Week 7 – Goals and Achievements

Goal

Its really important to have a goal with anything you do in life. As Dr. Eric talked about during the time management/stress talk, goals help guide everything we do. So having a goal in this diet is really important. My goals for the first straight 60 were to stay strict to the diet for the full 60 days and drop weight as much as I could. Having those goals really helped keep me on the right path. This time around my goal has been to drop below 200 lbs. This shouldn’t have been a very difficult goal to achieve, when looking back at how the first 60 went. Its proved to be more difficult than expected. Not being strict has definitely played a role in that, and I think there are also some mental/emotional things holding me back.

The end of this straight 60 is approaching, and some of you may be in the same boat as me, having a goal that you haven’t reached yet. This can be very discouraging, especially when you thought you should have made it there by now. In these circumstances goals can be scary. For me, its been crucial to always be looking at the success I’ve accomplished already, even though its still fallen short of my goal. This is huge for those of you in a similar situation as me (being over-weight for years without any success dropping that weight).

So what are those successes I look for? Some are pretty simple things, like eating a salad on a regular basis, avoiding omitted foods in a social setting, or successfully eating out. Those are pretty small things, but worth patting yourself on the back for because, to be honest, they are things that simply would not have happened with the old me. There are also bigger, more noticeable accomplishments, mainly when it comes to my clothes. Before I was wearing a size 38 waist, and it was tight. Now I’m pretty comfortable in a 36. Shirts, the same thing, all my size large shirts are fitting again. I mentioned in a previous post that before this I was using the last hole on my belt, and even that was a squeeze. I told you when I went to the second hole a while back. Well just this past week I went to the 5th hole (granted it was pretty tight and I moved it to the more comfortable 4th hole). The fact that I could even get to that hole is pretty amazing.

So I haven’t reached my goal yet, which could be depressing if I let it, but when I look at what I have achieved its not depressing at all. Its pretty uplifting actually. I just need to stay on this path, and make sure I am heading in the right direction toward my goal still. This makes the goal crucial. Without it (if I don’t make it there after the straight 60) I would just be done after next week. The goal is what will keep me heading the right direction, and when I reach that goal it’ll be time for a new one.

This past week I stayed at the same weight, 202 lbs. With all this talk of goals, I’m making my goal for this week to drop below 200. If you had some goals that you haven’t reached yet, I’d encourage you to continue the path and make sure that your choices are directing you that route. If you don’t have any goals, well its time to get some.

Thanks for reading.

-Dr. Mark

 

Alkaline pH

THE 60 DAY WAY TO PH

Alkaline Vs Acidic Foods

The more ALKALINE the foods are that you eat, the higher the pH.  The goal of our pH is to have a neutral level.  Body pH varies from tissue to fluids.  Blood pH is a very tight range around 7.35 to 7.45.

Urine pH can range from 4.6 to 8.0 – the research referenced here (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003583.htm) suggests that stones will form when urine is more acidic.  A higher number is more alkaline, this is what we are striving for.

How alkaline is too alkaline?  Mildly alkaline blood pH is 7.45, it is of no value to be more alkaline than that, and it is dangerous.  Fortunately, your body maintains this level very closely.

Urine alkalinity makes sense, which is governed more by the volume of water you drink than almost any other factor.  However, kidney function is also very important, and dietary factors will have an impact here.  Eating foods in the alkaline family will have an impact on this number.

Saliva alkalinity can have a much wider range like that of the urine, however it closely mirrors the extra-cellular fluid, thus this is more a measure of your entire body.  Much literature in the holistic health model suggests that increased acid, is an increased risk of most chronic diseases.

Thus – 7.1 – 7.5 would be an appropriate target for the saliva pH.  This target can be achieved through dietary efforts more than any other.

Some basic rules –

Acid Foods are Meats, followed by grains and legumes and nuts.
Alkaline foods are green vegetables followed by fruits and lastly dairy can have an alkalizing effect on the body.

