Sugary Grits

March 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

It took me until my mid 30′s to realize what happiness is and what life truly is all about. Now I know.

IMG_3093

 

Pictures speak more than any number of words I could muster on the site. We’re fitness minded…but sometimes you just want a good, home cooked meal with the One who makes your soul feel love. I love you, baby, with all my heart. I can’t wait to share another bowl of Sugary Grits with you.

Outside of Christ, it’s time spent with family that means the most. Everything else is secondary. Thank you, baby, for all the love that you continually show me. With all my heart, I love you!

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A letter to Carolyn

May 13, 2012 By 3 Comments

It’s been 9 long years since the greatest woman I’ve ever known was taken from labor to glory.

On Mother’s Day, I always reflect on my loss, and how that loss has defined my life. It’s hard to believe it…almost a decade without seeing your smile, hearing your laughter, receiving one of your stern talking to’s and feeling one of your great big bear hugs. You dedicated your entire life to your children and making sure we all did well. You pushed success, hard work and education. You pushed us to go to church and constantly pray and remember our Creator. You touched us with your wisdom, moved us with your compassion and you showed us both how to love…and how to accept love. That second part is something a lot of us don’t really know how to do.

Though not here in body, in spirit I feel your presence in my life. Whenever I make the 2 hour journey home, I always stop by your gravesite first. Always. I always sit with you. Pray for you. And remember you. Then I go about my business.

When I think about it deeply, I find myself angry sometimes. Angry that Cancer took you away. Angry that you felt such pain near the end. Angry I could nothing about it. Angry I couldn’t take your place.

But then I feel peace. Peace that I ever even knew you. You know how blessed a guy has to be to say you were his mother? Talk about highly favored.

In the years that you’ve been gone, things have changed for all of us. Especially me. I’ve grown and changed. I’m smarter now. Wiser. More compassionate. Less foolish. I’ve had great failures. I’ve had mighty successes.

I’ve been in love. I’ve loved hard.

I’ve lost that same love. I’ve seen it melt away with only unfulfilled dreams left in its place.

I’ve tried to help people where I may, and where I couldn’t I tried to point them where to go. I’ve tried to brighten the day of everyone I come in contact with. I try to leave others better than when they found me (or I them).

In short… I’ve tried to be like you. And no one can ever accomplish that. People think I’m nice, kind, wise, patient, etc? I try. But really, I’m just the decaf version of you. Lightly seasoned. You taught me everything about companionship, compassion, peace, spirituality, and commitment.  You taught me everything about self-love.

In short, I could never be as much a man as I am today, had God not given me the mother He did. And I’ll always think you left too soon. But I’ve seen you in my dreams…and I know now, you are happy and safe. No more pain. No more tears. More laughter. And happiness on a level we can’t even comprehend here.

I just wanted to take this time and this space to say that now more than ever, I feel the void that is left behind with your passing…and it inspires me and reminds me how much I love you. And how much love I have to give others. Thank you for never leaving. Never abandoning me and even at my worst, inspiring me to be my best. Thank you for the most valuable lesson that all of us need to learn. You taught it to me for me.

Thank you for teaching me compassion. Thank you for teaching me how to love. And thank you for teaching me, I deserve to be loved.

I love you, Mama

My sister (left) and mother (right) out for lunch at a Mexican restaurant (Circa 2003)

Me back in my thug days (note the braids!) Walking my mom and assisting her. She STILL had a bright smile on her face.

Best date I’ve ever been on!  We were celebrating my undergrad graduation

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Emotionality

April 28, 2012 By 1 Comment

Fitness serves a purpose that surpasses just looking good for the beach or trying to attract the opposite sex. Fitness can also help you with your mental and emotional health.

Too many times in life, we’re left to deal with the after effects of traumatic events. A divorce. A death of a loved one. Declining health of a child. Even getting a speeding ticket. We try to thrive in these situations but too often we give in to the need to “dull the pain” and wind up drinking too much alcohol and waking up in places we’d rather not. In short, to deal with the pain of life, we try to numb that pain in whatever way we think will help us. We don’t think about the consequences or the price to pay later… later is far too “abstract” when stuff is falling down around us now.

This is post that has nothing to do with anything other than it’s late and I need to write to clear my mind. But there’s more ways to deal with hurt than alcohol, sex and even medication by itself. We forget that our bodies follow our minds— that is to say, if we feel down and depressed, your body will follow suite and also feel down and depressed. This expresses itself in different ways— could be that you eat too much. Emotional eating might help you to grasp a hold of the situation and feel comfort. It could be that you are like me, and wind up not eating at all (before my orange mask days, years ago, I went through a situation so bad that I forgot to eat for a WEEK. I lost 10 pounds. No joke. NOT healthy).  Whatever the case, you need to remember something.

