the morning. It's his daughter.
"Daddy, I screwed up big time," she says between sobs.
The father replies; "its okay, calm down. Where are you?" Knowing pretty much by the feeling his gut tells him, she's in jail.
"In jail Daddy, and you're going to be so mad at me when I tell you why."
The father takes a deep breath and tell his distraught daughter, "its okay. I think I have a good idea of why you're there. Just sit tight and I'll be there in a while." After which he sets his alarm for 7am and rolls back over and goes to sleep.
Promptly at 7am the alarm goes off just as his phone rings. Again its his daughter and she's frustrated by now and it shows in her voice; "where are you?" she demands.
"I just woke up." he tells her. "Just sit tight. I'll be there soon."
With the number of the bail bondsman in his hand and money to bail his daughter out of jail he sets off.
After 2 hours the bail is paid and she's free to go but not before being charged with driving while intoxicated, having illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, a moving violation and no insurance.
The father loves his daughter so instead of chewing her out and telling her how she screwed up, he tells her everything will work out in the end if she's willing to sacrifice, work hard and focus on what's most important; putting the night's events in her rear view mirror and taking care of herself and her infant son.
After dropping is daughter off, the father has time to reflect on his actions during this moment. He wonders if he did the right thing. If perhaps the others of his children he's helped out of similar spots in the recent past has helped them or hindered their growth and maturation process. He wonders aloud to God if this is some sort of test to see just how much patience he has or is it a teaching moment for him from God and God saying to him in a still small loving voice... "my son, you are the definition of insanity. You keep bailing your children out over and over thinking that they'll learn and do things differently, but all you're doing is enabling them and teaching them to think that they can make descisions with halting consequences and their parents will fix their missteps. YOU are holding them back. STOP IT!!! You can not continue to do what you're doing and expect a different result. That is just plain crazy..."
So the father thinks to himself... "right? So I guess some times the hard thing to do, let them dig themselves out of the mess they've made for themselves though hard to do, is the right thing to do;" he says to God as he drives home.
The feeling that stirs in his soul tells him he's finally getting it figured out. And the thought occurs to him in that moment; "I didn't say it would be easy. But I promise it will be worth it."
Though it's difficult for the father to not worry about his daughter - for there will always be a father's concern for his children; his lesson learned is this: it's okay for his children to make mistakes, learn how to fix them and its okay to be supportive without being enabling...support strengthens, enabling weakens... DUH! Why is it so hard to see that sometimes?
:-)
"Daddy, I screwed up big time," she says between sobs.
The father replies; "its okay, calm down. Where are you?" Knowing pretty much by the feeling his gut tells him, she's in jail.
"In jail Daddy, and you're going to be so mad at me when I tell you why."
The father takes a deep breath and tell his distraught daughter, "its okay. I think I have a good idea of why you're there. Just sit tight and I'll be there in a while." After which he sets his alarm for 7am and rolls back over and goes to sleep.
Promptly at 7am the alarm goes off just as his phone rings. Again its his daughter and she's frustrated by now and it shows in her voice; "where are you?" she demands.
"I just woke up." he tells her. "Just sit tight. I'll be there soon."
With the number of the bail bondsman in his hand and money to bail his daughter out of jail he sets off.
After 2 hours the bail is paid and she's free to go but not before being charged with driving while intoxicated, having illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, a moving violation and no insurance.
The father loves his daughter so instead of chewing her out and telling her how she screwed up, he tells her everything will work out in the end if she's willing to sacrifice, work hard and focus on what's most important; putting the night's events in her rear view mirror and taking care of herself and her infant son.
After dropping is daughter off, the father has time to reflect on his actions during this moment. He wonders if he did the right thing. If perhaps the others of his children he's helped out of similar spots in the recent past has helped them or hindered their growth and maturation process. He wonders aloud to God if this is some sort of test to see just how much patience he has or is it a teaching moment for him from God and God saying to him in a still small loving voice... "my son, you are the definition of insanity. You keep bailing your children out over and over thinking that they'll learn and do things differently, but all you're doing is enabling them and teaching them to think that they can make descisions with halting consequences and their parents will fix their missteps. YOU are holding them back. STOP IT!!! You can not continue to do what you're doing and expect a different result. That is just plain crazy..."
So the father thinks to himself... "right? So I guess some times the hard thing to do, let them dig themselves out of the mess they've made for themselves though hard to do, is the right thing to do;" he says to God as he drives home.
