Sports and Fitness

Real Life Letters: "Living in the Arena"

Marcus Santi — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:31:16 -0800

Man in the Arena

'It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.'

Clay,

I love this speech. Here is our challenge in this life. I ask myself where do I want to be sitting; in the stands as the critic or do I want to be The Man in the Arena!

I once heard in a movie: "life is going to hit you and knock you down. It is not about when life knocks you down it is how you get back up and keep moving forward each time it does hit you."

How do I become the Man in the Arena? How do I get backup and move forward?

Hold your head high Clay. Fight! I know you can. We all have our struggles and temptations. Ephesians 6v13-14 “…and after you have done everything to STAND. Stand firm then, with the belt of TRUTH buckled around your waist.”

I love you,your parents and brother love you, and God loves you. Clay anyone who loves you will want you to be your best. We all want our parents to be proud of us. Truth will set you free. Be truthful and you will be surprised what will come from what you may see as a failure in your life.

You say I have helped you. I hope you are aware how you have helped me. Without your struggle I would be consumed with myself. I would be completely lost in me if it was not for you asking me to send you Bible verses. The only reason why I opened my Bible, over this last month, was to find scripture to pass on because you asked me too. I knew God gave me a responsibility. I did not know as to why but today’s phone call opened my eyes to God’s great vision. He knew what’s to come for both you and me. This is how you helped me in my life.

Let your parents and loved ones embrace you in the midst of your struggle. This is why we are here; to celebrate in victories and pick up when we are down. When you become victorious you will have lots of people to celebrate with. Look at all the people who are with you now. You are not alone, you have many around you.

My failures have brought about the greatest times in my life. I get the chance to see mercy, grace, love,and forgiveness in a world conditioning us for the opposite. I grew up in a house that knew nothing about this. When I failed I was not loved. I do not like failing but God has brought out greatness in me because of my failures. I see who I really am in my moments of weakness.

I am not Superman even though I try hard to be (in my workouts). I am human and I need people. I need you. I need God. The one thing I can do and try to do is be me. I serve God and people of this world by striving for honesty with who I am and seeking honesty with those I have relationship with.
I am selfish, I am controlling, I doubt and lack trust in people. I give people a chance to accept me, my best and my worse. You are an alcoholic, so what! You are my friend through the thick and thin.

God tells us we are his children and he wants relationship with us. Even after all our failures he still wants relationship? Yes he does. Hard to believe but this is a TRUTH!

Man in the Arena,

Beach Kid

P.S.
How would you like to be running 13 miles through the mountains of Southern France on March 22? Will tell more…

Real Life Letters - "You don't always have to be Wonder Woman"

Marcus Santi — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:33:51 -0700

This is a back-and-forth letter with a girl I was training. Many time we think sports is all pysical, but the mental side is sometimes the harder road to conquer. Enjoy!

(I have changed names to protect identity)

Marcus,

I have been struggling recently. I have found an amazing man (my boyfriend) and someone I think you would get along with great but lately I've been seeing my dad in me and it's scaring me. I have not been treating him like he needs to be treated. Occasionally when I will drink I will say mean things to him or just be mean, the way my dad used to be with me but without the alcohol. I'm not understanding why I would want to hurt someone I care so much about and turn into the person that's hurt me the most in my life? I need some advice because this is NOT me and I know in my heart I'm a better person that what I have shown on occasion. It has made me cry a lot and made me not be able to sleep. I'm scared and you're the only one I know who to talk to about this.

Thank you for always being the rock in my life and being there when things got tough. Those times have made me believe 100% that there are people out there with feelings too and experiences like mine to share with others to let them know that they too, are special in this crazy world. You always knew how to make me smile, you always knew how to make me stop crying and I can only hope that our paths will cross again when we can go and grab a bit to eat and chat like the old days. I miss you Marcus and there's not a struggle that I don't go through without thinking about the advice you would or have given me and the way you would handle the situation. Keep in touch.