Supplementing with alkaline minerals can have a positive impact on pH as well.  Juice Plus tends to be a good choice for this reason, as would other whole greens, dehydrated.

Juicing these vegetables and fruits is a quick way to alter pH.

Naturopath VS Vitalistic

I don’t treat.  I believe that my philosophy on health is more in line with Biblical thinking than most other philosophy, but I also don’t believe that I have it figured out yet.  Otherwise there would be no room for PURSUIT of the truth.    But I fully believe that my pursuit of truth as it relates to health, is the most important part of my typical day.

I have rested my reputation, my practice, my efforts in general, on the idea that healing comes from the inside out, from the power that made the body.  Once again… I don’t treat.  If my family is exposed to all the things that yours is… then why aren’t we dead for not taking drugs?  Like I said, we don’t treat.  Now…. what don’t we treat?  Symptoms.  We do not treat symptoms.

symp·tom
ˈsim(p)təm/
noun
  1. a physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.

The feature of the disease.  The symptom.  Not the cause, not the reason, simply a feature.  Why would we treat such a thing?  Only for comfort.  Even when you get a cold, most want to figure out a magical solution.  My advice is always, adjust the atlas, increase the vitamins and minerals of immune support… increase probiotics (A naturally occurring organism in the body that assist in the efforts of the immune system).  All of these steps do not “treat” the symptom, but rather support the immune system.  As a matter of fact, most children under the age of 4 will move towards a fever following an atlas adjustment, thus feeling worse.

But that fever is part of the body’s method of healing the sickness.  I don’t treat.  An example of treatment.  You don’t like the fact that your body is producing a ton of mucous in response to a virus (mucous contains a significant amount of antibodies that will fight infection), and you take something designed to REDUCE mucous… natural or checmical, it is treatment, and it is interfering with your bodies ability to work.

The title of my article, Naturopath VS Vitalistic.  Lets look at the two really quickly –

Naturopathy –
1.  a system or method of treating disease that employs no surgery or synthetic drugs but uses special diets, herbs, vitamins, massage, etc.,to assist the natural healing processes.

Vitalism –
2. Biology. a doctrine that ascribes the functions of a living organism to a vital principle distinct from chemical and physical forces.
The simple difference, vitalism ascribes the function to something beyond physical.  In some practitioners minds this is “energy”.  In my mind this is “God”.  I see a nervous system… an immeasurable, VITALISTIC part of the body, as the window to the spirit.  And in so doing, I believe it is the thing that gives you MORE potential, than anything else.  It is the window to the soul.  When you see the body in a vitalistic model, you immediately believe that all potential will come from the gift within.
Sure there are needs for nutrition, needs for rest, needs for activity, needs for peace.  But it is meeting these needs first and foremost that allows for this vitalism to flow.  This is the TRUE chiropractic model.  Even though chiropractors didn’t begin teaching the full model of health until years after its inception.  We have adopted the full spectrum of health pursuit.  Eat right, stay clean, be active… all parts of the vitalistic model.
The difference in this model, from the naturopath model?  Trust that is from within… vs. take something from the outside in.  Now, I am not saying that we don’t supplement, remember the focus of improving the function of the body.  We can support that.  But the moment we think, or say that we are going to fix a problem with an outside in process, we have given away our faith in the power that made the body, to heal the body.
Don’t get me wrong, naturopaths and chiropractors can work together, but this is such a slippery slope.  Also – this from the Bible:

The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.
– Ecclesiasticus 38:4

Given my focus on vitalism, how do I respond to this?  Well, it might be important to understand the dfinition of medicine, and its purpose.  In reading accounts of ancient Egyptian and Greek efforts, the use of medicine was relatively regular.  However, the medicines were primarily herbs and minerals, and they appeared to be used primarily as means of assistance.  Support for the body to function normally. (http://www.localhistories.org/medicine.html)

With that, I think it is safe to say that in our diets, there are needs, and as we fight through our health options, there are times when we might need support.  But the reality that I have seen, is that when you pursue health on a daily basis with your intentional choices.  You will need to treat very infrequently, and you will fight off disease very well.  You might need to treat something now and again (remember my wife has Lyme disease), but you should pull back and avoid it most of the time.