The feeling that stirs in his soul tells him he's finally getting it figured out. And the thought occurs to him in that moment; "I didn't say it would be easy. But I promise it will be worth it."
Though it's difficult for the father to not worry about his daughter - for there will always be a father's concern for his children; his lesson learned is this: it's okay for his children to make mistakes, learn how to fix them and its okay to be supportive without being enabling...support strengthens, enabling weakens... DUH! Why is it so hard to see that sometimes?
:-)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Making Progress
On Monday I had a doctor's appointment for a physical. It went pretty much as I expected.
me: Hi doc.
doctor: Hey Mark, how are you since the last time I saw you?
me: Very well actually, thank you.
doctor: Your vitals look great. You seem to be very healthy. How old are
you again? (doctor chuckles) just kidding.
me: Funny.
doctor: Any new tattoos, surgery scars or bumps, lumps etc?
me: Not this time sorry.
doctor: It's okay I had to ask...okay so you look fine and your pulse and blood
pressure are great! See you in a year.
me: Thanks doc.
Okay I know that was boring...here is what he failed to mention: last year at this time my 73 inch tall body weighed a staggering 223 lbs. When I was home in Utah I stepped onto my mother's bathroom scale and it said 223 lbs. That is roughly 45lbs of someone I don't want to be. So I decided to do something about that. That's where You came in Coach.
2 weeks after returning home from Utah and meeting with my Coach, commiting to changing my eating habits and trying to cut out meat from my diet, my weight on Monday, 9 April 2012 was 209lbs!!!!
To say I was stoked would be an epic understatement. I knew I was dropping poundage because my clothes started looking less like they were being stretched over the "hey Kool-ade" pitcher guy and more like they fit my shrinking torso!
I know I'm a long way from getting to my target weight of 175 - 180lbs but now I know that goal is very achievable if I stay disciplined and eat "super foods" and take care of my body as I promised myself and Coach I would when I signed my contract with Her.
Thank you Coach!
I love You!!!
me: Hi doc.
doctor: Hey Mark, how are you since the last time I saw you?
me: Very well actually, thank you.
doctor: Your vitals look great. You seem to be very healthy. How old are
you again? (doctor chuckles) just kidding.
me: Funny.
doctor: Any new tattoos, surgery scars or bumps, lumps etc?
me: Not this time sorry.
doctor: It's okay I had to ask...okay so you look fine and your pulse and blood
pressure are great! See you in a year.
me: Thanks doc.
Okay I know that was boring...here is what he failed to mention: last year at this time my 73 inch tall body weighed a staggering 223 lbs. When I was home in Utah I stepped onto my mother's bathroom scale and it said 223 lbs. That is roughly 45lbs of someone I don't want to be. So I decided to do something about that. That's where You came in Coach.
2 weeks after returning home from Utah and meeting with my Coach, commiting to changing my eating habits and trying to cut out meat from my diet, my weight on Monday, 9 April 2012 was 209lbs!!!!
To say I was stoked would be an epic understatement. I knew I was dropping poundage because my clothes started looking less like they were being stretched over the "hey Kool-ade" pitcher guy and more like they fit my shrinking torso!
I know I'm a long way from getting to my target weight of 175 - 180lbs but now I know that goal is very achievable if I stay disciplined and eat "super foods" and take care of my body as I promised myself and Coach I would when I signed my contract with Her.
Thank you Coach!
I love You!!!
Tea with Coach
I had an amazing meeting with my Personal Health Coach yesterday. We talked about the "staff of life" ...grain and briefly about dental work...ouch! I'm happy the chat about grains and "super grains" lasted longer than the dental work/heavy metal talk...though the more I'm given to read and learn, the more I believe I need to get my chicklets updated ASAP!
So I'm super pumped up after my chat with Coach. I drive home and it seems like the drive lasted about 30 seconds when in reality it took just over an hour. I don't know what it is but talking about nutrition with Her. Her spirituality elevates the level of mine and convinces me I can do ANYTHING! Her nature is so gentle and accepting of me and I truly know and feel the love She has for not just me but all life. She is truly a beautiful emmisary of God and I am fortunate to be taught how to eat by Her.
