To Clarify Confusion

"When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion." ~ Herbert Spencer

For the record....."THERE ARE NO REAL JUNE POSTS".

I was abscent from my blog for the month of June and I'm using this month strictly to archieve certain posts that are updated, edited and added to on a regular basis such as my links found on my buttons for 'Movies', 'Books' and my 'Link Archive'.

Thanks for coping with my madness! Enjoy.

THANKS

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks." ~ William Shakespeare

I started this blog back on May 14th, 2005 and since that time there have been many people that have kept me heading in the right direction. Without their continued support or inspiration I might of given up long ago.

With that in mind I would like to take a moment to acknowledge them... and more importantly thank them.

Sherri - I can't even begin to imagine where I'd be right now without your continued love and support.... and for believing in me when I didn't even believe in myself. I'm a lucky man to have you in my life.

My Mom - My mother is one of the few people that truly understands just how much I've struggled with my weight, and how sensitive I am about it. Thanks for being so loving, caring & understanding throughout my life.

Twice The Man - Since the creation of my blog there's been at least a half dozen (that's "6" for all you McDonald's employee's) times where I've been absent form my blog for an extended period of time. Inevitably I would receive an email from Twice The Man encouraging me to not give up on my goals, and to return to my blogging. During many of those absences your emails were just the motivation I needed to push past the procrastination.... but a few of them (particularly during my last absence) kept me going when I had truly given up. Thank you so much for your continued support... you have no idea just how much it means to me.

Kim Ayres - Kim has been following my progress (and back peddling) since the beginning and has always been there to offer advice and/or an encouraging word. He's also been known to give me crap for not posting... which is exactly what I needed each time. Thanks Kim.

Everyone Else - Thank you to anyone/everyone that has taken the time to read my blog or taken the time to post a comment. Thank you to the other bloggers such as Fat Lazy Guy and A Load of My Chest for sharing your journey, your up's and downs, and providing me with the inspiration I need to accomplish my own goals.

My Progress Charts: 2011

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be." ~ Douglas Adams

LEAN BODY MASS
I've included the Lean Body Mass graph to keep an eye on my lean body mass.  The reason I set my target @ 150 lbs LBM is because that is what my LBM would be if I hit my target of 200 lbs @ 25% Body Fat on Sept.19th, 2013.  Lean body mass is an important indicator of whether or not the weight you're losing is from fat (Good) or Muscle (Bad).  Basically I don't want to lose any LBM at all, but at the very least I need to be above the line.

WEIGHT OVER OVER TIME
It's taken me a very long time to create my "Weight Loss Over Time" Graph, and I've finally finished it, but unfortunately it's HUGE and until I figure out a proper way to display it the below image will have to do.

P.S: I will be updating these charts weekly. You can see the latest charts by clicking on the above button called "My Progress Charts" under the BornSquishy title.

My Progress Charts: 2010

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be." ~ Douglas Adams

Please click on the image to see a larger representation of it.... especially for the last one!


P.S: I will be updating these charts weekly. You can see the latest charts by clicking on the above button called "My Progress Charts" under the BornSquishy title.

The Life of Bryan - Readers Guide

"Other people may be there to help us, teach us, guide us along our path, but the lesson to be learned is always ours." ~ Anonymous



If you're still looking for answers, by all means fire off a quick email to me, or simply leave a comment.... both are greatly appreciated.

Born Squishy: Link Archive

"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." ~ Terry Pratchett

Here's a complete list of all the external links from Born Squishy......ENJOY.

Online Resources: (listed Alphabetically)

American Dietetic Association:
- Parents Guide to Nutrition

BBC News:
- Homepage
- England To Have 13 Million Obese by 2010
- Obesity Predictions - Reaction (follow-up to above article)

Behavioral Neuroscience:
- A Role for Sweet Taste: Calorie Predictive Relations in Energy Regulation by Rats (2008, Vol. 122, No. 1, 161–173)

Canadian Chiropractic Association:
- Homepage

CBC News:
- Health & Science Section
- Hear & Now: Newfoundlands local news
- Canada Now: Latest headlines.
- Rats! Low-calorie sweeteners linked to weight gain, not loss: study

CMAJ: Canada's Leading Medical Journal
- Homepage
- The Skinny On Obesity: Numerous Articles on Obesity.
- Chewing The Fat on Trans Fats: Low down on Trans Fats.

