Tomorrow starts today

So often, we are stricken with guilt over what could have been, what ought to have been, and what should be. We are quick to form these grand plans in our minds about where we see ourselves personally, professionally, and with regard to our self care. Many will say there is always tomorrow. I disagree. Tomorrow's successes are the direct result of not your words, but rather your actions today.

The time is coming for resolutions to be made and broken. Remade and re-broken. It is easy given how unproven and shaky in support as our surroundings can be at times. Companies make billions of dollars off folks like us who, as soon as we take that first step towards self care, they know we are destined for failure and several subsequent attempts to make good on the age old promise to ourselves to just "be better."

January 1st is right around the corner. What positive changes have you already made in your life that have put you on the road to better self care in 2009? Do not put off until tomorrow that which you can accomplish today. If the changes you want to implement are genuine in nature, and if you are completely behind them with every ounce of your very being, there is no reason to get a head start on the rest of the human race.

Do something good for yourself now. Do it now. Do it today. Get a head start on the new year and the rest of your life.

The Decision Has Been Made

Well, the time has come to stop fretting about this thing. After much thought, discussion with my wife who is my absolute rock of support, and folks who either have the Marine Corps Marathon ("MCM") on their Marathon Bucket List or have done it already, this is the race for me. The organization, the crowd support, the pride, the course (serious hills in the first 8 miles, by the way), and the location just seem to make this a good choice for me.

How often can we run right next to the Washington Monument or the White House or the Pentagon with closed streets? Neither my dad nor my uncles were in the Marines but, you know, I think I am able to look past that... Rather, I will be proud to have a member of our armed forces place that finisher's medal around my neck when I cross the finish line.

Some have told me that my first marathon will be like another prior first in my life... full of sound and fury signifying nothing (i.e. will not live up to the hype). I disagree. Being a part of the MCM is something that, really, I am not sure how it could not inspire me more.

I am looking forward to registration, training, and getting there. I truly feel at peace with this. Now, the fun part... Training.

Be well.

Why do we want that which we do not have?

I have seen it for years... People seemingly with everything compared to my presumably nothing. Someone else is skinner, did it easier, did not struggle as much as I did, or fail as much as I failed. Surely they must also be happier than me as a result of that. Maybe. Maybe not.

Obviously though, the grass is not always greener. Ease in one's pursuit should not imply happiness. If I have said it once, I have said it too many times... A large part of the reward is in the toil and effort put into your journey.

Yet why still am I almost always intrigued by those who take a different path on their journey (i.e. an easier path or, better, one of less resistance)?

My prior life (and, I would argue, partial current life) of self-deprecation, self-abuse, self-neglect - perhaps better, ignorance - has made me into the person I am today, for better or for worse is up for discussion. But the desire for the easy way out, which referring to it that way is perhaps presumptuous on my part, is nothing more than to short change myself on that which will truly right the wrongs of my past work. To not struggle, to not put forth all of the effort I have to make myself right or, perhaps a better word is "better", through self-care really is to eliminate perhaps the biggest prize of them all - knowing that it was earned and not given, achieved by effort, and the understanding of all that went into it.

Perhaps I am making excuses for the willful desire to torture myself with this long, drawn out process. Just perhaps. But I still believe there is something more there to be had. What I have is truly mine. Granted, I am not to where I want to be just yet. Yet I think as time goes on I will be less attracted to the shiny, packaged alternative of an easier way compared to the lessons I have learned/am learning. My appreciation and respect for this process, for my own self-care, to understand the effort that went in to get me to where I am now and where I want to be down the road, will only go to further strengthen my resolve to ensure that I will never be that way again.

Progress Report [of sorts]: 10 December 2008

Well, what's to report, really...

I have not run in a little over a week due to the simple fact that my running has felt, for lack of a better word, horrendous. The contorted way in which my stride has evolved moves me to tears with every single step. So, something had to be done. Hovering around the 240-ish mark makes me even more weepy, really.

Thanks to the help of a good friend who just so happens to be a phenomenal physical therapist, I am on a path to getting back out on the roads. Lots of stretching and strengthening of the lower back, continued work on the core muscles, and a prescription for custom orthotics are in order. That and, of course, losing the remaining weight on my frame. That kind of goes without saying though.

So, it will be a couple of weeks without my believed running shoes. No long slow runs, no tempos, no intervals. None of it. I find it hard right now to even read about running even though I have some books to sift through in an attempt to formulate a marathon training plan.

Ahh yes... The marathon issue. I am aiming for the Kiawah Island Marathon in December of 2009. My thought process, flawed as it may be, includes reducing my weight [somewhat], getting back on the road, and building a solid base of 20-ish miles per week between now and the start of May. Then, it is all about training for 26.2. TWENTY-SIX point TWO.

I must be insane.

Progress report: 25 November 2008

Little to report today. I am taking today off after my 62:00 run yesterday morning. I will put runs in tomorrow, Friday, and likely on Saturday as well. My right hamstring is still noticeably tight. I know this has been linked to a hip flexor issue for the better part of 6 months, but I just cannot seem to shake it. I am doing my best to be mindful of it, but another trip to the massage therapist may be in order.

So I sat home last night and watched videos from the Philadelphia Marathon. Of course, I was completely sucked into the emotion and grandeur of the whole thing. The question keeps popping into my mind... Can I really do that? I wonder. I truly wonder.

