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Posts
After the Rugged Maniac. While I am smiling I am thinking “why did I just put myself through?”. The Rugged Maniac was one of the toughest things I have done physically. Can’t wait to do it again next year!
This video has had a profound impact on me for reasons I can’t explain. Watching this video has helped me put things in my life into perspective; it has really opened my eyes to what is important. I’ve watched this video several times of the last few days.
- An Open Letter to Jay Cutler
Jay “Boo-Boo” Cutler,
I loathe you. I don’t know you, yet I loathe you. My perception of you is a person without character, selfish (borderline narcissistic), ignorant and a person with an ego larger than the football field you play on. Perception is reality.
You quit on the Broncos and you quit on your Bear’s teammates in the NFC Championship game. I know, I know…your knee was worse than what television depicted it as. Who cares! Don’t quit on your team, EVER.
I love when my fantasy football opponent starts you at QB. I know my defense will have at least four interceptions that day. Do you really think you can complete some of those passes (which is ignorant) or is your ego just too big to let you check down or throw the ball away?
You are probably saying “what have you done in your life? I’m a pro football player, what are you?” I am a fan of the game. I care about how people carry themselves. I know that no one player is larger than the game. That is a lesson you still need to learn.
Last season was your first winning season of your career since high school. Do you think you had anything to do with that? Or was it your teams fault? Your receivers fault? Winning isn’t just about practice and execution, its also a trait. Some people are born winners, some are born losers. The good news is that winning traits can be learned. I suggest you go to winners school. I’m really getting tired of hearing how much potential you have. When does that potential come to fruition or die? You can’t have potential forever. At some point (maybe very soon) potential becomes a waste.
The crux of this letter is that I don’t want to loathe you. I’m not that kind of guy. While you have been the butt of many of my jokes and banter, I really want to see you live up to your potential. I will be the first person to eat crow when you win.
If you read this (0.01% chance) and make your way back to Denver, look me up (0% chance). I’d love to have a beer with you to chat about my perception and why I think this way. Who knows, you might be the coolest guy ever who is just misunderstood. Until then, my perception is my reality and my reality is that you are a loser.
- Putting Happiness Into Perspective
The other day, as I was walking from my car to my place of employment, I crossed paths with a gentleman that was severely physically handicapped (I put an emphasis on physically because I think, for the story I’m about to tell, its important to point out that this gentleman was not mentally handicapped).
In passing, I gave a quick glance and I saw a huge smile on this man’s face. I did a double take and when I did, the man spoke to me. He said “good morning”. This seem somewhat trivial, but this changed my perspective on life and especially on being happy.
We all have problems, that at times, make it hard to be happy. But when this severely handicapped gentleman smiled and said good morning, I could feel his attitude, his happiness. How could this man be happy when he barely has the use of his legs? Why can’t I achieve true happiness when I am alive, capable and have the world at my finger tips?
These thoughts stopped me in my tracks. My entire life, all my choices and decisions leading up to this point, played like a movie in my head. It also made me put happiness into perspective. I have no reason to be unhappy. I have all the ability in the world to be happy. I am the person who molds me.
At that moment, I realized that every bit of the person that I want to be is within me. I can be that person and I can realize happiness.
Every morning I look for that handicapped man. I’d love to introduce myself and talk to him. He may never know that seeing him happy changed my life. I am grateful for that.
- There I Sat
I have been on a quest to improve my quality of life and as such, I have been living a pretty healthy lifestyle. Eating right and exercising has helped me lose over 50 pounds in the last year. I’ve kicked most of my bad/unhealthy habits except for one. I have a bad habit of consuming energy drinks. It’s closer to an addiction than to a habit.
I drink an energy drink a day. This is awful for a couple of reasons. Its really bad for my health. Energy drinks have been found to deplete the adrenal gland. Compounded with the fact that they are mostly composed of chemicals. They are also really bad for my bank account. These things are costly!
