Ribs.

Messed em up...again.

Why? 

I was doing so good, and now this.
Guess I gotta find other ways to stay active for now...

My dream.

Is to move to the Island. Hawaii is my home away from home. 

One day...

Torn between 2 diets...

So, I'm super torn. 

In the past, I use to do the high protein, low to no carb diet (besides fruits/veggies). 

But now a days, I am leaning more towards to raw/vegan/peskitarian diet.

The thing that sucks is...I'm not losing weight as fast on the raw/vegan diet and I know the other one works. 

Although I know that it's probably better/more healthy for me to be on the vegan, I know I'll lose weight faster (and it's proven for me at least) to do the high pro/low carb.

I'm thinking to myself, maybe I'll do the high protein/low carb diet until I reach about 165-170, continue to live my life as raw/vegan as I possibly can. 

Well, here goes...starting Monday, I'm going back to my regular high pro/low carb diet.
Time to shed another 20 pounds!
The goal is 150 by next summer. Initially, it was suppose to be by December, but a few bumps in the road kept me from getting there.
Let's do this. Do it big. Do it hard. and Do it like the old me!
Blood. Sweat & Tears. 

Russ

Create in me a clean heart.

Dear Lord, 

As I live this life on earth, may you keep changing me. Keep working through me, so that others may see you through me. Create in me a clean heart, because the only way people will see the truth is if I am changed myself. I long to have you closer and closer, for you are all we need in our lives Lord. You are the only thing in this world that will complete us. You have blessed me with a wonderful family, relationship, friends and job...but Lord those things can be taken from me in a second. You Lord are the only constant. 

Help me to strive to become the person you want me to become. Lord today I give my life to you in full so that you may use me in any way that you want. As a nurse, a musician, or just a person walking the streets. Continue oh Lord to tug at my heart and show those around me that You are all we need. Forgive me now oh God for the sins that I've committed to you. Shadow them with my acceptance of your Love. Thank you Lord in advance for all that you will continue to do in my life.

Bless all those around me who I love. Keep them close to your heart as well. 

I love you father. 

Love always, 

Russy

Anxious & Stressed.

These last few days at work have been extremely stress. (super understatement). 

I tend to stress out on things that I probably shouldn't stress about, but when it comes to things I do need to stress about, I tend to let it get to me, a lot. 

There are some things we can't go back and change, where we wish we could. But God is always there, watching over us. He is our Rock and our shelter when we need Him.
I get so consumed in this world, that I forget what I really need to focus on is my relationship w/ Christ. He is our constant and our everything.
As anxious and stressed as I've been, God has given me the comfort I need. I continue to pray that in any aspect of my life, that God takes the lead and does the things that He needs to do in order to make me whatever He wants me to become. To use me in places where I would've never thought to be used. 

Stress is a part of life, but how you handle it and who you turn to is the thing that will make the difference. God has been there from day 1 and I will continue to turn to Him in all that I do. 

God, you are my shelter in the time of storms.

7 day cleanse...

Well, this blog is a little past due, but definitely worth writing. 

So last week, I set forth on a journey to go on a fruits & veggies (raw) 7 day cleanse. Followed by a 30 day juice fast. 

Half way through my cleanse, I realized that a 30 day juice fast, might be nearly impossible, only for the fact that being at work and trying to get sleep & having the time to prep fruits & juice them would be  a pretty hard task.
I can definitely juice a few days out of the week, but for 30 days, it would just be too much work. If I had someone juicing all my juices for me, I wouldn't mind doing it at all. 

Anyway, by the end of my fruits & veggies only week, I was feeling fabulous. I felt like I slimmed down. My energy was up and it just felt good to be eating healthy again. What you put in your body is definitely want you're going to get out of it. 

So, I've come to the conclusion that for this month, I'm going to do a 6 day fruits & veggies only cleanse, and on day seven, break that cleanse and eat anything I want (trying to stay w/ the vegan/vegetarian options). 

