Labs, Doctor and training...

As I hinted before, I was going to the doctor last Friday. I had labs drawn a week before and so I knew that my blood levels were significantly better then a year ago. My AC1 which measure diabetes was 8.5 last year, full blown diabetes. This year it was 5.7, only a point away for normal and so I was minimally pre diabetic. My blood sugar went from 200 to 90. My triglycerides went from over 200 to 98. My cholesterol was better , although good cholesterol is still low. My liver enzymes are normal now. So overall improvement.

Bottom line, my doctor was pleased not only with weight loss but with the overall improvement in blood work. He took off one of my blood pressure medications, by he way that has gone down too. And cut my diabetic medications in half. Why not cut them off completely? I was wondering that e same thing, but with my history of yo young on weight loss, he thought it be best to see how I am six months from now. I can deal with that because , like I told him , this time I am not going back to the old lifestyle.  See if I try eating the wrong foods now, my body does not react well to it so I know what I have done. That never happened before.

So yesterday, 4/16/16 I  started my trading for NYC marathon with the blessing form you doctor too. I did 3.64 miles and today I did 4.12 miles at a 15:13 pace. Pretty good for just starting off. I plan to used Jeff Galloway's setup,until FIT starts again in May , I am returning as an assistant coach to the Ft Lauderdale group. I am looking forward to it.

Well enough of the technical stuff, hopefully next blog installments will be more philosophical and introspective. I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Stay tuned, I will write again at least weekly. Enjoy and smile....

Sometimes, it is better to wipe the slate clean....

I know it has been awhile, since I wrote anything here. I guess I was to a point that I did not think I had anything worthwhile to write. Well not that I think that many things have changed, but I know it is time to get back to it again. Like my title says, sometimes it is better to wipe the slate clean and start again. I have learned though, that although that is possible in my spiritual life because of the love, forgiveness and mercy of God, it is better to look black and learn from my mistakes in my personal life; and then move forward.

The last year and a half of my life have been filled with turmoil, challenges, heart breaks and many blessings indeed. About a year ago, I was unemployed , in a deaconate program that only caused me uneasiness and anxiety. And I had regained the weight I had, had such a hard time to lose. Because of everything I had stopped training and even walking. I had no time for anything. It has been a year now that, I got a great job, which makes me happy to go to everyday, and last November I left the deaconate program which also lessen my anxiety and brought me to a better emotional and spiritual state. Let's just say that it was not the right "fit" for me.

I was still fat, unhealthy and not thinking that I would be able to walk much anymore. Well that was until the end of the year, when I saw Marcela was looking for a new coaching team in Coral Springs training for a half marathon in March. I started at the beginning of January to train in Coral Springs. I was still overweight, but I had started to live and eat the paleo lifestyle. Well I faithfully trained not for speed but for endurance. I did finish the training and completed the half marathon. That was my new start, the time for that race was my new PR, because anything I did years ago really doesn't count right now. During the process, I signed up for the NYC marathon lottery, and guess what I got in.

So your guess is right, now start my blogs on my training for this marathon in November. I am 45 pounds lighter then I was in January and a lot healthier and happier. There will be another post soon as I start my training and my visit to the doctor to tell me how healthy or not that I am.

Hope to see you here soon.....

2013??? Well, Happy New Year!!

Can you believe it, it has been a year since I was sitting here discussing my goals and resolutions for 2012.  Has the year seemed to go faster then I would have liked or expected?  It seems my folks were right when they said that as I grew older time would seem to go by faster.  Well, it was just a day ago when I wrote about my shortcomings and accomplishments in 2012 , so I won't bored you with that again.

Today I want to concentrate on what I will be doing to become a better person in 2013.  2013 holds a lot of hope for me, but then on the first day of each new year the hope is the same.  I have a clean slate to continue to draw the picture of my life.  As I pondered this during the night I came across this very thought provoking meditation.. So I decided to write it our for all of you too.  You might have seen it before, but I think it is definitely worth another look, especially at this moment in time.

My Name is I AM.

I was regretting the past, and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking: "My name is I Am".
He paused. I waited. He continued.
"When you live in the past,with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WAS.
When you live in the future, with its problems and fears,it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.
When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here.
My name is I AM.

