Eco Wappi George Diet

I am always faced with the challenge to find new and different ways to improve my life by watching the way I eat, the things I eat and the exercise I need but don't ever do. I know, "What in the world am I doing writing on a diet blog?"

Well, the answer to that is simple. I am one of those people, like thousands of others, that start something and find it hard to continue. Especially exercise. So if I can help someone get a better look at themselves and share some things that helped me, I think it is worth the time for me to write and you to read. Maybe something will stick and you and I will be healthier, happier and not burdened with guilt all the time.

OK. Enough of that.

The "Eco Wappi George" Diet

I titled this blog "Eco Wappi George Diet" for a very good reason. It has to do with George. (I mentioned that in my other blog.) "Eco Wappi George" is the Swahili phrase for "Where is George?" George is my Christian brother in Kenya, who is hosting me, my wife and the rest of our team, for a total of 3 months, 7 weeks for me and my wife, while we are here helping to equip the saints in Nakuru. Some of us have been here longer and some have returned home but, we are in the habit now of coming every year for the past 4 years.

George was revealed to us 4 years ago when he was driving our team around Africa on the first mission trip we came for. Little did we know what would develop from that trip. (Read the whole story on the RCV site by clicking here.) None the less, George is a great guy and he has some special habits we are adoring of. One of them is the uncanny knack of disappearing, thus the name of the blog post, Eco Wappi George Diet.

When we are traveling around the city of Nakuru with George, we always have a delightful exercise program built into the trip. Some are unorthodoxed and others will take some imagination, but you will have to improvise in order to do this one.

Step one. - Breathe thinner air

Here in Africa the air is much thinner  because of the elevation, so everything you do takes more effort. Just walking or unpacking clothes or showering takes more effort and so burns more calories. Going up and down stairs will take your breath away. You can imagine what it is like to take a hike or walk several blocks at a fast pace. (see step three for more details)
Your challenge here on this step is to find thinner air or maybe breath less air to compensate. Like breathing through a drinking straw or wearing one of those surgical masks with an extra filter layer taped over the top. You could always move to the mountains if possible. The air is much thinner there. If those options are not available then just cut you breathing in half by only taking a breath when you just absolutely have to.

NOTE: My friend Yashana says many people breath too shallow and should take deeper breaths. So if you are a shallow person, breath 1/4 deep breaths instead.

Step two - Ride on bumpy roads

When we go for a trip to the store, church service, a meeting in town or to pick up some parts for the repair of a door, we must travel on roads that were probably constructed out of a footpath and has grown into a road. There are not too many roads leading to downtown that do not have multitudes of pot holes (I mean ones big enough to swallow a Volkswagen), large speed bumps the size of large logs and a never ending stream of traffic that is always stop and go. So slamming on the brakes is a part of the driving experience. This exercise strengthens your lower back and neck muscles while giving your legs and arms a workout holding on.

Your challenge is to find roads that fit that criteria. I would recommend driving on the railroad track ties or driving in a corn field for starters. A cow pasture might suffice in a pinch but make sure there are lots of cows in it to provide a large speed bump experience. This also provides the swerving routine to enhance the workout of abs and shoulders. Remember to only breath when necessary.

Step three - Walk along busy street following someone who walks twice as fast as you.

This one is a little tricky and you must put on your jogging shoes to insure there are no injuries. The ideal person to follow on this one is, a man or a woman in their early thirties with long legs and a long stride. Nakuru has some of the busiest streets I've seen, filled with thousands of people, livestock, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and truck or buses all travelling on the opposite side of the street. We must walk as fast as possible to insure that we stay within at least eyesight of the George as he bolts off and takes off down the street.  We are constantly dodging people, traffic and animal droppings which give you the ultimate workout we are looking for.

Your challenge is finding a place to live that meets all these criteria, so you may need to give up that desk job and relocate to a large city with lots of traffic and people all in one place at one time, like Nakuru, Kenya. An afternoon workout is best since the degree of difficulty increases with more traffic you face. You must also walk on both sides of the street and cross the street several time through traffic, walking only in the streetSee step one)

Step four - Half-portion eating

Eating meals that consist of greens, rice, very tough meat portions, eggs and tea are good ways of reducing the calorie intake and leveling out your triglycerides. Eating those items on plates that are much smaller than usual or eating out of a bowl helps us reduce the amount of the serving size we are used to. Water or tea is the drink of choice and occasional popcorn consumption is allowed. No soft drinks or candy bars.

Your challenge is to live in such a way as it requires a higher level of self control. However, you can supplement that with living in a third world country and not bringing enough money to eat full portion or double portion meals. You must stick to the rules which are: your plate must not exceed 8 inches in diameter and you must use the 6 oz cup size for beverages. You must also use child sized teaspoons and forks to eat with or fingers only. You must also be able to skip a meal every day or so.

