Friday, October 28, 2011

Health & Fitness with Dee Dee Patt - My Baby Step Plan


My bundles of love, joy and inspiration.





In My Prayers Today:


Today I pray for all the lives that are impacted by Drunk drivers. In the last 24 hours I have watched the news on young lives lost to drunk drivers. I pray for all of those families impacted by the loss of their loved ones. I pray for the families of the drivers , and I pray for the drivers out there who are under the influence. Before you have a drink and before your judgment is too impaired …stop and think about the worst case scenario . Call a friend- save a life, Call a cab-safe a life, designate a driver-save a life.


My Day Three - Overwhelmed


I woke up this morning, opened my email and I was instantly overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with emails that required answers, overwhelmed with things I needed to do, overwhelmed with projects for work I had not finished…..While I am at it……..overwhelmed with unfinished business around the house, and overwhelmed with knowing how much weight is still have to lose.


Being overwhelmed can lead to depression, despair and hopelessness and then……. the panic then sets in.


And as my panic sets in, it gets harder to stay focused on the things I need to do. I then, thought about my one year journey and what was to come and a calm came over me. I can make a plan, organize my thoughts but more importantly set some goals for myself.


When it comes to losing weight, where I have failed in the past is setting my target goal too much too fast. I have decided to look at my weight loss from a health perspective and leave my vanity out in the cold.


The Plan:


So as far as my weight loss plan is starting I have decided to replace some bad habits right off the bat. And adding a few good ones in their place. (see below substitutes)


Next, my home. I have so many reasons of why my laundry is washed but not put away, I have so many reasons why my mail is stacked on the coffee table and yes the junk mail of all things is not thrown away. I have so many reasons why my dishwasher is not unloaded. The dishes in there are clean and have been for at least 2 full cycles. ( yes at times I just add dirty dishes to my dishwasher without putting everything away) I have justified this habit by telling myself well they will just get cleaner. By the way, my husband called me out on that trick and all I could do was laugh.


While I am owning up….. On occasion I have had to wash the same load of clothes 3 times because I got so caught up in LIFE that by time I went to dry the clothes they no longer smelled fresh. So I had to rewash the entire load AGAIN. Hmmm


Yes, I use Reasons in place of “excuses” because at that time, they were really the reasons that kept me from being on task. Well now I am working on my plan. Starting small as I am developing my plan and it has really made me feel better already. Why don’t you give it a try. It will be your work in progress as well.

Don’t look at the finances as everything that is owed, don’t look at the house work as the entire house that needs fixed, and don’t look at work as everything project that needs to get done. Think about handling a piece at a time. One bill at a time, One email at a time, one room at a time and one pound at a time.


We live in as world where everything is instant and RIGHT NOW. We want what we want and we want it RIGHT NOW. Try and remember when there were no cell phones, no call waiting no caller ID , no IM no emails and no voice over IP and definitely no 3G/4G . (some of you may be a little too young to remember that time. but we survived)


So, if we can stay away for the I want it right now attitude, we may just be able to save ourselves from disappointment and keep on track.

I have to admit that having a one year plan helped me calm my panic. Since I started Today’s blog I emptied my dishwasher, and put the dishes away and made my dinner plan for my family. Something small to start, but I am feeling a sense of pride.


I pray that if your are feeling overwhelmed, you take a step back and try to plans a few small goals. They can add up in the long road. I’ll end this step in my journey with these thoughts, Don’t hold on to someone else’s negative energy and take it as your own. Don’t hold on to negative energy it serves no purpose and can be quite destructive. You are in my prayers.

Suggestions to myself that I am going to try:

· I am going to try and go the entire week without eating French fries and anything related (chips are included with that) over the past two days every time where I would normally have potatoes with my meal I substituted them with raw carrots. You know what as of DAY 3 I am doing just fine!!! Will check back with you next week.

· At the advice of a coworker, I scheduled the time for my medicine and Blood Sugars. And No matter what I hold myself accountable and take them.

· While reviewing a healthy FB club that I joined (thanks Joann and Peggy) I got some ideas and merged them into my own. Peggy suggested while she is watching TV she jogs in place for the entire show with 10 lb weights. Well I have modified the idea to fit my schedule. Since I do not normally get TV time all to myself I decided to do 20 minutes in the morning while watching TV and 20 minutes after I put my twins to bed. Multitask with your personal life.

1. My Challenge to you is Substitute a bad habit or food with something Healthy. It does not have to a large substitute but something small and manageable.

