Earlier this week I posted a blog about the upcoming Southern Illinois Men's Expo. The event happened Saturday morning and was a huge success. We offered men around the region FREE health screenings, including blood draws for cholesterol, vision, dental, blood pressure and foot problems.
Fire is good
Our panelists talked about the importance of nutrition and exercise and answered questions for the men in attendance. Physicians were on hand for one-on-one talks with men on a variety of topics. We learned about the benefits of drinking beer in moderation and how to home brew. Southern Illinois Miners COO and manager Mike Pinto heated things up with this talk "Taking Charge of Your Health." Yes, a handful of participants ate fire!
Crown Brew Coffee Co.
I can't thank our vendors, exhibitors, screeners, volunteers and sponsors enough. Our professional staff (Lisa and Ariella) did an amazing job throughout the process. I know I've probably forgotten someone and that's I'm not specifically naming names (besides Lisa and Ariella).
Found my abs They were at JFortune Photography
I am drained but in a good way. This expo/conference has been a labor of love for me since 2008 when the first committee came together and decided it was time to help make men more aware of their own health. Now as president of the Women for Health and Wellness board, we are moving forward. Look the for SI Women's Health Conference in September and big changes in 2018. Join our mission to make health and wellness a priority for EVERYONE in southern Illinois.
Double trouble
Oh, I guess I should address the suits too. My buddy Tom Harness (Harness Digital Marketing) has a collection of OppoSuits. We decided a while back to get the Star Wars suits and use them to brand ourselves when we do events together. It was a bonus that an R2 was there from the St. Louis R2 Builders Club.
Life as you well know can be stressful. One of the ways I deal with that stress is quarterly visits to an acupuncturist. I was a skeptical man in 2009 before actually giving the ancient Chinese practice a try. My wife was seeing Dr. Ying Li at Southern Illinois Acupuncture when she was doing fertility treatments for her first surrogacy.
She was so satisfied with the results and the improvement to her sleep, I decided to give it a try. At first I was going every few weeks. Then after a period of time the appointments became quarterly. Each time Dr. Li focuses on a different set of organs. The Summer treatment I just received is for the heart, small intestine and circulatory system. She says it'll help keep my body cool in the heat, which I'll put to the test as my run streak moves forward. The Winter treatment also includes flu prevention. I haven't had a flu shot in years and I haven't had as much as a cold since doing the acupuncture.
The 45 minutes or so that I'm on the table and looking like a pincushion are some of the most relaxing I've ever experienced. I'm asleep within a minute or two and feel completely recharged at the end of each session. I sleep better and don't get as stressed out, but I still have my moments. Unfortunately insurance doesn't cover the cost, which is $80 per session, but I look at it as an investment in my health. That's a small price to pay when it comes to your well-being. And no it doesn't hurt.
Those who know me know several years ago I helped get the ball rolling on what's known as the Southern Illinois Men's Health Conference. Since 2009 we've made tweaks and changes to the event. For 2016 I'm happy to announce the event is taking on a new name, new look and new location.
The Southern Illinois Men's Expo is set for February 27, 2016. Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion, Illinois is hosting the event. The theme is "Bacon, Bowties and Biceps." Our catered breakfast will feature a panel discussion including fitness and nutrition experts. I'm still in talks with several other interactive vendors for the day. We will keep the health element as well. Medical screenings and life saving tests will still be a part of the event. More details about the program will be released in the coming weeks.
The point of this post is to announce a contest to come up with a logo for the 2016 event. Please submit your work to simensexpo@gmail.com by November 6. The designs will be posted on our Facebook page and the submission with the most likes will be declared the winner. Remember the theme is "Bacon, Bowties and Biceps" and our audience is men of all ages. We're here in beautiful southern Illinois.
Admittedly, playing Words With Friends, watching old matches on the WWE Network, and sending out hilarious tweets on Twitter are some of my favorite things to do with my iPhone. This is the third one I've owned, having the 3, 4, and now 6 versions of the Apple product. When I got the latest, I noticed a new app already installed called "Health." I didn't give it a whole lot of thought at the time. I did open the app and mindlessly glance at some of the features on it. There are a lot of things you can input keep track of, including blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and body mass index. I'm a pretty healthy guy, so I haven't really messed with it.
The Health app has the heart
The feature I'm now obsessed with though is the "steps" portion of the app. It tracks how many steps you take everyday. The key is obviously having your phone with you at all times, which for me isn't a problem. I don't have it for every step I take, but it's close. My goal each day is to take at least 10,000 steps. I have a little game I play against myself now that at the end of each week, my daily average has to be 10,000 or better. Some days I don't get all 10,000 in, so the last two Saturdays I've found myself taking longer walks with the dog to reach my goal.
Adding steps and staying warm...
I've added more steps to my day by walking to the bathroom on the other end of the building at work. I've always parked my car in the furthest spot from the building, so that helps too. I have also ramped up my running, despite it being colder than normal here recently. I know I'm probably not making a huge difference in my health, but I think being more aware and now obsessive about walking those 10,000 steps each day I am having a positive impact. As I'm writing this, I'm scrolling through the app and finding all sorts of cool functions that I must now explore. While this may not be the most accurate or best way to gauge your health, it's certainly a step in the right direction (pun intended).