I get home, take care of a couple things and immediately go and get on my running shoes and shorts and out the door I go. I ran my old loop - 5.6 miles... the run I made every day in training for the 2006 Air Force Marathon. Previously I'd run this loop since starting this path 2 weeks ago and had never made it all the way around without stopping to walk 2 or 3 or more times between start and finish of the run. Yesterday - different story. Pumped full of hope, love and feeling the rush of having one of the most important conversations in my life just an hour and a half earlier I lit out for my run around the loop, quietly asking Coach to accompany me in spirit on my run. When I flagged and felt like walking I just asked Her to help and encourage me a little bit but not carry me and let me do the work.. Suddenly I would feel a burst of adrenaline and my feet got lighter, my legs stronger and my air richer and more plentiful. Everything around me seemed to get brighter and more brilliant..greener, more lush and the sky bluer and more vibrant; the hard pavement beneath my feet softer. Truly amazing!
47mintues and 25 seconds later I made it back to where I started my run. All the way around the loop, ran the whole way and asside from the small blister under the callouse on the ball of my right foot I felt tired but otherwise very, very good! All I kept thinking was thank you Coach. Thank you for everything! I love You!
Thanks Coach.
So I'm super pumped up after my chat with Coach. I drive home and it seems like the drive lasted about 30 seconds when in reality it took just over an hour. I don't know what it is but talking about nutrition with Her. Her spirituality elevates the level of mine and convinces me I can do ANYTHING! Her nature is so gentle and accepting of me and I truly know and feel the love She has for not just me but all life. She is truly a beautiful emmisary of God and I am fortunate to be taught how to eat by Her.
I get home, take care of a couple things and immediately go and get on my running shoes and shorts and out the door I go. I ran my old loop - 5.6 miles... the run I made every day in training for the 2006 Air Force Marathon. Previously I'd run this loop since starting this path 2 weeks ago and had never made it all the way around without stopping to walk 2 or 3 or more times between start and finish of the run. Yesterday - different story. Pumped full of hope, love and feeling the rush of having one of the most important conversations in my life just an hour and a half earlier I lit out for my run around the loop, quietly asking Coach to accompany me in spirit on my run. When I flagged and felt like walking I just asked Her to help and encourage me a little bit but not carry me and let me do the work.. Suddenly I would feel a burst of adrenaline and my feet got lighter, my legs stronger and my air richer and more plentiful. Everything around me seemed to get brighter and more brilliant..greener, more lush and the sky bluer and more vibrant; the hard pavement beneath my feet softer. Truly amazing!
47mintues and 25 seconds later I made it back to where I started my run. All the way around the loop, ran the whole way and asside from the small blister under the callouse on the ball of my right foot I felt tired but otherwise very, very good! All I kept thinking was thank you Coach. Thank you for everything! I love You!
Thanks Coach.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter Confession: I have found "Seitan" and he isn't that scary
After being with my coach now for 10 days and trying to put only good things in my body, I have reached a new high for me...trying new things has never bothered me but to actually make food for myself and anyone else who is brave enough to eat some of my concoctions, I'm happy to report that even my wife, Karma tried the "hearty mushroom stew" (two bowls of it) and loved it. I thought it would be too peppery for her but aparently not! WOO-HOO!
Now for my confession. I opened my food diary for the first time since the 3rd of April (much to my chagrin) and realized it'd been nearly 5 days since I'd logged what I ate throughout a day...and it's not because I had any remorse about what I ate...just got forgetful...I hope coach isn't too irked with me...feeling pretty inexcusable about now but determined to get back on track. I have been eating well and staying away from processed foods as much as possible, coffee excluded...but this morning learned a valuable lesson about half & half...fat is better than fat free...sweet! (I'm still trying like mad to cut back). I don't even think it's the caffiene anymore. I just like the taste...go figure, and I hear coach saying..."and you're not liking dandelion greens because they're bitter? But you'll drink a cup of coffee?...whatever!" :)
So today was Kale Salad with the veganaise/almond butter asian dressing! OMG! How awesome did that taste this morning?! Normally I'm eating organic oatmeal with cacao buds and the like for breakfast. This morning it was Kale Salad...soooo delicious!
When I went to buy seitan at Whole Foods last night I asked a clerk where I could find "seitan" to which he replied; "in Hell dude, duh!"
He motioned for me to follow him while I'm snickering about his obvious pun...he directs me to the cooler where tofu and other soy based protein stuff is kept cool and points... "there's seitan."
