10 Epic Rants

OK, kiddos!  Enough is enough.  It’s time to get off the tit and stop making pathetic excuses.

So, you’ve received a couple ‘informative’ posts, that actually had some decent tips…and now it’s my turn to rant.  About what?  Well, everything…

1.  You, Mrs. come into Starbucks and order a venti caramel frap and a ‘multi grain’ bagel….in your workout gear. It’s crazy, everyone is laughing at you, and you should probably stick to water until your rear end doesn’t require it’s own zip code.

2.  You, Mrs. I like to wear summer dresses that are slightly see thru. This wouldn’t be a problem, if your dress didn’t keep getting stuck in between your side rolls.  This is no longer a ‘muffin top’, instead, it is now a triple scoop muffin wrapped in a thin napkin.  WTF?!

3.  You, Mr. my biceps are now bigger and more powerful than my quads. Huh?  If you visit your local corporate fitness chain gym on a regular basis, you know what I’m talking about.  It’s the rooster syndrome.  Big upper, towering build, and thick pumped arms…all carried by 2 toothpick size legs.  They’re easy to pick out…the ones who have calves and quads of similar size.  Be on the look out for sleeveless shirts, and your standard gym goer arm tattoos.  Members of this club are NOT allowed to own any shirts that have sleeves attached.  If the only work your legs get is the walk to the preacher curl machine, change your routine now.

4.  You, my gerbils.  You didn’t think I’d forget about the ones that stay consistently about 15-20lbs overweight, but somehow think it’s fine because they ‘treadmill’ 3x a week. You know, the ones who stand in line and wait for a machine…no goal to become the machine.  They buy the latest, greatest, running shoes- and Nike commercials consisting of people running for long periods of time inspire them.  Somehow, the same 45 minutes on the treadmill, at level 5, that they’ve been doing for the last 14 months, is going to bring a different result this time.  The only thing that has changed is the channel on the stupid TV, that they watch and laugh at for 45 minutes while they run.

5.  You, Mr. corporate fitness club, that gives everyone false hopes in search of a monthly fee. You preach a false slogan, ‘We’re all athletes.’ and then sell Coke, and NoS energy drinks outside of the locker room.  What ‘athlete’ drinks that crap after, or before a workout.  Athletes don’t use machines that look like the son of Robo Cop.  Athletes don’t do 100s of variations of bicep curls, and ignore everything below the waist.  You try to push your ‘branded’ supplements and say it is a boost the body needs for optimal results.  Real athletes wouldn’t wouldn’t touch that crap.  If you’re going to take pills that have more chemicals, bonders, binders, agents, and other synthetic fillings, than a box of Tide…why not just do steroids?  No matter how they want to mask it, we are NOT all athletes.  Some people in there barely qualify as living humans.

6.  You, Mr. and Mrs. nothing works for me, all fitness programs suck and I just can’t do it. Well, the last part is probably correct.  If you can, or you can’t…you are correct.  It’s been said many times.  Here’s a tip; in order for a program to work, you have to ACTUALLY do it!  If you train 4x a week and eat shitty 3x a week, you will fail.  If you train on a consistent basis, but have small cheats on a regular basis…you will fail.  You will not see any desired results.  If you’re schedule rivals that of Mr. Obama, and you find yourself training twice a week…you will fail.  If you train hard, but have no outside discipline..you fail.  If you’re a tree hugging freak, that eats only the purest of the pure…but hate to train- well, then, you’ll just look like a sucked up girly man.  You will probably start wearing real tight pants, dark shirts, and eye liner.  At that point, who cares anyhow?

6B.  You, Mr. busy, busy, busy. Well, from what I have experienced…it is my conclusion;  being ‘busy’ increases your chance of being obese by 92.6%.  Further research shows, of that 92.6%, self entitlement, and lack of time management was responsible for 99.5% of the ‘busy’.  Social activities based around a meal, and entertainment, were two other leading contributors.  Of course, this study is completely made up.

7.  You, Mr. I try everything, from the Ab Circle to Yoga, to green tea, to some pill that ‘clumps fat together’ so you can poop it out, to 3 meals a day, to 8 meals a day…everything, except, eating real foods. You love to make excuses about time, cooking, and shopping.  You search for a ‘healthy’ option that you can take to go thru a window.  You ignore obvious facts and nutritional information.  You allow others to dictate what you eat, and have no problem explaining your way thru meal after meal.  You justify this by blaming some genetic disorder, and never, ever have taken the time to truly track the food you eat and how it affects your body.  Here’s a tip; just because you slop your way thru a couple workouts per week, doesn’t justify your fast food crutch.

8.  You, Mr. Fitness guru. Your cheesy before and after photos that go along with your recommendations and product endorsements…all your marketing tactics, with the latest, and greatest developments…it’s sad!  If something has ‘never been seen before’ or is a ‘top secret tip’ or has ‘been used by pro athletes behind the scenes’ or ‘has not been available to the public’ until now…just run from it.  Don’t worry, there will be an ever better product released next year, and your favorite guru will probably endorse it, too.  Just save your money and buy next years model.  Better yet, get last years model out and actually TRY using it for a change.  It’s a shame this happens, and even worse…the people that buy it time after time.

9.  You, Mr. and Mrs. I cannot let go of the ’same old’ low fat diet, or fat free substitutes…or my belly. You would think that years of buying fat free this, and low fat that, would equal a flat belly.  Sure, it may have allowed some WEIGHT to be lost over the months- but, this may be credited to the fact that you don’t eat 2 snickers per day, and wash it down with a couple dr. peppers.  It has nothing to do with your fat free choices.  Actually, once you lose some initial weight- the fatless options are going to halt any further progress you desire.  Get with the program.  The research was flawed, and further covered up by enormous food corporations thru lobbying and good ol’ money!  Do you really think some half chemical, half food is better for you than real full fat food?  You cannot offset the fact that you eat way more than you should…not even some frankenfood invention that allows you to eat more.

10.  You, Mr. and Mrs. I cannot buy organic fruits and vegetables because they cost twice as much as conventionally grown products. First off, WTF?!  Why are pesticides and other crap practices considered conventional, or normal…and organic needs a special label?  It’s stupid.  Anyhow, if you didn’t have to save for the next release of the iphone, android, blueberry smoothie version of the blackberry…you’d have some extra cash for food.  Oh, and your hair, nails, and purse combo- that was about $700 total…well, it does nothing for your flabby gut.  Spend it on the right food if you want to look better.  Wow, what an amazing purse.  It covers up your rolls like magic! Puhlease!!

I hope you enjoyed the rant.

-Mike.

Fast Food Bites, Vol. III Tips

Fast Food Bites is a series of short posts, designed to set you free from the media lies that have plagued the nation for far too long.  Made possible thru huge food corporations, and active lobbyists, the common folks have been brain washed into believing lies about the current state of our food supply.  These posts are designed to educate my beez in peez, in order to make better diet and nutrition choices.

Welcome back, beez in peez!

