5. The Count of Monte Cristo

I love this film… all the components of a great film are here. Love, adventure, action and betrayal. If you are a book worm, Alexander Dumas wrote The Count of Monte Cristo and I would be forever grateful if you bought it using this link—> The Count of Monte Cristo.

4. Hook

If you ever loose touch with the kid that is inside you, watch this. Trust me your inner child will be glad you did.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean… all of them

I will just go ahead and group all of these films in one heading. I would not say I love every one of these movies… but this list would be incomplete if they were not here…. and they are extremely entertaining.

2. The Princess Bride

This movie is a classic… If you have not seen this movie go pop your favorite brand of microwave popcorn and cuddle up with that special someone… you will not regret this decision.

1. The Goonies

Goonies never say die! This movie is for every boy who grew up building forts in the woods and dreamt at night of being a treasure hunter. For me, this movie brings me back to those days.

First memorable moments of 2010 was going to Honduras on a mission trip. Read blog posts below.

• The Adventure Begins
• Monte Verde
• Agua Caliente
• Beautiful People
• Beautiful Scenery
• Broken

I wrote some blog posts about my Dad this year. Writing is a way for me to vent and is a form of recovery for me.

• Memory Lane
• My Dad the Coach

My friend Eric Silz had a dream of starting a Adventure Group. Well his dream became a reality because we started a group and went on some great trips.

• 100 Mile Bike Trip
• 100 Mile Bike Trip Part Two
• Adventure Journal: Red River Gorge Trip
• Adventure Journal: Red River Gorge Trip Round Two
• Adventure Journal: Backpacking Lake Vesuvius

I have been learning about survival and in the process wrote some blog posts on what I learned.

• Modern Survivalism
• Modern Survivalism Part Two
• Making the Most of Your Summer
• Skills Every Man Should Learn and Master

I lost 30 pounds this year and I am still on track to lost the remaining of my weight!

• How I lost 30 Pounds

I shot my first photo shoot this year! I actually did two and they turned out really well.

• Portrait Shoot: Tyler and Abby
• Portrait Shoot: Priscilla

Well that sums up 2010 for me. Hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!

What is on the Horizon for 2011??

• I will be going to Honduras for six weeks to learn Spanish at a immersion school!
• Continue to develop my blog and roll out the rest of the new design. Also continue to add content to my poetry page.
• Start school when I get back from Honduras.
• Lose the rest of my weight.
• Continue to save my money and get my finances in order.
• Go on more adventure trips!

Creating a bucket list will give you a clear set of life goals to work towards and help you feel a sense of meaning within your life. This is not an average to do list. If you are considering a bucket list you probably have a to do list already. To do list’s are great for tasks and things that need to get done. A bucket list is items you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket (hence the term bucket list).

Where to Begin?

Here is a list of questions to consider before you begin the brainstorming process:

• What do you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket?
• What skills do you want to learn?
• Who do you want to meet?
• Where do you want to travel?
• What are the things you have always wanted to do but never have?
• If you have an unlimited amount of money, resources and time what would you do?
• Are there any special events you want to be a part of?

Dream BIG and brainstorm. Write it all down regardless of how crazy it sounds. You can always go back and refine your list later. Not every item on your brainstorming list will make the cut on your bucket list. Here is an example of a brainstorming list:

• Visit every country
• Learn another language and be fluent
• Fall in love
• Be at peace financially
• Go skydiving
• Be an internet entrepreneur
• Redefine something and make it better
• Build a successful blog
• Drink beer in Ireland during St. Patty’s Day
• Be a light in dark times
• Help others to be inspired

Hopefully this gives you an idea of a brainstorming list. Remember… not to limit this list… just write what comes into your mind. I recommend having at least a 100 items on your brainstorming list.

Be inspired by others. Use other Bucket Lists for some ideas. Check out my bucket list for some inspiration.

Use categories. Break down your list into categories. You might want to have a list of categories like this… Adventure, Crazy Stuff, Home Improvement, Health & Fitness, Creative…etc.

Document everything! Write your list down or better yet put it on a blog. Journal about each time you cross something off your list. Take pictures and video.

Have any questions? Leave me a comment. You would get your name listed in my cool book if you posted your list/progress as a comment!

This is the first post in a series titled: How to Live a Life of Clarity.

Jimmy Eat World

This is one of my favorite bands. My favorite songs by them are endless. Here are a few to get you started.