Jane

First and foremost you are not only a wonder woman you are a wonderful woman. I am proud of you
for recognizing these things in yourself. This is half the battle to be able to have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Understand?

Part of growing up is facing exactly what you are facing. The reason why I put you as my anchor leg (4x800) is because I knew you would go to the ends of the earth to find a way to win no matter the deficit. As you proved this at regionals your senior year as you tracked down the Cordova girl and put your team into State. I know I was not your coach at that time but at the beginning of the season I was and you were my anchor leg and were going to be as long as I had the say so.

You are brave enough, strong enough to face this struggle in yourself. Use that strength you showed in that race to face this struggle in your life. This will be a battle you will possibly fight for your lifetime. I have my struggles due to learned behavior I have seen since I was in diapers. We all learn our behavior from some where, mainly our parents.

The Bible talks about generational curses being passed down from one generation to another. The original Bible was written in Greek and Hebrew. The word “curse” in English may not have the same connotations in Greek and Hebrew. The English translation cuts short the real meaning behind what the verse in saying. When I think of curse I think of doom and damnation. We (you and I) are not damned! Damnit! We are not cursed!

What we do have is this, we have “demons” that run in our families. Science would call this learned behavior. Your inner tendencies come from what you have seen, what you have heard from birth. You have now gotten to a point where you see this, and this is a good thing, but now you have a conscience DECISION as to how you are going to react or respond. Our action is speaking without thinking. A response is being calculated in what you are going to say and do. There is a difference. To respond takes discipline and warriors like us want to react and to be quite honest conquer instead of love.

By the way I just want to tell you that you’re great. = )

I would advise as hard as this may seem, refrain from activities that provoke this side of you. Your dad, he is a man who has rage and ultimately is choosing his temper over love and well being for his family. I say this from experience because I grew up in the same type of household. Do you want to be your father? Let your actions say “no” aswell as your words.

This rage is a lack of self-control. How can we develop self control? I want peace in my soul all the time. At least I think I do. I struggle often and can go to depths I did not know existed. Today is a good day for me, but over the last month I have seen things in myself that are so dark it has surprised me.

I often ask will there ever be relief from myself? You and I are people of great passion and with this passion great things can come from us, both good and bad. Michelle this is something you are going through and never make an excuse for yourself as to why you may react powerfully in a negative way. Meaning do not skirt from yourself by acting as if you really didn’t do it. Excuse “that wasn’t me” “I really didn’t mean to do that” or better yet “your father really didn’t mean to say that.” What did you think when you heard those words? I know you have heard those words.

My coach here told me one day, “You know you aren’t superman. It is okay to be tired.” I try so hard to be superman. I am strong, I am fast, and I will win at any cost. It is hard for me to accept I am flawed.

I tell you without a doubt Jesus Christ is the only way I canbe saved. I have been so sick of hearingthat name (Jesus Christ). I have gotten so pissed at God recently that I havestopped saying prayers, reading the Word. I am sick of saying this but I have searched my soul and I have foundman is not good at the core.

I have truly tested and asked why do I need JesusChrist? I have concluded, and thisincludes Mother Theresa, Billy Graham and the lot of us- we need Jesus Christbecause we need someone to save us from ourselves. I do not need saving from others I needsaving from my own mind, my own heart. Iam not good on my own.

Never stop searching for the truth. I have found truth, but I do not alwayslisten to it. When I do it is the mostpeace in my heart I experience. I canhave peace in my heart and war could be all around me. Does that make sense?

You can do this Michelle. You are smart, perceptive, and brave enough to face this in you. The road will not be easy but you have what it takes to be your best and I think it will make one great individual.

Marcus

Real Life Letters - "It's never easy..."