ANOTHER NOTE: Since the first posting of this diet, many people have suggested that reading this  may be another way of helping to firm up the muscles in the abdominal regions. They have also noted that laughter is good medicine for depression and other ailments of the mind.

Last but not least, you will need to follow this regime for at least 7 weeks for the full effect to take place. You can go for a longer period to get deeper results; say 3 months or so. When you are done you will find you are in much better shape, thinner and you will have much better stamina during physically stimulating activities. Best of all you will have a much better appreciation for the life you are now living in leisure and comfort.

Please check with your physician before undertaking this rigorous diet program.

Juice Diets

The other night we watched a movie about a man from Australia who was overweight, miserable and on the verge of killing himself with food. It occurred to me that most Americans are in the same boat and don't even realize it. Our American way of living (eating habits) has propelled us into a philosophy of unhealthy, processed, fast food consumption.

For those of you that have maintained a much more healthier way of eating I tip my hat. Congratulations! You are some of the few who want to be healthier and live a more stabilized life style.Your will power to pass by those fast food restaurant signs and pictures of processed food confections is strong and stable. Keep up the good work.

For those of us that succumb to the temptations of TV commercials and road signs that lure us into those fine dining (sic) establishments, watch the movie "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". It will certainly help you put some reality to those frequent trips to the fast food restaurants, convenience foods and unhealthy lifestyles you may be living. Spend some time looking at yourself in the mirror (turn sideways, and do not suck in your gut) and acknowledge the condition your body is in before it is too late.

Now, think about what you would feel like without all that extra hanging on the front and back of you. While you are thinking about that, take a look at the "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" website and visit the "Reboot" website as well. There are lots of great ideas, recipes and opportunities to talk with others who have been or are struggling with their life styles as well.

The thought that keeps coming into my mind is this. "Why do we put off the obvious and struggle through  unreality when we know the inevitable is upon us?" Do we really think we are immune to the consequences of out lifestyles? Wake up! Do something! Do something different than what you are now! It is insane to think that you can continue to do the same thing, day after day, and avoid the results of unhealthy eating and living the rest of your life. Or maybe you don't care to be in reality? Maybe you are one of those who has tried and tried but continually fail to stick with anything?

There is a way to overcome that.

Watch the movie and let me know what you think.

Cleaning Up

This is a re-post from the original post I had on my other blog. I thought it would fit on this side as well and there are different followers of this post as well. Forgive me for any duplication on the part of those that follow my other blog. 

We have 8 days till we leave for Africa. (Today we now are on our last day here in the US. Leaving at 9am for the airport tomorrow.) It's not quite registering yet but the fact still remains we are leaving. We have our bags packed, we're ready to go, we're standing here, outside the door of the restaurant ( you thought Peter, Paul and Mary, right?) feeling really bloated.

Why do we do that?

Why do we go out to eat and stuff ourselves?

Is there some unwritten rule that says we have to eat everything that is set in front of us? I mean every last morsel of food on the plate?

Growing up, my mother harped at me to eat everything on my plate because of the starving children over seas. It didn't make sense to me that mother would make me eat all the food when she could send it to those starving children instead. None-the-less I ate it all. She would demand I "clean up" my plate.

Maybe it was that early training for cleaning up my plate that prepared me for my eating habits today. (I'm thinking that psychologically it was. Readers, beware!) I would hate to think that my mother only wanted me to do that so she didn't need to scrape food into the waste can. I just can't seem to help myself though. I must eat whatever is on my plate.

It doesn't matter how much is on my plate, I have got to finish everything. Heaven forbid that I would waste a single bite of food. I must set a good example for my kids as well. How would it look to them if I left food on my plate and they were expected to clean up their plates?

I can eat a huge helping of food even if I think I can't possibly eat it. Why? Because somewhere out there my mother is watching, saying "I'll bet those starving children overseas would love to have that food to eat!" and so I bow my head, pick up my fork and continue to shovel it in. Moaning afterwards, "ooooooohhhhhh, why did I eat so much food?"

So, as I was saying earlier; our bellies are packed, we're ready to go. We're standing here, outside the restaurant door ..... (music in the background) low moaning drifting off into the distance....

Dave says "it's just the right sized portion". Aaron says, "it the America sized portions we are served", Shalom says "the plate sizes are much too large these days". Tara says, "you get a to go box, ya know? Save the extra for lunch tomorrow." Her mother never told her the starving foreign children stories.

I just hear my mother telling me to clean up that food.

All Good Things

There is a saying that goes, "All good things must come to an end." Who said that? What in the world does that mean to us?


