US Food Pyramid (Pyramid of Confusion)

When I thought of this topic two (2) months ago, I really thought this is going to be pretty easy.  I am going to be able to find a lot of information and supporting pictures on the web, put the article together, and move on to my next task.  Man, was I wrong!!! There is an abundance of information around the US food pyramid, so that leads to a LOT of contradictory information and believe it or not, conspiracy theories.  Where do I go from here?

If you know me, you may already know where I am going to go.  I am going to do what I do with everything else in life...  Pick out the things that make sense to me, doing my best to eliminate my own bias, sprinkle in a bit of research and formulate my own opinion. 

Why would I do that?  Let's start with the consumption of eggs.  Do you remember when eating eggs was considered one of the worst things you can do to your body?  Then, it became centralized to eating egg yolks specifically was the worst thing you can do to your body.  Today, we are being told ALL of that research was false and eating eggs plus egg yolks is okay.  How in the world do the "researchers" go from one extreme to the other?  The researchers cannot do a 180 degree turn and not expect us to question their "new research" and future research, for that matter.

Confused??? So am I! And that is why I am moving forward with my "opinion" on the subject of what we should be eating.  Bulk up, here we go with Master Smith's Rules for Eating:

- Master Smith's Rule #1:  Almost any and every food in moderation is okay for you.  I really believe in this one.  I think back to my grandmother.  This woman ate bacon and eggs with a cup or two of coffee every morning before heading off to work  And she fed the same breakfast to her children and grandchildren over the years.  Yes, she died from congestive heart failure, but her doctors did not think it was her diet as much as it was the fact she was a 96 year old woman.  Like her body, her heart just got old and did not want to function any more.  Am I saying you should go out and eat my grandmother's breakfast every morning.  NO!!! The one thing that makes my grandmother very different from most of us today is that my grandmother went to work in the cabbage and potato fields five (5) days a week harvesting which ever food was in that field.  Which brings us to Master Smith's Rule #2...

- Master Smith's Rule #2:  Eat for your lifestyle and activity level.  My grandmother was able to eat the breakfast she enjoyed most mornings and lived a fairly healthy life, because she did not sit behind a desk 8 - 9 hours a day typing on a keyboard.  She had a very active work life, so she was able to eat her favorite breakfast.  Although I am not a fan of the soft drink industry, I loved their campaign to kids about eating for your activity level.  The commercial stated something to the effect, if you are spending the day on the couch watching television, then you should probably eat light like a salad and drink water.  But if you are spending the afternoon tossing around a Frisbee with friends, then eating a bit more should be okay.  And that leads to #3....

- Master Smith's Rule #3:  Eat to live, do NOT live to eat.  I had a friend who would literally hum joyously as she ate.  She LOVED food.  She had a rough childhood, some tremulous teen years, and negative early adult years.  Her escape, you guessed it, food.  She loved to eat and would tell you she knew her love affair with all food was the cause of her weight issues that were causing even more physical issues.  I suggested she seek counseling before her coping mechanism (food consumption) caused some serious health issues that might put her in an early grave.  The really bad part, she transmitted those bad eating habits onto her children.  Each child was overweight for their age.  And because of the issues in her marriage with her husband, the children learned to eat to ease the pains of the emotional scars they were feeling as well.  They all lived to eat, instead of eating to live.  Yes, food can and should taste good, but be careful to stop eating once you are full.  Eat enough of the correct foods in the correct amounts to sustain your body and health.  Do not eat to because it is there!  Well, limit that to every blue moon, because if you attend a state fair with me, you will see me over doing it every single time.  Huge fan of fair food and that is why I do not attend fairs often.  Now that I have you craving a huge corn dog or funnel cake, back to eating healthy... <smile>

- Master Smith's Rule #4:  Last but not least, eat your raw veggies! I am a huge fan of a good amount of raw vegetables for everyone.  The fiber will be good for digestion and will help to keep you all full.  Balance it with some good protein like chicken, fish, and beef.  Throw in a little bread.  Add in a little cheese or other dairy and you should be good to go.

So what does this mean for me and mine, you might be asking...  It is simple! Go back to the article I wrote for September.  Most of the adults know their children's schedules like the back of their own hands.  Therefore, you know if Little Johnny is going to run around at SMAA for 50 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday, and has 1.5 hours of soccer practice on Wednesday, so maybe for those days you PLAN to make a heavier meal to help Little Johnny's body recover from all the activity on those days.  However, the rest of the week, you know Little Johnny will be pretty sedentary in front of the computer working on a school project and relaxing playing video games.  So for those days, maybe you should prepare a grilled chicken Caesar salad and limit him to one (1) snack instead of two.  What Little Johnny consumes is still usually up to you.  Come up with your own rules regarding your health and the health of your family! If you want to understand what certain foods are doing to your body, forget the "research" and start a food journal.  That simply means, you write down everything you consume in a day.  Every raisin, to chocolate bar, to can of soda, to bag of chips...  Everything.  Then, write down how you felt 30 minutes to two (2) hours later.  Yeah, I know all this takes time that you do not have, but it is probably safer and more productive than going through all the "research" on the subject.  Once you have done this for a week or two, go back and read what you wrote.  Then you can make an informed decision on what to feed your family based on how certain foods made you and your family feel.