So you see anything I write after that is pointless.  I do want to be healthier, wiser and holier.  The specifics I am going to have to leave it up to HIM.  My first aim is to be holy. I know that from there I will be healthier because I will not continue to abuse my body because I will come to value it as the holy temple it was meant to be.  I will be given the wisdom so that I can serve God in better ways this year.

One thing I will try to be is a better brother and uncle.  Through God's compassion,mercy and love I reconciled with my brother and his family at Christmas.  I was able to visit with my twin nieces after 4 years of being absent in their lives. I could never have gotten a better Christmas present.

What can you take from this?  Nothing is impossible for God. Continue to seek His Will in all you do. I am grateful that you are part of journey.  I pray for a very healthy and love filled NEW YEAR for you and those you love.
Buen Camino.

Seven months and counting....

Can you believe it is over 7 months that I have written any thing on the blog. Not that I have been too busy or had nothing to say, it is just that I got out of habit in taking time to write. As I was driving to a friend's yesterday I found myself thinking of the past year and thought to myself , wow I really haven't done much. Not that it made me sad but I thought I could have done more with the time God gave me . I said to myself ok , there is always next year. That is until I got to my friend's and shared with him my thoughts , of how I felt that I had failed somehow. He quickly reminded me on the few things I had shared with him. I continued my activities at church. I was back up for this very cool group , and even traveled to Atlanta as part of the ministry. I served as altar server and lector for all the home Dolphin Masses . I made hundreds of Dolphin rosaries. Thanks to my friend, Barb, I incorporated a non profit corporation called Prayer Warrior Rosaries. I got to spend my 55th birthday with my mom at Disney and I truly feel that I am closer to God.

Not to shabby for someone that thought he was short for this year. This night always causes me apprehension for some reason. Guess it goes back to me not liking change. Well the night will pass and morrow you can expect my thoughts on 2013. Well God willing. Happy Old Year!

STAND UP....or stay seatted.....

I can't believe that it has been over two months since I wrote on here.  It is not that I have nothing to say, because you know me I always have something to say,  That is one of the things I am working on , keeping my mouth shut more often then not.

I little update on my last blog, I did start battling my demons, one being of my bad eating habits and I am happy to say that I at the present am winning that battle.  I have started to lose weight, the exciting thing is that it is enough that people are starting to notice.  In other areas I am also doing better, and I really have to say that it is because of a deeper prayer life, examining my conscious more frequently, and having a greater reliance and trust that God really is in control.

Day to day I walk ,sometimes forward , a few times it seems backwards.  The important thing is that I stand up and act on my belief.  Guess that is what I am learning these days. We all have choices, we can act and do something or we can just stay sitting down.  We can stand and possibly rock the boat or we can sit out of fear or apathy and do nothing.  Really we can all apply this in our lives.  You just have to look inside and see where you are at.  I try to do this daily and then from that point I can take action.

I saw a movie called "For Greater Glory", made me think what would I do, how far would I go to stand up for what I believed in my heart to be true.  I hope I am never put to the test but I pray that if I am that I might stand up not fearing any of the consequences.

I am revisiting some earlier goals.  I continue to write my book although it seems to be evolving into a different story; but isn't that how life is anyways.  I continue to deepen my relationship with God, I feel that He leads me into deeper waters where I will have stay focused on Him.  Again, I feel that I am reaching crossroads where I will have to choose between different paths.  Although exciting, as you know, don't handle change so well at times.

I know I have not said much of anything today.  To you who reads this, I can tell you that you are in my thoughts and in my prayers.  You are in my life for a reason, and I thank God for that.  As I continue on, I hope that you will share in my adventure and excitement for the journey.

And as I have ended these blogs, many time before.  Buen Camino.

We all can learn from the Ressurection..."

Jesus Christ is Risen!!!!  Boy, am I glad that this Lent is over with.  It has been a difficult time because in my penitential observes, I gave up the Internet, mass media and all types of meat.  The Internet although hard at first, led me to realize that I , myself , am too dependent on it. I learned that I could just call someone if I needed to know or communicate something , or even text them and get an immediate response. Although, I was not aware who won the Oscars, or who is on Dancing with the Stars, or even following American Idol, I still survived. When it was raining I knew to carry an umbrella, and if windy a wind breaker jacket.  I appreciated the ability of reading a book, and using my imagination to bring me into a pious person's life or carry myself to imaginary places. I continued to be reminded that to be a 'man', I had to let go and not try to control my life as much.  I was happier, because I was not watching the news, I did not worry if we were heading to another war, or if the economy was better or not.  I especially did not miss hearing about the politics and presidential races.