Food & Drug Administration:
- Homepage
- Health claims about Psyllium Fiber

Flax Council of Canada:
- Homepage
- Flax seed nutrient information

Globe & Mail: National Canadian Newspaper
- Homepage
- Fat Of The Land: How to keep slim.

Harvard School of Public Health: Nutrition Source

Health Canada:
- Homepage
- Food & Nutrition
- Nutrition Recommendations for Canadians
- BMI Calculator

Men'sHealth Magazine:
- Homepage
- The Best Supplements For Men
- The Belly Off Club

MSNBC:
- Diet & Nutrition
- Time To Toss The Body Mass Index
- Nearly 1 in 5 Chinese overweight or obese

National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC):
- Homepage

National Fiber Council:
- Homepage

Prevention Magazine:
- Homepage
- A Pound Lost is 4,800 Saved
- Should I Exercise While Sick?

Statistics Canada:
- Homepage
- Canadian Community Health Survey: Obesity among children & adults.
- Adult Obesity In Canada: Measured height & Weight.

Stellar Pharmaceuticals:
- Manufacturer of NeoVisc a treatment for Osteoarthritis.

USDA:
- Homepage
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005

Washington Post:
- Homepage
- Just a Few Extra Pounds Could Mean Fewer Years

WebMD:
- Homepage
- 'BMI' a Bust for Predicting Heart Risk
- Exercising When Sick: A Good Move?

WIN: Weight-control Information Network
- Homepage
- Weight Loss Myths

World Health Organization
- Homepage

Food & Supplement Companies/Products:

GNC:
- Homepage
- Mega Men Multivitamin
- Natural Blend Green Tea Extract
- The Total EFA (Omega 3-6-9)

Kashi:
- Homepage
- 'Go Lean' cereal
- 'Go Lean Crunch' cereal

Kellogg's:
- Homepage
- 'All-Bran Buds' cereal

Presidents Choice:
- Homepage
- Blue Menu: I love these products....far too many to list.

Restaurants Mentioned:
- A&W is on my banned list.
- Burger King is on my banned list.
- Dairy Queen is on my banned list.
- Harvey's is on my banned list.
- Jack Astors
- KFC is on my banned list.
- McDonald's is on my banned list.
- 'Food Nutrition & Fitness' Read this....maybe you'll visit less!
- Moxies
- New York Fries is on my banned list.
- Taco Bell is on my banned list.
- The Keg Steakhouse & Bar
- Wendy's is on my banned list.

Books: (all book links are now located HERE.)

Movies: (all book links are now located HERE.)

Thursday Funnies Featured:
- XKCD
- Hello Tim a fellow Newfoundlander!!!!!

Newfoundland, Canada:
- East Coast Trail: 540 km coastal hiking experience. VISIT NEWFOUNDLAND.
- Newfoundland Tourism: Rich with history. Rife with culture. Sprawling with natural beauty.

Online Tools:
- MyFoodDiary.com - I like this but I don't use it anymore.
- BMI Calculator - For those of you who want to use this as a reference tool.
- Waist-to-Hip Calculator
- Tips For Estimating Serving Sizes

Weight Loss / Exercise Equipment:
- Tanita Scales: digital display of weight and body fat %......I love mine.
- IronMan Fitness: the Elliptical machine that I use is the Achiever.
- Health Bridges: Three steps to alleviate back stress and pain.
- Merrell: Performance outdoor footwear.

Bloggin' Related Links:
- Creative Commons Org. nonprofit org. that offers flexible copyright licenses for creative works.
- BlogPatrol: provides a hit counter, stats, etc. for visitor activity on your blog.
- FatFighter: is a 'Fitness Bloggers Directory. Helps like minded people find each others blogs.
- Google 'Blogger Help Group: a great place to get help for your blogger problems.
- The JavaScipt Source: a great place to find JavaScript for your blog.