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.  Proverbs 18:15

Until next month, be blessed, love yourself and your family.

Where Is Your Commitment

Commitment:  the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something (webster.com)

Unfortunately, I am still disappointed by the lack of commitment I see at SMAA.  I understand what everyone is facing.  See, I have taken on a second job while I continue to make the school grow.  The job is pretty simple, but it takes time to do it correctly.  Add on top of that the demand for some of my attention from family, friends, and my four-legged kids, I am spread a bit thin.  What am I allowing to decline although I had made a commitment not to do so, my health and exercise?

Thankfully, I do not have any major, lingering health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic heart issues, but if I do not get back to living up to my commitment to myself, I am confident I will end up with issues, due to heredity.  I can argue that I am working hard and not wasting a lot of time doing things that can either wait or I should not be doing at all.  We ALL can make those excuses, but we do not have space in our lives for them.

Back to my students…  I urged my students and parents a few months ago to commit to the student’s training.  What does that mean exactly?  It means you commit to coming to class at least two (2) times per week.  It means you take some time outside of class to practice.  Some students attend class so infrequently that when they return, it is like starting all over again from Day 1.  It would be different if during their absence from class, the students were training/reviewing their material and ensuring they are not falling behind, but alas that is not the case.  Then, parents are saying to themselves, “Why is Little Johnny so bored?  Master Smith must not be that good of an instructor.”  WRONG! I am an excellent instructor, if I do say so myself.  But I am unable to teach Little Johnny anything new because he has not mastered the other material.  The curriculum at SMAA is like building a wall.  You must have a strong foundation in order to proceed forward to the next step.  If you build a wall on a shaky foundation, it will crumble.  Enough!

Here is the commitment I am re-establishing with myself:  I will make time to train for at least 30 minutes three (3) times per week.  I will continue with my Taekwondo training at least three (3) times per week, as well (I am preparing for my next belt exam which is still another two (2) years away).  I will balance my work life, my personal life and my training.

I am asking my students and parents to make a commitment too.  Make a commitment to attend class twice per week.  Make a commitment to train outside of class for at least 10 minutes three (3) times.  By the way, the ten minutes is not an exaggeration! If students consistently practiced for 10 minutes three (3) times per week, they will excel at Taekwondo.  When they come to class, we can correct what is wrong and I can give them more knowledge to make them even stronger, faster, better.  What I cannot do is do this for you all.  I need everyone to make their own commitment and follow through.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Commitment

Let's Hear It for the DADS!

This month I only want to talk to my dads and future dads…  Although I do not have children of my own, I know what I am talking about.  Being an uncle since I was 8 years old has given me a huge clue.  Now that the politics are out of the way, I need my brothers from other mothers to do something for me...  If you do not it already, I need you to give your children a BIG hug, a kiss on the forehead, and tell your children and wife (in front of your children) you love them!

This sounds simple, but you might be surprise how many men have never and will never actually do this simple thing that means so much.  You may also be surprised at the number of men who have never witnessed a man share that type of public love with their mothers/grandmothers/aunts.  As men in America, we are taught to shut up and not show emotion.  Showing emotion means you are weak and not worthy of respect.  No man wants to be viewed as weak! No man wants to be disrespected! I thought the greatest thing I witnessed at SBBW was a father kissing his son on the top of his head right before his test while telling him he is proud of him and that he loves him.  That was a huge WOW for me! Today, I am here to tell you to go against the societal norm.  You will retain the respect of your family and you will have more emotionally stable children.  No, I am not telling you to break out the tissue and weep at the happy ending of a chick flick.  However, if you did, there is nothing wrong with that and I will not tell.  I (Instructor Smith) do not think that makes you weak, but I would not tell the wife (just joking, sort of). 

Showing our children how to love is the only way for them to learn how to love in a healthy manner.  Like a lot of things with the human brain, psychologist/psychiatrists cannot definitively conclude the positive or negative effects on children who were or were not hugged by their fathers as they grew up.  Many men feel we have to be standoffish in order that we can be effective disciplinarians.  I think there is room for both of these men in the lives of our children.  I think they will benefit from the father who will scold them one minute for a very bad decision that caused something to be broken and hug them the next for getting an A on a test in a difficult subject for that child. 

Whether you know it or not, the majority of you are your child’s hero.  The younger the child, the more likely this is a true statement.  Dads are viewed as:  can do no wrong, not afraid of anything/brave, and strong.  Who would want to give us such a powerful image?  However, we all know that image is manufactured.  Let your children see that Dad can make and admit to a mistake.  Let them see how powerful you are by refraining from a major explosion for their bad decisions.  Let them know that you love them by telling them (not just showing them with possessions). 

Ensure you raise your sons to know how to be a good man! Ensure they know a good man does not just have children, but are good fathers.  Ensure they know a man lives up to ALL of his responsibilities and keeps his word.  Ensure they know a real man does not try to get over and take advantage of others.  Make sure he knows how to wash his own clothes, and cook and clean for himself.

