Jon's Blog

Reflections on Day #4

Breakfast: 1 packet oatmeal
Lunch: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans, 1 Tortilla
Dinner: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans, 1/2 Cup of Corn, 2 oz. Chicken
WW Point Total: ~20

So, here I am typing up my relfections on Day 4, and to be honest, yesterday was probably the easiest day that I have had thus far. I will admit that I was hungry, however, overall it was a pretty easy day. I found my self not thinking about my hunger, and by doing so, the day went really smoothly.

I am getting pretty sick and tired of beans and rice, and right about now, i don't want to see beans and rice for at LEAST a week when this challenge is over. I don't really have too many thoughts on this day because it was a pretty easy day.

I am looking forward to the last day, and can't wait for this challenge to be over.

I don't have much more to say, so see you tomorrow when i post my final overall thoughts on the entire challenge.

End of Day Hunger Level (1-Satisfied to 10-Starving): 8 but doing OK.

Reflections on Day #3

Breakfast: 1 packet oatmeal
Lunch: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans, 1 Tortilla
Dinner: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans, 2 oz. Chicken, 1/2 Cup of Corn,
1 Tortilla, and 1 Diet Pepsi
WW Point Total: ~21

Yes, I admit it, I had 1 can of Diet Pepsi. I admit that I did it. And honestly, it tasted fantastic going down, but after I was done, I started to regret it. I found myself drinking another water bottle full of water to ease my stomach. I won't be doing that again until this challenge is over, you can rest assured in that.

So it has now been 3 complete days of this Food Challenge, and I am beginning to realize that this is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I find myself continually trying to focus on other things, whether it be work, playing games, playing the Wii, just something to get my mind off of eating.

I must bring up the fact I brought up yesterday in that this challenge will only have taken up .0492% of the time I have lived so far on this earth. Let me put this into perspective for you some more. That percentage equates to the equivalent of 42.478 SECONDS within a day. How many times do you go 42.478 SECONDS within a day and not eat? Now, imagine, I am only 27, someone older the percentage used would be far LOWER than mine. Kind of makes you think, can i afford 42.478 SECONDS in my day to not eat? I am sure everyone would say yes to this. So can you afford to limit your food intake for the same relative amount of time compared to the time you have lived on this earth? If you answer no, my only follow up question to you would be WHY? I consider this a small price to pay to actually experience hunger.

Jenny and I were talking yesterday about Hunger and this challenge. We came to the conclusion that very few people in our society has actually experienced hunger. When I say very few, i mean that on a relative sense as i know there are hungry kids in the country. I know I brought this up yesterday, but think about it. When was the last time that you couldn't eat WHATEVER you want.

Yesterday was a very difficult day for me. I was about ready to eat my arm by the end of the work day. In addition, I find the drives to be the most difficult, as all I am doing is just sitting in the Car, not doing anything. However, I knew that if I can get through this day, the last 2 days will be much easier.

There were many times yesterday when I felt that I was on the verge of snapping. And at work that is not a good thing. The last thing I want to do is snap at someone I am working with. I did everything in my power to remember that even in the times of hunger, I still need to be Slow to Speak and quick to listen. It was that, that pulled me through the remainder of the day, and to not bite anyone's head off. This is someting that i will continue to remember as the time goes on.

3 days down, and 2 to go. I am in the final stretch, and I know I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

End of Day Hunger Level (1-Satisfied to 10-Starving): 7 and still growing

Reflections on Day #2
I am going to change the format a little bit here, but this should be the format for the remainder of the week.

Breakfast: 1 packet oatmeal
Lunch: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans, 1 Tortilla
Dinner: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans, 2 oz. Chicken, and 1 Tortilla
WW Point Total: ~20

I decided to include the WW Point total as I have been doing WW for the past 15 weeks and have lost a total of 15 pounds. I am currently very close to getting to my goal weight when this challenge has hit. To give you an idea, my NORMAL daily allotment of points is 28, and I usually get 35 extra for the week. Now, daily i am eating about 18-20 and NO extra points are being used AT ALL. Let me just tell you, I am feeling it.

Looking back on yesterday, it went pretty well as I had a lot of things at work and a Bible Study later in the night to occupy my brain. Each day that passes I am beginning to understand the severity that exists not only in Africa, but anywhere in regards to Hunger. I was pretty hungry yesterday, however, i knew that i was going to get to eat something when the next meal time hit. It kind of makes you think. In this challenge, we get to eat 3 meals a day, and we know that there will be food for us at that table/lap/where ever you eat. We KNOW the food will be there. So, we might be hungry, maybe on the verge of starving, although do we really know what that feels like, but we can rest assured that when noon hits, or when dinner time hits, there is food for us. What if that food wasn't there? What if, in experiencing this, that time rolls around, and you go to the dinner table, and there is nothing there for you? What if, you have been anticipating your next meal and when it comes, you are served nothing?

