To Reiterate…

Over a year ago, I wrote on how food and diet beliefs are as ingrained in many of us as religion. Tell someone that Soy is a highly processed piece of yuck and you risk a friendship. Telling someone else that you don’t want a lot of sugar snacks or chips kept around the house and the minute you leave the room, the shit talk starts. It’s very curious to me.

Why do unhealthy people have such strong opinions on MY not wanting to eat like them…on a daily basis? Do I eat dessert? Hellz ya! If it’s tasty, I love it! Do I eat breaded and deep fried cheese? Hellz ya! I live in Wisconsin, to not to is a sin against cheese. Do I eat those two things at one sitting? Uhhh, no. Yuck. Do I eat them every week, or even month? Uhhh, no. Yuck.

Do I eat a snackable? Hellz ya, that’s processed food fun in a box. With a cookie! Do I eat a delicious Highlander burger after three straight days of training and throwing? Oh ya, that is one earned Highlander. But we don’t eat like that at home, day after day. See how that works? It’s quite possible to live in the world without being a complete food nazi. It’s also quite possible to live in the world and not eat as a complete fat arse. Yes?

Meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and bacon. How hard is that? The combinations are endless. A little cupcake thrown in? Sure, once in a great while. A pizza? Yup, not nearly enough. Heh. A whole meal of processed carbs and crap. Yup. WHAT?! 

Yup. Enjoy it while you eat it, you’ll feel like garbage in about an hour and remember why you don’t eat like this all the time. If you feel normal the next day, your daily diet sucks. Stop it.

But bag on ME because I lift, throw, and choose not to keep crappy food in the house? Uhhhh, okay. And for those of you who can say with a straight face, “We have to keep this sugary food in the house for the kids.” SRSLY. Who runs this show? Those of you who have had years of weight trouble due to using shitty food as a reward NOW want to pass this down to your kids? Uhhhh, okay. Awesome.

But ya, come at me bro with your shitty diet and talk about how sad we are that we don’t eat like you.

Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you’ve got to squeeze your buns. That’s my formula.

Richard Simmons

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Cuz They Said So

I believe I first met Cowboy Gene on the Facebook. He was training with Phil Stevens, a friend of mine, down in Arizona and kicking arse all over the place. I met him face to face while living down in Texas when Gene and Phil moseyed over for a Roundtable event that included Rippetoe; Wendler; and Suggs. It really was one of my favorite (non-Bigg) weekend’s down there.

Of course, when they hit town, I immediately had to bring them down to the Bar-L for Red Draws they serve you in your car. Yup, drinks drive-in. Texas isn’t all bad.

Gene and Phil at Bar L

After spending about 15 minutes with Gene, you get a clear message of who he is. A gentlemen; a patriot; a lifter; and a charmer. Seriously, he really should think about doing weekend seminars to the males of today on how to be a mixture of Clint Eastwood, Sam Elliot, Ed Coan, Sam Houston, and many other great men I’m not thinking of at the moment.

At 70 years young, Gene continues to go for records on the platform. He recently competed at a USPF regional meet, here are his bench and deadlift: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdTeA35y4JE. There is some dissension in the ranks as to whether or not he locked out his final pull. Of course I believe he did and I also believe the head judge snoozed. But I wasn’t there, so I don’t know. That’s not the point. The point? Gene’s response:

Most agree it was not a good call, but you can’t argue with the judges call.

Sooooo, basically…judges said so.  End of story. No drama here folks, move along. See, that’s how adults behave. No bitching and moaning; not complete agreement but willing to concede to the judges. Because at the end of the day, the judges have the final say. Those of us who have been competing for a while understand this. No whining; no pouting; no foot stomp or lashing out. We show respect and let the cards fall where they may. Gene is a good teacher.

Suggs and cowboy Gene

Here’s Tommy and Gene talking story. Two amazing men who could teach the low testosterone males of today how to roll.

Congratulations to Gene for another great meet, thanks for the lessons. You are the model.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’ 

Erma Bombeck

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Monday Bacon: NO!

Another memo I’ve missed in life. The one where the word ‘NO!’ went out of style for parents. Reason, we want to reason with our four year olds now. NO! is too harsh, we don’t want to raise our kids as harshly as our parents raised us. Sometimes we were even spanked, hard. That is barbaric (read: effective) and has no place in today’s kinder and gentler society.

Bullshit. Did I stutter? Bullshit.

We had dinner at the Bigg guy’s folks house last night with part of the crew including strong sister Kitty and her two daughters (pops was out keeping the streets safe on the day shift.) Their oldest daughter, one and a half year old Kloey is about as cute as they come. Tons of personality and a baby belly to boot, she’s practicing the art of “playing the crowd.” And it works, mostly. But something went down at G’ma’s that crossed the line and she got a loud and stern ‘NO!’ that caused tears but also came with an understanding that ‘we don’t got time for that.’ And of course, once she realized Ma wasn’t messing around, she chilled and went on with life. Point goes to Kitty.

And here’s the lesson: the word ‘NO!’ is a line drawn in the sand for kids. It will not be crossed, but if it is, you’re in for it. Remember those days? Those, ‘wait until your father gets home’ days? Only Ma doesn’t play that way so shit hits the fan now…and probably again when Pa gets home.

Giving kids reasons as to why we ‘really shouldn’t do that honey’ gives them the point. Why? Cuz they don’t care. At all. They win and that’s all they care about. Cuz they’re kids. There are going to be times in life where you’re going to have to be harsh (damn! I hate when my parent’s are right.) ‘NO!’ is one of those times. Kids don’t get to grow up thinking everything is negotiable and then pouting when they’re 23 and don’t get their way. See how that works? Kids learning from parents that ‘NO!’ happens throughout life is ok. They’ll be okay, in fact, they’ll accept it and move on. Unless you don’t teach them. Duh.

I’m going to the bathroom since I don’t have a kid in my arms.

Kitty

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Friday Jams

I’m not a huge fan of Beck, but I heard this song on the way home from Minnesota last weekend at that exact moment of a road trip where you’re bored and tired and your navigator is sleeping. It gave me enough pep for the hour left home and I appreciate that.

Beck. Black Tambourine.

Enjoy the weekend.

There are no environments where you’re only going to win, because life just isn’t like that.

Bobby Orr

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