Hey look, Flat abs!!!

I was around a bunch of  guys the other day who are so obsessed with their looks that they are always asking me, hey how do I look? How are my muscles, how are my abs? Or hey do you see that girl over there, I bet you that if I take my shirt off, she'd be more interested in me than that guy she is with.  I myself just as everyone else knows someone like this who works out like crazy and is obsessed with their looks.  I am here to tell you that I went to this restaurant and I saw this racoon and I said to myself hehe, hey look those are wood hard solid abs.

I had to share this because every time I see a infomercial or pass by a gym, its always intimidating to see all those pretty boys and girls with their hollywood bodies, and I know that if I don't buy into a program and or gismo that I won't be likeable to anyone, and that I cannot go on living life with out having that body that makes myself and others think that I am sexy.  My advice for those who are going through the same ordeal is that you should be the healthiest that you can be.

However, if you would like a little muscle for when you are helping someone move or even to strengthen yourself for where you work at... Go for it!! just don't burn yourself out or expect to gain muscles over time.  I myself am going to build some muscle so that way if I need to help someone push their car, move someone's  house or apartment, that I will be ready.  To me personally, thats what having muscles is truly for. Because besides giving your body the correct form it should be in, I see all the glamourous, pretty boy, muscular jock extremely tough body builder type individuals as just having all those muscles just for looks.

I only know only a few people that are muscular that are strong both mentally and physically where as others are muscular but are weak mentally or mentally strong and weak in muscle.  my advice is if you want WOOD hard abs hehe, be possitive and be happy everyday as much as possible no matter what.

Takin a ride

Hello all, its been awhile.  I have been busy and haven't been able to get to a computer.  I had to write about an experience that I had while I was away.  A good friend of mine was having a tough time, and I don't mean like a day or week, I mean he was just having a bad everything.  So what he did was he gave me a phone call and asked if we could go out for a bike ride (motorcycle), the first thing that came to my head was oh boy!  You see last year I had wrecked on my motorcycle not once but twice and they were with in a two week period away from each other.

I said you know what I am not going to let this get me down nor keep me away from having some very dangerous fun, I am not afraid of anyone or anything.  So I geared up and both my friend and I went for a Ride, and I will be the first to admit that I was extremely nervous and very worried of wrecking again I felt that every bump in the road or every turn could lead to yet another accident and yet another failed  bike ride.  I am here to tell you that It was a very breezy beautiful clouded day out on that day and I hadn't felt the rush of having the wind hit me in the face or atleast my helmet, and because of this I got my rush back and it was worth it.

I wanted to share this because this experience is something that I felt everyone has to deal with in life, you know what I'm talking about, its about getting back up on that horse or gearing up to ride that motocycle after being thrown off or falling off when you are all kinds of afraid of what might happen if you were to attempt such a fear.  So if you find your self in any type of situation where your afraid of what the outcome might be, just know that you will indeed never know until you give it your best and indeed give it a shot. 

So if you haven't been working out or you are worried about being hurt in life again physically and or mentally, just know that, that day the event or events that took place are surely long behind you and that you should start each week and each day brand new. You should do your best to move forwards and let all the bad times be stepping stones to your new you.

School, the best years of your life or unhealthiest?

I have been wandering around my university for quite awhile now, and noticed how unhealthy college students truly live. I mean sure they walk to classes, and ride bikes all around, but their food and health options are huge eye openers.  The other day I was walking by housing areas and noticed that there were 5-6 grease box restaurants followed by bars and a Starbucks on every corner.  I noticed that all these locations were with in walking distances of both the university and also housing areas.  It amazes me how college students will go out for greasy foods just about every day, follow up with late night end of the week drinking then end it all with late night studying by eating ramin noodles and TV dinners. 

It amazes me how this kind of lifestyle has branched off from college and has found its way in to the doorways of middle schools, high schools and sadly elementary schools.  My old high school has seen recent development in businesses all around its campus, it has a mc Donalds right across the street followed by other franchises just a bit further up the other direction.  Much like my previous post about technology, everyone is always on their phones texting and that’s all they ever do. By just sitting around and texting and social networking, all people are doing is just adding unhealthy weight to their bodies.  With unhealthy food and living habits that college has to offer, it’s not shocking how America is still on top for most common place to find obesity. 

If you go to another country, it’s not hard to spot another American, you can see them from miles away.  hopefully one day, people will wake up one morning and realize that if zombies attack and or if there is a weather disturbance of some sort, they aren’t going to be able to move very fast and they will regret not having been prepared for such an event health wise, that or people will not live to see old age by using fast foods, I know that I was saved and added on years to my life from just simply not drinking sodas anymore and I don’t get 8-9 plates full of food when I go to all you can eat restaurants, and my snacks have seen a big drop might I add, I don’t graze the kitchen for what ever I can find in there anymore.  Sooner or later I hope to help everyone add on years to their lives rather than watch people lose them. 

 Those who read this can agree with me and hopefully help me in my mission in life to help all those in need of gaining a healthier life style, because so far, there aren’t very many people doing anything about this, just those talking about it.

