Proof Is In The Pup-Peroni?

The debate rages on. Is obesity and the alarming rate it has increased based on our reduced exercise or how much we eat?
It never fails, I find myself in a food discussion with someone; mostly those defending their own weight or that of someone close to them; and they will never yield to the concept of calories in being a problem, said of course as they chomp down on a fast food treat. How can anyone be so blind? Well, look no further than the advertising campaigns of Big Food and Big Fast Food. With all the bogus and I mean BOGUS advertising about how healthy all this fast food is or how healthy all these pre-portioned treats are and how they are going to save your waistline; it is no wonder people are blind to the truth. The blinders are on and working very, very well.

Here is what I find interesting. Dogs have their own website (no they aren't running the web site) about stopping canine obesity! www.stopcanineobesity.com

What's interesting is that dogs are suffering a similar fate of their masters. Even the Dog treat Pup-Peroni has released a new treat specifically geared at counting the calories you give your dog. WAIT A MINUTE! I thought obesity had nothing to do with calories taken in and everything to do with a distinct lack of exercise!?! Interesting.

How is it that dogs have seen an increase in obesity rates? Aren't we as the masters providing their food and lifestyle? Perhaps we should blame Fido's lack of gym membership as the cause of his extra pounds? Maybe fast-food? I suppose it is Fido's genetics? Living in an air conditioned World? I know, it has to be all that Big food/Big fast-food advertising brain washing our poor Fido? When was the last time you said NO to Fido when he was begging for a certain type of treat at the grocery store! Then there was the Air Bud product endorsements, how can dogs resist celebrity endorsements? Perhaps their sudden rise in obesity can be blamed on not being permitted to fidget, has anyone ever met a Border Collie? I knew putting a TV in Fido's dog house was a bad idea? Maybe it was the Video games? The Internet? High-fructose corn syrup? Artificial sweeteners? MSG? Social networks? Early weaning? Sleep deprivation? I think you get the picture!

It is simply a matter of us, the master, feeding them too much food. Calories in vs. calories out.

Yes of course, you MUST exercise your dog so it can be healthy, but if you don't monitor the calories in your dog will get fat. Most dogs are active enough to keep their weight a healthy level, some dogs will need a little more work. Of course older dogs have a naturally slowing metabolism and need more walking. Hey does any of this sound familiar?

Of course it does! It is us! Humans. We too need to be active, not go to the gym six times a week active, but active. But MOST importantly we need to be more aware of the calories we are are forcing our bodies to work with. We need to learn to cook less to avoid the concept of "finishing" the food. I know most of us do not like throwing food away, with all the people in the World having no food, but I think it is more important that we cook less NOT eat more to eliminate food waste.

The debate will rage on, mostly fueled by those unwilling to admit they consume too many calories when they stop on the way home from work to pick food 3 or 4 times a week because little Timmy has baseball practice, piano lessons and homework to do and we just don't have time! Well read this, if you don't make time for your health, time will be the least of your worries. You MUST make time or you will lose more time in the long run.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Don't Blink...Children Grow Up Right Before Your Eyes

Kids grow up so fast. My goodness. Mini He has just turned 12 and when the hell did that happen?

It was a big year this year. He started Grade 7, which means he left the only school he has ever known for the big bad domain of high school! Although he is only in middle school, his junior high school is housed within a high school, from 7 to 12 he is in the same school, he is on his own in a much bigger World. What a change from having complete input and involvement to being so far removed it is like he is schooling on Mars.
Mini He's mother and I are both working hard and keeping the lines of communication open as much as possible. Mini He is a really good kid. He has a great head on his shoulders. He likes to be crazy, but he understands what is right and what is wrong, we can only hope he sticks to the plan.
I was faced with a HUGE situation this week, stemming from all things new this school year. Mini He is meeting new kids and I don't like it! I know it sounds nuts, but he has known the same group of kids for seven years and I just yesterday got truly comfortable with them! I kid, I have been proud of Mini He's choices regarding friends for a long time. He has a great core group of friends and I know their parents and I couldn't ask for a better group. So what is problem, right?
Well this new boy has joined the fray and it is making me uneasy. I don't know what to do, trust him or string him up. I have been hearing this boy's name over and over for the past couple weeks and it makes me nervous. I haven't met him or his parents, I am out of the loop! Man it is hard. This new kid out of no where was asking to borrow Mini Me's coveted possessions and requiring us us to deliver it! Something in my brain snapped and I could not think straight. In one full swoop I could not get the idea out of my head that this new kid was taking advantage of Mini He's good nature and natural willingness to be a good person. The plan was for him to borrow the item and return it the next day at school. Sounds simple enough, right? I went crazy. The lecture was on (I really need to stop doing that) and he was in full weather the storm mode, firing back his standard response of "I know". It was horrible, I was horrible. Poor kid, both of them, were in my cross hairs. The feeling of complete loss of control was overwhelming. I needed to regain control over his life in some way. Very, very sad.
In the end I was very wrong for losing my mind. Two days later (on his birthday) I was blessed with the opportunity to spend some unscheduled time with Mini He on a trip to the doctor's office. I took this time to apologize for my over reaction and to tell him I was sorry. You see, I think he can learn that although at times one may over react, it is very important to recognize mistakes and admit to them. I explained how I had not been fair to the boy and I also wasn't fair to him either. I expressed my sincere admission to being a little too protective. I tried to have him fully understand that I need to trust him more. Trust that everything we have tried to teach him as he grew up, he would continue to lean on. Trust that he would continue to be a good kid, be a leader in bringing new kids into his circle of friends and the whole time being sure to protect himself and the person he wants to be known as. I seems like such a large amount of responsibility for a 12 year old, but he is suddenly on his own for more than eight hours a day now. He has to get to class on time, he has to work hard in school and he has to co-exist in a school of hundreds all by himself. Scary stuff for both him and his parents. I, along with other adult influences in his life, have worked hard at trying to teach him how to be a good person and at some point we were going to have to allow our teachings be his guide, thus letting go.
As a parent you can never really know when that day will come; the only thing that we can do is continue to prepare them for the big day. Mini He's progress to independence began long ago, but this new year in Grade 7 sure has been a rude awakening. After my conversation with Mini He on his birthday I feel we both learned something. I believe he understands that I love him (I do tell him that frequently) and only worry about him because of that love. Surprisingly I think he understands it in spite of my crazy ways! He knows I want him to be safe, happy and experiencing life. I am very proud of this young man, he has made good decisions thus far. I don't really see any reason for him to stray from his current path; mostly because he knows I will be monitoring his path fairly closely. I don't think that is a bad thing. Kids respond to EXACTLY the level you give them. If they are given a little room to make mistakes and learn; that is exactly what they do. If they are bubble wrapped and never aloud to experience the pitfalls and joys of making decisions then they always need your help and letting them grow up is much more difficult for both parties.

No one ever said being parent and raising children would be easy. And anyone who thinks it is has never had kids of their own. It just isn't the same if your blood isn't flowing through their veins.

My Two Cents
Jamie

In Your Free Time...WHAT FREE TIME!

Overwhelmed. That is about a summary of my life right now. My schedule is so full right now, but it appears I am not doing anything.

