Thursday, February 14, 2008

K.I.S.T.

People go to school for many years to receive many levels of degrees and diplomas. My hats off to all of them for their efforts and accomplishments. I personally have some formal education but I hold a self- proclaimed PhD in “the battle to live”. My thesis is in the self-study to find a balance of living with my disease and being able to come to some normalcy. Do I know about obesity? Do I know things about myself, and how they affect my behaviors? Do I know how to lose weight? Do I know how to diet? Do I know? Oh do I know! If a doctorate could be issued in “obesity” … well just call me Dr. Mike.

I have researched this disease for over twenty-three years. I have self-examined and put myself in therapy for over thirty years. Medically, I have experienced personally a lot and have seen even more. I have exercised at 198 pounds and at 1,000 pounds and I have lost literally over a ton of weight.

Throughout the years if something worked for me, I was the type of person who wanted to share with my friends. Well something is working for me over the past almost three years and I want to share it. Now it is no magic answer and it is really nothing amazingly new but it works, it works for me. I am an addict and when it comes to food, I love it. I will always love it and not all the therapy, all the behavior modification, in the world, so far has been able to keep me from loving food. Not only do I love it I am addicted to it also. In that once I start eating it I can barely control myself and it becomes a major all out battle.

Therefore, what is working for me is my K.I.S.T. method. Keep It Simple Today! Tomorrow we will worry about when it gets here but for today simple. Simple menus, simple cooking, simple flavors. The more involved the more flavors and aromas, the prettier and tastier and emmm good then guess what? I want more! No matter how healthy it is prepared, how much fiber and little fat etc. etc. eventually if you eat more and more of it the calories add up. If you eat, more calories than your body burns up in a 24-hour period then guess what happens to those extra calories? They get stored as fat. Now I know that is a simple version but that is what I am talking about, simple. Keep It Simple Today!

Listen to me my friends and listen to and old experienced person in this topic (one who in no way has it all together yet) we cannot look for pleasure in the food. We have to find something else in our life that makes us feel as good as those crazy flavors, sensations that come from eating. That is the million-dollar question what is that thing for you. For me it might be my grandson, or my wife or family or helping a friend for you it might be something else.

The important thing is the quest is worth it in your life. Your ultimate inner peace and happiness is worth it all. So when it comes to your battle for control today, when it comes to your next meal or worrying about your exercise remember this K.I.S.T.

Keep It Simple Today
Love ya
Mike

21 comments:

Wally said...

Hello Mr Hebranko,

Yet another excellent post. Believe me Mr. Hebranko, I can relate to what you are saying here. I am a 36 year old man from Appleton, WI. I currently tip the scales at around 425 lbs. I have been heavy all of my life. As you well know, the weight is only a part of the battle. The depression and feelings of worthlessness are just as painful as the physical manifestations of my, our condition. It is often hard to hold my head up, but your message gives me some hope today. I like your philosophy of thinking one day at a time. Thinking about all of the weight I have to lose makes the task seem very daunting, but thinking in terms of controlling myself today, just today seems like something I can do.

Thank you Mr Hebranko. Please be well and happy!

Sincerely,
Wally P

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Mr Wally P
First feel free to call me Mike. I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. I know exactly where you are coming from. As I was reading your post I was thinking so often The experts tell us we eat because we are depressed but then on the other hand being 400, 500, 1,000 pounds is a pretty good reason to be depressed ... so we eat! What a cycle but we need to HALT! Take a snap shot in on life and start from this moment. We are heavy, we are depressed but we will eat healthy this meal anyway and maybe move our legs a bit. Then possibly we might feel good about ourselves ...just a little bit and allow that feeling to happen.
Wally good luck to you buddy and please keep in touch with me. Let's not lose contact, I really care about you and your battle. I know that you care do it. 400 hundred is a large number but next month it might only be 395 and then you are in the home stretch! Go get em!!
Love ya guy
Mike

Wally said...

Dear Mike,

I really appreciate you taking a few minutes to respond to my comments. Your kind words brightened my day, and just knowing that there is someone else out there fighting the same fight gives me reason to hope.

Anyway, I am going to start this day off right. After I finish this letter, I am going to jump (gently) on my exercise bike, and after go to the dreaded grocery store where I intend to simply endure the stares, and to make good choices.

I am adopting K.I.S.T. as my credo (hope you don't mind). Hour by hour, meal by meal, day by day, I will keep it simple.

Have a great day Mike. I extend you my hand in friendship.

Sincerely,
Wally Palmer

Mike Hebranko said...

Hey Wally
I hope your attempts the other day went well. If they did great!! If it didn't go that great well today is a new day filled with new hope. Remember my good friend "we only fail when we stop trying"! Your attitude is great and you adopt anything of mine that will help make your life a little better. Good luck my brother (in battle)and a K.I.S.T. to you today. One other thing always find time to smile, it helps to lighten help first mentally then physically.
Have a great one!!
Respectfully love
Mike

Anonymous said...

Dear Mike
I need to tell you that I read your blog four days ago and since then I have been trying what you said. That K.I.S.T. works. I have had twelve good simple meals and I have made it a point to increase my movement by simple things. I feel a difference. I have to make this work. Thank You
Sincerely grateful
Margie

senorziltox said...

hey mike, tz here, i had my staples removed today(ouch!), do you hear from val puccio? do you have his telephone number? I have some workout questions to ask him, I'm getting over a hernia, and maybe he can advise an exercise routine, regards, your brother in spirit,scrabble,and matters of weight and heart, tz.

