Anyhow, I still love the game and usually take in several minor league games each summer. I've managed to make it to Florida for spring training once, and of course, I have taken in a couple of Tigers games too (don't get me started about the expense, though). This time of year, in particular, I tend to really think a lot about baseball, since spring training is underway, and games will be starting soon.

Last night, I came up with a totally corny quote related to baseball. If you follow me on Facebook, you've seen this already, and I suspect that some famous baseball great may have said it or something like it at some point in their life. However, it was a reflection of where I'm at in life currently, so for what it's worth, here it is...

"Life has a funny way of throwing you some really nasty curveballs. How you choose to swing is the difference between a strike or a homerun."

So what is a curveball exactly, and how does this metaphor apply to life, health, weightloss, etc.? Well, for those of you that may be baseball-ignorant, a curveball is a pitch that has a downward spin causing it to "drop" when it enters the strikezone. Batters can be fooled and swing, missing the ball as it drops. Really talented pitchers can alter this in an opposite fashion - the ball enters the strikezone appearing to be a "ball" (don't swing) and at the last second, aligns perfectly and crosses as a strike. Either way, the batter is "fooled" and the ensuing result is usually a strike - either from the batter swinging and missing, or from the batter NOT swinging as the ball crosses perfectly in the strikezone.

I guess I probably don't need to do much metaphorical analysis here, then, because you can probably make the connection on your own based on this information. Sometimes life seems to be moving along in a straight line - things are going well, and then WHAM! Out of nowhere, we're broadsided by some kind of major disruptive challenge. On the flip side, sometimes life seems to be a mess, but if we hang in there and don't lose hope, things usually "align" in the end.

OK, so I'm being a bit "wax philosophical" on you here. My apologies. What I'm trying to convey (in my typical much-too-wordy fashion) is that how we deal with life's curveballs is a great barometer on whether we will be successful in conquering challenges or be a failure. I confess, many of life's curveballs have resulted in failure on my part. Of course, I've had my share of successes too. The bottom line, and this is my MAIN POINT (how many words did it take me to get here?) is that if we don't at least "swing" at those curveballs and swing to the best of our ability, we have no hope of success or failure. You can't succeed or fail if you never try.

So what curveballs are coming your way currently. I have several currently - coming from all directions, it seems, so I need at least a dozen bats! lol. Seriously, when it comes to reaching your goals or dreams in life - whether that be weight loss, fitness, finding gainful employment, finding a life partner, whatever it is - SWING to the best of your ability. Yes, you may strike out, or maybe you'll miss a couple of times, but eventually, you're going to hit that homerun.

It took me more than a decade of my adult life before I decided to "swing" and do something about my weight and health. I feared failure. That's normal. But, I succeeded, and I know you can too. Get out there and swing!

All that to say...HASN'T THE WEATHER BEEN AWESOME? I hope you've taken advantage of it and been outdoors as much as time allows. I've spent the last couple of days biking on the Lansing River Trail and the Owosso River Trail when I've had free time for exercise. What an awesome feeling to be zooming along on my bike once again after being "holed up" during the winter.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking to two groups about healthy living.

Here'a shout out to my new friends at the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) in Okemos! Special thanks to Beth, Robin, Laura, Laura, and Kathy (I think - sorry if I got your name wrong!) for helping put together a great event! The workers at MPHI have health on their mind quite often, I'm sure, since many of them work for programs designed to combat diabetes, cancer, and other illnesses. It was my pleasure to inspire them during their "weight loss challenge" to make healthy eating choices and exercise! Keep up the great work guys!

And here's another shout out to my friends at K&G Wellness Center in Owosso. I handle the Week 8 lecture during K&G's 10-week nutrition for life course, and have made many new friends. If you're not familiar with K&G, click on the "links" tab and visit their website. This AWESOME organization has helped literally thousands of people in the past few years learn how to eat correctly and lose more than 30,000 pounds! Currently, the two groups that are underway have collectively lost more than 1,500 pounds!! Isn't that AWESOME!!

