Quit Clowning Around!

Hello Again My Happy Soon to be Trick or Treaters!

It's that time again. Time to dress up and go trick or treating! Or go to the company party. Or dress the kiddos up and send them out the door. Any way you cut it, there are bound to be calories involved. For me, it's a cross between left over candy that we didn't hand out and whatever my kids don't want to eat. (Or needs "closer" inspection if it's something I really like. <grin>) 

How to resist? Now that is a difficult question! I'm going to say I'll be going with good old-fashioned willpower. However, in all likelihood, I'm expecting my husband to eat the tempting candy before I do. Can I say no? Yes. Will I say no? I hope!  Hey, it's candy and I'm pregnant. Some days are better than others. :)

But, even if I indulge, what I do NOT plan on doing is stopping exercising. I might have a few hundred (thousand) extra calories to burn off, but I will not stop! What might slow me down a little are clowns.

Seriously, clowns are creepy. How anyone could ever find them funny is beyond me. And, I was going to go work out in one of our local parks this week when I saw a post that there had been a "clown" sighting there. <sad face> Now I don't want to go there to work out. However, as I need a place to do a virtual 5k, I don't have much of a choice. So, I shall be enlisting my teenage daughter as lookout/muscle. Did I mention my daughter towers over me and I'd pick her to back me up in a bar fight at any time?  Buddy system meets Mommy and Me time. I'm ok with that.

So, that is all for now in the saga that I like to call "My Life".

Until I stop having nightmares about clowns,

UltimateJinx007

Still here!

Hello beautiful people!

Yes, that means ALL of you. Whether you see it, or feel it, or not, you all are beautiful to someone. (What's your secret?) 

Sooooo.....still in the same boat as last time. Quick recap: Getting permanently laid off and am officially pregnant.  How is that effecting my health? Well, I very much appreciate what I eat now. One day I love something, next day the thought sends me running for the bathroom. Most days, it's just me and my Saltine crackers. Not my favorite thing by any means, but if it keeps me from seeing my last snack, I'll eat it! And as a perk, I'm actually liking fruit over chocolate now!

And my overall health is becoming very much a concern. This is my 6th pregnancy. I am no longer a spring chicken. Pregnancy is hard on the body; especially for us old folks! And with a cut in income and insurance, maintaining (and improving) my health has become a serious concern. I spent a good portion of my last 2 pregnancies in physical therapy because I was in such bad shape that the stress of pregnancy on my body took a toll on me. I don't have that luxury this time. And I wouldn't mind skipping the pain either! So, stretching/walking/bodyweight exercises it is. And the sooner the better. Granted, my 2 younger ones make sure I don't sit around much, but with winter coming it becomes less likely I'm going to step outside willingly. I REALLY don't like the cold. Yuck!  Thank you to whoever invented cheap gyms for those of us who like to exercise in human temperatures.

Now to find the time and energy to haul my butt to the gym. Not an easy thing to do when your body has a legit reason for saying go take a nap! I vaguely remember naps. I think. Maybe?!

Until I can form coherent thoughts again,

UltimateJinx007

What a day!

Hello my avid readers of all things interesting!

Well, what a week!  And it all started 2 days ago.....

It was day like any other. I had scheduled an appointment for some blood work because I wanted to check something out. That was at noon. When I came back everyone is talking in hushed, and not so hushed, tones that 50 people in my building were getting permanently laid off. This of course had  me nervous. For a while I thought I had managed to stay out of the conversation; and then my bosses pulled me into the office. "We're sorry to inform you...." Long story short, I have no job in 60 days. Now this would normally be a stressful time worthy of a freak out, but I was in shock. But hold onto your shorts boys and girls, it gets better. About 15 minutes later I call my doctor's office for the results....."Congrats! You're pregnant!"  <picks jaw off the floor>

Well, it's 2 days later. Suffice to say my whole world is changing, and fast! What's a person to do? Freak out? Condemn the world as a cruel place? Run screaming to the Looney bin?  Naw. Yes this sucks for timing, but you know what? I'm pregnant. That makes me happy. I plan on staying happy. I have a great saying I found that I keep at my desk (talk about coincidence). "Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die." Given, I have a husband and I can get on his insurance so I'm not as bad off as a lot of the other people, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in my life.  But instead of complaining about my horrible luck it gives me a chance to re-evaluate my life. What is important? Money? Family? Exercise?  All important to varying degrees, but now it's time to see how it all fits together in this new life.  And WITH this new life! Diapers, here we go again!

Stay tuned to see how this new chapter unfolds,

UltimateJinx007

When?

Hello my poor neglected little readers!

Feels like forever since somebody posted right?  As usual life happens. So the big question is WHEN do we find the time? What for? Well, anything!  Not surprisingly my big "when" is exercise. Mornings? Not unless I want to be up by 4:30am so I can be back in time to get the kids to school and the sitter.  During the day? Nope. Someday I'll win the lottery, but for now I work.  After work? Nope again. There is supper to be made, kids to play with, a house to clean, and munchkins to put to bed. After they fall asleep?  Yeah right. I'm ready for bed before they are!  So WHEN exactly am I going to fit in some exercise?!?!

Honestly, I'm still working that little detail out. Right now the weather is still nice enough that I can walk on my work breaks. That leaves the weekend for longer exercise routines. It isn't much, but it's a start. At some point my hectic schedule will settle down. Kids will get into a routine. Adults with get into a routine. Eventually I may even be able to schedule workouts during the week!!!

Now patience is most definitely not a virtue I possess in any measurable way. I want what I want and I want it now!  But as I've said before, life happens. Sometimes you have to go with the flow and ride it out until you find some stable ground.  Whoa, that was deep. <he, he>

Well, those are all my thoughts on making peace with this crazy thing known as life.

Until the river brings me your way again,

UltimateJinx007

Bonding

Hello My Very Missed Little Munchkins!

Sorry that I've been away so long. Dealing with a few things and even keeping up with the blog was getting overwhelming. Big shout out to Jaxion for covering my butt on the blogging.

So.....bonding. Not bondage you weirdos! Ahem, like I said bonding. Why is that the topic today? Because my oldest baby just started her senior year of high school! Man I'm feeling REALLY old right now. Of course, I do have another one that started kindergarten this year and another that's not even in 4K yet. I'm old and young at the same time! Whoa.....

Ok, back on track. Right now I have the unofficial go-ahead to do a Warrior Dash next summer. Awesome!!! So psyched about that. <maniacal grin>  And, it sounds like my little senior might want to do it with me. All I can say is Heck Yeah!  My baby is going to be leaving the nest next year and doing something like this together would be a great memory. Not to mention getting us both in great shape! I think it's great that my little girl still wants to do things, and in public no less, together. Of course I'm thinking she might see it as a competition, but I have age on my side. Wait...SHE may have age on her side!

With that thought I'm off! I seriously need to start training.

Until I have time to rest,

UltimateJinx007

3500 Hits and Climbing

Hello Gentle Reader,

Today I'm going to say Thank-You to all of you who read our little blog. We have been doing this since February 2016 and after Wednesday August 24 we hit 3,500 views. As of that date we had 78 posts for you to read and mull over and you have done that.

When I started this and asked Ultimate Jinx and Sharissa to help me out, I had no idea where this was going to go. I had  plan that we would become a place where we could share what are individual goals, plans, set backs and struggles. I believe that is what we offer you 2 to 3 days a week. I know we miss the occasional post, usually due to a real life issue that keeps us from fulfilling that requirement of our lives. But, be sure in the feeling that we will be here, each and every week for your reading pleasure. We strive to bring you many personal and hopefully helpful blog posts.

That said, I am going to ask you for a favor. After 7 months we have only 1 follower, this does not make up the 3,500 plus hits we have. Please, follow us, the more of you that follow us the more people that will be brought to the blog and the more people that we can help to motivate or help them realize that they have other people who have the same issues and the same bottle necks that slow us down. Here is what's in it for you. Once we have 50 followers ], I will put all names in a hat and draw 5 names (that's 10% of you) and you will all get a $5 gift card to Wal-Mart. Start following us today!

Also, we are constantly looking for topics that you would be interested in us to write about. We have received a few comments through out the time, but, we want more. We want to hear from you. Drop us a line at nutuporshutupblog@gmail.com and we will answer you in a  heartbeat.

Come on people, lets see something from you! I'm willing to give back, but, you need to give in...

Until next time,

Jaxion Rebel

Are you eating enough?

Greetings and salutations,
Today I'd like to go over eating enough. We talked about eating healthy, and over eating but now I feel its time to make sure you are eating enough.
For me today I realized that while I thought I'd be okay, I didn't pack enough or eat enough. Which in turn caused a massive headache, dizziness, and nausea.
In addition to drinking water, exercising, and eating healthy, one must also make sure to eat plenty of food. You don't want your body going into or thinking it's starving. That will not help you with your goals either. Plus its much more difficult to recover from not eating enough in the sense of your body may have already been triggered into the defense of starvation mode. It can also be a tricky line but you don't want to over eat either.
For me, drinking water definitely helps but also making sure I'm getting enough calories during the day like around lunch time is vital for energy and staying focused.
And whenever in doubt, please consult you're doctor, or even a fitness coach (if working with one) they're there to help you succeed and be safe.
Keep chugging along, and as always
Namaste

Walking Again...

