Round Two - FIGHT!

I love how headlines catch peoples attention for different reasons. I realize that it has been 4 months since my first few posts on BP blog and was honestly amazed. Time sort of slips away from us, doesn't it? I actually updated the crazy issue I had with my first wholesale deal(It was updated in the comments.)

So why the title? What is this Round Two nonsense about? Well, I will tell you. This is not entirely Real Estate related, but you still might find it interesting. You see, as I started to get more calls coming in and pieces moving, I realized that there were some things about myself that I must change if I were going to be successful in this gig. I am HUGE on self help and have either read or listened to many of the top motivational and self help speakers material. I am EXCELLENT at utilizing the assortment of ideas and techniques to motivate others to move forward with their goals and desires. However, I really sort of failed at utilizing the teachings I had learned in my own life. So I presented the question "Why?" Why couldn't I implement the life skills I knew to be important to growth. Time management, organization, financial skills, etc. The answer was very clear to me, but I wasn't allowing myself to accept the truth.

**Damn You ADD**

I was diagnosed years ago for Adult ADD by my PCP and placed on normal stimulants. I recall it helped early on, but I never really took them properly nor did I track the results. I had never really accepted that I had it. By not accepting it, it didn't force me to learn to manage it. You simply can't cure or get rid of true ADD. By looking outside in I realized that it was blatantly clear that all of my issues were pointing to the major signs/symptoms of ADD. It was here that I really accepted that I had ADD and decided it was time to REALLY take some action. I called my PCP and got referred to a more appropriate Dr. and changed up the meds. I researched... researched... and researched some more! This lead me to some interesting conclusions.

It has been know that ADD is very much related to the foods that a person eats for some time now. Gluten is a major contributor to symptoms of ADD. Another largely tested idea is that artificial colors, preservatives, and other petroleum based items were linked to an increase in the symptoms. The more i read about the links to food the more I couldn't ignore it. I knew that if I eat dairy I would have some allergic reactions. However, as we all know... dairy is everywhere! Gluten wouldn't give me an immediate reaction, but I was almost POSITIVE that it had a delayed reaction in me. I tested it and it seemed about a 12-24 hour delay. Also I tested the Red 4 food coloring theory.... yep... made me hyperactive as crap! Sure I know, i may have forced the effect on myself BUT someone had brought something from home a few weeks later and how rude would it of been for me not to eat her beautiful cupcake. It made me super hyper. I asked her later about what was in it and there were like 4 food colorings. One of them was the red 4. Not exactly a blind test... but pretty close!

So I committed to eating a different way. More raw foods and natural foods, and eliminate all dairy, gluten, and the artificial stuff. Talk about tough! I cheated a lot at first. But I accepted I would cheat and that I would do small cheats. I had a period of crazy withdrawals, headaches, and super crazy (Am i pregnant?) cravings! I was eating almost a completely vegetarian diet with lots of natural whole grains that didn't contain gluten. I was feeling MUCH better BUT it came at a cost. I am pretty sure that it was probably more of my body transitioning, but I became very moody. I also had episodes of hypoglycemia where I HAD to eat something "unhealthy" or I was lightheaded, and weak. This lasted more than a few weeks so I knew something was still off.

Then I hurt my back on the ambulance. BOOM! Bed bound for days and many a pain killers, I slowly recovered. I tried to eat as best I could in this time and had the support of a few friends. It would be funny that they would ask "would you like me to bring you something healthy?" and would bring Chick-Fil-A or something that was totally against the no gluten/dairy way of eating. I ended up hurting my SI Joint (common firefighter/EMS injury) and it took weeks to get better. This did give me some time to research more and get more ideas. I had the Dr. do blood tests and there were some blood values out of whack. Unfortunately with a recently highly changed diet and it not being consistently followed it wasn't 100% what the cause was.

So then the best thing happened. During my research I was trying different ideas and talking with professionals of all areas to seek out answers. It was an against the grain nutritionist who would lead me to what has absolutely changed my life. Originally I was eating almost fully vegetarian with huge amounts of vegetables and fruits. The nutritionist said that was a great way to eat, BUT she had seen some people have wonderful results eating how ones ancestors would have eaten. Here I was introduced to "PRIMAL/PALEO" form of eating. My ancestors would have eaten more fats and meat, while actually having less fruits. So the short of it was to still eat lots of veggies, some fruits but mostly just berries, no grains, no legumes (beans), and start getting more protein from meat and increase the amount of fat in my diet.