I’ve been trying to break the habit (kick the addiction) and I just haven’t been able to do it. Along comes Lent. To help me get these out of my life, I have given these up for Lent. I have done great in avoiding them since Lent started, however, today was a different day.
As I left my house, I could taste the energy drink and immediately started to crave it. I drove to 7-Eleven with an intent to buy one, and down it as fast as I can. As I pulled into the parking lot, I had a sense of guilt and anger. I promised myself that I would kick this addiction, yet here I was about to give in. There I sat in my truck in the parking lot for several minutes fighting an intense debate with myself.
There I sat as the debate went back and forth. The entire time I struggled with this decision, I could literally taste the drink. I was about to give in when the debate ended. I put my truck in reverse and left without buying an energy drink. Its a decision I knew I had to make. I need to improve all facets of my life and not drinking these will be a sure improvement in the quality of my life on several levels.
Here I sit writing this and must say, I am really happy and proud of my decision.
- Fight For Air Climb | Team Sherpa
2009 Team Sherpa
Results:Jon=19:26, Sarah=24:38, Michael=19:38, Shaunna=17:10, Colin=25:07, Sara=18:28, Steve=12:59, Kyle=11:56, Pete=12:51
2010 Team Sherpa
Results:Jon=20:57, Sarah=38:17, Michael=20:44, Shaunna=19:31, Quentin=13:45, Colin=27:00, Sara=17:24, Steve=12:36, Kyle=10:53, Matt=14:55, Pete=12:04, Mel=13:57, Tricia=38:38
2011 Team Sherpa
Results:
Jon=13:12, Michael=15:42, Shaunna=14:35, Quentin=13:28, Colin=21:59, Sara=16:19
- Interesting NBA Observation
I have made an interesting observation about current NBA players, their ability and their name. It seems that many of today’s top players have a last name that could also be a first name:
Kobe BRYANT
Carmelo ANTHONY
Chris PAUL
Lebron JAMES
Dwyane WADE
Ray ALLEN
Tim DUNCAN
Dwight HOWARD
Brandon ROY
Michael JORDAN (greatest of all time)This strikes me as odd and its most likely a coincidence, but what if a last name can be an indication of aptitude, ability or greatness?
- Why the new AppleTV will kill the Roku Player
Let me first say that I currently own an older AppleTv and I also own a Roku Player. I use my AppleTV to stream content/media (movies & music) from my computer to my tv as well as rent movies from iTunes. I use my Roku Player for Pandora and Netflix.
THe new AppleTV has basically integrated the best that Roku has to offer. Meanwhile, Roku hasn’t done anything new recently save release new hardware. I’ve always wished that my AppleTV could play Netflix and Pandora or that my Roku could stream my content.The new AppleTV has done just that.
I am assuming that Pandora will be available on the new AppleTV via an app and Netflix will be integrated. What more could I want?
I know that there are ways to stream my media from my computer to my Roku, but they are all hacks as the Roku doesn’t do this as a channel. Besides Pandora, Netflix, Amazon Video & MLB.tv, most of the channels that Roku offer are public access type programming broadcasted over the internet. Yes, there are some gems here and there, but for the most part its stuff I’ll never watch. Kinda like buying a car cause the back seat has cool cup holders.
The new AppleTV is consolidating devices in my entertainment center. It is doing everything the Roku does and more. It won’t take long for Apple to have content agreements in place with the same providers that Roku has. When that happens, the Roku will officially be done for…unless…Roku has something up their sleeve that has not been floated around the internets. Will the Roku offer a channel to stream media from my computer?
The real nail in the coffin is that the new AppleTV will allow you to stream (via a wireless connection) from my ipad to the AppleTV. This means that Hulu will now be able to be streamed without connecting my laptop to my tv. Goodnight Roku!
Unless I see something from Roku soon, my old AppleTV and my Roku player will be listed on Denver Craigslist in the near future. Want to make me an offer?