Since I started these posts, I have gotten a few questions emailed to me…basically asking general things, and in a nutshell saying ‘Well, Mike…you’ve told us all this horrible news, but what the hell can we do about it?’ (just kidding, no emails.  to ask a question would mean you cared…somewhat)  Anyhow, for those of you that do care about your body, a healthy life, and basically not looking like a sh** pig….here are some tips.  I am simply going to give you a few tips to try out, and some links to read up on.  I am not going to get into pages of studies and research and other crap you don’t really care about.

You can’t really judge something until you try it.  And if you never try anything new, how can you honestly expect different results?

1.  Eat MEAT and NUTS for breakfast. I got this gem from CharlesPoliquin and his blogsite.  I have also read other studies that point out the benefits found in this style of eating.  To read the full article, click —> Here to open a new window.

Having a good breakfast, with protein, and healthy fats, is important beyond belief.  Remember; we’re trying to keep the blood sugar stable during the day, and keep it there.  Your typical bagel, cereal, pastries, and coffee breakfast on the go is doing nothing to help.  A glass of OJ, and a bagel for breakfast, will spell disaster for staying lean.  Or maybe you’re into oatmeal, or Kashi?  Eating that for breakfast is going to send your day into a downward spiral.

I should point out; I don’t agree with eating red meat more than once a week for health reasons.  If you look, you’ll find a wide variety of meats.  I also think you should try and include some type of fiber veggie as well.  But, if you can make them up later in the day…this is a good way to start breakfast.  Almost anything is better than the average processed white flour breakfast most of us consume.

2.  Shop More, Buy Less.  In the book by Dr. Aziz, The Perfect 10 Diet- (highly recommend you buying ASAP) he discusses the average person at the market and their shopping habits.  The basket was designed to hold allot of weight.  Products are made to sustain a long shelf life.  Refrigerators in America are HUGE. Shopping is done for a couple weeks, or even a month at a time.  Change the way you shop, now!

Fresh, real food, does not last very long.  If you are consuming what you should be, you will NEED fresh food on a regular basis.  You should be going into the grocery store every couple of days.  You will shop for 10 minutes, not 2 hours.  Buying some fruits and veggies for a couple of days takes just a few minutes.  You can buy eggs and meat less often, but fruits and veggies should be done every couple of days.  It’s just too easy to ‘not have fruit’ at the house, causing you to reach for a cookie instead.  Why?  Because, cookies can last over a year in your cabinets!

Do it on your lunch break, on the way home, try different stores, use the EXPRESS line…you will find time.  I should also mention; shopping every couple of days allows you to check the ‘clearance’ rack for great deals.  It’s always nice to find some organic apples for half off, or some wild caught salmon on special because the due date is coming up.  Just scoop up that bargain and cook it for dinner the same day!

2B.  Shop at the farmers market once in a while. It’s not that hard, they have them in almost all communities now, and it’s also a good way to support some local farmers…and stop donating to the fu**s that are screwing us over!  It’s a bit more work, as you’ll have to sort and package the veggies yourself at home, but well worth the benefits.  I usually once a week and stock up on veggies that will last, bread, eggs, and some nuts.  When I can find it, I’ll also pick up some cheese made from raw milk.

3.  Learn to like vegetables, different vegetables, different forms, all of the time. I know, I know…I have repeated this more than once.  But, it needs to be said AGAIN.  Try vegetables, try many, try em’ often, and include them with meals.  People that have this ‘I don’t like vegetables’ attitude are pretty much doomed.  Why?  Well, first off, they’ve already set their mind to not liking them….we all know the mind is more powerful than the taste buds.  You also have to realize, it’s pretty likely that your taste buds have been screwed up over the years and are now seeking a sugary sensation at each and every feast.  They can be trained, they must be trained, and you will get them back to what they were designed to enjoy- Real Food.

How, Mike?  You said tips…not ranting.

Salads. I know, I know- I hate em too.  It’s crap, boring, for girly men, and people trying to save the world.  Whatever…  Get creative, use fruit, nuts, and yogurt.  Stay away from fat free dressings that include hydrogenated oils aka trans fats, and use a little olive oil if you like the taste.  You can make your own salads that you enjoy, add meat.  The point is to get some fiber rich veggies in.  If you eat plenty of greens with your meal, you don’t have to worry about eating a bunch of salads…I’m just sayin’.

Snacks: How about bell peppers with hummus?  In an effort to get the veggie intake up, we’ll ignore the issues of the microwave…so get some steamer bags and heat em up in 2 minutes flat!  If you’re in an office all day, this is perfect. Don’t be afraid of some organic unsalted butter, flavor it up.  How about an omelet with 3 types of veggies for breakfast?  Of course we don’t have endless time to cook before work, but what about just 2 days per week?

Dinner: Make it a rule, every night there will be 2 types of vegetables included.  Instead of the normal asparagus, corn, green beans, or potato- try some spinach.  Steam some cauliflower and add a little cheese or butter.  Stuff bell peppers with more vegetables!  How about stir fry 2x per week with at least 3 veggies?  I mean, really, the options are pretty open if you put some effort into it.  Most people get their ‘veggie intake’ from the lettuce and tomato that comes on the burger…that they get thru the window- don’t be that guy.

Juices: Make your own, adjust for your taste.  If you can’t find a sensational mouth party of a taste, pound a cup of whatever you can at least 3x per week.

Super Foods: There are different brands, but these are great to use as a supplemental source.  NO…this does not mean you can avoid vegetables and get the same effect by drinking these.  This is the one I use, click –> Here for the info on it.

Start making better choices, maybe not all at once- just start.  Over time, they add up, and become habits.

-Mike.

Fast Food Bites, Vol. II

Fast Food Bites is a series of short posts, designed to set you free from the media lies that have plagued the nation for far too long.  Made possible thru huge food corporations, and active lobbyists, the common folks have been brain washed into believing lies about the current state of our food supply.  These posts are designed to educate my beez in peez, in order to make better diet and nutrition choices.

1.  Canola Oil is ‘healthier’ because it contains less saturated fat.  FALSE. This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Canola Oil is technically ‘Canada Oil’ and it is obtained from the poisonous rapeseed tree.  There is nothing natural about this stuff at all.  Canola oil is refined, or manufactured, genetically modified, and most of the omega-3s are lost during the refinement process.  At times, the oil is also partially hydronated to make it more shelf stable.  We all know by now, that means trans-fats.  Trans-fats are killers.  And don’t give me this crap about how your family and ancestors have used it for years with no problems.  Bullshit!  The genetically modified canola hasn’t been around too long, and the food lobbyists pushed this crap on the public after the FDA struck a deal with Canada.  Look it up…I dare ya!

Oh, the same goes for ‘Soy Bean’ oil.  Genetically modified soy is HORRIBLE…and soy bean oil is in tons of processed products.  It’s cheap to make, mixes well with most processed products, and is probably one of the main reasons why we have so many ‘girly men’ and fertility problems these days.  Soy kills testosterone!  Guys…Test is good!