We look at each other then back at "seitan." I go..."doesn't look all that evil or frightening to me."
"Me either," he shrugs. "Peace dude." And he walked off!
Okay, goofy but funny. You had to be there....I WAS! HAAAAA!!!
Love you coach. Thank you!
Now for my confession. I opened my food diary for the first time since the 3rd of April (much to my chagrin) and realized it'd been nearly 5 days since I'd logged what I ate throughout a day...and it's not because I had any remorse about what I ate...just got forgetful...I hope coach isn't too irked with me...feeling pretty inexcusable about now but determined to get back on track. I have been eating well and staying away from processed foods as much as possible, coffee excluded...but this morning learned a valuable lesson about half & half...fat is better than fat free...sweet! (I'm still trying like mad to cut back). I don't even think it's the caffiene anymore. I just like the taste...go figure, and I hear coach saying..."and you're not liking dandelion greens because they're bitter? But you'll drink a cup of coffee?...whatever!" :)
So today was Kale Salad with the veganaise/almond butter asian dressing! OMG! How awesome did that taste this morning?! Normally I'm eating organic oatmeal with cacao buds and the like for breakfast. This morning it was Kale Salad...soooo delicious!
When I went to buy seitan at Whole Foods last night I asked a clerk where I could find "seitan" to which he replied; "in Hell dude, duh!"
He motioned for me to follow him while I'm snickering about his obvious pun...he directs me to the cooler where tofu and other soy based protein stuff is kept cool and points... "there's seitan."
We look at each other then back at "seitan." I go..."doesn't look all that evil or frightening to me."
"Me either," he shrugs. "Peace dude." And he walked off!
Okay, goofy but funny. You had to be there....I WAS! HAAAAA!!!
Love you coach. Thank you!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
3.5...no problem
Okay so today after I had a chat with my coach, I laced up my brooks and took a nice 3.5 mile run. The weather was damp, cool and overcast and I'd eaten whole oats with flaxseed earlier and had about a liter and a half of water beforehand so I felt good...time to go...
After about 2.5 and several gradual hill climbs and descents, I started to feel a little big fatigued but overall not bad...then mile 3 hit...and I didn't feel I could make it the rest of the way, so I just said to myself...one more step...one more step...
I crested a hill about a quarter mile from home and then it happened, 2nd wind...wow that feels so nice...my gate opened up and my stride lengthened and when I checked my stop watch the whole loop took me 31:49.
My next goal is to finish 4 miles in about that time...but today I made all 3.5 without stopping to walk! I'm pumped! Time to go fuel up and land planes!
Imagine!!!!
After about 2.5 and several gradual hill climbs and descents, I started to feel a little big fatigued but overall not bad...then mile 3 hit...and I didn't feel I could make it the rest of the way, so I just said to myself...one more step...one more step...
I crested a hill about a quarter mile from home and then it happened, 2nd wind...wow that feels so nice...my gate opened up and my stride lengthened and when I checked my stop watch the whole loop took me 31:49.
My next goal is to finish 4 miles in about that time...but today I made all 3.5 without stopping to walk! I'm pumped! Time to go fuel up and land planes!
Imagine!!!!
Eye of the Storm
Another weekend is upon me. Hailstones are dropping on my patio randomly. At least its only pea sized and not very heavy...but we're still getting it. So much for a scoot around the block. Maybe in a while. My "hearty mushroom stew" is indescribably delicious. My coach is a cullinary genius. Her knowledge and wisdom pours out in an amazing bounty through her beautiful creativity with the gifts of the earth and it's boundless. She is a genius chemist and alchemist...a gift from her brilliant and loving Earthly Father and the Father of us all who sits on high and is mindful of our needs and hopes and fears and loves us inspite of what we do or who we are! Thank you Coach for your creativity. It is nourishment to my body and hope for my soul!!
I managed to cull a flea market and found a nice crock pot for 8 bucks! Take that wal-mart! :) Flea markets rule!
A lot of positive things have fed me this week. Exercise has fed my muscles, great food to feed and fuel my body, restful prayer and dream filled sleep to restore my soul...and water to tie it all together and restore me every day! Things around me are chaos defined however while I'm working on me I feel like I'm in the eye of the storm and safe...just gotta keep moving and stay focused...
I know.
I managed to cull a flea market and found a nice crock pot for 8 bucks! Take that wal-mart! :) Flea markets rule!