I found out last night my grandmother; who has been in and out of hospital for the last number of months; has finally be accepted to a nursing home, where she will be better looked after. She has trouble moving around and has fallen so many times it is a miracle she hasn't died from injuries in these falls. The worst part is they are moving her today!

With my Dad not feeling great (potential flu), coupled with his already challenging health issues he is not able to help. My Mom had a chemo treatment one week ago, so she is not available to help either. My sister is off to prepare grandma this morning for the move. I feel I should be there, but don't know how to be involved when I am tied to work. Not by choice mind you. Also I have not been able to get to see grandma during this trip to the hospital. It was said to me when I was being informed of the move to the care facility that "if I was inclined to go visit her" I would need to go there instead. "Inclined!"

I left the conversation wondering if the theory goes that I don't think of grandma or her situation. Or that I don't want to or couldn't be bother to go visit grandma? Nothing could be further from the truth. I think about her daily and pray for her. Truth is I have two children (10 & 12) who are starting school, one is playing football, shopping with them for the wedding (3 weeks away) and trying to share their time with their mom, so I am not exactly laying around deciding NOT to go visit grandma. It's not like she is facing a life threatening illness either. My days after work currently consist of planning a wedding, coaching football (2 practices,1 game), preparing for those practices and games, going to meetings, meeting teachers (start of school year thing), trying to find some time to exercise (selfishly taking care of my health), spending some time simply talking to my kids and heaven forbid a minute or two with my fiance to talk. Oh and let's toss in some need for relaxing. I haven't cut my grass in two weeks! My neighbors must wondering what is going on. Time is not a friend these days.

I feel like I am spinning my wheels and nothing is being done. I am busy all the time but people are still not getting what they need from me. I spend so much time trying to keep a number of projects on track and people connected yet it all seems to be coming apart anyway. I am close to throwing in the towel. Take care of me and mine and leave everyone else out of the loop. I want to stop checking on people, dragging them along a path they don't seem to want to be on. My attempts to bring people together or make a difference in the World I live in is not working out at this point in time. I need to stop dragging people and find people that want to come along and have a vision for greater things. It's not like I am trying to convince people to do things that are wrong or will hurt them in some way! It would be so much less work and so much more would get done. I would also find myself with way more accomplishments than let downs too.

I just don't know what to do right now! My life is loaded with so much stuff that I am having no available time for the unexpected. When things come up, I have to let someone or something down to do my part; something is left to suffer. Something isn't right.

Sorry grandma for not being there today. I know you are in good hands. I am always thinking of you and I don't need to be "inclined" to go see you. We will see each other soon.

I guess the question is this...Am I the only person who struggles with finding the time to fit everything? Do other parents of pre-teens have the same challenges? Am I not pointing the right direction? I suppose I will figure it out. As usual I will have to figure it out on my own because the standard misunderstanding of ours truly is in full swing. Something must be wrong with how I do things and/or how it is delivered because the consistency with which I am misrepresented or mis-quoted or misunderstand is staggering.

I know it sounds like I feel guilty and feel I should defend my position and you would be right. I do feel guilty, but I am currently clueless on what to do. My schedule is what it is. I know I created the schedule and I am lying in the bed I made. So for the judges out there, know I already understand my post screams guilty feelings and for the record I feel guilty. Finding a way to fix this is on my shoulders.

My Two Cents
Jamie

An Equation For Success In Life

Talking with a friend got me to thinking...

My Mom is a pretty amazing woman. The conversation with my friend revolved around the ups and downs of life. It is a fact that everyone drawing a breath in this World has something in their life that isn't quite right or down right sucks. The difference is one's reaction. It is amazing to me how people shun the concepts like the one depicted in movies like "The Secret". The basic premise being about the laws of attraction. If you have a "the World isn't fair" attitude you will attract more of the same to you and subsequently the reverse is true. Think and believe life is positive you will attract others of like mind. That is not to say that nothing bad will happen to the people who believe life is great, however they view bad things as opportunities to learn something. Of course bad things happen to everyone. But again it boils down to attitude. I have said it before but this seems to be an appropriate point in time to say it again.

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." Charles R Swindoll Therefore our attitudes and reactions dictate the severity of life's twist and turns.

Back to my Mom. In the early part of this year our family had a bomb dropped on us. My Mom discovered she had Cancer. Our family was already working through the continued health struggles of my Dad, who is currently awaiting a kidney donor. The Cancer diagnosis was hard to understand. My Mom is a woman who is a model of good health and fitness. She went to the gym regularly, walked (40+ mins) home from work (even in the nastiest of weather) everyday, she ate healthy always choosing the extra helpings of vegetables and fruit, she wasn't overweight by any means, didn't smoke or drink, consumed loads of water and was a positive thinking person. So how does this strong, positive, healthy woman end up with Cancer? She just does. On the surface it is mind boggling. Mom did have some stress and stress can eliminate all of the hard work one does to stay healthy. My Dad's slowly declining health and the increased need for care of his Mom, Grandma, she was overburdened.

Having said all that one would expect this story to be something of a why us, why me and Mom thinking why now? I believe things happen for a reason, there is something to be learned, usually the lesson is easily seen, but other times it really hard to see what the lesson is supposed to be. Here is where the amazing part kicks in. With everything that has happened and battling through surgery, chemo treatments and the general mental burden Cancer can rain down on a person; through it all Mom is a model of positive thinking.

Through this year time and time again Mom and I have spoke about the things in life that are out of our control, referencing specifically our reactions to things that have happened to us. She has been a rock solid pillar of consistency. Once the diagnosis is made there is nothing you can do about Cancer expect give up control to the medical World to do their work. Mom has always tried to remind us that the doctors and nurses are the ones who she has to rely on and we need to support them. She has been praying to God to have Him present to do His work while she is in the hands of the medical staff, as have I. Praying He works through those caring for her; so they can be at the top of their game and able to perform at their highest level. Give up control. Once you give up control you are able to focus on the things in life that are important. Family and friends. Living life, finding the good all the blessings around us. Mom embodies these ideals and I look to her as a reminder that life will throw us curve balls, but it is our duty to stand in there and keep swinging for the fence.

You know, it is interesting how people are so easily sucked in to the vortex that is negative thinking. Yet someone facing the scary World of Cancer, Mom, can wake up each day and remember how good her life is and make that her focus. Even the daunting task of wading through the seemingly endless stream of chemo side effects doesn't get her down. She battles each day. She does as much as she can and then a little more. She walks as often as she can and eats lots of food in differing variety to ensure her body is not overwhelmed by the treatments. This is something she controls, her willingness to NOT sit on the couch and wait for it too pass. Sure there are some pretty rough days, but she battles through with the idea that on the other side is a good day that she can take back control. Resetting her goals with each treatment and each day to ensure her battle is hard fought from start to finish.