An Internet search produced the following from answers.yahoo.com:
There is an end to everything, to good things as well. The proverb dates back to about 1374 (Chaucer). First attested in the United States around 1680. The word 'good' was added much later. 'Everything has an end' and 'Everything comes to an end' are variants of the proverb.*


OK, so, I'm still confused. What exactly does that mean? I can understand that everything natural has an end but what about the spiritual? Especially, what about God? Does God end? I don't believe so. So then, the flesh will end because our bodies will die. And things of this world will end because they will rust and decay, eventually. I heard the life expectancy of a plastic six-pack holder will not decay for a million years. But, still, that does have an end, too.


Does our diet have to end as well?


Well, in a way it does end. We finish one and start another each day. When you go to bed you start a fast for eight hours or so and then you begin to eat again. That is a type of end. You may even go off your diet for a while. You may stop one diet plan and start another. That has an end.


I will have to say that I have done that several time in my life. Even several times this past few years. I am at presently in between the diet I normally eat on and a non-diet I am using now. I'm not eating junk food but just whatever happens to land on the plate at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I even participated in a chili dog the other night for supper. I know, it's hard to believe but that's what was there for dinner. It was a beef frank but the chili came from a can. Whew! It was hard to convince myself I could do that!


I came upon a friend of mine who has been a health advocate and found him to be indulging in a tiramisu desert and a large muffin for lunch. He was suffering from a total lack of self-control for a while. I'm not sure if he is back on tract but it was shocking to see him consume the total contents of both those items without wondering if his diet had come to an end.


What may seem good to us doesn't always define itself as such to our bodies. Even our minds become confused when we tell it to eat the things that don't seem natural to it. Like candy bars, soda and potato chips. They seem natural, don't they? OK, maybe not. But there are some things that we tend to eat that do not seem natural like rice based spaghetti noodles or quinoa based macaroni. Especially after you have warmed them up.


None-the-less, we sometimes need a break so our bodies can assemble nutrients and goodness more efficiently.I say that as not to give license to pig out on junk food but, to vary your diet from time to time and let those things that seem good come to an end. Then you can begin again. 


Isn't that a song or a dance?


As a footnote to all of you Star Trek fans. All Good Things . . . can be found here.


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* Source(s):

"Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Sorry for the delay in posting something new. We've been sick and tired. Twice as a matter of fact. First time was 4 weeks ago and the last time was just two weeks ago.

The first time was a cold with flu like symptoms, cough and bronchial blockage. It was hard to actually breath and I though I might have had Bronchitis. Took lots of herbs and everything went away. One week later it came back with a vengeance. It really took me out for a week, This time I broke down and went to the clinic. I had Bronchitis and Sinustitus and got a dose of antibiotics.

I am so glad for antibiotics. It cleared me up in two days. Now after this dosage I am going to have to build up my immune system again. and that is what I really wanted to share with you. What is it that antibiotics do to your system and how do you recover from an illness that requires the use of them?

The Virtual Museum of Bacteria reports that Antibiotics have frequently received negative publicity. Some people believe they are bad chemicals that should be avoided at all costs. It is important to know that they are our best tool to treat bacterial infections that would severely harm your body when left untreated, and that in the era before antibiotics were applied, infectious diseases were a major cause of death. Nevertheless, the use and misuse of antibiotics has negative side effects. They can remain in the body for some time after application.

Some people may develop an allergic reaction to antibiotics - especially penicillins. Side effects might include a rash, swelling of the tongue and face, and difficulty breathing. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic you must tell your doctor and/or pharmacist. Reactions to antibiotics can be very serious, and sometimes fatal - they are called anaphylactic reactions.

Kay Uzoma states that there are some helpful steps to rebuilding your immune system.

Start taking probiotics at the same time you begin a course of antibiotic treatment, which will help reduce symptoms such as antibiotic-related diarrhea and protect immune-boosting bacteria in your colon. According to Science Daily, a suggested dose of probiotics for adults is at least 10 billion colony forming units per day.

Get as much sleep as possible --- about seven to nine hours --- after your worst symptoms have subsided; sleep is essential for a healthy immune system. Don't try to fight sleeplessness in the early stages of battling infection, however, as this may help produce a fever and speed recovery.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables daily. These are foods rich in vitamins C, E, carotenoids and bioflavonoids --- all of which have antioxidant properties.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week as exercise stimulates the immune system to build cells, such as T cells and macrophages, that fight diseases and infections.

