Motivation
Motivation in the Mail: Healthy Living Postcard Exchange
I’ve had an idea percolating for a while. I actually addressed it in a minimal format LONG ago (as in prior to this version of Stellar Path, although a few of you from back then may still remember it), but I’ve decided that 2012 is the year to implement this. However, I cannot do this alone, so I need your help. But here’s the thing – it should benefit you as much as it will me.
And no, it’s not a Ponzi scheme.
Right now, I’m calling it the Healthy Living Postcard Exchange.
Here is how it works.
You are matched up, randomly, with some person. It may be a blogger; it may be someone without a blog; it may be someone you know well; it may be someone you have never heard of.
You send them a postcard from your area of the world. On said postcard, you will write some note of encouragement. From the generic “You can do it!” to a more detailed I-clearly-stalked-you-on-the-internet “I know you are struggling, but just remember the success you had last year in March. I’m pulling for you and you can do it again!” And then, you have something to put on your fridge (or bathroom mirror, or wherever is motivational to you) and maybe, it’ll help you stay on track.
Obviously, this will require you to share your mailing address with someone. All you’ll need to let me know is that you want to participate. Since we are just talking about mailing postcards, I see no reason that this couldn’t be opened up worldwide. Obviously, if you live in the U.S., it will cost slightly more to mail a postcard to the other side of the world than to the other side of the U.S., but since it is JUST a postcard, the cost is still typically less than $2.00.
If you want to participate, please email me the following information by January 8th to jeremy@stellarpath.net.
1. Your email address
2. If you are a US reader, if you are willing to send a postcard internationally. (You can still participate if you only want to send domestic.)
I initially thought I was going to match up mailing addresses and so forth, but instead, I’ll email out a list saying who is matched up to whom, and you will send your person your mailing address.
If enough people participate, I’m planning to arrange it each month so that the person you send your postcard to will not be the person you receive your postcard from.
I know that a lot of us already “know” each other through the internet (and a few lucky folks out there know each other in person through Fitbloggin and other local meet-ups), but this seems to me it could be a great way to bring some of us closer together and motivate each other.
Right now, I’m thinking we’ll do this once a month, so if you want to bow out a month for whatever reason, no problem. But still… I think it would be pretty neat to think that at the end of 2012, you could have twelve postcards from (hopefully) twelve different people [if enough sign up, so please sign up!], all motivating you on your goals, weight loss, healthy living, healthy eating, working out, or WHATEVER.
So at this point, I just shamelessly beg. Obviously, I need people to participate. I’ll do the matching. All you need to do is email me the information above.
Anyone up for participating?
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Geeked Out Weight Loss Series: Power Rangers, Season 3 – I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger
Well, aside from the fact that the above title is probably the LONGEST blog title post I’ve ever written, this is going to be a different article. Today, I’m combining three things. My geeked out review of an old favorite, a Christmas episode, and weight loss. So I present to you… the fairly forced weight loss analogy found in the third season episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers “I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger.”
Alas, I do not know where you can watch this online other than to download it or use Netflix Watch Instantly. If you’d really like to see it, email me and I’ll see what I can do.
Plot
Power Rangers is definitely known for its complex, high-concept, deep plots, and this episode is no exception. Our episode starts off with Kimberly and Aisha (the Pink and Yellow Rangers) leading a group of children through the world’s longest Christmas carol (seriously, these kids sing for at least four hours – an impressive feat considering this is a 30 minute episode, with commercials) as we see various other Christmas-like activities going on.
Ernie (owner of the Youth Center and not a Power Ranger) gives Tommy (leader of the Power Rangers and not a youth center owner) the star to go on top of the Christmas tree (I guess because Tommy is tall), but Tommy seems a rather sad young girl who was just singing in the world’s longest Christmas carol just sitting around, looking sad. Tommy asks her if she would help him put the star on the tree, which is just silly, because she’s not a Power Ranger OR tall. I guess he’s hoping it would cheer her up.
Well, she smiles a little bit when he boosts her up to put the star on the tree.
In a different part of the Youth Center, Kimberly admits to Aisha that, while she is happy she gets to spend Christmas with Aisha and her family, she is sad she isn’t going to get to spend it with her mom. (In a previous episode, we learned that Kimberly’s mother let her move in with Aisha to finish out the school year while she went to France with her new husband.) Aisha hugs her and suggests Kimberly help her with the decorations.
Thanks, I don’t miss my mom at all now.
Bulk and Skull show up. Quick note – the last time I reviewed a Power Ranger episode, it was early 1st season. This is late third season. So you should know, Bulk and Skull are no longer bullies. Now they are junior police officers. And they are going to be working the Christmas party on duty, although Bulk will be dressed up to play Santa.
Meanwhile, on the moon, Zedd is ranting about how much he hates the holidays. This year, in his attempt to take over the Earth, he is going to make Santa’s elves create a toy that will make any child who sees it instantly brainwashed. And no, it isn’t Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It’s a spinning top, that I assume uses magic. Any child who sees it will basically be under Lord Zedd’s control and able to do only his evil bidding.
