This fall, don't fall

It's crazy, but our nice consumer driven world which brings us each shopping season earlier and earlier every year, has finally unleashed the beast of fall upon us. I am so ready for fall. I love the, well I love the food, and the drinks (the beer is the best). 

So, needless to say, fall is challenging for a food addict! All those calories, especially those calories that add up pumpkin spiced latte after pumpkin spiced lager. The message is: "this fall, don't fall." Don't give up your summer resolves for health and wellness. It is not time to start storing up fat for the winter. We don't have to hibernate like animals. 

What are some tips to keep us motivated through this upcoming season that is already here? 

1. Continue to track everything!

Chances are, especially if you've just begun tracking, once you search for and enter the calories for that first fall treat, you will know exactly the impact it has on your daily food plan. It will help you to limit or cut out the potentially problem food from your diet. 

2. Get back on track!

As the academic world heads back to school, head back to the gym if you've left. I know you're busy, I'm busy. But so is food addiction, and so is laziness, if you allow work and study to control your life. If you fall, get right back up. Get back on track. You need a healthy body to meet life's challenges. 

3. Keep calm!

That is to say, find some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of work. It's not going to be summer anymore, so you might explore some indoor options for relaxation and stress relief. Have you been to Church lately? 

4. Reach out!

We are all going through stress, and our stress response naturally wants us to reach out for something to help us. It's better to reach out to a friend than for that extra slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Tell someone about your struggles, even with food. Keep accountable throughout this tough season! 

Mass Appeal

It's funny appearing on a show called Mass Appeal, partly because I say Mass, and partly because there's nothing very appealing about carrying an excess amount of mass. Shedding it is newsworthy, though! Thank you so much to the crew at TV22 for their interest and especially their hospitality on set.

I was interviewed by Seth in a quick 4 minute segment. It's pretty nerve wracking to try to get most of the story out in those few minutes, but I think we did a pretty good job. 

http://wwlp.com/2015/08/10/weight-loss-faith/

I wish I could have gone into detail about the faith aspect, as well as speak a little about my training routines, but you can read all about that through this blog. I was very humbled when Ashley, the other host of the show, began to recount a lot of my stories that she had read. Shout out to her! If I can inspire at least one person through this blog to begin the journey, I'll have done my job. Thankfully, I know that is already the case! 

In other news, a friend of mine with advanced staged cancer can no longer ride his bike. He decided, since I was looking to start training for long distance riding, to give me his 2004 Fuji roubaix. It's a sweet bike!

All I needed was a new rear tire. The peeps at the bike exchange I took it to were gushing over its quality. One girl asked me "you're sure you didn't pay your friend for that?" When I told her no, she said "you have a really really good friend." He certainly is. Whenever I ride it I'll think of him and those suffering cancer. It's providential, actually, that three of the interviewed people on the show Monday were cancer survivors, including myself. Get out there and live life to the fullest.