2.  Eating or drinking a post workout shake IMMEDIATELY after a workout is a great idea.  FALSE. This is a tricky one.  For years, I have heard you should immediately flood your muscles with protein and replenish the ’sugar’ you lost during your workout.  It is true, you should eat within an hour or so after your workout.  However, doing so immediately, will simply stop the production of HGH.  Human growth hormone (HGH) is something all of our bodies produce….not just Bonds and McGwire.  It is important to note that HGH and insulin both compete and one cannot exist with the other.  As soon as you ‘replenish’ the sugar…the HGH stops.  And to be honest, I don’t think chocolate milk is a very good idea if you’re trying to LOSE weight.  Keep the sugar low at all times…

Try waiting a good 30-45 minutes before you have anything to eat or drink besides water after your next workout.

3.  Fat free milk is healthier…it has less calories.  FALSE. Sure it has less calories, but so does dirt.  Milk was designed by cows, and nature, to take a 75lb calf to 1,500lbs in about 2 years.  What do you think that does to humans?  A ‘cow’ is a common name given to fat people…but still we’re told it is healthy, needed, and should be consumed to the tune of 3 servings per day.  What’s my point?  Once your done sucking on the bottle or the tit, you don’t need a milk mustache anymore.

But if you are going to consume it, go organic, and full fat whole dairy.  Why?  First off, you’ll lose most of the nutritional value in the milk once the fat is removed.  You’ll probably get a higher dose of sugar (the bad stuff) and the process in which the milk fat is removed is very dangerous to our health.

Avoid milk when possible, and stop drinking fat free milk.  Do you really think our ancestors sat around thinking about how to get the fat out of milk and reduce calories?  C’mon!  Or we all realized milk fat was causing all the problems, we took it out, and now the entire country is healthier?  Yes, we can now survive the common cold and simple infections (things that killed many in the past) but now we have been introduced to many chronic diseases that NEVER existed 50 years ago.  The only thing that has changed is our diet.

No, folks.  Pasteurization made it possible to store milk for long periods of time.  Thus opening the flood gates to massive dairy farms to mass produce the hell out of it.  The low fat media craze justified the de-fattening of the milk.

Oh yeah, it can also lead to infertility in females.  But to be honest, that may not be a bad thing for most people.  Sorry…

4.  Nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, or cashews, are too high in fat for me to eat.  FALSE. Portion control is the key here.  Nuts are very calorie dense, but if you can show some self control…they’re well worth eating.  Nuts contain essential fatty acids our bodies cannot make.  The NATURAL fat in nuts make you full, satisfied, and offer many nutritional benefits.  I think it’s important to point out; I am writing about RAW nuts.  Nothing ‘honey roasted’ or salted, or peppered with your favorite sugary topping.  You may cut calories by switching to one of those INSANE 100 calorie snacks, (nuts are 170cals per oz) such as mini cookies, brownie bites, ritz, or whatever else they have now…BUT…you know, antifreeze is also very low in calories!  Seriously, have you read the ingredient list on those snack packs?  Crazy shit…

Low calories are nice…but you have to weigh in all the variables.  You know what else has 100 calories? 25g of pure sugar.  That is about 6 and a half teaspoons of sugar.  You’ll probably get the same nutritional benefits as well.

Oh yeah, peanuts….are actually legumes, and not nuts at all.  They contain much more omega 6 fats and should be used very sparingly.  Why do you think they’re so much cheaper?

Fight the lies!

-Mike.

Fast Food Bites, Vol. 1

Fast Food Bites is a series of short posts, designed to set you free from the media lies that have plagued the nation for far too long.  Made possible thru huge food corporations, and active lobbyists, the common folks have been brain washed into believing lies about the current state of our food supply.  These posts are designed to educate my beez in peez, in order to make better diet and nutrition choices.

But Mike, shouldn’t you spend your time trying to find ‘affiliates’ to write posts about and market their products for a profit?

Yeah..probably, but I like ya too much to waste your time advertising for someone else.  And seriously, how can you just market product after product in search of a commission…when you haven’t even tried it yourself?!  It’s baffling…  Anyhow, on with the show.

Fast Food Bites, Volume 1

1.  Drinking 20 oz of water with each meal is a GOOD idea. FALSE.

Our bodies contain digestive enzymes that break down food we consume.  It is a good idea to drink a little water (6-8 oz) of water before your meal, and no more than 4 oz during your meal.  Most people claim ‘drinking more water with your meal will fill you up, thus making you eat less’ and weight loss will ensue.  Maybe…but if you’re capable of stopping after you finish your meal, then don’t worry about that myth.  If water keeps you from shoveling 4 twinkies down your throat after your ‘food’ meal has been exhausted, then of course you should drink it.  But, if you care about nutrients that fuel the body, and make you a stronger, healthier person, then do not killy your enzymes with water.  I should also point out; if you’re not eating a ton of bread and flour based products with each meal…you won’t need so much water to ‘wash it down’.

2.  Eggs are making your cholesterol high.  FALSE.

First off, which levels are we talking about?  Do we even know?  Or are you just going by what the latest Special K or Cherrios commercial is claiming?  I am not going to get into pages upon pages of research and studies, but this MYTH has been debunked a long time ago…people.  Of course, eggs from pasture fed, free range, cage free, organic chickens are far superior than the normal dozen of eggs sold at your local Vons.  My eggs are purchased once a week from the farmers market and cost $3.50 a dozen.  If you knew what goes on in these ‘egg factories’ you would never purchase eggs at the big name super markets again.

For you people that have been told eggs are bad and your cholesterol is too high, etc…  Try switching to eggs, cooked in organic butter for breakfast.  Cut out the cereals and instant oat meals, and eliminate at least 50% of the sugar from your diet. (yes, white flour also needs to be eliminated)  Do that for about a month, then see where your cholesterol levels come in.

3.  I should avoid seafood because the mercury levels are too high.  FALSE.

If you’re pregnant, or a small child…then YES, avoid it or speak with your doctor about your condition.  But since I doubt I have any 3 yr olds, or pregnant beez in peez reading this…it doesn’t have anything to do with you.

Once again, buying WILD caught fish is always best.  Farm raised fish are usually fed dyes in order to give the appearance of a wild caught species.  Mercury is also found more in large fish, such as swordfish or shark.  The benefits of eating smaller, wild caught fish, definitely outweigh the risk of mercury poisoning.

Since most people prefer tuna; Your best bet is sticking to ‘chunk light tuna’.  They’re usually smaller on the food chain, and contain the lowest amount of toxins.  Shrimp, halibut, tilapia, and red snapper are also good choices.  Of course, there are some to avoid…we will cover them soon as well.

So, there you have it.  3 myth busting tips.  Nope, I am not a doctor…nor a nutritionist.  I’m just someone that is on a mission to free my beez in peez from the bullshit that currently is offered as truth by the food and big pharma industry.  Trust me, the latest, greatest substitute, for real food is not keeping you healthy.  A temporary loss of a few pounds is not worth the long term effects.

Who woulda thought?  Eggs, shrimp, and cooking with butter…over skim milk, puffed Kashi, and some spray shit for cooking…that you could probably use as a substitute for Lysol.  Awesome!

Now quit being a bunch of pansies and go eat REAL FOOD.

-Mike.

PS:   Isn’t it interesting how a few ’studies’ followed by a plethora of commercials and skewed test results changed the way an entire nation consumed daily meals?  And to think…with all these advancements in food science…we continue to rank near dead LAST on the world obesity scale.