Marcus Santi — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:03:01 -0700

I wrote this letter in May.. I trained this girl now woman from the time she was 9 years old. She is now 22 I think. Since may her whole family has entered rehab for some form of substance abuse or anorexia/bulimia or however you spell it. Needless to say this relationship ended due to the abuse. I really care for this girl. I helped raise her. It broke my heart as i saw this whole relationship go south. the mother was too strong, too dominant. It is never to late for change as the family is making the effort to do something about it.

Hello Jane (obviously not her real name),

Thanks for coming up and saying hello that day you saw the 'bald head'.

I told Joe you would be coming to (SchoolX)... He is a great guy, he will be a friend when you get into town.

He asked if you were going to run track and I told him what you told me. Whatever you decide to do, do it with all your might. I told him the story about your 8th grade year and the season we had, your first 300h race at ECS (won and set meet record), then to regions (won and set meet record), and on into State (2cnd as an 8th grader) where you ran against Anne Santi (6 time State Champion) of all names....(this is my mother's married name from 1st marriage)

After 12 years of training athletes I still think you have one of the biggest hearts i have come across, possibly the biggest. Remember i have trained an Olympic medalist, Super Bowl Champion, All-American girl soccer player. This is what I have to reference my statement.

I sensed you are going through a trial in your life as you spoke to me. I don't know what it is. I do know we all have our road to travel and only ourselves can travel the path laid for us.

I read today 'a team often reflects the personality of the coach.' I know this about myself- I am stubborn, I am determined, I can be difficult to be around, and I also can be looked upon as a source of strength/inspiration/motivation.

Whatever you go through always remember you are braver than what you might think you are. It took a brave person to challenge a 6 time state champion when you were 3 races old (14 at the time)... it took a herculean heart to knock off a 6' Goliath when you were 15. (both of these girls received track scholarships)

I still think that same heart exists inside of you. When you get to Baylor and if you choose to go out for a sport find this heart again. Anyone will be successful when we unlock our heart and find the courage to act upon it.

My dad shot himself in the head about a year ago. It was damaging to my heart. I had to travel a path and it got dark at times but my heart won. I came out of my journey determined like I once was in my life. This world will be a better place when you lead with your heart.

Take care,

Marcus

Real Life Letters - "Encouragement"

Marcus Santi — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:26:09 -0700

As a personal trainer and fitness coach, some of the hardest aspects of my job are the "off the field" challenges. Motivation, encouragement, fear that grip both my athletes and many times myself. When faced with these mental aspects of the job, I have a choice - give into to fear or turn and run to secure ground in the Lord. Recenly I wrote this letter of encouragement to someone I was counseling.

My hope is that this in some way encourages you. Blessings.

_____

Hello Lori,

I am glad to hear you have made a choice to go with the half marathon. Way to GO!!! What an adventure you must feel. I am in the same boat with you. I moved this week to Santa Monica. I have had a few auditions and I am plugging away.

One of the interesting things i have found over this last week is once again- TRUST. I put such confidence in my ability, strength, determination, etc... When you peel enough layers either fear of failure or love in the Lord is driving me.

What I love about training is when one thinks they are at their last step, they can always find one more, and another and another until the finish line has been reached. To posses the courage to stay in the game, to take the next step no matter the discomfort, fear that may exist. Love is the most powerful inspiration we can have. Find the love, run with the love and you will reach the finish line with joy.

Marcus

Olympics: emotions for athletes and viewers

Marcus Santi — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:26:48 -0700

What is it about the Olympics that can produce such great emotions for athletes and viewers?

I think it has something to do when the Olympic Flame is lit, the Olympic spirit begins. There are no contracts for any of these athletes to play an
Olympic sport. It is out of sheer desire to represent something, an idea far greater than a man alone can accomplish. A man can embody this idea but never
truly own this spirit.

The Bible refers to gold being tested by fire. I think when the flame of the Olympics is lit the purity of man to compete at his or her best comes to
the forefront. Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the heart.
This festival of competition originated behind the intention to have the youth of the world compete in sports, rather than fight in war.
As long as there was competition war ceased.

