If you have any friends in the Madison, WI area, please tell them about my Facebook Page for the Pie in the Park 5k

I am organizing a 5k run/walk in Oregon, WI this coming weekend Sun, Oct. 18th at 5pm.  Proceeds will benefit DiscoverHope Fund an organization of Gaia/Zaadz friend Maggie Miller.

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hey...i had to do something to get your attention, huh :)

just quick stopping by with a little update.  as some may know i have been on a bit of a health journey over the past nine months.  not due to any extreme health concerns, but just because i knew i was going down an unhealthy path with my weight and eating habits and one shouldn't be about to pass out after coaching a soccer practice :)

i have become a runner.  i have participated in five races over the past six months and i am currently training to run my first marathon in the fall.  i have dropped 38 pounds and have been continuing to work on a much better way of eating.

that being said i have put a lot of focused energy on a healthier lifestyle and that has cut in a bit on my online time.  i do plan on getting back to some of my favorite pods and connections here again in the future as i slowly create balance in all areas of my life...which there are still many other areas that need balancing.

so what about these birds?  well i did a 12 mile training run yesterday down a great country road between my town and another and i had three different blackbird attacks during the run, one that was within about 5 feet of me and followed me for about a quarter mile.  ah, the excitement of a country run :)

see you all soon...

as particles flow through the universe, know that i am still around.  i drift in and out and linger and blow away and come back and always looking for a peek of what is new and fresh and old and comforting.

as i move through and about, i have changed and tried to take the best i can from what i encounter.  my paths may be many right now but it still is in the one true direction of searching for and creating happiness.

at present i have changed many habits to truly strengthen my physical being to allow me to better participate in my life.  to allow me to fully take in what is possible.  as i keep strengthening this part of me i also work on my mind and its ever expanding awareness of what i can truly become.

i am truly blessed by the friends i have met here and although i have been distant for some time, know my thoughts are with you even when i am not here.

peace and light ~ mike



picture link credit: http://www.processingblogs.org/2007/08/page/3/

so to update y'all from my last post...i am officially down 30 lbs now and reached the goal weight i was shooting for.

i greatly reduced my cholesterol numbers which was another big goal...now all in the good zone.

i ran my second race last weekend...a 6.25 mile race, actually called the 50 Furlong in 50 min 26 seconds...an 8:05 min per mile pace which is 42 seconds per mile better than my previous race.

i am hoping to do a 5k this weekend and then a 10 miler first week of April.

my upper body and core strength program will start next week...i don't know what exactly it is going to be yet..but probably a variety of things.

i have been reading the Getting Things Done book and actually starting to greatly improve my organizational skills...i think more sleep and less stress has been helping this too...although i should be sleeping now :)

i have lots of other things a stirrin' and i will keep you all posted as they come about...

well i have to throw some laundry in the dryer and get some sleep...was hoping to get 4 mile run in tomorrow...we shall see

peace all.

Hmm... a little late, huh.

So just a little update for those wondering, what's or where's up with Mike :)

I have to admit I was getting a little addicted to zaadz and being online and not that I didn't enjoy it, but I realized I was forgetting about a big portion of the rest of my life including myself.  Which was one of the main reasons I was here in the first place - to create change in my life.

However, spending 20+ hours a week online prohibited much of the change I needed to make in my three dimensional world outside the computer screen.  So, I realize I have left a Pod mostly unattended, but I have needed to work on some of these other things and I hope to add back in quality (not quantity) time back to my experience here when I have completed some of my other goals.

So what are some of those goals and how has my progress been?  Thanks for asking...

Well, one was to get healthier.  Since mid-October, I have lost 22 lbs, dropped my BMI from 28.1 to 24.7 (that's a good thing) and I exercise at least 5 days a week.  I have also been averaging 7+ hours of sleep a night compared to my 4-5 hours of sleep average in the past.

I have been eating better and constantly looking at how I can improve that.  I have been actively montioring my calories at the website caloriecount plus.  I have been off full sugar full caffeine beverages for over 3 months!

I also ran my first race in over 7 years.  It was a New Year's Day 5 mile run, that I finished in 43 min 53 seconds for an 8:47 per mile pace.  The temperature that day was 10 degrees with a 15 mph wind - yeah :)  It was a blast!

I have been spending more quality time with my wife and kids and I have been getting better at sorting out priorities.  There are still some goals to achieve and I will keep you posted.

I will update the Darfur Pod, soon, soon!  And I do still have many ideas a stirring in my head.

Peace to all and wishing you all an incredible year!

over 7 weeks time i have lost 12.2 lbs!
i have walked/jogged over 16 hours and almost 56 miles
i have burned over 6100 calories during exercise
i have gone from a BMI of 27 to a BMI of 25.5
i have lost 2 inches from around my waist
i know what sleep feels like again
i have not had any caffeinated beverages in 7 weeks
i have eaten breakfast everyday
i have eaten more raw foods
i have even walked twice at lunch to get my lunch (hmm imagine that)
i did three 2 mile runs (no stopping) this past week
i am awake right now (i mean actually awake, no sluggishness)

so that's my post for today.  i am now off to start prepping for a snow storm expected this afternoon, somewhere between 4 to 8 inches of snow then supposedly turning to ice, yeah!
another opportunity to exercise - shoveling!!!

i have lost 8.4 lbs in the past 4 weeks.
i am getting 7+ hours of sleep on average every night (compared to 5 or less in the past).
i am more awake and thinking clearer.
i am eating a healthier diet and working on reducing cholesterol.
my kids are asking why i am working out :)
my wife has lost over 7 lbs.
our home life is starting to become more organized.
i actually walked a mile to get lunch yesterday (a salad) and walked the mile back to work too!
i am planning my next steps in reconnecting and building the life I want.

peace to all my friends...sending love and light.