Hello Gentle Reader!

Yesterday a group of my friends and I decided to go for a walk before we started role-playing last night. It was then that I realized exactly how much I have gotten out of shape. It was a walk slightly over 3 miles, which I was doing just in the morning at the beginning of summer. Now, I thought it was pretty hard, not impossible, but hard enough. This has to end and it will. we did just over 3 miles last night and though I am tired and sore today, my wife and I went and did 1.75 miles at lunch. Yes, it still hurts and my legs are very sore, but, I am doing it. I will not go back to the way I was.

I have come up with a new motto...I'll never go back! What's that mean? Simply that. I spent a good portion of the last 2 years losing around 150 pounds. I now know what I felt like before and what I feel like now. I have gained 40 pounds over the summer and since July 4th, I have lost 14 pounds of that again. I am serious about never going back to that lifestyle. I enjoyed the weight I was at and would like to lose more. I have a great structure of support behind me, I just sometimes have motivational issues and I love food. I was raised not to waste food and as a result, that meant you ate what you put on your plate, even if you groaned for hours later. It was the side effect of growing up in a poor family. NO WASTING. I have had a hard time defeating this specific mindset. It is so ingrained in my mind, that I will catch myself eating amounts and things I really don't want because it's in front of me.

As I have been learning a new way to do things, I have found that if I say no and never get started, it's a lot easier to keep to my lifestyle and lose the weight. If I start, then I eat and can't seem to stop. For now, I will just say no. At some point I will need to learn to be able to say yes and then just have one or two. May of you will remember the old potato chip slogan..."Betcha can't eat just one!" right now this is true. Now, I have to be able to work to a more normal way of life. I see people all over being able to eat and drink in moderation, that's what I need to learn. I'll keep you all posted on how this will work for me going forward.

Until next time, Gentle Reader,
Jaxion Rebel

Redundancy and Didn't I Just Do That?

Hello Gentle Readers...

Some guy in the back of the room "Isn't the title for today's lecture redundant?"

Yes it is and there is a reason for that. As you know I never give a lecture unless there is a reason and there is a reason that I bring this up. I feel like a record skipping on a turntable...oh right it's 2016, not 1983. I feel like a CD that has a scratch in it and the laser can't get by it...um, right...2016 not 1996. I know you get the point by now, but, incase you don't...It's like...never mind.

I have struggled with weight loss and the motivation to lose weight. Motivation for me for a lot of things, seems to always be a struggle. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again...I'm lazy. If given a choice between going out for a walk and sitting on the couch watching TV, left alone I would choose watching TV every time. The silly thing is, I love walking outside, especially in the woods or on a trail through parks and such. The problem is motivation. It takes no motivation to sit there and let you brain wonder and be entertained by mindless garbage. It takes more motivation to get up off your ass and get moving in a walk, jog, run, biking, or whatever.

What I usually need is someone or something to keep me moving. My wife is usually good for this, except when she too is lacking motivation. That is a bad combination for both of our weights. That means we have to come up with other ways of making ourselves keep motivated. That means either creating motivation on your own (I like Pokémon Go) or having friends who are willing to be the "bad guy" and keep you going. That means your friends need motivation as well. This al leads back to motivation doesn't it? Its a catch-22, its a redundancy clause, its like it's happening again.

I guess what I'm trying to say is make your own motivation, be motivation to yourself and others. However, as I always say, don't let lack of motivation be an excuse for quitting. You may fail, it might be for an hour, a day, a week, or a month. The fact remains is it doesn't matter, when you realize what is going on, you have the power to motivate yourself to get back on track, motivate yourself to get back on the horse, motivate yourself to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get it done.

YOU GOT THIS!

Until Next Time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Broken record?!?

Good evening dear readers,
Its been a rough few weeks for me. I've been struggling with everything and at a loss how to change. Until today, where I just took some time to mentally get back to myself. As I have said before, your mental state affects your outward state. I know that mentally I've been unhealthy and haven't been growing or keeping my brain on the right track. Its easy to make excuses during the summer. Its easy to get side tracked. But today was enough, when you can't where half of your clothes due to those side tractions and quitting what you worked so hard to achieve in the first place, it breaks you down. Okay so I'm starting over again and that's okay. It might sound like a broken record but I focus on me and learning to love myself first then I can work at helping others. And I start my changing my mental attitude again. Day one, I'm thankful I've reacvhedd this point. Now I can grow, and get to my higher self and see that weight while it has bothered me before no longer has power over me. I am going to reach my goals and I am healthy, fit, and I love myself more.
So if this sounds like a broken record post, know that it still comes from my heart, as I thought it was important.
Namaste and take it one day at a time, you got this!

Well.....

Hello my little ragamuffins!

Well, it has finally happened. I have no idea what to write about today. <shakes head sadly>  So, how about some random thoughts instead today?

Heat and Rain: This is why air conditioned gyms were created. Don't feel like getting grimy or soaked during a workout, then head to a gym like "civilized" folk. Or not. In real life your going to be racing/running for your life in the great outdoors. You might want to keep that in mind.

Early Morning: Not a fan of them. Not at all. Normal people should be asleep until the sun comes up. Preferably longer. However, I have kids with built in alarm clocks. Late to sleep and early to rise. Where the heck do they get the energy?!?!  So the issue for me becomes get up extra early to work out or stay up really late to work out. Hmmm...should probably come up with a 3rd option as I really don't like the sound of either!

Electronics:  Who can live without them nowadays?  Seems like everyone from babies to great grandparents are plugged in today.  While fun, and useful, and practically indispensable it appears, can it really count as living? I grew up just fine going outside to run and climb and socially interact IN PERSON with my friends. <shakes cane>

Well, that is all the randomness I have for now.

Until I have something important (at least to me) to share,

UltimateJinx007

Vacation: Jinx Style

Hello my vacationing viewers!

I know; another blog on vacations?!  Why yes, as it tis the season.  Mine however focuses on camping versus sight seeing. As you may have guessed, I went camping! Yea! Campfires, bugs, and a half mile walk every time I had to use the bathroom.

First off was the food. Nothing tastes quite the same as camping food. Especially when you don't have to cook it. Our camping consisted of a tent right next to family with an RV and more family who had rented a cabin. The great thing is that the person doing the cooking did a great job of hitting all the food groups. So lack of nutrition was not an issue. What was tempting was the snacks. Cookies, pie, gummy bears, and all the soda you could drink! Oh, and let's not forget s'mores! <drool> Sorry, zoned out there for a minute. But you know what? While I did indulge, I only did it lightly. And why is that you ask. Because oh my goodness did I get in some exercise!

Oh did I get the exercise! I have kids as you know and they are VERY active. I chased them around on their bikes. Walked the long walk to the playground. Chased them around the campsite playing games. Pulled them around in a wagon. Took them with me on trips to the bathroom as they suddenly had to go whenever I did. I put on a lot of miles. A LOT of miles. My body is still very unhappy with me. Standing up from my desk brings a groan from me every time. But was it worth it? Heck yeah! My kids were exhausted by the end of the day. I was exhausted by the end of the day. I don't think anyone in my family has slept that soundly in a long time. Impressive for me as we were sleeping on an air mattress!

And the moral of the story? Get out there and have fun whether you are taking in the sights or rubbing elbows with the local wildlife. A vacation is a time to enjoy yourself. If you remember to eat right and sneak in some exercise, that is great. However, don't fret over the small things in life. And a word of advise. When you are making campground reservations, check to see where the bathrooms are!

Until I have more of my motherly wisdom to impart,

UltimateJinx007

Vacation - Is It Important?

That special time of year is upon us. VACATION! What does vacation do for us? Do we need them? Are these things good for you?

Vacation does a lot of things for you. You can sleep in, do things when you want, how you want. It's your time to do what you like to do.

Vacations are absolutely needed. They allow you to unwind and not worry about work. We all know that too much work and not enough play make Jaxion a dull boy. Ask anyone who knows me I love to have fun and do what I want, when I want for as long as I want. Yes, I am a very spoiled man. I blame my wife for that. She is great at making sure I get to have my interaction with people, because if I get cut off for too long I get very grumpy. (Hey, you kids get off my lawn!)

Are vacations good for you? Maybe. I think as a whole vacations are bad for your physical being. However, they are so good for your spirit, your piece of mind. I think the good that comes to you spiritually is completely worth the "physical damage" you do over the 5 or 7 or 10 days your on your vacation. That said, there are ways to make the damage you do to your body a lot better then it could be. Sure your going to go out to eat. That said, make better choices. Why do I say better choices rather than good choices? Well, Gentle Reader, the choices you get at just about any restaurant is bad for you. Even if they tell you its a "better choice" or a "healthy choice", it's still not a good choice. These items may be better or healthier choices than the rest of the menu, but, they are not good choices.

Well, that is my soapbox for today. In case your missing the idea, yes, I am heading on vacation soon and no I will not feel guilty for what I eat, drink or consume...I will take responsibility for it and work my ass off once vacation is over to lose whatever damage I do to myself on vacation.