I smell BULLSHIT…and it ain’t from a grass fed cow.

Happy Birthday, America!

To all my fellow American beez in peez, Happy Independence Day!  True, it is argued by historians that this is not the exact day we decided to free ourselves from British rule…but it’s close enough.

Just a side note; Imagine how crazy that sounded to everyone?  We are freeing ourselves from the king.  We will no longer be part of this.  Yes, we are willing to trade our lives in search of freedom.

Crazy huh?  Personally, I think it is awesome!  Celebrations tell me most of us do.

Think about it….every idea that we accept now was made possible by the decision of these few men.  They had a goal, and did not waver in the face of defeat.  The whole basis of our beloved country was founded on what most people thought was ‘pure insanity’ and basically, a stupid idea.

These guys were true warriors.  No, not some cage fighting, tight t shirt wearing, smack talking, tap out junkie, warrior….real true warriors- willing to give up family life, comfort, and even their own physical lives to fight for a country that had not even been born yet. Poorly armed, and very little training was the norm.  They faced huge armies of highly trained soldiers, equipped with advanced weapons.

If you fought for this country back then, you probably had your brother…or even father, right at your side fighting too.  Slaves, yes, slaves….fought besides their ‘masters’.  Given the circumstances, you would find it tough to place a gun in the hands of a slave, next to a slave owner…but all lives were equal.  Everyone fought for freedom.

Food shortage, makeshift shelters, long days, and endless nights…filled with anxiety and fear.  These men fought for what we now take for granted.  No radio contact, no advanced weapon systems.  Just good ol fashion metal balls being fired out of a musket, powered by gun powder.  Dodging huge cannon balls, some ripping thru entire bodies.  They had to hold off huge armies, fighting from a small camp filled with tents made from sheets and small fires creating a little warmth.  Knowing more ships were on they way, filled with even more redcoats…and more cannon balls.

Soldiers were common citizens, shop owners, farmers, and kids.  There was no technology;  just determination and a fight. No advanced training or medicine.  Infections and cold killed many freedom seekers.  There would be no USA if not for these selfless acts.

The Rebel Forces…true American heroes.

Let us fast forward…. If your cell phone isn’t connecting like it should, you can’t get your iPod to hold more than 999 songs, your car is making a weird noise, someone messed up your drink at Starbucks…and we all lose our shit!  It ruins your day….you’re in a bad mood and everyone needs to know your I-phone isn’t working well with the current apps that have been put out.  You need a Mercedes because the BMW doesn’t run like it should (mostly because you didn’t take care of it) and your latte doesn’t have enough caramel syrup.  You’re on 2 new prescriptions that have you feeling jittery, the last 3 diets haven’t worked, and your boss is on your ass.  On top of all that, you’re just too busy to be concerned with why and how you got here.  No admiration, no concern, just a healthy dose of self stress caused by self entitlement.

Just a couple centuries ago these guys were dodging 25lb metal balls being shot from ships…traveling faster than light, and traveling well over a mile in distance.  If you had been shot in the leg, it was usually cut off…if that didn’t work- you died.  There was no chopper to come rescue you and then present you with the purple heart.

This country was made possible by true warriors.  Selfless, brave, and relentless.  We whine about the internet being too slow.

Fast food drive thrus, and instant everythings have made this nation into a place filled with fat, lazy, and selfish people.  Unwilling to do work, unless it is outlined in their daily duties…from their carpeted box…aka the cubicle.  Athletes competing are now called warriors.  Names such as Hancock, or Edison are simply ‘company names’ to most people…completely oblivious to the true meanings.  Self entitlement runs deep.  Generations of immigrants have filled this great land with diversity…your grandparents risked their lives to give you a better future- and all you care about is your PS3 not working.  WTF?!

Or maybe your family lived here all along…but when the 4th of July rolls around, or even Memorial Day…all you can think about is a day off, some beer, and hot BBQ cranking out some tasty food.  “Whoohoo, happy 4th everyone!” is the phrase repeated over and over.  For some reason, BBQing is expected…but showing no admiration to the true warriors of this land is perfectly fine.  How about, hey- thanks guys for having some balls and standing up for what was right…and sacrificing all that you knew for a better future for your country.  We appreciate not having that annoying accent too.  (no offense anyone)

So, just at least this time…you can say a quick thanks to our true founding countrymen.  No matter what is going on now, like it or not…good times or bad…we have to appreciate what these men did.

In fitness, goals, and overall life…we need to be REAL warriors.

Let us stop complaining about what we don’t have.  We need to seek ways to work, instead of ways to complain about what doesn’t.  It doesn’t matter what was, or has or is happening…you still have the rest of your life to make it better.  Demand to be better than average!  Fear is your taxation without representation….demand your FREEDOM!

You can’t always ‘go with the flow’ and expect to be the best you can…create your own path.  Take the time to understand who you are, and what your goals mean.  Declare your own personal war on whatever it is holding you back from realizing them- demand your freedom.

Have a great 4th of July, and an awesome INDEPENDENCE DAY!  And be proud to know what it is to be an American.

-Mike.

3 things making you SICK…and keeping you FAT

Hey there kiddos!

As of late, I have been doing much research on food, diet, and nutrition.   Little did I know, hormones plays a HUGE role in overall results as well.  I am not a scientist, nor a doctor…I am still learning myself.  I do suggest, for those of you that actually care, and want supreme results, to pick up ‘The Perfect 10 Diet’ by Michael Aziz, M.D.  You will quickly see what I am writing about.

Let’s start by pissing a few people off.  Why?  Because I am here to spread the truth, no matter who likes it or not. I know these next few items will make some people mad, and confused.  But really, they deserve it.  People are so quick to look for fast answers that please them, instead of actually doing a little research and testing on their own.

Here are some common items that are sending your hormones into a wrecked frenzy. I am not going to get into a bunch of scientific lingo, just the basics.  I don’t know enough to talk that way, and you simply won’t understand it.

1. SPLENDA and or any other sweetener: It seems Splenda has earned the ’safe’ sweetener title…from what I’ve heard from clients.  This, or any other sweetener is horrible for you.  This stuff sends chemical messages to the brain and will actually leave you hungrier.  Instead, try pure 100% Stevia.  Or, just cut back on your ’sweet tooth’.  Sugar is like a drug, you will need to just cut it back to make any progress.  It would be like a crack head switching to a massive dose of vicodins.  One may be easier on the body, but neither one is a good idea.

2.  Canola Oil: I hear this one all the time too.  For starters, If I can find this crap in a huge bottle for $1 at the 99cent store…that sends off an internal alarm.  Do some research on this one.  You’ll soon find out how it go introduced to the USA, and some of the problems with it.  This one here really bothers me.  I see tons of people with diabetes problems, older folks, and just a plethora of health issues….but still, continue to use this CRAPOLA oil because doc said so.  Even worse, you’ll find cheaper versions of this stuff made with a blend of olive oil, soy, and corn…all mixed u together.  This here, creates even more problems for the oil.  Once you heat this stuff up past a certain temperature, a new set of problems come about.  Knowing how the oils react to heat is very important.