• Lucky Denver Mint (Clarity)
• Firefight (video below)

• Pain (Futures)
• Night Drive (Futures)
• Action Needs an Audience (Invented)
• Over (Stay on My Side Tonight)
• Sweetness (Bleed American)

The Killers

• On Top (Hot Fuss)
• Somebody Told Me (video below)

• Jenny Was a Friend of Mine (Hot Fuss)
• When You Were Young (Sam’s Town)
• Sam’s Town-Abbey Road Version (Sawdust)

The Gaslight Anthem

• Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis? (The Senor and the Queen)
• Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts (video below)

• The Navesink Banks (Sink or Swim)
• Red at Night (Sink or Swim)
• The 59 Sound (The 59 Sound)
• Old White Lincoln (The 59 Sound)
• Miles Davis and the Cool (The 59 Sound)
• The Backseat (The 59 Sound)

Third Eye Blind

• Graduate (Self Titled)
• Jumper (video below)

• Slow Motion (Blue)
• Deep Inside of You (Blue)
• 10 Days Late (Blue)
• Crystal Baller (Out of the Vein)
• Misfits (Out of the Vein)
• Motorcycle Drive By (Self Titled)
• Bonfire (Ursa Major)
• Sharp Knife (Ursa Major)
• Water Landing (Ursa Major)

Lifehouse

• Hanging by a Moment (No Name Face)
• Everything (video below)

• All in All (Self Titled)
• Trying (No Name Face)
• Somewhere in Between (No Name Face)
• All That I’m Asking For (Smoke and Mirrors)
• Take Me Away (Stanley Climbfall)
• Whatever it Takes (Who We Are)
• Broken (Who We Are)
• Storm (Who We Are)

This list could go on forever… but I think I have narrowed it down to some of my favorite inspirational songs. I have one more song that I could not leave off this list… My Hero by the Foofighters.

So he set out on a adventure of a lifetime. He sold his life savings and just left. He departed from a comfortable life to find meaning in his life. I began to think about my life… what am I doing to make my life better? Am I product of society? A living, breathing robot going through the motions of what the world says I am supposed to do. If I am becoming that, I am not content with that…it is time for a change…it is time for action.

Freedom.

Let go of the things that hinder you. Make a list of those things and cross them off one by one. What are the things in your life that hinder you?

Disconnect.

There is something beautiful about being able to leave everything behind… leaving technology, cell phones and society behind to find meaning. For most of us it is not possible to disconnect completely. I suggest reserving a day where you escape from these things. Take a hike in the woods, go for a run or a bike ride. Just do something to get outdoors and away from your normal routine.

Devotion.

Be devoted to your list and make a change.

Take action.

There is a saying around Vineyard Westside, Don’t talk about it… be about it. Talk is cheap… follow up those words with action.

What is your idea of happiness?

People think to be happy you have to have a career, a wife, kids and money. I am not saying those things are bad, I want those for myself someday. But I want to live my life in the moment and enjoy things as they happen. There will never be a perfect time to do something. The time is now!

Ok its 6am… and if your reading this sorry to bother you with my ramblings of a insomniac. I am going to sleep, like a “normal” person. I leave you with this…

So if this sounds appealing and you need to lose some weight follow this list to get started and stick with it. Following these guidelines I was able to lose 30 pounds in four months. **This list may not work for you, the important thing is to find something that works for you**

1. You have to make up your mind that you want to change. Many people were telling me for years how I needed to lose weight. I had to realize for myself that I needed to lose the weight.

2. Start small. As with anything bombarding yourself with a laundry list of things to do will get you nowhere fast. Stick to making one or two changes at first and see them through. For example, I started to eat three to five servings of fruit daily. Once you begin to eat fruit and make a habit of it, your body will crave it. The natural sugar in fruit will help with curbing the want to give in to your sweet tooth.

3. Eating healthy is key to weight loss. Take time to plan what you are going to eat. If you are debating if you should work out or eat healthy, go with eating healthy. Implementing these power foods is a good idea to get started with your weight loss program. Another guide I use is Michi’s Ladder. It breaks down food into five tiers, one being the best and five being the worst. I try to stay in the top two tiers.

4. Have a cheat meal. I have a cheat meal once a week. I will eat whatever I want for one meal. The one thing this does for me is it reminds me how crappy I feel after eating food that is not healthy. It only takes one meal of fried food to make your body feel like crap. If you happen to mess up more than once a week…DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. The next meal get back on your eating plan. A key idea to remember is you have to think long-term. A good pace for weight loss is one to two pounds a week.

5. Eat multiple meals a day. I eat six or seven meals a day. As long as your awake and active you should be eating to keep your metabolism going. It is also important to eat every three hours. If you do not your metabolism begins to slow down.

Eating less is not good. Do not go below 1,200 calories a day. I typically try to eat around 2,100 calories a day.