You do the same when vacation finds you in its warm, muppet hands. I will catch you on this flip side.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Giving up/ what is your why

Feeling like giving up...
We have all been there, where we feel like giving up because of a bad day, falling off the wagon, or some other excuse we tell ourselves to give up. But what thoughts follow are more important, it takes 10 positive thoughts to cancel 3 negative ones. Yes we all want to give up sometimes especially when it feels like we will never get into the clothes size we want to, or lose a few extra pounds of fat and gain lean muscle.
But if you start to feel like giving up, remember your why. Why did you start working out? Why did you decide to change? Why are you striving to eat better? You get the point, whatever your why is it will help you remember that it will be worth it. But the why has to be big enough.
There have been times lately where I want to give up because of not seeing the numbers I want, or because of clothes still not fitting right, but why I started changing my life is what keeps me going. I want to help myself and help others improve themselves and feel good about themselves.
You can do this, and remember your why.
Namaste

Kids

Hello My Little Tenacious Tots!

Let's talk kids. Specifically mine. They are at that magically age where they say what they think. No filter applied. While this can be completely embarrassing with strangers, it does lead to some interesting conversations with the house.  My older boy seems to have become my exercise/life guru. Not bad for a 5 year old! Why? Because he tells me like it is. Last week, he gave me some serious motivation to get my act together.

"Mama, why is that person running? Because they want to get in shape. Why? Because being chubby like Mama and Dada is hard on your heart and your body in general. Mama, tomorrow morning I want you to go running. I don't want you to be as chubby as you are today."  Now that really hit close to home. I've been struggling with true motivation to get off the couch. Nothing really has stuck. Now my little boy has let me know I mean something to someone. He wants me to become a better me so I'll be around to play with him, laugh with him, be with him.  What could be more motivation than the love of a child?  In fact, it motivated me so much I finally did something I had been thinking about by hadn't done. Look up Project Semi-colon. Let's just say now I have a happy heart that I will wear on my sleeve to remind me that I am loved and worthy of being loved.

And then there was this morning. Just as I'm about to head out the door to do a walk, both my boys wake up. And, as I 'm walking out the door, my oh so dear 5 year old voices more words of wisdom.

"Mama, you look fat. You look like you are bending back and making your belly stick out." Really? Tough love from the exercise/life guru. At least when I got back I got some praise. "Mama, you look skinnier now." 

Someday that boy will develop a filter But in the meantime I think I will enjoy the ever honest, if sometimes brutal, outlook of my beautiful children.

Until more wisdom is ready to flow from my mind,

UltimateJinx007

Pokémon GO! Revisited

For those of you looking for the Ultimate Jinx, she'll be back on Monday with more words of wisdom for you. I asked to write to you today as my schedule will not allow for me to do a Monday post...with that in mind, here we go.

Well it's been a full three weeks since I drank the Kool-Aid and downloaded the Pokémon GO app.

On July 11th I downloaded this app in a bit of a protest, to be honest, but I did it as a way to spend time with my youngest daughter who had been chasing Pokémon's since the app launched. She is your typical teenager and seems to want to avoid her parents at any cost (especially in public). I know I can say this here as she will never read this. Strangely, I have really been enjoying the app, I walk almost every lunch time, I make walks at night with both my daughters and my wife as they are all now playing.

I have walked over almost 40 kilometers or 24.5 miles in 3 weeks. That's a lot for walking for this guy. I am getting a better endurance and I'm feeling better, exercise is good. I understand the feeling (especially when getting started) that it's bad or it hurts or it makes you so tired. Truth is you have to push through that and force the issue and then all of a sudden you turn the corner and you start looking for excuses to exercise, reason to exercise.

Before I had loaded up the app, I found that my interest and my thoughts were ways to get away from exercising, I was losing my motivation. I found that motivation in the Pokémon app. Pokémon, not your thing, what about a zombie run?  No? Maybe just an app like Map my Walk or Map my run? There are as many apps as there are ways to exercise. Find what works for you and then when it isn't working for you , find a new thing that works for you.

Until next time, Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Meal planning

Where to begin tonight?
Meal planning I think is a good subject because I myself struggle with this for even a couple of days out. But I've found that when you plan out at least a couple of dinners and lunches, that you tend to eat better and feel better because you're not eating out or spending more money.
Breakfast planning is easy when I have my protein shakes, but when I don't I have a hard time finding breakfast.
Now when I plan out my day for lunch through dinner, I find myself pleased as punch because I took time to think about what I want and know that it will be healthy, nutritious and delicious.
I lovenjoy however just winging it when it comes to cooking because I was never taught how to cook. I had to teach myself and so I'm still learning.
But from what I've read, meal planning is a lot less stressful and easier on the wallet overall. If you can't do a whole week, then try for a day or two at a time. It will help you create variety and I think to try new things also.
Short and sweet my dears.
Namaste

Ghost

Hello Gentle Reader,

What could he possibly mean when he says Ghost? Is he talking about those supposed entities that scare small children and adults alike? He couldn't be talking about that...could he?

You may find this  little odd, but, yes. That is exactly what I am talking about, just maybe not in the way you think.

Do you ever think about the Ghost your going to leave behind? I don't mean are you going to be Casper or a demon, I mean the Ghost you become in the minds of your family and friends. How will you be remembered by your family and friends? How do you want to be remembered when your gone? That is the Ghost I am talking about.

The way you live your life has a lot to do with the Ghost you leave behind. Will your Ghost be remembered as a good soul or a selfish soul? Will your Ghost be remembered as a helpful soul or a lazy soul? Will your Ghost be remembered as a loving soul or  a hateful soul?

Take a moment and think about the type of Ghost you want to leave behind.

In the eternal my Gentle Readers,

Jaxion Rebel

Who?

Hello my little sassy sleuths!

Here is the mystery that I need you to think about deeply today. Who are you doing this for?  Doing what you ask. Well, pretty much anything. Who are you trying to get into shape for? Who are you making your life decisions for? Who are you trying to impress?

Now, the perfect world answer is for yourself of course!  But when you look at your words and actions, do they reflect this answer to the riddle? I know mine don't.  Today I went out to find information. And while I found that information, I pondered out loud that I'd like to do this but if I did others may not approve.  And, looking back at me, the person asked the simple question; "Who are you doing this for?"  To quote an over-used phrase, mind blown!

Some days you forget you exist. We do things because others want it or expect you to be a certain way; and we don't want to rock the boat. And not to offend, but some conformity is ok. Society would not function if we all did whatever we wanted instead of caring about others.  BUT, there comes a time and a place when you need to do stuff for you. The hard part is deciding when to go with the flow or if it is time to rock that boat.

And since I'm having a hard time with that myself right now, I'd love to hear how you guys make those big decisions. I am always willing to listen to suggestions. I may not heed them, but I am always ready to listen.

Until I finally make up my mind,

UltimateJinx007

Hydration in this humidity

Greetings to you on this rather sticky evening.
It has not only been hot but it's been sticky which for me makes me miserable. Humidity is hard to deal with but some of you are fortunate to have air conditioning. I am not.
So how do I stay cool?
Hydration Hydration hydration!
Normally I drink about 1 gallon of water a day now and I can tell when I don't get enough water. This time of year however I want more water since I sweat so much out living in an upper hot apartment and in a hot work environment. I also have fans going at night to try to circulate the air.
But the biggest thing is drinking water and drinking plenty of it.
Ice water helps also. And a cool wet/ ice pack on the back of your neck can help keep your core body temperature down.
So that's all I got for now, stay cool, stay hydrated.
And if you have sugar gliders help keep them cool too :)
Namaste

Learn Something New

Happy Afternoon Gentle Reader,

I was thinking about something my grandfather told me once. He said the day you learn nothing new, is the day you die. When I was little, I thought he meant if I went 24 hours without learning something I would literally tip over dead in my tracks. How did I combat that? I read, I went to school, I hated summer vacation after a couple weeks, because being outside school, meant I might literally go 24 hours without learning something. I was young, had a long life ahead of me, I didn't want to die.

What I think he really meant was that you start dying. You stop wanting more and you just start sort of giving up. I think there is some truth to this. I still read a lot, I love books, I love the feel of turning pages and the smell of a book not opened in a long time. There is something that happens when you turn the page of a book, when that smell hits your olfactory senses and your taken to a different time and place. You learn something, it doesn't matter what you read. A newspaper, a magazine, a book, a diary or a journal. These reads take you to a place of understanding, either from the world around you or from yourself. I am not one who likes to explore himself, I often find that I don't necessarily like what I find about myself. I'm shallow at times, I'm rude and loud, I can be an asshole at times. However, they say your the worst judge of your own character. I have friends and good ones, I hope they see something different when they look at me versus when I look in the mirror at myself. I continue to look in the mirror though because only I can change the impression of what I see there. For beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This brings me to this weeks challenge then. LEARN SONETHING NEW. I don't care what, but, learn something. What have you always wanted to do? Learn a language, learn to give tattoos, learn a new recipe. It really doesn't matter what it is you learn just that you learn it. I would love to hear from you if you took the challenge and learned something. Just leave a comment below or send us an email nutuporshutupblog@gmail.com.

Be good to yourself and everyone around you.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Life is Precious

Forgive my indulgence today Gentle Reader. I just received news of the worst kind. A young man I got to know less than a year ago, who I really liked and got along with...took his own life yesterday.