As I was headed home last night, the thought occurred to me about how many resources we do have available to assist us in living healthy lives. We need to take advantage of them. The Internet has a host of helpful websites and tools available. I truly believe that a person who is educated about healthy living is much more likely to successfully combat obesity. I encourage everyone to go online and actually read the nutrition information about what they are eating in our nation's restaurants. You may be surprised. Don't think a salad is automatically healthy - some salads have more calories and fat than a hamburger!

Educate yourself - become an informed consumer, and above all, don't believe everything you see on TV, on a food label, or hear from your friends. K&G's Nutrition for Life course is an AWESOME and relatively inexpensive way to educate yourself too. Just like most things in life, if we educate ourselves, we are much more likely to make good choices.

Enjoy the weather today - it's supposed to be another beautiful, warm day!

Last week, I was able to get my bike out a couple times and it was so awesome. I did several miles on the Lansing River Trail and it felt so good to be moving again at high rates of speed. I'm a speed demon, so if you're on the River Trail and see a flash of light go zooming by, it's probably the sun shining off my bald head as I zip by.

More good news - my heel pain is almost completely gone. I've been wearing a brace at night, making sure to always wear shoes and to have good arch support inserts inside the shoes. For the most part, the pain is completely gone. In fact, I walked 3 miles at the Community Partners in Health Winter Warm Up (www.cphlansing.com) on Saturday, and only had minor pain afterwards.

I've also had an excellent stretch of healthy eating recently. This winter has been difficult for me, as you know if you read this blog regularly. The combination of poor eating choices (fueled by several factors, I believe) along with the foot problems that limited my walking and caused me to stop going to aerobics resulted in a weight gain. Last week, I decided I'd had enough of those poor choices and that it was time to find alternative ways to move more if I couldn't do aerobics anymore. So, out came the bike and out came the healthy eating habits, and I have to say...

I FEEL GREAT!!! It really is amazing to me still (even after all this time) how much better I feel when I eat healthy foods and exercise consistently. I have so much more energy and just feel better overall. This is, as I've said before, the most powerful motivator for continuing my healthy lifestyle.

I suspect it will take me a month or two to get my weight back down to where it was before this winter's problems began. I'm looking forward to the challenge! How about you? Has winter been unkind to your waistline? Send me an email or post a comment and I'll be happy to respond with some tips and one on one motivation. You can do it!

The doc gave me a cortisone injection and a brace to wear at night along with stretching exercises. If that doesn't work, custom orthotics will be the next thing to try. I'm supposed to limit my walking during this time too. In a nutshell - this totally sucks.

I don't know what will happen next. I may never conquer this ailment completely. There are no guarantees. It's treatable, but not cureable, and people respond differently to different kinds of treatment. I've received many suggestions from blog readers and I'd like to say thank you! I'm certainly open to suggestions and will work diligently to try and figure out what combination of treatments I need to maximize success.

In the mean time, who's up for a bike ride? I'm antsy already to get out on the Lansing River Trail, but I know that even though it's very spring-like today, cold temps are not gone - yet. So I'm going to take up spinning instead of aerobics - at least for a while. Hopefully that will burn as many calories as aerobics. I think I can still get in my mile or mile and a half walks during my lunch break without too much difficulty, so I plan to keep going with those too.

I'm working hard to be "glass half full" about this scenario. I knew I was injury prone because of other challenges I face (the alignment of my legs and hips, for one), and let's face it. Life doesn't come to a crashing end just because I may not be able to do another half-marathon. I had dreams of actually jogging or running in a half-marathon, but dreams can be adjusted to accommodate reality. How about the DALMAC? Sounds like a fun goal to me! Any takers? Or, how about the upcoming American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure in Brighton at Kensington Metropark? They offer 5 to 100 mile courses with everything in between, all raising money to conquer diabetes.

Let's RIDE!

So I'm back from my cruise of the Mexican Riviera and Central America. I had a wonderful time aboard the Carnival Dream - Carnival's newest and largest ship. I cruise mainly because I hate Michigan winters and crave heat and sunshine. The food is a big draw too, of course. It's hard to pass up 5-star dining every evening along with all the other great food options offered on the ship. I often get asked how I handle the "food issue" when I'm on a cruise, so I thought I would write a bit about that today and also update you on some other things happening in my life.

