Cereal Time

This episode is the second of three which chronicling my experiences with food, weight, and fitness. It picks up after high school when I decided to decline a full scholarship to play college football. That left me a 300 + lbs non-athlete with terrible eating habits. The next eight years would involve a struggle very common to most American's situation.  I attempted to lose weight and keep it off through the recommended method of portion control and exercise with minimal efficacy. That is until I was fortunate enough to discover a whole foods approach to eating which made weight management a breeze. No more starvation and exhaustion. Once pointed in the direction, one book and idea lead to another, which included Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint and Robb Wolf's Paleo Solution, on a path that is still evolving to this day.

Which leads to part 3, the mastery of my physicality.

#013 Nutrition. Part 2. My journey, early adulthood

• Big intro
• Recap of #012
• Early 20s
  • 3 tions
    • Exhaustion
    • Starvation
      • Supported by common knowledge
        • Cal in, cal out
      • Medication
        • Stackers 2
      • Down to 280lbs
    • Decided to go to fire school
      • 275lbs
      • Moderate exertion
      • Still difficult
    • Couldn't get FD job
    • Went to Medic school
    • Started to read more
      • Hung out at Boarders
    • Heard about fasting
      • Found Fasting and Eating for Health, Dr. Joel Fuhrman
      • Lost weight 215lbs
    • Got a FD job
    • Was running a lot
      • Marathon training
      • Skinny fat
    • Diet
      • Exclusion of processed food
      • Lower fat
      • High in legumes
      • Higher complex carbs
    • Found Primal Blueprint
      • Whole foods
      • Focus on minimal carbs
      • Fat friendly
        • Well presented for average person
      • Added some muscle
      • Became mildly car phobic
      • Coconut oil before running
      • Robb Wolf
        • Paleo Solution
        • More focused on athletes
        • Early episodes of Paleo Solution Q&A
      • Started Crossfit
        • Started lifting weights

This is the first of a three-part series explaining my experiences and resulting perspectives on the most basic of acts, eating. The story begins with some of my earliest recollections in elementary school where I was overweight, had trouble with athletics, and was made fun. That experience peaked in the 6th grade when I was my chubbiest, just before growing a few inches and losing some weight because of extensive exercise and minimal eating.

I felt much better through the rest of middle school and into high school where I began playing football. I was a lineman and the coaches encouraged us to eat a bunch and get bigger and get bigger I did. Eating and working out were my primary focuses in the last three years of high school and I increased my size to more than 330 lbs. That size, and some degree of athleticism, earned me a full scholarship to play offensive line at the University of South Florida, which I decided to give up the week before summer training camp.

So there I was, a 335 lbs 19 year old former athlete, who had to figure out what to do next.

That leads into part 2.

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MoNHm #012 Nutrition. My fitness journey of self-discovery.

• Bold intro
  • Explanation of need to get more lively
• Avoided nutrition
  • Though it is my main hobby
  • Because a lot of people talk about it
• Began with earliest memories from elementary school
  • Made fun of on play ground
    • "earthquake"
    • "Are you going to sit on me?"
  • Tumbling
    • Tripod
  • Forced to run in PE
    • Wheezing and crying while being prodded by coach
  • I don't know why I'm big.
• 6th grade
  • My most doughy
  • Chickened out before pool party
• Formed my basic thought on food
  • Whatever I eat, I'll just get fatter
• Play/Athletics were not fun
  • Winded
  • Crying outside basketball practice
• Mark youth of being made fun of/getting fatter
• Parents abided by going dietary recommendations of the day
  • Low fat
  • Avoid cholesterol
  • Snack Wells       
• Ate a lot of Burger King
• Wasn't allowed regular soda, only diet soda
• Ate plenty of candy and sugar drinks like most kids
• Summer 6th/7th grade
  • Big exercise swimming and bike riding
  • Lost around 20lbs
  • Grew a few inches
• 8th grade
  • AAU basketball
  • Having more fun
• 9th grade
  • 6'3" 190lbs
  • Started playing football
  • Decent lineman
• 10th grade
  • Join varsity team
  • Was told to get bigger
    • Eat, lift, repeat
    • A buffet for every day
  • Routine through high school
    • Hang with friends, eat, workout
  • Was successful in getting much bigger
    • 335lbs
    • Big, strong, and fat
  • Was recruited to play college football
    • Earned full ride scholarship at USF
  • Summer after high school
    • Decided I didn't want to play college football
    • Declined full ride scholarship
      • Did really like football
      • Still had fat kid mentality
        • Scared of extreme athletic demand
      • Stopped playing sports
        • Kept eating
      • Transition into Part 2
        • Post early adulthood

On this episode I talk with my stepson Isaiah about his past and current interest. We talk about his ongoing interest in making YouTube videos and his take away from our last flag football season. He then begins to educated me on professional football. I learned why the Miami Dolphins are his favorite team. He lays down so serious knowledge and insight into NFL quarterbacks throughout the last couple decades, as well as providing so detailed predictions about how the Dolphins' 2018 season will unfold.

The episode came about when Isaiah was asking me how my podcasting was going. So we decided we should do an episode together to show him how it's recorded and what's involved. Not only did Isaiah demonstrate insight and analysis of professional football beyond anything I could ever understand, but he also displayed some genuine signs of professionalism as a interview guest and media producer.