I haven't known him long, just about 5 months. However, he had my friendship and a small piece of my soul. I am not an overly sentimental person, I don't cry and I try to stay strong on the outside even when I die a bit inside. This loss has left a hole in my heart and I pray for him and his soul. I pray for his family and his friends that some sense can come from this. I hope that writing this will bring me some sort of closure and understanding.

Let's diverge from this sad news and look at this from another more positive side.

YOU are important.
YOU are needed.
YOU are loved.
YOU are special.

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We all talk about how special you are. Why do you think we talk about this so much? Because it is true. Because you need to know that you are special, loved, needed and important. I know that there are times that we all feel worthless and unloved from time to time. Most of us get blue and rebound in a day or two. This is really written for you. If your blue phases last longer than that there may be real problems and please seek professional help.

I want you to know that I love you all. Be good to each other and especially to yourself.

Until Next Time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

more than pokemon go

With all of the attention on the new pokemon application/game on the smart phones, I can't help but think how sad in some ways it is that we have resorted to having to have a game get us moving. I am a huge pokemon fan and can see the benefits of how this is helping people get on track but I also believe there is more than trying to "catch them all."
On that note, with summer being in full swing, I think it is time to get outside and truly enjoy it. The best part is there are so many activities to do now that the weather is warmer, such as swimming, bike riding, roller blading, walking, jogging, kayaking, etc.
For me personally this time of year is my easiest to stay active and get into better shape as well as stay hydrated. I love being outside and taking every moment I can to truly appreciate what I have and that I am capable of walking, exercising, staying healthy.
It's also easy to get distracted and make more excuses about not working harder because of it being humid and sticky, but also just because I want to sit and bake in the sunshine.
I am not going to give up or stop working harder this summer because I know that my body deserves the best, my mind deserves it.
Stay hydrated, stay positive
Namaste

Kool-Aid - Drunk and Evolved

Well Gentle Reader, It seems that the fever of "You Gotta Catch Them All" has ensnared even I, Jaxion Rebel, anti-Pokémon man of mystery. Is this a bad thing? I don't think so. Remember a couple weeks ago I said how I had failed, well, everything? This is going to be my new encouragement. I get to walk around with my Pokémon GO app up and running and catch those Pokémon that are not smart enough to stay out of my way! I spent 45 minutes this afternoon, my first with the app, and caught 19 Pokémon. I'm told this is good. It will get me out WALKING looking for Pokémon.

The July 4th 5K, I told you I would update you on how that went. Well, it didn't. On July 3rd I was paying in the water with my kids and nieces and nephews and got hurt. My nephew jumped on my back and hurt my back, I was out of the 5k. That's ok though as I will do another one and this app is getting me back on track with exercise. I lost around 6 pounds last week to get this weight off that I have added since leaving the Ideal Program diet. It's not easy and I want to eat so much that is not good for me. But, we just keep plugging along.

I may not have said this in a while, but, the only person you need to please is yourself. Especially when it comes to your self-image or feeling of self-worth. If you are happy with you, then the rest of the world can deal with it. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take care of yourself. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

Until Next Time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Catch'em all!

Hello my Poke-riffic little friends!

You guessed it; I caught the Pokémon fever. Why? Because there is a new free app called Pokémon GO the just got released. Long story short, you walk around the real world and find and capture Pokémon in the virtual world with your phone. Awesome!!! And not just because it is another Pokémon game, but because instead of sitting at a desk or couch, I get my butt moving in search of the elusive Pokémon. Not just the Pokémon either. You need to find places in the real world that are shops, item drop places, and even gyms that you can battle. My brain is about to explode because that is SO COOL! 

And guess what? My KIDS think it is super cool!  And that means not just me moving, but the rug rats as well!  My 17 year old downloaded it before I even managed to. My 5 year old is going to explode if we don't get out today and try it out. (Please rain go away! For my sanity PLEASE at least take a 15 minute break tonight!!!) And the youngest, well, if his brother thinks it's the bees knees so will he!

So what does that mean to me? It means more exercise and more family time. For now, the lonely walk, even if punctuated by zombie chases, is on hold. On hold so I can explore the city with my children in search of new Pokémon. We get out together, we get exercise together, we get to explore places they (and probably me) have never been before. What a wonderful idea! And I plan to take that idea and turn it into the most fun my family has had all summer!

Wait! Was that a Pokémon that just showed up on my scanner?! 

Whoa! Gotta go!  (Come back here Mr. Pokémon! I just need a moment of your time......)

UltimateJinx007

Change requires consistency

Tony Robbins says "For any changes to be any true value, they've got to be lasting and consistent."
What does that even mean? To me that means to make any changes to better your health or body with muscles you have to be consistent.
I'm not saying not to take a break or enjoy a not so healthy meal from time to time. I'm saying that you can't expect results without keeping up a better lifestyle from day to day.
It's taken me years to realize that I can't expect changes without constantly being aware of what I'm putting into my body, what sort of exercise I'm doing and how much.
I promise you that if you keep at it you will see results, be it good or bad depending on what you are doing.
Keep positive and moving forward
Namaste

Refocus!

Greetings Gentle Reader...

I've failed. I've failed myself and my exercise goals and eating goals. The result? I've gained around 20 pounds back of what I have lost. The result? It's time to refocus! I need to get back "into" exercising. There was a time I wouldn't miss a walk or a run. Now, I'm finding myself finding ways to get out of a walk or a run.

I need to take control and responsibility back. It's on me. It's, as my boss would say, my monkey. What's the plan you ask?

1. Get my eating back to where it needs to be. I need to cut out carbs again, I need to eat more vegetables.
2. Drink more water and (GULP) less soda.
3. Get back to exercising 5 - 6 days a week

Those are the first three things I AM going to do. I'll let you know how this is working in a few weeks.

I also need to set goals. Here they are...

1. Lose that 20 pounds a few more would be good.
2. Exercise, exercise, exercise!
3. Cut out carbs.
4. Add more vegetables.
5. Watch my portions.
6. Exercise, exercise, exercise!

On to other topics...

Monday July 4th, I will be doing my second 5k. As I have said before I have a goal of finishing in 45minutes. I'll update you on the race on Monday's blog post.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Being good enough

For most of my life I have often felt like I'm not good enough or that I don't measure up. This had carried over into my adult life with food and exercise. I didn't fully realize it until I had become the weight of 201lbs, again after years of keeping the weight off. And it made me feel like I'm not good enough to work harder or "reboot" my body into better health to get back what was once mine. And that is just bullshit (pardon my crude language). I am worthy of a fit and healthy body. I am worthy of being at the weight I know I want to be at of 155lbs. I am good enough, to keep working and to keep striving.
So in short, know that YOU are good enough. YOU are worthy of your goals and dreams.
Namaste

The Reality of Children

Hello again you crazy kids!

I'm back again. I know, I normally don't do Mondays (BELIEVE me I really don't do Mondays!) But for reasons inscrutable to us mere mortals (ie. I forgot why) I am here again today.

I love my kids. And they are always such nuggets of unfiltered truth. My husband was on the receiving end last week with our littlest proclaiming "Dada has big boobies."  I was on the receiving end last night with the older boy proclaiming, "Mama has a big belly! Mama has a big belly!" But,  dwelling on what wonderful children I have brought about an epiphany for me while roasting my butt off mowing my lawn late yesterday.

This is how it went down in my head:

So, Vinny (my older boy) is more like me than I thought. He really is a mini-me, which last night culminated in a life lesson that he has been teaching me but I haven’t been listening to.

This whole potty training thing. We’ve been at it for YEARS!　 It is something that has to be done. And he has gone at it and gotten halfway but either has gotten comfortable or just does not want to get completely there. We’ve tried everything: encouragement, shaming, bribing…nothing works.　 Every time he soils himself and we have to change him he cries and says, "But I want to be a big boy!" And I tell him over and over again that only he can make that decision. None of us can do it for him or make him do it. He just needs to decide to do it.

Well, while mowing the previously mentioned lawn last night I realized I am doing the exact same thing!  And how am I supposed to teach my kid if I am essentially doing the same thing?!　 I’ve been trying to get into shape for years. I’ve gone about it half-heartedly. I’ve tried so many things to get into shape. When I don’t, I just get upset that it’s not working and go all "poor me".　 Well crap, that sounds familiar!　Those words were really echoing in my ears while mowing. "Only he (I) can make that decision. None of us can do it for him (me) or make him (me) do it. He (I) just needs to decide to do it."

Thank you for the B-Slap Reality. I think I get it now.

 

Until the muses tell me it's time to write again,

 

UltimateJiinx007

Dirty Laundry

Hello there My Fellow Friends on the Path to Self Discovery!

