Back to the Gym.. And the Diet...

My issues with weight really stared in high school.  I was a 3 sport athlete so I was active all of the time and able to eat whatever I wanted without any consequences, until I tore my ACL in an AAU basketball game, then everything changed. 

While I played basketball and lacrosse, football was always my favorite and what I knew I wanted to continue to play in college so when I got injured playing basketball I decided to stop playing everything else and commit to playing football.  Great for my football career but bad for me weight.  I kept eating like I did when I was playing 3 sports and practicing all the time but I definitely wasn’t burning the same amount of calories as before.  I didn’t get huge or anything, I mean I was still working out and practicing so I still had an active lifestyle and I think I benefited from a faster childhood metabolism but I most definitely put a little weight on at this point.

I was really able to maintain that through college, again benefiting from working out and having practice all the time.  The biggest change came after I was done playing college football.  I was working full time and just really decided that after working out constantly for the last 9 or 10 years that I just wanted to take a little time off and just relax.  Planning for 2 or 3 months, 6 went by before I really noticed something had changed.  Long story short, it was still some time before I finally decided that I was ready to stop living that way and try to get back in shape. 

Ever since that day, it has continued to be a struggle.  Lets not lie, I like food.  If weight loss was all about working out and not so much about what you eat, I would be in great shape but it’s not.  What you eat is vital to your success in losing weight or just getting in shape and I have tried just about everything to find something that works.  I did the HGH diet, where you basically eat a piece of broccoli and 2 bites of chicken and that’s supposed to last you all day… Yeah, that didn’t last for very long… I did Weight Watchers, Body for Live and even Atkins, trying to find something that I could not only just “diet” with but something that I could maintain for life.  I really liked Atkins initially, I really struggled with getting to the low number of allowed carbs at the beginning and especially with working out, I felt very fatigued.  And I love carbs, so the deprivation was tough for me to stick with.  It wasn’t until I fell off plan yet again that I realized how good eating low amounts of carbs made me feel, I just needed a way to get around the fatigue so I could stick with it. 

I had been watching Extreme Weight Loss (or Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition as it was originally known) for a while and enjoyed watching the process.  As I continued to learn more and more about exercise and diets I realized although Chris Powell talks about changing the lifestyles of the participants, we never get an insight into the diets they use… I know, buy my book and I’ll show you… Well, I did.  Outside of the fact that it is not outlined in the book how many carbs you should have on low carb and high carb day, I love the system.  In simple terms you alternate low carb and high carb days based on the particular plan you are following and you get a reward day!  For me, it is a perfect fit.  I “deprive” myself of the carbs I love for 2 days (I choose the more aggressive plan) and then I get to eat some carbs.  The key is to eat healthy carbs, not the white breads, white rice, etc. that is not as nutritious as whole grains, but it is almost like a mid-week cheat day for me.  Then 2 more days of low carbs and another high carb day and then a true reward day.  The reward day is dangerous for me, in the past I was able to stay “on plan” until I cheated.  Then once I had cheated, it became easier to do it again and again until I was completely off plan.  I try to limit my reward day as best I can while still enjoying my reward day to try to make it as easy as possible to get back on plan on Monday. 

I think this system could be “it” for me.  I love the fact that I really get to eat food and don’t have to “diet” except for the low carb days, those take commitment, but I hope to truly make this a life style change and not a diet fad.  As I have struggled holding on to a plan in the past, I am hoping that putting this in writing, even if no one reads it, will help hold me accountable.   My goal is 245 pounds, I weighed in this morning at 293.0, but the number on the scale is not as important to me as the way I look.  I want to get more toned and have less body fat, focusing on that will help me not get discouraged when the scale doesn’t move as much as I may have wanted it to a particular week.   I’ll put up new posts with updates not only of my progress but also of tips or good information that I have gathered during my journey, feel free to suggest information to look at or things to consider or even recipes that fit the plan, I’ll take all the help I can get.   

Guess who's back...

It's only been about a year since my last post and I know everyone has been on the edge of their seats waiting... Right? A lot has happened in that time that took me away from here but I'm back now so you can all rest easy.