I had a lot of fun during our brief chat and learned a bunch about his passion for football. Definitely a good experience we'll have to do again.

Check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel, Dolphinlover Gaming, for more in depth analysis and commentary.

Does your son or daughter teach you about football? I'm not a dweeb… I think. 

Check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel, Dolphinlover Gaming, for more in depth analysis and commentary. 

[email protected]

Masterofnonehobbymun.com

Instagram: masterofnonehobbymun

Twitter: @hobbymun

Give me a holler. Thanks for listening!

This episode marks what I have heard is a milestone for a new podcast, EPISODE 10. In honor of that achievement I look back at my first 9 episodes. What was done well, what was done poorly, and what I've learned thus far in my journey from a lame brained idea to something tangible. I began researching how this whole podcasting thing works many months ago and have gone from someone who knows nothing about recording, editing, or information presentation, to a published provider of mediocre content. No small feat for anyone who has given it a try. I'm not quite where I'd like to be with any aspect of podcast creation, but I am having fun, and I'm embracing my ugly creation as repetitions toward a hopefully better product in the distant future.

If you have some insight, advise, or experiences with starting your first podcast, I would greatly appreciate any feedback!

Thanks for listening!

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Masterofnonehobbymun.com

In this episode I described some preparation we are undertaking in the garden in anticipation of spring. 

Christina, Micah and I spent the lonely day here in Central Florida outside getting our hands dirty. Micah especially likes digging with his smaller shovel, moving dirt from one side to the other. Topics discussed include maintenance of a compost pile, hot vs not hot composting, and if you add kitchen scrapes to the pile, is it advisable to exclude meat/carcass leftovers. We established a new raised bed. I wonder to myself whether treated lumber would cause a problem in terms of chemicals seeping into the soil. And, if for the same reason, old palettes should be avoided as garden planters. I also mention getting some mushroom compost from a farm near by and the potential benefits of using that to amend soil.The value of the quality time spent with the family outdoors can't be understated, and for that I am grateful.

If you have some gardening experiences you can relate to help this wannabe farm out, I would greatly appreciate any feedback!

Thanks for listening!

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Masterofnonehobbymun.com

This episode was my first in person interview, which went very well if I do say so myself. I sit down and have a lively conversation with one of the most gregarious individuals I know, my good buddy and partner at work Shawn McDougald. Shawn fills me in on the origins of his passion for hotrod automobiles, which includes junkyards, cut up cars and a list of ever faster machines. He educates me on the history and manufacture of the Ford Mustang, including the Roush, Cobra, Saline varieties. What his dream car is if money was not a limiter. He also reviles to me his "3P" (one of the Ps is Pretty) policy of automobile maintenance. I learned many fun and interesting things about Shawn which I'm sure I would never have known had he not agreed to let me ask him questions for the show. THANKS PODCASTING!

I would greatly appreciate any feedback!

Thanks for listening!

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Instagram: masterofnonehobbymun

Masterofnonehobbymun.com

On this episode I provide review of The Dude and The Zen Master. This book illustrates many deep philosophic concepts within the context of the character The Dude, played by Jeff Bridges in the now cult classic film The Big Lebowski. The book is a conversation between Bridges and Bernie Glassman, a Zen teacher, about how "The Dude" provides an example for how a person might confront life's challenges and joys, while always maintaining a peaceful mind. I offer my takeaways and interpretations on concepts way over my head. If there is one thing I learned, it's that The Dude abides, and so should we. Thanks for downloading!

On this episode I describe my experience at the 41st annual Central Florida Highland Games which I attended for the first time as a preforming musician. It was around a year before when I began learning to play the bagpipes, and though I've gone to the games numerous time in the past, this was the first time I wasn't on the side of the field simply watching the pipers with envy. I played my bagpipes with the other members of the City of Mt. Dora Pipe Band in several fun events throughout the weekend, including four massed bands, and a couple informal jam sessions. Highland games are a ton of fun for the whole family, and I would definitely recommend learning the bagpipes. Thanks for downloading!

On this episode I'm out in the garden preparing for and conducting my first pruning of a two-year-old muscadine hybrid grapevine. I give some backstory on why I began the garden, how it was constructed and arranged, and how I began growing grapes in my Central Florida backyard. Hopefully this is good practice for when I retire to own and operate a beautiful, sprawling vineyard. To spend my days in hours of deep, meditative care of my vines, before pulling corks that evening. In preparation I learn about spur vs. cane pruning styles, and that grapes are a tough and tenacious plant. Ever grow any grapes?  Thanks for downloading!

On this episode I talk about the magical healing beverage, kombucha. I attempt to provide a brief explanation of what it, the health benefits of drinking it, and description of the basic process for making it at home.

 There are extra layers of satisfaction to consuming a delicious and complex vinegar beverage after having crafted it yourself with love and attention. Additionally, kombucha is a living thing and to create it from plain old ordinary tea, requires a partnership with nature in the form of the fermentative action of symbiotic bacteria and yeast cultures. Not convinced? Listen to the episode and give it a try for yourself! Thanks for downloading!