- Bye-Bye Foursquare
I’ve given up on Foursquare. Not that I don’t think its cool or doesn’t have potential, I just don’t use it and don’t see it fitting into my life. I am giving up on trying to be the mayor of anywhere. I used to be the mayor of 8 or so establishments and took pride in that title. But it dawned on me that being the mayor only means you are spending more time and money at that particular location than anyone else is…big deal. I broadcast my location to a bunch of people I don’t know. Who cares where I am? I don’t care where people are that I don’t know.
Foursquare would be cool if it allowed you to build a private network sorta like Yammer did with the Twitter concept. I guess that’s what Google Latitude is, but who wants to share all their data with Google? But this is predicated on friends and family also using the service, which is a tough sell to someone who doesn’t know or care about LBS.
While I’ve made an example out of Foursquare, I really am trying to unclutter all facets of my life. You’ve probably received advice that you should throw out (or donate) old clothing if you haven’t worn it in 6 months. I am taking that same philosophical approach to my iPhone apps. If I haven’t used them is x-amount of time, they will be deleted.
I want my brain back!
- A New Addiction
I’ve recently delved into the world of bicycles. I started to tinker with a single speed conversion of a red schwinn (see previous posts), but I wasn’t into it yet. I really didn’t know what I was doing, and more importantly, what I wanted. I think I have it figured out now.
I have a plan to have three bikes:
1) Daily commuter - This bike is a Giant ATX 830. Its older, but its aluminum and light. I have been continually upgrading and making it better. I removed the two small rings in the front leaving only the big ring. This allowed me to remove the front shifter and derailleur. I opted for the road slicks instead of traditional mountain bike tires. I need to replace the brakes with new ones and it should be a completed project. I would remove the 7 rear gears, but I really do need them to commute to and from work.
2) Cruiser - I just procured a Schwinn Panther beach cruiser. I had the hand brakes taken off and a coaster brake put in. I also have small sized ape hanger handlebars that I will be painting white. Not a lot to do with this project except ride it!
3) Single Speed Mountain Bike - I have yet to buy a bike to convert as I have been researching what kind of bike I want and how I want it to look afterward. I know that I only want a front brake to keep it as clean as possible. But I’m not sure of frame design yet.
I really enjoy riding my bike(s) and look forward to continuous tinkering!
Great illustration of how Google works and how it makes money. Although it omits how it gets and stores your personal data to know everything about you.
- Riding My Bike
Its been almost two weeks since I started riding my bike into work. I don’t actually ride my bike from my house to my place of work, rather I drive my car close to work and park on the street where its free. I then take my bike out of my truck and ride from there. Parking in downtown Denver ranges from $1.50 (8 blocks away) to $14-$20 a day at my building. Instead of asking for more money just to pay my parking bill, I decided to ride my bike. I’m not in good enough shape to ride door-to-door yet, but I hope to get there soon. Every couple of days, I am parking just a little further away from work in hopes that one day I’ll be riding from my house.
I’ve learned so much from riding my bike to work. First, it seems that there have been a well devised plan for bike riders. There are a ton of trails and ways to get around the city. Second, more people ride and/or walk than what I thought. Its nice to see so many people commuting without the use of a car.
We have reached a point where, as a collective, human charater doesn’t mean much in American culture. As such, now is the time more than ever to be true to your true self.
AnonymousI don’t see how my beloved Hulu can survive. The very reason for Hulu’s success (overpriced cable) is now controlling its destiny. This can’t end well for Hulu
Its been a year since Handbrake was updated. This is the best ripping software on the market
A while ago, I wrote about converting an old school Schwinn ten speed to a single speed bike. While I have slowed down a bit, I still have the motivation to get it done. Kyle took some photos of the bike before he stripped it down and after he removed all of the components. More to come…
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Tweets
- Snow Means More Indoor Golf Drills! http://t.co/ovorowab
- @RETROACTIV_ whats up man? long time...hope you are doing well!Jan 28, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @rudybull23 cloth....you def should invest. I'll go in half with you
- @ChristineDowns That...is...AWESOME!