Instead; use organic coconut oil, or real butter.

3.  Fat Free Milk: First of all, milk is a completely different issue in itself. That post will be coming soon.  As people, we didn’t domesticate cows until about 8,000 years ago.  In DNA years, that is not much time at all.  Then, the whole entire dairy business was changed forever once pasteurization took place.  I personally think milk should be avoided, but we’ve been told we should have 3 servings per day….riiight.  Anyhow, fat free must go thru an additional processing ritual to extract the fat…and most of the time, it was replaced with a heaping dose of sugar.  So, they take out the saturated fats (which the media falsely blames for all the health problems) and then add in sugar…which of course is much safer than fats.  NOT!  Just yesterday, I was looking thru some milk and came across a low fat chocolate milk.  Low fat, great!  And it is chocolate…get it for little Jimmy…he needs calcium for his bones.  It also had 56g of sugar.  Yes, 56 grams!  That is close to 14 teaspoons of sugar in a 12 oz serving.  WTF?!  Go get a 12 ounce cup, then add 14 teaspoons of sugar….would you give that to your kid?  And, I don’t give a shit what some college study said about it being good as a post workout drink.  Trust me, your workouts do not replicate those of a college football team.  (so stop drinking Gatorade too)

I would also like to point out a couple other things regarding Milk these days:

a) Pasteurization kills about 38% of the calcium right off the bat.  Oh, poor Jimmy!  Kill the calcium, which is good for the bones…then add sugar, which is horrible for bones- and teeth!

b)  Cows are routinely shot up with rBST.  Sure you see the labels now, but the law makers are aggressively trying to get those removed.  Soon you simply just won’t know.  If you think this stuff is completely harmless, go ahead and do some research again.

c)  It is disgusting.  Especially for all you tree hugging, non animal harming, veggies….do you have ANY IDEA what takes place on these dairy farms?  Cows are impregnated strictly for milk production.  Theyre hooked up to these crazy machines and milked for hours and hours each day.  The old joke about old ladies with titties dragging….is not a joke here, it is common practice.  Boobs dragging in cow poop.  Nice! Oh, and once they baby plops out, it is tossed into the ‘veal’ pile.  Like a 12 yr old boy scout to perverted child molester, people love this YOUNG meat!

d)  Good ol’ days.  It should be noted that milk was once delivered, with eggs, and cheese, to your front door. This came in a glass bottle and was raw, fresh, healthy milk.  It was NOT the pasteurization process that made it ’safer’.  The cleaner facilities, and tighter health policies helped with this. Pasteurization simply made it possible to MASS produce milk, and keep it fresher for long periods of time.  Before, you needed to finish that half gallon of milk within a couple days or it spoiled.  Now, you need to buy 2 gallons to save a buck…and it lasts 2 or 3 weeks in your refrigerator with no issues.  It was the equivalent of having your favorite, family run, local, and always fresh, restaurant- being converted into a McDonalds.  No more quality, just cheaper product, a turn key operation, and a bottom line to protect.  No more hearty wholesome goodness….just love for the dollar.

My suggestion; learn to like REAL RAW MILK…or just avoid the crap all together.  I feel it is also important to buy organic eggs, butter, and raw cheese because of these profit mongering factory farms.  Oh…and the Soy crap is a load of shit too.  More on that later…

Now that I ruined your breakfast….I’ll let you get back to your busy day!

Eat STRONG!

-Mike.

PS:  We’re tearing shit up again.  Be on the lookout for new WOD contests with active beez in peez times posted and regular updates.  Enough of this telling you not to eat chemicals and junk food…it’s time to unleash the BEAST on some killer sessions.  It’s time to get nutty again.

PPS:  I have tons of info, links, books, and other info available on this subject.  Shoot me an email or comment and I will send some of it to you.  It takes work to make change…and most people are just ‘interested’ and not committed.

A workout plus, Doctors, Hormones, and Oils

Good morning beez in peez!  This one was longer than I thought.  (that’s what she said) Anyhow…

After a solid workout yesterday, we’re up early and hitting it hard today!  Let’s start off with a post.  A few days back I put some goals up for myself.  Anyone else jump on board?  How’s the progress?  Before we start that, let’s check out this recent WOD.  Pretty simple, and you only need a couple of items.

Give it a try the next time you feel like taking a ‘jog’.  Find a school or field with a 440 track and get after it!

Start off with 1 lap. (1/4 mile)

Once you finish the lap, do the following:

-25 Kettle bell swings (I used the 44)

-Bear crawl 25 yards

-10 Ball slams (I used my 12lb ball)

Repeat this 8x for 2 miles, 200 swings, 200 yards of bear crawling, and 80 ball slams. Swings, crawls, and slams are all great fat blasting core strengtheners.  Push yourself, and rest as little as possible for a great workout!

OK, back to the message at hand.

PROGRESS?  Where is it? Have you started anything new, or really honed in on your current goals?  Or the goals you set at the end of 2009?

As you recall, my first goal was to read…and read daily.  I have been all over this book by Michael Aziz, M.D. titled, the Perfect 10 Diet.  Yes, I know…the name is kind of ‘cheesy‘, I guess you can call it.  I understand the meaning behind the name, but I think I would have chose a different route for it.  Anyhow….this book is awesome! I am not even close to being half way thru, but the information so far has been priceless.  The $25 price for the book is well worth the investment.  This book will bring plenty of posts and information down the road from myself. (lucky you!)  Before that happens, let me clear up a few things.

I am asked…or told, by many people… OUR DOCTOR said Splenda is perfectly fine.  Mike, why are you telling me different?  HE IS A DOCTOR…and you just flip tires and write blog posts.

This is true.  The doctor has a much stronger educational background than I do.  To think otherwise would be idiotic on your part.  But…think about this for a minute. This book, and many other information resources have also been written by a DOCTOR.  Did you catch the MD at the end of his name?  Yeah…that has something to do with doctors…

You see?  Just because your doctor says something, it doesn’t mean the rest agree.  So, if you had been visiting this doctor as your primary care provider, you would probably have been told to AVOID splenda like the plague.  Right?  Maybe your doctor doesn’t know shit about nutrition and is strictly a ‘diagnose and prescribe’ type of guy, maybe he just follows the FDA and food pyramid crap because everyone else does.  Maybe Dr. Aziz is a quack?  Who knows?  Sometimes you just have to invest some time and effort into this and do some digging on your own.

Understand?  Your opinion, beliefs, thoughts, or whatever you call them…have been formed by what you have been told over and over again. Remember, a belief is just a thought that has repeated itself over and over again.  Beliefs, religion anyone?  Yeah…that’s another post all in itself.  Please don’t get me started this early in the morning.

Ok, back to this book…to quote Dr. Aziz, “doctors today simply follow established guidelines, which are heavily influenced by the food industry and lobbyists.  They’re also trained to treat disease with drugs, instead of nutrition, and they’re constantly inundated with propaganda from pharmaceutical companies.” (page 26)

Booya!  You get that?  Wait a minute, this is a DOCTOR…he’s not suppose to talk like that…is he?  I hope you’re starting to understand this now.  Your doctor is NOT God…and you should NOT just blindly follow instructions like cattle being herded to its death.