But then I think back to the No Boundaries groups I have been coaching. Surely when they started off on their respective journeys they felt some sense of trepidation, some inkling of doubt. The initial intervals of 90 seconds of running must have seemed like an eternity for some of them. In fact, they told me as much... OFTEN. This, for me, is really no different than that.
I preach all the time that our bodies want to be progressively more and more active. However it is our minds which work to prevent our bodies from doing that which they were obviously built to acheive... MOVE. My most negative thinking with regard to distance running usually comes during the tougher part of a training run... My mind, in an attempt to shut down the whole operation, will do anything and everything to debilitate my efforts and put me on a fast track including little more than the couch, the refrigerator and, if I am lucky, the bathroom.

So, in the end, it really is nothing more complicated than mind over matter. I don't mind running so long as I don't let my brain matter, well, matter. Pushing that mental edge of the equation is truly the great variable in the equation of self-care. Each person's value attached to that variable is different. Some can push to the N-th degree without even thinking about it. Me, I tend to want to cave in. During my first half marathon, I wanted to stop. I really did. The last three (3) miles were the worst I have ever run in my life in every way imagineable. I thought about cutting across the line during the little out-and-back part. I even thought about quitting altogether. What was I ever thinking when I signed up for this thing?

But something funny happened on the way to the Forum... I did it. I stopped listening to my mind and just went. Now, when I finished, I WAS finished. No doubt there. But there was no real sense of regret for having done it. Rather, the first thing that popped into my mind was: "What's next?"

Well, I think I found it. The third Sunday in November, 2009. The Philadelphia Marathon. I am not sayin'. I'm just sayin'. It's a thought. Hopefully, my brain will not get too much in the way.

Who knew re-gifting could feel so good?

Having the opportunity – let alone the ability – to create something tangible is a goal that many of us have. Some create art, save lives, write books, and erect structures. While these are all noble pursuits, to affect other peoples’ lives in a positive manner, to help them see not only the beauty and potential in themselves but also in others may perhaps be the best of all.

The time I have had over the past year to work with, mentor, and help beginner runners, would-be healthier folks, and otherwise individuals who just wanted to feel good about something (anything!) has been nothing short of priceless. Having lived the way that I have lived, having neglected the way I have neglected, having thought the way I have thought, it is no small miracle that I am still here, working on my own self-care plan while at the same time, trying to help so many others flush out their own self-doubt.

People continue to ask me why I continue to coach beginning runners… The answer could not be more simple. The pride I have in the people with whom I have trained pales in comparison to the joy I see when they take what they have learned and apply it not only to their own daily lives, but when it is re-gifted to others. It has been my experience that people truly want to absorb the information, motivation, and tools they want and need to develop and maintain their self-care plans. The real gift, to me, is seeing them repackage those tools and pass them along to others. The gift that keeps on giving…

You have something to offer someone else with that which you have learned. Rest assured. Passing that gift along to someone else who may be in the same position you were some time ago is perhaps the most gratifying thing you can do aside from your personal accomplichments. You have these gifts inside of you. Much like this self-care plan you are developing, which needed nothing more than a swift little unearthing, you have these things inside of you.

Take what you have learned and share it with others. They may nod in a somewhat empty, listening-to-the-in-laws kind of way, but I guarantee at least some of your message will stick. Let them know from where you came. Explain to them how you have toiled to get to where you are. Then, tell them where you want to be going forward. Your heart will swell with a unique sense of self-pride the likes of which may have never felt. But think of the person who receives your gift. If you have packaged it well, complete with an appealing bow to tie it all together, odds are good that your gift will be re-gifted from them to someone else. Now, look at what you have started…

So I ask you… How will you re-gifted that which you have been given? And to whom?

Race Report and Random Musings

Well... Where to begin. As always, so many things to write, so little time to reduce them to written form.

Suffice to say, my training for the Spinx Runfest Half Marathon did not exactly come off without its fair share of hitches. Quite the contrary. I could not seem to stay physically healthy, no matter what I did. Initially it was a seriously pulled/strained right hamstring (thanks to some bad hip flexors). Then it was really bad shin splints due to some poor shoe choices. As if that was not enough, six days prior to the race, I came down with a terrible cold.

Nevertheless, I stand before you (well, sit really) victorious. It was not pretty from a style perspective, but in my mind it was a thing of beauty. The day (25 October 2008) started out almost perfect. Cloud cover, a little warmer than expected (55-ish) and a light rain.

I got the starting line with about 12 minutes until the starting gun. I did some light running to loosen up my body, but the cold I had been battling left me really whipped, and I felt it. I really started second guessing the run. It was at that point that I made one promise to myself... just get to mile 3. I made the mistake, however, of wearing a long sleeve albeit thin pullover. By mile 2 I wanted to tear the thing off ala Hulk Hogan. By mile 3, I slowly started to find my rhythm, which was about normal for me. My biggest fear was going out too fast, but I ran consistent mile splits that were well within my range. I was thrilled. Mile 7 started the most challenging 3 miles of the course, filled with more hills than I would have liked. Still, I pressed on, tackled every water stop like a champ, swigging a little water, dumping a little on me to cool down. By mile 10, I was starting to feel the wear and tear. My longest training run had been 10.5 miles (twice, actually), so the mental aspect of carrying on past that point slowly (no, quickly) entered into my mind. Through some deep inflection and concentration, mostly thinking about my late uncle's battle with prostate cancer, it was clear I could not quit. He never did. Neither would I.