- “@ZSuerzo: Tom Coughlin and his jacket is one zipper away from being in the thriller video #michealjackson” ..thats funny
- “@ZSuerzo: @JDeFelice2 i got the over” ....way over
- @ZSuerzo @MattyIcee55 @bpep25 @Castillyo4 @GPatt59 @JDeFelice2 just looked at the joe flacco/mattyice photo again....dead ringer!
- @JDeFelice2 at this point I am listed as day-to-day
- Fearful that I might gain back all the weight: http://t.co/wzXeT4di #FitFluential
- Working out? Injuries can and will happen: http://t.co/uSMb00JL #FitFluential
- The Patriots plan is now complete. Josh McDbag is back with the Pats. He was sent to the Broncos as a mole and to destroy us from the inside
- Currently reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Fascinating book. If you love/like running, this is a must read. #FitFluential
- @FatGirlvsWorld The Giants were supposed to win that game...the Broncos weren't.
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Info
- SummarySpecialties: Project Management, eCommerce Development, Agile Development, Systems EngineeringExperience
- Jan 2012 - PresenteBusiness Operations Project Manager / CenturyLink
- Jan 2011 - PresentBoard of Directors / Arvada Colts, Inc.
- Jun 2010 - Jan 2012Lead Systems Engineer / Access Data
- Apr 2009 - Jan 2011VP Technology/eCommerce / Strandle, LLC
- Nov 2007 - Mar 2010IT Project Lead/eCommerce Manager / Janus Capital Group
- May 2006 - Nov 2007IT Manager II - eCommerce / EchoStar Satellite LLC
- Aug 1998 - May 2006Project Manager / Qwest Communications
Education-
1998 - 2000University of Colorado at Denver
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1994 - 1998Northern Arizona University
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Posts
- Jan 11, 12
Everyone who is trying to lose weight or be healthy is motivated by something. Each person has a personal motivation; might be children, looking good in a swimsuit, health issues, setting a personal best…etc. The list is endless. I use all sorts of things as my motivation to get up and workout and to stay on track to hit my goal weight. One thing that I have never used (never really thought about) for motivation is fear.
Losing weight is hard, especially since I had so many bad habits that I needed to break and so many new habits I needed to form. Over the course of time, losing weight becomes easier as habits are broken and formed, but fundamentally, losing weight is not easy. To me, maintaining is even more difficult than losing. While I have formed great habits in regards to eating healthy and working out, its just too easy to fall back into the old habits that got me overweight in the first place…and this leads me to being motivated by fear.
I am afraid that I can fall back into overeating, binge eating, emotional eating, skipping workouts and so on. I fear that I can become what I once was. This fear has been the greatest motivating force in my life for the last 3 months. I love the fact that I have something fueling my fire, buts its a terrible way to live. Living in fear of anything adds a tremendous amount of unnecessary stress, which we all know is bad for your health. Its a vicious cycle.
Having this fear makes me believe that, while I have transformed my outward appearance, I still have some work to do to my mentally. It makes me believe that sub-consciously, my brain still acts as if I’m overweight. If I really want to transform my life, I need to work on my brain and form new thinking habits, habits that make me believe that I am healthy and not overweight. I will know that I have accomplished this when I no longer feel the fear looking over my shoulder.
For now, I will harness the motivation that fear gives me and continue on my path to a healthy life, which includes working on my state of mind and having belief in myself that I’m not that same person I once was.
Do you have a sense of fear? Does it motivate you?