I think it is safe to say my Mom is an inspiration to me. She looks for life to hand her roses and when it doesn't...she accepts that, but quickly returns to the place where she expects roses again and moves on. Admirable I think. Mom doesn't worry as much as one would expect her too. I know there are those out there who will quickly pounce on my simplistic analysis saying, "she doesn't show it but she worries" and to that I say...I AGREE! Surprised? Don't be, I am not so naive to think she wanders around oblivious to the reality of her situation, HOWEVER, I believe, correct that, I know she worries a lot less than others around her. She also doesn't put a lot of weight in the usefulness of worrying and I stand up and applaud that. Worry creates stress. Stress sucks. Mom is very good at allowing others to own their own worry without it affecting her. Again admirable and might I say impressive. She often reminds me to allow others to bare their crosses and not carry it for them. Reminding me that THEY have to work through it on their own terms if at all. Insightful.

I think something I've learned and that I wish to impart on you is that when something sad happens, we must remember that OUR life must continue in a forward progression because we can't change events once they have already happened and to remember we CAN change the future, yet the only way to change the future is to move forward. Without forward movement we are standing still will the sands of time continue to fall and life passes us by.

"Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.” Charles R Swindoll

Be sad, hurt, and feel grief; that is normal. No one would suggest being emotionless. Just avoid the negative connotations associated with sad events, avoid letting the anchor of grief to be attached to your ankle, avoid allowing the 10% (what happened) to become the focus and let the 90% (our reactions/attitude) be the focus. Take on the challenge to find the positive lessons, being negative is easy, but finding a positive purpose takes hard work and dedication to the goal of controlling our reaction. Something can be gained from each and every sad or bad circumstance we experience. Find the positive and let that help you cope with your sadness and be your stepping stone to move on. Learn from the experience and walk away confident you are a stronger more powerful person for the struggle you are working through!

Thank you Mom for your dedication to the goal of living life and finding focus on the good things in life even while facing extreme conditions that would otherwise cripple some. Thanks for being strong and unbending in your request that we not worry about things beyond our control. Also to remember that it is what it is, and that Cancer should not control us. Thank you for being positive and finding ways to work through your battle so that you are a survivor and not a victim. Thank you for being an inspiration to anyone who has the ability to be inspired by someone who works as hard as you do. Thank you for facing your battle with a smile on your face and the determination that your life is not about Cancer it is about so much more. Thank you for allowing others to cope in their own way, but not letting others bring you down when they struggle. Lastly, thanks for being a Mom to me, it has been your outlook during this challenging year that has given me confidence to continue living a positive, happy life. It could have been very easy to get swallowed up by it all, but you provided the support I needed to believe in the way of thinking I use to deal with curve balls life throws at us...we all have to move forward and stay focused on life. We have great lives to live and if we don't live them, who will?

My Two Cents
Jamie

A Lifestyle For a Lifetime

I have spent a great deal of time thinking about health and wellness for the last number of years; more acutely in the last six months. Considering my own adoption of a healthier way of life it has lead me to understand a few things about goal setting a lot more clearly. Due to my lifestyle changes, which include exercise, I have lost more than 45 pounds and apparently that is a lot. Really? I didn't notice. But why I didn't notice is the intriguing part of this whole thing. Let me explain.

For starters we don't have a scale at home so monitoring my weight isn't possible. Which leads right into the main point...why would watching my weight be my goal? Aren't goals supposed to be something that can be reset continuously to achieve long term success? Of course they are.

Improper goal setting is a huge oversight. Goals set incorrectly only set you up to fail. The goal should not be weight loss, it should be a healthy lifestyle, because the bonus side effect of a healthy lifestyle is your body's natural order of things reducing your weight. Essentially the side effect of your goal is weight loss, but it is not your goal. Without a healthy lifestyle our bodies are in constant defense mode, trying to figure out whether we are living or dying. With all the crap we stuff into it and in the excessive quantities we consume food; combined with the complete lack of any discernible exercise to speak of; the body does what it thinks is necessary to keep us alive. Unfortunately with so many poor signals from us on the outside the inside eventually ends up killing us anyway. By producing a healthy, ALIVE environment through proper eating habits and exercise your body will respond accordingly. Know this...exercise is simply achieved with the elevation of your heart rate for about 30 minutes cumulatively a day; three to four times a week. Not six, two hour sessions at the gym a week. We ALL have 30 minutes cumulatively in a day to dedicate to our health.

Being healthy is a lifestyle for a lifetime. Making your goal to lose weight is like putting a band-aid on a gun shot wound, it won't work. Becoming healthy will not only heal your ailing body it will also shed weight. It is about setting goals that create desired side effects not goals that are the side effects. Here is the kicker! A BONUS side effect of being a healthier person is losing some unwanted weight.

I think if the goal is to "lose weight" people are doomed to fail. Because all the work they do is designed to lose weight.

Consider this...If the goal is weight loss then once you achieve your goal what is the next step? The goal is now accomplished and how do you reset the goal of losing weight if you have already lost your goal weight? You can't continuously make losing weight your goal. Worse case; once the weight is off you stop doing the things you were doing to lose weight and gain all the weight back and then some! If the changes made to lose weight are not something you can consider a lifestyle change then you will not be able to sustain the diet indefinitely. That is why diets don't work. Your miracle diet has you jump through all the hoops, take all the pills, drink all the shakes and commit to doing everything EXCEPT taking the time to get in tune with your body and letting it manage itself. For what? You lose 80 pounds in two months and you are "cured"!! So you stop taking the pills, stop drinking the shakes and stop jumping through the hoops and surprise, surprise the weight comes back.

Weight loss can be fickle too. The natural plateaus of weight loss can be a killer to the motivation and cause disappointment. If the results aren't there each time your feet hit the scale it is tough. If the goal is a healthier lifestyle then that goal is ongoing and you are never truly finished. You can then continue to refocus your sites when you are feeling bored or unmotivated. Remembering your goal is health makes it easier to kick yourself back into to high gear.

Being healthy has benefits that can been seen everyday, all the time. So, if the goal is overall health, including weight loss/management, it creates a healthier body and allows the body to do it's miraculous work with more ease. Starting with exercise producing better blood flow, which benefits the body from head to toe. Increased blood flow from exercise aids in reducing the risks of a boat load of cancers; not to mention making you feel good. Your brain is healthier with increased blood flow causing you to be more alert and thinking more clearly. Happiness is much easier when we can think clearly.

I like the cartoon at the start of this blog. It speaks directly to all those out there who "don't have time" to exercise. The "inconvenience" of a commitment to exercise and your health is minor when compared to the time commitments of death. Your health HAS to be a priority. If not now, when? When you are retired? Hopefully you make it there without falling apart or worse dying.

Time to pencil in exercise and self awareness into that busy schedule of yours. Considering tomorrow never actually arrives putting your health off until then is not a good plan.

My Two Cents
Jamie

Discover The Secret Location of Success and Happiness

I was working on some demons yesterday when a chance phone call helped me out. I was once again battling with the same demon I spoke of in a previous post where a co-worker was minimizing the efforts of my work to be more healthy or in the narrow minded sense "lose weight". I came away frustrated and confused as to how I could be so bad at cracking this tough nut. I am not in it to "lose weight"; I am making lifestyle changes to be healthier. A fortunate byproduct is I have lost a bunch of weight. Funny how that works!

Back to the phone call. I was trying to get a birthday wish out to an old friend. Someone who has always been a big supporter of me in anything I did, good or bad!! He was in a rush and had me call him. I was talking to him and he was noticeably excited; he then mentioned this new endeavor him and his long time business partner were starting up. "The website launched today!", he proclaimed. I promptly went to www.marnismagic.com to check things out.

