Don Andrew

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Soccer Dream Over For England

by Don on June 28, 2010

in Random Musings

OK, I know, I’ve been really bad about posting on this blog.

My excuse?

I’m getting ready to totally overhaul my online presence and it’s all I can do to keep all the balls in the air.

How’s that for refreshing honesty?

Here’s another unforgiveable misdemeaner … today’s post is a repost of a post I did on my other blog “Essential Health Nuggets”. How’s that for a mouthful, complete with butchered grammar?

OK, so without further ado (because I know you will forgive me, or at least I hope you will ’cause it ain’t half bad) …

“It never really felt right, did it?

Finally, after yesterday’s 4-1 drubbing by Germany, English fans must face the reality that our team just wasn’t that good.

Sure we had stars, all of whom had a proven pedigree (though never on the game’s most important stage).

But that’s life … and that’s sport.

Now the biggest problem seems to be how to remove Fabio Capello from his contract without swallowing a multi-million pound pill.

Which shows only too well that when you want something too bad, things never work in your favor. Who in their right mind would negotiate a contract before a world cup … and not take into account the eventuality of exactly what just happened?

Answer … a nation whose desperation trumps all common sense.

Anyway, I’m sure we’ve got a host of talented youngsters coming through to fill the boots of senor Lampard, Gerard et al.

Haven’t we?

Well … er …. no.

While I’m on the subject of the world cup (and spelling it without capitals is deliberate here) …

Why won’t Fifa agree to use replays?

We saw how wrong that was when France cheated their way into the world cup after Henry’s handball. Fortunately, karma had its way and the French went home hanging their heads just as sales of Guiness went through the roof.

Yesterday (and this is no excuse, just an observation) we saw an English goal disallowed because of human error). This was not even debateable. And yes, Mr Seth, it does take away from the beautiful game!

I’ll also say this … I liked Germany as a team up until the point their goalkeeper realised that he could pull the wool over the official’s eye and pulled an “Henry”.

Man, I am so sick of professional athletes cheating. What glory could there possibly be in an advantage gleaned from a technicality?

Come on. We are surely more sophisticated than that? Aren’t we …?

Maybe not.

And then there was Argentina’s obvious offsides.

Again, they surely would have won regardless.

OK, so Brazil and Spain are still in … and I can’t be mad at Argentina because offsides is not as blatantly intentional as pretending that a ball has not crossed a line when it has. See … even my morality is getting screwed up here now!

Why can’t we just have replays. It works for rugby. How ’bout it Sir?

Go Messi. Go Villa. Go Kaka!

And sorry England … but you’ll just have to look in the mirror on this one.”

OK, that’s it.

I’ll try to keep the fires burning here while I figure out my true authentic self and all that other essential good blogging stuff.

Hope you guys are enjoying life and staying fit and positive … and happy. I know I am!

Catch you later …

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Global Disaster Threatened

by Don on May 30, 2010

in The Environment

I came across a link today that I feel should be shared by every sentient being on the planet.

We are still viewing the BP oil spill disaster in economic terms, but Mother Nature is starting to make it clear that the environment is far more critical than any economy.

In fact no economy can exist long term with the skewed priorities we hold so dear.

This is serious folks … here’s the link.

Wake up please.

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Processed Meat “More” Harmful

by Don on May 18, 2010

in Diet

Today, I thought I’d draw your mind to a little  gem that appeared on the BBC Breakfast website this morning.

You can find it here.

Essentially, a team of Harvard researchers found that as little as 50  grams of processed meat a day increases your risk of both heart disease and diabetes. However, it also concluded that no such risk existed for people eating twice that amount of unprocessed meat.

“This was despite the fact the two forms of meat have a similar fat content.”

No wonder the public is confused about what to eat and what can compromise their health. We put so much emphasis on “evidence-based” research. In this case, the study involved over a million people.

This is painted as being “state-of-the-art-credible”. Over a million people were studied and the speculated conclusion was that perhaps it was the salt and preservatives added to processed meat (rather than the fat, I guess) that could account for a conclusion apparently so anomolous.

To add icing to the cake, animals given nitrate preservatives suffered both atheroschlerosis and impaired glucose metabolism.

So maybe they were onto something …?

All I can say is that if this is what our brightest nutritional scientists are spending money on (and harming creatures for) then no wonder we remain so unconscious.

I’d love to take a less beligerant stance … but how can any reasonable, sentient human being with an ounce of love, compassion or even common sense justify this kind of waste?

The report implies (if the header is anything to go by) that eating steak is fine, so go right ahead. Just watch out for “processed” meats.

Is this really what some of the world’s most enlightened researchers should be touting to the average surfer? Is this really what we should be chanelling resources into discovering? Is this really what animals should be suffering to “prove”?

We can do better than this. So much better!

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A Statement Of Intent

by Don on May 10, 2010

in My Progress

Yes, I know, it’s been ages since I last posted. Here’s why.

My great legions of followers will know that I have been trying to build an online business for the last two years. In that time, I’ve written a product (short e-book), updated it three times and set up various blogs and support systems.

But, if the amount of money I have made is any measure of my success, then I have failed abysmally.

I’m quite philosophical about this fact as, to be honest, making great piles of money has never been my primary motivation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not averse to the idea … so long as I am adding value to someone elses’ lives.