- Jan 10, 12
Woke up this morning with a pretty painful, yet unknown and unspecified, foot/heel injury. I can’t put any pressure on my right foot without severe pain. But I’ve come to understand injuries and know that, unfortunately, its part of the process. If you’re working out in the gym or running, injuries are going to happen. Its part of the game. I hope I don’t get injured, not because of the pain, but because its a setback. It throws a wrench in my workout plans/schedule. This isn’t my first injury due to working out, nor do I expect it to be my last. After my first few minor injuries, I came up with a game plan for dealing with injuries:
Acceptance
The first time I got injured working out, I tried to ignore it. I could deal with it and continued to workout. This turned out to be an awful idea as it made it worse. Since then, when I get injured, I accept that I am injured and give the pain the respect it deserves.Rest
As mentioned above, taking time off and resting is the best way to handle an injury. Pushing myself and working out with an injury just exacerbates the problem and setting me back even more.Understanding
Taking time to understand my injury, what my injury is and why I got injured helps to prevent that injury in the future. Did I have bad form performing a particular lift? Did I push myself too hard during a run? Was I using the wrong equipment/gear? Understanding the injury has helped me figure out how to make my workouts better and prevent future injury.Learn
Going hand-in-hand with understanding, learning from the injury is important. If doing something injuries me, I should take a lesson and not do that again. Learning why I got injured has also helped me push myself and try different things that I probably wouldn’t have.I love working out and have come to love running. While I hope I never get injured, I know that injuries happen. Its part of the process. I hope that I can learn from my injuries, take necessary steps to prevent it in the future and keep forging on.
*Disclaimer* – I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. If you have a serious injury, please seek medical attention.
- Jan 04, 12
As I embark on a new year, with a new set of goals and renewed motivation, I take a look back at the past year to see what I can learn from as well as what I can appreciate and be grateful for. 2011 was a great year in many aspects but I also know that I could have pushed myself harder.
Some Amazing things happened to me in 2011:
- The birth of my first child. This changed my life in more ways than I ever expected. I am grateful to have such a wonderful addition to my life.
- Lost about 30 pounds in 2011
- Ran in my first real fitness events
- Took up running and now I’m addicted
2011 was also the year of learning for me:
- Learned that I can push myself to wake up early and get a great workout in
- Learned that I
likelove running (even in the cold) - Learned that being a father is really something special
- Learned that I can’t take any breaks if I really want to be healthy…gotta work at it every day
What I need to work on in 2012:
- I need to be more diligent in my eating. In 2011 I would get on a real nice eating streak and then cave for a week or so. I need to limit the amount of times I fall off the wagon
- I need to mix up my workout routine. Early 2011 I was all about lifting and didn’t do much else. Late 2011 I was all about running and didn’t do much else. I would like to mix it up and incorporate both
- I need to push myself harder and further than ever before. I want and need to be the best me
2011 was a great year but I know that 2012 will be even better. I am dedicated, motivated and willing to make it possible.
- Dec 16, 11
Admitting and owning up to my weaknesses is very tough for me. Its tough for a lot of people. Taking ownership of those weaknesses is the very essence and reason this blog exists. One weakness that I had when I was overweight was to hide my emotions and feeling of sadness behind a mask of comedy. I hated being overweight and instead of dealing with the issues of why I was overweight, I dealt with it by taking on a persona of the funny fat friend.
That personification worked for my friends and family. But it really wasn’t working for me. I was able to get by, but I wasn’t improving myself. I knew I wanted more out of life than to be that funny guy that everyone knew was overweight. The more I perpetuated the funny guy, the more ashamed I became of my weight and health. It was difficult to break that mold as everyone loved the funny fat guy….except me.
Fast forward…
I lost 50 pounds and haven’t lost my sense of humor. Looking back, I’ve realized that the funny guy persona was less about being funny and more about deflecting thoughts and discussions about my health. It feels great to just be me and not have to develop and live up to a fabricated persona. The one positive aspect that I have taken away from that time in my life is that my friends and family loved me regardless of my outward appearance. They love me the same and will be able to for many more years. That would have been cut short if I continued down my health destruction path.
I’ve left that persona behind, no longer need it. I’m more focused than ever to be myself, be healthy and created laughs well into the future.