I have to say...perfect timing! I was immediately picked up off the mat and back in the game. You see Marni has been an outstanding success in teaching leading business people how to right the ship. Take a mediocre to failing company and infuse it with life and vitality. Turning the company around and showing how to believe in their ability to be great. Naturally this incredibly infectious spirit of hers rubbed off on the staff she encountered and she was often utilizing her gift as a business coach in the life coach arena. I have personally worked with Marni and have watched her in action. OUTSTANDING! She is genuine in her commitment to showing people the power that lies within them. Thus raising them up to achieve greater things. Marni, along with help from her supporters, has launched a program where she can better focus her skills. As a life coach Marni will have the ability to touch more lives in a profound and powerful way. I was very excited about the web site and look forward to hearing the amazing stories of how her work changes lives.

The web site was a great highlight to my day. It reminded me that my work is not done and that I have to constantly re-focus on my accomplishments to motivate me to move forward. Someone in my path to being a better me, will be inspired by what I am doing and that is a HUGE motivation. Thanks to Marni for pumping me up and she wasn't even trying!

I encourage everyone who is reading this post to make their way to Marni's Magic and see for yourself what she can do for you. I believe she can do wonders to help you find the confidence you are looking for and realize your full potential. Marni has the magic and wants to show you how to use it.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Rules To Live By; Forces You To Stop And Think

In my reading I came across this intriguing list of "rules" for life as a human being. If you do not consider yourself human you can excuse yourself from reading further. I found myself reading one rule and pausing to think about the rule in depth. To say the least it was thought provoking, if not the cold hard truth.

I tried to label some of the rules as having more impact then the others, but I couldn't. They are all so very true. Number seven did stop me dead in my tracks and had me re-evaluating a number of things. It is a strong and bold statement. It requires a great deal of thought to see how it is true, but slowly I have come to understand.

These rules will be placed on my refrigerator for all to see. Hopefully someone sees some worth and changes something for the better. Here is the list:


Life and Business Coach, Cherie Carter-Scott (author of "If Success is a Game, These are the Rules") came up with these "Ten Rules for Being Human".

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

As you can see; some serious stuff. I don't suggest picking and choosing rules. I would suggest a long serious discussion with yourself to evaluate each point individually to ensure honest answers are achieved.

Good thought provoking list.

My Two Cents (or one cent and the other is stolen)

Jamie Cinq-Mars

Do You Deserve Your Money Back?

I got this interesting and by interesting I mean annoying email today. It is another one of those emails that proves to me that email has become the bane of our generation. An email calling to arms all electronics consumers to be band together and stick it to the big bad box store! Give me a break!

What makes people think by simply sending and email that they will influence how people will shop? Get serious! The email came in from a customer of a large electronics chain who purchased a product, tried to return and discovered there was a restocking fee. On the surface it appears the big bad box store is taking advantage of the little guy consumer. Shame on them.

But wait let's look deeper. The "customer" purchased a GPS unit, removed the plastic casing, opened the box, ACTUALLY powered on the unit, played with it and decided it wasn't for them. Fair enough. We are all entitled to our opinion and decide the GPS we bought wasn't what we were looking for. HOWEVER, why would ANYONE think they could return this GPS for a full refund? A restocking fee, perhaps the wrong name for it, maybe it should be called you are a moron and we need to prevent you from buying stuff, opening it and expecting us to be able to re-sell once returned opened; that might be a bit wordy. But the restocking fee is in place because they CAN'T simply "put it back on the shelf and re-sell it" as the email whiner so quaintly put it. Would you walk into a store and purchase an already opened box for the same price as a box that has not been touched? Of course not, so that means the returned item now will be sold at a cheaper price as a used unit, thus the re-stocking fee will make up the difference.

It is another sign of the World we live in. No respect. Now I don't have any shares in the big bad box store company, but I completely understand why they do what they have do. To protect themselves from lazy people who are not willing to do the research on their own time about a product and have the I HAVE TO HAVE IT NOW mentality. The World of instant gratification. With everything being instant we expect everything right now and don't give me this garbage about having to wait. I need my email answer right now, I need the faster Internet connection possible, I need that report right now, I need to talk to you right now, NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW.

Bottom line if you want it right now it will cost you. More money for your Internet, fuel prices to get your "stuff" to you sooner, a second phone and email bill to ensure all communications arrive on your hip, and of course the boss waiting to the last possible second to demand his/her report NOW!

It just makes me shake my head wondering how people think it is okay for them to abuse the system and not be penalized. If you open a box and play with what's inside you should not receive a full refund, nor should you expect it.

My Two Cents,
Jamie

Do You Want Success? Conviction Will Lead The Way

It is no wonder to me why people fail so miserably at bettering themselves. The cynicism slapping us around like a rag doll is relentless. I just speak for myself, but can't image it is much different for anyone else. People just can't wrap their tiny little brains around the success of others and supporting that success.

I have recently made lifestyle changes to be more healthy, which have resulted in some fairly significant weight loss. Yet at every turn when I am asked what I have done and I tell them; I am met with blinding wall of darkness that encompasses the room. It is overwhelming to say the least. Because I didn't immediately answer "I found this miracle drug and the fat melted away!!" they can't be bothered to hear what I am saying or find value in it.

Today I experienced the whole thing all over again. The conversation was revolving around not eating too much junk and portion sizing. Person #1 stated they know someone who stops eating when they are full even if the food isn't gone; like myself. I got excited about hearing someone else understanding what I have be doing to be healthier. So I joined in the conversation with a joyous tone. Talked about portions being enormous and stopping eating when full was the way to go, suddenly the wheels fell off! "I could never do that" was said by another person; followed by, "But I need to lose weight" or "so and so is a bad influence on me". Yet as the words leaked from her lips she was eating her 4th helping of cake! The "bad influence" friend wasn't there so what was the excuse this time? I was left in this cloud of despair and doubt. It was as if the notion of being healthy was unattainable. After agreeing to the concept that society has created an environment where overeating (portion sizes) has become expected they turned around and slid back into the abyss. I couldn't figure out what to feel or do. I am confident to say that I have overcome using other people as my crutch for overeating. I no longer eat emotionally and I try to see food as fuel, which goes a very long way to making better choices overall.

But I left this altercation wondering if I was able to inspire anyone? Doesn't all the research I have done and all the learning I have experienced account for something? Who would listen to me, better yet who would hear me? I have something to say and want to help others and teach others to know it is possible. It is possible WITHOUT gimmicks or fad diets. Push come to shove it boils down to standing up to society and saying STOP TELLING ME HOW MUCH TO EAT AND WHEN!! And more importantly, is to say it with conviction and be willing to accept the confused looks, the attempt to make you feel guilty for being healthy and the negative comments all spawned out of ignorance for doing something that will help you live a better life forever. It is probably the hardest part about the whole process. When everyone around us is a victim of societies laws that govern food consumption we will face the toughest challenges. Everyone wants their eating behaviors to be okay and by pressuring us to join in the gluttony it makes everything okay.