The finish of this particular race was cool as the finish line was at home plate of the local minor league baseball team's stadium. As I entered the stadium from right field, I knew I only had a little further to go. My legs (and mind) were jello. I rounded the outfield and made the stretch run down the third base line. I would love to sit here and tell you how I sprinted to glory at the end, but I cannot. I had nothing left. Nothing. I said a quick prayer, crossed the finish line and saw not only my fantastic wife, but also the vast majority of my No Boundaries group that I had been training, waiting on me to finish. I could not have asked for a better welcome.

I completed my first ever half marathon in 2:17:14.

To the extent possible, I hopped the wall, slogged up the steps and claimed my medal. Suffice to say, I am still carrying it with me as we speak until I can find a suitable resting place for it.

I learned a great deal about myself not only training for this race, but also during and after the race. I am still not sure it has settled in that I did what I did. Odd. I know I was there. My still sore legs tell me so. I guess it comes down to that little yet omnipresent demon inside of me that, even while I was out there running those last few miles, still tried to tell me that it was okay to give up, acceptable to quit. My history of doing just that is long. But this time I didn't. I wouldn't. Some have told me that their bodies quit on them long before their minds do when it comes to distance races. For me, it was the exact opposite. I cannot remember a time when I was more proud of myself for neglecting my own thoughts.

I am a very proud person today. I am proud of my wife for completing her first ever 5K (under my tutelage, of course). I am proud of my No Boundaries group (all 35 of them) for completing their 5Ks with gigantic smiles on their faces. Lastly I am proud of myself for doing the exact opposite of that which I have long been known to do.

Who knew?

Progress Report: August 4, 2008

Things are going well, overall. The more I focus, the less I think and, dare I say, the more I am true to myself, the more I realize just how important this journey is to me. To be angered to no end about not making progress in my journey while, all the long, knowing fully well that I was not doing all of the things necessary to make that dream of success a reality was, well, idiotic. I am focused now on recording all of the things that I consume. Alcohol is not the mainstay in my lifestyle that it may once have been - for whatever reason. This too is a learning experience. It is something that, if I really put my mind, heart, and soul into it, I have no doubt in my mind that success will follow.

Garbage in, garbage out, indeed. I now know why I have felt like such crap for so long. I may have been running, I may have "said" I was watching what I ate. But ultimately, I was too busy making excuses to justify my bad choices to really see what I was doing - i.e. giving myself an out to go back to the way I was over 100 lbs ago.

Strange...

But nevertheless, I digress. The running is going well. I am toying with the notion of running after work during the week. The morning thing is, well, shaky at best. We shall see. The long runs are progressing nicely. I logged a 1:15 run (about 7 miles) this past Saturday, and truly enjoyed it. It is crucial for me now, just as much as it will be on the day of the half marathon, to remember that this is fun. Just as it is easy to forget that I am a runner, it is equally as easy to forget that this was, is, and will continue to be fun for me. Losing that feeling would be to lose my soul, my driving force on this journey. Yes, I said it. Running is fun... and amazing, and beautiful, and challenging, and the best thing that has ever happened to me outside of my lively wife. Life, my friends, is not all bad.

Be well.

Progress Report: July 26, 2008

Obviously, in case you have not noticed already, the tone of my posts is generally much improved after a run...

Week 2 of the official half marathon training plan is in the books and, I have to say, I am feeling alright. Granted, I have not done anything to date that I have not done at some point before. Although the intervals and tempo run were a bit shocking to the system. I feel good, mentally and physically. And right now, both are crucial.

I have recently learned something with regard to my wanting to find ways to give up... Brick walls, whether self-imposed or otherwise, are meant to show us that which we really desire. That is, if we want something bad enough, we will work through anything to make it happen. By the time this whole mini-journey of mine is done, I will have run a half marathon. I am sure, at a few points throughout the run, I will want to quit, mentally or physically, or all around. But this is something I want to acheive so much for myself. To see if I can do it. To take that next step in my life.

Where that next step leads is anyone's guess.

Feel free to check out my online Fit Day journay to make sure I am eating right and getting in my exercise. The weight is slowly rectifying itself. While weight loss is not THE goal in training for this half marathon, running at a lighter weight seems VERY appealing to me.

Be well, friends.

Progress Report: July 22, 2008

Well, things are definitely progressing. I am into the early stages of my Half Marathon training plan and seem to be moving along just fine. This morning, despite my best efforts to avoid it, I had my first taste of intervals and really enjoyed it. Thursday will be my first shot at a tempo run followed by Saturday's long slow jaunt.



Slowly but surely, I am getting to feel dialed in on all levels. I am [again, slowly] regaining my form with regard to my eating. This is nothing short of a miracle. Four week ago, I was down to 226 lbs. Two days ago, I was 238 lbs. Perhaps I was just retaining some water...



*sigh*



I know this is a process. However it never ceases to amaze me at just how easy it has been for me, historically, to add weight. It is painfully upsetting at times, when I really think about it. But ultimately I am the one in control of my self-care plan and my decision making processes. I have done the bad. Now it is time to continue my form in doing the good.



This Half Marathon in October is about a lot of things for me. People will often ask me why I run. Sometimes I will give the company line that I love the way it makes me feel and the freedom of mind and body it offers when I am on the roads. Really though, as I am still fighting my demons, I am still running away from things just as much as I am running towards a goal or event. Perhaps this will change as time goes on and I continue to learn about myself. Perhaps not.

I am just happy I can run at all.

On Monday, it al begins...