What really sparked my return to the blogging world is all the news about Mike Rice and Rutgers.  I've seen the video that is public and granted my knowledge of the situation is limited to what the university and the media have reported but I played sports all my life and at the collegiate level and understand this, if a coach of mine ever treated me that way I'd be in jail for assault.  There is a HUGE difference between challenging someone's man-hood and just flat out being a dickhead.  Mike Rice was being a dickhead.  You can be an aggressive coach and demand the best from your players and challenge them to be better than they are today but there is a right and a wrong way to do it.  And it is not about the language, although the homophobic remarks were a bit much, but the cursing doesn't bother me, at some level that is part of competitive sports.  Is it necessary, absolutely not, but is it in itself outlandish, I don't think so. 

I think the bigger part of the story is that Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti knew about it and only gave him a 3 game suspension!  You get a 3 game suspension for yelling at your boss, for assaulting your players, the kids who trust in you to be their leader and develop them, you get fired.  Pernetti came to his senses today when he fired Mike Rice but in my opinion, it is too little too late for me to still trust that Pernetti can make sound decisions and lead Rutgers into the Big Ten Conference.  I honestly believe that if the story wouldn't have blown up in the media Pernetti wouldn't have have fired Mike Rice and that shows a serious lack of judgement.  I will be surprised if Pernetti's head is not the next to roll at Rutgers.

I am honestly surprised that no player retaliated against Rice during a practice, I'm sure they didn't want to risk messing up "their chance" which I can understand but I would not be surprised to see law suits follow against not only Mike Rice but Tim Pernetti and Rutgers University. 

With that, I welcome you back In My Mind. 
 

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

The Big Miss: Update

So I am half way through Hank Haney’s book The Big Miss and I have really enjoyed it.  The level of detail that he goes into not only about Tiger’s swing but also the other people that he has worked with and been around on tour is truly appreciated by someone (like myself) who enjoys the game and works to make theirs that much better.  For someone who is truly a novice or someone who does not have a good basic knowledge of the golf swing and the fundamentals that must exist I think the detail that Hank goes into would be confusing and most likely go over their head. I feel that is a reason why some people are critical of the book, they just might not understand it and only see the behind the scenes info that Hank shares about Tiger.

About that behind the scenes info.. I love getting access to see or hear about something that I would never typically get the chance to, this book gives me some of that access and I appreciate it.  I feel that I can relate to some of the struggles, obviously on a different level, so I find myself very engaged in the technical sections of the book.  Before I began reading I had heard many of the reviews and many commentators on TV talk about how Hank was violating some unwritten rule of the teacher/coach relationship and my first assumption was that they hadn’t read the book and that if done correctly, Hank could share some sensitive stories while still being respectful of Tiger and their relationship.  At the halfway point of the book, I think Hank has done a good job of relating some personal accounts into a story that makes sense to the reader, however, I can definitely see why some people are in a semi-uproar over the contents of this book.  I feel that there are some subtle shots taken at Tiger (and some not so subtle) that just feel out of place and do not add any real value to the topics that he is discussing.  I’m sure some will argue that they provide context, to that I would say, what context does it provide to know that Tiger likes to drive fast and roll through stop signs?

 

That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed the book, I honestly have to this point, it is simply to say that some of the criticisms of the book are not unfounded but may be blown out of proportion.  I don’t feel that the few “shots” Hank takes at Tiger overshadow the true content of the book, which has been honestly informational.  I am excited to finish the book and see if these initial feelings at the halfway point continue to develop or change entirely.

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

Slow Play in Golf and What It Means For Your Local Game

The topic of the day in the golf community is the slow play on tour.  A 5 hour round should be almost unheard of for players of their caliber yet consistently we see rounds in excess of 5 hours.  Watching on TV you get to see a mix of live shots and taped shots so they can keep the action moving and try to keep you from nodding off on the couch (it never works) but I think the more interesting aspect is how slow play in golf at every level is becoming an epidemic.

