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Taking Freedom For Granted – Not Me

Inspiration, Loosing Weight, The Why I Needed to Loose 1 Response »

May 312010

I am reminded during Memorial day weekends of people that have come and gone in my life. I remember my grandfather that has passed from cancer and who fought in a World War only to came back with his faith challenged from the tragedies he saw. I still remember his questioning the existence of God and the stories he told me. I remember my dad who died of cancer yet lived the life of a proud Marine even though his service time led to a broken back and a life of pain. I remember my good friend Jim who fought with his weight and struggled with diabetes all his life only to swiftly die too young. I remember each one and what they taught me. They taught me freedom isn’t Free, it has to be fought for.

: Image via Wikipedia

Each one stood for the idea that if we want freedom’s in our life we have to go after them. We have to claw, fight, struggle and seek those freedoms. Many would offer easy solutions but dedication and work was needed to get out of life the things that many people take for granted. By nature we all seek the easy road, but by design only those things that become habit and purpose will stay with us. Our life choices will determine the outcome, not some cosmic spinning wheel of fate or luck.

This comes to our health as well. We have choices presented to us moment by moment. Eat this, don’t eat that. It is all choices that will determine our weight loss or weight gain. It will determine if our body will operate at optimal health or something less than. It is never just simple calories in versus calories out. There is no quick fix although there are choices that will take us where we want to be faster. But like all choices we have to make the ones that will take us where we want to go. It gets down to choosing health or illness. Freedom or something less.

So today I choose to keep fighting for health. Fighting to help others find it. Taking on a different battle but taking in on with everything I have. Why? Because I have a legacy of fighters in my life that taught me that “Freedom in any area of life is worth fighting for!” And I take nothing away from the battles and the struggles those very dear to me fought. Today like many days I still hear them say to fight the good fight no matter where you find your battle. Live life to the fullest and help those who would come along beside you. For many people died so that you might have those choices to make each day.

Losing Weight and Gaining Life

Athletics and Sports, Diet and Nutrition, Health Coaching, Loosing Weight 1 Response »

May 262010

Walking to a first place win

This month has been a new milestone for me. I have won two first place awards in sporting events in one month. Now for many of you that would seem like old hat. I knew your types and their abilities my whole life. I just was never on a first place team or came in first on any sporting event in my life. This month I received a first place ribbon in a 5k walk for my age bracket and our volleyball team won the university staff tournament for staff appreciation week.

Now for you folks that have been good at sports getting 2 first place awards in a month might seem small. Stop for a moment and imagine being in your 50’s and never having taken first place before. Twice in one month seems like a life changing event. In fact it was due to a lifestyle change that it came about.

I now know why people who are good at sports seem to walk a little taller. It feels good to compete honestly and win. Win with humility and not in their face but win none the less. Imagine a whole lifetime of never winning and you understand why someone might give up the idea of ever winning at anything. I have lived my life thinking I would never win. It did keep me from trying until the last couple of years.

Rick Dorey Great Idaho Potato Marathon 2010

Still moving at the end

After I lost my weight someone suggested trying for a 5k run. My first one I did some training and came in better than some but didn’t place at all. The great thing was it keep me focused in trying to improve. I found I could get faster. I found I could run longer. I found that I could train for a purpose that was as much about me as it was the people I was working with to improve their health and fitness.

The results are, it continues to motivate family and friends to do more for their health. They remember when they couldn’t get me off the couch, or to garden, heck even sometimes to just go visit somewhere. I was too tired. I was too sick. It gives them hope. I get the benefit of enjoying more life. I believe because of my choices to lose weight that people in my life and those yet to come along will live longer, more enjoyable lives. And that my friends is a prize worth winning.

Tobey and April not far behind

I say if I can do it I can help someone else do it. What say you? Your comments are welcome!

Weight Loss – You can’t afford not to.

Diet and Nutrition, Health and Fitness News, Loosing Weight 2 Responses »

May 032010

Many of you interested in health and fitness probably follow TV shows like “The Biggest Loser” and the new one with Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution”. What you don’t probably see is what is going on in the background. Obesity and the costs of it are becoming more and more talked about. Our policy makers, you know the guys and gals that just got you “free” medical insurance, are looking at the costs of a society that continues to struggle with weight issues.

