Conan The Barbarian I am not!

How many people in the world want to live a better, healthier life, but "don't know how to?" I would assume far too many, which is indicative of the most recent update on global obeisity statistics provided by NationMaster.com. As many people would have safely guessed, The U.S. takes the honor of being #1 (this is not a good thing) in obeisity out of ALL the countries in the world! The U.S. is listed @ 30.6% of the nation is overweight. Now, I am too cynical to believe that number is balls on accurate (how exactly do they come to these conclusive #'s?), but I am willing to believe it is higher. Perhaps not overweight, but not fit or healthy. There are so many reasons for such a staggering factoid, and it doesn't take a panel of experts to pinpoint many of the contributing factors. Though some of my friends call me "The Doctor", I am not a Doctor of medicine, or nutrition...just Awesomeness! lol What I am getting at is that we all know in general right from wrong, and what is good and bad for our bodies. Some would be less obvious, but for F's sake; drinking a 2 liter of soda (diet or reg), eating bread w/every meal, fried food late night @ a Pub and housing a pint of Ben & Jerry's "Americone Dream" is NOT GOOD for you! One of the biggest problems that plagues the U.S. is how good marketers of products got at turning us into an "eye appeal" society. How many times have you walked into a place, saw a picture of something making it look like the most phenomenal thing to catch your attention all day, and you/someone with you simply said: "I WANT THAT!" Not knowing anything about the product, just that you need to have it. Let's say for example you are @ TGIFridays and that said 3'x4' glossy picture is a dessert they are promoting...it is ordered, delivered and the serving dish is lapped clean, and another person at the table happens to stumble across the dessert menu on the table (which in NYC and Philadelphia now requires mandatory nutritionals be posted), and blurts out "Holy shit Mildred (ex.) that brownie sundae you just ate has 1,200 calories and 200 of them are from fat!" This happens all over the country, every single day! The term "Let the buyer beware" isn't just a clever catchphrase...it is an opportunity provided to us to seek the best option for our needs. For example, you aren't going to go to a car dealership, look at a poster of a Chevy Suburban and point to it like a five year old and say "I want that" to the dealer. OK, if you are of the minority and would do that with a $50,000 vehicle you are either a professional athlete or a complete idiot! What I am trying to convey through all of this is that the I believe life is all about choices; and we all have choices with what we consume. Don't let Coca Cola tell you what you want to drink because Beyonce and her backup dancers do some clever little commercial where they make a can of soda look alot better than it really is, or some fake football player get his bell rung and think he's Batman(which is ridiculous-we all know Christian Bale is Batman, and by the looks of him he scoffs @ Snickers bars while checking out @ the supermarket), take a bite of a Snickers bar and all is well...cause it's not!

So, let's review what we have learned today: The key to getting started on the path to treating your body as a temple (as we all should), is to simply sift through the bullshit and take the time to know what is good for you, and what isn't good for you (or what you can do without). Believe me when I tell you (and most who have known me for a long time can confirm) that I am not and have not ever been the next Jack Lalaine in training, or been in a Mr.Universe pageant. But, I have always known right from wrong when it comes to my body and what is put in it. My lifestyle has been so up and down as far as the kind of shape I have been in over the years (nothing like that GD Oprah Winfrey), and it took facing serious health problems (gall bladder disease, chronic pancreatitis, and hypothyroid) for me to truly take a stance and evaluate how I am treating my temple. I can honestly say that the last year or two is the closest I have been to my peak top shape condition that I was in when I was a competetive athlete. I know what my goals are, and I am going to achieve them because when I set my mind to something an oncoming train can't derail me! I challenge you all to do the same with your lives; workout a life plan, set reasonable goals, think for yourself (NO EYE APPEAL EATING) and most important-let others help you. Get advise from others who have gone through (or currently are) going through lifestyle changes, let their testimonials and knowledge not only educate you, but inspire you to get where you want to be. It is only beneficial to have such people in your life and be part of your support system. I may not aspire to have 6 or 8 pack abs (I spend alot of hard earned $$$ on Miller Lite Security Co. to protect them) on display, I know they are there, but I do want to eat well, live well, encourage others to do the same, and evolve as a human race.

I have started a group on Facebook called "The Buddy System" and it is geared towards exactly what I just wrote about above. The idea is that we aren't all experts in nutrition, fitness, and healthy culinary prowess. But collectively, through a large network of people of all sizes, lifestyles and goals, we can help one another out...hence "The Buddy System." The page is open for all to publish recipes, restaurants in their area(s) to recommend to others, workout tips, and hopefully ALOT of testimonials. Members also have the ability to post pictures of their journeys towards a better life, and I hope they take full advantage of that. You truly never know how your story can be beneficial to others until you tell it. Hope to see you there. I'm just sayin'....