• Add garlic to your meals or take a garlic supplement, as garlic has strong immune-boosting abilities and triggers white cell production, according to AskDrSears.com. Eat foods rich in selenium daily. These foods include tuna, red snapper, shrimp, whole grains, brown rice, egg yolks, chicken breast, sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts.
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• Never take antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. If you are on a course of antibiotics, do not stop taking them without your doctor's advice. Taking the entire course of prescribed antibiotics is the only way to eliminate the harmful bacteria in your body, according to MayoClinic.com. Consult your naturopath or family doctor before taking any herbs to strengthen your immune system.

So there you have it. Be careful about reactions to antibiotics and make sure you let your body recover properly afterwards. Take care of your body. It's the only one you have.

Getting Closer

There is something very exciting about getting closer. There is an expectation of a wonderful occurrence about to transpire. This seems to be true to many areas of our lives.

One area that is special to my heart is my wife. We have been married over 15 years now and I feel closer to my wife today than we have ever been before. Each day brings about a greater expectation than the next. I meet each day with the joy of seeing her and loving her more today than yesterday.

I'm not saying this to make myself look good. I really feel that way. I want to please her and get closer to her in our marriage, finding new ways of expressing my love to her.

Another area of my life I am keenly aware of, in the area of getting closer, is our near, future trip to Africa. We are closing in on the departure date and we are excited about meeting our Christian brothers and sisters there for the first time. There is an excitement, but a somewhat unsettling feeling of being thousands of miles across the ocean, in a place we have never been before. There is an exhilaration and a nervousness, both at the same time.

Sometimes when we approach an event in our life we begin to formulate numerous questions and develop many apprehensions about doing that thing. It may be the easiest thing to do mechanically but emotionally we just cannot see ourselves doing it.

It may be that way with you and your eating program, or exercise, or breaking a habit. Instead of embracing the event we avoid it and spend massive amounts of time doing everything but that thing we need to do. Emotionally we are a wreck over it and we can become ill over it as well. So, what to do?

Look at it with a renewed sense of reality. Come to understand what is true and don't be afraid to look deeply within. Confront that thing in you that is holding you back and deal with it. Stop making excuses for that part of you which is holding you back.

Go for what is good and find clarity in the matter. A heavy weight of worry and doubt will fall off you. Your perspective of life will be light and you will be free to smile, joke and laugh again. Life here on this earth is only for a short time so don't waste it with worry or regret. Go do whatever is in your heart to do and do it with gusto.

By the way, if you are having a hard time with starting that exercise program or eating plan, visit the website and get some help. You will be glad you did. www.over-40-fitness-tips.com

The Cleanse - Day 3 - Delayed Takeoff

I remember watching the news when I was younger and seeing NASA shoot rockets into outer space. Mercury One was the first and there were many delays. There was an expectation that we were going to propel all that steel into the sky and orbit around the earth. There were delays. More than one delay would stop the countdown of that flight and then there were flights that were aborted, Flights that sadly ended in destruction as well.

We have learned a valuable lesson this year. One we want to share with you.

This one hasn't ended in destruction but, it could have if we were to give up. What we do about the delays in our life determines the total outcome of the flight we embark upon. This one has not ended but has been delayed. Why? just some simple lack of planning. Something which was assumed and found to be a wrong assumption.

What was the wrong assumption? It was this. When you are using the Cleanse capsules you need 21 per day or 7 three times a day.  When there are two of you that equates to 42 capsules per day. A bottle of capsules contains 150 each. 150 divided by 7 equals 21 doses with 3 capsules left over. Two people would require 3 1/2 days worth of capsules. We wanted to cleanse for 21 days which equals 882 capsules. That means we would need 6 bottles. We only had one. (See the Over 40 Fitness Tips site for details of the Cleanse Program)

So, after beginning the cleanse, on day three we notice we are 5 bottles short and off to the store we go. "SIGH", no more stock. None due in for a couple weeks. Now What?! We look for other stores that might have stock and we find one that will drop ship a supply. Great. However the stock has not shown up yet. This is now day 9 of the cleanse. So what to do???

I'm a computer nerd so this was appropriate.

Well, there really isn't a whole lot more you can do but to wait. Right?

No, we are not giving up that easy. We may have to wait on the supply of Cleanse capsules but we are going forward with the food regiment. Veggies, 3-4 ounces of protein per meal and the shakes twice a day are still in force. Even without the Cleanse capsules I have managed to lose 5 pounds. And when the capsules come in, I will start over with the Cleanse portion of herbs to help clean out the insides.

Delayed, but not aborted. We are determined to do this right the next time and we are looking forward to the time the shipment comes in. We have learned a valuable lesson about being prepared and we will be making sure we have the supplies we need before starting again soon. Which is hopefully this week.

Keep working towards a better and healthier lifestyle one day at a time. You won't regret it.
(See the Over 40 Fitness Tips site to start your better and healthier lifestyle)