Even though I have found a safe place in my own confidence with my choices, I too, feel helpless at times when all I want is to find a way to help others see what I am seeing. I am not a guru or all knowing, but the proof of what I am talking about is evident in the changes my body has gone through. Hopefully this blog is reaching someone who needs to hear what I have to say.

Struggling through a task will only make the end results that much sweeter. Fight the noble fight and always know your conviction to something real can carry you through if you lean hard on the conviction. It will push people away at first but those that truly care will come around. And those that don't; aren't worth keeping around. Sounds harsh but the truth is we are capable of ANYTHING our greatest supporter thinks we can achieve. Surround yourself with people who build you up and spend very little time with those that tear you down (intentionally or unintentionally).

My Two Cents
Jamie

When Giving Equals Taking Away

It’s ironic. We, as this generation of parents, want to provide so much for our children, but is our desire to “give our kids a better life than we had” putting their potential for greatness in jeopardy? Time and time again we see some of the most powerful, influential and successful people in the World having come from very meager or impoverished backgrounds. Take Oprah Winfrey, she battled through some extremely difficult years in her young life; from abandonment to sexual abuse, until finally being reunited with her father who instilled a powerful work ethic in her and provided her the support to do great things. Another example would be Jim Carrey, albeit not a powerful media mogul like Oprah has become, Jim Carrey still has found success after living a portion of his life living with his family in their car. The point is this; history is supposed to teach us something. If you look back on the early years of some of favorite stars, famous people or influential leaders we will often find poverty and hardship. We find they have faced adversity square in the eye and found a way to battle through to emerge a winner. What do we offer our children? Everything and anything they ask for, with a side helping of protective bubble to round out the offer!

Does the phrase “I want to give my child a better life than I had” ring any bells? It should. You hear it repeatedly from parents all over North America. But by giving them a “better life” are we robbing them of their future potential? Shouldn't we be teaching the valuable lessons adversity taught us? I think the problem lies in the subjective phrase a better life; how can we define a better life. The only way we can actually provide a better life is to use a time machine and bring our kids back to the point in time we were of childhood age and raise them there, carving out a better path. Our children live in a different time then we did and cannot offer a better life based on what we deem as a terrible childhood. Think about what you are saying when you proclaim your goal to be, giving your children a better life…you are openly saying your childhood was terrible. Was it truly that bad that you need to provide so much better? I wonder how children are to realize how difficult life can be at times when they never face an adversity or have to own up to responsibility within their lives. As parents we do everything for them. The biggest issue is trying to eliminate their risk and potential for danger at every turn. We try to ensure they don’t get hurt, whether it is physically or emotionally. Is this really giving them a better life than we had? I don’t think so; I think the tough times we faced as kids are what shaped us into what we are today. Our freedom to make mistakes and learn from them helped us understand how to succeed. Also our ability to manage some risk on our own was huge in developing our ability to discern normal risk vs. dangerous risk. I think we are creating a generation of soon to be adults who will not have a clue how to live in the real World. A World where mommy isn’t there to hug you a nanosecond after you bump your knee. A World that isn’t going to give you everything you want simply because you “need” it and a World that will be unforgiving and harsh when they make mistakes. If they are taught how to accept mistakes as a necessity of the learning process and realize that the standard bumps and bruises in life do not require extended periods of time to recover (coddling), then our children will be better equipped to take on any challenge they see fit tackle. I think the mention of Oprah’s father providing support was a key point. Support should be based on the needs of the person facing the challenge NOT the person providing the support. Unconditional support is what you want to aim for. I have said it before; we are all capable of achieving anything our greatest support believes we can.

Basically some of greatest leaders and influential people we look up to did not have everything handed to them, nor were they afforded the opportunity to fly through life without accountability and in fact some battled through some pretty heinous conditions. The Oprahs of the World were bred out of a necessity to do honest, hard work to achieve greatness. They were forced to find their own inner strength (which I believe we are all born with) to persevere through obstacles which set them up for making the leap from a difficult life to a success to an icon. There was no magic formula, simply school of hard knocks learning with a healthy addition of a supportive role model. The supportive role model is the key factor in most cases. Naturally I am not suggesting children need to be beat or emotionally destroyed to be great individuals one day, however, I am suggesting that children need to understand life can be a rough ride at times and MUST be given the chance to discover their own inner strength as children to allow them to parlay that into a functional understanding of their survival skills long before they ever really need them. I am also suggesting we step out of the role of SUPER PARENT protector of children from all that may hurt them as soon as we can and assume the most critical role you will play in your life, #1 supporter. Children will feel safe no matter where life takes them or how far away they are if they ALWAYS know their #1 fan is going to be just that.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Victory Found In A Sea of Temptation

The annual roaming fair kicked off here in Winnipeg this past Friday. Along with the great rides, the fair also came with the intoxicating smells, the dazzling sights, the familiar sounds, the crazy carnies and of course the food, oh the food. My recent efforts to live a healthier lifestyle were going to be put to a very major test. In years past I have not be good at resisting the allure of the carnival food and it's flashy ads and overwhelming scents. Once to the extreme of creating a serious and painful medical condition at the young age of 20. So this year I had my work cut out for me...or did I?

For the past 23 years I have worked/volunteered at the fair raising money for charity with the Knights of Columbus. The fair usually marks and unofficial start to summer fun in Winnipeg. I arrived opening night, Friday, to many familiar sights and sounds and I did my usual tour of the grounds before my shift started and I was surrounded by the regular carnival excitement. I began to look at the food I have come to love way too much (do we see the problem with that sentence, "love" food, not a good idea). But I had a much different process going on my head this year. I was taken by surprise. I was wondering what type of oil they used, were there trans fats, how much salt, and do they have as many calories as I think they do?

I was finding I wasn't overwhelmed by the tasty treats, I wasn't rationalizing why I need to try one of everything and I wasn't planning my week based on when I would eat what! I found myself a little uneasy with all the poor choices people have. I have worked hard to make lifestyle changes which included a major over haul of how I think about food. It appears to have actually made an impact on my approach to eating at the carnival or should I say NOT eating at the carnival. At a place where the temptation is high and many emotions are tied to the big exhibition. I was feeling a break through coming on!

Then I came across a sight to behold, I didn't think the wide variety of terrible food choices could get any worse. With very few choices to maintain a grip on healthy eating I stumble across this abomination. Deep fried Oreos!! I kid you not; they take an Oreo cookie dunk it in batter and then deep fry the little critter! Are you kidding me? The all mighty dollar strikes again. Screw the health of North America let's deep fry some cookies! UGH! The employees in their fake straw hats proudly displaying the Oreo logo. Since the logo is so widely known it draws your attention. Oh the humanity!

Further on down the way we find Pizza on a stick. Yup, some marketing guru thought they should take a calzone and jam a stick up it's (BLEEP) and serve it. Naturally this guru was right, people will eat anything if you stab it with a stick and/or deep fry it! Take the carnival staple; the Corn Dog. A heart stopping hot dog with a stick in it, battered and deep fried. Basically, with pizza on a stick you get yourself a whole pizza to eat and conveniently it can be carried around on a stick like a Popsicle. Wanna lick? Doesn't anyone understand that they are eating enough food for three people? Just wait, what was that...I think I heard some arteries crying out in pain. Society is making us fat is an understatement with the out of control serving sizes people are given to cram into their over stretched stomachs.