Am I telling you to stop listening to your doctors advice?  Of course not!  I am simply telling you to questions things.  Do some damn research and realize people are doing what they do to earn money. Did you know big pharma recently put out a prescription based FISH OIL PILL? And guess what, their biggest claim to fame is that ‘it’s the only one approved by the FDA…and cannot be found in a health food store.’  It also costs about $250 a month for an HMO prescription and is basically the same as a reputable brand that would cost you about $20-$30 for 120 pills.  But, big pharma and the FDA are buddies…take care of your biggest customers is the name of the game.  Slap three letters on the bottle and it stands above the rest…FDA. Why?  Once again, because we do what we’re told and the FDA has put a strong hold on authority.  “If they say it’s good…it must be good. Right?”

Ok Mike, so what else?

Since you asked, your Low Fat- fake sugar, fake butter, diet is killing you. As a society, we have endured many diets the past few decades…Atkins, Low Carb, South Beach, Skinny Bitch, the Zone, and the most recent…which is endorsed by the American Heart Association and other governing bodies…the Low Fat diet.

I was also talking about this with another beast in progress and actually took some heat about it.  The problem was a recent doctor visit and advice from the doctor.  You’re borderline diabetic, your blood work doesn’t look so good. Avoid sugary junk foods (which is good advice) Use splenda, eat low fat foods, walk daily, etc, etc.

Here’s the problem, this person is ALREADY using the sweeteners, avoiding meat, using low fat vegetable oils for cooking.  Everything is ’sugar free’ or low fat, and yes…of course, Splenda is a regular part of this diet.  You cook at home, you don’t eat fast food, you don’t drink or smoke, and you definitely do what your doctor tells you to do.

THEN WHY THE FU** IS OUR HEALTH SO SHI**Y?  Hello?!?!  Doc!  I am doing this bullsh** you’re telling me to do.  More blood work is needed?  How about an MRI, or maybe a new sample prescription to lower blood pressure?  Huh?  That causes indigestion?  Great, you can give me a pill for that too!  Awesome, so the pill to lower my blood pressure requires a pill to sooth my heartburn? Wow!  I love you doc, you guys think of everything.

Ok, so you’re a long time patient and you JUST KNOW your doctor is the best in the world and knows everything about nutrition and what’s in our westernized diet these days.  I’m sure he keeps up with all the latest food additives, preservatives, chemicals and can tell you exactly what every ingredient on a loaf of bread is and why it’s beneficial to you. So, other doctors may be wrong…but not mine, he’s a genius and loves us all!  He even remembers the names of my kids!

Sorry to break the news to ya, but that office is just another place of business.

Does your doctor spend any time discussing your diet and what you should do to change it?  Most people ‘expect’ a prescription for something when they see a doctor. Antibiotic overuse is rampant.  Has there been any hormone balance with diet discussed, ever?  I’m not sure how anything that questions the standard of so called ‘modern medicine’ or the food standard we blindly follow, is usually considered urban legend, quackery, or some myth.   Has your doctor offered any advice on your hormone balance?  No, not a prescription for Viagra….  Even though, testosterone levels in men is the lowest it has been, ever.  Yes sir, not only are we eating a bunch of crap…we are also becoming a society filled with ‘girly-men’ at the same time.

Hormones control EVERYTHING in your body.  With all the latest medical miracles and technology advances in food and the way food is made…why is it that we (the USofA) are one of the SICKEST AND FATTEST nation in the entire world. Yes, that is correct…check stats.  And don’t give me this, ‘well, other countries are poor and don’t have food’ bullshit either.

Why?  Well, here is another reason….fake foods. Now, I’m sure everyone has seen Trans fat, and high fructose corn syrup take a beating in the media lately?  Hey, great!  Finally, we make some progress.  So some of the ‘experts’ who claimed this shit was great, well, they were actually WRONG.  So yeah…you can’t just believe everything ‘experts’ and ‘doctors’ tell you.

What is trans fat?  Well, leaving the scientific explanation to the nerds…I will just tell you what it is disguised as.  It comes in many forms of hydrogenated oils.  This stuff is absolutely horrible for you, and when heated, it becomes even worse.  You can find it in these products listed below.

In his book, Dr. Aziz states,”Trans fats from hydrogenated oils and margarine are like plastics.  Once you eat trans fats, they integrate into your cells and interfere with intracellular communications because your body cannot recognize their molecular structure.  When cells can’t communicate with each other, sugar and other nutrients remain in the bloodstream longer than they should because the damaged cells become unresponsive to hormones.”

When you have an overabundance of insulin circulating thru your blood stream, you are on your way to weight gain.  It also kicks up the chances of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. That brings up another good point; with smoking at an all time low, laws and regulations in place, and an advanced medical system in America…why is cancer, diabetes, and a few other diseases that were not nearly as common a few decades ago- such a big problem today?  And why is it happening in younger people more and more?  Hmmm….

Besides the cakes, candies, and other obvious things you want to avoid- here is a list of other trans fat culprits…and remember, they disguise it as ‘Hydrogenated Oils’.

-Fast Food Oils.  This is funny too.  People just assume plant oil is safer than butter or real unrefined cooking oils, so McDonalds and other chains can claim it’s healthier because it is now cooked in ‘Less fat, vegetable oils’.  Yup…it’s all refined, hydrogenated oils.  Got ya, sucker!

-Frozen Entrees- Hey, sign up for Weight Watchers and we will ship food to your lazy ass for you!  It’s filled with shit.  Sure, lower calories maybe…but I am pretty sure dirt doesn’t have much calorie value either.  Read the damn ingredients!

-Margarine- We all know this is what ‘they’ recommend for lowering your cholesterol and other benefits.  And, No, it is not plastic…but it’s still not a good option.

-Hydrogenated Oils- Once again, read the ingredients on everything.  Look for the words ‘partially’ or ‘hydrogenated oil’.  Most of the time this could be soy, corn, rape seed, and many other types.

-Vegetable Shortening-  The crisco types, and some ‘vegan safe’ chips and other fried products are notorious for this stuff.  Read labels…once again.

As these oils are chemically changed, they become very ‘unpredictable’ when heated.  Different types, react different, and it changes as the heat is increased.  Personally, I use organic butter, and organic coconut oil for cooking.  Organic butter is $5 and for the same size, you can get ‘regular’ butter for $3.  The coconut oil is $7 and a bottle of canola the same size goes for a buck!  Yes, organic does matter.  You want to make sure your butter isn’t coming from some antibiotic infested, growth hormone addicted, freak cow- that was rammed by some forklift before it was milked for 18 hours….okay, I’m exaggerating….a little.

Be ready to pay a little more, and take a little more time to read ingredients and do a little homework on the topic.  The investment is well worth the payoff.

Trust me;  the key to real health and happiness is much more complicated than a few workouts per week and a calorie counting diet ritual. When people just ‘count calories’ it is usually done by using a package.

Remember; We are trying to AVOID packages!

