5-day Zero Calorie Jumpstart Diet: Day 5

I should know more about the motivation of dieting than anyone - right? Didn't I write the book!

It didn't stop me from slowly gaining back half the weight I wrote about in my book: The Losing Attitude for Dieters. Gaining weight is really insidious; A few ounces a week doesn't really show until the next thing you know, you have gained twenty pounds!

I had to break the cycle, do something drastic. The only problem is that I have been posting on many different weight-loss blogs that the only way to lose weight is slowly; 1-1.5 pounds per week. Well, when did I ever listen to myself anyway?

I remember watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics and saw that he trained for six hours a day and ate 15,000 calories per day. I really wanted to be Michael Phelps; at least the eating part.

But what if I could burn off every calorie I ate in a week. How much weight could I really lose?

Day 5:

So, I had to go to my nephew's birthday party. I did pretty good with a salad and a medium piece of Lasagna (400 calories). I skipped the birthday cake!

Can't stop a good thing. I started the day off with a cup of a honey nut cereal (110 calories) and 40 minutes doing some strength training and stretching (-200 calories).

For lunch I had a tuna fish wrap (220 calories).

For dinner I had my best meal of the week with steak tips and lot's of veggies (535 calories). I played basketball again today and burned off 1200 calories.

You can see that on my last day, I ate 865 calories and burned off 1400 calories for a net gain of -535 calories - net weekly loss at -601 calories. A great work week and a great jump start to my diet

I lost 12 pounds in these 5 days.  What a way to get back on the diet horse!

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters

5-day Zero Calorie Jumpstart Diet: Day 4

I should know more about the motivation of dieting than anyone - right? Didn't I write the book!

It didn't stop me from slowly gaining back half the weight I wrote about in my book: The Losing Attitude for Dieters. Gaining weight is really insidious; A few ounces a week doesn't really show until the next thing you know, you have gained twenty pounds!

I had to break the cycle, do something drastic. The only problem is that I have been posting on many different weight-loss blogs that the only way to lose weight is slowly; 1-1.5 pounds per week. Well, when did I ever listen to myself anyway?

I remember watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics and saw that he trained for six hours a day and ate 15,000 calories per day. I really wanted to be Michael Phelps; at least the eating part.

But what if I could burn off every calorie I ate in a week. How much weight could I really lose?

Day 4:

So, I had to go to my nephew's birthday party. I did pretty good with a salad and a medium piece of Lasagna (400 calories). I skipped the birthday cake!

Can't stop a good thing. I started the day off with a cup of a honey nut cereal (110 calories) and 40 minutes doing some strength training and stretching (-200 calories).

For lunch I had blue cheese bacon wedge (140 calories)

1/4 head lettuce
1 T blue cheese crumbles
1 T dressing
1 piece bacon

Veggies for dinner dipped in Ranch Dressing (100 calories).

You can see that on my fourthday, I ate 650 calories and burned off 200 calories for a net gain of 450 calories - net weekly loss at -66 calories. still on the negative side of calories burned versus ate.

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters

5-day Zero Calorie Jumpstart Diet: Day 3

I should know more about the motivation of dieting than anyone - right? Didn't I write the book!

It didn't stop me from slowly gaining back half the weight I wrote about in my book: The Losing Attitude for Dieters. Gaining weight is really insidious; A few ounces a week doesn't really show until the next thing you know, you have gained twenty pounds!

I had to break the cycle, do something drastic. The only problem is that I have been posting on many different weight-loss blogs that the only way to lose weight is slowly; 1-1.5 pounds per week. Well, when did I ever listen to myself anyway?

I remember watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics and saw that he trained for six hours a day and ate 15,000 calories per day. I really wanted to be Michael Phelps; at least the eating part.

But what if I could burn off every calorie I ate in a week. How much weight could I really lose?

Day 3:

OK, I had a ten hour workday to look forward. It ended with an Open House where a lot of food was available. I did OK and managed to eat only raw veggies dipped in ranch for dinner!

Another day in a row. I started the day off with a cup of a honey nut cereal (110 calories) and 40 minutes doing some strength training and stretching (-200 calories).

For lunch I had blue cheese bacon wedge (140 calories)

1/4 head lettuce
1 T blue cheese crumbles
1 T dressing
1 piece bacon

Veggies for dinner dipped in Ranch Dressing (100 calories).

You can see that on my second day, I ate 350 calories and burned off 200 calories for a net gain of 150 calories - net weekly loss at -516 calories. Another great day for my zero calorie diet and I planned well.

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters

5-day Zero Calorie Jumpstart Diet: Day 2

I should know more about the motivation of dieting than anyone - right? Didn't I write the book!