: Image by SavaTheAggie via Flickr

I came across this article Jamie Oliver Trims the Fiscal Fat that you might find a good read. It shows a growing trend (pun intended) that when it comes time to trim some budgets obesity will be one of the areas that is looked at very closely. The article in fact mentions that obesity related illness in this country costs us over 90 Billion a year. Now if you have been following the deficit numbers you will know that curbing that spending could easily become a priority.

Having felt the stigma of obesity I can tell you now is the time to rethink your comfort level with being overweight. You can look in the mirror all you want and be happy with yourself. I in fact hope that you are. The question is with all this information coming out about costs of obesity, will an employer looking at you, just be looking at your qualifications or will they take into consideration your health and costs to the company.

Another number included in the article was a estimate at what obesity costs an individual (that would be your costs) for obesity over a lifetime. It was $29,000 in added health care costs. So I ask you do you think it is time to take notice? Is it time to take this issue and do something about it? I have seen obesity when it was mostly a non-issue cost people their jobs as well as their health. I don’t think our planners that feel like they are responsible to “take care” of us will let this one slide much longer.

Why Be A Health Coach – Part 2 The Health Coaches Role

Athletics and Sports, Diet and Nutrition, Exercise Help, Loosing Weight No Responses »

Apr 092010

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 04: Clients work...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of being a coach or a client of a coach it is helpful to understand the reason for the need of a coach. I hear it all the time. I can do weight loss and achieve health on my own. I have one honest answer to that. If you can then why aren’t you? When you look in the mirror are you happy with what you see? Why aren’t you at your optimal health then?

You see in today’s faced paced world many of us don’t have time to focus on all the education we need to optimize our health. I know personally I have worked on this journey for 20 years before I made the decision to focus all my spare time in that direction. Sure I had to give some things up. What I have gotten back was well worth the journey. Now it is a focus and one of my biggest purposes in life. Many of my clients simply can’t devote the time. Coaches are primarily self-made, self-developed. They work on themselves continually, learning, growing, and becoming more capable and competent over the years.

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

People want results. They want the most effective use of their time and commitment to their health. A good coach can make all the difference if they are wasting their time or getting the most out of it. Why do you think when people yo-yo diet they often fail their attempts to lose weight and keep it off? It is because they don’t understand what is going on within their body when they diet.

Many give up even before they lose any amount of weight because they can’t figure out how to create a plan for themselves. They simply don’t have the time for it. But do they have time for the illness that will follow if they don’t do it? No, this is where you come in as a coach. You spend the time to sort through the noise of why they are where they are now and how to get to where they want to be. You help to create an individual plan for their success. You bring the panel of experts with you to make it all work.

After you get them going then your role shifts a bit. You still measure and adjust the plan, however your main role is to believe in them and inspire them to be accountable to their plan. Your goal is to get them to believe in themselves. It is important to work towards always raising that level of belief in themselves. This by the way is another area where many dieters have given up.

Look for the next in our Why Be a Health Coach – Part 3 Who to Coach.

Growing Your Own and Losing Weight

Exercise Help, Health and Fitness News, Inspiration, Loosing Weight No Responses »

Apr 022010

No this is not an article on how to raise pot and lose weight, it is about growing your own food and getting some exercise while doing. An added benefit has been some quality time with both my wife and son as we work together to completely redo our backyard.

For the last 4 nights (with many more to follow) we have been working on moving what would be a dump truck load of dirt around the yard. Because our back yard was part of the Boise river many, many years ago, it is full of rock of various sizes. We have to shift the rocks out as we prepare it to go into some raised beds we are doing square-foot gardening with this year. There is also the digging out of spots to put the new sifted dirt into the raised bed area.

: Image via Wikipedia

Come to find out the approximate calories per hour for a 150 pound person (not me) is 350 calories per hour. For me it is closer to 460 but we will use the 350 number to illustrate a point. One hour of digging would then equate to the following food intake to put things into perspective: The numbers on the right under the Cals column are the calories per serving.