Okay, I’m sure you’d agree that’s enough ranting and talking about doctors, hormones, and oils for one day.  If you found it boring, at least you got a good workout idea as a bonus. To sum up the lesson;  help your doctor help you, read labels, EAT and COOK with real food sources and not chemicals, and always feel free to do your own research on the topic.  Your doctor’s a pretty busy individual, and probably doesn’t have very much time to cover the details of the crap you’re eating and how it’s causing you to be sick.

Don’t worry…we’ll be back soon.  We got another kick ass workout and lesson to discuss!

Stay strong.

-Mike.

CHANGE comes from HABITS within

If first, you don’t change yourself, nothing will.

If you change yourself first, the universe will follow.

I’m not sure who said it, and actually, it doesn’t matter.  The point is; change yourself.  Stop waiting on the world to create ‘change’.  And definitely stop waiting for Mr. Change to create it!

The change must come from within.

It has to be change that lasts the test of time.  Most people begin new projects every week, and seldom finish any of them.  Regardless if you’re a salesman, company owner, mechanic, grocery clerk, janitor, or any other of the millions of ‘jobs’ available, you are RESPONSIBLE for yourself.  Nobody can make you fix a car, clean a toilet, run a company, or do anything else better or worse than the next Joe.  Everyone works for themselves in this world. The change for the better must come from within.

Change does not come from a certain workout, or even diet.

They may be good starts, but they seldom pass the test of time if the change is not from within.  Just remember, if you’re going to dwell upon your current state, whether it be ‘too fat’ or ‘too skinny’ or ‘too old or too busy’, you will continue to attract more of what you dwell upon.  It is not the latest workout or diet fad that is going to help you change, it is YOU!

Is June 4th the 155th day of your 2010 resolutions?  Or like most, have they been put aside again until this Christmas?

The time is now, folks!  Set your watches, and all clocks to “N:OW” o’clock…and just get moving!

We all have something we would like to change in our lives, but it takes some digging to do it from within.  What do you wanna do?  Laugh it off, get back to your coffee or tea and daily dose of entertainment addiction, temporarily satisfied thru the internet or maybe the 4 hours of TV time the average person watches per day?  Or, will you suck it up…and START NOW?!

For me, the time has come to act.  Let’s get this started NOW.

For me, I know I can just get out and kill it…no matter what is going on.  I know I can fine tune the diet and workouts and shed a few pounds if needed.  This time, my goals, or promises, are from within- and only matter to me.

Here they are:

1.  READ: No, not the latest fitness mag or current issue of Mens Fitness.  40 minutes of quality, spiritual, or motivational material each day.  I’ve heard, “your life is shaped by the people you associate with- and the books you read.”  Well, since I don’t have many ‘friends’, I guess I will be reading allot more.  I am currently working on ‘The Perfect 10 Diet’ by Michael Aziz, M.D. as well as, ‘Your Erroneous Zones’ by Dr. Wayne Dyer.  Both of these books have been awesome so far.  The Perfect 10 diet is just what we all need to hear…or read.  The problem is, it’s a very long book.  And we all know, this is the land of instant gratification or bust!

2.  MEDITATION: Yoga (contrary to popular belief, it is not stretching in a hot ass room) prayer, breathing, just quiet relaxation.  Or, you can call this my ‘alone time’.  We all need a few minutes each day to clear the mind.  With 30 second commercials packed with lies, to rush hour traffic, and screaming kids…we all need to clear the temple.  Even when alone, and quiet, the mind continues to fire off multiple thoughts per second, and not all are positive.  Estimates say we have somewhere between 40,000-60,000 thoughts per day.  It will take much time and practice to stop them for 20 minutes.  Just imagine; if you could actually control most of those thoughts?  Wow!

3.  CONTROLLED COMMUNICATION: How many times have you said something, and then an hour later wanted to take it back?  Your thoughts are where it starts, then it manifests into words…from there, it either dies, or carries into action.  Words can hurt and cut like a jagged knife, or they can uplift and motivate like a great speech.  The goal is to catch the ‘negative’ thought before it manifests into words.  Nope, I am not saying I will start kissing ass, and saying only what people want to hear…instead, my goal is to refrain from negative conversation.  The next time you want to complain, ask yourself “Can this person REALLY help out my situation?  Or am I simply looking for another ear to dump my problems on?”

4.  DAILY PHYSICAL RESTORATION: This is the only ‘physical’ goal I am putting out there.  For too long I have ignored my muscle imbalances, aches, pains, and other plethora of issues.  I have done a few things, such as therapy, also using the Rotator, the foam roller, and other devices so far.  All of it has helped greatly, but I haven’t been consistent enough. The goal here is to do it EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I am a beast, and beasts cannot kill it if they’re injured or hurting. (well, we can always kill it- but not how we would like to)  Daily corrections are in order here.  And no, pain does not come with age…and the answer doesn’t come from your doctor and his eagerness to write you a Rx.

There you have it.  I’m putting it on the line.  There is no more time to be ‘busy’, or search for excuses.  Like it always has been…if I fail, I take full responsibility.

Let us shape the body, and build the mind NOW.  No more bullshit, no more excuses- just pure, 100%, doing.

-Mike.

5 tips to lose 5 lbs in a week!

Good morning!

Yes, I still have this annoying little blog…and thanks to my buddy Dean, from ProSolum.com, he got it back up and I am ready to start ranting again.  Anyhow, back to the title at hand…

Is it possible?  I’m not sure.  5lbs in weight?  Of course…but, in ‘fat loss’…who knows?  Everyone knows the basics…you eat, then you burn it off.  Whatever is not burned, usually turns to fat…or weight.

Mathematically, it looks like this: 3,000-3,500 calories per lb x 5lbs = 15,000 – 17,500 calorie reduction over a week.  That’s asking you to create a negative of over 2,000 calories per day…on the low end!!!  Mix in a few other things, and it gets very complicated.  But, you can see- it ain’t easy makin’ the big squeezie….

So, will it last?  At that rate?   Probably not, but it’s a good way to kick start some rapid fat loss.  Will it work for everyone?  Of course not!  And, anyone who tells you that their product is a ‘one size fits all’ solution to our fat issues…is full of shit.  If you’re struggling to see results, or just want a jump start…try these 5 simple things out for a week.  Really, if you start whining about ONE WEEK…just remember how long it took you to get into the spot you’re in?  Whether it’s good or bad…one week isn’t that bad- unless, you’re just a WEAK ONE.

Do these 5 things to lose 5lbs, in a week!!

1.  Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water.  So, if you are 180lbs, you need to consume 90 oz of water.

2.  This one I got from my boy, Vic at GymJunkies.com Eat only nuts, apples, and berries until noon.  (adjust the time to your normal lunch time)  Do not over consume, but try and snack when needed.  No pastries, or sugary snacks for breakfast for a week.

3. Do not eat within 2 hours of bed time.  Of course it ‘ain’t that easy’ and neither is losing the fat.  Try to time it out.  Water always helps curb cravings…well, sometimes.

4. Eat at least 1 serving of vegetables at lunch (no, not french fries)  and at least 2 servings for dinner.  Chances are, your dinner is usually ‘heavier’ than your lunch.  It just happens that way on the western side of society.  For lunch you can bring something from home if you eat at work.  Frozen veggies, for now, will work just fine.

