Health by association. .....

I remember a line from some sit - com that a newly divorced woman, when told how great she looked replied, "Well thanks I just dropped 180 pounds of useless fat. My ex."

Changing lifestyles usually results in casualties.  No more so than when you try to get healthier. If your inner circle meets regularly at a bar with wing and pizza specials chances are a dead lift PRO is not in your near future.

And the support usually isn't there. I still have friends that believe I'll revert to my former habits, almost seems like they are betting on it. Which is fine.

So do you cut line and avoid all contact? No, not yet. Chances are you are making new friends who share your mindset and can be your support.  I share freely that my Jiu-Jitsu brothers and sisters,  after 5 years are some of the strongest bonds I've ever formed.

And if you are lucky, you bring some people along with you. I've had friends surpass me in their efforts to live healthier and maybe I had a small part in that.

That's another thing. There is always someone watching.  You never know who you inspire.

And for those people who never come around? Probably you will see and hear them less and less. But go back to the bar occasionally,  it'll remind you why you started in the first place......

I know its still winter.........

                                 " Don't let the weeds take your garden."- PBG


         So you've embarked on a journey to better health.  Awesome. Probably you've done the hardest part, the just showing up.  And you work... and you grind.... and slowly you start knocking over those goals.....

Here comes a bigger challenge. What happens when you get there? Hopefully not a lot changes.  You readjust your goals, loving how you feel, how you look and keep the process going.  But there can be a downside.....

I equate this to many many patients I meet working on the ambulance.  I ask patient A,  "what medical problems do you have?" Patient A replies, "None. "  My next question is usually, "What medications do you take?". And the list comes out. Sometimes 10 or more.  So I ask, "But these are meds for blood pressure and diabetes! So you have these conditions right?" Answer, "Well no, I take the meds i don't have the problem.".....

Living a healthy life and expressing the best self you have is constant evolving work. Its truly like the garden reference above. Unwatched, unminded, the weeds sneak in until your crops are choked and wither away.  And of course we all don't live like monks. We are humans and we like to have fun and eat stuff that make goats cringe, and there will be a skipped workout now and again.

But really that has to be in the minority. Excelling means work, sweaty, daily, HARD work. Vigilance against those pesky weeds.........

Yep its Magic, and Science, and Art...............

Hey all,

Just got finished reading this great article on cooking and getting your kids involved. The link for it is here:http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/want-your-children-to-grow-up-to-be-healthy-adults-teach-them-to-cook-1.1595345.

Like any quality article, I was able to relate to it on a personal level. I was brought back to my early childhood where I got to learn to cook.  My parents, god love em started me early on learning things that would enable me further in life, cooking being one of the biggest things.

As memory serves, the first thing I made on my own besides the obligatory PB&J, was Meatball vegetable soup. And even then, the creation stuck with me. That and the fact that my family ate it and didn't wind up in the emergency room equaled success. And I got hooked from there.

Its not just plating food. At least for me. To take assorted ingredients  and assemble them to something bigger than its parts speaks of magic to me. Cmon all those witches and their cauldrons?

Sure maybe its garlic instead of eye of newt, and turmeric instead of wing of bat but they had the idea. Stew by any other name........

And you scientists, mad or otherwise? Basic chemistry folks. Altering the molecular structure of something into something else not only works in a lab but in every kitchen every day.

And I didn't leave you artsy types out. Rock star chef types AND home cooks alike can put flair on a plate, In fact how you present your food is as important to how you make it to some. And again, edible art = WIN.

Behind all this was the interaction, the sharing of knowledge in families. some of my most valuable possessions are my grandmothers recipes,  and knowing that i can share the effort and the love she put into those recipies is a wonderful feeling.

I put this, the family unit cooking for itself high among priorities for education and health. Starting your kids learning to shop, cook, heck maybe even grow food gives them the same thing you have.

Power.

I mean it. Really. Tell me what may be more powerful and significant than feeding your family something you have created?

Just some thoughts........