I have begun to wonder these things yesterday, and realized that I would be much worse off than I am now. As it stands, I am hungry, yes I admit it, but I am not on the verge of dying. I will admit that each day that passes, I look forward more and more to that next meal. And each bite i take of those beans and rice, I enjoy it. Weather the food is cold, hot, cooked, not cooked, whatever, i am enjoying the meal, because i know that is all i am going to get.

When I started this, I wasn't sure how this challenge was going to go. Heck, I don't think anyone had any idea how this challenge was going to go. But now that I have completed 2 full days, I know that this challenge is not as easy as it sounds. I can tell you that I am on the verge of cheating. I am on the verge of breaking, but i WON'T do it! I know God will continue to pull me through this as I continue to ask for his strength to get through this.

Many people in our Church might not be doing this challenge, and some may have great reasons. Whether it is health, or whatever, I can't say anything to those folks who have a valid reason.
However, what I have begun to struggle with is those people who don't have a valid reason.

I am 27 years old, almost 28. If I analyze the days that i have lived up until now, that totals to 10,167 days. If i look at that and realize that at the end of this, i will have lived for 10,170 days so far. the 5 days that i am giving up the food i would usually eat is only .0492% of the days i have lived on this earth. So, for the other 99.9508% of the life i have led so far, i have had food on my table, and more importantly ANYTHING i would want to eat.

To me, i think 5 days out of 10,170 is a small price to pay to truly experience what the truly hungy people of the world experience.

End of Day Hunger Level (1-Satisfied to 10-Starving): 6 and still growing

The following are my reflections on the NECC 5 Day Food Challenge Day #1.

Reflections on Day #1:
So my day began as any usual day, however for breakfast I ate 1 packet of Oatmeal (normally I eat 2 at a time). While it is a filling meal, I still was wanting something more. So, I ate my oatmeal and continued to perform my regular morning duties of taking the dogs out etc...
Off to work I went. It is definately different going to work wanting to eat more, but knowing that I can't. When I arrived downtown I began to realize that this week is not going to be easy. Rather this week is going to be difficult from the stand point of temptation. I soon realized that our world is inundated with FOOD. I walked down the street, and specifically avoided 4th Street Live, but still everyone had either food they were eating, or carrying that bagel they just bought back to the office. Food is everywhere in our society. No matter where you turn it is there.

I arrived at the office, and walked to my desk, and logged onto my computer as usual. Low and behold, our office is beginning our Metro United Way Campaign, and as a kick off they decided to provide all the floors with CUPCAKES! Sheesh, I just was beginning to realize that food is everywhere and here it is being thrown at me again. To top it off, later in the day, there was left over pizza in the break room. I can't avoid it!

Lunch came, and I ate 1 tortilla, 1 cup of rice, and 1/2 cup of beans. And let me tell you, by this time, I was HUNGRY! I made sure not to lose any grain of rice, or any single bean. I even used the tortilla to wipe the cup clean, to get every drop of food that i was rationed. I think what makes this harder than anything is that this challenge is a CHOICE. I am choosing to do this challenge, where as kids in Africa who are starving, eat this not as a choice, but as a means to live. If i really wanted to stop i could, but i won't.

The day was done, and i made my way home to eat dinner. Jenny was making us up our dinner when i got home, and for dinner I ate: 1 Cup of Rice, 1/2 Cup of Beans and 2 oz of Chicken. Let me tell you, I ate every scrap of food on my plate. After dinner i headed off to Men's Fraternity, and i was feeling pretty good. I continue to pray that God gives me the strength I need to make it through these 5 days.

Thoughts on the day:
It was hard to pass up the cupcakes, and the pizza, but I did it. The food I had was a blessing, as God provided this food for me. Sometimes we forget about what food we really have at our disposal. Just walking from my parking garage to the building, I pass no less than 12-15 places to obtain food. And the distance is only 3 blocks on 1 street. I am hungry after today, but I know it will get harder, but it will also get easier as my body begins to adjust. God has given me a lot in life, and food on my table is not as important as a life to live.

End of Day Hunger Level (1-10, where 10 is Starving): 4 and growing

Tax the rich to give Health Benefits to EVERYONE. Can anyone say the start of SOCIALISM. What did Karl Marx say, "To everyone based on their need, from everyone based on their ability." Dumb Idea people. This health bill is WRONG on EVERY SINGLE level. But, it is being pushed through Congress just like everyother Democratically lead legislation without any one considering the consequences.

This is taken from :http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=apFBqBojL3IA

High Points (Or I should say LOW points)

• So i won't be able to use my FSA for OTC stuff anymore
• If i make over 280,000 i will be taxed at a higher rate. (That's right tax the people who are successfull in life)
• If I don't have insurance, and i make over a certain amount of money i will be penalized with a 2.5% tax penalty

--From the Main Article "There was little bipartisanship on the Ways and Means panel. Democrats rejected a slew of Republican amendments that would have stripped a government-run plan from the legislation, prohibited rationing of health care and forced members of Congress into the public plan."