I invite everyone to read my blog, but this particular post I'm hoping to reach men around southern Illinois. Since 2009, I've been the co-chairman of the Southern Illinois Men's Health Conference. The 2014 event just wrapped up, and I'm striking while the iron is hot for 2015.
Jeff Rose 2014 Conference
I'm appreciative of the 120 plus men who attended the event. And I can't thank my co-chair Herman Louw (who also blogs), the committee members, and the Women for Health and Wellness board enough for all they do leading up to the conference. It's a huge undertaking. Our keynote speaker in 2014 is a friend of mine, Jeff Rose. He has done just about everything under the sun and has done it successfully. He's also a blogger, who inspired me to create My 1-2-3 Cents nearly four years ago.
Breakout session Exercise!
This post is for the guys who didn't attend the conference this year, or those who have NEVER attended the Southern Illinois Men's Health Conference. I want your feedback. You don't have to post it here. Click here to email me. I want to know what we can do to make the event attractive to you. I got some interesting comments during the course of the day, but that's from people who were there. I want to hear from guys who haven't come to the conference. Please take a few minutes and give me your thoughts. Thanks!
As 2013 comes to a close, it's time to look ahead to a new year. I had some fun and success in 2013, with the biggest milestone being turning 40. I also reached my running goal of hitting 500 miles. Now, I'm writing up 14 goals for 2014. I hope by doing this I will be more accountable. I've learned when setting goals or making resolutions, remember KISS (keep it simple and specific).
When December 31, 2014 rolls around, I don't fully expect to have accomplished everything on this list, but I hope to have at least tried. So if you haven't written down your goals for the new year, join me in doing it. You don't have to share it with the world, but at least have something to track your progress. And before I forget, thanks for reading this blog and showing your support through the years.
1.Run a half marathon. Since 2011 I've started running again. In high school I kinda ran Cross Country. Some 20+ years later, I'm running more than I ever have before. In 2013 I hit my goal of running 500 miles. I've competed in two Warrior Dashes, a color run, and multiple 5Ks. It seems the next logical step is a half marathon. My plan as of right now (December 30, 2013) is to run the "Fly With The Eagles" half marathon in February.
Doing DDP Yoga
2. Do DDP Yoga at least 3 times a week. I started doing DDP Yoga about six months ago, but I have yet to find a balance and keep up with it. It's hard to strike that balance of running and trying to fit in the yoga too. But along with the yoga comes my desire to really improve not just my health but my appearance too. I'm going to be 41 in a few months, and I've never really considered myself to be "in shape." In 2014, that will change. Even though DDP advises against it, I think I need to hit the gym more often too.
3. Reach 750,000 page views on this blog. This is quite a lofty goal. After 3 years and 3 months of blogging, I'm at 405,000 page reads. Part of my plan for 2014 is to write at least 300 blogs. Since changing the focus from wrestling to other areas of life, more readers are checking out my writing (and Chad's when he's inspired to post something).
4. Reach 500,000 views on my YouTube channel. If you haven't already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. I'm at just over 269,000 right now. I know I shouldn't be so focused on the numbers, but it's something I obsess about all the time. Like the blog, I'm posting about more than just wrestling over there too.
5. Start a Podcast. Now that From the Rafters Radio has officially wrapped up, I'd love to try to do a podcast. My biggest worry at this point is having the time to actually do one and do it right. Stay tuned for more details if this one starts to develop.
An apple a day...
6. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. For the most part, I eat pretty healthy, but there's room for improvement, especially on the weekends. When we do go out to eat, I'm passing on the twisted potatoes (a weakness of mine) and getting a veggie side instead.
7. Give up the extra sodas during the week. I am obsessed with fountain Coke Zero with a splash of vanilla flavoring. Earlier in 2013, I had weaned myself off daily sodas and started drinking coffee. I was only drinking soda on Friday and Saturday. But then I got to the point where I was grabbing a soda when I was out on a story or having one on Sunday because I'm so addicted to the caffeine. I know I should give them up completely, and I will work toward that someday, but right now I'm good with cutting myself back to just those two days a week.
8. Watch more wrestling. I know my wife will not want to hear that one, but really, I only watch Monday Night Raw on a regular basis. 2013 I watched very few episodes of SmackDown!, Impact, or NXT. I think to be a wrestling blogger, I should broaden my horizons. I want to see more indy stuff too, but I don't know how realistic that will be in this area.
Holiday World 2012
9. Spend more time doing family things. I know I'm painting myself in a corner with some of these aspirations and goals. The good thing is, I get home from work two to three hours before my kids come home from school. With some improved time management, I can get things knocked out while I'm home alone. That will free up more time in the evenings and weekends to do more family oriented things. My oldest son is in 8th grade, and before you know it, he'll be heading off to college. I don't want him to leave and think "I wish we would have done more together."