Okay, I will be honest, I was immediately like "what the heck are you talking about." This really sort of goes against the conventional ideas of how we should eat. Eat very few carbs, get a lot of "HEALTHY" fats, and a decent portion of protein. So I immediately went to action researching the facts. Sure enough there was tons of evidence to support her claims. Many people, including star athletes, were eating this way. The more I read about it, the more I loved the idea! You mean bacon, eggs, and veggies for breakfast. Steak, Asparagus , and a side salad for dinner. Okay, yeah, I can try that!

The results *for me* have been astronomical! In only a few weeks of doing it I lost over 11 lbs just eating foods I am loving to eat. I haven't exercised at all! I am much more sated after eating and sometimes not ever hungry but twice a day. The meals I eat are generally a but bigger. I have much more energy and am no longer experiencing the hypoglycemic (realized this was due to large insulin release with the high carbs I was eating) episodes. I have had blood work drawn again a few days ago and most values are much closer to baseline. I also wanted a solid baseline on cholesterol and other things that might be a concern of higher fat diets. I will check this monthly for a while. Overall, it is simply amazing... oh yeah.. I swear I sleep better at night!

So, like most things in life, there has to be some downsides right? Well, that depends. The hardest part of the transition for me has been the time required to be in the kitchen. Almost all my meals have to be cooked to some degree. This has started to get easier with time but it is STILL time consuming. Another factor is that to eat this way but get everything super high quality and organic is EXPENSIVE. No like REALLY expensive! However, I am actually sort of seeing some of the expenses averaging out since some days I am eating twice a day comfortable, and I am learning some money saving ideas. So far the time and money has been wayyyy worth it and I love the way I feel.

ROUND TWO FOR REI

So I feel so much better and more focused. I have actually for over two weeks been catching up on pod casts, working on marketing material, created a few awesome Craigslist picture ads, and got back into some RPM/OPA type stuff. I have been talking to more leads, taking more calls, and networking a little more. I've been thinking for a few days now how I need to get really involved with BP more and I feel no better way than to start putting my ideas and thought on here.

I never really fully left trying to wholesale, but my efforts were definitely minimal. Today I drove a patient from Little Rock to Memphis and was able to listen to 3 pod-casts on the round trip. Perks of the job!

First I listened to PodCast 54 with Lisa Phillips and really liked that she gave a positive twist on something that has such negativity attached to it. Starting off I am thinking I will likely have to start with the smaller properties like this when I decide to move away from wholesaling. I accept that I might have to start tough before I can grow and make things easier. Hearing her story was excellent.

Second I listened to Podcast 53 with Jason Hull and it really got some wheels turning. I did the stock thing in the past and Forex. It wasn't for me. Especially with having ADD! I made like 10k... only to lost it all. Jason was super straightforward and logical. I really relate to that and it goes a long way with me. Some of his retirement ideas seem like the lost chapter to Rich Dad Poor Dad. I have noted to return to this podcast as reference when I start getting good revenues coming in!

Lastly I listened to Podcast 15 with Glenn and Amber Schworm. How in the world did I not already hear this podcast?!?!? I just really related to the things they said and could literally see myself having a business in the future like they had. They started with almost nothing (i can relate!!) and now have something awesome. One of my "why i want to be in REI" is actually to have that business where the people who work for me are not only compensated greatly financially for the work they do, but also to create a better person though different life-skills. I had the pleasure of working for a man like this before who truly believed his employees were his greatest asset. I've always dreamed of providing this to others. This was the podcast that most motivated me (again, I just somehow related) and I drove about 2 hours in silence just thinking. I don't really do this enough. I decided that it was really time to step up and start pushing low cost and free marketing methods to start getting leads.

I also realized some of my fears while thinking in the silence of that ride home. I almost felt overwhelmed for a little bit because I felt like I was being pushed into the corner of a room with all of the things that I didn't know, or needed to improve cowering over me and not giving me any space to move. I realized I wasn't doing some things because of the fear of failure; the fear of rejection; and maybe even the fear of success. Didn't I just hear that "Fear is the Enemy of Action" from Lisa Phillips? That hit me hard and I decided on the spot that I wasn't going to let my fears dictate my success. So it is time to tear down those walls and get to it again.

I know I have written a lot here, but it is a great way for me to get my ideas into a organized form. You can expect more from me in the very near future as I actually already have some ideas for blog posts. Also I have already started a few marketing ideas and purchased a list (albeit small but one I can afford for now to market to at least 7 times) to start mailing to.

No More Excuses! No More Fear! Never Give Up!