2. Aim to Go one week without that BAD habit or food. (then Next Challenge add another week)

3. For your medications get a schedule and make it a part of your daily routine.

4. Remember look at challenges a small steps or Building blocks. It will help you from getting overwhelmed.


To join Dee Dee in her one year journey you can contact her on her facebook page or at oneyrjourney@yahoo.com

Pat Robertson: The Voice of Reason?


Dang, you know you are crazy when this man calls you out!

When I watched the video of controversial and right wing Pat Robertson issuing the dire warning to GOP conservatives, regarding toning down the extremism, I immediately thought how ironic - in a pot calling the kettle black sort of way.

Pat, no stranger to the language of extremism, has a long and illustrious history of making what you talking about Willis over-the-top statements. Here are some of his top hits:


  • "It may be a blessing in disguise. ... Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. Haitians were originally under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal. Ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other." –Pat Robertson, on the earthquake in Haiti that destroyed the capital and killed tens of thousands of people, Jan. 13, 2010


  • "(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

  • "I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you, This is not a message of hate -- this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor." –Pat Robertson, on "gay days" at Disneyworld. source

Next, I recalled how the drug dealer for former NFL bad boy Pacman Jones was concerned about Pacman's drug consumption.

In one of the greater ironies in life, convicted drug dealer and friend of Pacman, Darryl Moore, who made his living by selling illegal products on a daily basis, had enough sense to know that his friend Pacman Jones was on the wrong path. Here are some of the incredible quotes (made by the convicted drug dealer about Pacman) from a wiretap obtained by NewsChannel 5:

“We gotta slow down, man. We gotta get him focused on football, man. He’s focused on too much other s****,”….”You know, I was talkin’ to him the other day about smokin’, and he was like man, if I didn’t smoke I couldn’t take all the stress that I’m dealing with right now,’”…”Fisher’s being as patient as a m*****f***** as he can. Fisher gotta win. Fisher trying to win…He ain’t putting up with that s***,”…”He gotta concentrate on season…that ******* drug test coming up,” he said. “We telling him he needed 33 days before he took his ******* test; dry-out, and he didn’t…that’s let me know right there that he ain’t taking his ****** job serious.”

And for the #1 answer on our list of Top 10 ways to know you’re ‘effin up — a convicted drug dealer is looking out for you — insane!!! source


So, memo to the lunatic political fringe Club (Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Mitt Rommney), if Pat Robertson says you are extreme, you are very, very, very far out there....in fact, you are probably smack dab in extraterrestrial territory.

Watch Pat tell them...




Thursday, October 27, 2011

Health & Fitness with Dee Dee Patt





On the behalf of HGP, we welcome our newest blogger Dee Dee Patt. Ms Patt will chronicle her one year journey to achieve optimal Health & Fitness.



Dee Dee and her adorable twins Olivia and Julia. Check out her complete profile above under Health and Fitness.


In her own words:

The Ingredients in me...

Where would you like to be one year from now?
How would you like to be feeling?
What goals would you like to accomplish?
What blessings would you like to receive one year from now or better, how many blessings would you like to be able to pass on?

I am guilty of living in this day and age where I have gotten so caught up in the stresses and sorrows of my life, that I almost let them, not just consume me but take me down.

Think about it is very easy to do, we all see the fabulous life by others, be it on TV the media or the casual people in our lives and we think what are we doing wrong? Not only have I been there but one might say I am there now. Almost down and out. When I went to bed last night I looked in the face of my toddler twins (see pic above) and realized, I can make me better again.

So today I made a pivotal decision I am going to take a one year journey and get back to the Me I was made to be. Take a look at the ingredients in me and mix them with the ingredients to become a better version of me.

No more self destruction nor self pity. I want to think ahead in a positive new direction and I would like you to go there as well.

I will start each Blog with the prayers for others that are in need, then updates on steps I have taken or setbacks may have encountered, or solutions I have come across.


There is help out there for all of us if we just start with taking a closer look at the ingredients inside of Us. Learn about resources that can assist you and learn how to utilize those resources. If health issues are a challenge, learn what you can do to improve your health issues.


If it is Chronic pain, find out what foods, exercises and treatments that can benefit you. If you face an addiction or an obsession, You are the ONLY one who can say, I am getting help today.


If your relationships are not healthy ones take a look inside and try and understand what you need to do to leave it behind or make it work. If it is self hatred or hatred of others We can choose to keep the same negative cycle going or we can do something about. Stop the negative cycle and create a positive Journey


I will occasionally share a side bar story of how I received an blessing. And I will end each Blog with a prayer for you and the challenges you are facing.


Walk with me on my journey - we will begin with baby steps.



One Final note about me, I am not fabulous Nor famous, I am just someone who believes in prayer and believes that one by one we can make a difference.