Welcome to this week's installment of What Makes UltimateJinx007 Tick? (I just made that up, but it does sound pretty cool. <grin>)

So, what brings on this topic today you ask. Well, right now it is all the laundry (though it really is clean) taking over most of my house, and the dishes (mostly dirty) taking over the kitchen. Now, I'm no June Cleaver, but normally you can at least walk in my house without tripping. So why the mess now?  Because my dear readers, I am bipolar. And more frequently than not, I am depressed. Sometimes more than others. And the condition of my house tends to reflect that. Some days it is hard to get out of bed and adult. Especially when that day starts early and ends late. With the summer season upon us, it would seem someone in my family is doing something; sometimes several people with several something's on the same day! What the heck happen to the lazy days of summer?!?!
Now, throw in a full time job that is at it's craziest in the summer and I'm ready to run and hide. But can I do that? No!  <takes a few seconds to feel sorry for self> 

So, what's a person to do? Take it one step at a time; same as you would with getting into shape physically. First assess my body and what I want from it. Well, I'd like to not feel tired anymore so I can do stuff. Ok. Time to re-evaluate my meds and my sleep. Both can greatly effect my energy level. Next, do I have a support network?  My friends and family and of course my doctor know I have tough times. All I have to do is ask for help and they will be there.  And once I have all of that, it's time for a plan of action. And that really is hard when you feel you can't take one more step and you are moving through a fog and you just want to cry and hide. So what to do? Baby steps people; I know we've talked about that. So now it's time to start taking walks. Even if it is just 10 minutes a day. Just to get out there and get moving. And that dirty house?  One load of laundry and one load of dishes at a time. The rest of the household is going to have to pitch in too. But if we all take a little bit of the mess and do our own part, soon that will be back in order too.

There is an expression that I would like for you to keep in mind; Sound body, Sound mind or Sound Mind, Sound body. I'm not too picky. Choose whichever one speaks to you more.

Until you seek my wisdom again,

UltimateJinx007

No hesitation, No regrets, No fear

No Hesitation, No Regrets, No Fear...
Three things that are going to help you reach true freedom and reach your goals.
The first "no hesitation" makes me think of the old quote 'the early bird catches the worm' because if you hesitate you could lose your chance to change yourself how you want to change.
There have been times where I've hesitated to get a gym membership or buy a new workout dvd only to have to put off my goals longer.
No regrets, this one is my second toughest to jump or get past. We all have made some good and some not so good choices, and depending on those choices made or not made, they can tend to haunt us through out life. I do my best now not to bring up my past or to dwell on things that I've made choices on. At 26 I have choices that some haven't had to make that others could say I should regret, but the fact is it taught me who I am and who I am not.
Finally No fear. This can take on so many forms. No fear of working out longer, no fear of trying something new, no fear of quitting a job you hate to go after what you are truly passionate about. No fear about trying new foods. This one is the toughest to accomplish or "get over it" because fear can try to cripple us. Having no fear is a lot easier said than done. For me there are too many times where my own thoughts and mind have created fear that I originally have not had. But I have overcome fears, and continue to overcome them.
By accomplishing these three things, I believe that then we can have true freedom. We can get out of our own way and become more than just someone who gets up, goes to work, and pays bills.
There will be days that you want to quit and run away from the fear, but if you keep to what makes you feel accomplished and happy you will find how much more your life is fulfilled. And how much more you enjoy life.
Keep being positive and moving forward,
Namaste

Inspire Someone

I often ask myself, why I and the other authors here do what we do. I think the answer to that is simple and won't take up much of your time this week.

I could just blurt it out, but, that would make this weeks article way too hort. I would instead like to start by telling you about our desire to be inspired. We all look to others for a goal, for a path in life. Whether this is your parents, friends,  teachers or a celebrity. What do I mean by this? I mean, for a long time I wanted to be a actor. Was it because I was born an actor? No. Was it because I saw others acting and thought it might be fun? Absolutely, Then I tried and not only loved it, but, found out that I'm not horrible at it. Could I have made a life of it? Maybe. I decided instead to make a life with my wife and children, it was more important. I think we make choices based on influences from others.

So, Gentle Reader, here is my reason to inspire.

I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say "because of you I didn't give up."

Be inspired!

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Lessons Learned

And welcome back My Ever Curious Readers!

Drawing from my infinite wisdom, I'm going to share some of my worldly knowledge. And this consists of what I learned at the 5K last weekend. <grin>

What lesson did I learn? Well, I learned several in fact.  First is to have fun. I used to be a very anal retentive uptight and competitive person. Then I had kids and realized that I have absolutely no control of most of my situations. So, I mellowed a bit. Now instead of wanting to crush the competition I'd rather laugh with my friends than at them. (Not that I ever DID do that....<starts whistling and walks away quickly>)

And speaking of friends, it's great to have them at these kind of events. You have people to motivate you to train and show up. All kinds of warm fuzzys there my friend. I even had the honor to have my husband do this 5K with me. That made it extra special!

And how about after the race?  Well, I found out you get some great selfies and group shots. Thanks to Facebook I can look back at this time well spent by bettering myself and just having a great time.  I felt great after this race!  And then I played volleyball the next day. And I was rocking it. Right up until the end when my body said I'd cheesed it off with too much exercise and pulled a muscle that has been sidelining me for months. Argh! So now I'm limping and my level of exercise has dropped.

But that is the next lesson. I did do the race. I am getting more active. I know I can do this, especially with the help of my friends and family. So instead of giving up saying I'm too old and my body can't do this, I'm going to get that leg better and be back out there in no time. Maybe I can't be out there saving the world from the zombie hoards as often as I like, but I can do other things. Time to get that freezer book out and start cooking! Which is great since we all know from last week that freezer cooking is The Plan.

Until I hobble back to the computer to enlighten you once again,

UltimateJinx007

Routine and bordeom

Have you ever gotten zero results from doing a workout routine over and over again? Like you have been working harder, eating clean and healthy, drinking plenty of water but you keep doing the same workout routine over and over again and nothing?
Well our bodies as much as we like variety in our diets daily, it is the same with working out.
For me personally I was in a rut with Jillian Michaels. I would be doing her ripped in 30 over and over again because I didn't know what else I felt like doing.
So thankfully I found some new material, and that has helped kick up things a notch and begin to feel like I am making progress again.
Plus with the weather now at temperatures that I love to be outside, my goal is to get outside more. First step is to get a new bike tire for my bicycle, I love bike riding. And my bicycle is a 21 speed, which makes it a great workout for the legs because I can make it have more resistance considering I don't have many hills to ride up and down here.
Another option for switching up routines (if you don't have access to a gym like myself right now) is to google workout videos or youtube. I have my own workout channel, which is specifically various times and types/styles of work out routines that I have found over the years and I love them.
My favorite go to for home workouts is of course Jillian Michaels, because she has so much out there and she really kicks your ass into gear if you are just starting out, or if you are getting back on track. So now that I have more of her videos, I am not going to be bored any time soon.
The key for myself has been switching up workouts and increasing my activity, like working out at least once everyday for minimum 20 minutes, and now trying to get into working out 2 times daily.
That's all she wrote for now.
Stay positive, don't phone this in, keep moving forward and
Namaste.

NUOSU Bonus Article: First 5K

Hello Gentle Reader! I come with news, it is done, it is complete. My first 5K is in the books. I said in an article a while back that I would report back to you after this happened and see how it went. Here are the results...

I finished in 47:07, which is an average of 15:05 per mile. I know this is not quite what I had set as my goal. There is a reason, at least in my mind on why I didn't make the 45 minute goal I had set. I was doing the jogging and the running and the walking and somewhere between the end of the first mile and the end of the second mile I started getting pain in the heel of my right foot. It didn't stop me, but, it slowed me down. No matter how much it hurt I wasn't going to stop or start giving in to the pain. I finished the 3.15 mile course in a very decent time.

In doing some research I found that the average time for first time 5K athletes the average time is 55 minutes. I bested that even with a torn open heel. It is painful, but, I look forward to doing my next 5K on July 4th. I will have new running shoes by then and hopefully that will keep me from a replay of today's injury.

I was joined in this by some of my biggest motivators and my cheering crew. My wife, Nicole ( a sometimes writer on this blog), Ultimate Jinx (a weekly writer on this blog), Her husband Mike and my buddy Bo. I want to thank each and everyone of you for being my support structure and my friends. I hope some or all of you will join me for the next one on July 4th.

Just a little something for all of you. My goal for July 4th is 45 minutes. I've adjusted based on my time in this 5K.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Food Plan

And I am back my little sponges hungering for knowledge!

If you remember from my last post, I was going to work on a plan.  Just one plan. So......the plan I chose was food.  I love food. And food loves me, as can be seen by my ever expanding waist line!  I really do have a love/hate relationship with food. Either I'm swearing off all things that might be bad for me, or eating myself into new pants due to a life set back, food plays a big part in my life.  And more importantly I'm seeing how it plays a big part in my family's life as well.

3 of us in my house are just this side of being diabetic. My 2 younger boys constantly want food. Food, especially the healthy and easy to make kind, is usually in short supply at my residence. We buy quick high salt and high sugar snacks. Meals tend to be last minute and usually result in a quick trip to the nearest fast food joint. If it was just me, I probably wouldn't change. However I, for reasons unknown, seem to be in charge of the meal planning. And believe me, I am NOT a cook by any means. Most nights the fire alarm is the dinner bell, and I am not exaggerating!!! And if I am in charge of planning and cooking I want my family to live a long and healthy life.

So, what's an overworked, under-talented, and usually lazy mom supposed to do?  Freezer Meals!  I can take one day a week or a month or whatever to make easy meals ahead of time. That means no more hearing the nightly "What's for supper?" question. I just got a book to help me with this new adventure in my life. It gives step by step instructions and a variety of options on how to proceed. No "You have to do this or else!". Yea flexibility!  And with that, all I need to do if find the time to actually sit down and do this. I'll be reading during the week and hope to try this out in the next week or two.  As long as I don't burn the house down, I'll give you an update as soon as I finish my culinary escapades.