Starting this coming Monday, July 14, 2008, I will start training for something I truly felt I would never attempt - a Half Marathon. Specifically, the Spinx RunFest Half Marathon, scheduled for October 25th. This is yet another reminder to me of how far I have come and where I have yet to venture. I will learn a great deal about myself over the next few months. I will post regular weekly updates on this Blog as to my progress. Stay tuned...

Where Have I Been?

Oh the more things change, the more they stay the same. As I sit here typing, sore still from the Candlelight Run 5K this past Saturday, I am still grinning some. Something so simple as a run like that, a run for which I did not train and, admittedly was carrying around "some" extra weight. Needless to say, I am proud of myself not for running the race at all, but for accepting the challenge I put down.

I truly wanted to run as hard as I could, just to see what I had in the tank. Those of you who know me and swing by this Blog often know I have been battling a nasty hamstring injury for some time to the point that, combined with some serious lack of motivation, I think I ran all of TWICE in the two weeks leading up to this race. If nothing else, the hamstring was well rested. But I sit here proud and with some semblance of a focused re-dedication.

If anyone knows that this journey, this self-care plan is not an overnight thing, it should be me. I cannot lie... Sometimes I forget that. Nevertheless, back in the saddle I sit. Re-energized by the act of running - placing one foot in front of the other in a repeated fashion. So simple yet so vital in so many ways.

I ran for about 40 minutes tonight. It probably should have been more of a 30-35 minute run, but I would not be me if I did not push it a little bit. I will take this slow for the next few weeks, running 3 times per week. Praying things hold form, I may add one more short run but I will not run more than 4 days per week in getting ready for the half marathon in October. For me, that just may be overkill. We shall see.

But for now, I am going back to grinning.

Be well.

Progress Report: June 1, 2008

Well, I did it again... Seemingly on a whim, I registered for the Sunrise 8K run for June 14th in Simpsonville. It should be fun and I am really looking forward to it. I know I have not posted for a while - things have been crazy. That said, I am sitting firm at 236.2 right now - and I am somewhat okay with that, considering all that has happened over the past several months. I am back in weight loss meetings, which will certainly help as far as accountability is concerned. And for me, it is all about the accountability. Is it ever.

Be well.

Well, now I went and did it!

In what appears to have been a fit of idiocy, I registered yesterday for the 2008 Spinx Runfest Half Marathon. It will be held on Saturday, October 25th. Of course, I am exagerrating a bit on the "idiocy" part. Suffice to say, there is a lot of work to be done between now and then.

My food consumption of late has been of questionable quality and thanks to this nagging right hamstring injury, I have not really been able to run as consistently as I would like. Right now, it is more along the lines of 3-4 days per week.

Ultimately, the goal right now is to get to July pain-free and with some kind of consistent mileage base (15 miles, perhaps) before really ramping up the training. I am leaning towards time-based training as compared to mileage-based. I think it will be easier for me to track and, let's face it, with my Type A personality, simplifying things may not be such a bad idea.

So, that's it. I am all registered and ready to go. I feel somewhat confident in being able to finish, but it will be getting to the starting line healthy which will prove to be the first mahor obstacle.

I will continue to post updates on a weekly basis as my way of "checking in". Feel free to post you comments along the way.

Be well!

Recap: 7th Annual Safe Harbor Run

In honor of Mother's Day, Safe Harbor held their 7th Annual Harbor Run (on Saturday, May 10, 2008). The 8k run started and finished at Fluor Field, the home of the Greenville Drive. The route included downtown Greenville and Cleveland Park. Vicky Echeverria was the overall female winner while Orinthal Striggles took the top honors for the men followed by Tim Briles (top picture). Safe Harbor states the run is "The Upstates Race Against Domestic Violence".

The race director, Sheila McCullough (bottom picture), owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Greenville, spent countless hours coordinating with her staff and a dedicated group of volunteers to make this event fantastic for everyone involved. The course route, slightly adjusted from years past, offered a great balance of rolling hills and scenic views of downtown Greenville on this beautiful Saturday morning. Many thanks go out to all who were involved including all of the sponsors, volunteers, participants, and spectators.

Note: Portions this post (italicized) and photographs were taken from The Greenville News and full credit is given to the paper and its staff.

Progress Report: May 12, 2008

Slow and steady wins the race, so they say... I have been repeating that sentiment over and over again lately. I am down a little more to 232.2, so the progress is still there. I could not be happier. I know that the key is making better decisions more often than not. Easier said than done. But it really is true. In times like this when it is all about trying to be as consistent as possible, the minor victories turn into major ones.

I could not be happier with the snail's pace I am on...

Be well.

Progress Report: April 29, 2008

I figured it had been long enough since I have last visited the scale. Down slightly to 235.2. I am thrilled with that. Sure, it is a slow process - as it should be. This is for all intent and purposes a marathon. Not a sprint.

I have not been able to run very much within the past couple of weeks thanks to this nagging hamstring injury and I do not think I will for at least another week or two. So it is resistance training and stationary biking for me.

No date-specific deadlines for me. No high-end rewards waiting for me at the end (at this point). Right now it is all about simply doing what I know needs to be done. Period.

If only it were always that simple.

Be well.

Heed the call...

When did you first contemplate taking that initial step? How much time has passed? How many times have we put it on the back burner?