- Dec 13, 11
I’ve learned a lot of things in the last year and a half. I’ve learned that I can overcome many things. I’ve learned what my limitations are. I’ve learned that I can defy those limitations and push past them. I’ve learned that I can be tempted yet not cave in to delicious junk food. I’ve learned what clothes I like to workout in. I’ve learned what time of day is best for me to eat. The list is endless. However, the most important thing I’ve learned is that I’ve failed and fallen many times and that I will continue to do so and that I have the power and will to get up, learn a lesson and keep going.
This was a tough lesson to learn. The first time I failed was my first full weekend after starting my weight loss journey. I ate like I have never eaten before. It felt good at the time, but the scale begged to differ. It would have been easy for me to quit right there and tell myself that I can’t do it. That I can’t eat right and lose weight. It would have been easy for me to shut it down, return to my usual habits and continue to gain weight. But I refused; I picked myself up and forged ahead.
I soon learned that falling down is all part of the experience. It comes with the territory. Once I understood that, I took more risks and pushed myself. I knew that I would fall down. But I also knew that I would get back up and keep going. Failing isn’t a bad thing, in fact I think its necessary. To truly understand my limits, to learn and to grow, I know that I need to push my boundaries. In doing that, failures will happen. When I push those limits and fall down, I take a few moments to understand why, learn from it and keep going.
I think too many people go into weight loss with the idea that it will all go smoothly and the pounds will melt off. When they encounter a bump in the road, they get bummed out and revert to their old ways. I see too many people that do well for 2 weeks, a month and then gain all the weight back plus some. They fell down along the way and didn’t get back up. Getting back up is, for me at least, the key to losing weight and living the life I want to live.
Know that falling down and getting up is within me, I have been able to push my limits even further and experiment with different things. What time of day I eat, what I eat, how much water to drink, when to workout etc. Its been fun to learn my body and how it reacts to different scenarios. Most of the experiments are failures but in failure comes knowledge.
I know that I will fall down and fail dozens of times in the future. But I will also get back up!
- Dec 09, 11
Losing weight is hard. Losing weight has put me through emotional roller coasters, bouts of low motivation, hunger pangs etc. There is so much physical and mental effort that goes into losing weight. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming. Being overwhelmed has led me to binge eating (mostly on desserts…I love ice cream). Trying to lose weight by myself was not successful as there is no avenue for an outlet or to have someone push you. Enter social media/networks.
There are tons of people going through the same things I am going through and they are all willing to sit in my corner and cheer me on. The people that I follow on Twitter (and follow me) has proven to be a valuable resource and tool in my effort to lose weight. The value of the information they share is priceless and I am grateful for each person that takes the time to share what they are doing to fight the good fight. But it goes beyond that. Real relationships are being formed on Twitter than have a positive impact.
If I am having a bad day, I know that I can turn to Twitter, and describe that my motivation for exercising is at an all-time low. I know that in a matter of minutes, I will have several people give me the pep talk I need. There are people in my corner, people that I have never met in person, people who really care and they want to see me succeed. To me, this is amazing and something I don’t take for granted.
I learn so much about health and weight loss everyday from Twitter. More importantly, I learn about people and how powerful it is to have people who care rooting for me. Its hard not to join the cause and help out as much as I can. When I see someone on Twitter who needs a boost, I make sure I reach out to them and let them know that they can do it. That there are people out there who care and want them to achieve their goals. This creates a very positive and powerful relationship between people who have a common goal and share the same struggles.
I urge anyone trying to lose weight to get involved in social networks and form relationships with other people trying to lose weight and get fit. The positive energy is undeniable and amazing.
There are way too many people that I could mention, however, I want to take a moment to mention someone who I met on Twitter that has become a friend. That person is Miller (@retroactiv_). I was in a bad mood one day after a bad experience at the gym and I made a small comment on Twitter. He reached out to me and gave me the positive pep talk I needed to keep going. The amazing part of this story is that I had never met or talked to him before. He reached out cause he saw someone who needed motivation. I am glad to call him a friend and know that by pushing each other we will reach our goals.