Stay Curious My Friends,

UltimateJinx007

Excuses lead to more excuses

Today's subject is excuses and how one excuse leads to another excuse...
When you first make up your mind to eat better, drink more water, and exercise you are full of motivation and lack excuses. Which is great. But then life throws you a curve ball and pretty soon you start making excuse after excuse as to why you stopped working out everyday or eating healthy. Like saying it was easier to eat out because of not having food at home, or I can't work out because it's too late or I'm too tired.
This seems to have become my recent pattern, and then because of my lack of motivation, determination and my pile of excuses I gained back what I had lost over the past 3 years.
There is hope and a plan, there is a positive twist to this. I am starting over, I have learned to love myself all over again. Today I choose to not make excuses but continue to grow and change my mental attitude first. That is where true change happens, if you can change your mental attitude and not make any excuses mentally, then that is where you will begin to see change in the physical part of yourself as well as other areas of your life. I'm not saying you can't take a day off to rest or eat out once in awhile, I'm just saying don't let yourself take more than a day off from working out/body building. Try to not make a habit of eating out, or eat less when you do go out, and try to study the menu better for healthier options.
You will either get to the point where you are sick of your excuses and drop them, or you will continue to make them. The choice is yours. That is something I have learned, is that whether or not I succeed or fail because of letting my pile of excuses get in the way of my goals and dreams, is that I have that choice.
So today I choose to drop the excuses of lack of time, being too late, there's no food at home and I choose to take the first step (again) to a better me. To become my true self.
Keep moving forward and stay positive.
Namaste

Define Yourself!

Greetings Gentle Reader.

I want to apologize for missing yesterday, but, I was unable to make a post due to the pain I was experiencing from allergies. My head felt like a melon just before it bursts. That said, it's on to this weeks topic.

I am beginning this week with 3 statements and then as usual we will discuss them.

Remember...You define yourself by all the choices you make.
You will get out of it what you put into it.
It's worth the effort and energy to do it right.

The first part of this, defining yourself by the choices you make. This is true regardless of what aspect of your life that we talk about. Personal or professional, your choices define who you are. If you treat people poorly in your life, then you are that person. You can make all the excuses you want as to why you treat people the way you do, but, in the end it is a choice that you make. Therefore, it is you. Same in your professional life. If you spend your life taking advantage of people just because everyone is doing it or because you think they are doing it to you. Guess what, your a bad professional. What does this mean to us? Make good choices! Be a good person! Don't be mean. Mean people suck.

More specifically to our goals here, what constitutes a good choice? Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep and eliminate negativity. How do we do this? That my friends is a topic for another blog post. Maybe next week. Maybe a few weeks, but, we will get there.

Now, you get out of it what you put into it. That means we have to decide what we want out of our new lifestyle. Then pick it apart and figure out what you need to put into it to get what you want. What am I talking about? Let's delve  bit into this. Let's say that your goal from your diet and exercise goals is to lose x pounds by x day. Figure out first if it is even possible. Losing 50 pounds in 4 weeks (without losing a limb) is virtually impossible. However losing 10 pounds in a month is very doable. When deciding what you want out of your goals, look at the viability of what you need to put into it.

Finally, it's worth the effort and energy to do it right. Again, what does this mean to us? No shortcuts, no fad diets and dangerous weight loss. Fad diets result in gaining the weight back and a yo-yo weight loss is not good for your body, your health or your heart. Find what works for you and then go forward and reach for the goals you set for yourself. Reach for the stars and when you achieve it the correct way, ad maintain those goals you will be able to face the world and al the naysayers and tell them to kiss your ass.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Lost and Found

Well hello there my little explorer friends!

I know you thought I must have gotten lost. And you did the right thing by asking around to find me. Well, search no more because I have been found!  You can all relax now. <grin>

But seriously, how often do we find our belongings or ourselves missing?  Considering I'm now officially middle age, it seems to happen quite frequently. And lately, I've felt very lost. From little things like putting down my glasses and then not remembering where I put them, to the medium things like missing my beloved sleep. And more importantly, I lost my way through this road called life.  It happened slowly. Little things that became big things. Then many little things became many big things! What had happened? When did I lose myself?

I'm sure that at some point, you've all sat back and taken a good look at your life and thought, "WT*?!". When we were little, we had things we wanted to do when we got older. Then, as we got older, we made more plans. Well, I have so many plans at this point that I don't know where to start! So, I planned up a plan to work on my plans.  It was not a good plan. So, I threw all my plans out the window. Not a good plan either. Without any sort of plan even less got done. ARGH! So, back to planning.

Plan 1: What do I want? I don't mean for supper either. What is that one thing I want in my life? Yes there are probably a million things I want, but what is the most important? Once I figure that out, it's time for...

Plan 1A: Why is this important? And, if it is important enough to make the number one spot on my list, what can I do to make this happen?

Plan 1B: Implement and follow through. This is where I lose my way. Frequently and repeatedly. Oh the roads I have wandered trying to find a way to follow through with my plans.

So, my new plan is K.I.S.S.  For those unfamiliar with this, it means Keep It Simple Stupid! And trust me, as sleep deprived as I am K.I.S.S is about all I can handle right now.

Tune in next time curious readers to see what plan I come up with to find my myself. And if you see me before next Friday, tell me to stick around until I get back. I don't want to get lost again!

Until next time,

UltimateJinx007

Patience...we all know this one...

Patience because your goals won't happen overnight...
You have heard the term patience is a virtue or you gotta have patience. This patience thing is not always an easy thing to do or have. For me I have grown to have an extreme amount of patience because getting frustrated that the traffic light is not changing faster or that your scale hasn't changed in a day isn't going to help you reach your destination any quicker.
In fact the opposite is true, at least in my experience. Without patience I find myself more eager to give up or struggle to get anywhere I want to. But once I learned to take it one moment and just be patient with myself and take a deep breath, things turned around. Maybe not instantly but definitely over time. I have learned that patience helps me assess each situation with care and gives me a clear focus to stick with it.
So for me if I am caught at a red light, stuck behind some slow traffic, or struggling to workout because of lack of patience, I take a moment to reflect and run through the moments that lead to me needing more patience. The signs are around us, the universe gives us what we need and sometimes it might seem like it is not the right timing or that it is a hindrance but I can promise you that if you ask for patience, it will come to you in ways you didn't think it could ever come to you.
So while you are allowed to get upset or lose patience, just remember you don't have to stay in that moment, you can gain more patience and you will achieve your goals. Keep working at it.
Stay positive and keep moving forward,
Namaste

3 Ways to Fail

I am sure by now that you all are aware that I do a lot on social media...well, I consider it a lot. I'm old though so maybe it's not as much as I think. Sometimes, I think that very good points are made on social media and today I am going to talk about a meme I've seen around for a while now. It goes something like this. (Usually written on a whiteboard)

3 WAYS TO FAIL AT EVERYTHING IN LIFE
1. Blame all your problems on others
2. Complain about everything
3. Not be grateful

Let's break this down and see how we can work this into our new lifestyles and our way of thinking.

Personally, I don't think you can fail at EVERYTHING in life, let's start there. I think you can feel like you can fail at everything and I have those days as do you. But, let's break this meme down and see where we land.

Blame all YOUR problems on OTHERS - I see this behavior in a few different places. First, in the workplace, people who don't really get their job are good at blaming others to keep the spotlight off of themselves. This works to a certain point, until someone realizes that every time these people talk it's someone else who is wrong. Throwing someone under the bus is shady in my opinion and you need to take responsibility for what you do. In the long run, this is better than the alternative. Second, children. Kids afraid to get in trouble will blame everyone except themselves. They do this to stay out of trouble. They really don't want to get anyone else in trouble, but, they don't personally want to be in trouble. Now that you know my thought process on this, how can we apply this to our new lifestyle?

This is a simple to understand and harder than hell to do. Take responsibility for what you do, and what you eat. It's easy to talk yourself out of going and exercising. I can't I have to work late. I can't I have to deal with the kids and get them to bed. I can't I'm tired. I have used all these excuses and I am being honest with you that in most cases they are just an excuse. Be honest with yourself and force yourself to do what needs to be done. If you work late sometimes, join a club that stays open 24/7 Instead of going to the club, go for a walk around the neighborhood.  Stop making excuses and start doing what needs to be done. The same goes for what you eat. It's easier to stop and get fast food than to cook, guess what the time you spend cooking versus the amount of time you will need to exercise to work off those extra calories is minimal. It's a whole lot easier to gain it than lose it.

Complain about EVERYTHING - As I have heard my entire life, "why complain, nobody listens anyway." What does that mean? Simply put complaining does no good. This is true whether your talking about life, losing weight or anything else that your trying to accomplish. You can complain, but, all that really does is...make others think your a whiner, make you depressed and unable to bring yourself out of it and finally it makes you a Debbie Downer. Complaining does not good. Stop it. Think about what your goals are and make sure that your not the biggest roadblock you have. There are plenty of roadblocks without setting up your own.

Not be grateful  - That means don't be a jerk. When someone tries to understand what your doing, let them in. We have to get over the idea that every one is out to be a roadblock. Yes those people are out there, but, honestly there are a lot fewer of those people than those who are  going to support and back you along the way. When you find those people that are willing to support and back you, please thank those people and don't take them for granted. Please to find that person that has your back is special and important.