For me, it was the better part of 32 years. Thirty-two years. That is an incredibly long time to ignore oneself, but that is exactly what I did. That first step on my journey - my self-care plan, if you will - was one of the more difficult things I have ever done in my life. I was a life long obese child, adolescent, and adult who ballooned to 340 pounds. I was, for all intent and purposes, a statue. I could not walk very much due to back pain and and neurological issues that went along with it. Essentially, merely existing was a problem for me. I rarely if ever left the friendly confines of my own abode. Why? It took far too much effort. I was frustrated, angry, and depressed.

Sure, there were some out there who "tried" to get me on the path. One doctor told me to "push away from the table a little sooner", another prescribed weight loss pills that were not even approved by the F.D.A., and yet another said the key was common sense. While the latter advice was not exactly inaccurate, it was clear that I had none of that.

I kept making assurances to myself that the next day would be different. I would really do it this time - starting Monday. Heaven knows, I could never start a self-reclamation project on the weekend! Those were the days for me to be "normal". Unfortunately for me, "normal" days included far too much indulgence and too little common sense when it came to my own self-care. I am no genius, that I will freely admit. But how ignorant I was to listen to all of my own excuses and justifications for simply not taking care of myself.

Then suddenly, one day, it clicked. I cannot tell you what day it was and I am not sure that it matters. It was not an epiphany really or even a traumatic event. It was just an ordinary day when I could swear I heard the starting gun go off in my head, heart, and soul. That was the beginning of the rest of my life.

Normally, a fresh start on a self-care plan for me included swift and assured failure. But this time was seemingly very different. I resigned myself to accepting the fact that every day would be a learning experience. If I would fall, I would pick myself back up, dust myself off, and learn from it. If I make a bad food choice, or miss a chance to exercise, or do not get enough rest, I would not beat myself up over it. Rather I would do the best I could going forward.

Remember folks, we were given eyes in the front of our heads and not in the back, so we can see where we are going. Not where we have been.

Far too many people think that health and wellness is difficult. Nothing could be further from the truth. It all starts with making one small change whether it is watching what you eat a little more closely, eating cleaner (i.e. fruits and vegetables, foods that are not processed or processed as little as possible), getting a little more active, or something. ANYTHING! It is not about being perfect, all of the time. No one can do that. Rather it is about being better more often than not. To win the war of self-preservation, with your trusty self-care plan by your side, you merely need to win more battles than you lose. Obviously, the more battles you win, the better you are in the long run. Once you take that first step, you are already a winner for having started caring for yourself again and, for some of us, for the first time.

Listen for the starting gun. Do not let 30-plus years get by you before you hear that gun go off in your head, heart, and soul. Listen for that call. Take it, and go with it. Your body wants to be active and healthy, by its very nature. We are the only ones who are keeping that from happening!

Take that first step. While it may not seem like much on the surface, it is the first step of this never-ending journey of ours that will be the most rewarding and memorable for the rest of your life.

Be well.

Progress Report: April 20, 2008

Well, things are moving along. I am down a little more than four (4) pounds in the past month to about 236. I could not be happier. So, to date, I have lost 104 pounds and have kept it off for over two (2) years. It still amazes me sometimes, yet other times I have to remind myself of how far I have come. It is one of those funny things.

The point of this exercise is that anyone can do it. After years of self-neglect and abuse of my body, I found my self-care plan and put it to use. It is by no means perfect. Far from it. But I am working forward. Like my late uncle always told me: "If you are not progressing, you are regressing." So true.

Health and wellness can save you money!!!

The economy these days is obviously not great. This is not a newsflash to anyone, I am sure. However it is slowly but surely getting worse in a new yet rather unexpected way. The solution? It is simple... adopt a self-care plan and re-invest in your own well being!

The cost of gas is rising. Real estate prices are falling. The job market is sketchy. The dollar is tumbling in foreign markets. All of these are, obviously, concerns for us as a society. Why would anyone want to add further expense to an already stretched budget? Well, in the future, your employer may adopt a plan where you pay more of the premiums and, possibly, more in the way of co-pays and medication costs. In some cases, a lot more.

Companies are getting to the point now where they are tired of bearing the brunt of the downfall from the sedentary lifestyles of their employees. While that may be a bit brash, it is reality. Instead of eating this cost, companies are looking to pass the buck on to you, the employee, for your health insurance premiums, doctor visits, and prescriptions.

This, my friends, is not the end. A good self-care plan can help stave off this trend, at least in your own world. Being more active, eating better, and getting enough rest are key components to a solid self-care plan. I have mentioned this term before and will undoubtedly do so again. However keeping yourself healthy can help you save on medical costs. By adopting a self-care plan, you can begin to put your body back to center, and in a much more healthier place, overall. Ultimately, this equates to fewer visits to the doctor and less of a need for certain medications.

Even more, there are some companies that will essentially compensate you (really, they allow you to save money) on your health insurance by simply adopting a self-care plan. One company in particular offers a 75% reduction in health care premiums for taking part in their wellness program, which includes attending a few meetings and seminars about health and wellness, and submitting to the occasional health screening to monitor your progress. Would anyone reading this right now turn down that kind of opportunity? I think not.

Being active is inexpensive. Invest in a good pair of walking or running shoes (including getting properly fitted for them, people), and you can exercise to your heart's content. As I once heard, "your shoes never say no - only you do". So, don't say no. Take advantage of that gym that never closes and allows you to go to so many wonder places both geographically and spiritually.