Last night (night 3 of the fair) I was on a break and out for a walk around the grounds, when I began feeling I was hungry. I tried to decide what I wanted to eat and discovered one good thing has come from my unwillingness to eat garbage for the sake of eating garbage and that is the extra walking I am getting in during the evening. As I was saying, I was looking for something to eat. I just could not find my way through the signs proclaiming the awesome goodness of "FRIED DOUGH" and "MONSTER DOGS". I decided popcorn was the only viable option; not great but manageable. As I came to my decision I found myself being amazed at the fact they advertise a sweet treat as fried dough, with no thoughts of calling it something fancy to entice more buyers. Nope! Straight up, here it is, fried dough people, COME AND GET IT!

Another amazing thing occurred to me...I have turned a corner. I was not consumed by the atmosphere of the Exhibition; my brain spoke to me with logic. The education of how the body manages food has empowered me to live within a sea of temptation and not give in to the emotion of the moment. My choices about food were being made with clarity and devoid of emotion unlike so many times in the past. I know what I have done in the past few month is something special, I believe it can work for anyone. However, I realize just because it worked for me it may not work exactly the same way for another, BUT I would like to think that my successes would inspire others to believe they too can do it.

Now I have worked on a list of things to change for the rest of the week during the fair. Bring my own food, walk the whole circuit twice each night I work and be proud of what I have accomplished thus far, knowing full well that more work is needed. We all need to continue growing, we have to be constantly looking for ways to improve on who we are. Sometimes baby steps are all we can manage, but baby steps will get you closer to your goals A LOT faster than waiting until all the planets are aligned to take action. Baby steps are forward motion whereas no steps are stagnation.

Take some time to review your action plan and be sure to ACT on the plan you have. I believe everyone who wants something can achieve with some work and determination. Get to work!

My Two Cents

Jamie

Trying To Make a Difference

Sometimes I wonder what it takes to make a difference? I see potential in people they don't see in themselves and I want to help them see it too. I am passionate about helping people. I don't mean helping them move or fix a leaky faucet; I am talking about core level help. Helping people to look within for strength rather than to everyone else or something material. Strength comes from us and we have to believe it does. Within each and every one of us is a great person who has all the tools to make a difference in the World. Problem being, most of us have had those tools locked in storage and forget how to use them. We are capable of anything our greatest supporter believes we can accomplish. Surround yourself with great supporters and you will accomplish more than you can currently imagine. I can clearly envision myself speaking to hundreds of people offering a different take on what was all call life. I understand that not everyone will understand my way of thinking, but if just one person 'hears' me and changes their life for the better I will be accomplishing a goal. This different ideal I would venture to say is a much more old school view; one that returns us to pre-societal pressure. A time when believing in our own potential for greatness wasn't a scoffed at. A time when exercising our right to make choices for ourselves wasn't selfish. A challenge I am facing is the disbelief that it can be as simple as it sounds. The reality is it isn't simple at all. It is hard work that takes dedication to your beliefs and the willingness to ignore what others think about you. It isn't simple because we are must live in the World and society dictates how we think. The World of big money and big industry has programmed us over many years to think a certain way. If you don't agree stop reading, you are already lost to the juggernaut that is World marketing.

One other challenge is the truth hurts. So many people are not willing to listen past the first pang of hurt in the words they hear or read. This effectively eliminates their ability to grow. I am becoming less and less concerned about the hurt feelings I may produce with my words. Sounds mean, I know, but I believe I am speaking the truth. Which means the hurt feelings are not coming from my words, but they are coming from the receiving party's inability to accept the truth. If I’m able to offend someone so easily, to me that means they already recognize some truth in what I’ve written or said, but they aren’t ready to deal with it consciously yet. Certain realities are are hard to deal with, especially those close to the heart, I return you to the concept of not allowing emotion to dictate what is best for us. A lot of times the impact of such things is very hard to see or at the very least admit when you are submersed within them. It will often take an outside view to truly see what the root of the problems are.

I struggle with not wanting to upset anyone, however, that is quickly waning. I need to live my life within my own beliefs and not be afraid to express it. I lead a good life, I try and make sound choices that are for the good of my life moving forward. In the process I hope to be enhancing the lives of people around me too. I need to understand their will be casualties along the way, why? Because people are not going agree with everything I have to say, most of whom, will qualify in the "not ready to deal with it consciously yet" group, but so be it.

I have untied the gloves and they are close to coming off. If I am to realize my passion for helping as many people as possible I will need to allow the fire to burn a little hotter and wilder than I have thus far. It's time to make a move.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Our Supersized Life

I read a great article in the Globe and Mail titled Supersized servings, supersized people that had me nodding my head in agreement.

So much is said about our National Food Guide and its guidance for healthy living, but the truth is the guide is a joke. It is backed by every "big" industry you can think of. The furthest thing it accomplishes is helping us eat healthier. In the article it talks about how following the food guide recommendations will only help you gain weight, due to the number of recommended servings. As a side note it also doesn't truly educate a reader about food.

But the real kicker in the struggle against obesity is serving size. Our World has become this sea of massive plates, up-sized fries, cups of soda large enough to drown in and our brains have come to understand that no matter how much we are served it is a regular serving. From the article I learned studies have shown

"Statistics Canada estimates we are consuming nearly 20 per cent more calories each day than we did 15 years ago because of bigger portions."

The same is true in the USA,

"According to research in the United States, portion sizes have grown dramatically over the past 20 years. Two decades ago, a coffee-shop muffin weighed in at 2.5 ounces (71 grams) and had 210 calories. Today, the average muffin weighs four ounces (113 grams) and delivers as much as 500 calories."

This is a significant increase that has created a very difficult pattern to break. It is socially acceptable for one person to eat an amount of food equal to 3+ servings! I think the biggest problem is our inability to only eat what we need as opposed to eating as much as we THINK we need.

The supersized foods of our World are loaded with fat, sugar and sodium. It isn't any wonder why we struggle with obesity on this continent. The article went through some very good tips to try and get a handle on serving control. I also think the ideas about listening to your stomach and to stop eating when you are signaled by the stomach, combined with only eating when you are hungry the portioning and serving sizes go down naturally. Our stomaches are only so big, sure they will expand to fit all the extra stuff you force in there, like those new Glad stretchy garbage bags, but it isn't good for you.

Scale down the servings and the portion sizes to reap the benefits of your hard work at being healthier. Listen to your body, it won't ask for more calories than you can burn. It is fined tuned machine that knows when it needs more fuel and when you can stop providing it. Remember your stomach CANNOT see the size of your plate or how much food you have left, all it knows is you have filled it to capacity...so put down the knife, the fork and BACK AWAY from the table!!

My Two Cents

Jamie

Society Makes Us Fat

There is no shortage of information about healthy eating and ways to improve your overall health. All hail the Internet! The Internet can provide an endless source of all things good and bad. But what I have found is the Internet provides me the opportunity to empower myself by gaining knowledge. I can read many articles about any given topic, both good opinions and bad. I then can make an educated decision about something.