The food on the cruise is definitely a challenge. The first cruise I took after losing my weight, I actually lost 2 pounds. Click here to read more about what I did on that cruise to stay healthy.

The next cruise I took was in September of 2009. I was less successful on that cruise. I did not weigh myself, but I suspect I gained a few pounds - I could feel it in my clothing.

This most recent cruise began with relatively good intentions, but I have to admit, the dessert bar got me - more than once. However, miracle of miracles, I somehow lost a pound. I suspect the reason for that is because of increased physical activity (not sitting in a desk chair all day) AND because I left for this cruise having already gained about 30 pounds since Thanksgiving.

Basically, my "food philosophy" while cruising is to eat a healthy breakfast (I was successful every day but one), a healthy lunch (usually a salad - I was less successful here), and then whatever I want for dinner (I was completely successful here! LOL). I try to minimize in-between meal snacking and I try to keep moving either by walking, visiting the gym, or choosing "active" tours while on shore.

I felt much less successful on my recent cruise because I did eat in-between meals more often than I liked (usually the blasted frozen yogurt machine or the evil cookies and desserts that are always around) and because pre and post-cruise, I battled the donut demon.

I was also severely limited in my exercise and activity because of the ongoing problem with my heel. This ship had a wonderful wrap-around loop at Deck 5 that was perfect for walking. It also had the standard exercise track on Deck 11, but I usually walked on Deck 5 since it circled the entire ship. Two and a half times around was equivalent to one mile. I put in a mile or slightly more 3 or 4 days, did about 2 miles on another day, and pedaled an exercise bike one other day. I paid the price the rest of the day after my walks by limping and hobbling around throughout the evening. I didn't care. I WANTED TO MOVE!!

I was also limited with my on-shore activities. I did bike in Florida before leaving, but the ports of call on this trip did not include bicycle rental as most of them were pretty small and isolated. I usually look for walking tours or hiking activities, but I knew my foot wasn't up to that, so I avoided that also.

All that to say, I felt like I wasn't nearly as active as I normally would be on a cruise. In fact, I am battling a near panic about my inability to move as much as I want and need because of the limitations from my heel problem. I've decided to stop whining about it (at least in theory) and figure out what to do.

Solution A - I'm going to try a "spinning class" with a friend on Monday. I've heard they're a great workout.
Solution B - I'm seeing a podiatrist on Monday too. I pray to God he can figure out what's going on and find a solution.
Solution C - I MUST do better at monitoring what I eat. It's so easy to fall back in to old habits, especially during a vacation. I was already dealing with that before leaving, so I MUST be even more diligent now.
Solution D - I must seek out encouragement and support to help me through this latest challenge. My faith is a constant source of strength. My awesome and beautiful girlfriend continues to offer me a listening ear when the "woe is me" moments kick in. I'm also continually encouraged by those of you who send me supportive comments on here or Facebook - you don't know how much that helps me keep going.
Solution E - My exercise philosophy and preferences may need a major shake-up. I just might have to accept that I'll never walk another half-marathon, but I'm already laying the groundwork to participate in a long-distance bike race this summer.

Bottom line...WHATEVER IT TAKES. I'm not going back, I'm looking forward, even if I have to "hobble my way" to the future.

Thanks for reading!

Recently, my left heel developed a significant problem. I head to the doctor tomorrow and I hope he has some answers. I suspect plantar fasciitis, an inflammatory condition that is very common with walkers and runners. I'm trying to deal mentally with the reality that plantar fasciitis is generally not curable, it's only treatable, and even then, only to a certain extent.

My condition has come and gone for the past 2-3 months. I first noticed it in the midst of step aerobics a few months ago. I didn't think much about it at the time because I figured I had probably landed incorrectly on the stepper, and the pain would go away. It didn't, at least not completely.