Even if @#$% is hitting the fan, GO TO THE GYM. It doesn’t matter if you do light weights, or just jog or just walk. Don’t end training because of life. You don’t have to be ready to pull off an upset Mr. Olympia win. But you need to still workout. Get those endorphins going. Otherwise, food becomes your idol and in addition to that, you’ll find that you’re either sleeping too much or not enough. You may not be able to change that situation. But you can retain control over your body and your health.

Too many times we let depression over a situation dictate our lives. That situation is horrible…temporarily. But you can fight for your right to feel good by continuing to practice healthy habits. And learning that loving yourself isn’t just deciding to shower (although that helps). It’s also taking time away from the situation and spending an hour or more in the gym banging the weights and in doing so banging out a solution. Love yourself enough to keep healthy during life’s trials. You can’t erase problems during the day, but you can learn to respond to them in healthy ways.

The benefits of working out include maintaining a healthy appetite, sleeping on a correct cycle, and derived pleasure. It might just be you and the treadmill. But that’s fine. You’ll find that continuing your workouts will help you to feel better later.

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Wednesday “Win”spiration – Mr. Universe 1952 turns 100!!!

March 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Here’s a great feel good story on the importance of staying fit and active. Even if you’re not a bodybuilder, watching your food consumption, going moderate on the drinking and above all staying active will keep you alive for years to go!

On this Wednesday, his story inspires me.

What inspires you?

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On this Merry Christmas Night

December 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas, Fit Blog friends.

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Power Fuel and Rudolph!

December 24, 2011 By 7 Comments

Man oh Man… I just finished a killer 2.5 hour workout in the gym. I haven’t worked out like that since first year Undergraduate. Wow. I felt like I was on Amphetamines or something. I’ll probably do a post on this later but all I can say is “Merry Christmas Eve”!

The day started off well, I got up around 5 (I’ve clearly been reading WAY too much of PbFingers!) The gym wasn’t open yet so I spent the morning watching Youtube vids of Workout supplement reveiws. I’m in the market for a good pre workout supplement and yesterday, at Vitamin Shoppe (which is WAY better than GNC IMHO) the guy gave me samples of every freaking thing on the market.

Today, I started off with a sample of Twin Labs Power Fuel (get it? Powerful? Hardy har har—har?)

Power Fuel

Breakfast...Ray Lewis Style

I don’t look like that…Yet.

What the Carolina Basketball Team must be drinking Pre Game

It turned the water Carolina Blue. Nice touch!

Update: I wrote an entire post and somehow after publishing, it erased the last half of it. So what you see before was not originally written. I apologise since I don’t really feel like retyping the whole thing over again. Note to self–stop using IE8

I’ll put it to you like this, this stuff gave me wings in the Gym. I felt like I could do anything. Anything at all. I wound up doing 2 Cardio Circuits and running 3 miles. That’s a LOT of exercise and Atypical for me.

According to the site:  Inspired by the passion of legendary football star Ray Lewis, this pre-training formula is designed to help get you in ‘the ZONE’ – the perfect intersection of intensity, strength, stamina, focus and electric energy that helps you achieve a maximum state of peak performance.* Become POWER FUEL.

I highly recommend this stuff but do not recommend the 2 scoops. 1 is more than enough.

I’m sorry– I feel bad, I had a whole post out with pictures, links and everything. All gone. But just trust, it’s an awesome product if you’re looking for a little something extra to add to your workouts!

Now, time for one of my favorite Christmas songs. As a child I would listen to this and my mother and sisters would dance to this and laugh. I hope it does the same for you!

I’m off to find some Eggnog Pancakes!

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Silent Night

December 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

I hope it brings tears to your eyes, like it did mine. Marry Christmas to all. And much, much love to all my new found #FitBlog buddies.

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Christmas Week – Give Love on Christmas Day

December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Don’t have time today for a long post. But this is the type of stuff that I’m trying to listen to while driving all over the place, trying to fit in data entry and oh yeah, that grad school thing. I haven’t slowed down enough to realize that Christmas is on the horizon but I’m trying to put myself in the mood.

This is one my most favorite songs. I hope you enjoy it. In an otherwise crazy day, this is calming and soothing…things that aren’t really present right now for me!

