May 26th, 2014 Memorial Day

May 26th, 2014 Memorial Day

I started today by remembering loved ones I've lost. Some left us way too young. As I searched for pictures of several to share on my facebook page, I started imagining what life would be like today if they were still with us. I wish I would have had more time with each of them and in the case of my big brother Danny, I wish I would have had a chance to meet him and know him. Instead of letting this train of thought bring me down into a depressive state, I did my best to mine some inspiration from it all.

Danny didn't know 42 years was all he would have. My brother Shane had no idea life would be a short 24 years and Clarke Hodson (My Big brother in The Big Brothers/Big Sisters program) still had a lot of life ahead of him when he passed at 57.  I couldn't remember how old Clarke was when he passed, so I Google searched his obituary and was touched when I discovered my name mentioned. I didn't know his family included me like that.

From his obituary:
"Clarke believed life should be a life-long learning experience and accomplished this through his employment as a teacher and later in life as a Training Administrator for Accurate Labs and as web master for OWPCA. Clarke and Debi shared their love of education and animals over 17 years as docents for the Tulsa Zoo. Clarke became involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters early in his life, which led to a long and memorable relationship with Sean Anderson."    

I knew how much he meant to me, I guess I always wondered if he felt the same about me. After his family insisted I sit up front with them at his funeral and now discovering this, I think I have my answer. I believe Clarke was right, life should be a life-long learning experience. I feel the same. I never want to stop learning.

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I slept better last night than I have in a very long time. I know I said those exact words not too long ago, but this was even better than that night. I slept soundly for eight straight hours and woke feeling refreshed and fully rested. It was incredible.

I took time today to catch up on emails too. If you have any questions for me, you can always send them to Sean@transformationroad.com

I took time and care in preparing my food today. This is really a big difference in me--to be so attentive and caring about the process of planning and preparing what I eat. I didn't give it this much attention when I initially lost weight. Instead of this increased attention and care being perceived as a burden (which is what I thought it would be), it's become very enjoyable. I look forward to it every day. Talk about changing perspectives, this is an example!

I planned on doing a 5K walk today and by golly, I did it. Actually I did 3.44 miles, a little bit longer than 3.1 for the 5K. I really thought my elliptical workouts was giving me a better workout but after doing this, I don't know. I'm beat in a good way.

So much more I wanted to discuss in this post, but it's getting late. I must hit the pillow.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday May 27th at 7pm Central, 8 Eastern, 6 Mountian and 5 Pacific--Life Coach Gerri Helms and I will present a very special teleconference program entitled "The Missing Piece."  It's completely free, but you must register by clicking this link: http://lifecoachgerri.com/events/the-missing-piece/  After you register with your email, we'll email you the teleconference phone number and access code.

We all have a different puzzle. Perhaps this presentation and question/answer session afterwards will help you fit a few more of your pieces together!  I hope you'll join us.

Friend me on MyFitnessPal: SeanAAnderson --- and on Twitter, where I Live Tweet everything I eat with pictures and calorie counts. Twitter: @SeanAAnderson

Thank you for reading,
Strength,
Sean

The Excitement In Doing

The Excitement In Doing

There's an excitement in my step and it's one I recognize from the early days of my weight loss success.  I'll be weighing again in a little over a week and every two weeks after and I know, without doubt, I'll find results.  I've been straight up walkin' it.  I've been doing.

And when we're doing, and we're being true to ourselves along this road, there's an alignment of joy that comes over us like no other.  This is what we're looking for.  This is what it's been about.  This is the road to where we want to go.

The other day on my facebook page I posted a "micro-blog" that generated a couple of questions--and I'd like to answers those...

The post:

"At my heaviest, I often asked an endless amount of questions “in search” of the answers I wanted about weight loss. And asking questions is a good thing. Often though, I would keep asking—collecting answers until I heard what I wanted to hear. There comes a time when the questions have been asked and answered, the advice given and received—and there's never a shortage when it comes to this exchange. But there comes a time when we must simply start doing. Simplifying our approach and simply doing what we already know—then occasionally reaching back and incorporating nuggets of advice we've collected along the way, is, in my experience—the way. There comes a time. And it's here. The time is now."

Questions: 
 
Peggy: "You got that right keep it coming because I need all the info I can get. Doc say stop eating this and that and it is not working. How about you? Any answer to that as well?  Hope to hear from you."