Growing up playing mostly generic public courses I can remember Saturdays with 6 hour rounds, and even at a young age, being not very good, it was excruciating.   Lately, I have been playing more golf than ever (why not, I enjoy it) and have been fortunate enough to join a local country club where I play most of my golf along with a few other select local courses and have seen this problem encroach on my nice 3-4 hour round afternoons.  I usually play with the same group of guys who I genuinely enjoy being around, even though they are (much, much) older than me ;) their money still spends the same.  We play fast, at times I have to remind myself to take my time, enjoy the round and think through my shots because we can get into a grove where it is almost rapid fire.  However, I also play in leagues and tournaments so I get the opportunity to play with different people quite frequently and some of what I see from these players is astounding.

The league is filled with players of all different abilities and levels of commitment to the game which is great but you have to keep in perspective your abilities and capabilities so that you are ready when it is your turn and you take the right amount of time to prepare for your shot.  I have been standing on the tee box and witnessed 2 players from another team I happened to be playing with arguing over which leaf to aim at!!  Not which branch, or which tree or even the general direction of the shot, which LEAF!  I'm sorry, but you are not good enough to worry about which leaf to aim at.  I've also seen the guy who waits for the green to clear from 280 yards out on a par 5 because he might "get a hold of this one" and then tops it 10 yards.. If you are a 25 handicap, them being on the green is probably the safest place for them to be, just hit your shot.

Now, that's not to say that people should not take their time and think about their shots, everyone is entitled to that, but if you haven't broke 100 in a round yet, you probably don't need to worry if you are 153 yards out or 155 yards out.  I think that is a product of two things.  One, ego, everyone always thinks that they are better than they really are, myself included, some days I think I could take Tiger Woods on and win, but know your ability and prepare for the best shot that you can actually execute.  Secondly, I think this is a product of people watching golf on TV.  Now, don't misunderstand me, I love watching golf on TV but I think the average amateur watches the Tour players and sees them analyze each shot in excruciating detail and thinks, "well, if I want to be good, I guess I have to do that too".  The average amateur misconstrues the concept of analyzing your shot with imitating someone's pre-shot routine.  The player with a 25 handicap should concern himself more with how to cure their slice or hitting the ball more square on the club face rather than 2 mph of wind or hitting the ball out of the rough vs. the fairway.  As you improve and develop your game, your pre-shot analysis should evolve with you and you can begin to dive into more of the details of the shot and prepare for end results.  Until then, help us all out and play a little faster and take a lesson from the immortal Tin Cup, just "grip it and rip it".


I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

How Having A Kid Changes Your Mind

As I said in my Welcome, you will get all different types of posts from me other than sports posts, this is one of them.

As many know, my wife Sammie and I are expecting our first child.  We are still at the beginning phases of the pregnancy let alone the wonderful journey of parenthood but it is funny how your mind set changes from the very moment that you learn you are going to have a child.  I have always considered myself a fairly mature person, at least when I want to be, but at the end of the day, I am still a guy so certain conversations or topics were for a lack of a better term, weird.  For example, talking to a woman about breastfeeding or the happenings of the delivery room was not exactly on the top of my "Topics To Be Discussed" list.  But now, only 17 weeks in to this life long journey,  am strangely OK with it.  It is no longer "weird".  Now, I can't begin to explain it if you have never experienced it and if you have been through it then I suspect you know exactly what I am talking about.  It is probably the same thing that allows you to change their diapers or clean up after they have been sick, its just part of becoming a parent.

I think these changes can be nothing but for the good.  I feel like it is not only trying to prepare you to be a good parent but also be a better person in general and I am all for that.  Now believe me, this does not mean that I want to hear everyone's crazy birth stories, frankly, not sure I really care, it just means that if we happen to stumble into that conversation (because I sure as hell still wont be bringing it up) I will be less likely to be laughing on the inside, but then again, who really knows what happens in my mind.


I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

Hockey Has Made A Comeback

Back in the day, I LOVED hockey.  Spending some time just north of Detroit as a kid during a time when I was old enough to start forming my own favorite teams and given the fact that the Red Wings were awesome naturally they were my favorite team.  I can remember watching the greats of the day during games and cheering on Sergei Fedorov and Steve Yzerman.  I followed hockey loyally until the strike of 2004-2005 and then I lost interest.  Part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that I no longer lived near Detroit so I didn't have the every day coverage that I was used to and part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that I was playing college football at that time as well so my time was committed more to watching game film rather than TV.  But I think the main reason was I was just over it.