When my mother was sick, I listened to this song religiously. It makes me think about her and overall is a good easy, Old School R&B style type of jam. I hope it brightens your day. It’ll be the most peace I’m likely to receive amidst the storm of life today!

Give love on Christmas Day! Also, an iPad, Mustang and all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas would be nice, too.

 

By the way, during this week, how are you both staying in the gym and still preparing for the holiday?

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An awesome fantastic day…

December 13, 2011 By 4 Comments

I am right now in the thick of battle with Graduate School applications. But today was awesome and reminds you how blessed you are outside of that stuff.

Lunch began with an absolutely fantastic meal from Cheesecake Factory. I had the Grilled Portabello on a Bun consisting of  melted cheese, grilled red onion, lettuce, tomato and spicy mayonnaise. Desert, which will come as no surprise to those that know me? “Pumpkin & Pumpkin Pecan Cake”. My belly is here…GET IN IT!! No pictures yet as the environment was more of where you had to be there… But even if you were, I probably wouldn’t have shared with you.

But the surprise of all surprises came today. You see, I don’t really ever get much on Christmas outside of the occasional card. It’s just how things have been for me for sometime. Usually the time away means going to see family, or doing some thing related to the future. The upcoming holiday season would not be any different.

But lo and behold, what have we here?

 

Today, I received from my very awesome boss…THIS:

 

Read a Book...with NOOK!

 

Looks like I’m not so low tech these days? Bam– my very own Nook tablet.

I want to be very, very clear about something. I have NOT been in the Christmas season at all this year. Not even a little. If you were to look at my birth certificate, my middle name on it would be “Humbug”. But the spirit of kindness that it takes for something like this. I am very, very moved and this counts as one of the top gifts I’ve ever received for the holidays.

Essays, transcripts, missed deadlines, calls to professors, finding out programs no longer exist although their website says they do, etc., etc., misery and complaints… but today? I am so happy.

I am very thankful this holiday season for my coworkers. True, a lot of people don’t have jobs and a lot don’t have good ones. But I am super thankful that not only do I love what I do, I truly value who I get to do it with. This is the best place I’ve ever been and I can say unapologetically say that without reservation.

SO, when all this hubbub about schools is over, I’ll be streaming Netflix, downloading Comics and Wrestling and reading lots of good books.

The holiday season is upon us! There’s life outside the gym and it’s great to take moments to remember that.

I am ready to march full on to Christmas!

What are the things you are most thankful for during this holiday season? 

What do you want most of all for Christmas this year? 

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Veteran’s Day

November 11, 2011 By 3 Comments

I write often times for several different reasons. I write to relieve stress. I write to organize thoughts. I write to come up with game plans. I write because talking is usually such a challenge for me. Either due to being shy or the fact that I’ve stuttered since the age of 5, I usually find talking to be such a hard thing to do. Except of course, when I’m around family.

Writing is usually a great relief for me. There’s so much stuff that I write that you all don’t see. I am constantly moving my hands. I can get to those levels though when not even writing calms me down. I can get to the place where I have so many stresses, that the very weight of the world itself seems likes it’s baring down on my shoulders and that at any moment, my knees might buckle. That’s when I know it’s time. That’s when I know it’s time to see him.

Dad.

The Old Man's Back

So I jumped in my car today while doing several errands and school related things and did the 2 hour drive to see him. I arrive. As soon as I do, I am ready to tell him about all the tiring, draining things that are happening in life. How busy life has become and how confused I am often left. No sooner have I said, “Happy Veteran’s Da—” he stops me, interrupts me and I literally feel like the Prodigal son returning home from his journey. For those not familiar with the story, essentially a son leaves home with half his inheritance. He wastes the money on fun, wild women and fruitless ventures. He returns home broken and penny less. Expecting his father to send him to work with the servants, he accepts his new status as slave. Instead, the father, so happy to see him, runs half way down the road to embrace him with a hug, put his cloak upon him and they have the biggest celebration and party you can imagine for his return.

If this isn’t my life story, I’m not sure what qualifies. But my dad, so happy to see me, got me food and spent the entire time making me feel awesome. I thought at this age, I’m supposed to be making him feel good? Well, suffice to say, after several hours of laughter, good food and great conversation, I left refreshed, rejuvenated and feeling very, very loved.

Whenever I get into these moods where I just feel “heavy” in spirit, usually means, it’s time to do the 2 hour drive and reconnect with home.

I’m recharged now. And ready to kick the GRE’s unforgiving ass.

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