The moral of this post is that you don’t have to go at it alone. There are people out there willing to help and be there with you!
- Dec 07, 11
My wife and I love watching movies. We don’t necessarily enjoy the theater experience, so we wait for movies to go to rental before we watch them. Our rental method of choice is Redbox. Its inexpensive, its convenient and Redbox always has the most recent movies. However, there is one major downside to renting movies from Redbox. Most Redbox locations are inside McDonald’s.
Every time I go to rent a movie, I am deeply tempted to order the very thing that helped contribute to being overweight. As I enter McDonald’s with the thoughts of what comedy I’m going to rent, I smell the sweet aroma of freshly cooked fries and unbelievable, yet gross, dollar menu McDouble Hamburgers.
Its extremely difficult to rent a movie without wanting to stuff my face with the worst food America has to offer. Yet, I persevere and endure for the sake of a good comedy. I know that its just a matter of time before I potentially cave to temptation. I am declaring, from this moment on, that I will never go to a McDonald’s again to rent a movie. The easiest way to control a problem is to avoid temptation. For example, if a recovering alcoholic wants to avoid a relapse, they should not visit a bar…even if they are only ordering water to drink. Its just a matter of time until temptation wins. Avoiding temptation is, for me, the best way to not be tempted.
I just learned that a Redbox has been installed at the grocery store that I shop at. This is where I will be renting movies from now on. This is a welcome surprise and one that will help me make better decisions. Thank you Redbox…Horrible Bosses is a funny movie!
- Dec 02, 11
I learned a lot of lessons due to preparation. Better stated, the lack of preparation. After a few failures, I got the hint and started preparing a bit more. My weight loss has benefited from preparation. From writing a to-do list, to laying out workout clothes the night before and to preparing food.
Preparation is the difference between:
- Eating an apple for a snack rather than finding a gas station and chowing down on a Milky Way. B
- Bringing a healthy lunch to work rather than finding the local pizzeria and having two huge slices of pie.
- Walking around the gym aimlessly wasting time and getting in a quick and effective workout
Preparation is a key element to weight loss.
When I first started to lose weight, I was ill prepared. I woke up in the morning and made a half attempt to pack a lunch but was never really satisfied because I was running late to work. I go to the gym and decided ad hoc what I was going to workout. I didn’t bring any snacks to workout so I found myself in the aisles of 7-Eleven looking for something “healthy” to eat. Each week, I got a little bit better at preparing and overtime, I became and expert at preparing myself for the next day/week and planning out what I was going to eat as well as my exercise routine.
On Sundays, my wife and I make a dinner menu for the week to come and go grocery shopping. The menu also includes several lunch options to bring to work during the week as well as a litany of healthy snacks. This may sound trivial, but planning out your week menu and only purchasing the food for that menu helped me not binge eat on crap food at home; because there was no crap food on the week’s menu, there was no crap food at home.
When I first started experimenting with preparation, I wasn’t very good at it. I forgot things, or I prepared the wrong things. Its a lot like weight loss. I had to practice at it, tweak the method and find what worked for me. Just like anything else, once I got good at it, it became a habit and is now a part of my daily routine.
Preparation is an essential tool for my weight loss. Try it out!
- Nov 30, 11
Disclaimer: This post is a rant. You’ve been warned…
I’m getting tired of reading health experts and other weight loss bloggers criticizing the method people lose weight as well as the emotion people go through while losing weight. If you spend anytime reading health/weight loss/fitness articles online you will see that there is a common thread. Everyone thinks their method of losing weight is the only way to do it. I’m not going to take time to list out any specific examples cause they are plentiful. Just surf around the net a bit and you’ll see that everyone has an opinion about how to lose weight.