Eating cleaner is not as expensive as many would like you to believe. Sure, eating organic can cost a touch more. Managing portions, however? Therein lies the key. Portion control has been the bain of my existence for as long as I can remember. There is no way that is 4 ounces of chicken! But it is. Eating more fresh, less processed foods is a fantastic way to help clear your mind and body of many of the things that have been slowing it down over time. Reintroduce yourself to some of the fantastic local produce in your area. Eat fresh, eat seasonal, eat local. Try it and in a few weeks, you will be amazed.

Sure, being healthier overall is not the solution to all of the world's problems. However it does allow you to take control of you life - your body and mind - and at least have some say as to how things play out. Adopting a self-care plan just makes good sense. You feel and look better inside and out and, now, you may even save yourself a substantial amount of money.

A better fiscal plan you cannot find.

ASICS, Fleet Feet Sports, and Furman University team up to help local children

Since our local media has seen fit to provide zero coverage for this event, I am going to take it upon myself to do so...

On Saturday, April 12, 2008, thanks to the donations of so many individuals, 125 local Greenville County children received brand new ASICS running shoes and other goodies. With their new blue shoes, the children took part in the Blue Shoe Mile, in conjunction with the track events that took place at Furman University yesterday.

The great thing about this event is that these local children are on the school lunch program as they cannot afford to buy their own lunches. It has been amazing for me personally, as well as for everyone involved in this whole event, to help our local children and to give them an opportunity to fall in love with running. I simply had to share this fantastic story of local people helping others within the community. That, folks, is that it is all about. Look for big things next year with this event!

Special thanks to: Communities and Schools, Monaview Elementary, Principal, Janice Sargant with Monaview Elementary, Fleet Feet Greenville, Chris and Andrea Borch, Furman University, and ASICS.

Developing a self-care plan is as easy as 1-2-3...

I often hear from people I meet just how difficult it is to become more active, eat a little better, and in general, take better care of one's self. It really isn't. It is rather simple and, bear with me, much more inexpensive than many would like for you to believe.

A good friend of mine, a mentor in my wellness journey, used to use the term "self-care plan" often. I love the term and use it often, perhaps to a fault. A self-care plan can be many things to many people. To me, it is a balance of good nutrition, physical activity, rest, motivation, and forward planning.

I know, I know... Again, bear with me...

Taking better care of oneself is as big a win-win situation as there is. Eating well generally means eating cleaner with more fruits and vegetables. That is not to imply the notion of deprivation of all of those naughty things we may have eaten in the past. Hardly. Because the moment you get it into your mind that there are foods you cannot eat, this self-care plan - an attempt to do something positive for yourself, turns out to be a diet... and what are the first three letters in the word "diet"? D-I-E. That is what happens to most diets that include deprivation of anything... they usually die a painful death, and the person trying to make it work is left wondering what went wrong and may consider never trying again. On the flip side, a reasonable diet - "diet" meaning stable of foods we eat - including more fruits and vegetables, good amounts of fiber and enough protein and fats, all in proper portions, will allow for opportunities to consume something that may ordinarily be outside the realm of the "better" choices.

There are many free online tools that can be used to track and calculate your calories, vitamins, and nutrients consumed, in an effort to make life easier for you. I have used both Spark People and Fit Day. and both are very user friendly and intuitive.

Physical activity and rest really go hand-in-hand. Being physically active does not mean you have to go out and run a marathon, although if that is your bag, excellent. If you are just getting started with your self-care plan, any kind of physical activity is fantastic. Walking is one of the best activities out there. It is good for your joints, your bones, and most importantly your heart and mind.

Running, contrary to popular belief, is not bad for you. On the contrary, it is infectious. Some of my best thinking happens when I am out on the roads, running. It is my meditation time, my time for reflection.

Some will have you believe that walking and/or running are expensive ways to get into and stay in shape. I am here to dispel that. I challenge anyone to find me an annual gym membership that will cost as little as that of one or two pairs of properly fitted shoes. Notice, I said "properly fitted". That does not mean you can run out to your local box store and pick up any old shoes, throw them on your feet, and expect to keep your body moving and pain free. I urge you to find a store that looks at your feet, with your shoes and socks off, and look at your feet and find a shoe that is right for you. This is not at an extra cost. Stores like Fleet Feet for example simply do it as a part of their fitting process. They are not satisfied until you have the best shoe for you on your feet. And you shouldn't either. It is the best investment you can make. A good pair of walking or running shoes can last you anywhere from six to 12 months, depending on your level of activity. Not a bad investment of time and money.

Rest is equally important. It is your body's way of rebuilding itself from your activities. It is a important as any physical activity you will perform. Not much more can be said about that, but I cannot stress its importance enough.

Motivation and forward planning also go hand-in-hand. This journey of ours, this self-care plan, is a never ending process. There is no finish line, folks. With that in mind, goals are crucial to keep up your motivation. I am not saying that setting a firm weight-by-date goal is the only way to go. Find something that is important to you. Aiming for a charity walk in which you want to participate? Planning for a run, perhaps your first? Print out walk or race fliers and hang them anywhere your eyes go... it will be a constant reminder and instant motivation for you to keep your eye on the prize.

This self-care plan thing is not rocket science, by any means. It many things to many people. But there are some things it is not. It, much like us as human beings, is not nor does it have to be perfect. For many years, I beat myself up for making bad food choices or not being more active, and the like. It took me several years to figure out that if I could just make better choices seven, eight, or even nine times out of 10, I would be ahead of the game in the long run... and that is precisely what this self-care plan idea is all about. The big picture. The rest of your life. If you do not have a self-care plan in place yet, get one. They are fun, free, and may just be the key to unlocking a brand new life of wellness for you, your friends, and family.