Since then, I've had good days and bad days. The last few days have been the worst ever to this point. I'm limping pretty significanly, moving slowly, and now my back muscles are starting to spasm because of the alteration in my regular gait.

To say I am upset about this malady would be an understatement. I'm not just upset, I start to FREAK OUT when I'm confronted with the possibility that I may not be able to walk for exercise anymore. I gain weight faster than anyone I know when I start moving less. So, I've decided in the mean time to try and implement other forms of exercise - primarily biking. I put my bike up on a trainer stand and I'm hoping to bike a few times over the course of the next week while I'm out of the country on a cruise in warm weather climates.

It would be SO easy to throw my hands up in the air and just give up on this effort to be healthy completely. When facing a significant challenge, such as the inability to walk, its easy for discouragement to set in. However, I'm too stubborn for that crap and although I must admit I am completely ticked about this current set of circumstances...I AM NOT GOING TO LET IT DERAIL MY HEALTH!!

Life is full of challenges. Most of the time, I feel like I get more than my fair share (I suspect you probably feel that way sometimes too). Overcoming challenges makes us stronger. Yeah, I know, how nice and "Freudian" of me, but it's true. I've overcome so many challenges to get where I am currently in this endeavor toward health. I suspect I'll never be challenge-free. BUT, I will NOT give up! If I can do it, I know you can too - so don't give in when you face a challenge. Confront it, head on, and look forward to knowing how you will feel when you come out on the other side.

Interestingly, Michigan is at the top of the list for our "area" (the Midwest). The other states that are more obese are all in the South. Mississippi leads the pack. I suspect fried chicken and okra with biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast may be culprits there, but what about here?

Well, certainly we have our "weather" challenges, especially this time of year. Michigan's historical role as an industrial state may play a role also. While physically taxing, assembly-line work doesn't often involve a lot of movement that gets your heart rate up and burns calories. I suspect that a more recent phenomenon that is impacting our obesity rates is lack of movement - especially with our children. Let's face it, Playstation is a lot more popular than playground.

So what can we do to get Michigan to move? Well, there are all sorts of options, of course. First, we are bountifully blessed with a beautiful state. Michigan has some of the best parks and trails in the nation and I think sometimes we forget to take advantage of them because we just take them for granted. Kids may be bored "going for a walk" but if you tell them you're "going for a hike" and include fun activities like looking for certain animals, or mushrooms, or birds, or whatever as you walk through the woods, they'll be moving and getting exercise and enjoying it all at the same time.

What about now, though? Yes, I know, some folks just cannot handle the thought of walking in the snow. Don't misunderstand me, I am NOT a cold-weather afficianado by any means, and winter presents a unique set of challenges for me too. I try to walk outdoors every day because believe it or not, winter walking actually burns more calories because your body has to work harder to keep you warm and "warm" the air you are breathing. I also use a treadmill if it's brutally cold or dangerously icy. And...another great option...

WALK AT THE MALL (or inside any "big box" store). We are so fortunate to have the Winter Warm-Up with the Blues' Community Challenge running in our area currently. You can join hundreds of other walkers at the Lansing Mall on Saturdays from 9am to 10am, enter contests, win prizes, and log miles to help your community win a grant prize from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. If that doesn't work for you, join a Winter Warm-Up Satellite group - they are forming all over the place! Even more exciting is that you can continue walking throughout the week and log all your miles for your community's team! The more you walk, the more chances you have to win great prizes, and the more chances your community has to win the grand prize - $2,500 from Blue Cross Blue Shield for a health/fitness project in your hometown.

So, let's get moving, Lansing! Let's be a model for the rest of our state and do our part to get Michigan from the top of the obesity list to the bottom. All of us will benefit! Visit www.cphlansing.com for more information about the Winter Warm-Up program.

Lately, "sweets" (my biggest vice by far) have been getting the better of me. However, I'm more convinced that the underlying issue currently is psychologically, not physically driven. You see, I'm a food addict, and just like alcoholics, we sometimes binge.