Peggs said...

Hey Moi....

First off thanks for the blog. It always brings me back to where i SHOULD be and grounds me, but then again you have always had a way of doing that. Robin and I have gone back on program atleast we picked a day but i try a bit harder than my baby and its hard when she brings goodies in here and there. Its been hard since i promised myself i would never go over that big "300" and did. Now just getting back down to my 280 is a battle every day, but I am back to thinking ONE DAY AT A TIME and absolutely eating healthier. I have my slips here and there .....but you i listen to my tapes on and off....and read my plaques you made me...and remember when...and know WE CAN DO THIS. ALL OF US....we just have to hold onto hope and faith and holding onto the strength in ourselves and the support of each other. Thank you God for my Gift of my Choo....

P.S. please know my heart is with you and the family as i read about Nancy and Mikey. Im sorry for your loss...you will all be in our thoughts and prayers.

Love you Michael
Peace and Blessings, n be happy...

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Margie
Go for it and never stop trying, what are the choices? To give up? Oh no! That does not compute! Keep it simple and take it easy on yourself, remember Margie you are human and we come with a few kinks. So be patient, you have the rest of your life to take care of yourself!
With Love and Hope
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Hey tz
I emailed you the info and I hope it helps. Take it easy at first as I am sure your doctor will tell you. Don't get crazy with the exercise right away and remember tz you can never burn off all the bagels, egg rolls and hamburgers we can eat in a day. Just take it slowly eat healthy and exercise sensibly(not such a good speller).
You get what I mean and you know what I am talking about. Good luck my brother I believe in you and know you can do it.
Love and respect
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Choo
If anyone can do it you can! Just love yourself enough, You are so easy to love and such a loving person be sure you realize that daily. Robin is a special person and I know she tries very hard but we know that sometimes we hurt ourselves and each other but we can also be each others source of strength. Encourage each other, be patient with each other, love each other but remeber ultimately who is number one when it comes down to taking care of you!
I miss you Peg but will never forget you we had some great times. To the past and the future,
Hang in there, my regrads to all your loved ones
Take care of yourself and the rest will happen
Love
Mike

SweetJudy said...

Dear Mike:

Loved your post. Know that my prayers are with Nancy & Mikey.

Have a pinched nerve and am going for therapy. Pray that I don't need surgery.

Miss all the fun times we had at H & R Block, and Spencer Mead.

Will see Jen at the end of April, we are going to see Anne. Should we stop to visit or wait till June when I come up again?

Love & Hugs,

Sweet Judy

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Judy
You are and always will be a very sweet devoted friend and we will talk and I will see you soon. Stay well and focused.
Smile
Love
Mike

senorziltox said...

Thanks for our chat the other day, Mike, I haven't yet buckled down to K.I.S.T., but today I did manage to edit stuff out of my shopping cart that I felt I didn't need, cause I thought I already had enough for dinner, it's a small baby step, but I've got to start somewhere, and maybe it begins with thinking to myself, exactly how much do I really need to stuff in my stomach to be satisfied. Regards, TZ.

Mike Hebranko said...

Hey my friend TZ
Life is about starting with baby steps. That is great TZ! Baby steps is the way to go. One day, one choice, one great person!!!! Hang in there and do not give up! As long as there is life there is hope!
Love ya buddy
Mike

Garydn said...

Dear Mike:

There is so much wisdom in your K.I.S.T. method. I, too, have a weight problem. My weight goes up and down. When I take my weight down, I see each day as a separate battle. One day at a time. I win some battles with good food days and I lose others. It happens. WHen I have a bad food day, I know that while I may have lost the battle on that day, tomorrow, the battle starts anew.

I have a great deal of respect and empathy for you. We are the same, you and me. I am pulling for you, my brother.

Gary

Unknown said...

Hello Mike,

I remember watching you on a program years ago when you said something to the effect of and I am paraphrasing, I am addicted to food, the only thing that is different between me and a heroin addict is that I have to eat. I swear those word were my own a thousand times over. The last time I saw any thing about your plight was on the Discovery Health Channel when you were being admitted into the NY obesity clinic and Richard Simmons came to visit. You anticipated his visit only to be left feeling empty. I so relate to your journey. I have been fighting obesity all my life. I am now 48 and still fighting the fight. I google you every now and then to check in on you and tonight I found this site. I have wanted to contact you so many times, even talk to you, but to no avail. I hope you see this post because I am truly a soulmate of yours of some sort. I have such admiration for you and your fight. I know you have gained and lost weight, but you have never given up. I hear your words and they are my own. I remember once you mentioned eating just one hot dog and that lead to another, and another until it was out of control. I know exactly what you are describing. I can eat a salad, piece of fish, chicken etc, but let me eat a Snickers bar or drink a coca cola and I am gone. It is like an alcoholic taking a drink. I am at a point in my life where I am still overweight but have managed to keep off about 7o lbs for about 5 years now. I am healther than I have ever been, but still overweight. My husband and I want horses, and I am currently working on losing 50 pounds, twenty of which I have lost, so that I can ride again. It is a small goal and will still leave me with about 50 to 8o lbs to lose, but it is a start. I owe much of my determination to you. You are a role model for me and I am sure so many others. You never give up and that means more to me than anything in the world. I hope this email finds you well, and healthy.

Best Wishes,
Valli

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