Archive for May, 2010

Don’t let your belly talk to you!!!

on May 24th, 2010 by Rob

Clark was just telling me a few days ago about this comedian that he saw on HBO the other night. I can’t remember her name, but Clark said that she had named her stomach and it talked to her!!! Pretty funny! It said things like- “I WANT CHEESECAKE!”- of course this was in a deep and grumpy voice.

Well, I feel like that too sometimes. How many times have I gotten off to a great start… you know, on a Monday morning- typical- then midway through the afternoon the cheesecake is calling. Usually, it is more like a Snickers bar.

You know, I heard someone in an Over-eaters Anonymous meeting say one time that the problem she had with eating was WAY more difficult than the problem she had with alcohol… she could stop drinking… but she couldn’t stop eating. I think that this is true…. it is harder because we HAVE to eat, we don’t have to get drunk.

Here are some tips that Clark gave us for fighting the cravings-

1. Eat at least 3 well balanced meals a day. Don’t skip meals… and eat snacks. If you skip then you will just be hungrier later and overeat.

2. Give up the guilt. If you slip up- give yourself a break. Also, give yourself permission to have some of those things you like- in moderation.

3. Think “management” instead of “control”. Control implies so many negative things.  If you know anything about AA or any 12 step program, you know that Step 1 is to admit that we are powerless over alcohol or food or whatever it is that we have a problem with. We are… or at least I think I am- powerless and can’t control food. Just think about the word management… it has completely different implications. I mean, can we really control people… no, but we can manage them right?

4. Believe that cravings will pass. If you really pay attention, you will believe this. Next time you have a strong craving, just try to busy yourself with something else… before you know it, it will be an hour later and you didn’t cave and after a few minutes, you didn’t even think about it again.

5. Stop labeling foods as “bad” or “forbidden” or “illegal”. Years ago, when I was trying to stop smoking, I told everyone (and to this day this holds true- my wife knows this) that I reserve the right to pick one up and start smoking again anytime I want to. For me, it was and is, so much easier to just know that I am making a choice TODAY, THIS HOUR, THIS MINUTE, to not smoke… I might do it in a little while, or tomorrow… but not right now. This is the ole “one day at a time thing” and it really holds true for me. I might eat an entire cheesecake tonight, but this afternoon I’m going to have just one small piece.

6. Exercise regularly- Exercise will help you free yourself from tension due to anxiety about food cravings. It is also a good way to distract yourself from food.

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Gonna drink any more fully leaded coke?

on May 12th, 2010 by Rob

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I miss it!!! Wouldn’t you??

on May 11th, 2010 by Rob

This is a picture that appeared just a couple of weeks ago in the Jackson daily newspaper. This is Paul Lacoste (my trainer in the People Magazine Weight Loss Challenge) and ME- the guy in the gray shirt stretching.

I am not in the class right now. I have a hurt leg and would not even be able to participate in the class if I had signed up this time around. But, I miss it. I saw Victor this morning—- another name for Paul (his alter ego) and it was good to see him…. but I miss being in the class with all the other numskulls.

The picture above is from this spring when he was training the Mississippi Legislature… it seems that we have this little problem- MS is the FATTEST STATE!!!

But we are getting better, with the help of people like Paul that care about the state of Mississippi and want us to get more healthy.

I was talking with a buddy of mine in Atlanta earlier today, he was saying how he needed to get motivated to work out and get in shape. He was a college athlete (GA State Swim Team)—– Side note, I did a deep water aerobics class this morning- IF THERE WAS EVER ANY DOUBT- SWIMMERS ARE ATHLETES!!!—- anyway, he was saying that he had a will-power problem because he could not get up and go to the gym. I corrected him- he does not have a will-power problem, he has a motivation problem.

I told him that I was motivated by entering races and going TOWARD goals, you see- I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN DO IT!!! His problem is that he KNOWS HE CAN DO IT- or at least he used to be able to do it- point being that there is not a lot of mystery.

What do you use as motivation to get up and get after it? What can I say to him to help? Help me, help him!!!

BTW- if you are looking for a great promo item for your business- He sells it——– Custom Private Label Bottled Water—– check it:


Liquid Promotions

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How’s your gratitude?

on May 9th, 2010 by Rob

I would say that I am a glass half full kinda guy.  But, that glass can get half empty in a real hurry if things don’t go just right.

O.K.- let’s just say that I go and hop up on the scale. I have been working out all week and eating well and I am looking for a 4-6 pound loss for the week…. maybe this is a little ambitious, but certainly not out of the question.  So- I hop and low and behold, a two pound gain. SHIT!!! ….Well, SHIT!! That blows!!! I wasted all that time, effort and mental anguish. Not even to mention that I didn’t have that cake!!  So now what?

The thing is… it is SO easy for me to end up having a bad day. So easy for me to say SCREW IT- I think I’ll have some wings… not gonna make any difference anyway. SO easy for me to stop trying… stop fighting. Then, what happens the next morning??? It is just a little bit harder for me to get up and get going… a little harder for me to get to the gym.

This is the story of my life. And it doesn’t even have to be the scale. I mean, I could get in a fight with my wife… which I might add happened yesterday at 5am… I mean, WTF??? How do you do that at 5a.m.? BTW- I love her and think she is great- she just pissed me off momentarily… Or, I could have something happen at work and I could just EASILY move into a Twinkies/Doritos bender… I mean, this is NOT a stretch.

But then something happens. And this is the subject of my post today… something says to me that I need to thank God for all the things that I have. These two little boys that God has entrusted to me…. it is an awesome responsibility.  Sure, I would love to have a nicer house, a better car than the crappy civic that I drive. I could have a better job and make more money and be more importaint… but if I want to stay on this path…. if I want to do my best every day… if I want to attack every day and make it the best that I can…. I have to show some gratitude!!!

Do you let the shitty things in life get the best of you?? Or do you roll with the punches? Get back up? Dust yourself off? Keep going? Work harder? Try harder? Eat better?

It is so easy to NOT move in the direction that makes our lives better. What do you do to flip that switch and CHANGE?

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Why I don’t eat High Fructose Corn Syrup!!

on May 6th, 2010 by Rob

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