Ensure you raise your daughters to know how to identify a good man! Ensure you are the first man to tell her that you love her instead of some pervert who only wants to do unspeakable things to her (because that will work).  Ensure you are the first man to tell her she is a pretty young lady who can do ANYTHING she puts her mind to doing.  Teach her how to take care of her own car and yard.

As men, I think we it is time we challenge some of society’s “norms” over our lives and do what we think and know will benefit our children.  It is time to ensure we are fathers our children need us to be.  Unfortunately, we cannot be the fathers that our fathers were.  Those days are gone.  We have to be the fathers for this new age.  Some of the old lessons still apply, but it is time to embrace some of the new “norms” and not care what society has to say about them.  Time to stop being a father and be a DAD! You have earned the right because you are a GREAT MAN!!!

I AM… Positive Messages for Self

Most humans are experts at beating themselves up, but are novice at lifting themselves up.  We are quick to believe the negative others speak of us, but are slow to internalize the praise.  It is a fact that each human is her/his own worst critic, so if we listen to ourselves so intently for the negative, then maybe we can train ourselves to listen even more intently for the positive.

Giving yourself a daily positive message can be just the weapon you need to combat all of the negative thoughts we allow to clutter our minds on a daily basis.  A friend of mine relayed a story about how her sister called her fat on a regular when she was only 6 years old.  Today, at 37, she struggles with her weight which causes her to beat herself up even more over the subject.  When she speaks about the subject you can almost see the hurt 6 year old standing in front of you instead of the successful 37 year that she truly is today.  My point, as humans, we will quickly believe and internalize the negative that is said to or of us.  Therefore, we need to bombard ourselves positive messages DAILY in order that we can internalize those messages instead.

 

Some of you have heard me say to students at the end of a belt testing that they need to look in the mirror and tell themselves that s/he is a great person.  I engage in this exercise myself daily.  I encourage everyone, young or just young at heart to do the same.  If you hear something enough, negative and more importantly positive, you will unwittingly begin to believe it.  Here are the things I tell myself daily while staring at myself in the mirror while I brush my teeth:

Lord, I come to You again today, with a humble heart, with the following truths.  I pray for guidance in believing in my heart all of these truths and walk the path you have planned for me:

The LORD is my EVERYTHING!

I am nothing without GOD!

I am handsome.

I am confident.

I am intelligent. 

I am dedicated. 

I am motivating. 

I am inspiring. 

I am in control of my emotions.

I am wealthy in my spiritual, financial and love life. 

I am an influential person.

I do NOT speak or live in any negative thoughts.

Only through God can I make my dreams come true.

I am a successful businessman!

I am a faithful and obedient servant of the Lord!

I am a great instructor.

I am a great pet owner. 

I am a great son. 

I am a great brother. 

I am a great uncle.

I am a great relative.

I am a great friend.

I am a great provider.

I am forgiving.  I continue to pray for forgiveness for anyone who has wronged me.

I continue to pray for forgiveness for anyone I have wronged.

I DO NOT FEAR MY STORMS!!! I know my storms will not last.  I know that You will see me through my storms, Lord Almighty.

I am not intimidated by anyone!

I deserve God’s grace, peace and mercy! I deserve God’s favor! I HAVE WHAT GOD HAS DETERMINED TO BE MINE!

In the name of Your son, Jesus Christ, I pray these truths over my life.  AMEN!

As you can see, my statements are me talking to the Lord while I tell myself all the great things I need to hear.  You do not have to use my positive thoughts.  As a matter of fact, you should NOT use my positive thoughts, but come up with your own.  You must tell yourself how great you are if you are ever going to be a better person.  You must reinforce it daily, until you believe it.  Then, continue to reinforce it daily.  Never stop telling yourself how great you are.  This should not give you an ego complex to the point of arrogance.  It will should just balance you out and increase your self-confidence.  LOVE YOURSELF!!! Now get started with your positive motivation.

Continue to love your family as our SBBW family grows together!

SBBW Newsletter - September 2012 What's Going On At SBBW

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - Just A Little Bit

Respect is a word most of us use, but many fail to practice.  Webster defines this word as high/special regard or an act of giving particular attention.  I define it is as giving common courtesy to others.

Here are a few things to teach our children and ourselves:

R - regard the well-being of others

E - exemplify the example you want others, especially your child, to follow

S - speak in a kind and courteous manner

P - pay close attention to your tone in order not to offend

E - expect positive behavior from everyone

C - consider the feelings of others

T - treat others the way you want to be treated.

    Always keep in mind that your child is watching you.  The old adage “Monkey see, monkey do” is very real.  Children , like most humans, only remember 70% of what you say to them, but 80% of what they see you do.  Therefore, if you want a respectful, well behaved child, you must be a respectful, well behaved adult.  Children learn from us how to treat others, so we must be the example.

   Love your family as our SMAA family grows together!

SBBW Newsletter - August 2012 What's Going On At SBBW