I somewhat understand so called experts, because they are pushing products or methods to earn money. They are going to go with what sells, I get it. Although, I think they would be doing everyone a service to not trash other methods than the one they are pushing. What really gets me going is other weight loss bloggers criticizing people who are in the same boat as them. I lost weight by calorie counting, but I know that there are thousands of other methods that are just as effective. I’m not going to trash those other methods. It just so happens that calorie counting worked for me. I’ve said (and wrote it) a thousand times….find what works for you and perfect it.
But the biggest issue I have is when other weight loss bloggers criticize others for the emotions they are experiencing while losing weight. Many people who are trying to lose weight experience it at a very emotional level. The ups and downs of the mental state has been called a journey. There is something around every corner when trying to lose weight. In my opinion, losing weight is a journey. There is a start and there is a destination and you don’t really know the course you are taking between start and finish.
I appreciate all of the weight loss bloggers who put their lives online to discuss their journey. I read thousands of articles a week from weight loss bloggers and I love every minute of it. There are as many methods and emotions as there are weight loss blogs. Everyone has their own method of losing weight and dealing with their emotions. I also appreciate that people may have a difference of opinion on how to lose weight and can offer their insight into situations that one may come across during their journey. What I don’t appreciate is people criticizing others for how they are losing weight and the emotions they are experiencing.
Please don’t stop having an opinion, but please stop telling people that your opinion is better than others. I feel that we (weight loss blogging community) are all in this together. We are all trying to better ourselves and need all the support we can get. But we also offer a ton of support. It hurts our community when someone wants to better themselves and they get trashed for doing so. I love reading someones opinion on their blog when they offer insight, suggestions, guidance etc. I get a bit angry when their insightful blog post turns into a self-indulging editorial. But then again, its your blog, write what you want.
Big props go to everyone who is trying to lose weight and get up every morning ready to fight the good fight. Keep writing inspiring and motivating blog posts, they mean a lot to a lot of people. Please ignore the haters.
</rant>
- Nov 21, 11
I have been trying to lose weight most of my adult life. I have successfully lost weight for about a year and a half now. I lost weight when I realized that weight loss (and gain) was/is 100% of my own doing, my own choices and my decisions. No one is going to gain or lose weight for me. No one is going to make my eating choices for me. No one is going to decide if I go to the gym or not. I am the only one that stands in the way of losing weight.
I have an amazing support system at home as well as online. The blogging and Twitter relationships I’ve made with the weight loss community are amazing. I get motivation and inspiration daily through my network of other people trying to lose weight. However, its still up to me to get out there, move more and eat less. If you ever sneak a peek at any infomercial or general weight loss product, their pitch is that losing weight is easy. All you have to do is buy their product and use it passively and your fat will melt off…right before your eyes! Unfortunately, anyone who has tried to lose weight knows this isn’t the case.
I had a rough “eating” weekend this past weekend. I went a little overboard with food and the scale paid the price. I knew that what I was eating wasn’t good but I took responsibility for it. It was the decision I made. I also know that to make it right, I need to get back on track. I need to take responsibility for the food I ate. No one is going to workout for me. I must do it.
Taking responsibility for my actions and understanding that if I was going to lose weight and get healthy was a powerful and transforming moment in my life. Weight loss became something that I had power over. No one can take if from me. I was in control. This thought and understanding struck something within me and it allowed me to move forward in this struggle. Knowing that I posses the keys to my health is what kickstarted my weight loss and keeps me going today. There aren’t too many things in my life that I am in control of (external factors for example), however, I am in control of what/when I eat and when/how I workout.
This also puts a ton of pressure on myself. I have no one else to blame if I fail. I can’t point a finger at anyone and I certainly don’t wan to disappoint myself. This helps keep me on track.
Too many people blame others or something for their weight gain or lack of weight loss. This is simply a case of excuses. I know that if you turn inward and use the strength within, you can lose weight and get in control of your health.