This spirit still exists today. All politics, differences of race or nation, is put to the side for these two weeks and we get to see the glory of man
at it's highest achievement.

When i saw the Olympic flame lit in Beijing an innocence, a purity came back to my heart concerning sports. I remembered what this sporting event is all
about. No more contract hold outs, no more give me the ball attitude, my agent (I can't stand this profession!!) is negotiating my contract so 'i can get
what is mine', athletes referring to themselves in the third person.

The flame, fire, initiates this great festival which brings the opportunity for athletes to compete at the purest level sport can offer.

We got a chance to see millionaire NBA athletes play like kids again- the good meaning of kid. What a chance it was for them to have an opportunity to play
for their country, not a contract. I saw Rafeal Nadal and many other touring tennis pro's put their tours on hold so they can
take part of this festival. No rankings or prize money was awarded to these players. As I saw Rafeal win the gold medal in tennis, as i saw him play with
such great energy and when the gold was his he dropped to the court as tears were in his eyes.

They all played for something much greater than ego, pride, money, endorsements. The Olympics, for me, coincides with Proverbs 17:3. The heart is tried in this pursuit of excellence. Money will never allow an individual to accomplish the incredible. A heart yearning for the highest achievement is motivated by something far greater than what money can provide for us.

I dare to say when these athletes who have made millions in their sport, when they get to the end of it all. No more million dollar contracts, no more
packed stadiums (in my research I learned stadium is Latin for stage), ask them what was the greatest stage they ever performed on? They will point to
the Olympics. They are Olympians and our NBAers of USA basketball can boast 'I am an Olympic champion.'

There is nothing wrong with these athletes making a living at their sports. I just think in today's world when you take on the endeavor of Olympics there
is not a guarantee of any medal success or financial promise. When this happens in todays world it is seen as a mighty sacrifice. This allows for one to
see the core of their values. When the walls of pressure close in, the pressure of winning or the risk of losing come to face the man in the arena. I
believe this is when one finds himself. Stripped to the core. If one dares to ride this journey great blessings will follow. As I have read 'narrow is the
path to life, and few find it.'

The more clear the reception the more pure is the sound. All the negatives listed are possible distractions to any professional athlete. For two weeks maybe these athletes had the opportunity to pursue some of best 'reception' they have heard in a long long time.

In the end the purity of man competing like a kid is what I love about the Olympics.

I see the fingerprints of God all over these Olympics. In this life we can gets tastes of what it must be like in heaven. Often I forget about the eternal
flame that was lit when Christ willingly placed himself on the cross. God is a God of physical examples. The Olympic Flame, for me, is a reminder of the purity Christ has brought to my life.

'The glory of God is man fully alive.' Saint Irenaeus

The Final Olympic Medal Count

tamb — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:12:46 -0700

This has nothing to do with philosophy. This blog is just for those of you who, like me, got caught up with chauvinistic patriotism and followed the olympic medal count closely.

China's goal was to make a statement on the international stage by leading the medal count. For that reason, in China the reported medal count was most often ranked by gold medals, since China had more gold medals than any other country. On the other hand, here in the US the medal count was often ranked by the total number of medals - gold, silver, and bronze - since the US led that count.

Which is a more accurate measure of olympic success? How should we interpret the medal count?

I suggest a simple weighting system, where gold medals count for 3 points, silver medals count for 2 points, and bronze medals count for 1 point. This gives due weight to gold medals, but doesn't disregard the other types of medal. Here's the final medal count on this system:

CHINA: 223 points

51 gold (153 pts)

21 silver (42 pts)

28 bronze (28 pts)

USA: 220 points

36 gold (108 pts)

38 silver (76 pts)

36 bronze (36 pts)

As you can see, by this score the Chinese won the medal count. I suppose that means that our days as a superpower are behind us. We should pack it up and slowly ride off into the sunset like the British Empire did in the 20th century.