It didn't stop me from slowly gaining back half the weight I wrote about in my book: The Losing Attitude for Dieters. Gaining weight is really insidious; A few ounces a week doesn't really show until the next thing you know, you have gained twenty pounds!

I had to break the cycle, do something drastic. The only problem is that I have been posting on many different weight-loss blogs that the only way to lose weight is slowly; 1-1.5 pounds per week. Well, when did I ever listen to myself anyway?

I remember watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics and saw that he trained for six hours a day and ate 15,000 calories per day. I really wanted to be Michael Phelps; at least the eating part.

But what if I could burn off every calorie I ate in a week. How much weight could I really lose?

Day 2:

I tossed and turned all night and when I woke up I felt like my sinuses were packed with mud. It would have been easy for me to stay in bed a little longer and ditch the exercise and diet!

One of the tricks I have learned is to think about being sick on your diet in this way, "If I'm already feeling lousy, I might as well keep dieting!" This instead of the old wives tale, "Feed a cold, starve a fever."

Why change a good thing. I started the day off with a cup of a honey nut cereal (110 calories) and 40 minutes doing some strength training and stretching (-200 calories).

For lunch I had blue cheese bacon wedge (140 calories)

1/4 head lettuce
1 T blue cheese crumbles
1 T dressing
1 piece bacon

For dinner I took out a cup of left over spaghetti and added some tomato sauce sprinkled with parmesan cheese (250 calories).

You can see that on my second day, I ate 500 calories and burned off 200 calories for a net gain of 300 calories - net weekly loss at -646 calories. Another great day for my zero calorie diet and I adverted the effects of feeling poorly.

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters

5-day Zero Calorie Jumpstart Diet: Day 1

I should know more about the motivation of dieting than anyone - right? Didn't I write the book!

It didn't stop me from slowly gaining back half the weight I wrote about in my book: The Losing Attitude for Dieters. Gaining weight is really insidious; A few ounces a week doesn't really show until the next thing you know, you have gained twenty pounds!

I had to break the cycle, do something drastic. The only problem is that I have been posting on many different weight-loss blogs that the only way to lose weight is slowly; 1-1.5 pounds per week. Well, when did I ever listen to myself anyway?

I remember watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics and saw that he trained for six hours a day and ate 15,000 calories per day. I really wanted to be Michael Phelps; at least the eating part.

But what if I could burn off every calorie I ate in a week. How much weight could I really lose?

Day 1:

The first day of a diet is always exciting. If you've done it right, you have anticipated this day and you are truly motivated. I visited Florida for Christmas break and I couldn't wait to get back to start my diet - what a loser, right!

I started the day off with a cup of a honey nut cereal (110 calories) and 40 minutes doing some strength training and stretching (-200 calories).

For lunch I had blue cheese bacon wedge (140 calories) and 1.5 hours of basketball (-1200 calories)

1/4 head lettuce
1 T blue cheese crumbles
1 T dressing
1 piece bacon

For dinner I had half a chicken breast with a little ricotta cheese and tomato sauce sprinkled with parmesan cheese (204 calories).

You can see that on my first day, I ate 454 calories and burned off 1400 calories for a net loss of 946 calories. A great start for my zero calorie diet.I should know more about the motivation of dieting than anyone - right? Didn't I write the book!

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters

Bill Russell - World MVP

SHORTY

At 6' 9" tall, Bill Russell might have been considered undersized compared to Wilt Chamberlain, the premier big man of his time who towered over Russell at 7' 1".  Height certainly matters in basketball, but I believe heart is much more important, as Bill Russell proved again and again during his career. 

Bill was the ultimate team player and he had no desire to win the statistical battle -- he just wanted to win the game.  He didn't have to play better than Wilt; he just had to make Chamberlain play at a lower level than normal.

Are there other people that are smarter, faster or more powerful than you?

Don't let your lack of specific abilities stop you from obtaining your goals.  A great work ethic and determination has put many people in the hall of fame of life, ahead of other people who possessed greater skills!

Bill wasn't recruited heavily from high school and finally went to the University of San Francisco, whose team had never achieved national success before Russell.  He led that team to two NCAA championships in his junior and senior years.

From there he played in the Olympics and helped win the gold medal for the United States in basketball.  He was captain of this gold medal team.  Bill Russell was so talented that if he hadn't been on the basketball team he probably could have medaled in the high jump.

After the Olympics, Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics part-way through the season.  At this point Boston had never won anything, but through Bill's tremendous will to win, the Celtics won the NBA Championship 11 times out of the next 13 years including that first year; Bill Russell acted as player coach the last two seasons.