A lot of positive things have fed me this week. Exercise has fed my muscles, great food to feed and fuel my body, restful prayer and dream filled sleep to restore my soul...and water to tie it all together and restore me every day! Things around me are chaos defined however while I'm working on me I feel like I'm in the eye of the storm and safe...just gotta keep moving and stay focused...
I know.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Powering Down
So I took all of yesterday off. Tried like crazy to eat well and just deal with my cough and sore throat...cloves, cacao buds, exfoliating and hot and cool shower along with lots and lots of water.
When I started this, I knew it would be a challenge for me. Food choices are not hard for me but when my family prepares something that's not what I want to eat because of what it is or how it's prepared, it makes things complicated, so I need to work on that. No one but me is on board with trying to do this (change eating habits) yet. I expect once the dynamic at home changes somewhat, (kids move back out) it will be easier for my wife to eat "with me" especially if I do all the cooking :) So far it has been a real challenge to try and eat the right things from what we get from the grocery store...not impossible but challenging.
I wanted to do some kind of exercise yesterday but somehow I buggered up my left hip from my run the night before, what I did to my left hip I'm not sure but and all day long I felt this pinch in my hip socket...not good. It didn't hurt per-se just made my leg swing different. John Madden would say; "he has a little hitch in his giddyup."
Instead of running on the treadmill or outdoors I layed on the floor and stretched. With this stretch I layed on the floor and crossed my left leg over my right and pulling the knee across my body toward the floor, keeping my shoulders as flat to the floor as possible. I felt something in my lumbar spine pop and my left hip release with a very audible loud pop that startled me and instantly I felt the "hitch" go by the way side...WHEW!
Back at it today coach. I'm shooting for the construction of a Kale Salad and a nice easy run of about 3 miles and a cool down and stretch. I'm curious to know if my stretching my hips out yesterday took care of the problem. I feel so much better. If I can drop another 4 or 5lbs by the 9th I'll be happy. I have my physical exam that day. I'd like to come in weighing less than I did at this time last year! :) Thank you again for checking up on me and your words of empowerment and encouragement. I love working with you. Thank you!
When I started this, I knew it would be a challenge for me. Food choices are not hard for me but when my family prepares something that's not what I want to eat because of what it is or how it's prepared, it makes things complicated, so I need to work on that. No one but me is on board with trying to do this (change eating habits) yet. I expect once the dynamic at home changes somewhat, (kids move back out) it will be easier for my wife to eat "with me" especially if I do all the cooking :) So far it has been a real challenge to try and eat the right things from what we get from the grocery store...not impossible but challenging.
I wanted to do some kind of exercise yesterday but somehow I buggered up my left hip from my run the night before, what I did to my left hip I'm not sure but and all day long I felt this pinch in my hip socket...not good. It didn't hurt per-se just made my leg swing different. John Madden would say; "he has a little hitch in his giddyup."
Instead of running on the treadmill or outdoors I layed on the floor and stretched. With this stretch I layed on the floor and crossed my left leg over my right and pulling the knee across my body toward the floor, keeping my shoulders as flat to the floor as possible. I felt something in my lumbar spine pop and my left hip release with a very audible loud pop that startled me and instantly I felt the "hitch" go by the way side...WHEW!
Back at it today coach. I'm shooting for the construction of a Kale Salad and a nice easy run of about 3 miles and a cool down and stretch. I'm curious to know if my stretching my hips out yesterday took care of the problem. I feel so much better. If I can drop another 4 or 5lbs by the 9th I'll be happy. I have my physical exam that day. I'd like to come in weighing less than I did at this time last year! :) Thank you again for checking up on me and your words of empowerment and encouragement. I love working with you. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
"It is the Phlegm That Binds Us! " (Ace Ventura, Pet Detective)
WTF-over? I stayed up to watch a pretty good NCAA Men's basketball final between Kentucky and Kansas (the outcome sucked). Up to the end of the game my day was stellar. Got some 1 on 1 with my health coach who is totally amazing...ate very well, (for once all really good food choices for a full day) and ran outdoors before the game in the early evening. I actually got half way around the loop without stopping and then walked for a couple minutes and ran another mile without stopping before shutting it down and jog/walking the rest of the way home. I took a shower, shaved my grizzled mug and sat down with a liter and a half of cool water to watch the game...6 hours later and my voice had gone AWOL, my throat felt like hopped up badgers in track spikes had run the Penn relay on my larynx. This is very distressing to say the least. When my voice is bad enough for me to consider "phoning it in" its bad.