• That's right, the Republicans wanted to force members of Congress into the public plan. I think that would have been a great idea. As it is they have a health plan that they get to keep for life. How about take away their precious benefits and see how they like it

"Insurance Mandate
The legislation would require companies to provide health insurance or pay an 8 percent payroll tax to help pay for their coverage by the government plan. The House is also proposing a mandate on Americans above a certain income level: People would be penalized as much as 2.5 percent of their income for failure to buy health insurance.
The plan would cost about $1 trillion over 10 years and reduce the number of uninsured by roughly 37 million Americans, according to a preliminary analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. The nonpartisan agency said that by 2019 some 17 million people, about half of them illegal immigrants, would lack coverage.
The question of how to pay for the overhaul is the biggest challenge, and the idea of imposing surtaxes on the wealthiest households is drawing fire from Republicans and Democrats. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska has expressed skepticism, as have House Democrats in the Blue Dog Coalition, a group that advocates spending restraint.

Graduated Surtaxes
House Ways and Means Committee members approved a series of graduated surtaxes that kick in on incomes above $280,000.
The surtax would also place a 1.5 percent additional levy on couples with incomes between $500,000 and $1 million, and a 1 percent surtax on incomes over $350,000. The measure is intended to raise $544 billion over 10 years and calls for the taxes to increase if the bill doesn’t hit a target for cost savings. Capital gains as well as earned income would be subject to the surtax.
The legislation also contains several tax increases on corporations, and a new provision to prohibit reimbursements for over-the-counter drug purchases using pretax health-spending plans such as employer-administered Flexible Spending Accounts and individually owned health savings accounts. "

So, President Obama and the democratically controlled congress are considering a Health Bill that states it will cost 1.5 Trillion, note that is with a "T", over the course of 10 years. I began to wonder if people really realize how much money that really is. I mean really, can you fathom that amount of money!

1,500,000,000,000 Trillion Dollars (over 10 years breaks down as such)
--1,500,000,000,000 Trillion Dollars in 10 years
--150,000,000,000 per YEAR
--410,958,904.11 per DAY
--17,123,287.67 per HOUR
--285,388.13 per MINUTE --per freaking minute people!!!!!!!!!!

Just think about that. If this bill passes, that 1.5 TRILLION dollar bill over the course of 10 years will be spent and you can think of it as YOUR government, and the Democratically Controlled congress will be spending 285,000 per Minute of Ever Day, for the next 10 years.

Now that i think about it, why don't they just by a $200,000 house every minute over the course of the next 10 years. They would have bought 7,500,000 homes by the end of it. Just give those away to anyone who wants them and we should be able to cure a good chunk of homelessness.

Honestly, people, have you ever taken the time to consider the amount of money that Obama is wanting to spend here. The amount is unimaginable, and an amount that we as regular citizens will NEVER see in our lifetime.

Is sinking our nation deeper into debt really worth it. I think NOT.

To top it all off, the terms of the bill are rediculus. He wants to put it on an individual level. Which means that you MUST have insurance, if you don't you will HAVE to pay a TAX PENALTY to help pay for it. Sounds to me like he is just trying to get to he ultimate goal of Universal Crap Care. Socialized medicine, DOESN'T WORK. Look at the European Countries who are warning us about it. As it stands, in this country, i can get treated anywhere i want no matter what with little waiting (little being relative). So, i have to pay for it, but I pay to have that care.

OK, I am done now.
::Steps off Soap Box::

So, Obama has been in office for 4 days now and he has been signing exceutive orders that are reversing Bush policy, a normal thing to do in office when the power changes to a different party. I respect Obama as he is the President of the United States however, so far I DO NOT agree with ANY of his policies.

1) Closing Gitmo. If you have not heard by now, Obama has signed approval for the closure of Gitmo. However, the prisoners that are detained in Gitmo are the ones that need to be there the most. From what i can tell he hasn't even thought about where he is going to put the prisoners when Gitmo closes. Is he just going to let them go home? I think the choice to close Gitmo was a little premature and without analysis.

2) Digital TV conversion. Obama and his administration desire to push the DTV transition back to June 12. They feel that it is unfair that many Americans have not received their $40 coupon to pay for the digital converter box. While it is unfortunate that these americans had to pay for their converter box out of their own pocket, however, this DTV transition has been in the works for OVER 1 YEAR!!!!!! This is the dumbest idea next to his Economic un-Stimulus package. KEEP THE FEBRUARY 17 TRANSITION!

3) Econiomic Stimulus? I think not. So, let me get this right, Obama want to give $500 to individuals and $1000 to couples to 95% of americans. In addition he wants to give the $1000 to people who don't pay ANY taxes. Last time i chekced, that is Welfare! All he his doing is giving money to those who don't pay any taxes. Sounds like re-distribution of wealth to me.

4) Gag Rule. Reportedly, Obama is going to reverse the abortion "gag" order. For those not familiar with it, this will end the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions. I'm Pro-Life, nuff said.

I am done for now.