To be or not to be social? That is a good question.

I have been recently helping my friend Lisa over at her salon called “The Hot Pepper Tanning Salon.”  While cleaning beds and getting a work out doing so, I cannot help but notice how society has become separated by technology, for instance, if I want to truly know how someone is doing, or if I would like to know what their plans for the day are, Ill just simply check out their status on their facebook or twitter account.  It’s truly sad how people of all ages would rather spend time sitting around texting and typing rather than be active or go outside and play.  The other day I drove by a middle school and noticed that all the kids were with in 5-10ft of each other texting. 

 I couldn’t help but think back to the 4 years I spent sitting at my computer playing a game called world of warcraft.  I could remember not wanting to go out and socialize, and not wanting to go outside because every second I was “AFK” (away from keyboard) I was losing out on gaming time.  I could remember going to classes or going out and seeing people I used to know and I can still remember being insulted because of my weight or other things.  I remembered that when I would get saddened and or depressed, food and my computer were my only friends. I wouldn’t get out of my chair unless absolutely necessary. 

When I see people at any location whether it be at a restaurant, college, on the streets, or anywhere else in public, I always see someone sitting and texting on their phones. To me its unhealthy in everyway shape and form whether someone is obese or not. So to all those who read this, please do something with me, PUT THE PHONE DOWN!!! Go out and be cell phone/ technology free for a whole day and see what it is like. Matter of fact, imagine if there was a power outage and or if the weather acted upon you or your electronic gizmos, what would you do? Would you go outside? Would you spend time with family and friends? Or would you find other ways and means of using technology?

Working out is indeed a lot of work

I find it so interesting to just watch people work out, because to me it is saying, man that could be me, but a lot of times I'll just sit back and watch them because I’m getting exhausted just thinking about working out, not to mention the fact that they are making me tired just watching them.  Last night I went out running and jogging with a friend of mine, who used to be a cage fighter.  He needed someone to work out with so I said ok ill work out with you.  Last night was day one and man it was tough.  You see previously I had already been running but I had not done so for three weeks or so, and last night was a wake up call.  I had suggested that we do my old routine of using street poles as a guide, walk three street poles, jog three street poles, and then lastly run as hard as you can three street poles then walk off three street poles then start over again. 

I was running with him and I kept up for a good while but then after the second street pole he had lost me, I had ran so hard I almost threw up, but I maintained myself and managed to get my dazed and worn out self home.  The lesson to be learned here is that working out is in fact work, it’d be nice if I could be able to be strong enough to run 5k marathons or even be able to have a muscular body of some sort like you see on TV all the time but, these things take time. Those who read this should know that these things take time and they cannot happen over night so don’t get discouraged if you can’t lift certain weights or run certain lengths, and if you start something, be sure that you finish it and don’t give up. 

One last note that should be mentioned is that out of all the time I spent walking and jogging, I am proud to say that I can run now and I have never in my entire life been able to do so, just imagine what you can do if you put your mind to it.

Those on TV are so much better than me.

I wake up every morning and all I ever see is infomercials and adds that always seem to show women in bikinis and men with their shirts off. However, it always amazes me that these people are always like this and never seem to wear regular clothes.  I wonder if all those people on the weight loss supplements and work out DVDs are living in places such as Alaska or somewhere where there are no beaches because really, when are people really ever going to wear swimsuits all year round? 

I also love how I will see people say, hey I lost weight and gained muscle by using these pills or other products. That to me says that if I buy these pills, It’ll not only help me lose weight but I'll magically gain muscle with out having to do anything? Wow I'll do that, but in truth, its not only another lazy work out product, but when people lose weight then gain muscle, they technically lose weight but gain some back in muscle weight, so technically they gained all together in my opinion. 

 A lot of what is on TV is false advertising, they say if you do this work out in this amount of time or use this product you will see results fast but, in a way I feel its more natural to work out on your own terms and not something that your just going to use for a couple of days then end up selling it at a garage sale.  By all means, do look into taking health supplements to truly give your body what it needs so that even if your not muscular or super model thin, you will atleast be healthy. 

My advice is be yourself and don’t try to be like what is on TV, and don’t beat yourself up just because you don’t have the body that you were told you should have on TV, all those who read are awsome and glorious in your own unique way, and something that alot of people do not have anymore these days is personality, be sure to be unique and be your own person because that is something to be valued over looks anyday I think. 

Actions are louder than words, but why not just talk things out?-

I meet people all the time who ask me about what I do to stay healthy, they always say, man I am going to do what you did, I am going to lose weight and be healthier.  However, its easier said than done, people these days just daydream about how they can change their lives, all people ever do these days is talk, they don’t walk anymore. I was talking to people the other day who were saying they are going join gyms, hire trainers, join help groups and hire chefs to better their health lives.  

However, the only person who will truly do anything is the person that is talking, and no one else.  My motto in life is that there are three kinds of people in this world, thosewho want, those who have, and those who need, people will always say they WANT to lose weight, they NEED to lose weight and they also HAVE to lose weight. And it seems there are also people that take, and a lot of these people never TAKE advantage of their surroundings and appreciate what they have. 

