April Challenge - Day 10 - 16: Bad poster...

I've been a terrible blogger. Just terrible. It's been a jam packed week but that's no excuse for bad blogging. Rather than trying to make up each day as I have done before - I'll save everyone's time by putting it all into one blog posting.

Monday - cardio - 7k on the dreadmill, I mean treadmill.

Tuesday - weights (focusing on arms)

Wednesday - cardio - 6k with the Sporting Life team at Queen's Park.

Thursday - weights (focus on legs)

Friday - after having dinner with a client, it was to the gym to concentrate on core. I can't say this was the best idea this week

Saturday - I was pretty sick, so my focus was on exercises that wouldn't aggrevate my stomach...so it was just arms today.

Sunday - 8k run - felt good, but would have been better outside

This week, I'll be better at posting. I promise.

March Challenge - Day 12: Those who pervert "God" to suit their motives

Today, while on Facebook, I stumbled across a video a friend posted of some lunatic with a webcam professing that God is great...because he caused the earthquake and tsunami to wipe out the "atheists" of Japan. If you have the stomach to sit through the whole video, click here.

Sadly, she is one of many fanatics who have perverted what God is supposed to be (like so many before her) to spew venomous hatred towards others that are not like her. Those of us with any thought process should pity this girl - clearly misguided, most likely brainwashed, her rants make no sense to anyone (except a horrifying few who seem to have liked this video).

A couple days ago, I wrote about Representative John King (R-NY) opening up a new MacCarthy-era style committee to investigate Muslim extremism in the US, after watching this video, he might consider shifting his focus.

Yes, people of all religions pervert the idea of God and use it to manipulate others. Rather than the love that most religions teach, these zealots bend the texts and target those most secceptable to this kind of preaching. They turn love into hate and open-mindedness into intolerance. They do exactly what the devil does - lead people away from the love and hope that God provides.

Now, I'm not religious by any means. In fact, the last time I stepped into any church was back in 2006 when I visited Notre Dame, and that was only for photos. I can't really remember the last time I attended a church service, but I do remember I was bored to tears. But I did realize at an early age that the concept of God was good in my life. His followers (well, in the New Testament anyways) preached love and acceptance of others, something I have yet to fully grasp as I have somewhat of a judgmental nature. His followers lived by a set of rules, that are pretty much common sense - don't cheat, steal or kill. Nonetheless, the idea of being accountable to a higher being does often make one think and evaluate the consequences before doing something foolish.

However, starting from about the eighth grade, it was apparent to me that while God aspired his followers to be one thing, because we're human, mistakes will happen. Fear and anger are natural emotions we feel and it can manifest into terrible actions, while using God's name to justify it.

I am thankful I did not grow up in or near a community with any religious wingbats. In fact, many of the deeply religious people I know were taught the right message. And those people that I know who are deeply religious don't often find it necessary to criticize or demean others for not believing in what they do.

My position is this - if you have to bully or make the big sell (cough...Scientologists) to anyone to join your religion, don't you think you're on the wrong team if you have to work that hard to convince someone else you're right? Would people be naturally curious about what you believe in if they saw that you were doing well for yourself and others around you and engage you in a conversation about it? Why must these fanatics berate the rest of us with their lunacy?

There are laws in many countries where racist or hate-filled remarks can be prosecuted and people cannot hide behind free speech (for example France, where anti-semitism is illegal as John Galliano recently found out). Shouldn't that be extended to this type of hateful religious rhetoric as well? In the video, the girl clearly was wishing ill will towards all "atheists," and praises God for "shaking them". One should think, if she felt God didn't act on her prayers to do harm to the atheists, would she have done something in God's name?

Social media is a great reflection on democracy. People voice their opinions and are applauded or shut down by the masses around them. While I, along with many others, I'm sure, are disgusted that people like this nutjob exist, it is comforting to know that the large majority vilify her as much as I do. It shows, that no matter what you believe, common sense and decency still reigns among us.

