Ham, Team B

Hello to everyone;

Firstly thanks Jessie and Angie for the Father's Day recognition. As you know I'm not a real fan of celebrations because we need to celebrate ourselves and each other every day. Strangely this new blog has become very much of that, so a tip of the hat to all active participants in this journey of life trying to find meaning around each corner. And it is indeed a wonderful journey when you have loving people around you. You are all deserving of this everyday celebration.

I went to "The Church of Harvey" this morning having dragged my body out of bed after a great evening with friends sitting around a fire, drinking wine and eating some grapes and getting home at 1:00 am. I should mention that I was away all of last week eating in restaurants and on the run. In spite of that another 2.5 pounds disappeared. And it's simply eating properly and with conviction. Conviction that I want to get to a healthy weight without drugs, exercise contraptions or prepared meals that cost a fortune. It is indeed a mind game.

I think both of you, Birgie and Angie believe our problem is genetic largely. I am fearful of such conclusions because we then will abandon any hope of change. In the battle of nature versus nurture, I think nurture plays more prominent. We grew up with eating habits that need to be changed. And we can change if we wish. Perhaps the outcome of poor eating habits will have a more profound weight effect on us because of our genetics, so we have to prevent the opportunity for weight gain.

It is our state of mind, which means you have to believe that you want to become healthy, that will drive you to the right decisions for eating. Harvey asked how many of us when we have gone on diets, have ever thrown out our fat clothes. It was surprising how many of us kept the clothes. Now isn't that a testimony to a poor vote of confidence in ourselves and our trendy weight loss efforts.

I may have talked earlier about "slick", the temptor when we go to a buffet and are aroused by the spread in front of us and want it all. Slick is always there for those of us who are fat, and just like the alcoholic, we need to say no to the opportunities if we know we will fall victim to the temptation. Alcoholics don't go to bars.

For those of us who may fall off the wagon of improper eating, just get back on, don't feel guilty, as you can't change what happened and move back on the agenda. One guy who has lost 60 pounds talked about himself, not about weight loss but about how his self esteem and joy of life has dramatically improved. And people around him have noticed it.

All these fat men have chosen life over the consumption of quarter pounders or most anything at MacDonald's because they know they are "widow-makers". So I'm going to sign off and get outside and do some work, but remember that the goal of any weight reduction starts immediately with what we put in our mouth. Every one of those moments will determine the achievement of the goal; not something tomorrow or the next day.

Keep smiling and let's get healthy together.

Love

Ham