Would I prefer a naturopath visit over an MD?  Yes.  BUT, I don’t trust either of them for their first response to symptoms.  Take forward steps with caution.

Last – what about adjusting?  Well, I have told all of my patients, I DO NOT adjust you for pain, nor for any symptom, including high blood pressure, or indigestion.  I adjust you for subluxation.  Many chiropractors adjust for pain.  I am not one.  I don’t treat.

Be well and Be blessed! – Dr. E

Week 6

10269455_10152773038127560_1068158335331195189_n

Throughout every week I will usually be thinking about this blog and what I plan to write about. It usually helps me stay focused on my goals for my diet. This week I really didn’t have anything come to mind that struck me as a great topic to write about. Maybe that is because this diet is becoming so normal to me that new obstacles aren’t really coming up as much anymore. Obviously you know I haven’t been perfect this time around, and that could be part of it also. So I have a few different things to mention this week, no real theme though.

This diet works. I know a lot of people hate the term “diet” and think dieting is a waste, true change only comes with life change. Well, that is the point of this “diet” (short term). This short term diet, is meant to heal and train so your diet (long term) will also be affected. I’m not really proud of the fact that I cheated a bunch for the first half of this thing, but I do like the fact that I learned a few things from it. One, I know I can continue this diet and allow small amounts of sugar in without going overboard. I also found out, that I can maintain, even loose weight while eating this way which was also an encouragement. So it has worked in that fashion, in that Its trained me to have a new long term diet.

The short term, strict part of this diet really works too. Since getting back to strict, I’ve felt great again and have seen weight start to drop more consistently. I’ve heard from a lot of you doing this straight 60, and its really awesome to hear how you’re dropping weight and feeling great too.

The other thing I’ve thought about this week, is that the difficulties of this diet have been pretty much the same thing all the way through. Its other people, at least for me it is, and its usually people that are important to me. I mentioned my small group last week. This week it was my in-laws. It was great having them for the weekend, but it made it more difficult to stay our path. They were aware of our diet, and they would support us, its not like they were trying to get us to cheat. I think the issue is simply that they weren’t doing the diet too, so didn’t completely understand the things we’re cutting out. So, we did cheat on something, chicken noodle soup. My mother in law made us some delicious chicken noodle soup one of the days she was here. She kept the noodles separate for us because she knew we weren’t eating pasta. But, I’m assuming here, she had no idea we aren’t eating carrots either. It makes sense to me that she wouldn’t even think carrots would be excluded. So Amanda and I chose not to say anything and enjoy the sugar rush of the carrots in the chicken soup. The other people that tend to make this whole thing more difficult are my cute little kids. I’ve mentioned this before, we aren’t making them follow the diet like we are, although I will say it does trickle down to making their diets better. Anyway, my kids are so generous and they know my favorite candy is Reese’s, and they have been offering them to me left and right. Its hard to turn them down, but they are well aware of mommy and daddy’s diet, and they don’t get too upset that they get to keep it for themselves.

The last thing I’ll briefly mention, is how this diet changes the way I look at food. Pizza is one of my favorites, I enjoy making it, the dough and everything. It was a pretty regular item in my diet. I have no plans to avoid pizza. But, I can see it for what it is, a treat, to be enjoyed once in a while. It should have never been in my regular meal rotation. I’ve gained the ability to be patient. I’m looking forward to having some pizza from back home in Lockport over Christmas break but until then I’m content.