My Daily Food Diary

• Breakfast: Two omega enriched eggs and two eggs whites. One slice of whole wheat bread, toasted with peanut butter on top. Three slices of turkey bacon. I usually eat some fruit, blackberries are my favorite. One glass of water or green tea.
• Snack One: Greek Yogurt, Bear Naked Peak Protein Granola and fresh strawberries. Sometimes I will add blueberries into the mix. This is my favorite snack to eat. One glass of water.
• Lunch: Turkey sandwich (turkey lunch meat from the deli, stay away from meat in packages), mustard or olive oil mayonnaise, on whole wheat bread. I will add some fruit here as well. Sometimes, I will switch the sandwich out and eat a salad with olive oil salad dressing with turkey mixed in. One glass of water.
• Snack Two: Another serving of fruit and one glass of water.
• Dinner: Chicken or fish, veggies, brown rice, serving of fruit, and water. If I did not eat a salad at lunch I will eat one at dinner. One glass of water or green tea.
• Snack Three: Almonds, apple and a glass of water.

More Tips

• On the days that I lift I drink a protein shake with water before I workout and one after with milk instead of water.
• Stop eating 4 hours before your bedtime.
• Protein pudding is good snack. I make chocolate pudding according to the directions on the package adding two scoops of protein to the mix.
• I include a multivitamin and a fish oil supplement.

6. Find a work out plan that works for you. I use the Power 90 program and will graduate to P90x when I am finished with that. Take my word for it these programs do work, but you have to put the work into it to get positive results. Make sure to start with Power 90 as it will prepare you for P90x.

Another program I have used is Turbulence Training. Follow Craig Ballantyne (the creator of TT) at twitter.

7. Stay active. Apart from working out it is key to add some extra activities to your work out plan.

Here are some ideas:

• Hiking- a great way to burn some calories and see the outdoors. Add a pack on your back for an added challenge.
• Biking- I try to bike two or three times a week. Or if you are crazy ride a 100 miles in one weekend. Make sure to read part two of the bike adventure. My next goal is to ride a century, which is 100 mile ride in one shot.
• Canoeing/Kayaking- Getting some friends together to hit the water is a great way to work on some upper body strength. I just did a 8 mile canoe trip @ Morgans Outdoor Adventures.
• For more ideas check out this article: 50 guy trips that will change your life.

8. Create short-term goals. Once you create them write them down. Stick with your goals too. I knew it was time for me to “man up” and get serious about my weight loss. Once you do an activity for 21 days it becomes a habit. It might be hard at first but stick with it and it will become part of your day.

Recap

• Once you build your momentum keep it going.
• Remember to commit to the lifestyle change and avoid DIETS.
• Start small.
• Eat a cheat meal.
• Eat multiple meals a day.
• Have a small network of friends who will support you and your efforts.

My Personal Goals

• Lose another 30 to 40 pounds, which will put me at my target weight of 190-200.
• Get my body fat percentage to 10% or lower.
• For the first time I want to see my abs.
• Do more outside. I do not want my weight to hinder me from my adventures. This is a good motivation for me.

Hope this helps you on your path to weight loss. Good luck!

1. Cut the cord. What do I mean?? Get rid of cable…there I said it. I predict that cable will be phased out in next 5 years. With sites like Hulu and major networks offering their shows online…now is a good time to cut the cord. Cable should offer their programs A la carte, where you can pick and choose which channels you want. Instead you are strong armed into being told what channels you have with each package you order.

2. Now that cable is gone, you should have all sorts of time to learn a new skill. Read this article, Top 40 Useful Sites to Learn New Skills, it will provide you with many sources on learning something new. Some of my favorite sites to learn new stuff are:

• Types of Skills Every Man Should Know
• Instructables
• How Stuff Works

3. Volunteer.

• Habitat for Humanity is a good place to get your hands dirty especially if you like to build things.
• There are many opportunities to volunteer in Over the Rhine @ soup kitchens and churches.
• Freestore Foodbank. Visit their volunteer page to get more details.

4. Go on a vacation. If your low on money do some research on what is close by. Getting out and having fun with those you love is key in rejuvenating yourself.

5. Read a book. Its a great way to unwind and relax. Check out my Summer Reading List for some ideas.

Hope this helps I am off to eat some breakfast at 2:00 pm.

What I hope to accomplish this year

I have some goals for this year as it pertains to my bucket list. I would love to cross off number 59 (learn Spanish), 56 (Sponsor a kid through Compassion International), 55 (bike 100 miles in one weekend, this will be crossed off in a few weeks!), 22 (Get all my A+ certifications), 18 (Learn to play the guitar), and for the scary one…

My friend from UPS is getting a group together to go SKYDIVING!! –> 3 (Go skydiving). So if anyone who reads this wants to go skydiving this is your invite.

Thought this would be a good place to show some clips from the movie The Bucket List (which if you haven’t seen you probably should rent it…now).

I found this snack food that seems to be a healthy alternative to chips etc. Put it in some yogurt and I am positive you will love it. The packaging claims there is no artificial flavors, no preservatives, no synthetic additives and no high fructose corn syrup. Head on over to yogiproducts.com to check them out. As a person who loves tea I am excited that they have tea and I will make sure to report back on how it ranks.