Organizations that I support or approve of:
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC)
- Big Brothers
- David Suzuki Foundation
- Amnesty International
- Dove's: Campaign For Real Beauty

Movies

"If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed." ~ Stanley Kubrick

I'm not sure just how many movies will be relevant to my blog.....but as I come across them I'll add them to this post.

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"Blue Gold: World Water Wars" 
Director: Same Bozzo
Website: www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Synopsis: "Wars of the future will be fought over water as they are over oil today, as the source of human survival enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling supply, prompting protests, lawsuits, and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive. Past civilizations have collapsed from poor water management. Can the human race survive?" ~ Sam Bozzo

Water is the life source for our entire world..... without it we wouldn't exist. We tend to take clean drinking water for granted, and most of us seldom wonder what we would do if the tap ran dry. Great movie.

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"Gasland" 
Director: Josh Fox
Website: www.gaslandthemovie.com
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Synopsis: "It is happening all across America-rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from an energy company wanting to lease their property. Reason? The company hopes to tap into a reservoir dubbed the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas." Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground-a hydraulic drilling process called "fracking"-and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower."
~ Sundance Film Festival

I realize that this movie doesn't have a whole lot to do with Exercise or weight loss, but it does have a lot to do with our water and our health. I had absolutely no idea just how harmful natural gas drilling was. While the movie did play on the fear factor, it was still informative and well worth watching.

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"Super Size Me" 
Director: Morgon Spurlock
Website: www.imdb.com
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10

"Super Size Me is one man’s journey into the world of weight gain, health problems and fast food. It’s an examination of the American way of life and the influence that has had on our children, the nation and the world at large."

This movie grossed me out and made me bust a gut...all at the same time.

Since seeing this movie I've only eaten at McD's about 4 or 5 times.....and even that is far too much for my liking.

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"The Future Of Food" 
Director: Deborah Koons Garcia
Website: www.thefutureoffood.com
My Rating: On My "To View" list!

"THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.

From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply.

Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today."

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"Fast Food Nation" 
Director: Richard Linklater
Website: www.fastfoodnation-movie.com
My Rating: 5 out of 10

Synopsis: "Don Henderson (Greg Kinnear)-a marketing executive at Mickey's Fast Food Restaurant chain, home of "The Big One"-has a problem. Contaminated meat is getting into the frozen patties of the company's best-selling burger. To find out why, he'll have to take a journey to the dark side of the All-American meal.Leaving the cushy confines of the company's Southern California boardroom for the immigrant-staffed slaughterhouses, teeming feedlots and cookie cutter strip malls of Middle America, what Don discovers is a "Fast Food Nation" of consumers who haven't realized it is they who are being consumed by an industry with a seemingly endless appetite for fresh meat."

In my honest opinion, don't bother watching this movie..... it was as crappy as the stuff found in their patties. Do however read the book which I really enjoyed.

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"Hungry For Change" 
Director: James Colquhoun, Laurentine Ten Bosch
Website: www.hungryforchange.tv
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Synopsis: "HUNGRY FOR CHANGE exposes shocking secrets the diet, weight loss and food industry don't want you to know about; deceptive strategies designed to keep you coming back for more. Find out what's keeping you from having the body and health you deserve and how to escape the diet trap forever.

Featuring interviews with best selling health authors and leading medical experts plus real life transformational stories with those who know what it’s like to be sick and overweight. Learn from those who have been there before and continue your health journey today."

Very informative movie.  Opened my eyes to a few new concepts and broadened my knowledge base on others.  Doesn't feel preachy, yet the message gets across.  Highly recommended viewing.

