Todd said:

I’m there. I got a late start.

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 05:28 AM

Todd said:

Oh, and I’ll rein-in the comedy act from here on out. I dropped a weight on my head a while back, and haven’t been “quite right” since then…

Actually, I’m just a dumbRummy. I’ll leave the stand-up routines to the professionals…

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 05:55 AM

anna said:

yet, again the search for the perfect new year’s party dress continues and the horrible images and insults continue.
I was told by my significant other that i start to look like a bodybuilder but not quite yet - maybe there is a transition face or something. anyhow, i was told that my arms look huge for a woman ( i don’t think so)and that i look like these women in the olimpics when they push or throw that ball and whoever throws futher wins - well these women to me don’t look that hot because they just look like overgrown man - i don’t know if this is the right description but i hope you get this.anyhow the strapless dresses for me are out (the funny thing is that i can see as well that those dresses don’t look too hot on me)
My husband thinks that i eat too much and exercise too much and therefore i am just getting bigger and bolkier. I almost talked myself to quiting yesterday and stop blogging and stop listening and just stop the whole thing on fittness and just you know give up. this is very frustrating.. and i almost feel like crying - the only person who i value the opinion on everything does not see my point and doesn’t support me in this. I just don’t get it - why does this have to be like this?
it is going to be two weeks since i have started the burn the fat thing and really being good and eating clean and exercising good and seeing progress in the gym but maybe i am lifing too much? or maybe i should be eating less- I don’t know. the book and you guys here tell me differently my heart tells me to still keep on going and my head tells me that obviously this is not working cause i can’t see any results.
When i started with you jon 10 weeks ago at the begining i lost 3 pounds and then all of it stopped and now i am going nowhere - weight wise- I look more mascular but my stomach and my butt and thighs are just the same if not bigger (maybe not the stomach but my legs got definetly bigger and more mascular and they are hard etc)
Maybe there are people out there like me on whom nothing will work just like there are people like those “genetic freaks” who can do whatever and they will always look good.
if to loose weight i have to have caloric deficit then maybe in my case i need a bigger one. Like i said i am on 1500 cal a day and ideally to loose weight i should be at 1600+ . should i get lower, or should i just continue on what i am doing.
I don’t knwo what to do anymore. this whole thing preoccupies my mind and my life. I count those stupid calories and proteins and carbs and i cook and prepare everything myself and i think I am pretty soon to start “pecking” (is that a word?)like a chicken from eating all that chicken breast and the egg whites.
What the heck is wrong with me????
I do enjoy gym. It is the only place that is for me and nobody bothers me there and doesn’t tell me what to do.
Maybe i should run myself to death on the tradmill…oh i forgot no more than 60 min of cardio because no results after that..
Everybody in here keeps on doing good and loosing the 1 pound per week - it has been 10 weeks for me and i don’t even see the loosenes (?) in my jeans
( i think i am going to invent a new launguage here - sorry for all the mistakes - i am really upset)
You know this is not just about me not fitting into that stupid dress ( i am not that shallow)it is about my efforts not being recognized by anybody (hell, i even bought the fat measuring device…)I was so committed but i think I am loosing my confidence to do this - I would love to look like your friend, jon. what a great body - that would be my ultimate dream come true………

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 11:37 AM

Joe said:

Hey everyone. Just to let you know I am in Venezueala as I write this. I will be for the next 2 weeks. However, I will be checking the blog regularly. Keep it coming Jon! The South American sense of humor differs greatly from that in America. I need my fill.

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 02:49 PM

Paul said:

I had to respond Anna, my heart is hurting for you…please take a deep breath..attack each issue in your life seperately and try not to let the total be overwhelming..first address the husband issue..some stuff needs to be talked about..maybe counseling. Your fittness and your health are the anchor or the rock in your life..with out good health all the other crap is difficult to deal with. i’m sure youv’e heard the saying “Healthy body healthy mind” that couldn’t be more true. I’m not talking about being a totaly buffed body builder. Body and Mind go hand in hand..one can’t be healthy with out the other..I can’t help but think the unhappiness in peoples lives..leads them to over nourishing their bodies and becomeing more and more lethargic. It’s a vicious cycle and I’m not sure where it begins..in the mind at the dinner table or in front of the TV.
Life is to short not to explore the journey..there are many good books available in this day of self improvement.One of my favorites is by Bob Proctor “You were Born Rich” it is not just about making money all he says is applicable to life in general and if you want to make a bunch of money you can do that too. We here on this blog are all pursueing goals and there will be bumps,,it is not a quick journey it is a life time of visualizing and setting goals..making adjustments along the way. Please remain postive stay focused and I know you will reach your goals and then you can set new ones.