Having said that, it would be rather nice if I started to get things right. In particular because I love writing … and I love writing about health … and all things that occur to my devious little mind (come to think of it).

Anyway, this post is not designed to weave any SEO magic (as if I’d know how to do that anyway). It is just actually a quiet statement of intent.

You see, I am starting a course run by raw food icon Karen Knowler, all about how to become a raw food coach. Now, anyone who reads any of my blogs knows that, in addition to me being fairly outspoken, I also have a massive passion for raw foods.

Massive!

Actually, I am a pain in the behind to the people that actually have to live around me because I believe so strongly that raw foods are the key (one key, at least) to the whole “getting healthy” thing.

It just makes sense. To me, at least. And obviously to a bunch more rather special people … because I am (apparently) one of twenty six or more participants in this coaching course.

So, not only do I now have the rare pleasure of working with one of raw food’s most respected coaches (there’s nothing like learning from someone with a proven track record), I also get to interact with a whole bunch of similarly-inspired positive, happy and enthusiastic individuals!

To say I am excited about this is an understatement. What an honor! To work with like-minded people who value the importance of taking care of ourselves and our planet.

What this also means is I now have no excuses. I either lead by example, or I pack it in and be honest about my commitment levels.

And anyone who knows me also knows that I don’t give up. Ever!

In order to lead by example, I am going to get really serious about my consumption habits. Actually, I have been fairly serious for a while now. But “fairly” doesn’t cut it anymore.

How can I reasonably expect to coach someone effectively if I am not myself a living example of what I believe in? How can I inspire, if I am not myself a person whose physical appearance, demeaner and nature speaks volumes about the message I carry and the services I offer?

And this means … no more crackers, no more prawns, no more over-eating, no more chocolate, no more Guiness, no more fish and chips … no matter how occasional.

Okay, that may be hugely optimistic and I am sure that Karen is going to set me straight on a lot of my (probably erroneous) presumptions … but that’s where I’d like to be. Because, until I firmly commit to this and embrace it properly, I can’t see myself reaching the lofty goals I have now set for myself.

Certainly not the one that has been the purpose of this blog … my goal to reach an ideal weight. Yes, I’ve lost some (still have about 20kg’s to go). And yes, I am now extremely well-versed in the science of health and weight loss (or at least I now think I am!).

But what could be a more eloquent expression of my commitment to my business and my future than to be able to stand up in front of a crowd of people and look the picture of glowing vibrant health … complete with a flat stomach?

Nothing else is acceptable! So here goes … what am I afraid of anyway?

By the way, if you would like to follow my own personal journey as it unfolds, I plan to document it all across my three blogs. There’s this one … plus also Body Mind Freedom and Essential Health Nuggets.

As things stand, I plan to keep all three going while I assess whether that is prudent and whether I should start up another and narrow my focus so that I can offer a more valuable service.

Irrespective of what I end up doing, I would be honored if you would continue visiting and would also encourage you to get started on your own journey, whatever that may be.

If I can help, I would consider that an honor!

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Why Do We Overeat?

by Don on April 21, 2010

in Diet, Physiology, Psychology, Random Musings

Over-eating is a global obsession.

Billions of people eat too much, know this and still can’t seem to help themselves. So why do they do it?

Well, it would seem there are two main root causes: emotional imbalance and physiological dependence. We over-eat because excess food dulls that intangible pain that lurks deep within us … and we continue this madness because our bodies can’t stand how it feels when the onslaught is discontinued.

It’s not because of one or the other. Both are inter-dependent!

Comfort eating is a well-known and fully accepted phenomenon. We eat for succor (sorry America, that just looks wrong … succour). There’s a gap in our soul, an emptiness that must be plugged.

Where?

Somewhere, deep inside. And I just don’t care to even try to find where. It’s just “there”, gnawing away at us. The legacy of bad decisions, poor planning, missed opportunities … even a broken heart.

And consuming something that we instinctively know is “bad” for us is a form of very necessary self-flaggellation. Picture if you will a poor girl curled up on her couch, Ben and Jerry’s in hand.

Temporary comfort fueling a growing sense of wretchedness … but all part of a very necessary cathartic process!

But it’s never a one-off.

Everytime the loneliness kicks in, that light in the fridge door draws us in. And with that first glorious mouthful, the dopamine receptors in our brain drown in the pleasure of relief.

We owe ourselves one more indulgence (or so we rationalize).

But … the more we turn to this crutch, the less special it becomes. And the more we feel we need.

And as we “kill” ourselves, our wretchedness magnifies. In for a penny, in for a pound. A downward spiral of malaise that feeds on itself.

The rewards of addiction … less, for more.

Until you stop the madness and pay the price if you can stand it. For most it goes way beyond a tub of ice cream. It’s cravings at every meal. With each successive rationalization chipping away at our very foundation of sanity.

Emotional vulnerability conspiring with the reality of physical addiction. In a society that is so hunkered down it won’t even acknowledge existence of the beast.

You just need to get it together and show some intestinal fortitude!

Moderation … that’s what you need. A bit of discipline. Some restraint. All of which muddies the waters even further, because we all know that some restraint is not only possible, but usually fairly effective and rewarding.

But how the hell does one keep it up?

Stick around … I may just have some answers for you in future posts. I appreciate you taking this time to spend with me and hope this brought a smile to your face.

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