Do you love yourself? Do you treat YOU right? I've been asking myself this question lately, and I don't think I can say I have, 100%. I haven't been working out enough and my diet's completely slipping.
I fear weight gain. To me it's life and death. It's not a baseless fear. My dad died of a massive stroke at 56.
This past year I've gotten reacquainted with an old swimming peer. We're roughly the same age, but he's in incredible shape, better shape than I am. His name's Rich Roll, and he's now an ultra-endurance athlete, as well as a strict vegan. Every so often he sends me interesting videos that shed new light on his diet. I got this one yesterday, and I thought it was worth blogging about:
Rip Esselelstyn (from the video above) inspired Rich, and Rich has inspired me. I'm not going as hardcore into their diet, but I have limited my meat intake. I eat deep leafy greens on a daily basis, and I don't drink juices from concentrate. I peel and eat my fruit. It's the best way to get vitamin C.
For me, health used to be motivated by vanity. I suppose it still is to some degree. As I've gotten older though, I'm more concerned about living a long life, seeing my daughter graduate from college, get married, and hopefully give me several grand-babies.
My blog before the last was depressing. I wrote about being terribly down. It was regarding a book I had written, and despite being a very personal project, it was business related. I had just gotten rejected by a publisher, one of my favorites, Little Brown. The submission took time, and it looked promising for many, many weeks. I was so wrapped up in it, however, the stress wrung me out and ate at me, subconsciously. I think my health suffered because of it. Baring your soul to strangers creates poisonous insecurities. I know I've been consuming more sugar, dairy and animal fat to insulate and protect myself against those awful feelings.
Climbing out of disappointment and depression never seems easy. Then again, it's funny how reminders pop up when you really need them. The video (above) Rich sent me jumped out like a big neon sign. It said, Stop feeling sorry for yourself! Workout and eat right!
I'm thankful for friends who send helpful information. Rich's email was a nudge toward a more healthy diet, but, for me, it was also a wake up call about what's most important. I have got to stay healthy, and I must stay vibrant and alert. Life is happening right now, and I want to experience fully in the future.
Bayley, my daughter, and Tiffy, my wife, are more important to me than any business endeavor, especially one that saps my life. Being with them always makes me smile. And when I'm not with them, experiences aren't experienced fully. Moments are only felt half way. It's as if an interesting photo or person or cityscape aren't really in front of me unless they're seeing it with me.
We have fun when we're together. I'd vlog focusing on them more, but they don't always like being captured on camera. I try to catch them whenever possible though. Seeing even a glimpse brings real life to an image.
Thanks to Rich Roll, as always, for his insight. If you're interested in learning more about him:
His blog, jai ultra, is here.
His twitter's here.
His Facebook group's here.
The USA Swimming Foundation Towel campaign is still going. For a $100 dollar donation you can get a big, beautiful, 100% cotton towel with the Foundation logo on it. For more details, go here.
My friend and fellow Olympic gold medalist, Megan Jendrick, was interviewed at length on FITNESSRXMAG.COM. She's a big diet & health advocate and also a columnist at the online magazine. Check her out here.
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