When it came to food, I had a difficult time.  I could not believe how much meat is in our everyday life.  Any time you go out, there is meat in all of our usual eating options.  Although, I was able to stay away from it, I realized that I substituted a lot more sweets  and carbohydrates for the lack of protein.  I learned that in myself, I have to be moderate in all things or else I can go overboard; even if I am doing a good thing.

When I try to control my life, I see at times how out of control my life is.  I tried battling my demons this lent, and although I am happy to say that some I battled and controlled,unfortunately. I realized how controlled I was by others.  I came to realize  that I am a food addict. Sweets, carbohydrates, all things that are bad for me, I have no control over.  So, I, now realizing this;can ,with the help of the Risen Savior conquer this too.  I have asked my friends and family to help me with this.  Do not offer me anything, even if you think it is healthy, that might tempt me and lead me astray.  As an alcoholic can not enter a bar, I now know that I can not enter a candy store.

This is not meant to be a depressing admission.  It is a liberating fact, when you know your weakness, accept it, that is when God can use you to make you a strong warrior. I am now, once again , armed and ready for battle. As I prayed this week, I thought of what if Jesus in His weakness had said no to the cross; we would be in a real pickle right now. So I say , yes to God and no to all that leads me away from His Will.

You know the Monday after the Resurrection must have been a real bad day for the devil.  After boosting for days on how he had won, he had to face his defeat.  I have heard it said that it is like a April Fool's Day for the devil, the joke and defeat are on him.

Celebrate this beautiful time with family , laughter and love.

Happy Easter!!!!!

Here we are, entering 2012...is it the beginning of the end?

This morning after quietly welcoming 2012, I went for a walk as I awaited the new dawn of the year, and then impatiently waited for the first sunrise of 2012.  I have been doing this since 2000 and so this was the 13th time that I awoke early and headed to the beach or to a field( where ever I am) to see the first dawn of the year. This year, again, it was spectacular. What a great way to contemplate the accomplishments and failures of the past year as I speedily walk for 4 to 6 miles.  I take time to see where I have accomplished my goals and where I might have fallen short.  This past year, 2011, was a great year.  I had growth in my personal life taking some great trips, in particular as I walked the last 97 miles of the way in Spain of St James.  Spiritually I grew also.  I realized that with God all things are possible as I helped plan and guide an Emmaus retreat in my parish. I came to be more understanding and compassionate to other's plight. In my training I lost a lot of weight, put some of it back, but I completed a full marathon and several half marathons, and even completed my first sprint duathlon.Professionally I kept my job , and am relatively happy at it. What failings did I face?  All dealt with times when I thought I could do it on my own.  When I forgot that I was a creature and thought of myself more a creator.  When I shied away from my total dependence on God.

So what to expect in 2012? What goals or even resolutions have I laid out? They are relatively simple.  I want to be a more patient person. I want to be a more giving person. I want to live my vocation in life to the best of my abilities. I will explore how to train and become a spiritual director or adviser. I will lose the weight that I have put back on, how am I going to do it?  To finally admit that I have an addiction to food, and treat it as that and work with that fact. I have once again joined the 100 day challenge, through John Bingham's Facebook page, and have comitted to being at least 30 minutes physically active for 100 consecutive days, and possibly continue from there to an even longer period. I will train, but not as rigid a schedule as I have done in the past.  I will enjoy the process instead of just looking at the end result.  I want to do the New York Marathon. I will perfect my swimming and become better at completing triathlons not just duathlons.I will improve my relationship with my God and in the process improve my other relationships in my life.I will laugh more and stress less.

I am committed to this this year.  I would hope that others as they read this will also committed to strive to better themselves this year.  If you need an accountability partner or someone to support you, let me know. I wish the best life has got to offer.  This year don't let the hype of the world coming to an end distract you. Live your life as if it really is, enjoy it, and live it the fullest.  If it does end then you will have no regrets. And as I am sure it will not end as predicted then you can awake and see the first sunrise of 2013 contemplating your successes and all the adventures that you lived in 2012.

Again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!