The Voice of Reason

The Secret to Weight Loss

Last Thursday while riding at high speed, I wiped-out on my bike.  A truck going very fast passed me too closely – something motorists will do purposely to taunt cyclists – and I lost control over a patch of sand and hit the pavement hard, skidding across the road and coming to a stop in a bloody heap.  The crack I heard as I smashed to the ground sounded like Derek Jeter hitting a homer out of Yankee Stadium.  But it wasn’t a bat that made contact with a ball; it was my jaw hitting the ground twice.  Miraculously, I didn’t break my neck, my jaw, or any other bones for that matter, although I got bruised, battered and ripped apart pretty badly. 

Of course, bouncing back won’t be immediate, but it will be a reality, and that come-back will begin with conviction.  In a way, my path back to wellness is not dissimilar from the steps you need to take to lose weight or get in shape, and that path includes five, key steps:

1. Never give up.  Having a dream is really having a goal.  Tap your fighting spirit and face challenges head on. 
2. Focus.  Weight loss is physically demanding, of course, but there’s a huge mental component to it.  Never lose sight of where you want to go.
3. Take baby steps.  It’s the tortoise and the hare concept:  slow and steady wins the race.
4. Have a short memory.  Forget about your mistakes or poor choices.  Don’t dwell on them or punish yourself.  Believe in the future and your ability.
5. Push yourself.  Even when you feel tired, know that what you do today will make you stronger tomorrow.

Ironically, my friend Lia Huber of Nourish Network wrote a post on Tuesday about never giving up as it relates to your quest for eating right, even though you might slip (no pun intended) now and again. 

Healthy Lunches

Between my training, business travel, work commitments and book research, I’ve let my beloved little blog slide, but I’m back with some useful insights, namely healthy school lunch ideas that kids will love!  Click here to see the video.

While I know kids will devour yummy brown-bag lunches, adults will too, so here’s a nutritious, Island-inspired sandwich for you to try. 

Tina’s Tropical Chicken Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

16 oz. can chunk pineapple, packed in water (drained)
1 ½ c cooked, cubed skinless chicken breast
½ c chopped celery
1 small purple onion, chopped
½ c walnuts or ½ c. whole macadamia nuts
½ c Greek-style non-fat yogurt
2 T light mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until well-combined.
2. Equally divide mixture into four portions and serve on whole wheat bread.

Help Us with the Horse Farm Hundred

As you may or may not know, I've been in training.  I've been cycling hundreds of miles each month in preparation for the Horse Farm Hundred, an annual charity race that benefits the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical School.

During the past six months, I've consumed my share of eggs, fish and chicken (when what I really wanted to eat was macaroni with truffle oil and Italian cheese); I've mega-dosed on Glucosamine and Chondroitin tablets, and I've washed down Chromium Picolinate supplements with protein shakes or my own fortified elixirs.  I've taken more Epsom salt baths than I can count and have bought more Ben-Gay than you could imagine but, at long last, I'm ready for the race.  Me and Lance.  (Just kidding.)

On October 25th at 8:30 AM, the Horse Farm "century ride" will begin, with participating cyclists from around the nation digging deep to sprint fast, pedal hard and go the distance.  I will be among them.

For those of you unfamiliar with UF's Vet Med Center, it is a major animal referral center for the entire Southeast and includes both a Small and Large Animal Hospital, each of which functions under the direction of a chief of staff and an associate chief of staff. Approximately 20,000 animals are admitted or treated at the facility each year. Because this is one of just a few U.S. veterinary schools with a college of human medicine next door, students are part of groundbreaking research that has significant implications for animals and people. Already, the college's researchers have developed a vaccine for the virus that causes AIDS in cats.

With construction now under way on a $58 million Small Animal Hospital, the college hopes to expand its potential for innovative research and treatment and, it's for that reason, I'm riding.  I'd be honored to have your support.

If you're interested, the link below will take you to a sponsorship form you can fill out and mail to the University, but if it's not within your means to contribute, just think positive thoughts for me.  Good karma is priceless.  : )

http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/college/events/annualevents/teamvetmed/documents/teamwebflier2009.pdf

Otherwise, don't forget to put my name on the sponsorship form (You'll see a place for it.), so I can thank you personally.

Live strong!!!