Just kidding. I think another measure is equally important. We shouldn't forget that China has 1,330,044,605 people. The USA, on the other hand, has 303,824,646 people. So China has about 4.4 times as many people as we do. If athletic talent appears at a uniform rate in both populations, one would expect 4.4 times as many olympic-caliber athletes in China as in the USA. And therefore one would expect China to lead the medal count by a factor of 4.4.

But of course we shouldn't expect athletic talent to appear at a uniform rate in both populations, due to the higher rate of poverty and malnutrition in China. China's GDP per capita is $5,300, whereas the USA's GDP per capita is $45,800, roughly 8.6 times as great.

Viewed in this light, China's lead in the medal count, however slight, is quite an accomplishment. And it increases the importance of this highly publicized investigation into the legitimacy of many of China's gymnastics medals. If China's gymnastics medals are stripped, the USA will have a commanding lead in the final medal count.

Those of us with a jingoistic streak can seek some consolation in the comparative success of the USA in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. If one combines both medal counts, the USA is the clear leader. And dominance in the overall (Winter and Summer) medal count should count for something.

So maybe it's a bit premature to write our epitaph. (And maybe it would be best to refrain from thinking in such divisive "us versus them" terms.)

Olympic Insider: stories of inspiration and defeat

Marcus Santi — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:50:53 -0700

I got a chance to sit down with Peter from ConversantLife.com to give my personal track & field background as well as discuss the current 2008 Olympic games. Enjoy.

The Way Heroes Are Made

Stan Jantz — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:20:38 -0700

Everybody dreams of being a hero. Like most guys, when I was growing up I used to dream about delivering the game-winning home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, or completing a hail-Mary pass in the fourth quarter as time expires to win the championship. I never had the opportunity (okay, I never had the talent) to experience such heroism, so I mostly live out my sports fantasies through real athletes, and each time I witness a last-minute hit/shot/pass/run/kick that wins the game or championship or whatever, I get goose bumps, and whoever comes through in the clutch becomes my new hero: Dwight Clark and "The Catch" in the 1982 NFC Championship, Kirk Gibson and his improbable home run in the 1988 World Series, David Tyree and The Miracle Catch in the Super Bowl earlier this year.

I've vacariously lived through a bunch of Great Moments in Sports, but yesterday while watching the Summer Olympic Games, I got a shot of armchair adrenaline that may just be the most dramatic sports moment I've ever witnessed. Maybe you saw it live like I did and said something like Vin Scully famously uttered after Kirk Gibson's inconceivable home run: "I don't believe what I just saw." Or perhaps you saw the morning-after replay on just about every early morning news program and wished you'd seen it live. However you saw The Swim, it was something to see.

Of course, the heroic moment I'm takling about is the photo-finish of the men's 400-meter freestyle relay at The Cube aquatics center in Beijing, and the unlikely hero was Jason Lezak. Now, I'm going to go on record and predict that in a few years--maybe sooner--the world won't remember the name Jason Lezak like it does Dwight Clark, Kirk Gibson, or even David Tyree.

You see, Jason Lezak isn't a larger-than-life hero like so many who have come before him. He's an ordinary, working-class hero, like the guy who saves a kid from drowning and then shuns the limelight. He's a role player who responds to accolades by simply saying, "I was just doing my job."

Indeed, the 32-year-old Lezak, a three-time Olympian who has been overshadowed over the years by more popular swimmers like Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps, isn't generally recognized as the elite swimmer he is. But he never complains, content to just do his job in support of the team. Well, with last night's race, he did much more than support the team. With the gold medal on the line, with Michael Phelps drive for eight gold medals on the line, with his team's reputation on the line, Jason Lezak came through in heroic style.