This week has been pretty good. As I mentioned above I got back to being pretty strict. I could tell the difference in the way I’ve felt and on the scale. I’m down to 202 lbs. now. I’m looking forward to the coming weeks and what’s ahead for me. Thanks for reading

-Dr. Mark

Healthy Pets

Rarely do I write about pets, and this is really no different.  Instead of writing about healthy pets, my goal today is to introduce you to a great resource on healthy pets.  Mercola.com is a resource we use in many ways, to manage our own health experience; likewise, his healthy pet portion is also great.

This video is a welcome video to his healthy pets division –

The “pet news” area starts with an introduction to the new growing group of holistic, integrative veterinarians who are beginning to pop up.  Ones who look at medication for pets, the way we do for people.  I know personally, my challenge has always been to figure out what to rely on and what not to rely on in the holistic veterinary world.  I find this a challenge because I do not have the same barometer with a dog as I would with a person.

“So, has it gotten better?”

“Woof”

However, my husky/border collie lived 17 years, and I do believe that some of our pursuits are to blame.  Feeding this dog who would have been a primary hunter… meat.  Likewise, my chihuahuas are given more vegetable, as we see them as having a strong foraging bend.  Regardless, knowing the best option takes guidance.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/

Be sure to check it out, and take a look at the direction of this focus for care.  As always, be well and be blessed.  –  Dr. E

From Dr. Mercola’s Site –

Complementary and Alternative Therapies Aren’t a New Fad

I asked Dr. Raditic where she sees integrative veterinary medicine heading from this point forward, now that we have an integrative service like hers at UT. She believes it will be a matter of continuing to raise awareness among members of the veterinary community, as well as pet owners.

Dr. Raditic also thinks things will come full circle when people realize complementary and alternative therapies aren’t some new fad. For example, the physical exam has been used throughout the history of veterinary medicine very effectively. So in many ways, it’s about remembering we can still use simple, non-invasive, hands-on techniques to help diagnose and heal patients.

Dr. Raditic also believes the bigger picture involves our own health care. Veterinary students are under a lot of pressure and stress, what with training to be doctors and carrying a big student debt load. They need to learn how to take care of themselves along with their patients.

Part of what Dr. Raditic sees her integrative medicine program involved in is the whole One Health concept. A lot of people have been talking about the concept, but it hasn’t gone anywhere yet. Her vision is that it could be part of her department’s role to make it go somewhere. It’s about unifying healthcare – being conscious in caring not just for animal patients, but also for ourselves.

 

 

Week 5 – Slippery Slope

slippery-slope

I have a confession. I haven’t been as strict this time through as I should. In fact I’ve full blown cheated. A few things have happened that have caused this. First of all, this is my second time through. So it’s easy to look at the first straight 60 and be proud of myself for doing it and thinking I don’t need to be so strict again. Also, it’s really easy to look at what I’ve accomplished so far and be content with where I am. I said something in last week’s blog, about how I’m ok with slowly dropping the weight, since I know I’m on the right path. I’ve had that comment on my mind for the past week. While that still holds true, I am still on the right path, I know I can do so much better and I want to do better.

So how did I fall into cheating? Well, as the title suggests, the slippery slope has something to do with it. It starts with one compromise, whether it’s having a green apple and berries that day, to pushing the amount of tomato sauce, to eventually blatantly cheating. When I was still in school, we had a guest speaker, a chiropractor from Atlanta actually (I went to school in Buffalo) who was talking to us about insurance fraud. He was still in the process of his trial, and going around talking to schools about the issue in hopes it would help his case. He was facing up to five years in prison I believe. He said the way it happened, was a small compromise initially, which he would justify or rationalize to himself by thinking, “the insurance company owes me money that it’s going to deny, so I’ll make that up by billing this little extra thing (that he didn’t actually do) and it will all even out.” He started small, but it grew, to where he became a target of an FBI investigation.

