new thread
Hey guys (and gals),
Just a quick update regarding life in general, and the book project specifically.
Life: I finally got fed up with small town hospital politics, and resigned my previous position as a medical-surgical nurse. After a couple of very stressful monthss spent job hunting, I was hired for my "dream job," as the new Public Health Nurse for a Native American tribe, in a wonderful little clinic located on the shores of Lake Superior. My family and I love it here, and I must admit that seeing the "big lake" out of my bedroom window every morning is much more refreshing than the paper mill's smokestack where I used to live!
Book: ...Has been on hiatus due to the aforementioned "busy-ness" of life. I've collected many excellent interview responses, however (thanks again to everyone who participated!), and I hope to set about working on this again soon. If the process seems to be taking too long, I might just compile them on an informational/ motivational website, in lieu of formatting and editing a physical book. We'll see what seems most feasible.
As always, take care, keep it growing, great updates from everyone, and welcome to the newcomers!
Love, peace, and bear grease,
Validus
P.S.--Jason, I just checked your blog for the first time in quite a while... EXCELLENT work with the weight loss, my friend! I'm a big proponent of the paleo way of eating, and am actually a forum moderator at the website www.cavemanpower.com (link below). You might enjoy checking it out :)
P.P.S.--My almost-11-year-old long-haired son is gearing up to be "Legolas" for Halloween in a few days. I'll be sure to post some pictures.
Caveman Power
Hey Val,
It's great to hear from you. I've been wondering how things have been going.
Congrats on getting what sounds to be the ideal job in such a beautiful location! If you don't mind my asking, did your hair survive the job change? If not, it's not a big deal as we sometimes have to play the game and once we're secure in our jobs, just grow it out. I had already been working at my company for quite a few years before I starting growing mine out and nobody said a thing.
Thanks about my weight loss. I looked around the caveman site and it looks really cool. Maybe I'll join. I can't say enough good things about the paleo lifestyle. I'm now down to 160 and losing 40 pounds has made me feel so much better in every way. I'll be turning 40 in December and it makes it more bearable to be in the best shape I've been in a very long time. I've lost enough weight that I do cheat occasionally but it seems from what I've heard that if a diet of about 85% paleo is maintained, one can experience just about all the benefits. My goal remains to get down to 150 so I might have to tighten things up further. I explored CrossFit and that's where I first learned about the basics of paleo. I'm also a HUGE believer in intense exercise. The so-called fat burning zone and exercising so you can talk comfortably are not the best ways to exercise - at least not to lose weight and experience huge gains in fitness.
I posted our ultrasound last month - we're having a boy who we're naming Rowan!
Thanks, Jason. I can't even describe how much more fulfilling and uplifting this job is, compared to my previous one. Instead of the bickering, gossiping, and backstabbing that I used to witness on a daily basis, I find myself working with happy, smiling people, serving a community who truly appreciates the services we provide. My family even recently attendend the beautifully ceremonial raising of a new "spirit pole" in front of the clinic where I now work, and my 6-year-old daughter has joined a girls' hoop- and shawl-dancing troupe.
Thank you also for the encouraging words (as always) regarding my hair which, unfortunately, did not survive the job hunting process. After sending out over 60 job applications and getting only a few responses, things started feeling pretty desperate, and I did get a haircut. I'll do whatever it takes to provide for my family, first and foremost. Hell, I'd cut off my arm if I had to, and those don't even grow back... lol! So, here I am... again. Quite an ironic twist, don't you think, that when I did get hired, it was by a native tribe? The good news is that long hair certainly isn't frowned upon in this workplace or community, where beautiful manes (often braided) abound, on men and women alike. The even better news is that, even as I sit here typing, my hair is growing. Don't worry... I'll get there!
I'm glad you like the Caveman Power site. It was started years ago by a really cool guy named Matt Emery. He still pops in once in a while, but moderating the forum has pretty much been left to me. The paleo lifestyle can be challenging at times, living in a world that surrounds us with so many unhealthy temptations, but like you said, if you can manage to stick to it most of the time, your body will benefit greatly. There's no question that it feels healthier and more "right" than any other way of eating. Makes sense, considering that it's the type of fuel upon which our bodies are designed to run. It's also a great fit for guys with long hair... again, treating the body the way it was designed to be treated!
I also agree with you about the effectiveness of high-intensity exercise for fat loss and conditioning. Nothing works better or more quickly for burning fat than a paleo diet combined with proper exercise (i.e., plenty of moderate activity such as hiking, walking, and jogging, with high-intensity bursts such as sprinting, mixed in). For the non-exercisers out there, I must admit that I've also seen people achieve amazing results with the paleo diet, alone. Once they start losing weight, they often find themselves wanting to exercise. Also, people with certain heart conditions shouldn't exercise at a high intensity, but are encouraged to do plenty of walking, light-to-moderate resistance training (with proper breathing), etc., and can likewise achieve extraordinary transformations by eating paleo.
CONGRATULATIONS on the upcoming birth of your son! I love the name you and your wife have chosen. You are going to be an incredible father, Jason. I look forward to hearing your stories from the diaper-trenches!
Take care,
Val
Congratulations on getting what sounds like the perfect job in an ideal location. Enjoy!
Thanks! It's been a wonderful experience for my family and I, in terms of both the new job and the new location.
Have a great weekend :)
--Val
Great update Validus, and good to hear from you!
I can certainly vouch for the benefits of getting back to a simple natural diet. I know that it works, as I've followed a similar approach for a number of years.
- Oren
Thanks, Oren :)
You've been making great progress, by the way... hard to believe it's been 9 months already!
--Val
I love these aritlces. How many words can a wordsmith smith?
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