As I mentioned in the opening our health is becoming a very big topic early in the 21st century. Obesity is a serious problem in North America. I for one have become very aware of my own health. I am not unhealthy per say, but still had some additional changes to make. But having finally got my act together I have lost about 30 pounds and a couple pants sizes. It wasn't an easy process. No wonder drugs or diets. It was common sense, exercise and education about how my body works with the fuel I provide it.

I honestly don't know how anyone can be confident about their approach to healthy living. We are enveloped in societal 'norms' that are anything but healthy. Especially the with regards to food and how we eat. Also, we are surrounded by so much poor information; the worst possible information is the easiest to get our hands on it is compounded by the fact it has such a powerful influence over us. And of course, like anything else, if it is too easy it is perhaps not the best course of action for 95% of people. To find the good information, what I have been relying on has been diligent hard work. Searching for information that wasn't filled with hype and empty promises is, to say the least, like finding a needle in a hay stack.

I can understand the frustration and continued disappointments others have when trying something new someone told them about when all the information they receive regarding this miracle is hype and non typical results. My favorite of the last little while was the "soup diet". For starters it contains the word diet so it can't be good. Dieting is for people not willing to do the work it takes to change your lifestyle in order to become healthy. But how can anyone believe a diet consisting of only soup is a viable option? Our bodies need better fuel than that. Our bodies should be treated like a Ferrari, not a busted up '83 Ford Ranger missing a headlight and McGiver like skills to start.

My advice is always education. Educate yourself and take action based on education. Now let's be clear. I don't mean educate yourself regarding the 'diet' because you will only find hyped up baloney regarding the diet itself, I mean educate yourself about how the human body works. How biology holds the answers on how to be healthy. Our bodies are a series of complex systems all running with synergistic precision. Learning about how our body talks to us and tells us what it needs is key. Think about children, especially before they can talk. Their brains listen to their bodies signals and react accordingly. It isn't until the outside influences they experience growing into adulthood create so much interference they can no longer 'hear' what their bodies are saying. Over eating is the best example. Watch a kid eat; they will shovel it in and suddenly (like a switch) they are done, regardless of how much food is left on their plate. Why? Because their stomach sent a signal to their brains saying "you are full, stop eating". As adults we eat with all the distractions in the World and never listen for the signal. So we eat until all the food is gone or my personal favorite...once we have cleaned our plates!!

Bottom line is this. If you want to be healthier and gain the benefits of healthier living (losing weight, having more energy, sleeping better, etc, etc.) then educate yourself about how your body works and work really hard at listening to what it is trying to tell you and then of course don't ignore the instructions or override them. Without a doubt, the hardest part is listening to your body and NOT the outside influences around you. People WILL look at you strange when you start leaving food on your plate and will think you are starving yourself when you only take an ACTUAL portion of food instead of enough food to fill your plate. If you have to; take a smaller plate and it will look more full for all the critics analyzing your quantity of food.

Well I could ramble on for days about the subject of food and societies role in making unhealthy living easier than healthy living!

My Two Cents

CBC = Clearly Braindead Corporation

What the hell is the World coming to! I am stunned, appalled, stupefied, and madder than a wet hen (whatever that means)!

Does the CBC actually have people running the show over there at HQ? Or is it a bunch of retarded monkeys? It was reported yesterday that the CBC is planning on dumping the hallowed Hockey Night In Canada theme song! Are they nuts!?! Somebody has been eating stupid pills down there at HQ. It doesn't matter what the cost is to the composer, it is all that is sacred and holy about hockey in Canada. I suppose the new price might carve in to the fat cat salaries down there at the CBC. Hey boneheads, without viewers you have no job at all! Have a little vision!

I suppose CBC is rolling up shop, closing the doors and shipping everything they every stood for over to TSN. They lost the Grey Cup to TSN, why not give up hockey too. I just can't wrap my head around what went on in the board room to think dropping the HNIC theme song was a good idea. Are they thinking no one will notice?

I can clearly remember my children's reaction when they were young to the Saturday night tribute to a Canadian tradition. I would turn the TV way up and nanoseconds after the first hint of the widely popular HNIC opening ditty, I would hear those little feet motoring over to the living room. They would drop everything and anything they were doing to be in the room while the theme song ran its course. Before they evening knew what the significance of what they were hearing was they were mesmerized. I too still love to hear that song, it gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. It is a shame there are no hockey fans in the board room of the CBC. Anyone older than 5 years old can INSTANTLY tell you what song is playing even if they don't watch hockey, why? It is a part of our culture. Sounds stupid, but it is reality. It is a very popular ring tone too! Every time my phone rings in public someone makes a comment and smiles. The HNIC theme music brings feelings of joy, family, happiness and fun. Many can tie heart felt memories to HNIC and the theme song brings it all back with each and every instance we hear it.

With Bob Cole stepping down and the theme song potentially dead, what is the point to being set in your big-ass recliner 15 minutes before puck drop? Perhaps I will simply join the game already in progress. This is a sad day not for hockey or the HNIC, but for how easy it is to dismiss tradition and how money can eliminate people's vision in the blink of an eye.

Let's hope someone down at the CBC and the composer of the theme song get their collective heads out of their asses long enough to hammer out a deal that is fair. Thus, keeping HNIC building memories for many more years to come.

My Two Cents
Jamie

It’s Amazing How We Miss Them

I couldn't resist another short blog today about my kids, humor me to ensure I remain sane!

My kids have been out in the wonderful World of Mickey and Goofy for the past week with their Mom. I have been very excited for them as this trip approached. I expect to hear all kinds of stories of fun and craziness. I didn't expect I would miss them so much! DAMN! They return today and I am beside myself.

I find myself tracking their flight back and impatiently awaiting their return. I know they will be home later this evening, but I am not sure how to get from now to then without going nuts! It isn't like I haven't been away from them for extended periods of time or something or that I am worried about them. Perhaps their age has something to do with it? They are at that cusp age for truly enjoying Disneyworld. Not too old to not be able to be a kid and not too young to not remember any of the great things they will experience.

But needless to say I am excited they are coming home and can't wait to hear about their trip.

My Two Cents

Jamie

For The Health Of It

I am happy to announce I have finally got something through my thick head! Exercise completes the puzzle.

I spent the better part of the last two years making some serious lifestyle changes regarding my eating habits. The goal was to be healthier overall and improve my ability to be a positive role model for the two sets of VERY BIG eyes that are always watching. It is like living in the movie Lord of the Rings, the eye is always watching, except I have 4 four eyes watching. For the most part the major changes included eliminating unnecessary calories, nothing drastic, just obvious empty calories. Over time it became easier, but I never really looked at portions or listened to my body very well. I felt healthier, but my weight never changed, so I was frustrated.

It wasn't until a few months ago that I finally took the plunge and started exercising at least three times a week. I always rested on my once a week hockey as my exercise, but once a week isn't enough. For a year I thought about more exercise and always had a reason I couldn't do more, be it not enough time or money or energy or whatever. Excuses are crippling to progress. Finally I dove in and the first week was hard. I felt terrible, like ten miles of bad road! During the work out, after the work out, day after the work out, my goodness, who knew exercising, was such hard work!! But of course, I turned a corner in the third week and then I felt great; better than in a long time.