Tonight, I binged. After a week of relatively decent eating habits, I found myself wandering the streets of Lansing on my way home from my girlfriend's looking for a QD. God tried to intervene, because the first QD I went to (corner of Harrison and Michigan), the parking lot was completely full and there was nowhere to park or even get my car in the lot. I should have taken the clue. Instead, I headed west for the next QD, located just west of 127.

At this QD, I promptly filled a bag with 4 donuts. QD donuts are my current enemy #1. Those 4 donuts (these are big, cream-filled donuts, not puny cake donuts) are probably easily 2,000+ calories. God tried to intervene again, as they were having problems with their credit card machine which meant I was stuck in line for at least 15 minutes. I still didn't get the clue.

I wolfed down those 4 donuts and headed to the QD on the corner of Lake Lansing and Larch. Yes, I still hadn't had enough to squelch whatever was driving this behavior. This time, I bought 2 more donuts (for a total of 6) and 3 butterscotch chip cookies (another vice). All told, I'm sure I consumed 4,000+ calories in the scope of about half an hour.

What the hell is wrong with me? I have no idea, but I will tell you this. This is an illness and a disease, not a lack of willpower or discipline. I'm not making excuses for my behavior. More importantly, I know it can be overcome because there's no way I could have lost 230 pounds without conquering these demons. However, it's yet another clear indicator to me that this has been and always will be a lifetime battle. Sometimes I grow weary of the fight, but I refuse to give up. I will NOT go back to living my life how I did before! Tomorrow is a new day, and God's mercies are new every morning.

Bottom line - what's done is done. I don't understand it, don't like it, and hope and pray with all my heart that it won't happen again. I am weak, but He is strong. God is my refuge and my strength - my ever present help in times of danger. Yes, I find it somewhat humorous that I'm referring to a visit to QD as "dangerous," but for me, it is - it's dangerous to my health and dangerous to my psychological well-being. Don't ever give up - face your challenges head on and determine to do better. God will help you.

I know the feeling. Recently, I've found myself expressing frustration at the seemingly endless number of challenges I find in front of me. The challenge to eat healthily, the challenge to keep exercising during the winter, the challenge to keep exercising when my heel hurts and my joints ache, the challenge of family issues, the challenge to accept that I am who God made me and be content with that, and the list goes on and on and ON...

Here's something I've learned (I think) about challenges. First, they totally suck. I mean, let's be honest - people can say "I enjoy a challenge" all they want, and yeah, certainly there are some challenges in life that are enjoyable. However, most of the significant "life challenges" we face, basically just suck.

However, I've also learned that challenges have a way of making us stronger when we perservere. I KNOW that it's possible to eat healthily and move my body during the winter because I've done it successfully in the past. Not only that, but I also know that I can confront challenges to the best of my ability and when they are conquered, I benefit by learning new life skills and growing stronger.

OK, enough psychological mumbo-jumbo for today. After all, this isn't "Dr. Jon's" blog. One final thought - NEVER GIVE UP! Hey, I'm a human being too, and a question I'm often asked is "how do you stay motivated" or "I'll bet staying healthy is really easy for you now, right?" Well - there are many things I do to stay motivated, some of which you can find on this website. As for it being "easy?" Think again. Overcoming addictions is never easy. It's a daily battle. Most of the time I succeed, but not always. Part of learning from my challenges is learning how to not let my failures derail my overall success. Guess what? You can do it too. I'm just a normal, everyday guy. If I can do it, I know you can too!

My dream is to see programs like the Winter Warm-Up taking place in every Mall in Michigan, and eventually every cold-weather state in the nation. Let's get America moving!

If you live in the Lansing area, is there a reason you aren't participating? It's free, it's fun, and if you can't make it to the Lansing Mall, there are Satellite Groups forming all over the area - including one that I'm leading on Wednesday afternoons in downtown Lansing. Care to join me? Meet at the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Washington Square at 12:00 noon every Wednesday.

For more information about the Winter Warm-Up with the Blues' Community Challenge (including how you can help your community win it's share of an $8,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan), click here.

To read the Lansing State Journal article, click here.