And back at the Youth Center, Kimberly and Aisha are leading the kids through another practice before their big show. Becky, the same girl who Tommy helped put the star on the tree, is especially down. After the rehearsal, Aisha and Kimberly ask her why, and she says that there will be no one there to hear her sing.
At the North Pole, Santa is supervising his elves when Rito Revolto shows up, takes over, and orders the elves to make no other toys except for Zedd’s magic spinning top.
Kimberly has another heart-to-heart with Becky, who confides to her that her dad works too much and can’t spend any time with her. Kimberly suggests that Becky let her dad know how she feels. And inside, just as Tommy is about to get himself some Mistletoe Lovin’, Zordon pages the Rangers.
At the Command Center, the Rangers learn about Zedd’s evil Christmas toy plan. Of course the Rangers will help, but because of magic or the jet stream or something, their morphing powers won’t work at the North Pole. Of course, that doesn’t stop the Rangers, so they teleport to the North Pole to help out.
The Rangers see the monsters overrunning Santa’s workshop, so they come up with a plan to save Santa. Billy, resident genius, thinks that if their powers won’t work at the North Pole, then neither will the monster’s. Fortunately, they are correct. The Rangers proceed to fight the two gigantic warriors, armed with swords…
…with snowballs. And of course, snowballs > swords, so the Rangers win!
With the elves’ help, Rito, Goldar, and the Tengas are defeated, tied up with ribbon, and teleported back to the moon.
Is this over yet? No? Crap. Okay.
The head elf complains about the toy production being off schedule, but the Rangers help with teamwork or magic or power crystals or something.
With Christmas saved, the Ranger teens head back to Angel Grove, Becky’s dad shows up after all, the kids sing, Kimberly’s mother shows up from France after all, and Tommy finally gets to kiss Kimberly under the mistletoe.
Weight Loss Analogy
Hoo boy. This one is going to be tough. Uhm… Okay, we’ll call the bad guys the holiday temptations that we have to face. The high calorie treats. The parties. The deviations from our schedules that make regular exercise tough.
So, when faced with these temptations, what should we do? Give in? Let evil win.
No, we turn into Power Rangers, pelt them with metaphorical snowballs, and take back the healthy holidays.
Okay, that was weak. This one wasn’t quite as clear cut for me.
But hey, Power Rangers and the holidays. What’s better?
How about a trip to Vegas?! Tina and I are leaving for Vegas and we’ll be back on the 23rd. That means I won’t be weighing in for a bit.
My Vegas pledges? I’m going to enjoy myself, but I’m still going to eat as much real, healthy food as I can. We aren’t going to have a car, so we’ll be doing LOTS of walking. I’m going to take my heart rate monitor and make sure I get a good calorie burn in every day. I will also drink LOTS of water.
I’m still planning to be down to 369 by January 1st. I’m also not going to neglect this blog. I didn’t think to do this in enough time to get some guest posts, so instead, I’ve got a few blog posts scheduled to post while I’m in Sin City.
I’m going to post a few times about my Christmas ornaments. I’ve even got some that really are weight-loss themed. And of course, after Christmas, I’ll be sure to share photos of our eats, trips, sights, shows, and more.
If I don’t get to “speak” to you again before the holidays, have a Merry Christmas!
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A Put Up or Shut Up Weigh-In
It’s Put Up or Shut Up time…
But first a weigh-in!
December 2, 2011
Weight: 374.2
Change from Last Week: -2.0
Change from Highest: -28.6
Woo hoo! A few things I have thought about this week. 370 seems to be my sticking point. I can’t get past it. That makes me a tiny bit sad, because earlier this year, I was lighter than this. But oh well. You can’t change the past, only the future, so upwards (er, downwards) and onwards, yes?
And secondly… every December of my life, every single one since 1978, I have gained weight. Every one.
Not this one.
I’m not going to go crazy and say I’ll lose ten pounds, because I know with Christmas and Vegas, it isn’t going to happen. Frankly, I’m proud of myself for pledging to lose any weight this month, because in years past, I would have just hoped to stay the same.
But this year, I am going to reach 369. The end. I WILL start 2012 lighter than I started December 2011.
And here’s how (I hope) you’ll help me out.
I’m going to give $100 to a charity of MY choice if I make it to 369.
I’m going to give $100 to a charity of YOUR choice if I don’t.
That means I may end up donating $100 to a charity that I don’t have the warm fuzzies for.
One note – I REFUSE to give to PETA or the Animal Liberation Front. I find both to be terrorist organizations, and I absolutely will not give to them. I’d rather burn it than give either organization a penny. Please note, I don’t have an issue with animal-friendly organizations or even an organization that is pro-veganism or otherwise opposed to eating meat. However, and I can’t stress this enough, I detest PETA and ALF (the terrorists, not the loveable alien) with a consuming, fiery hatred. I may write a post someday to explain my hate.
But if, on January 1st, I don’t weigh 369 or less, I’ll put up a poll and I’ll let you decide where my money goes. I’m even okay with it going to an organization that runs polar opposite to my political beliefs (which you’ll never hear me share on the blog, because public political talk is just ugly talk in my book). This is my motivation, and it’s charity in that I’m giving to an organization, even if it isn’t one I approve of.