These numbers from Calorie Count at About.com

Quantity	Description	Cals
1.3	Grande Starbucks Caffe Latte – Made with whole milk	272
0.5	McDonald’s Big Mac – With cheese	704
4.3	Glasses of wine (3.5 fl oz)	79
1.2	Snickers Bar	273
1.6	Cans of Coca-Cola	207
11.3	Carrots	30

Translated, it means that it would take a 150 person two hours of shoveling to burn off a Big Mac or 1.3 cups of a Grande from Starbucks. We wonder why 15 mins on a treadmill and a few other exercises don’t cut it for weight loss. It all depends on energy in versus energy out. I tease my wife that each night I have earned the right for a donut. Truth is donuts are once in a while treats these days and figured into the total for that day. Unlike in the past where it was nothing for me to eat 6 or more in one sitting and eat the rest of my meals that day.

Lesson for the day, it takes a whole lot more effort to burn off calorie dense food than it does the few minutes that it takes to eat it.

Happy Birthday to Me

Inspiration, Loosing Weight, The Why I Needed to Loose 1 Response »

Mar 242010

: Image via Wikipedia

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a day of mixed emotions and feelings as birthdays normally are for me. My wife remembered as did many of my friends on Facebook. My son remembered by giving me an extra special dose of a hard time. My mother chose to be mad enough with me not to call so I had to deal with those emotions. Then at work the usual happened, I fell through the crack of the usual card and well wishes system we have there. All in all it was a very normal day, some sweetness, some sorrow and a lot of gratefulness for the good things in life.

But this morning I am reflecting on my own age and where I am. I am coming up on the first year anniversary of my 100 pound weight loss. The middle of April last year I went back to eating what I wanted and how I wanted. I looked at that this morning and realized after another year in my life I am in better shape than I was 30 years ago. I can do things that I couldn’t do physically and mentally. I am stronger all the way around. I have given myself the gift of life and as a weight loss coach I am able and willing to give it to others.

This time last year I felt like I had arrived. I had reached my big goal in life. Now I realize I am just getting started. This month alone I started working with three new health coaches. These people will join me in making a difference to people. Being there with them in a journey that can often challenge people to their core. The rewards are there each step of the way but it often feels like a hill that cannot be climbed. It is great to walk side by side with some one and say, of course you can do this, look how far you have come already.

Today then I am grateful for all the new friends I have. I am grateful for my journey even when that last step might seem a bit harder. And I am grateful that my spirit has moved me in the direction it has. I can’t express the joy I have being involved with so many good friends and people that are taking on the same journey. Optimal health is a journey, weight loss is just a beginning. Loosing weight is just the start of the search for better health and happiness. Come and join us!

So you think your doctor is going to help your weight loss?

Health and Fitness News, Loosing Weight 1 Response »

Feb 032010

I often find myself giving doctors a bad rap when it comes to weight loss care and obesity treatment. I use my own experience and in the back o f my mind I start thinking “Well on all the other fronts he seems like a good doctor.” Then I run across something like this report included in this video and I am reminded that obesity is a problem on many fronts. One of which is fair treatment of the individual.

Imagine if you will walking into your doctor and telling them you have a symptom that may be extremely important if you where normal weight and they would run all kinds of tests to find out what was going on. The same symptoms on an obese person might get, oh that is just a symptom of your weight, loose some weight and lets see if it continues.

Take a look at the video clip …

Obesity doesn’t pay at the doctor’s office

Now we all know that not all doctors are the same. I don’t want to start another prejudice in this country we have enough as is. What I will say over and over again is if your doctor won’t talk honestly with you about your weight, find one that will. Do not go years with the idea it is all your fault and all you have to do is work harder and eat less. Also be wary when they go to the other extreme and tell you that you have no self control so the only answer is surgery or pills.

Find a doctor that will discuss your options fully and look at you like a regular person with a medical condition, not some one that they don’t want to take proper care of because they judge you as someone that doesn’t want to take care of yourself.

I want to thank the folks at Obesity Thunder Bay for their emails bringing this type of information to my attention. The more you know the better you can take care of yourself.

Older Entries Newer Entries

Coach To Lose

Taking Freedom For Granted – Not Me

Losing Weight and Gaining Life

Weight Loss – You can’t afford not to.

Why Be A Health Coach – Part 2 The Health Coaches Role

Growing Your Own and Losing Weight

Happy Birthday to Me

So you think your doctor is going to help your weight loss?

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