10. Sleep at least six hours a night. Again, I see the conundrum, but I have to make this work. Right now I get about five hours of sleep a night. Some nights it's less. Fewer nights it's more. I think to be able to tackle all these other lofty goals I'm going to have to be well rested and in turn that will help me to function better.
11. Help more with the finances. As I'm writing this, my wife asked "Are you going to add something about helping more with the finances?" So like any smart man I said yes. After all, happy wife, happy life. I am notorious for letting her handle all that stuff. I did finally figure out how the online banking system works and will be helping more in that regard each month. Now, if only there was a way to get more green added to that account.
Book worm? Hardly
12. Read three books. That doesn't sound like much, but I'm addicted to my iPad and iPhone and have not read a book cover to cover since wrapping up the Harry Potter series three years ago. I think reading more and playing less Song Pop, Words with Friends, and various other apps on my phone will be a good thing.
13. Have more date nights with my wife. Now that are kids are getting older, we don't have the excuse of not wanting to hire a babysitter anymore. I want to spend more time as a couple. Family time is important, but I love when we're able to get out just the two of us. These don't have to be expensive outings either. I'm thinking of simple things we can do that won't cost an arm and a leg.
14. Focus more time on anchoring the news. I've been anchoring the morning news for more than nine years now. Of course through the years, I have improved, but I need to pick up my game. My stumbles need to go away. I'm working hard to accomplish this one.
Okay, that's my 14 goals for 2014. Check back again in a year and hopefully my year in review I'll have checked some of these things of the list. Thanks again for reading and the support.
This is by no means an original recipe on my part, but I made it myself for the first time recently. After posting a pic of the Veggie Pizza on social media, I got several requests for the recipe. My wife first made Veggie Pizza years ago, but you can find recipes for it all over the Internet now. So, here's how I made mine.
Ingredients:
2 cans of crescent rolls
1 package of cream cheese (at room temperature)
1 package of dry Ranch salad dressing mix
Vegetables of your choice
Shredded cheese
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375.
Unroll your crescent rolls onto a baking sheet. Roll them flat so you've created one giant crust. Bake for the instructed time on the label. (It was 13 minutes for the rolls I bought)
While the crust is baking, start chopping your vegetables. I used carrots, broccoli, red peppers, yellow peppers, and orange peppers. I went with what my kids like. I've had it with mushrooms and onions before too, but remember, dark green veggies are really beneficial.
We didn't have any dry Ranch salad dressing mix, so I used some Pampered Chef Parmesan-Garlic Oil Dipping Seasoning instead. I didn't measure it out, just poured some of it on top of the brick of cream cheese. Mix the two together, and if you've got it to room temperature it should be pretty easy to mix (I used a wooden spoon)
Once the crust is finished baking, spread the cream cheese mixture on top. Add your veggies and top with some shredded cheese. I actually forgot that step when I made it, but I don't think it took anything away from the pizza.
If you're looking for an easy way to add a variety of vegetables to you diet, this is the way to go. Like I mentioned, the key is adding the veggies that you and your family will eat. You could also make mini pizzas and let your kids top them with what they enjoy.
Nearly two years ago I started to run again. It was the first time in 20 years I had done anything competitive (I ran cross country and track in high school). All the races I've done so far have been 5Ks, including the Warrior Dash, the Snowman Shuffle, and the Jingle Bell Run. On Labor Day, I added a new race to my repertoire: a color run, not to be confused with The Color Run, which is a trademarked event. You can learn more about The Color Run, by clicking this link.
The particular event I ran in was called the Color Me For Hope 5K. It's a fundraiser for the Hands of Hope Clinic in Marion, Illinois. The clinic provides health care coverage to people who are working, but do not have insurance. This is the first time the group has held an event like this, and to say it was successful would be an understatement, as more than 600 people participated.
The race is a typical 5K run (or walk), but staggered throughout the course are people with colored powder. As you run by them, they squeeze that powered out of a plastic ketchup bottle (sans the ketchup of course). For this particular race, they used corn starch mixed with food coloring. After you work up a sweat, that powder clings to you pretty well, and you're given a white tshirt, so the colors really pop. As I mentioned on the news prior to the race, you'll look like a unicorn riding a rainbow by the time it's over. An odd thing to say, but I was challenged to work the word unicorn into my live shot, so that's what I came up with on a whim.
Before & After selfie
The race was a success for the clinic, and I'd like to say I was successful too. I'm pretty certain I finished in the top 10, top 15 for sure. This was not a timed race and a lot of people were there to have fun. I was too, but I am also kicking up my training as I aim for 500 miles by the end of the year. I've also recently decided I want to run a half marathon in the next six months, so I wanted to hit the ground running, and running fast.
As I sit here writing this blog, my hands and arms are still stained with the bright pink dye. The yellow, blue, orange, and green all washed off in the shower, but I suspect this pink is going to be here for a few days. None the less, I had a great time time running this race. It wasn't too hot and it was all for a good cause. The pink will be a nice reminder of a great morning for the next few days. I'm already looking forward to the next 5K out there.