Peggy--There's no shortage of advise, of course.  Often, we're told exactly what would be an optimal diet.  We're told lean meats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains--or whatever.  We're given a menu of what would be this ideal consumption list.  And we're given another list of everything we should avoid--and of course it's three times as long.  First of all--The doctor is right in an ideal or "perfect" sense.  I don't know about you, but I'm not perfect.  I'm sure, in the "do and do not" foods listed, he's spot on.  What isn't addressed in this approach is what we've been doing, who we are and what it will take to get us there.  An all or nothing approach might work for some--a drastic cleaning of the cupboards and fridge---and an immediate shift to only what would be considered ideal.  For me, an approach like that would have been going to bed and expecting to wake up a completely different person.  And I might have been able to keep up the charade for a while--but eventually, I would return to my natural inclinations--my familiar territory.  This is why I'm a big proponent of changing the focus from this "ideal" list of foods--and putting it on a gradual evolution of good choices.  Doing--is setting a limit and sticking to it.  Holding a calorie limit sacred--making it the most important goal everyday...and allowing room in your food selection to naturally evolve as you go.  The focus is less about what you're eating and more about the mental dynamics keeping you honest and within the bounds you've set.  First of all--You'll naturally start making better choices simply because you're wanting to get the most value, food, for your available calories.  Secondly--By allowing yourself a natural evolution of good choices, you're eliminating the negative mental effects of "I messed up," when you eat something not on the "perfect" list.  You'll learn much about yourself along the way when you're taking the approach of portion control--eating what you like, but strictly adhering to a set budget.  Eventually you can arrive at a place where you're eating habits are drastically changed in a very natural, productive way.

Nicole: "Figuring out why we do this would be MONUMENTAL, would it not?" 

Nicole-- We do this because it postpones the moment where we take control once and for all.  As long as we convince ourselves we're ill prepared, without the answers we need--it alleviates the responsibility to take charge of ourselves.  And because we're ill prepared, we feel justified in delaying our transformation--it alleviates the feelings of guilt, because we're convinced it's not our fault--we're still a victim because we haven't received the answers we need.  We simply must do.  Enough with the seeking... The answers will come along the way.  And since we're doing, so will results.

I'm headed to Tulsa's Hard Rock Hotel for the Oklahoma Osteopath Association Winter Conference.  I'm a featured speaker Saturday morning.  The name and focus of the conference is "The Ravages of Obesity."  Indeed...yes indeed... It does ravage.  I can't wait to speak to a group very different than any other I've ever encountered: 350 doctors and medical professionals in a room. This will be good.

I'm happy to share my mom's wonderful success!  She, along with my aunt Kelli and her husband Tim are all doing well--on Day 6 of their journey.  They're all supporting one another and all three are experiencing success already.  It was pure joy to hear mom's voice last night as she was telling me how she had already lost 2 pounds... She's feeling the same excitement I talked about earlier.  She knows success is coming.  she's doing.  It's such a great feeling.

I look forward to sharing how this conference goes and what I've learned from the experience.  

I'll be facing "road decisions" with my food---navigating a Toby Keith's Bar and Grill for dinner tonight.  I'll be live tweeting that experience for sure.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter-- @seanaanderson

More later, my friends...

My best always---thank you for reading, goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean   

A Real Good Day

A Real Good Day

Friday was a great day.  It was non-stop busy and at the same time awesome.  The medicines prescribed me have made a major difference, mostly good, some not so good.  The steroid pill, I'm pretty sure was the culprit in keeping me awake Thursday night.  Even the cough syrup couldn't counteract the effect of the steroid pill.  Despite only four and a half hours sleep, I made Friday fabulous.

I had a speaking event at 12:30pm for a local community service civic organization.  The room was packed and although I carried some nerves into the event (I always do), it turned out to be a wonderful experience.  It was shorter than usual, only 20 minutes plus Q&A after, followed by signing books.  Every time I do one of these events, the passion is refreshed within me.  And although I've talked about my life and transformation to groups of people numerous times, I still get a touch emotional in the same places along the way.  An additional element of the presentation has included my recent struggles and re-gaining.  After the event, after books were signed and everyone was leaving--I was approached by one of the attendees who asked "How have you stopped the slide?"