February Challenge - Day 11 - 13: A whole lotta eatin'

So yes, I've been incredibly delinquent in posting this past weekend. I've missed both Friday and Saturday's posting. As much as I'd like to make an excuse for it, sadly, I can't come up with one as I passed out after coming home from work Friday afternoon as I was sooooo tired, and I went out last night until after midnight...and passed out in my bed.

So with that being said, since I woke up late this morning, I had brunch, which consisted of 2 eggs and six mini slices of ham. Fuck, that's a lot of food, you might be thinking to yourself. Yes, it is. However, I plan on (a) going to the gym shortly to work it off, (b) go grocery shopping soon, so this food will keep my stomach from doing all the buying, and (c) I plan on making this my breakfast and my lunch.

There's nothing better than eggs and ham. I know there are some people who have trouble with the thought of eating unborn chicken, but thank god for eggs. Also, thank god for pigs. The cute Babe-like creatures are also super yummy, especially bacon (which I'm staying away from for my challenge this month).

I was told by my co-worker Simonne, to have a good protein based meal in the mornings. Most of us start off the day with cereals that are laced in sugar and salts that end up making you crash before lunchtime, and making you feel tired throughout the day. She suggested that I change my breakfasts so that I get a good serving of proteins to avoid unnecessary sugars - and let me tell you, it's worked wonders! I no longer feel tired before lunchtime. It should be something everyone tries!

Okay, enough about breakfast, let's talk about dinner. I went to dinner with my friends Alex and Sandy last night to Brassaii to celebrate a new journey they are taking in their lives. I haven't been to Brassaii for dinner (only for boozing) so I was curious to try them out. The food was pretty impressive. I had the short ribs, Sandy had the swordfish and Alex had ravioli. All three were big hits, although the swordfish came with a white foam none of us could really figure out what it was supposed to be. The portions were reasonable and paired with an app, desert and wine, the price was what you'd expect at an establishment like this...pretty pricey (and I had a LivingSocial coupon!)

We balanced off the meal with some bubble tea afterwards. Not healthy true - as its loaded with sugar, so I count that as my cheating moment of the week.

January Challenge - Day 12 - How to act drunk gooder

Being sober at a boozefest or bar is terribly depressing. Not only is everyone around you actin' a fool, you actually have to stand around and deal with their stupidity.

I've had this happen to me before:

1) being a designated driver,

2) on medication,

3) on an alcohol-free challenge

Okay, so #3 applies to me right now. I had to meet a friend's friend, who is interested in advertising at a bar tonight to answer some of her questions she had about advertising. (I say "had" because after the session I think she decided not to go into advertising...hahaha.) Too bad when I made these plans to meet up with her, it was before I decided to go on this cleanse.

So not only was everyone around me was drinking wine, beer or some mixed drink, I sat there sipping an iced tea, wishing it was rather a Long Island Iced Tea. In situations like this, wouldn't it be better just to pretend to be drunk?

There are a lot of benefits to pretend drunkeness:

1) you can get away with being an idiot

2) you fit in

3) you can claim you don't remember anything you did the next day

4) you can leave a terrible social situation by claiming you're so wasted, and then go home and enjoy watching TV in your Snuggie

But there are some techniques you can use so that people don't find out that you're pretending drunkeness:

- drink pop (coke is usually the best)

- slur your speech every 2 words: "What arrrreeee you talking boout?"

- add a chuckle, laugh or silent face laugh after anything someone else says (even if it's not meant to be funny like "my dog died today.")

- point at people and stick your pointing finger in their chest like you're

scolding them, but in a fun way

- unbutton a button

- sweat profusely (dance up a storm or sprinkle some water if you can't produce that much body water)

- take douchebaggy pictures (see right) by stretching your face like you don't know where you are

- burp loudly

- hug and declare your love for everyone

Follow some of these simple instructions and you'll fit in with your drunken party people immediately.

Enjoy!