So relating this to the diet, obviously we’re not going to prison for cheating this, but if we really look at this whole thing for what it really is, we can argue it’s just as important, if not more. My health, my life is dependent upon me doing this right. I have a lot of good reasons to allow myself cheats. We just joined a small group through Watermarke Church, we meet weekly and eat a meal together. This is where most of our cheating has happened. It’s really hard to say no to delicious food new friends prepare, in fact it can come across as rude. But, I said it’s hard, not impossible, and it really isn’t rude if you just tell people why, and maybe we could inspire the rest of our group to join us. Another “reason” I can justify cheating is because I’m exercising harder now than I ever have. I’ve also been watching the scale pretty closely, and as long as I’m losing or not gaining, I’m OK. Probably my best reason is the whole “I’m preparing or treating this, how I would like to eat after the diet.” So, don’t get me wrong I have not strayed far. For the most part I’m keeping the diet, and I’ve only cheated here and there. So, yes, I think I would be doing great for a “graduation” type diet. The problem is I’m not there yet.

It’s not easy sharing this, but my hope is that it will help those of you doing the straight 60 to avoid these “justifications, compromises, and/or reasons” for cheating and see them for what they are, excuses. But the most important thing to take from this is to NOT GIVE UP. It would be very easy to cheat and get down on yourself and talk yourself into submission. The old me would have been done after one moment of weakness, and those thoughts of hopelessness would come right back in. I’d really advise to avoid cheating, because once you do it gets harder to avoid it, but if you have already had that moment of weakness, it’s OK, pick yourself back up, refocus, and get right back on the path.

This week I stayed at 204 lbs., like I mentioned above, this would be great if I was at a healthy weight, eating a good diet with some sugars.  But I’m not there yet; I still need to drop weight and promote healing, so I’m getting back at it, strict from here to the end. Even in our small group, we’ll stay the course. We’ve planned our meals for this coming week again, mostly salads. I’ve noticed as we’ve found more recipes we’ve had less salad. Getting back to having salads regularly should be a great way to get back on this diet the right way. Thanks for reading

-Dr. Mark

A Common Pesticide Destroys Our YOUTH – TOXIC BABY

The TED Talks have been known to be some of the most well designed workshops of our time.  I hope one day to host one of these talks, I think it would be a GREAT place to launch my message about sugar in our diet.

ATRAZINE

From WIKIPEDIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrazine)

Atrazine is a herbicide of the triazine class. Atrazine is used to prevent pre and post-emergence broadleaf weeds in crops such as maize (corn) and sugarcane and on turf, such as golf courses and residential lawns.

In other words, atrazine is a very common chemical.  Yet this common chemical has made its way into many controversial discussions, and now an upcoming documentary video, TOXIC BABY.  This is also from Wikipedia:

As of 2001, atrazine was the most commonly detected pesticide contaminating drinking water in the United States.[4]:42 Studies suggest it is an endocrine disruptor, an agent that may alter the natural hormonal system in animals.[5][6] In 2006 the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that “the risks associated with the pesticide residues pose a reasonable certainty of no harm”,[7] and in 2007 the EPA said that atrazine does not adversely affect amphibian sexual development and that no additional testing was warranted.[8] The EPA opened a new review in 2009[9] that concluded that “the agency’s scientific bases for its regulation of atrazine are robust and ensure prevention of exposure levels that could lead to reproductive effects in humans.”[10]

The EPA review was criticized,[1] and atrazine’s safety remains controversial.[1][6][11][12]

 The movie from 2011, TOXIC BABY, was not an Atrazine only movie. It is on par with UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS, the movie we brought to you just a few weeks ago.  A movie that takes a path through darkness to show the horrific truths about the chemical lives that we live.  I was just pulled into a conversation about this last night, well, as I write this, just hours ago.

“Do you think Autism is caused by vaccines?”

“Yes and No, I think it is the checmical and toxic damage that is being done to us from all directions.  Vaccines are a significant portion because directly injecting toxins, takes all of our natural buffers out of play.  The intestines, the mucosal linings, the skin… and places these chemicals directly in the bloodstream.  But to ignore the tens of thousands of chemicals that we are in contact with every day would be foolish.”