I have gone on long enough and will leave you with this. Take responsibility for what you do, say and eat. I love you my friends.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Determination= a way to success

Greetings fellow travelers in the universe,

Today's subject is determination and how it leads to success. 

For me I know from my past that will power and or sheer determination have lead me to small or larger successes so far in my life.

When it comes to health, fitness, and overall well being I have learned that while being motivated is a great start, determination is what gets me through each new work out or day of choosing healthier food options versus junk. It is the fuel to the fire so to speak. 

According to Webster the definition of determination is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult. So without this "determination" I think it might be difficult to continue working towards a goal. For me I am determined to get to my target weight of 155 lbs. Currently I have plenty of determination and I know it will lead to my success in reaching it, however I also know that my determination has been slightly hindered until this past week. Recently I bought a new Jillian Michaels DVD set and am determined now more than ever to get at least 1 workout in daily, then working at building up to the 2 workouts a day that will push my fitness level higher and give me the successful results I am seeking. This is all part of my determination to reach my goal before the end of summer and to hold myself accountable, I am posting it openly here. 
I know that my determination will grow as I gain strength, endurance, and health physically. My determination will lead me to success, I just have to be more than I was yesterday. That means giving it my all and continuing to fight for myself every day. I do not do this because I have to for anyone else but myself. I, you, we all owe it to ourselves to be determined to be our best selves and fight for us as individuals. So whatever you are trying to achieve it can and will be done if you are determined it will be. Some might even call determination (at least when it comes to me) as being "bull headed" or "stubborn" and that is also fitting.
Be determined to reach your goals. Stay positive and keep moving forward.
Namaste.

What Does it Take?

Often Gentle Reader I as this question, what does it take to...the rest of the question doesn't really matter. The question matters less than what drives what it is you want. I can ask the question "What does it take to be a millionaire." The answer desire. "What does it take to be famous?" The answer desire. The question doesn't matter...your desire does.

I am one step closer to finishing up one of my goals that I set not so long ago. I am officially registered for my first 5K. I know this may not sound like a huge deal, but, honestly I have been training for this day. In the last 12 days I have walked and/or ran more than 30 miles. I hurt, I honestly do. That said I am amazed at what I have been able to do. My first 5K is on June 11 and I will give a run down on how I do, here on June 13...if I don't post earlier if I do really well. My hope is to finish in 45 minutes or less. I will be pushing myself to a point of breaking just so I can do this.

I have a desire to be better than I am. I desire the ability to make myself better than what I am. I will make my desires a reality, pain is temporary. Bad choices are temporary. Everything you can do to derail your efforts are temporary.

You are better than the bad choice, you are stronger than the pain. You are a strong person with a desire to be an even stronger person. Here is my challenge to all of you out there...desire to better, desire to be stronger than your strongest weakness. Desire to be you, you with the desire of a superhero.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

The cost of convenience

 Hello fellow travelers,
Today has me thinking about "convenience" in food and what it could mean to your weight loss or health journey. How many of you can say you have hit the drive thru or even gone to a restaurant because you were "in a hurry" or didn't "feel like cooking?" Be honest it's probably more times than you realize. I know for me the past couple of months have been a lot of that. Maybe not necessarily the drive thru, but my food choices haven't been as good as they were. Now like most your day up to even lunch starts out great. You have a wonderful breakfast at home that was healthy and delicious. But come dinner time, you scramble to get food and end up caving and going to the nearest pizza place or maybe decide to have food delivered to your house.
The problem with this "convenience" is that you are not getting the quality of "real" or good food. Which means your body suffers. If you are like me, you can't do much greasy or "fast food" because your stomach will not just get upset but you will feel like you might be dying. Today we have a problem in the world, and that problem is "convenience." When it comes to food, be it grocery shopping or going out to dinner, there is too much available at any given time. It causes us to pick food that might taste and look okay from say a fast food joint, but ultimately if we do a little digging or research on why that food is so good, and why our waist lines are increasing, you will find that is because those foods aren't just loaded with MSGs, sugar, and salt/sodium, but also full of other chemicals or ingredients that I can't even pronounce.
I think it is time for people to stop with the "convenience" and get back to the basics with food. What does that mean? Well maybe you can start growing some of your own food (like some fruits and veggies; yes I know this is Wisconsin so that option can be limited due to weather). Plan ahead of time, meaning when you go grocery shopping, maybe instead of trying to buy food for a whole month, you buy enough for you and your family for two weeks. That way will help you think of meal ideas and then you won't feel pressured or bad when something goes bad before you get to enjoy it. When grocery shopping stick to the perimeters of the store, for most items. This can be tricky as some stores have gotten sneaky by moving things around so that you are tempted to buy the quick and easy meals over the ingredients to make a full and healthy meal on your own. Now you might be saying, but I have a limited budget for food and this is cheaper, okay I get the budget thing ( I've been on a grocery budget for years, and if I can manage to find healthy good whole foods on my budget you can do this too) but ask yourself why is it cheaper? What is actually in the food I'm purchasing?
For me I stay away from too much sugar and definitely don't buy anything with corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup. It might take a little more time and effort reading labels but trust me it is worth it and your body will thank you in ways you didn't realize.
That's all for today, keep drinking water, stay positive
Namaste

Sometimes

Sometimes, sometimes you sit in front of the key board and try to think of what you want to write about. Sometimes, nothing comes to mind. Sometimes...

Thus, Gentle Reader I began my day here. Then I asked what does it all mean? In the end we all die right? In the end as they say "...From dust we came and to dust we shall return..." I ask what does it matter then how we live our lives. Why try so hard? I think I can shed some light on that...

A little over a year ago I think...I feel that I was staring death in the eye. I was very overweight, I wasn't eating well and on top of everything I'm a diabetic. I didn't move well, I didn't really want to move. I hurt all the time. I was sad. What was there really to live for? I'll tell you what I did. I looked at my wife and my children. I knew they wanted me around for as long as possible. I looked around and realized that I hadn't done a lot of things I want to do before I leave this plane of existence. I started making a list, really two lists. What I had done and what I wanted to do. Guess what folks? The done column was a lot shorter than the want to do list. I knew that this wasn't going to be a proverbial walk in the park, I knew I would need support. I found a program that I thought I could do, I brought on my family and friends to be my cheerleaders and yes at times you have to as them to cheer. It was what motivated me in the beginning. You need to know what you need to succeed. Then ask for what you need. It ISN'T the responsibility of your support group to know what you want, you need to let them know. Then if they don't give you what you need, find a different support group. This is for you and, yes, this time it IS about you.

Sometimes you have to know what you want. Sometimes you have to tell others what you need. Sometimes it IS about you. Sometimes...

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

You're Nice

Hello My Cute and Cuddly Followers!

"You're nice." I have been hearing this repeated quite frequently lately and usually accompanied with a hug, pat, or pet on the arm or back. Weird? Not in my house. My youngest has a lot of love to give lately. And quite honestly I'm eating it right up!

Who can't go "Awwww" when a peanut of a 2 year old tells you how great you are?  As a self professed person of low self-esteem I absolutely love it. I have a built in cheer-leader who I know loves me for not what I can do for him, but just because I am there. Yea me!

What does this have to do with this post?  Ummmm....let me think about that. Ah! First, my kids are cute. No, wait, that only pertains to me.  How about I follow up on some ideas about motivation. I know we've covered this several time already, but it really is a great topic.

Most people believe that the only motivational force you need is yourself; self-help, self-reliance, the American way. And if that is your school of thought, that is great. It's hard to argue with the logic that you have to take care of yourself before you can help others.

However, there are some if us (yes, that means me too) that need slightly different motivation. While we might not do something for ourselves, we are much more likely to do it for someone else. Have a favorite charity run? One whose fundraiser is near and dear to your heart? Very likely this is because someone you know or love has been affected by the issue addressed by said charity. So, naturally you want to help. Time to strap on those running shoes! Now for me, it is my family. I want to be around for my little cheerleader, all his siblings, and the love of my life their father.  Even if that means I have to eat a few less cookies and start really getting serious about getting into shape. That ladies and gents is what motivates me.

So, what motivates you? I'd love to hear some reasons. No reason is too small, too simple, or too crazy. You know why? Because, as a wise little man once told me, "you're nice"!

Happy trails until our paths cross again,

UltimateJinx007

Sugar it's everywhere...

Hello fellow travelers,

Recently I've really been looking at labels on foods I've been purchasing or even more closely looking at the break down of items I'm plugging into myfitness pal (it's an application for your phone that allows you to track food, exercise, water, etc) and it almost astounding as to how much sugar is in practically EVERYTHING. And when you're trying to clean your body or do a "reboot" or "reset" of your metabolism it can be tricky these days to avoid sugar completely.

However that being said, put down the spoon with ice cream, take your hand out of the cookie jar. And do not suddenly go for the "sugar free" or some other alternative to sugar. Like everything else sugar in moderation is not a terrible thing, the problem comes in when you have it every single day for every meal. Now there's foods like bananas, apples, and oranges that have natural sugar in them. However too much of even that can cause problems. Especially if you're diabetic (I'm not thankfully, but I have friends and family that are and I know their struggle).