Blessings be to Earl Gray and his tea for loosening up my vocal chords some and the God of hot water; Farenheit (Celcius if you're Roman) and I now sound like "Aunt Jack" from Mrs Doubtfire instead of Marlee Matlin from "Children of a Lesser God.
So what did I learn? After taking a day to kick this "thing" growing in my throat's ass the first day with a regimine of hot pepper, cloves, vitamin C and hot/cold showers and self exfoliation (sounds like something for which I should repent)...and feeling better after, I should have taken conventional medicine's anti-biotic approach...just because you feel better doesn't mean you can stop taking your meds (or in my case food that will kill the unwelcome visitor in my throat). You have to finish them or it will come back "adjusted" and harder to put down. DUH. How sheepish do I feel? Baaaaaa!
Okay so enough mental self flagulation...time to get better.
Blessings be to Earl Gray and his tea for loosening up my vocal chords some and the God of hot water; Farenheit (Celcius if you're Roman) and I now sound like "Aunt Jack" from Mrs Doubtfire instead of Marlee Matlin from "Children of a Lesser God.
So what did I learn? After taking a day to kick this "thing" growing in my throat's ass the first day with a regimine of hot pepper, cloves, vitamin C and hot/cold showers and self exfoliation (sounds like something for which I should repent)...and feeling better after, I should have taken conventional medicine's anti-biotic approach...just because you feel better doesn't mean you can stop taking your meds (or in my case food that will kill the unwelcome visitor in my throat). You have to finish them or it will come back "adjusted" and harder to put down. DUH. How sheepish do I feel? Baaaaaa!
Okay so enough mental self flagulation...time to get better.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Sunday Night
Normal Sunday night. In light of my week, I was determined to take today off from running and so forth. I still did pushups and a few seated triceps extentions and my arms feel awesome! I did eat pretty well but then went to the movies (The Hunger Games - how appropriate right? and pounded a bag of peanutbutter m&m's or w&w's if you eat them upside down). I know...I can feel your eyebrows knitting and your hand on your hip with that "what the eff?" look on your face... so today I run an extra mile for my pennance (which in the long run - no pun intended - will benifit me anyhow!) so its a win-win for me. Still, I apologize in advance.
After returning home I watched some GC and took notes. A lot of helpful things were said by those speaking and I felt uplifted if not tired. So I crashed and woke early. Now I find myself up in my perch waiting for the day to get into full swing. I have organic oatmeal standing by so it's time to eat! Ciao' !
After returning home I watched some GC and took notes. A lot of helpful things were said by those speaking and I felt uplifted if not tired. So I crashed and woke early. Now I find myself up in my perch waiting for the day to get into full swing. I have organic oatmeal standing by so it's time to eat! Ciao' !
Sunday, April 1, 2012
April Fools!!!!
Ah Sunday morning...April 1st. Such a great day!
Breakfast today...omg! are you kidding me? Bacon, eggs, a stack of fluffy pancakes slathered in butter and maple syrup...fresh hot coffee and whipped cream and fresh blueberries. I think I may have died and gone to heaven! Diving into those and rolling link sausage around my plate mopping up that syrup with them was sooooo decadent! Oh my goodness...My tongue was in heaven...and I'm so full I need a big cat nap. I feel like a lion gorged after taking down a big zebra...mmmmm
APRIL FOOLS! :-D
I almost gagged writing this post....hope after you get done smashing your I-book you can forgive me for tugging your chain a little bit Coach. I know you're going to make me pay for it later but its all good!
Cheers!
Breakfast today...omg! are you kidding me? Bacon, eggs, a stack of fluffy pancakes slathered in butter and maple syrup...fresh hot coffee and whipped cream and fresh blueberries. I think I may have died and gone to heaven! Diving into those and rolling link sausage around my plate mopping up that syrup with them was sooooo decadent! Oh my goodness...My tongue was in heaven...and I'm so full I need a big cat nap. I feel like a lion gorged after taking down a big zebra...mmmmm
APRIL FOOLS! :-D
I almost gagged writing this post....hope after you get done smashing your I-book you can forgive me for tugging your chain a little bit Coach. I know you're going to make me pay for it later but its all good!
Cheers!
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