RESPONSE TO NEWSLETTER SURVEY

I have transferred the electronic mail responses to the "Rumor has it..." newsletter to print so that I may recline and read the material comfortably and unencumbered. Arranged in a trim four-inch stack is a collection of stories of people whose hearts beat, who wake up in the morning and live life daily, who eat, drink, work and play. Thank you, my friends, for giving me your time, energy and worth. This has been good for all of us.

Over 130 tales, each generating three to five word-packed pages — several as many as eight — have captured my thoughts and imagination. The pictures painted are inspiring, heartbreaking, exhausting, frustrating and encouraging, funny and sad. Some folks have been winning and losing forever and will not give up. They're closer than they think. Some are new to the mission, learned right and fast and are on their way. Be careful. Be humble. Be thankful. One gal not yet thirty carries an infant on her back and pushes two diaper-bound sweethearts uphill in a sturdy stroller full of groceries (high protein). I've got my money on her and, of course, I don't gamble.

The broad view of the survey revealed what I expected yet brought it home with clarity and affirmation. An equal number of men and women responded in an even mix of 30s, 40s and 50s. There were few teens and young 20s, fewer over 60. One out of ten are savvy, a few are smug and most are confused, yet seeking and striving and learning. Hope is everywhere and not a coward in sight. Two out of ten have carried the overweight burden since early childhood, haunted daily by the excess and mercilessly bound to the task of eliminating the pounds. Most were okay until high school turned them loose in the real world and life crowded around them.

And there they stood, vulnerable, without a serious and penetrating education about right eating and exercise and their primary and permanent role in our existence. Innocent family environment and cultural nescience contributed to the misdirection. TV, the couch, the ads, the schemes, the stairway to heaven. Work hard? Good. Now sit back and enjoy... indulge yourself, eat, drink and be... umm... merry. The myth that things and money are worth more than mere everyday good health positioned the players off-guard, struggling, frightened and angered. "Why didn't anyone tell us? I want my life," is the groan from deep down.

More protein, less sugar, don't shoot every fat you see; eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to feed and fuel, work out with the weights to build... these are the popular practices that every bodybuilder has followed since their emergence fifty years ago. They've been preached by the muscular and peculiar sub-culture but resisted by ordinary society until today. They are an essential part of life as are hygiene, grooming, ethics, respect and responsibility. Ordinary society has become a mess.

The word is getting out. The fog is lifting. The tide is turning. Can you feel it? We're in this together. The war has taken its toll and the battles are being fought by brave individuals on the home front. They are reclaiming their territory and lives by eating right, working out and being consistent. They know, they believe and they're committed. Hold the banners high and let them unfurl in the free, blue sky.

You want to know what holds us back — from losing weight, gaining muscle, getting in shape or whatever? The checklist is long, wide and deep. It suffocates and immobilizes, it twists and turns, pushes and pulls. You can scan the list or visit each word for a second or minute. You just might happen to visit several all day long. The checklist includes knowledge (too little, too much or flawed), time, patience, consistency, trust, confidence, self-esteem, world sorrow, pessimism, excessive defeat and regular failure, loneliness, lack of support, busy-ness, obligations, job or jobs, family and kids, psychological and emotional alienations that mislead and devour energy and action. Motivation — capital M, Commitment — capitol C, Procrastination — capitol P, Discipline — capitol D, Perseverance — giant P, no goal-wrong goal, desire, heart, apathy, humor, courage-guts-nerve, willingness, laziness, overwhelmedness, habits, sick-broken-busted and... money.

Did I miss anything? The thorns and thistles intertwine and tangle, looking like one another. If you don't mind, from time to time I would like to toss out a few questions of the simple "yes-no" variety to keep me focused and on track in my clumsy "Straight Talk" endeavor. A dozen of ya'll commented that answering the survey was an interesting exercise and afforded a bit of insight into the curiosity before us. We got some fixin' to do.

Thanks again to the heroes, stars and champions out there who visited me over the past two weeks. Great job. And thanks to the squadron of patient and compassionate bombers who listen.

Dave Draper