Sunday Morning Selfie

Welcome to my weekly reflection on my life and lifestyle, Sunday Morning Selfie. My name is Joe Bryant and I am a Seattle area Broadcast Media teacher who woke up on New Years Day and decided 2017 will be the year I start living a healthier lifestyle and remove myself from the “obese” category, which is where the doctors have classified my weight to be most of my adult life.

 This Blog is mostly an accountability tool and commitment I have made with myself. But if others can benefit, get a tip or simply enjoy the content that’s even better!

Today is Super Bowl Sunday aka, the day where New Years resolutions go to die. January is the month when people are really packing gyms and not packing in food. For many, the Super Bowl is a perfect day to fall off that wagon or fall into a plate of cheesy nachos.

Fortunately for me I don’t expect to encounter much temptation this year.

Since I was a little boy I have always LOVED watching football and have never missed the Big Game. I assume my dad put me in front of a TV for Super Bowl’s I and II, but it is Super Bowl III that I clearly remember watching.

I was five years old and was so happy to set down in my FULL uniform, helmet and all and watch the AFL Champion Jets take on the NFL powerhouse Baltimore Colts. By the way, I was wearing a #19 Johnny Unitas uniform. I was on the wrong side of history that day as I would continue to be for many Super Bowls to come.

It seems the Agony of Defeat usually outweighs the Thrill of Victory for me when it comes to picking Super Bowls. Today I will be rooting for Dan Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons which means Tom Brady will most likely have another ring by this time tomorrow.

However, I cant even say for certain that I will watch. I have NEVER been less interested in a Super Bowl than I am this one and, based on my home and work to do list, I could use the time more efficiently.

If you are still reading AND still working on making healthy lifestyle changes yourself CONGRATULATIONS. You have now officially made it to February and you are no longer “dieting”. Now you are officially living your new lifestyle. Keep that in mind this afternoon when the game is on. Enjoy yourself but make good choices and prepare for the continued success we are going to continue to have together!

If you are here just to check my weight I am sorry I got to talking football on you there. As of this morning my bathroom scale reads…… drum roll…..  233 lbs.! I am four more pounds down this week and have lost a total of 23 lbs since New years Day.

I also got a big payoff for the first time this week when one of my teaching colleagues stopped me in the hall and said, “you are losing weight and are really looking great!” I had not been told that by anyone in a LONG time.

This Blog has been a huge reason why I am having success but I also must credit 30/10 Weight Loss for Life in Renton. The 30/10 program makes is really simple to stay on track and the motivational tapes, weekly looks at weight, body fat, muscle mass etc. give me encouragement to keep pointed towards my goal.

I should also mention a product that 30/10 co-founder Dr. Linda Degroot turned me on to. Have you ever tried and “Walden Farms” brand products? They make some incredibly tasty and totally guilt free dressings, sauces and even syrups. I just had the pancake syrup and a 30/10 protein pancake  and it is extremely satisfying. No it isn’t as good as the Bob Rivers Vermont maple syrup but it certainly satisfies.

Last week I mentioned that the news cycle can make me want to eat. But this week my students and I were much too busy making our own news launching a new radio station to pay much attention to what was going on outside our immediate sphere of influence.

I have decided that, as far as the unsettled world situation goes, the best thing we can all do is work to make our communities stronger thru OUR actions. It frustrates me to no end to see our nation becoming divided and losing so much credibility with the world but I am focusing my energies on what I can do to make things better for the future.

With that in mind 889 The Bridge:Music and Conversation that Spans Generations is now on the air and getting lots of great feedback! I encourage you to give it a try and if you want to know more about the project this article from the Mercer Island Reporter does a nice job of covering our launch. Also thanks to KING 5 for the visit on launch day and look for our Program Director Leah performing live on New Day Northwest Tuesday Morning.

Leah is a serious talent and you can listen to her live on air performance on launch day here if you want to verify! The “Live Music Lab” is now open and we are looking for  artists to showcase. Please feel free to spread the word if you know of a rising star that would like to be considered.

So we made it thru January and SMS is still a thing. Seattle has a great new radio station to enjoy and a troubled football season will soon be in the rear view mirror.

Thanks SO MUCH to anyone who has taken the time to check in and please give any feedback and tips that others might find helpful in the comments section. If you know of a great quilt free product like Walden Farms I would love to hear about it.

 Also 889 The Bridge is still “under construction” and always will be so if you have feedback for my students or ideas on how we can use our media powers for good i would like to hear about that as well.

 Happy Super Bowl Sunday and we all continue this journey toward health and fitness together!

 Go Falcons. Joe