The trailer gives a glimpse of this movies hard hitting content. (for those who cannot watch it embedded in our web post – here is a link – http://www.imdb.com/video/withoutabox/vi4206494233?ref_=tt_pv_vi_aiv_1 )

Back to Atrazine.  The Movie that is playing in our traction room, is the TED talk that opposes the EPA stance that Atrazine is safe, and portrays atrazine as an extremely harmful hormone manipulator.  This was found in amphibian bio-chemistry, as the enzyme aromatase was activated in male frogs, causing them to stop producing testosterone, and to begin producing estrogen in its place.

BPA is put under the microscope as well.

The focus of today’s Daily Sprout, is not in the message that is written here, but in the discussion that should follow.  You need to watch the video.  Spend the time to listen and understand and to share the information with the world.  Look for opportunities to educate others.  Be proactive in your community.  Be proactive in your life.

I am not fun to befriend if we are going to sit around a table and talk health, because I am convicting by nature.  But this conviction is out of love.  Love the people around you.  Watch the movie and see what drives us, and let it drive you.

For those reading this at home.  You’ll get the movie posted in another day.  But for now, at least watch this one here in the Sprout.

Thank you.

Be well and be blessed.  – Dr. E

Unfamiliar Territory – when cancer “Strikes”

Nobody expects it. Or, some expect it, and I often wonder if those people created it. I know it sounds crazy, but in a world where we continually unfold new understanding about epigenetics, and how we influence our genes through lifestyle, you really cannot write anything off. For more on that, read Dr. Bruce Lipton’s book, The Biology of Belief.

But, the average person, receives the news in a moment of shock. How? What? But… Why? I have been privileged to receive experience from working with hundreds of patients fighting cancer. Cancer Killers. That is our new name for these people, Cancer Killers. I have four who I am working along side of right now, either leading and guiding, or listening and commenting, or just listening. You learn a lot in an office with people pursuing health. Regardless of where they are, you learn a lot.

What I am referring too, is not knowledge about how to fight cancer, or how to develop a titanium immune system. Sure that is part of it. But you learn a lot about people, and their hearts. For most of us, unfamiliar territory puts us on high alert. We pick up little tidbits In a doctors speech, and we make decisions based on that. Very few people retain cool heads when they are given a grim diagnosis. I personally think it is the reason why cancer is considered such a big deal on our society. Because since we have begun treating it, we have done so in a way that significantly increases the risk of secondary cancers (chemo caused).

Most of the people who I have helped, have come to me saying things like, “I’ll find out if I HAVE to do chemo next week” or “I am not sure that the doctor is going to let me avoid radiation”. People! Do you not realize this is YOUR choice, and nobody else’s?

Have you ever heard of a birth plan? You know, the written plan of action for having a baby that you furnish your doctor or midwife with BEFORE having the baby, so that should things go awry, you have a plan of action. Exhaust X to this point before initiating Y. If Y then Z. The reason the plan is made before you go into labor, is because in an intense moment, well though out decisions disappear. I cannot tell you how many patients have sat with me crying over a decision to fuse their spine that was made at the first sign of pain. You should suffer for months or years in an attempt to avoid that horrible surgery before saying yes. But pain makes us all converts to hope… Or fear.  And as converts, we make hasty decisions.  Cool heads need to prevail.

So, before you get into unfamiliar territory, I strongly recommend you make your “birth plan”. Yeah, you know, your cancer plan. I say this because if you review chemo under a cool head situation, you will know that you want to avoid it. You will know that your choice is the only choice that matters. That there are too many cases of health and healing that involved nothing toxic, but natural means. And on the flip-side, too many stories of five year re-diagnosis that make the traditional medical model too scary.  They call it successful if you go three years clean.  Five years and its “all bets are off”.