4b.  No breads, flour, rice, corn, or grain based dinners.  Lean meats, and veggies.  If you don’t eat meat, eat more veggies…throw in a fruit or some almonds.  Don’t forget about the eggs!!  Get creative…back in the day, people did it all the time!

5.  Give up all alcohol, soda, candies, chips, junk food, and fast food meals…for the week.  ALL OF IT!!  None of this, ‘oh just a little of this, a bite here, etc’ crap!  Honestly, for any type of weight or fat loss goal, this should be a no brainer long term…cheats are OK, but they don’t happen daily.  Those are called habits.  If you cannot give up the junk for just ONE week, you are in for a very tough battle.

Don’t forget to just stay active.  If your goal is fat loss…basically, just lose some LBs….then this will work.  You don’t even need to train that hard, just stop eating so much shit!

-Mike.

This one’s for the kids

Good morning beez in peez, let me tell you a story.  It involves a little guy named ‘Mini-B’.  Over the last few months since the shoulder problem, I have spent much more time with Mini B than anyone else.  We chase birds, watch skaters, throw rocks, play games, hang out at book stores, and pretty much just act like buddies.  As couples walk by holding hands, he is by my side.  As they file into the bars, we throw rocks into a puddle.  He is not my ‘own child’, but I feel like he is.  There has been a bond created that nobody can break.  There is nothing that I would not do for this guy.

When you have a child, there is a bond.  Many people experience it…but cannot describe it.  It is the type of relationship that makes you realize different things.  Many things I stood for and wanted to accomplish are meaningless to me now.  Creating a better future for him is my only desire.

A new sense of responsibility consumes you.  Deep inside I know; his life is more important than the one I live.  I would have no problem giving my life, or taking another- in order to preserve his.

So what the f**k is your point, Mike?  We all love our kids.

True.  Although, I do not question the love for your child…I am, however, very concerned with the lack of knowledge about food amongst the common parent.

Everyone already knows how bad junk food is for you…but, I still have my cheats with Mini-B.  To be honest, they happen way more often than they should.  I know how it is, who wants to deprive the child of a donut, cookie, ice cream…or whatever your favorite treat is. I probably want it just as much as he does.  I always tax his treats. Hmmm…where should we cheat at today, Mini-B?

Brilliant marketing producers, and crazy looking cartoon characters plague the ads of sugary snacks.  Trust me; these people know what they’re doing when it comes to getting your child to notice what they’re offering.  A child is very persistent, and just a short time of sugared down meals will create long term addiction if you don’t get it under control.

Childhood obesity is more and more common now.  Doctors and society can blame it on genes, but it’s always followed up with a recommendation of better diet and activity to keep it under control.  We are not willing to accept the fact that WE HAVE CREATED THIS PROBLEM with our own habits.  It is not genes, folks… I know what’s going on, it’s not our fault.  As I previously mentioned above, the concern lies in the lack of knowledge.

The health of your children is your responsibility.  I am tired of seeing fat little kids run around the park.  The addiction gets worse each year…and if you think ‘not having’ junk food now is tough on your kids…wait until they get into school.  Kids these days can be quite vicious to one another.

Here are a few tips to save the children.

1.  Breakfast Cereals: If you’re like all the rest, cereal is a staple for breakfast.  It’s easy, it’s fast, and they usually like the taste.  ‘Don’t worry, your kids will eat it’ because it has a whopping 12 teaspoons of sugar…and that’s before you add any.  This doesn’t even count the HFCS or other fake sweeteners they put in.  Oh yeah, and the serving size…it is usually a small coffee cup size suggestion.  o, every time they load up on a bowl of cereal….you are simply prepping them to crash in about an hour or so.

Solution:  Wake your lazy ass up earlier.  Make a big pan of eggs, spinach, bell peppers, cabbage, or some other form of vegetable.  My nephew went from demanding cereal at 2 years old…to loving eggs and spinach every morning.

Still no time?  Put some eggs on to boil as soon as you wake up.  My nephew has also adapted to the taste of boiled eggs.  Organic, cage free eggs, are one of the perfect foods in my opinion.

FYI:  Toast, and or a bagel for breakfast is not a good option.  Oatmeal is OK, but try to get steel cut oats…or at the least, raw organic oats.

2.  Sports Drinks. Congrats, your kid is an athlete.  He or she plays basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis, cricket, or whatever else you want to toss in here.  Awesome!   Guess what?  They still don’t need that drink your favorite star chugs down at the end of a golf championship, (or latest sex scandal) after a buzzer beating 3 point shot, or even after running up and down the court a few times.  So during non-sport activity time, they DEFINITELY do not need it.  Gatorade, Powerade, Sugar Ade, Diabetes Ade, whatever you want to call it.  Electrolytes? Huh?!

Check the label, that Gatorade probably has about 28g of sugar…or roughly 7 teaspoons….packed into it.  What is so sporty about that?  Instead, try water.  Or squeeze some lemons, oranges, or make your own smoothies with fresh fruit and water.  Remember, kids develop taste buds thru choices we allow.  They didn’t just wake up one day demanding sugar.

3.  Fast Food Meals.  I should not have to write this, but…FAST FOOD IS HORRIBLE for you.  I don’t care what you order, and don’t tell me your 9 year old is eating salads with no dressing.  Bullshit!  Actually, you may get some BS if you’re eating burgers.  McDonalds is the #1 beef customer in the world.  They demand all the hamburgers to taste the same worldwide.  Every burger you consume is made up of over 30 different cattle types.  They demand the meat to be processed in such a way, and money talks.  This also opens up the door for disease or mass spreading of food poisoning.  Don’t believe me?  Just do a google search of McDonalds and the bionic burgers.  Or better yet, watch FOOD, INC.  You can see it HERE until April 29.

4. Education. This is where the problem is.  From crap school lunches, to no nutritional value being taught in schools…it is a mess.  Don’t blame the teachers tho, they do what they’re told.  We have 20,000 teachers in Cali being laid off…how are they concerned with food?  Not very much.

This here is a tough one.  You must get involved.  Understand what is being served for lunch, what is in it?  Can you pack your child a lunch?  The sad thing is that most of these problems are much higher in low income levels.  It is much cheaper to send Jimmy off to school with a lunch ticket, or a couple bucks, rather than buy wholesome foods and pack it in a lunch.

If you have a child in school, you are on the ‘front lines’ of this fight against a lethargic, obese, future for our children.

Below you will find a couple of links to help fight this problem.

Click here to read a blog of a teacher who has decided to eat the school cafeteria lunches everyday…and report them to us.

This next Show has made it to prime time TV.  Click here to sign the petition and read about Jamie Oliver and his mission to help kids eat healthier.

You can click here to visit Hulu and see the last few episodes as well.

I am not a do gooder, tree hugging, hippy.  Actually, I am quite pissed off.  I think it is bull$h** this is going on right under or noses and we choose to ignore it.

You have been informed, you have been warned.  These are your children, our future…it is time we take control.

-Mike.

Next Page »