I’ve gone on too much..but your’e blog was moving. Your’e talking about core stuff (BTW the core lingo that Jon uses is not exclusive to him, it’s as old as the hills and just as improtant)…

Good luck
Paul

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 03:33 PM

anna said:

To Paul
Thank you for understanding. Somehow as the day went by I started feeling better - thinking about all of you in this blog, about jon, about tom and mike and in general about everything that i went through while on this program.
Gym is the only thing for me that no one can take away from me… and its conditions are non nagotiable-that is my take on this whole thing for now. No matter what happens this is what i will not give up on.
Thanks again.
hope you will have a great sunday.

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 09:37 PM

Kay said:

To Anna,

Normally I wouldn’t respond to someone on this blog since it is Jon’s. However, you sound alittle obsessed with this whole thing. I’m all for you taking care of yourself and trying to better yourself but not at the expense of the second most important relationship you have ( your marriage). There has to be balance to be healthy in all things. Talk to your husband to see what he’s feeling. Maybe left out? You seem to be totally focused here and perhaps he’s feeling neglected. Or maybe he’s not attracted to muscular women, can’t blame him. I’m not attracted to men who are feminine. Though I want to have defination and strength I have no desire to start to look like a man. I think I remember Jon saying to you that 1500 cal was not enough so you could be bulking up but holding onto the fat, if indeed you have fat. Lighten up on yourself and take care of your emotional health and your marriage, there aren’t any good single men left so hang onto what you’ve got. Progress will come and perfection doesn’t exist. Celebrate all the good in your life and relax woman. Wishing you peace at Christmas time and all through the New Year!

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 10:36 PM

Lee said:

Anna, I’m certainly not the fitness or relationship counselor but nevertheless I’ll put in my two cents here. I just finished reading an email from a friend who is going thru some troubling times but told me how his weight training helps keep him focused and strong (no pun intended) even as his world is crumbling about him. If I understand correctly you have only been doing the workout and nutrition thing for about 10 weeks - how long did it take you to get “out” of shape? I bet more than 10 weeks - so give yourself a little more time! Sounds like your partner is feeling uncomfortable about you making progress, developing into a person different from the one he originally fell in love with - lots of people would become insecure about that. If you truly believe the relationship should continue, then you will have to take steps to show that these changes are the best for both of you.
I personally love to see muscles on women - ok, maybe not Olga the Shot Putter from Bulgaria - but showing some deltoid and bicep definition in a sleeveless dress - wow!
I say keep on going with the gym and healthy eating lifestyle. And regarding “slow” progress - check out my blog a few days ago about the Chinese Bamboo Tree Theory.

Posted on Dec 18, 2005 01:45 AM

mike said:

Hi Dearest Anna

So much for fading in the background right? Your first message just held so much pain that I had to offer my support in what ever way I can. First big hug!!! Not the moister dripping off the end of my chin kind of hug but the nice all enveloping warm big brother kind of hug. Now are you feeling just a wee bit better? Good! Let’s talk lady.

Now then about your hubby I can’t go there since I don’t feel qualified to do so in any way,. I will say I am the only one that is interested in great health in this house. Disappointing given all I know and by wife knows a lot of it too but you don’t see her in the gym. I think that is sad but that is her path to walk. She becomes sicker and sicker each year with no end in sight. In order to motivate anybody to do anything there has to be a spark of interest. There has to be that step in the right direction. We can only worry about ourselves.

I too feel that the gym is my sanctuary. I was only half kidding about my feelings for the equipment. I feel a song coming on here. “Can you feel the love …: Sorry. It took me years to get all that stuff and I need some more things in there yet. I buy what I can as I can.

Now I know your second message sounded better but I remember your concerns about eating and so on in previous postings. Just keep this in your pretty brain. Nothing you do in the gym or in your eating plan is forever. If you are one of those few women that will put on muscle then that is what you are. If you increase your caloric intake as suggested and find the results aren’t great then cut back. I suggest that you take the advice to the letter and see what happens. If you don’t like the muscle you can always stop and it will shrink, if you don’t like the fat loss you can always go back to the old eating plan and it too will come back. You might want to start where burn the fat and Jon says you should start and watch and see. Just recall in the book it states that you can put on some body fat when you increase the calories as it can take sometime for your metabolism to speed up. After a few weeks of following recommendations then tell Jon about your progress or regress and adjust from there. You might find it helpful to chart your workouts and your eating. Then you can go back and see what you ate and did to report for suggestions. The point here is if you don’t start at the recommended point then how could we know if it will work and then how would we know what to adjust?

