Welcome to Number 10!

Hey everyone! What’s good. Out there? Hope all you readers are doing as well as I am.

So here we are, post number 10! First off thanks for taking the time out to read and check out my side of the world. Also I hope you are learning and being entertained from all what i have been sharing.

I started this blog for many reasons. First as a way to keep my mind focused and keep an account of my life. Second, a lot of people have praised my writing skills . So why let my skill go to waste? Finally this is a great way to secure and promote my name on the World Wide Web.

As this being my 10th post. I figured I would share some of my top ten blogs and sites that I go to. Some are fun, interesting and even profound. Some of them have inspired me to blog in the first place. So here they are. Enjoy!

Once again thanks for reading and stay tuned for another ten posts!

1. http://societyofamateurgentlemen.wordpress.com/linkage-archive/

This is a cool place for men to get a lot of insight and tips for living in today’s modern world, some of the posts and blogs are raw, plus brutally honest. You have been warned.

2. http://www.psychologytoday.com/

Great site for figuring out all that stuff that goes on inside your head. Lots of stuff to learn in there!

3. http://io9.com/

This is where I get all my comic news and Sci-Fi stuff. A must for comic book nerds like myself.

4. http://www.blogilates.com/

Her energy alone will make you want to workout. But lots of fun exercises for women and guys too. Women always ask me fitness questions, so I usually steer them here.

5. http://www.thehousealwayswinsblog.com/

This is a cool site that I enjoy reading. Her writing style is awesome and always gives me inspiration to write more.

6. http://thestrengthshop.blogspot.com/

Another site that motivates me to write, especially about fitness. If you are a true athlete then this is the place to get that boost we all need sometimes.

7. http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/postures.asp

Great place to brush up on your Yoga skills. The Animations are cool and show you how to hold each pose.

8. http://earthsky.org/tonight

If you like to star gaze and track the moon, this is the place to go. It will let you know what stars and phases of the moon are around daily.

9. http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html

All the exercises you will ever need and some great lectures on nutrition.

10. https://www.facebook.com/

Yes Facebook! It gets a bad rep sometimes, but its only entertainment! Nothing more, nothing less.
There it is, some of my favorite places to go while I am on the World Wide Web. So join me in a toast for 10 posts and to 10 more into infinity!

Stay well!

Dean

AMBITION PART II

Hey everyone! How are you all doing today? I know its been a while but school has started so Blogging has been on the back burner for a while. I have had a few ideas floating around in my head so I am going to share this one with you all today.

If you don’t know me I will tell you that I have a stutter, I have good days with it and bad days. I still get my point across and communicate effectively; I see it as a minor annoyance even if that.  There have been people who have made fun of me. While I was in school while growing up and in the Army. Even some of my co-workers still do. Do I let it affect me? If I did I would be huddled up in a corner somewhere.

Now, as you know I am a US Army Veteran and during my time there one of my leaders made a remark to my peers about my stutter; and even though I am a good soldier I will never make it to Sergeant. The reason is you have to go to a board of Senior Leaders and present yourself to them as they ask you questions about Army rules regulations and all that stuff. Did you think I let that stop me? I just studied, rehearsed and practiced. So eventually I went to the Promotion Board and scored a 146 of of 150 points. Soon those same people who was mocking me and doubting me now had to take orders from me.

The message here is twofold; first never doubt anyone and second if someone has a problem don’t rub their face in it. In the long run it just makes you look ignorant in their eyes, and you will feel stupid when you may need that persons help someday.

So, my ambition is the fuel that keeps me committed to my goals in life and doesn’t let me fall to the wayside. So don’t let people talk you down or try to belittle you. They can doubt you all they want, just don’t doubt yourself.

Take care,

Dean

Stupid Things People Say

Hello everyone! How is things out there? I am going to start a series called “Stupid Things People Say”. I know people you know have said things that made you stop and say “What the F–K?!?” Well here I am going to share some of them with you. Where to start?

Okay! A while back one of my friends said that college brings false hope. He claims that it makes people waste their money to obtain something that they may never get. He is saying this while I am doing schoolwork mind you. I didn’t even answer, why waste precious energy right?

I myself (if you read my intro) hold  an Associates Degree in Applied Sciences. When I joined the Army that same college degree got me a $10,000 bonus and a job that keep me off the front-lines (somewhat). Then as I left the Army; that degree combined with my Army experience landed me a job with the city fixing Subway trains. So I ask you is that “false hope” or a “waste” of money.