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"Farmageddon" 
Director: Kristan Canty
Website: www.farmageddonmovie.com
My Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Synopsis: "Americans’ right to access fresh, healthy foods of their choice is under attack. Farmageddon tells the story of small, family farms that were providing safe, healthy foods to their communities and were forced to stop, sometimes through violent ac-tion, by agents of misguided government bureaucracies, and seeks to figure out why.

Producer Kristin Canty’s film, Farmageddon, documents as her quest to find healthy food for her four children turns into an educational journey to discover why she is denied the freedom to select thefoods of her choice from the producer of her choice.

The movie tells the story of small, family farmers providing safe, healthy foods to their communities who were forced to stop, often through violent action, by agents of misguided government bureaucracies. The movie succinctly poses and addresses the question “why is this happening in 21st century America?” Evoking both sympathy and anger for those farmers violently shut down by overzealous government policy and regulators, Farmageddon stresses the urgency of food freedom. Though the film deals with intense scenes and dramatic situations, the overall tone is optimistic, encouraging farmers and consumers alike to take action to preserve individuals’ rights to access food of their choice and farmers’ rights to produce these foods."

My View: Apparently the critics of this documentary work for either the FDA, USDA, Monsanto, or some multi-billion dollar conglomerate. Documentaries such as this one tend to be one sided because the government agencies and/or corporations that are involved in the injustices being committed don't want to comment on or defend their point of view. Luckily their actions speak for themselves.

I knew that the red tape and rules for the little guy were always skewed towards the success of the top dogs of the industry, but I had no idea how ludicrous it could be.  This movie was a real eye opener.  

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"The Big Fix" 
Director: Joshua Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell
Website: www.thebigfixmovie.com
My Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Synopsis:  On April 22, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig run by BP sunk into the Gulf of Mexico creating the worst oil spill in history. Until the oil well was killed on September 19, 779,037,744 liters of crude oil and over 7,000,000 liters of chemical dispersant spread into the sea. By exposing the root causes of the spill filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell uncover a vast network of corruption. The Big Fix is a damning indictment of a system of government led by a powerful and secretive oligarchy that puts the pursuit of profit over all other human and environmental needs. -- (C) Official Site

My View: It's amazing that after watching so many documentaries on topics such as this that I'm still surprised just how successful the government & big corporations are at controlling public perception. The most unfortunate thing about this spill is that it's made little to no difference except to the unfortunate victims that are effected by the disaster itself and the environment groups that use it as an example to open our eyes to what lies ahead if we continue to act this way.

I truly believe that within my lifetime we will see war, poverty, environment disasters and their consequences on a level unprecedented and unimaginable when compared to what's happening right now, all due to oil.  I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

This movie is definitely worth watching and worth talking about.  Spread it's message.      

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"Tapped" 
Director: Stephanie Soechtig, Jason Lindsey
Website: www.tappedthemovie.com
My Rating: 10 out of 10

Synopsis:  Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig's debut feature is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water.

From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A., this timely documentary is a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water.

From the plastic production to the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the unwitting chips on the table. A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught at the intersection of big business and the public's right to water. -- (C) Official Site

My View: I stated the following on the previous review, and it applies to this one as well: "It's amazing that after watching so many documentaries on topics such as this that I'm still surprised just how successful the government & big corporations are at controlling public perception".

Do yourself a favour and watch this movie.  If it's not for you please at least watch the 4.5 min trailer below.  If you don't have time for that at least take 30 more seconds to read these few points:

• ONLY 1 person @ the FDA oversees bottled water sold in the U.S and bottle water represents only part of their job load.
• The FDA doesn't test bottle water.  It's up to the bottle water manufactures to test it... can you trust them?
• The majority of  all bottled water is your tap water being sold back to you at an insane profit margin.
• Your tap water is far more regulated and safe to drink than the bottled water.
• Bottled water is sold in a plastic container which is made from oil, and they use water to make it, and they use even more oil to deliver it to you.

Watch this movie and spread it's message.  STOP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER!  

