Hello HCG world. It has been too long since my last post as my summer has gotten much busier and shorter than I expected upon returning to vacation. My master plan was to take the remaining month to just unwind, be a homebody, maybe play a little golf before getting back into the swing of things with school. But, then life stepped in and messed all of that up and consequently I have been doing too much driving and scrambling around the state. So I apologize for the tardiness of this entry and hope to resume twice-a-week entries.
One thing that happened unexpectedly was indeed a tragedy as a lifelong friend, mentor, and second father for me and so many other classmates passed away suddenly on July 21st. Audis Dowell, the father of my best friend suffered a fatal and massive heart attack as he was walking late one afternoon near his home in Ransom Canyon (just East of Lubbock). Audis was a larger than life personality who loved kids more than anything, which is why it was not out of the ordinary to find 15 teenagers at his house at anytime back in the 80's. Audis gave me my love for basketball and taught me importance of team and certainly I don't think I would have ever enjoyed playing or coaching basketball if our paths had never crossed. Thanks for everything Audis - R.I.P. For those interesed I started a Facebook Page entitled "Friends of Audis Dowell" for those who knew and loved Audis to tell their favorite memories about Audis. The outpouring and sentiments were astounding and speaks loudly to how many lives he impacted so positively. Check it out if you like at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Friends-of-Audis-Dowell/121945561233423
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| Audis Dowell (1941 - 1970) |
So, now that I have reached my goal weight and been able to successfully keep it off for quite sometime, I have recently purchased and have began the P90X training program from Beachbody. While in Colorado visiting my sister and her husband, I did a few of the workouts with them and they really kicked my backside, but I was impressed with the science and thought that was put into the program. I think it is a very good option for those of you on maintenance and feel like you have lost enough weight to begin working out regularly. I certainly know that there is no way I could have done the workouts at my former weight, but once I lost my abnormal fat, my body was capable and my mind was right to begin working out again. The P90X is pretty extreme and admittedly I can't complete all the reps right now, but I feel confident that by the time I have finished the 90 day program, I will be able to complete all of it and see a big difference primarily in the toning and shaping of my body as well as having better cardio. Obviously, you would not be able to do the program while on the drop phase, but for those of you now on maintenance or getting off the protocol altogether, I would certainly recommend looking at the products offered by Beachbody. The have other programs such as P90 that are not as extreme or long - it is only a 30 minute workout as opposed to an hour. If you are interested in looking close at these program from Beachbody, email me or call me and I can get you more information and even get the products to you for less than you can purchase them online or in retail stores. I have started a new page on the blog dedicated to my experiences with P90X, so check that out when you can.
I have had several folks just starting the protocol and many that are now on maintenance that still need some ideas about meals or ways to get some variety. I went back and found some pics that I took while on different phases of the protocol and will share a day's menu from both the drop and maintenance phase. The first two pictures below are a sample menu for my lunch and dinner while on the drops. Both meals are approximately 250 calories:
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| Grilled Chicken Breast; Red Leaf Lettuce; WASA Crisp Bread w/homeade salsa; Granny Smith Apple |
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| 96/4 Beef Patty; baby spinach; melbal toast w/salsa; 1/2 grapefruit |
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| 3 Fried Eggs; 6oz. grilled porkchop; 1 plum |
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| 8oz. of grilled chicken thighs (Beyonce Thighs); red leaf lettuce; WASA bread; peach; Stevia soft drink |
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| 12oz T-Bone; Mixed Salad; melba toast, pickle, grilled mango |
Now for some good ol' sarcasm and hopefully what you consider humor as we crack open the D.A.P. Files (Dear Annoying Personality) and take a look at some folks that I recognized lately that do indeed need to be ridiculed. Let us begin . . .
With all due respect, dude, your tattoo is sending us mixed signals. Certainly the brashness and boldness the image of jutting and dangerous metal wrapped around your bicep says, "I'm one tough and hardened hombre, even though I may drive a Prius." But the fact that the tattoo stops before encircling your entire arm tells us another thing altogether. All tattoo experts will tell you that the most tender and painful part of the body to get "inked" is the skin under the arm, and your telling all of the world "I'm not quite tough enough to see this thing through." The irony is rich and comical at your expense. Perhaps you were able to fool your psyche and vulnerable self-esteem purchasing "toughness," but your not fooling anyone else so please, Rambo, cover up that oxymoron-of-a-tattoo the next time you saunter into Starbucks for a latte and a fruit cup.
Dear Oblivious Parents of Monster Children:
This is a restaurant - a place where others like to go and have a pleasant meal and good conversation with family and friends; that is why it is called a dining experience. Unfortunately your gang of pre-adolescence bandits are creating an atmosphere that would make Willy Wonka want to jump off a 20- story building. What's even more amazing than the fact that this band of reckless trouser-sniffers are emitting shrieks and screams that have drowned all the other patrons conversations out, tripped up two of the wait staff, and hurled more food around the restaurant than a college food fight is that you, the life-givers of these "goonies" are seemingly unaware of it all. The occasional, "now kids, if you can't sit there and wait for your food without, blowing spit bubbles, we may have to have a time-out." Timeout? Timeout? What these hellians needs is a knockout. So please do the rest of us a favor and take your liberal parenting ideas and books, along with your lil' monsters to the closest Chucky Cheese and let the rest of us who, incidently, locked our heathens in the car, enjoy our overpriced dinner.
We get it - you love your wife; she is awesome, she "completes you." We figured you thought all of these things when we attended your nuptuals years ago. But do we really need you to recite vows to her daily on Facebook. I mean, honestly, they were the worst part of your wedding ceremony, and now your "friends" have to endure and relive the sappiness several times each day. Are you truly amazed about the way your wife looks in the morning, her gentle approach to parenting, her green thumb, or her to-die-for lasagna? Are you really so considerate of her to have to "check with the boss," or "get a hall pass" to go watch a Rangers game or play a round of golf? Or could it be that you are simply whipped and afraid that your better half may beat you to a pulp if she discovers your old flame from college who just had a face lift and boob job recently "friended" you? Do you post each night with her standing over her shoulder with wooden spoon clutched and ready? Please realize Facebook is a social network, that can be potentially dangerous for all involved, and not your personal Hallmark card for everyone to see. So unless you posting pics of your wifey in her new bikini or doing yoga, lets hear more about grilling, fishing, or that old college friend with the overhaul!
Until next time, try to stay cool and keep dropping those pounds. I'm out!