Now I am not going to pretend that I know all the ins and outs of their negotiations but the fact is they all make millions of dollars and they should have been able to come to an agreement that was fair and equitable for everyone without losing a season.  I understand that everyone needs to be paid and those players in the NHL are able to do things that most humans cannot and deserve to be compensated for that and the team owners deserve to capitalize on that as well.  However, you cannot tell me that it takes almost a full year to reach an agreement when both sides are looking at it with an unselfish view that is fair and realistic for everyone.  It's one of the reasons that I hate Major League Baseball, but that is a different post.

The details of the lockout are in the past and not what this post is about.  As most of you know the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are happening now and one day I decided to give hockey another try and I was hooked almost immediately.  I am hooked into every game and love the non-stop action that hockey provides, watching these playoff games has reminded me of why I loved hockey in the first place.  I am really excited for next season to get back into following hockey and this season isn't even over yet!  But that leaves me with one major issue.  What team do I follow?  Do I have to go back to the Red Wings from my youth just because they were my team once upon a time or do I have the unique opportunity of choosing a new favorite team without being considered a band-wagoner?

Option 1:  Go back to the Red Wings.  I admittedly have not followed them recently so I don't know any of the players or if they are even that good of a team any more but they were my team once-upon-a-time so now that I have decided to get back into hockey do I have to take them back as well?

Option 2:  The Pittsburgh Penguins.  For those of you that know me, the reasoning for this team is obvious.  I love penguins.  So why not choose the team that has a penguin as a mascot?  Sidney Crosby isn't a bad reason either.

Option 3:  The New York Islanders.  Much like when I originally chose the Red Wings the Islanders are my true hometown team.  I grew up in New York so it would be logical to choose a team from New York to cheer for.  Now, I know what you are thinking, "what about the New York Rangers?".  Well, to understand that, you have to understand the generalities of New York fans.  Generally, if you like the JETS you also like the Mets and the Islanders and if you like the Giants you also like the Yankees and the Rangers.  If I hate anything in this world it is the a-typical New York Yankees fan.  I cannot stand to even be around the Yankee fans that are "die hard" and so proud of their world championships but cannot even name their starting center fielder.  If you don't know the players on your team, you are not a fan.  That's getting off point, back to the Islanders, they are a solid option and one to certainly be considered.

So, what is a guy to do that wants to rejoin his long-lost friend in iced excitement once again?  The one thing I know for sure is hockey, at least in my mind, has made a comeback and I cannot wait... Now, just what team to call my own.

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

The Big Miss

So... I did it.  I bought Hank Haney's book "The Big Miss" and I am extremely excited to start reading it.  I, like everyone else, have heard all the controversy surrounding the book so I am excited to see if there is any truth to it or if it is all the ramblings of people who would rather judge first and gather facts later.  My gut feeling, Hank's book will provide a unique look into the mind of one of the greatest players to ever play the game of golf and will have a pull no punches approach to his thoughts on Tiger and his game.  Have you read it?  What were your thoughts?  Ill post updates as I reach certain parts in the book to see if my gut feeling is right.

Many people have said that Hank Haney crossed a line by writing the book, I don't agree.  Hank has every right to tell his side of the relationship and put into words the memories that were created in his time with Tiger.  Why should he have to keep those private if he chooses not to?  It is not like Hank is giving everyone the secrets that have made Tiger so good for so many years.  If Hank was trying to pull back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz or give a how-to about some illusion from David Copperfield, I could understand the backlash a bit more but he is simply talking about the time he spent with Tiger and as I fan of both of them, I want to know as much as I can.

I choose to buy the book because I appreciate what Hank Haney was able to accomplish with Tiger Woods and as a fan of the game of golf I want to see how they prepared each day for the important moments in their careers and this book gives me the rare opportunity to see aspects of what it takes to be great that most people wont get the chance to see.  I'm excited to begin reading the book and see what all the hype was about, justified or not.  

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.