Taking the Leap of Faith! (Looked harder in 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade')

Hey everyone!

I took the leap of faith and became an independent Team Beachbody coach!  I am enjoying my success up to this point so much that I wanted to start helping others reach their goals as well.  It will also keep me accountable for my own fitness.

There's lots of work involved and I am enjoying it a little too much so far, I think :)

You get so many cool tools to use to help you succeed.  I am in the process of starting up my own websites (all provided) and getting an email accountability thread going with for people who would like a little motivation or just some tips with their own fitness routines and meal planning.  Now, back to work!

Good Article on Tuna and its Health Factor

This is a great article on the health factor of tuna.  If you have a Whole Foods store near you, that might be your best option as their 365 Private Label Brand seems to be harvested as naturally as possible with little mercury:

"The latest tests for 365 Everyday Value Tongol Tuna came in at 0.073ppm, and 365 Everyday Value Albacore Tuna came in at 0.056ppm — both well under established safety limits."

Here is the article and the Whole Foods Tuna FAQ:


The Truth About Canned Tuna


Whole Foods Market Tuna FAQ

Having a 'Bleh' Day

Not really feeling my fittest today.  Took some two week photos and I have to admit, I was a little bummed at not seeing much results.

But I have to keep chugging away.  I know that if I stick with it, I will get the results I want.  It's a long and difficult process and it certainly isn't easy. 

I think I have done a good job up to this point so I hope in a couple more weeks I start to see the foundations of change happening.

I may not feel great, but I will NEVER give up!

Others Are Starting To Notice

Last night I rushed to my weekly hockey game and when I got to the parking lot of the ice complex, I saw a good friend and teammate getting ready to walk up to the building as well.

I caught up to him and we started talking and he mentioned to me "you've lost some weight".  This is only after 12 days of working hard to eat clean and exercise everyday.

It was a great way to end the night!  I could also tell my hockey performance was elevated as well.  I just felt stronger and I felt like I had more stamina.  I didn't get tired as quickly and I could push my body to do more on the ice.

When others start to notice your weight loss, it's a huge confidence boost!

A Typical Dinner When Eating Clean

Hey there!

First off... I plan to post my "before" pictures on here soon... ugh, they're just hard to look at and I wish no one would ever see them BUT if you're going to stay accountable, you have to face every issue and deal with it.

Second (and more fun)!  Here is an awesomely good tasting, healthy and quick to make meal:

Angel Hair Pasta with Chile Shrimp (omit the chilies if you are not a spice fan)

This is a Gordon Ramsay recipe.  Here is the link: Angel Hair Pasta with Chile Shrimp

I am not a good cook and I HATE to prep food because of this.  It takes too long!  So I search for quick and easy meals to prepare and this is one of the easiest.  I used DeBoles Whole Wheat Angel Hair Pasta (with Jerusalem Artichoke Flour. Fancy!) and fresh ingredients purchased from Whole Foods Market.  That means no preservatives or additives. 

It literally took about 7 minutes to cook the pasta and the shrimp and maybe 15 to prep it (once again, I am very slow at prepping). 

Don't think you have to sacrifice great tasting food when you change your eating habits.  This is one radically delicious dish!

My Workout Set-Up

Hey everyone!

I just finished week one of P90X! Hooray for me :)

I thought I'd give you all an insight into my workout set-up at home.  Now, one of the reasons I want to do this is to prove you do not need a ton of space or a lot of fancy gadgets and weights to work out in the privacy of your own home.

*Keep in mind I have a VERY small apartment... 550 square feet for the whole place*

The first pic is my weights, yoga mat and yoga block (yes, it's pink :) I only have a set of 10 pound weights, 15 pounds and 25 pounds:

The next picture is of my pull-up bar.  It's simple and cheap (like $15 bucks!) and most of all, it works in my limited space:

That is my hallway ^ The door on the left is my closet, the door in front is my bathroom and the bedroom is on the right.  I am standing in my living room.

The last picture is of my living room and the small amount of space I have to work out in.  Doing Plyometrics in P90X is a bit cramped but I make it work:

So don't be discouraged by thinking you have to have tons of open space and lots of weights and equipment to work out with!

What a Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday (Tuesday, May 10th, 2011) I was feeling so FAT!  I had been eating super clean and I was going into day 4 of P90X.  For some reason I just felt plain ol' fat. 

Today, however, I feel much better and even after only four days I can tell I've lost a little weight.  I was walking through the locker room at work when I caught a glance of myself in the mirror.  I stopped and went back to look again and I could tell that I had lost a little bit in my face and neck.  That made my day!

So don't get discouraged!  I doubt myself all the time... whether I am eating right or working out hard enough.  But if you just trust in the program and give it some time you will see results. Doubting yourself is just a normal part of the process, but I really think it makes you stronger mentally down the road.

You Get As Many Chances As You Want...

I've been overweight my whole life. Now, at the age of 30, I plan to start a new life.

I grew up in a household that never ate a healthy meal and probably had never heard of the word 'exercise'. It's a shame too, because I am a decent athlete. I played high school football and all kinds of sports. I currently play ice hockey three times a week and my career is as an Assistant Golf Professional at a private golf course. I am tired of looking in the mirror and seeing “me”. Because it's NOT me. Underneath all the excess weight is the real me and I am going to find him. I don't want to be overweight anymore and I plan on doing something about it!

I hope that this blog, which will follow my progress, will inspire you in some way. Maybe you want to change your life too and you just need a friend to go through it with. Or maybe you are doing the right things but recently just need a little bit of extra motivation. 

Oh, and the title of this entry, "You Get As Many Chances As You Want..."  is one of the most important lessons I have learned in life.  If you fail at something, you can stand up, dust yourself off and try again.  So don't give up!

I plan to have numerous updates with pictures, videos, food logs and just my silly thoughts along the way. So, come join me and let's reach our expectations! (Yeah, I know that's a bit corny! :P )