Whatever you believe, don't believe in the "placebo effect"

If you've already read this at jpfitness.com, don't waste your time here... Reprint!


I've always been a strong believer in the placebo effect. I think some of those people really are "cured" by that rascally minister on the stage. Granted, much of it is an act or just people who only think they are sick, but it shows the power of belief, faith, etc. Faith in God, a Doctor, or a pill; no matter.

But, what about those of us who believe so strongly in the placebo effect? We're practically screwed. One hint of a psychosomatic cure in others and the chance for my own cure is history.

Can I shield myself from researching a drug or supplement that I think may help me? Should I find a way to hide threads, here at JPFitness.com*, discussing the futility of using NO-Explode or glutamine?

Ahh... The good ol' days, when green tea kept me on track toward leanness. Gone. I'm already fat again!

Oh! I just got back from buying bigger polos to contain my rapidly growing arms, when I realized that creatine merely helps me do more work. And, just a little more. Only a little... I hope that lime green polo is still in style in the 2-3 years it's going to take me to fill it.

Where will it end? Does that extra bite of chicken really put me into a positive nitrogen balance? Spinach sounds too good to be true... Acid/base, smacid base! Iceberg's crunchier, anyway!

Google can find anything and everything. It locates the information at the speed of light, it seems. That's fast. Too fast. Is google a blessing or a curse? Back in the day, I would drive to the library to research something. Fun? No, not so much. Slow? Yes. I'm a lazy man, at heart. I'd easily burn off 10% of my fat mass with supplement x, before I ever got around to driving to the library. Plus, you have to pass the "free" copies of Flex on the way to the boring sections anyway (Flex has more supplement Ads! Score!!). Google just ruins everything...

I refuse to google any ingredient in my new Hot-Rox Extreme Fat Burners. Damn-it. 30 minutes in and I'm sweating. Every time I swallow two of these beautiful little capsules, sweat forms. It's either a true thermogenic quality or an allergic reaction. Either way, I figure my metabolism is soaring. I can feel the fat coming off.

Do not tell me they aren't working. They are. Not only am I a bit warm, but I also don't want to eat as much. Is it the appetite suppressing quality or the mild heartburn? Does it matter? Not so much...

When I do eat, I seem to be more careful. Does the secret formula (and tantalizing raspberry aroma) remind me to eat right, ceasing my cravings for crap? Or, do I merely envision more money going down the toilet every time the thermic effect of donuts reminds me of the $31.95 (plus shipping) that I shelled out to have abs? No matter.

I highly recommend the new Hot-Rox Extreme Fat Burners, currently on sale at a special introductory price, at t-nation.com.

* As such, I will not read any responses to this thread (er, blog).**

** Unless I can't find my library card.

Mmmmm.... Cheese.

I was about to make a snack for my kids. They like cheese. My dad has cheese.

I had my eye on that sharp cheddar. The one down on the right hand side.

Unfortunately, it was stuck there. Practically glued down to the bottom of the drawer.

I pried it up, figuring I'd have to wash the wrapper before cutting it open.

Before the knife bit into the cheese, I decided to read the label. Oh, my God. July 16, 1997! Yes, this cheese has been in the fridge for 9 years! Wow...

It was a little hard, but my kids found it tasty. Like jerky. Cheese jerky...

Fat Boy!

I know I'm not fat, but I'm tired of having flabby spots. I'm also tired of being weak. I'd also like to be more muscular...

I'm getting frustrated... Again!

Roland

--blogged from somewhere, from my blackberry handheld. please forgive any speeling errors that these thumbs produce--

I lost my key!

I was the last to leave my house. I left all the keys on the counter, except the one on my keyring. That one was to go into the lockbox on the door, so my Realtor could let the new owners in.

I took the key off the ring and unlocked the lockbox. There was a key already inside. I put mine in anyway, locked it, and went to my car to leave. But then, I paused. I went back, I opened the little box, and took my key back.

I knew which key was mine because mine is brass. It's the last original key. All the others are silver copies of mine. I was the only one to have never lost his key.

I put it in my pocket and left.

I thought about keeping it. I know the new owners are changing the locks, so that's no big deal. But that's no good. Do I want this constant reminder around forever. Probably not.

Burying it was a thought. But, where? No good.

The bitter and angry parts of me thought of all sorts of crazy things to do with it. But, I don't want to be like that.

It needed to be gone forever.

Most of the lakes around here are man-made. Most of the rivers are paved with concrete. Quicksand is a cool idea, but I'm not even sure it's real... So, I took it to the ocean.

Top down, sun on my arms, wind in my hair, I headed out to Torrance Beach.

It was a beautiful day at the beach, too; sunny and warm, with a slight breaze to keep the little sand flies at bay.

I laid ther on my towel, 'til I was good and hot, then strolled down to the water, key in hand

The water felt pretty warm, for the Pacific. I waded out, then dove under the first big wave and swam out a bit. I waited for a huge wave to come in, then threw that key as far as I could, over the crashing wave. I didn't see it splash.

I headed back to shore and dried off under the sun, reading.

I feel lighter, now. It was a nice day at the beach.

--blogged from somewhere, from my blackberry handheld. please forgive any speeling errors that these thumbs produce-- :)

How Pathetic Is This?

I always feel bad for worms after the rain. They come to the surface to save themselves from drowning, only to dry up or get stomped on.

I passed a strip of grass that had broken sprinklers. It was a nice hot and sunny day. The sprinklers must have been going for hours, letting water run down the street like a river. The worms had had enough and headed up. I felt so bad for the little guys.

I spent a few minutes scooping up as many worms as possible and tossing them into a planter. Tossing them to safety. A worm sanctuary.

...and then, the birds came.