When Lezak dived into the pool as the anchor of the four-man relay race, he was a full body length behind Frenchman Alain Bernard, the world-record holder in the 100 freestyle, who had guaranteed last week that he and his French teammates would "smash" the Americans in this event. As Bernard and Lezak, swimming side-by-side, made the turn for the final 50 meters, the situation looked hopeless. Even Lezak, by his own admission, wondered if he could overtake the French swimmer.

That's when Lezak's true heroic heart took over. "I changed," he said. "I thought, 'That's ridiculous. I'm at the Olympic Games, I'm here for the United States of America. I don't care how bad it hurts, I'm going after it..'"

What happened next was, in the words of ESPN.com writer Pat Forde, "the stuff of Disney movies." Lezak swam down Bernard and edged him by a fingertip, setting a new world record in the event, capturing the gold medal for his team, and preserving Phelps' super-human quest for sports immortality.

If Phelps is able to pull off his incredible goal--and I'm rooting just like everyone else for him to do just that--he will owe a debt of gratitude to my new hero, Jason Lezak, who showed the way heroes are made, not through glitz and glamour, but through perseverance and pressure and an attitude that says, "I don't care how bad it hurts, I'm going after it."

To Win

Marcus Santi — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:43:02 -0700

What is winning. What does it look like? What does it feel like?

Hopefully the story below will try to answer the questions.

Once upon a time there was a young lady who I had the opportunity to train and her effort defines winning in my eyes. Her name is Noelle Hansen.

I started coaching Noelle her sophomore season of track. Noelle was unique. She had an outstanding personality but was shy around certain individuals, namely anyone who was not in her inner circle, but possessed a flamboyant personality. She was a unique individual but you would have to pay close attention to see this without being in her inner circle.

Noelle finished her sophomore season performing a 72 second 400m. This was my first year with this team. The goal was to turn this program around. I wanted winning efforts out of this team. I desired efforts from the athletes that would merit times that would compete for regional and state titles. After the high school track season finished Noelle made me her best friend. She trained 5 days a week that summer.

We trained at all kind of places to build her strength and speed. One of my favorite places to do this was the 67,000 seat Liberty Bowl Stadium. I love bleacher running. I took her to the track, we visited the weight room often. She loved it. I even had to fend off a few college age male athletes as we would train at the local university. (I don't know if she knows that.) She was very womanly at a young age. She was beautiful before guys her age could recognize a beautiful woman. Therefore she did not get asked out as much as a teenage girl would like too, but the college guys were ready to take her out.

The following high school track season rolls around and now the meets start once more. How did the hard work pay off for Noelle? We started the season with a 5 second personal best at 67 seconds. She is pleased. I am happy for her. I know there is much more in store for her. In any sport there are two season's, the regular season and Championship Season- the end of the year where Regional and State titles are won. There are many who are good in the regular season and there are some who rise to another level when the titles are on the line. Coaching athletes to accel in both seasons is the goal all the while preferring Championship Season.

Championship season comes and Noelle rises to the occasion. The year before she had about a snowball's chance in Hades to make the finals of the 400m. This year she gave her all in the qualifying round and found her effort good enough for a spot in finals of the 400m! She made it and once again bettered her time by 8 seconds over last years performance. She made the finals. She made the finals. She made the finals. For me, this felt as if one of my athletes just won the state title. It did not matter what place she got in the finals. She overcame great obstacles and worked and worked and worked for the right to compete with the best females our region had to offer in the 400m.

The last race of the meet is the 4x400m relay, I placed her on this team. Once again she found another level and improved her personal record by another second to lower this time to 63; 9 seconds better than 12 months ago. We won a silver medal in the relay.

What I admire about Noelle's effort is there was no promise whatsoever this outcome would happen. There was no guarantee she would make a finals at Regions, no guarantee she would be one of the four members to represent our team in the 4 x 400m relay.