Be well.

Fleet Feet Greenville visits Canal Insurance, presents Walk to Your Health!!!

I had a wonderful time yesterday with Sheila McCullough from Fleet Feet Sports in Greenville as we addressed a crowd of over 40 employees from Canal Insurance Company. We talked about everything from getting fitted for the right shoes for the needs of your feet and fitness goals to motivational techniques to help get everyone a little bit more active and feeling better, inside and out. Let's face it - being active is really not that hard. Our bodies, by their very nature, want to be active. However our society has done an exceptional job of deprogramming us. Now is the time to change that. All it takes is one small change, and I promise, it is infectious!

It fills my heart with such joy to be able to speak with others about being more active, eating better and, in general, just taking better care of themselves inside and out. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to do so.

Check back here for photos and perhaps even video clips from events and speaking engagements!

Aufweidersehen bis mein Bruder

I have not had many opportunities to post on here of late. This one is very necessary. On Saturday morning, March 22, 2008, my uncle, Thomas Peters, lost his battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 64 years of age.

Thos who know me are aware of just how difficult the past several months have been for my family and me. When he was diagnosed back in 2006, the prognosis was not so good, as even then it was metasticized. However, in true Uncle Tom fashion, he fought and refused to let it take him quite so fast. He traveled three (3) more times to Germany - which made for 109 times all tolled - including one in September of 2006 with his pain in the rump nephew - me.

To try to sit here and express in words the impact of his life on mine would be doing him so little justice. He was a sage, a wise man who was never afraid to let me know exactly what he thought, whether I wanted to hear it or not. Odds are, I needed to hear whatever he had to say. I respected him immensely because even up until his last days, he did everything exactly the way he wanted. Uncle Tom was stubborn that way.

I loved him and always will. I told him that all the time, including the day before we lost him. His last weeks and days were not pretty, but he fought valiantly. He was the father figure I always wished I had. Sadly, I wish I would have realized that sooner.

I am proud to say I knew Thomas Peters as a man, a friend, an uncle, and a brother. Some many try, but no one will be able to take away the memories I have with him pertaining to nothing in particular - losing money playing pool, losing money playing cards, hearing another one of his jokes, AGAIN - whatever the case may be.

I can only hope he is keeping an eye on me. Heaven knows I need it.

Watch the ice, Bro.

Update from the 2008 Greenville National MS Society Walk

What an amazing day it was this past Sunday. The weather was perfect, the people were enthused, and the cause was there. The picture to the left kind of says it all. I am in the back row, all the way to the left with my wife just in front of me and to my right.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that has struck as close to home for me as possible. For those who do not know, my mother was diagnosed with this disease about nine (9) years ago.

Since my wife and I moved to South Carolina, we have been blessed to meet two wonderful friends from New York, one of whom was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Events like the walk this past week really give me a pause for thought as to what things are important in life. Family, friends, and all that goes with them.

Going forward, this Blog will be used as a proactive tool to help promote health and fitness as well as a sounding board for the latest developments with the MS team my friends and I are working on assembling.

Feel free to post your comments. Be well.

Yet another thought...

It is something of a foreign concept to many, myself included. I have read that the human body, by its very nature, seeks to do as little as possible – rather seeking to work as little as possible – in an effort to maintain its existence. All one need to do is look around and see that is the lifestyle being readily chosen by many of our brothers and sisters. Maybe it is my self-deprecating nature, but I tend to believe the opposite to be true. Rather our bodies, in and of their very selves, want to be healthy, efficient beings. However my poor decisions and destructive lifestyle has prevented me from allowing my body to be that which it is innately intended to be.

There is no secret that I have been entirely incredulous when it comes to my own well-being. I am not sure if it is nature or nurture or a little of both or something in between. My painfully debilitating habits of eating and drinking to excess of been my collective Achilles heel for as long as I can remember. There is safety in them both, sadly. They are comforting and, generally, do not put up much of a fight when asked to do the job. They medicate, in a feeble effort to mask the pain I wish never existed in the first place. It was almost as if somehow my life of excess enabled me to forget all that I was and amplified all I had wanted to become.

Hardly.

The excesses of my prior life have only gone to “pile on”, as it were. Instead of comforting and soothing all that is painful in my life, it has only gone to put my body in an even worse predicament. How my body tolerated my drinking and eating, I have no idea. There were some times, God as my witness, I felt as if my body was about to rebel in the most Biblical of ways.

This was not so much of a difficult realization to have. Not at all. It, to me, is all about common sense. I cannot envision a life without running. It really has become a part of the fiber of my very being for the past two years-plus. There have been times, however, that my addictions to food and drink have secretly – or not – attempted to railroad my efforts at a healthier lifestyle. Once I had realized that my body wanted nothing exemplary or revolutionary, it suddenly became easy. My body wants nothing more than to do what it does, efficiently. I cannot expect to run while drinking like a fish and eating as if I will never see food again.

Again, not revolutionary things, but the drugs of my life of excess have some form of blinding powers as well, apparently.

There may be other, more astounding revelations to be had, somewhere along the line. I hope so. Ideas like this, and I feel I am insulting the notion by calling it an “idea”, is nothing short of life-changing. I am not through with re-examining my relationship with food and drink. Not by a long shot. But that first realization is that initial step. I have been waiting for that first step for a long time.

Where have I been?