I'm hoping that by the start of 2012, to be 80-90% vegan/vegetarian. I most likely won't cut out fish for the time being, but eventually I want to be a vegetarian and try as hard as I can to be vegan. I'm going to take small steps, but I find it fulfilling in so many ways to live my life this way.
So day 1 is complete of the 2nd week...here goes :) 

Live. Love. Be Healthy. 

Russy

By next year...I'll look like this...

The feeling of getting fat.

Is a horrible feeling. 

It makes me cringe. 
Yet, I know that's what's happening when I eat bad. But I still somehow do it. 

Although I haven't gone back up to 230, I'm near there. Hovering around 200lbs is a shame.
I've been so good until about a month and a half ago, and the weight is slowly creeping up on me. 

I won't let it happen, I just can't.
A couple years ago, I stopped caring. I thought well, I've been the fat guy...might as well be the fat guy. 

But the fact that I hated going out and one of the reasons I stopped playing music, is what makes me want to change.

The feeling of people knowing you're gaining weight & not saying anything gets to me.

I'm still at the phase where it's catch(able) and not too late to change.
Nobody likes to be in the"full blown" stage, where they feel like it's impossible to turn back. 

I'm at the place where I few tweaks here and there and I'll be back on my way to being where I want to me. 

Everything is a mental game with me. Psyching myself out and making me believe and follow my routine. 

I vow that 26 will be a year that changes my life. 

26 will be a year I look back and say, I managed to stop all the talk and do the walk. 

It's where dreams become reality. To finally be in the 150-60's.
I want to be the guy that everyone says "How did you do it?" "tell me your secret" 

And I'll I'm going to say is, hard work, dedication, commitment and a lot of luck being healthy. 

Whatever it is that is stopping me, won't stop me any more. 

This is my time.
This is me going back to being serious about it. 

This is me achieving my goals. No questions asked.

You are what you eat.

What you put in your body is what you're going to get out.

I've been extremely lethargic the past few weeks, only because I've only been eating junk. 

No veggies, fruits. Just good tasting, unhealthy, fatty foods that make you feel like sh!t. 

Never did I think I would get sick by eating so much junk.
Well, that's what's happening and it doesn't feel good. 

Even after just 1 day of just fruits & veggies...I feel a whole lot better. 

I've been drinking more water vs soda and have really noticed a difference. 

Our bodies are like cars, when you decide to put ARCO gas, your car suffers. 

When you put something like Cheveron or Union 76, you put real food/fuel into your ride. 

The saying, "you are what you eat" is so true. 

I've been eating junk...I feel like trash. Lethargic. Unmotivated. Unhappy. You name it. 

Sure I feel good for the first 20-30 minutes while consuming these meals.
But after that, I feel guilty and dissatisfied, because an hour later, I'm craving more of these foods.
Yet when my body is really wanting some "real" nutrients. 

Getting past this 7 day fruits & veggies cleanse, followed by my attempt at a 30 day juice fast, will definitely be a challenge. 

One that I'm looking forward to and one that I know will be partly or even mainly mental.  

26 is going to be a year where I get back into shape & will treat my body with care.
I am what I eat...

I will treat my body like the temple that it should be. 

To life.
Live. Love. Be healthy.
Russy

26 and the journey continues

25 was a crazy, life changing year. 

Plenty of ups & equally as many downs.
But one thing I learned is that I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me. 

He has given me a heart to love and a mind that can achieve anything w/ effort. 

I'm blessed & thankful for all my struggles & successes. I will continue to grow. 

My life is just getting started. I have so many things to look forward to, and I'm prepared. 

Been through plenty of experiences to get me through & hoping for new ones that will make me stronger. 

I begin 26 w/ a cleanse. 

A cleanse to clear my mind, body, soul and spirit. 

The last year was rocky...physically draining and challenging.
I vow to change my bad habits into good ones, and will continue to strive for a healthy lifestyle.
Time to clear the mind, treat my body with respect and do things the right way.

Gonna start this "birth" year out right. No more turning back. 

To life & health. 

Live. Love. Be Healthy 

Russy