I have seen in myself it easy to train hard knowing you have an 80% chance of winning the actual gold medal. It says something about a person when they train for the sheer matter of accomplishment in their own life. More than likely Noelle was not going to receive the actual 'gold medal' given to the athlete who beat everyone else. Not in any way shape or form to take away from the ones who do win the gold medal. The gold medal Noelle and others like her earn is something that will never tarnish or fade away. It is the memory, the satisfaction, the pleasure of knowing you poured every ounce of yourself into an effort. No one can ever strip Noelle of this experience. No one can strip anyone of us who has dared greatly.

'It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again
and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.' Theodore Roosevelt

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'

Fat-Free, Omega-3, Beef Brisket Please

Bonnie Lewis — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:45:35 -0700

Like I said in my previous post, this week I find myself out of the normal California sun and into the humidity of the great state of Texas. My internal temperature is not used to being this high, nor is my body used to producing this much sweat. Along with these few adjustments:

fire ants

accents

cowboy church camps

people being able to distinguish between north and south texas accents

calling Texas "the south"

BBQ everywhere. all the time. the smoke-smell on your clothes and the taste forever in your mouth.

I consider myself very healthy. I exercise four times a week, I run and life weights, I do pilates, and I walk. I love to read health books (The Ultimate Tea Diet, got me off coffee and into the world of tea..that I LOVE), and I love to cook delicious things with healthy recipes. In fact, my husband and I recently decided to wean off milk (what are we, toddlers?) and into the world of soy or rice milk. So far we have consumed one gallon of rice milk for smoothies and cereals, as well as a small pint of chocolate soy milk ice cream. Today I was happily notified by a hungry husband that he was going to Trader Joes to buy the Rice milk himself. Pretty darn good I must say.

A typical day will consist of fresh fruit and veggies (at least 3 servings of each) minimal bread, lean meats of some sorts, lots of tea, and a smoothie for energy at some point during the day. 98% of the time we eat in and it's all home made. In fact, our biggest problem with food is not eating out too much, it's the amount of fresh ingredients that I get at the store than can out last what we can eat. I find myself making more trips and buying fewer things and that seems to be working out just great.

Well here in Austin, my diet is turned upside down. I am offered doughnuts or cliff bars in the morning, practically an injection of coffee straight to my veins, a meat sandwich for lunch with a side of Lays ( I have forgotten by this point that they make baked Lays), and then BBQ of all kinds at night, and please do not forget a side of cornbread with cherry filling. Yes read that description three more times and that will be the amount of servings of the cornbread that I consumed tonight. :) My body is feeling the difference. It is craving a salad, my stomach is constantly rumbling and I find myself not being hungry at all when given the alternative. There is clearly a habit that my body has formed out of food and that it craves to be continually fulfilled. I am finding myself being creative with how I eat in one day (because in a place that is foreign and at a conference where you have limited selection then I can't be picky), and making the most of my time and energy. Here are a few tips that I have picked up:

1. Exercise when you get the chance. If I say, "I'll do it later, I either wont, or there is no time later and I am bummed."

2. Drink water. All day.

3.Give yourself time to wake-up. Don't eat right away, but have some tea instead.

4. But out the dairy whenever possible.

5. When faced with meat choice that seems like something you do not desire, then choose wisely. If you just don't like it, then get your protein elsewhere. But do not skip the protein. You need it for energy.

6. Try new things, you will expand your taste buds, but also get a taste of what is around you.

Do not under estimate the power of number 6. Trying new foods tells us tons about the culture. Big displays of BBQ and grills not only fulfills the "Bigger in Texas" stigma, but it shows this state's hospitality. Truly, they are givers and they enjoy what they give. But in addition, trying new food gets me out of my organic plastic wrap and into what meal time is really about:

Giving thanks. Breaking Bread.

There are so many that have none: neither food nor brotherhood and so in the middle of all my "tips and tricks" on surviving conference food, I find myself humbled that I even have food. Thankful that I have people to share it with, and with each new bite I take, I am amazed that our God came up with such good flavors.