It truly amazes me how reading someone else's words really is the key to unlocking so many doors for me. This morning was no different. I have been running - in some way, shape, or form - for the better part of two years and change. However, it was not until I read yet another one of John Bingham's classic chapters that I realized I was a runner. Right, exactly. I had been running all this time, only just now to figure I was a runner.

I had brief moments of noticing this before, sure. Long runs, outside, last spring or summer, unveiled some of the most beautiful spring and summer weekend mornings with sunrises that I could not have painted any better had I been a painter worth his salt. There were moments that, with the help of some timely music, I was moved to a step just shy of tears. Strange for me, I know. But still...

Why has it taken me so long to make such an admission? Well, much like Bingham, I am not fast. I am not sure I am ready to label myself a Penguin, by any stretch, but I guess I am, in reality. My prior two efforts at a 5K showed me, in no uncertain terms, that I should accept my lot in life as a waddler. I will get there... one day.

That said, appreciating the fact that, for the past two years-plus, I have been able to move my body using nothing more than my two feet is nothing short of astonishing. I remember how rotund I used to consider myself. I still do, actually. But that is another issue for another time. The fact that I carry so much control over how fast or how far I run, at any particular point in time is an amazing thing for me.

Yesterday was a great example of this. I ran for about 80 minutes, just a shade over 7 miles. I cared nothing for pace. I simply wanted to run for a long time. I felt I could have run forever. Sure, at the 70 minute mark I ramped up the treadmill a touch to pick up the pace and my heart rate, but if I had kept the pace where it was, I have no doubt I could have run a few more miles. A half marathon? Perhaps. Well, maybe. I am not sure. But yesterday morning, I felt like I could have run to infinity. Or, in all actuality, run from all that has weighed down m heart and soul.

That is another interesting aspect of my running. Some choose to run towards something - a personal record, a medal, a t-shirt, whatever. I believe I am running away from a deep, dark history of pain and suffering. Short runs are nice and sometimes fun. But the real transcendental moments for me are when I run for distance and time. I attribute it to all of the stored body fat on my frame. Hey, I am built for running long distances... just look at all of the stored energy I have on my body, ready for use!

But I digress. Point being, on a relatively unassuming Sunday, I found that which running had given me. And it only took me over two years to realize it. Sad and exhilarating all at the same time. My life is on a better to being better. It may not be roses and fuzzy bunnies the whole time. But I will be a better person, someday.

Like someone once told me... This is who I am today. I could be better. I could be worse. But I will always work to improve from the day before.

More random thoughts...

What a tangled web I tend to weave, especially in my own mind. But there are milliseconds of clarity, even with all that is happening in my life. Small realizations such as that which I had this morning are more valuable to me than to anyone else, obviously, but it is so hard to place an actual value on them.

Today will be just about one week of total sobriety for me. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not. Maybe, maybe not. I am many things... a creature of habit, type A, obsessive compulsive... the whole lot. Sadly, during this time while I have given up the drink, and I know it has only been a week, I have been wanting to eat like a horse. I have avoided those inclinations, by and large, but they still exist. It was not until this morning that I realized just how and why this is happening.

Food has always been an addiction for me. For as long as I can remember, it was the drug that eased my pain and sheltered and comforted me from the horror of reality. Granted, I was the only one who prevented me from doing anything about it - Lord knows, I am the only one who has the key to that car. But as time wore on, and in my futile attempts to right the wrongs of my life, I continued to exchange one one drug for another. Food, alcohol, back to food, sometimes exercise, whatever.

Just how dependent am I on these drugs? Obviously, very. Am I an alcoholic like my father was? I don't know, maybe. He probably drank a bit more consistently than I ever did. One thing I have never been is consistent. Insert rim hot here.

The other revelation from this morning was not really so much of a revelation as it was a recollection. I truly believe my dad talks to me from time to time. No, they are not the orchestrated conversations with those long gone, as we see in movies or on television. He occasionally just shows up, unannounced - that is just like him - and sticks his two cents in - that too is just like him. The recurring theme of what he tells me is, essentially, to be better than he was. Honestly, I am not completely sure what that means. I never really knew him well enough to be able to say what that entailed. But his reputation precedes him - sorry dad, I am trying to stick up for you.

I really wonder if it is him talking to me, although my heart tells m it is. I guess it is possible that I am using his memory to convey something that I want for myself, and this is another way to get that message from my subconscious to my conscious mind. I cannot be sure. I like the former thought better than the latter. I would like to think he is looking down on me, and wants good things for me. It is reasonable, I think, to believe that he knew life was going to be hard for me without him. I don't know, maybe he did not care. But I did. I do.

It is thoughts like these that really make my mind even more busy than it already is. It is difficult if not impossible to compartmentalize right now. I guess it always has been thanks to that little coping mechanism called repression.

But, enough with the doom and gloom. I am working on myself. Granted, I am a work in progress. I probably always will be. But it is little things like this that put a smile on my inner face. I know I have a long road to hoe to get myself back in order, whatever that means. I am ready, willing and, I pray, able to get on my way.

Although I know he will never read this, I have to say it... I want to thank John Bingham for writing... at all. Everything I have read from him thus far has spoken to me in ways that go so far beyond the act of running itself. It really tore right into my very being with regard to my emotions of the past, present, and future. I would like to think I am a better person for having read a single line of his work. I am not the only one he has helped with his writings, this I know, but I am the only one I know who has benefited quite as much as I have.

Keep waddling I will, John. I will.