Here's the problem I've been having lately (like almost the past two months, and trust me my waist line and body has noticed), I've been eating out, buying "easy" and "quick" foods just because it was "cheaper" "convenient," and slipping on my workout routines. Today was the last straw for me, I've been trying for the past two days to start a 14 day reboot (if you want more information on specific details contact me directly :) ) which will help me cleanse my body of fat, and boost my metabolism. The past couple of days have started out wonderfully and perfectly to plan, but then by dinner I'm falling so far off the wagon that the only thing I can do is start again tomorrow. So I've realized that in order for me to move forward, and seriously want this reboot, is to be completely sick of sugar. And for you who know me, that is no easy feat. But I did it once a few years ago and it's time to saddle up and stay focused and positive. I got this. I will beat this sugar and junk food fix. lol... That is not to say after the 14 days of reboot that I won't have something "off plan" or something sweet but not going back to the person I was a few years ago or even a year ago.

Keep moving forward, and try not to beat yourself up. If you are struggling with exercise or food choices (I don't believe in "diets" persay; that's another post someday), perhaps you need to find someone who will help hold you accountable and work with you until you can comfortably do it on your own.

Stay positive,

Namaste

Goals!

The idea of this post is to show how hard work and commitment pay off. I am sure by the end some of you are going to be saying, how is this a good thing? I know exercise is not to all of you what it has become for me. Even on my days off of exercise I still try to get a walk in or something that doesn't leave me feeling like I did nothing that day. That's a discussion for a different blog post...

When I began on this course of a healthier lifestyle I had a lot of goals. Some I have achieved...buying clothes off the shelf for an example. Some I haven't achieved yet...I am not down to my goal weight yet. Some I am soon to achieve. I will be signing up for 2 local 5k charity run/walks! I know some of you may ask how that is a goal I set in the first place. That is a story I would like to share.

Back in December of 2014, I stepped on a scale and was shocked at what it said. You have all heard that story, but, then I started setting goals of things I wanted to do along the road to my weight loss. I have achieved many of them, this is one I have not achieved. When I started walking, I walked somewhere in the neighborhood of a 32 minute mile. And walking three miles would have left me down and out for days. Let alone doing it for fun, ridiculous. So I said that one of my goals was to register and complete (regardless of time) a 5k race. I have been doing them during workouts for a couple months now and found a couple local ones that fit into my schedule. I am registered to do these 5k's. I have a goal in my head for each of them. Since they are a run/walk I am aiming for a time of 45 minutes or less on the one in June and 40 minutes or less for the one in July. Will I hit these numbers? That is still to be seen. Will I work my ass off to make it in those times? You bet I will!

What are your goals? What are you hoping to achieve this summer? Let us know in the comment section below.

Until next time Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Team Player?

Hello My Spritely Little Spring Time Friends!

Yes, for one day only, it is Spring in my cold little state. Seriously, is summer ever going to get (and stay) here this year?!  But I digress. Shocking I know. Ok, today's topic is are you a team player.

A team player you say? Why yes I did.  Honestly, I normally am not a people person. I much prefer to hide behind my computer screen. BUT, there are times when playing with others is to my benefit. Take this summer for example. Some friends, acquaintances, and strangers, are getting together to join a recreational volleyball team. Normally mass amounts of people watching me exercise ranks up there with public speaking in my book. Or maybe that dream people say they have about going to school and finding out they are naked. Has anyone actually ever had that dream? Can't say I have myself, but I am digressing again. (Better than undressing I guess. <grin>)

Ok, I'll try to focus; team sports. Not that bad if you need or want others to work out with you. As long as you are all on the same page. Is this strictly for fun, or are you out to win it? Make sure you find a group who thinks like you. This will save you a lot of stress and anxiety, and more importantly make it more likely you will show up to the game!  My group is there to have fun. Heck, my daughter is even going to be on my team! Brings back memories of playing on my mom's bowling team when I was a teenager.... Where was I?

Oh yes, the team. Having people you know, love, or just want to hang out with is a great motivator to get your butt off the couch. Most likely you have plunked down a bit o' money to play with those people. Nothing like the thought of wasting money to give you that extra bit of motivation. Or, in my case, I need to make my daughter gets to the game. Kind of hard to drop her off and then say I couldn't make it to the game!!!

Give team sports a try this summer. If you don't like it, at least you've tried. If you find out you did like it, then you will have found a fun way to work out and possibly made some life-long friends!

Until I have more to ramble on about,

UltimateJinx007

Believe

Greetings fellow travelers,
Today's topic is believing in yourself. For years I struggled with truly believing in myself. Believing that I was good enough for this or that, or even in getting to where I want to be with my life.
I've faced rejection, I have faced divorce, I have lost and gained weight, and I have faced so much disbelief in such a short time that it could be overwhelming.
However, when you believe in yourself the (pardon my language) bullshit doesn't matter. When you believe you can do something, you can. You find yourself laughing at the walls that once stood in your way. You realize that when you believe in yourself everything falls into place.
The opposite can also be true, if you don't believe you can do it (whatever it is) then you won't be able to do it.
We use the word "believe" so often, that some lose it's meaning in a deeper sense and not what webster's dictionary says. We hear just believe over and over through various forms that it gets faded or washed out from time to time.
I am here to say that and I hope you feel it: I BELIEVE IN YOU. I BELIEVE IN ME.
I can finally say I BELIEVE in ME because for the first time I truly get what that means to me. That means telling myself that I am good enough, I am worthy of my goals and dreams, I am a warrior. I am believing in myself that I am stronger than before, I am fit. I believe that I can and will do great things in my life. I am a light force that will help others see the light within themselves and help them to BELIEVE again.
One more time in case you really didn't hear me before: I BELIEVE in YOU.
Now look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, Do I BELIEVE in ME? If not, why? What has stopped you from believing you can eat better? What has stopped you from believing you can push yourself just a tad further in your workout?
We are in a transition time, and you make the choice every day to believe or disbelief in that moment what you are going to do. I choose to believe in me and the power I have to go further with my workouts, workout more often again, eat healthier, and believe I'm good enough for myself.
Namaste

Achievements!

Hello Gentle Readers! Happy Monday!

Today I want to talk about achievements and what I mean by that. By now, we should all have our goals and know what it takes to get to them. When we get to that point we call it an achievement. When you achieve something, you usually get something for it right?

You graduate high school - you get a diploma
You get a promotion at work - you get more money

Just to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Yes, you with your hand up?

"How should we award our achievements when it comes to a healthier lifestyle and m9ore exercise?"

Great question and I hope this answer will help you determine what is right for you.

I can't tell you what your reward for your achievement should be, but, I can tell you that it should be in line with the achievement. Let's take this as an example...You set a goal to lose 5 pounds. You achieve this goal, what should you get for your achievement (yes, losing 5 pounds is an achievement)? A trip to the Bahama's right? Wrong. It should be something small, something that makes sense.

That said, it should not be food. That is a horrible way to reward yourself for losing weight.

Find something that makes sense. Ideas? If your goal is 5 pounds, maybe a movie or a date to go bowling. Let's say you do this and you lose 100 pounds or 200 pounds, then what? Well, personally, I am working towards a new tattoo, something that will be a constant reminder of what I have achieved. When I make 200 pounds lost I will be receiving a very expensive tattoo. It will remind me forever what I did to get this and remind me forever why I never want to go through it again.

I don't regret anything I've done or have gone through, that said it hasn't been an easy go. I guess what I am trying to say is find a goal and find a reward and work to it. I have faith in you and you must have faith in yourself.

Until next time, Gentle Reader,

Jaxion Rebel

Lost Information

Good Friday to you!

So I've got a lot to learn. Once upon a time I (thought) I knew a lot about exercising and staying in shape. Unfortunately, the information you don't use, you lose, and I definitely haven't been using it. Plus, the prevailing theories about how to stay in shape seem to change every few years, so I definitely need to spend some time learning.

Before I could figure out what to research though, I needed to figure out what the goal would be. Did I just wanted to generally "stay in shape" or did I want to aim for a particular outcome? What would "stay in shape" mean? What would be the particular goal? So I started thinking about all the physical activities that I either enjoy or would like to try: I already enjoy bicycling, softball, volleyball, hiking, and swimming.  I'd love to try a Warrior Dash, Ragnar race, and type of rock climbing that requires safety gear. Since the rock climbing seems to me to be the hardest, I decided to make that the end goal, with a 5 mile obstacle course race as an intermediate step.

So, now I have to figure out how to achieve those goals. I know I'm going to need both cardio and weightlifting. Ultimately, I'm going to need be able to run for at least 5 miles at a time and I'm going to need to be able to lift my own weight repeatedly for quite a while. I know I need to work on the running, but I also know that I'll be bored stiff if I do nothing but jog all the time. So here's where the research comes in:
Is an elliptical close enough to running to be able to do that a couple of days a week in order to save my joints a bit?

If I swim or bike for long distances, will that help my running and\or my climbing ability?
Is playing sand volleyball once or twice a week a good enough exercise that I can skip the gym that day?  
What muscles do I need to build up in order to be able to rock climb (besides "all of them")?
Which particular weights lifting exercise will build those particular muscles?

It's time to begin the research. I'm sure I'll come up with more questions as I research, and I'll need to find those answers too.

I'll let you know what I find out!

 

Nikki