I have a 54 year old lady in my gym training. She is at week 4. She has never lifted or trained in her life. I don’t get a penny from her to do this. This partly explains why I am broke doesn’t it? I asked in the beginning that she do everything I request of her and at the end of the 12 weeks if she doesn’t like what she is I will cheerfully refund her blubber. She was telling me the other day that she stands taller and moves a lot easier. I call that pretty darn good results. She has lost some body fat as well. I am proud of her for trying, working hard and sticking to it.

I am also very proud of you for continuing on without the support of those closest to you. I very much look forward to hearing of your successes.

The core values and the driving points and so on that Jon speaks of in his first few M-Power audios are probably as old as the hills as stated above. However he explains them better then anyone else I have ever heard. Only by performing these exercises can you get that life long love of fitness that will take you in to your long lasting healthy lifestyle. It will keep you focused on all that is important to you. I’m not just talking about health here. I plan to lift until and including the day that I die. God willing, I plan to take as many people along with me as I can too. I only regret that I will not be able to take as many with me as Jon will with him but I will be fulfilled when I get emails from those that do purchase my book (if it ever gets finished) and finds something in it that helps them along their elliptical.

A short Christmas related story. A friend of mine and her lovely 11 year old daughter wanted to take my chocolate lab dog guide for a day at the spa. With more than a grin I agreed. He came back smelling of some sugar cinnamon fragrance and they cleaned his ears and teeth, bathed and dried him and gave him a pedicure. They even painted his nails red! They will flip at work over that one. I had no idea that they actually have pet safe nail polish. I had to reach for the screw in my belly button to make sure it was tight so my hiny didn’t fall off. He shall prance in to work tomorrow complete with his antler hat on looking rather dapper.

I hope dearest Anna and all of you are smiling if only a little now.

Now then can I have another hug? Excuse me as I wipe my chin for this one.

Fading away now.

Posted on Dec 18, 2005 03:16 AM

Tina said:

Hi Anna,
As you read all the blogs you can see that everyone is behind you. Spouses sometimes feel insecure as you start changing as they are afraid that others will also become attracted to you then they start belittling you so you will stop. You need to stay strong and healthy and love yourself so others can love you to. I can also tell you that since high school if I work out I will also build more large muscle than I want especially in my thighs. The more I build them the bigger and stronger they get. I don’t like that look for myself, I want to lengthen my muscles not make them bigger. Therefore I need to work out differently to get different results. I lift lighter weights and I do more cardio. I do a lot of yoga, tai chi, kickboxing, dancing, playing tennis, things that I like that are fun and also help me get the weight off giving me a leaner look, while still making me stronger. Jon I know you hate Madonna, but look at her body (from when she did like a virgin compared to today). She also does not like bulky muscle and works out in a way to lengthen the muscle not bulk it up, kind of like a ballerina (they are very strong) and workout in a different way. I’m sure Jon knows how to lengthen the muscle instead of bulking it up if you are interested in trying it. P.S. Mike, glad to see you out of hibernation so soon, what kind of book are you writing, I love to read.
P.S.S. Kay, yes there are many fab married men out there I agree, but there are also great single men as well - Jon is single and we all love him, it does gives one hope.

Posted on Dec 18, 2005 11:20 PM

anna said:

thank you all for all of your kind comments and concerns. I know deep down i will come on top it is just sometimes things get to me and really i have nobody to talk to about it cause really there is nobody out there who can understand me. This blog however ( and all of you here or some of you ) can relate at some point.
So once again thank you all so much - you all mean a lot to me.
Mike: what book are you writing? would really love to hear about it. You have no idea how much you help me with your blogs to me. I think that you are what i need in terms of support. you clear my head with reasoning and then you make me laugh on top of that - I don’t remember the last time anybody else did this for me - I really, really appriciate this and i hope that you know this and I just might be a person that you can take with you.
To Tina, Kay, and Lee thank you all for your inputs they are eye openers for sure.
i have been married for 10 years and we have been together for 15 years now - Marrige is the hardest work that is out there. It’s just depends on how much you are willing to compromise (from both sides)…
thank you all again.

Posted on Dec 19, 2005 09:46 AM

Tera said:

Jon,

Please do keep this blog going! It’s incredibly motivational. Great news on this side of things is that bf got a new job. The slightly cruddy news is that he has to move five hours away for it. The silver lining is that I can put full focus into my nutritional overhaul and fitness program, seeing as I won’t have much of a life once he goes (he’s in charge of making sure I have fun, since I just sort of shy-out and stuff my nose into a book when he disappears for any length of time).