Books

"I have often reflected upon the new vistas that reading opened to me. I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke in me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive." ~ Malcolm X

Reading is an important part of my life. For me its a means of escaping the daily grind, of expanding my horizons, of understanding the world around me, of understanding my myself and my role with-in this world of ours. Its typically the last thing I do before sleeping and it occupies my dreams. I find it calming to squeeze a bit of reading in throughout the day too.

In this post I will share some of the books that I've read, currently reading or plan to read, which are relevant to my 'Journey On The Road To Healthy Living'. This list will be added to from time to time so be sure to check back!

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"Life Without Ed: How One Women Declared Independence From her Eating Disorder, and How You Can Too. "
Author: Jenni Schaefer & Tom Rutledge
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071422986
My Rating: Currently Reading.... it's good.

"Jenni had been in an abusive relationship with Ed for far too long. He controlled Jenni's life, distorted her self-image, and tried to physically harm her throughout their long affair. Then Jenni met psychotherapist and author Thom Rutledge. He taught her how to treat her eating disorder as a relationship, not a condition. By thinking of her eating disorder as a unique personality separate from her own, Jenni was able to break up with Ed once and for all." ~ Back Cover (of the book)

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"Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines"
Author: Nic Sheff
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1416972196
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

This is an excellent view into the world of addiction & how it can completely take over your life. Although I'm not a Meth, Heroine, or Cocaine fiend/addict; I have found a lot of similarities in this book, to my drug of choice...Food. Yes, it's less addictive & not nearly as life threatening in the short term.... But in the long term the same result is bound to ensue: DEATH.

This book was an excellent read, albeit a nerve racking one.

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"The Hungry Years: Confessions of a Food Addict"
Author: William Leith
Publisher: Anchor Canada
ISBN: 0385661169
My Rating: 9 out of 10

Sherri & I were at a bookstore yesterday when Sherri said "I found a book that I bet you'll want to read". I walked with her to the 'new release' section and she plopped this book into my hands.

I gave the book a quick once over and found all I needed to know to purchase it...... A great review by 'MACLEAN'S Magazine', 'The Globe and Mail', the 'Toronto Star' and 'The Guardian' (UK) to name a few, plus the following synopsis:

"One January morning in 2003, William Leith woke up to the fattest day of his life. That same day he left London for New York to interview controversial diet guru Dr. Atkings. What started out as a routine assignment set Leith on an intensely personal and illuminating journey into the mysteries of hunger and addiction. THE HUNGRY YEARS charts new territory for anyone who has ever had a craving or counted a calorie. This story of food, fat and addition will change the way you look at food forever."

I read this book over the course of 2 days......I was glued to it. I was overwhelmed by emotion through the whole book....it even brought on a small binge attack. I couldn't believe just how many thoughts and emotions he was able to put into words for me. This book gave me a lot to think about. It made me realize that I'm on the right path. I highly recommend reading it!

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"Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal"
Author: Eric Schlosser
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0060938455
My Rating: 9 out of 10

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"Free Your Breath, Free Your Life: How Conscious Breathing Can Relieve Stress, Increase Vitality, and Help You Live More Fully"
Author: Dennis Lewis
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 1590301331
My Rating: Still Reading!

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"Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think"
Author: Dennis Greenberger, PhD & Christine A. Padesky, PhD
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 0898621283
My Rating: Still Reading!

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"Food Politics"
Author: Marion Nestle, PhD., M.P.H
Publisher: University Of California Press
ISBN: 0520240677
My Rating: On My 'To Read List'.

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"The End of Food: How The Food Industry Is Destroying Our Food Supply, and What You Can Do About It"
Author: Thomas F. Pawlick
Publisher: Greystone Books
ISBN: 1553651693
My Rating: Bought it...haven't starting reading yet.

To Clarify Confusion

"When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion." ~ Herbert Spencer

For the record....."THERE ARE NO REAL JUNE POSTS".

I was absent from my blog for the month of June and I'm using this month strictly to archive certain posts that are updated, edited and added to on a regular basis such as my links found on my buttons for 'Movies', 'Books' and my 'Link Archive'.

Thanks for coping with my madness! Enjoy.