Sorry, this turned into an almost-rant and I didn’t mean for it to.
So… yeah… put up or shut up time. I’m excited about this, and I think it will help me out.
Because five-ish pounds is DOABLE, even with a holiday and a vacation to Vegas in the midst. I’m still going to enjoy myself. Anyone want to join me?
And because I feel like doing a little bit of linking, let me share some of my favorite blog posts I’ve read this week! (Please note – I asked none of these bloggers for permission to share their links. I’ve never shown any link love. Is this bad netiquette?)
From Getting Fit: No Matter the Pain (actually, from a few weeks ago), Reinaldo wrote a great post about the different types of diets people follow and our attitudes toward them.
Roni Noone at Roni’s Weigh blogged about her new food journaling technique that I am going to try for myself, starting tomorrow!
Steve at 265andcounting BlogofSteve Running on Awesome Next Name Here just wrote about how old pictures can be motivational.
Oh, and the super awesome Josie from Yum Yucky is once again a celebrity!
And lastly, Brandon from A Healthy Dad is kinda-maybe planning a race I can barely wrap my mind around.
Of course, I read WAY more blog posts than this and enjoyed many, many, many of them, but these are just some that happened to stand out to me today. I think I’ll start doing this every weigh-in.
Any blog posts from this week stand out to you?
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Green Lantern & Weight Loss
If you haven’t gathered by now (or you are a new reader, in which case, hello!), I’m a geek. Mega huge super geek.
I don’t play Dungeons and Dragons, and I’m not a hardcore gamer (unless it has to do with Mario, in which case, sign me up), but I like geeky things. Star Trek. Power Rangers. Super heroes. Buffy. The geekier, the better. Ultimately, I think what I really like is to watch the fight of good against evil.
Back in the summer, I watched several episodes of Power Rangers and applied it to weight loss. Frankly, I had a blast doing it. But as the semester started and I got busier (and my weight loss stagnated), I stopped. Well… the semester is almost over, and I’m starting back up.
This first return, though, isn’t for the Power Rangers (even though I said it would be – whoops). I bought a movie on Black Friday, a blu-ray for only $9.99. Green Lantern. I’m not going to go into great detail about the plot (mostly because it’s awesome, regardless of what the reviews said, and you should watch it yourself), but as Tina and I were watching it last night, I realized that there was a very interesting weight loss lesson at the heart of this movie.
Okay, maybe not, but I’m applying it to weight loss, and for me, it fit beautifully.
The Gist
We have Ryan Reynolds playing Hal Jordan, a cocky pilot with ridiculous abs. (I’ve discussed my man crush on Ryan Reynolds before.)
Basically, the Green Lantern Corps is a group of crime fighters who are the protectors of peace and justice. That is a SUPER condensed version, but know that the Green Lantern that covers our sector of space died, crashed on Earth, and his ring, the source of his powers, chose Hal Jordan to be his successor.
Once Hal finally used his powers (albeit accidentally), he was whisked away to the planet Oa, Green Lantern HQ. There, he was apparently stripped to his skivvies and examined, because an Earthling has never been a Green Lantern before. And Ryan Reynolds apparently has a clause in all of his contracts that require at least one shirtless scene per movie.
After getting his suit and powers and a bit of training, he finds himself up against Sinestro, leader of all the Green Lanterns. And it was here that an amazing weight loss analogy was presented.
Sinestro, while thoroughly kicking Hal’s butt in an attempt to show him what a Green Lantern is and can do, says, “Fear is the enemy of will. Will is what lets you take action. Fear is what stops you and makes you weak.”
The Weight Loss Analogy
How often have we let fear ruin our weight loss?
I know I have.
I’ve never weighed under 250 pounds. I don’t know what that will be like, and five years ago, I let the fear of knowing push me back to 380.
Fear of the unknown.
Fear of the uncertain.
Fear of no net.
Because being fat is the greatest safety net we’ve invented. Whatever bad thing happens to us, we can blame it on our fat.
I didn’t get the girl (or guy) because I was fat.
I didn’t get the promotion because I was fat.
I didn’t get to live the life I wanted because I was fat.
There is a choice to be made.
Do I live in fear and keep my safety net, or do I get rid of that safety net and face the world, head on?
I’ve made my choice.
Have you?
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Pre-Holiday Weigh-In and a Motivational Image
First of all, the super good news! I DID lose weight before Thanksgiving! Woo hoo!
Now I may be all bloated and full of salt on Friday, but I am STILL going to weigh-in. Let’s just see how Wednesday and Black Friday weigh-ins compare.
I’m about to show you a weight loss motivational picture, but before this turns into something else, let me post one final Thanksgiving image for some holiday cheer.
A gym in Brazil (I think…) posted pictures such as this for their advertising a few years ago. A lot of people got upset. Fat jokes or things that others consider insensitive truly don’t bother me. And for that reason, I find this picture both motivational and AWESOME.
And because I want to look like him and I have a man crush, I’m posting this picture, and I’m reminding myself, “Would he be splurging non-stop for the next five weeks? Don’t think so.”
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