Other fantastic news is that his dad just got back from a medical conference where they focused on the benefits of Omega-3 fats and the management of pain. He excitedly told me everything that I had told him (which including what you had told me). It didn’t count until other doctors at a conference said it, but now it’s gospel. Bf spent the entire conversation grinning madly, as I attempted to look fascinated at learning this “new” information. Both of the bf’s parents are now taking fish oil. We’re going to make them breakfast next weekend, complete with my fabulous vanilla and cinnamon pancakes with coconut oil, now that they no longer see coconut oil as incredibly weird and therefore inedible.

Posted on Dec 19, 2005 11:29 AM

Alicia said:

((((Anna)))),

Lots of great advice here already. I’m not any sort of expert by any stretch of the imagination but I felt the need to share something personal with you because I know how this journey can sometimes feel so solitary. I’ve been there many times. I’ll share my personal experience because I want you to know, you are never alone. During my almost 10 weeks ( I started a week before this blog began)I have lost 5 pounds, gained 4 pounds (2 were water that I lost as soon as I got back on track after Thanksgiving. After that I didn’t lose anything, then 1/2, then 1, then nothing and we’ll see what next week brings. I know it can sometimes seem like everyone else is making progress while you don’t but that couldn’t be furthest from the truth. Compare yourself only to yourself. As Jon said, all results are valuable. Measure progress by where you started and where you are now at all levels not just the fat around your mid section. Do you feel stronger, can you lift more, walk faster, walk longer, has your stamina increased, do you have more energy etc. Or maybe you just learned that something doesn’t work for you. All of it is progress and focusing on that progress will keep your eye on your goal until one day you wake up and find your jeans have gotten too big to wear.:D Most importantly, as already mentioned, love yourself first. Sometimes family members can be our worst critics for too many reason to go into here, some have already been mentioned. The alternative to making progress is to go backwards and that’s not what you want is it? So just keep at it… baby steps.

Posted on Dec 19, 2005 06:18 PM

Elisa said:

Anna:

Not to keep adding to the comments about your blog but I can truly feel for you. There was a time that every time I got dressed, I cried.

The thing is, I EXPECTED that things would never change because I was ___ (fill in the blank) or I couldn’t do ____. What you expect is what you will get it’s a self fulfilling prophecy.

You can’t believe one thing/expect it and then get angry with the results. I know this from personal experience. I never believed I could have abs. I wasn’t a person who could get abs or so I believed. Though despite this deeply held belief, I hoped that they would somehow show up. Nevertheless, my psyche, actions and manifestations supported what I believed/expected and not what I “hoped” for in the end.

Jon is SO right! As always Jon, I know it gets boring being so smart ;-). At any rate, your beliefs become you. THOUGHTS are THINGS. What things are you creating with your thoughts?

I went to the gym every day, took Jon’s expensive advice (sorry Jon but one to one you are pricey) and still thought “This will never work.” Well, until I expected it to work it didn’t.

I know it’s hard not to see fast results. Keep going. Expect it to work. Expect to reach your goals. Believe it - your body will too. Thoughts are things.. powerful, powerful things.

I’ve been training lately for a marathon. I have to run some fairly long miles.

Sunday, I got off the treadmill (I have to run in the gym to heat train because my first marathon is in Miami and it’s cold here in MD) after 12 miles and stretched. I had six more to run. My legs were tired. I was mentally tired but I played a little game with my thoughts. I told myself, “I just got up from a night of sleep a little tired and I am just beginning a quick, shortie run. I will muscle through and feel fine.”

When I got back on the treadmill, my legs were a little tired but I was able to pick up my pace a little and make it through my last set of six without feeling wiped out!

When my thoughts align with my psyche and my psyche is encouraged, amazing things happen. How can you align those elements in yourself?

I know this is long and I am sorry to keep going on and on but I’ve been where you are and I thought if my experience might help I’d offer it.

Thoughts are things… what are your thoughts?

All: sorry to be off the blog for so long. Work deadlines for end of year government spending are off the charts but I am keeping to my fitness plan and avoiding bad holiday party food - well, for the most part ;-).

Jon, I am not a Christmas/Holiday, etc. person either. I have a friend who starts playing Christmas songs the day after Thursday (Thanksgiving). It drives me a little batty so I am glad you can relate. I love the Jan blog, very, very cool! Hopefully, we will get a chance to meet her someday.

Ok, enough for me before I get kicked off for taking so much space!!

Posted on Dec 19, 2005 08:45 PM

Joe said:

Anna,
Keep going!!! I cannot stress that enough.
We all know how difficult it can be to ¨start again¨ once we have stopped. And again, I would have to say, even though your significant other may be part of your reason for doing this. You have to do what you want. You cannot make anyone happy if you are not happy yourself. Good Luck.

Posted on Dec 20, 2005 11:47 AM