My body has been changing over the last few months and it is now becoming noticeable to others around me. I get asked all the time "have you lost weight", "you are looking good" and of course "what did you do?" I think most people are looking for some miracle answer like a special diet of rocks and twigs or a wonder drug that instantly melts fat away. But, honestly it is nothing more than changing my attitude about food and exercise. The exercise I added a few months ago and eating habits has been a long process, which I tweaked again when I added the exercise. I try to always think of food as fuel for my body and I only eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full; sometimes that means leaving food on my plate. If I am leaving food behind, it means I need to be better at how much I put on my plate. This hasn't meant depriving myself of food, on the contrary. I love food and can eat loads, but I have to listen to my body, it won't ask for more than it can use. It has been a learning curve and certainly not one that has been simple. I guess it was a retraining of the brain. Learning to let my body, NOT my emotions, decide when and how much I eat. Just so you know, boredom is an emotion; who knew?! I have eaten everything from pizza to ice cream to french fries and even fast food. I have lost about 30 lbs in three months. But it isn't about the weight for me, being healthy is way more important; giving my body the best possible shot at working properly. I still have more work to do, but it is a process that involves a change in my lifestyle.

I have done an enormous amount of reading over the last six months which has led me down the course I am on. I am starting to compile some of source material and in the weeks/months to come I will slowly add the links to my blog. Perhaps something in those pages will inspire someone to take back control of their health.

I say, don't make your goal to lose weight; make your goal to be healthier. I say, don't make your goal to eat less; make your goal to stop when you are full. I say, don't make your goal to join a gym for exercise, I say make your goal to simply get more exercise (walking is exercise too). Get active and think healthier and the weight and portion sizing comes as a side effect of healthier living. As I have written before, if you don't enjoy the lifestyle you live while you are "losing weight" then you will not stick to it. Instead make lifestyle changes that you enjoy and won't want to give up, this way you are healthier long term and the side effect will be losing weight.

Make YOUR health your #1 priority above all else.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Happy Trails

I just returned from a walk, nice day, but I got to thinking about the happiness blog I wrote yesterday. I mentioned I believe I had the ability to be cut loose happy about stuff at one point. I have proof!

I noticed when I am watching a hockey game I get submersed in the game and become emotionally tied to every movement on the ice. Usually I am hoping one team over the other wins so the mood can be intense. Every time the puck crosses either blue I inch closer to the precipice of my seat, commonly referred to as the 'edge'. And if the right team scores I explode out of my seat, pump fists and scream out YES! I don't have any regard for what others might think or whether they are alarmed by my sudden movements, but in that moment I am happy.

So I know it is there. Similarly when I am playing hockey (I play goal) which means when our team is playing well I don't get to be a part of the action. But when we score I am pumped up. I seem to revert back to a state of nothing else matters and live in the moment. I play each moment as it comes and don't over think.

Now how do I translate that into real life practice? Hmmm, that is an interesting question. I may have to ponder that further.

But I just have to say I am not a robot, I checked after yesterdays blog, and think there must be hope for future gains in the jump up and down happy as a pig in sh#t attitude to come back to the surface. It's in there and I need to give a chance to find its way back. Then look out people, Mr. Happy Go Lucky will be back and looking for fun!

My Two Cents

Jamie

Don’t Worry Be Happy

Somewhere down this winding road I call life I have lost something. I don't remember when I lost it or where but it appears to be gone. I do remember, once upon a time, having it and I guess I took it for granted. I am unsure if the loss was a gradual process or if I woke up one day and it was gone. I would have to speculate it was a slow decent; hardly noticeable to the naked eye, otherwise I am sure I would have taken steps to avoid the loss of something so important. I see others around possess it; especially the children, so clearly it isn't something I made up. I know I had it at one point. Children are the best example I can possibly give, they possess such a raw version that I think we could all learn from.

I have lost my ability to be happy about something good happening in my life; to let my hair down (so to speak) and be genuinely happy about an event. That euphoric moment when you first discover something where everything else in the World for brief time is gone and the discovery envelopes your mind, body and soul; you become flushed and the smile you wear is involuntary, you know that moment. Now to be fair and clear, I do laugh a great deal, however, it is based on a healthy sense of humor. I love comedy and thoroughly enjoy making people laugh. But when it comes to something happening to me that should produce a happiness that makes me smile and pump my fist in raw emotion; something in my brain misfires. The strange part is, I can clearly see and appreciate the good aspects and can feel the excitement inside, and somehow the excitement is held in check. Like a damper being closed ever so slowly to allow some of the excitement to flow through but not too much! Very, very controlled. It sucks! At the same time I can also see and feel the hurdles that are attached to the potential for happiness which could very well be the damper I spoke of. It seems I am always in analytical mode; breaking down all the angles and all the outs. Visualizing the potential, possibility for growth, and the areas that could post a problem; then continue the visual to include possible solutions to the potential pitfalls to ensure a smooth transition in to happiness! Sounds sickening doesn't it? Always thinking and always planning. Even at my wedding social a couple weeks back, I was unable to fully shut myself off; even though I had the exceptional effort and hard work of a friend to be "the guy" for the event. I still found myself assessing and reassessing trying to make certain everything was run as smoothly as possible. I believe anything has sooooo much potential for greatness that if adjusts can be made on the fly at the right time any event can be amazing. I really should find a line of work to utilize my analytical thinking so I could apply the efforts outside of my personal life.

I used to be able to have a blast anywhere, anytime with anyone. Now I find myself more subdued and low key. Not that low key is bad; many people live quite happily in low key mode. Now I find myself figure out who is there, what type person do I need to be too maximize the potential for a good time. Maybe I am a robot!?! Truthfully I would enjoy a little more bang for my buck. Let it all hang out type philosophy. Years ago when I was less wrapped up in life I was WAY more fun. Some of the people who have known me for the least amount of time don't even know that guy and think this is the normal me! Sad, but true.

I think a lot has to do with being a father. I am constantly worried about my image to them. And somewhere I missed the chapter that explains being fun is REALLY important. I know I am the least fun when I am "parenting", which sucks, because my kids are such goofballs at times I am missing out on the goofiness!! Although I feel a day and night responsibility to be an image of perfection for my children I have to relax so they can enjoy their father. For starters I am certainly nowhere near perfect! I am working on it and have made some leaps of faith. Doing something I know I will enjoy with them and letting go some of my reservations of "showing too much happiness" to them. It is such a weird way of thinking. Too much fun? Sounds so ridiculous, but I am stuck in this rut of monitoring my "vitals" and throttling back my fun for fear of being irresponsible. A parent…nothing and I mean nothing can prepare you for what kind of emotional roller coaster it sends you on. And I guess therein lies the problem…with all my planning, analyzing and break down of possibilities I can't put my finger on all the possibilities and outcomes when it comes to my kids. I think over time as I grew into being a parent I have spent too much time trying to find answers to questions that can't possibly have an answer that I got lost in the process. Your kids will grow up to be what they grow up to be and your input, although critical, is exactly that, just input. In the end, like all other humans, including us as we grew up, our children will make the final decisions on who they will be and how they will make their mark on Earth.

My Two Cents

Jamie