I told her about the incredible support system of friends far and near, like you--reading this post.  I told her about how once you've reached a point of truth so deep into recovery, it's simply impossible to forget.  Obviously it's not impossible to ignore, to stray--but the universal truths never change.  And understanding that getting realigned with the truth is truly a matter of life and death, it becomes a priority again.  And then I told her about some of the powerful messages I've received and continue to receive from people far and near.  I told her how these messages touch me, how I understand what they're going through and how deeply moved I am when they express gratitude to me for helping them in some way.  It's an awesome responsibility and one that I cherish always--and although I'm taking care for my own personal health and well being, doing this for me--I also do this for others. That's important to me.  I want to be another positive example (and there have been many before me), a resource of hope and inspiration to anyone dreaming of a life free from the mental and physical restraints of morbid obesity.  Returning to 500 pounds would only be an option if I didn't care about anything or anyone, or did care but chose to ignore and suppress the feelings all the way back up the scale. I care. I refuse to ignore or suppress this feeling.  And I can't turn it off.  This is what I was meant to do with my life and I fully believe this to be my personal truth.

I made my way back to the studio after the event and finished my broadcasting duties.  It was getting late in the afternoon and I was getting hungry.  I had a filling breakfast and a small lunch, so when I pulled away from work I was immediately thinking about dinner.  I had to go grocery shopping.  And I was going to do it while hungry.  That's usually not a very good idea.

One of the things I noticed about this day is how the errant thoughts--you know, the ones suggesting choices better left ignored, were totally gone.  Battling these type of negative-bad-choice loaded thoughts is something I've had to do a bunch over the last seven months and of course, as you know--I've lost some battles along the way.  But on this day, it was as if those thoughts surrendered, taking with them one of the most challenging aspects of my recovery.  I'm not saying they're gone for good, I'd be a fool to believe that, but I can say I felt incredibly empowered, overwhelmed with a sense of purpose, pride and passion.

Back at the store parking lot and feeling hungry, I approached with caution.  Not letting my guard down, I made a strategic grocery shopping decision: I would hand-carry my selections.  I was simply after ingredients for dinner and Saturday morning breakfast, both meals for one--just me.  There wasn't a reason good enough to convince me I needed a basket.  The items are pictured below.  The best photo wasn't snapped--it would have been of me trying to keep everything from crashing to the floor. This strategy worked very well.  There wasn't anything I grabbed that I didn't need.  I made it out of there safely and feeling even better about this state of mind dominating my Friday.

I've had moments the last seven months, so off, so dark--that now that I'm emerging from the darkness, so to speak, I still question the origins of the good.  I felt positively high on life.  Was it the medicine?  The steroids are messing with me, huh?  Or is it simply a renewed confidence, a refreshed perspective and a re-framing of where I've been and where I'm headed?

I'm getting comfortable again with my food choices.  I have learned a lot about myself along this road and some of them I've talked about from the very beginning.  Like one of my most important goals: To become someone who eats normal portions at appropriate times.  To become someone who doesn't automatically turn to food for comfort and numbing of emotions.  These goals have evolved to include becoming someone who eats better, healthier selections at all times, regardless of circumstances and the issues of the day.  This isn't a temporary deal.  This is for life.  My pursuit isn't about perfection, it's about making the choices best for me at any given time with special consideration and attention on my personal food profile, if you will.

I'm looking forward to the coming days as I return to 100% health wise.  I also look forward to once again watching the scale go back down with consistency.  I'll be weighing every two weeks, just as I did originally--and of course I'll be sharing those numbers along the way.

Thank you for reading and for your support.  Goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean

Some pictures from Friday and Saturday morning:


The single green apple almost threw it all out of balance.  The eggs--I clutched them like a football player with a ball.  I wasn't losing the eggs!


This isn't a recipe of any sort--Just an experiment.  And it was okay, very good actually--even though it didn't come out looking like I had envisioned...



Saturday morning breakfast.  I love making a giant omelet and then marveling at the calorie value.  I used mushrooms, red onions and green peppers--one whole egg and three egg whites for a big, filling breakfast and still, the entire omelet checked in at a low 140.  I didn't use cheese this time, that helped keep it low.  The green apple and some left over pineapple chunks rounded out this wonderful breakfast!