People these days can never have enough and or will ever be satisfied unless they have what the world wants them to have and or look like, and people don’t want to work out or lose weight, its what others want for them, and it is not what they desire. That’s why if those reading this have any sort of obstacles in life that needs to be faced, they need to quit talking about it and take action and believe in themselves while they do it, because in the end, no one can make you do anything but you.

No heroes, just villains

Has anyone ever noticed that there aren’t any good positive role models anymore these days? It seems that there are more bad eggs in this day and age then there are good ones.  It amazes me how individuals such as myself, have been mistreated and are abused verbally and physically by people who’s main intention is self amusement, with that said, someone’s fun is someone else’s misery.  I know that when people used to laugh at me and pick on me, I knew exactly what I wanted to do to them, and it wasn’t something you could talk about to your friends and family with out them freaking out. But why? Why lower you’re self, why give in and let the mean people win?  As Bob Marley once said, mean people never seem to take a day off.  I know that when I show people my before pictures of what I used to look like, I still hear people say, you could still lose some weight, or man you were fat, or something else that’s mean that I cannot write on here due to harsh language.  I encourage everyone who reads this to become a role model themselves, do your best to better yourself than what you already are. Be healthy and be yourself, don’t be another follower, be a leader, take charge of your health and your life while at the same time, make a difference in someone else’s life as I hope that I am doing. 

Low hopes, High expectations

I think about these two phrases and how they have completely swapped for me, the other day my mother and I went shopping for clothes, and right away I went straight for the XXXL/XXL sized clothes. I tried on clothes and I was thinking to myself while I was looking into the mirror, and man let me tell you, I always wondered what I would look like if I were skinnier and or more muscular just like everyone else that is on any Media source, whether it be on the television or a magazine. I suddenly realized that when I quit caring about what others thought about me and the way I look, it all just happened for me, I still cannot believe that I look the way that I do to others, because, deep down I still feel as if I didn’t change at all, but when I see a recent picture or when I try on old clothes, I am shocked every time. I look in the mirror and I still see me, but when others that haven’t seen same old me, they freak out and I’m reminded everyday that I am a completely new Cody, and that my ex (the old Cody) is still in Pennsylvania. Bottom line is if you quit caring about what others think and say and just live life the best you can and have fun, things will happen for you with out you even realizing it as it has for me.

Walking tall in a store that doesn’t say big and tall on it.

Just the other day I was out at the mall with my mother and I just happened to walk by two stores that had been there for quite some time.  These two stores brought back some not so great memories.  I remember when I had went into these stores when I was overweight, I was looking for sizes 46-48 and I can remember shopping with my grandmother and having her tell me to ask for help to locate these sizes.  I can remember getting laughed at and told we don’t have those sizes. I never again wanted to go out in public ever again because of those people and or stores like that.  however, when I walked by the stores, I noticed one of them was going out of business and the other is still there, I wanted to walk in and say hmm, you guys don’t have anything good that I like in my size. But employees don’t care whether or not if you buy things or not. However, it would have been a different feeling had those same employees (the ones who laughed at me) were in there It wouldn’t mean much to them, but it would have to me.

Everyone laughs at my jokes and not at me.

Ever since I lost weight, I have noticed that I have a whole lot of energy with in me, this allows me to talk longer than ever, this may prove to be a problem for some because now I can’t shut up and I cant help but tell jokes and have conversations that always seem to end in laughter.  Before this, I used to sit in the back of the bus, class rooms and or party/ group gatherings. I was rarely ever apart of group conversations and or any conversations all together.  I know that when I used to walk by people and or if I would be close enough, I could hear about what people were saying about me, all the jokes and judgments that they would make about me, if not I would have people laugh and joke about me right there face to face. I tell you now, I have gained so much just from losing weight, I still get laughed at, but now, I am the one telling the jokes that people laugh at, and I am no longer the comedic object. For all those who still have this kind of problem, here’s my advice, If I find myself still getting laughed at because of the way that I look, I just ignore it, because I know that people are either jealous, and or they are so bored with themselves that they have to take it out on someone else to make themselves feel better. My advice is ignore everyone that mistreats you, be who you are, walk tall and have your head held up high because people will judge you no matter what you do, whether your too skinny, too over weight, your never good enough in certain individuals eyes, just know that they don’t care and neither should you, be yourself and enjoy doing so everyday.

The incredible hulk wore my pants!!!

The other Day I was getting ready to go to school and I was all out of clothes to wear.  I snagged an old pair of shorts that had not been worn in a while and with out any hesitation I put them on, but there was a problem, my awesome maroon colored shorts were a bit too large on me. And even if I put a belt on it still wouldn’t fit and it would look extremely goofy.  I had never realized I used to be that big, but you see when I used to wear these shorts they were very very tight on me to where I didn’t need to wear a belt with them, they were just right however now they are extremely too large. I’ve lost so much weight that when I try on old clothes, it’s as if someone completely different all together had worn my clothes and not me.