Bill Russell was certainly a gifted athlete, but his will to win was legendary.  I've heard Tommy Heinsohn, Celtic Hall of Famer, say that Russell had such a desire to win and he was so anxious to win that he threw up before almost every big game.  If the team heard Bill throwing up, they knew they would okay that night.

With two NCAA Championships, an Olympic gold medal, and 11 NBA  Championships, Bill Russell is, I believe, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) that ever existed in basketball.  Bill's attitude was unbelievable and he had to not only overcome other basketball players, but also overcome something much harder.

RACISM

Bill Russell faced an America where racism always seemed to raise its ugly head.  In his junior year of college he probably was the best basketball player in the universe, yet he wasn't named Player of the Year in northern California.  One time, he and his African-American teammates were not allowed in a hotel in Oklahoma City during a 1954 All College Tournament and had to camp out at a college dorm in the area.

Although his racism problems didn't stop when he went to Boston, I believe that it got better as the years went on.  Bill Russell was on a team that started five African-American players for the first time in NBA history.  He was also the first African-American coach in the NBA.  In 2010, President Obama awarded Bill Russell the Medal of Freedom -- the highest award allowed for civilians in the United States.

What kind of problems do you face in your life?  Don't let these problems hold you back.  Don't let other people hold you back.  Use Bill Russell as a model and overcome these problems with your Attitude!

Attitude is everything!

Think about it.  Would you want to hire someone who is always complaining about everything or would you rather hire someone who always takes the glass "half full" attitude?

I know that no matter how much attitude I have, I will never be able to dunk a basketball.  But, I can be a great teammate if I put the effort into practicing, into playing defense and into studying the plays.

You, too, might have some problems in your life, but you can make yourself a much better employee with the right attitude.

Attitude is everything!

excerpt from Conquer the Losing attitude of Job Hunters

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters

Emmett Love and my Dad!

My Dad passed away 20 years ago this past summer and my memories of him are starting to get frayed around the edges.  I do remember that he was a very heroic guy who loved other heroes!

Like many from his generation he went to sign up for WW II.  When rejected by the Army for flat feet he eventually enlisted in the Army Air Corps and ended up as a waist gunner in a photographic B-29 Superfortress  in the South Pacific.

On the morning of August 6th, 1945 he and his crew took off from the island of Guam to make a photographic damage assessment over Japan.  The crew picked this mission to bring along a real-to-real recorder in order to record their in-plane conversations to send home to the folks.

Little did they know that on this same morning the Enola Gay took off from the same island for their rendezvous with the city of Hiroshima.  In a typical military SNAFU, my Dad's airplane was never meant to take off that eventful day.  Once they found out, the decision was made to let them go; they couldn't very well get on the radios and recall them telling them they were dropping the big one today!

 My Dad's crew members were speaking very professional knowing that they were being recorded. "Pilot to Bombardier.  Roger Pilot, this is the Bombardier."  Then the bomb "Little Boy" reached its target and it looked like a star had exploded.   "Roger Bombardier, this is the pilot.  How far ... What the fudge is that?"  Only they didn't use the word fudge.

The crew members of the Enola gay commanded by Paul Tibbets were dressed in radiation suits with leaded goggles to protect them from the blast.  My Dad's crew members were wearing their usual T-shirts and sun glasses.

After they returned to base they were severely debriefed and their real-to-real recording was confiscated.  No one knows to this day where that recording is; probably in some warehouse in Washington next to the Arc of the Covenant!

What a hero, but if you could ask him today, he would say he was born 60 years too late; he really wanted to be a cowboy.  He would have been a regular at the Lucky Spur in Dodge City, he would have fallen in love with Gentry and he would have backed Emmett Love up whenever he needed it.

How do I know this, well as a child I watched every John Wayne western ever made with my Dad, not to mention every episode of Bonanza and Gun Smoke at least 2-3 times.  My Dad loved the allure of the Wild West and I know he would have loved to have been a bronco-buster back then.  I can picture my Dad escorting a wagon train or going into a saloon for a drink, a game of stud poker or some other pleasures.

If my Dad was still alive he would have devoured every word of "Follow the Stone" and "Don't Poke the Bear" and then would have moved on to all the Donavan Creed novels. 

How do I know he would have loved Donovan Creed?  Well, there was that time he decided to live in the attic for 6 months!

I can't write intriguing stories like John Locke can.  But, I am a professor and I do like to help people.  So,  I write books to help people. 

Would my Dad have been proud of me?  You decide!

Professor Tom Laurie

author of Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters

and The Losing Attitude for Dieters