Entrepreneurs get much respect and admiration as they boldly go out and make it on their own. They put in the time and effort to become a success. College is great too as it prepares with skills to interact in society. Can you imagine telling a young Barack Obama that college brings “false hope”? Even if people think he is a puppet or a stooge for the Illuminati, Bilderberg Group or whatever. Without that college degree he wouldn’t even be considered to be a puppet!

A College Degree is a tool that you can use to YOUR advantage for YOUR personal gain. If you are not college material so be it, apply yourself anyway. You will be surprised at what may happen.

Some Healthy Things to Think About

This is a small essay I have been meaning to write so I am finally sitting down to get this off my chest. As you know I am sort of a health enthusiast. It took me a long way to get where I am today and just wanted to share some points and discuss my new found health and vitality. I went from 240 lbs. to 180lbs in about a year.

Going to start from 1999 when I joined the US ARMY. When I signed up back then I was 145. As you know basic training is mentally and physically demanding. Most of it is mental but we will discuss that later. So time went on and by 2001 I was a chunky 180. The Army Physical Training program isn’t bad but only designed to maintain not really anything else. You have to work out on your own for your results.

My weight gain “downfall” started around 2003 when I went to Germany. By the time I returned to Fort Drum I had stress fractures in both legs. I was on crutches sitting around just eating pizza and wings. I got to about 225 lbs. back then. By Army standards I was overweight. Fast forward through two tours in Iraq and by the time I got out I was about 230 lbs.

Me circa 2007

By then it’s now 2006 out of the Army and just sitting at home. Like most Veterans when you get out you don’t do much just kind of “decompress”. Then I found out I had high blood pressure in 2007. Which was weight and Army induced. So they put me on medication. But my weight still rose. By May 2008 I was about 240 lbs. One day I looked in the mirror and said “time to change”. There was a Gym about a mile away from my house so I joined up. At first went there went through the motions but not really doing much. I was losing weight but not really. My habit was workout then go home and pig out which doesn’t make any sense when you think about it.

I went to Antigua in January of 2009 and came back different. So started to read and research about not just weight loss but the human body and what health is. Everything I read and applied to see what the results would be. This way I knew what worked for me.   Also I began to do Yoga. Yoga is like the ultimate mind body connection. Once you start you will begin to notice and feel more in tune with yourself.

Then I changed my eating habits. I know you’ve heard of “eating clean”. I make sure I eat food that is mostly natural. Also most of the meals I cook myself. Don’t get me wrong I still love cookies, cakes and a juicy hamburger when I want to indulge myself. But if you cook make stuff you know you going to enjoy and want to cook all the time.

Remember what I said before about it’s all mental. Before I got my car I took the bus to the Gym after work. I would also ride my bike there also. I’m saying this to show that if want it you it you will succeed as with everything else…

Me now!

Below are some questions and tips which you have probably heard before but will reiterate here to help you.

1. How serious are you about your health/fitness and what are you willing to do about it?

2. Consistency is the key. Set aside time where you know you can do what needs to be done to improve your weight loss/fitness goals. Make it a good habit!

3. Pace yourself and coach yourself. Personal Trainers are great but only you can motivate yourself.

4. Listen to your body. Get feedback from it you will be amazed at what it will tell you.

5. Do your own research and ask questions which leads back to Number 4.

6. Eat to fill satisfied not to feel bloated, full and sleepy. When this happens blood and energy is being drawn from other parts of the body to your digestive system.

7. Drink water and natural juices. Sodas and other drinks have dyes and preservatives that aren’t natural. If the ingredients have more than two things that are not natural put it back!

8. Exercise doesn’t have to be a task or chore. It’s important, but make it fun so that you look forward to it instead of dreading it.

9. When exercising concentrate on the full range of motion. And breath normally, don’t hold it. Breath control is the absorption and release of energy.

10. Try Yoga! You don’t have to be flexible like a pretzel. It’s all about the mind and body connection.

11. it’s all mental, it starts with your mind then after that. If you hungry enough you will succeed.

Some links and Books to check out:

http://www.menshealth.com/

http://www.smallworldbeauty.com/

http://www.crossfit.com/

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/

http://blogilates.com/

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/nutrition/sport/diet.html

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/nutrition/sport/diet.html#proportion

Health and Fitness by Sharkey and Gaskill

You Are What You Eat by DR. Gillian McKeith

The Fitness Model Program by Jennifer Nicole Lee

Athletic Body In Balance by Gray Cook

Jump Rope Training by Buddy Lee

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by David Coulter