BE A BLESSING RECEIVE A BLESSING



Next post: My challenges/health issues, my goals & my one year plan.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

"Suck For Luck" - I Ain't Buying It by Greg Garrison


The Suck For Luck Movement:

Most are plenty aware of the current “Suck For Luck” movement taking place in South Florida and about nine other NFL cities, in which fans are actively rooting for their teams to lose in order to land the No. 1 pick and draft Stanford QB Andrew Luck, generally considered the best prospect of the past 15 years or so. source

John Madden - former NFL analyst and Hall of Fame coach - on the prospects of Andrew Luck:

I’ve been watching the NFL for years, and I don’t remember a more automatic, (for) sure thing.

Ok, the talent is there and some fans may root against their team to get Luck. But can it be true that the teams themselves are down with the Suck for Luck movement?

First of all, in order to tank a season, you must have some combination of the owner, director of player personnel/general manager, coach, and player(s) involved. So you conspiracy theorist, I will indulge you in a game of Who will tank the season in a quest to get Andrew Luck?


The Owner?

The owner would have to direct his GM and coach to make personnel changes detrimental to his team's on-field success, or instruct his coach to not make necessary game planning adjustments to help the team.

I doubt it

Coaches, GMs and players have professional pride. In their highly competitive world, playing on a losing team is auditioning for next team because of the inevitable changes that happens to a losing team.

Let’s say they are told by owner to tank season or in other words: Coach/player(s), we need to lose to get Andrew Luck; and oh BTW, after the losing season, I’m gonna use you guys as the scapegoats so prepare to be fired/released.

Remember folks!

The General Manager and coach, it is their job is to bring in winning players, game plans and strategies; failure to do so and they risk not only being part of the personnel change, they tarnish their personal integrity, reputation and legacy.


Players buying into the Suck for Luck, just asked Dolphin Jason Taylor

It’s ridiculous. Acknowledging it is condoning the stupidity. It’s illegal for a player to throw a game whether it’s for pay or for a pick. People are talking about ruining the integrity of a game for a draft pick…. Nothing amazes me anymore. There is no tanking, no ‘Suck for Luck’ in this locker room.”

It never would come down from upstairs to lose games. But if it did, there would be a revolt. Tony Sparano would quit before he let that happen. There would be no team on the field, because everyone would walk out of the locker room before that happened. source


Suck for Luck, you can put that baby to rest because in the words of the immortal Vince Lombardi...

Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

As The (GOP) World Turns - Trump meets Perry


The Soap Opera continues...

Like sands through the hourglass so are the Days of GOP Lives


Rick Perry, falling fast in the GOP presidential candidate polls, says he doesn’t know that the birth certificate President Obama released in April is real, after he had a meeting with birther conspiracist and former GOP presidential candidate dangler Donald Trump. Trump’s entire platform consisted of questioning President Obama’s credibility based upon Trump’s inability to prove Obama was not born a U.S. citizen. source

Word to the un-Wise (that be you Rick Perry):

Governor Perry, it may not be a safe tactic for you - the man that hunted at Niggerhead Lodge - to replay Comb-over head's (the donald) failed Birther strategy in order to regain traction in your sputtering bid to win the GOP presidential nomination.

Gov, I know you hail from the state that likes to re-write history ,but Donald Chump was very publicly beaten-down to irrelevance by President Obama at the Correspondents Dinner :

After a week when Obama released his long-form Hawaii birth certificate, he said Trump could now focus on the serious issues, from whether the moon landing actually happened to "where are Biggie and Tupac?"

"No one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than 'the Donald,'" Obama said, referring to Trump's claims the same day that he was responsible for solving the issue.

For Trump's decision to fire actor Busey instead of rock singer Meat Loaf from his TV show earlier this month, Obama quipped: "These are the types of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well handled, sir."

Trump chuckled at some of the earlier jokes, but was clearly less amused as comedian Seth Meyers picked up where Obama left off.

"Donald Trump often talks about running as a Republican, which is surprising," said the Saturday Night Live actor, entrusted with providing some of the comedy for the evening. "I just assumed he was running as a joke."


And later, in the same double KO weekend (yes Trump suffered two smacked downs), Obama Inc. ended Bin Laden's terrorist career and the announcement preempted Trump's show The Apprentice.

While your uptick with Tea Party folks (the non-thinking Americans) may give you a temporary boost, in the long run, this strategy will doom you with the folks in the middle called Independents (if you get that far).

Gov. Perry, I suggest you leave Trump in the political gutter he resides and stick to what you know best. Oh, can you remind what exactly that is again, is it hunting?