I am writing this today, because I feel the pain. I saw someone this weekend whom I am concerned for. Who is trying to do this naturally, but I believe waited too long to act. Thee was no plan, instead denial. Yes this person wants to stay away from Chemo and radiation, but now might end up having to go that route as the progress of the cancer is significant. I don’t want you to be scared. The reality is that everyone has cancer cells in their body, we are all in an ever present ongoing battle. Every choice matters.

I am sometimes no fun to be around in social settings. I am sure I am not invited to certain social gatherings because of that. Who wants to be around the guy telling you to not eat the donuts at donuts with dad? I try to r,ind myself to be quiet, but often I am reminded of the hundreds of cancer patients, then it is hard to be quiet. Just know, you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be considerate.

Be well and be blessed. – Dr. E

Joy – The 60 Day Turnaround Way

I haven’t pulled out my “Happiness” talk for the participants yet, so I figured I would give them a taste of it here.  Well, this is actually not from the workshop I do, this is an excerpt from the book I am writing.  And this part is ALL ABOUT JOY.  Honestly, I think after reading the books I have read on happiness, and hitting the retreats that I have… I would place this one area more important than all the rest.

Oddly, I have found with many people, well nearly all people if you can look at their WHOLE life; will suffer a loss of happiness due to health.  I would like to not be one of those people, but the reality is that I already am.  I have had enough dysfunction due to injury, that there has been joy lost thanks to those injuries.  Funny however, when you look closely at an injury, and then pull back to look at it from far away, you might just find that joy is gained from those moments of injury, or pain.  Its just hard to see it through the smoke.

From the Book –

Chapter FOUR

Ruled by JOY

 I sometimes ask my patients how they are doing… Really doing.  And when the request for an answer is deep and heartfelt, so is the response.  In these moments I have been taught the importance of joy, as I will rarely get an answer that relates specifically to a health concern, but more to the overall joy someone is experiencing. The lens through which we view our life… Health, family, other relationships, finances, is a lens tinted based upon the joy that we experience.  Joy being a function of choice, not circumstance.

 Through our life trials we are given opportunity to either use life’s trials as reasons for happiness, or weights that pull us deeper into gloom.  And though reading this you might say, “of course I want to build happiness from anything, why would I want gloom?”; the reality is that most choose gloom.  And though the choice is not seemingly unintentional, it is so much more intentional than you would ever guess. 

 The place where we so commonly build misery, starts with the question why.

 “Why me? Why this? Why now? Why us? Why again?”. And perhaps “are you even there? It seems like you don’t care?”

 The feeling that the world is against us, is facilitated by us believing that the world is against us. 

 Learning to use difficulties as blessings takes some practice, but it first requires decision.  Decision that nothing in your life is going to accumulate to be the end of your life.  I had to decide to take my seven practices, with investors and board members pushing to go to 100 locations, down to 1.  It was a time of difficulty, and even in the midst of it, I was in a joyful moment of stress.  I truly believed, and still do, that my value to my investors, to myself, my board, my family, would all be greater if I was following a plan to build on what I could offer individually first.  This was Gods plan mind you, not mine. 

 During this difficult time, I was given a vision for wellness beyond the walls of the practice, and I began a journey to open CrossFit gyms, providing a greater market to teach and educate on lifestyle. This blessing has culminated in this first book.  First of many books to come. The opposite response is to ask, WHY?  THat simple question plants the seed of something wrong.  Sure we could be saying, why am I so blessed with this incredible trial.  But the usual use of the word is to ask “why is this awful circumstance upon me?”  Recently one of my friends commented to me, how if you have been used by God to become a Biblical example, it typically means you have been dealt a raw deal.  Its true.  Think about how many people in God’s Word have been put into miserable situations.  Absolutely AWFUL!  Yet.  Repeatedly, these individuals come out demonstrating how mindset to trust in God’s path, will win over all circumstance.  Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

End Excerpt

I like the discussion of JOY, because I think it is easy if we choose it.  The IRS came knocking on my door, they spent over 18 months digging through my entire life.  Many of you have had it happen.  You know what.  It was joyful.  I hate the thought of it happening again (I think I have had my share of joy from them), but seriously, there was a lot of good that came of it.

Be well and Be blessed!  – Dr. E

 

Week 4 – Fitness

by Dr. Mark Richards
We are half way through. Great job coming this far for the 60 Day Turnaround people. I haven’t talked about fitness all that much (I know you all hear plenty from Dr. Eric).  Everyone knows the benefits of exercise and that it promotes health. So I won’t go into the whole convincing you its important, because I’m sure you already know that it is. I always knew it was something I needed. But, as with a lot of things, knowing the right path and actually doing it are far from each other.

As I’ve said before, I’ve been overweight for the past decade. Through those 10 years I’ve tried to exercise and get fit a lot. I tried working out at home, even tried Crossfit workouts, running, phone apps, and organized sports. The only thing that I could be consistent with were my sports. I’d play hockey once or twice a week through the winters, and soccer once a week in the summer. But, once a week just isn’t enough to really promote fitness and health. I stayed consistent with those because I love playing both of those sports. If I could, I’d play them 7 days a week and have that be my main means of fitness. Unfortunately that isn’t very practical.

So I tried adding running. I would see people doing it all the time, and they looked fit. Well, I don’t really like running, for the sake of running. I’d go as far as to say I hate it (which I’ve always thought was funny that I hated it, but if you put a ball on some grass that I could chase, then I loved it).  Crossfit worked well at home when Eric was visiting that one week out of the year. I’d try to continue after he had left, but I didn’t really know what I was doing and it was pretty hard doing it on my own without someone coaching me or working out with me.

So now I’ve told you how I failed over and over through the past decade I should probably talk about what has worked, and why. Well, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been doing Crossfit since moving here in July. I’ve grown to love it! Really I think this is the key, liking or even loving, the exercise you do. That’s why I could be consistent with hockey and soccer, and its why I have been consistent with Crossfit. Its just fun. I’ll admit the first couple weeks were extremely hard and painful (soreness, not injury) but at the same time there’s that feeling of “gee, I think I can do better, I should be able to do better.” So liking it helps, and the fact that Crossfit promotes fitness at a far superior level than my team sports ever could, make it a great fit for me.

So we know its important to exercise. I also think its equally important to really enjoy, if not love, the exercise you do. Then find a way to incorporate it into your everyday life. Crossfit is great for getting an awesome workout in relatively small amounts of time. Make it a priority to figure out a way to get that exercise in, in a way that you’ll enjoy.

As I said in my last post, I was expecting this past week to be a good one, and it was. Having those meals planned really does help us. So I lost another 2 lbs. this week, putting me at 204 lbs. I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve been pretty consistently loosing 2 lbs. a week. Obviously I’d like it to go faster, but there is comfort in knowing I’m on a path that I plan on following for… ever maybe. So I have a lot of time to reach my goal, there’s no real hurry. My wife Amanda hasn’t had the results I’ve been having (on the scale that is, I think she’s looking great, but she needs to see  it for herself. What I say doesn’t really matter much). I realize that can be frustrating for her, I know a lot of you are probably in the same boat as Amanda, having someone close to you doing the same things as you (she beats me pretty regularly at our Crossfit workouts too), and seeing results, while you might not be. Stay the course. The plan works. She has told me that we are going to continue this diet, this plan, until we are both where we want to be. Thanks for reading.

 

One more note: Somehow I forgot 1 ingredient from the pizza crust recipe. I went to look back at the original recipe, and it was removed so I don’t know the exact amount. The missing ingredient is Parmesan cheese. I think the amount was between 1/2-1 cup. Sorry if you tried this and it didn’t taste that great.

 

-Dr. Mark