JackSh*t, Gabby Reece, PureVia, & me (giveaway post).

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Much to his chagrin, the inimitable JackSh*t outed himself in the comments as a juggler.

Stalking & emailing ensued then, much to my delight, musings on juggling & weight-loss filled my in-box.

THANK YOU JackSh*t!


Weight Loss, The Ultimate Juggling Act

A Pennsylvania State Trooper pulls over this car on I-81, a couple of miles north of the PA/MD state line. When the trooper asks the driver why he was speeding, the driver answers that heā€™s a magician and a juggler on his way to Harrisburg to do a show that night at the Zembo Shrine Circus, and doesnā€™t want to be late.

The trooper tells the driver that heā€™s simply fascinated by juggling, and if the driver will do a little mini-show for him, he wonā€™t ticket him for speeding. The driver tells the trooper that heā€™s sent all of his equipment on ahead and doesnā€™t have anything in the car suitable for juggling.

The trooper says that heā€™s got some road flares in the trunk of his patrol car and asks if he can juggle them. The juggler says ā€œSure,ā€, so the trooper trots back to the trunk and pulls out three flares. He lights them and hands them over to the juggler.

About the time the guy gets going good with his juggling act, another car pulls in behind the patrol car. A drunk guy gets out, and watches the performance for a minute. Then he walks over to the patrol car, opens the rear door and gets in.

The trooper goes over to the patrol car, opens the door and asks the drunk guy
what he thinks heā€™s doing. The drunk replies, ā€œYou might as well take my ass to jail, cause thereā€™s no way Iā€™m gonna pass that test.ā€

Weight loss and juggling have a few things in common: there are a few basics you have to master in order to be successful, people that do it well make it look extraordinarily easy and, despite Miz Fitā€™s video evidence to the contrary, anyone can do it.

Losing weight takes the same exact skill set as learning to juggle. Itā€™s a complex series of maneuvers that need to be broken down, to be comprehended, to be mastered. Just like you canā€™t juggle unless you understand the mechanics of it, you canā€™t lose weight until you really grasp a lot of fundamental truths about nutrition, exercise and the inner workings of your own body. Theyā€™re both learned skills.

A juggler needs to understand how each little piece of the mechanics works, just like the person attempting to lose weight needs to work out all the parts and pieces of that process. One part of it doesnā€™t function, balls hit the floor.

And mastering both juggling and weight loss is the work of a lifetime. Anyone attempting to do either will find him or herself dealing with the ultimate mix of fun and frustration, of celebrations and setbacks.

I would bet that thereā€™s a very high failure rate for both people who are seriously learning to juggle and who are seriously trying to lose weight. I think thatā€™s because, in both areas, people get down on the little failures they experience, not understanding that the only way to learn is to recognize, in the little failures, how to avoid the ones that really matter.

I donā€™t like to brag, but Iā€™m a black-belt juggler. I can give you a Cascade, Reverse Cascade, Juggler’s Tennis, Behind the Back, 3-Ball Flash, Boston Mess, and bring it home with a Cherry Picker. Hell, I can eat an apple and keep the balls flying. But hereā€™s the thing: I couldnā€™t do it all after just one day.

Iā€™ve lost nearly 70 pounds on my current weight loss journey. Iā€™ve chased out most unhealthy processed foods from my diet, incorporated everyday workouts into my routine and blogged each and every day since this past Easter Sunday. And hereā€™s the thing: I didnā€™t do it all in a single day.

Juggling has been called ā€œthe art of controlling patterns,ā€ and control really is at the heart of it all, just like it is with this weight business. Keep the balls under controlā€¦ keep your eating and your exercise under controlā€¦ the the results can beā€¦ wellā€¦ magical.

Thereā€™s one more thing about juggling and dropping a lot of weight: theyā€™ll both make you a big hit at parties.

Also, as Id mentioned to you before, I recently did a roundtable discussion with the amazing Gabby Reece.

The PR firm selected two of your questions and I had the opportunity to bumble through my own query as well.

Please to enjoy.

DAMN.

This was a long one huh?

JackSh*t & lottsa talk of Gettin’Fit.

As as reward for your time (if you made it this far) PureVia hath provided us a treat.

A gift basket filled with Two boxes of PureVia, Starbucks coffee, body scrub, an aromatherapy candle and a yoga to-go travel deck of cards.

You can be entered to win for the lowlow price of a comment below.

On juggling, on JackSh*t, on Gabby and how she eats way more clean than I, on anything.

Please to hit us all up in the comments.

Winner announced fridayĀ  USA only.

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Comments

  9. Jack cracks me up! AND, comparing our healthiness journey to juggling is brilliant – er, uh, wait a minute. Is that me calling Jack brilliant? Lemme rethink this quick – hahaha! Ok, Jack, your brilliant! But just for today okay?

    Thanks for sharing Miz!

  11. Great post by Jack, thanks for getting him to talk more about juggling and as is his flare, finding a way to compare it to weight loss *smile*. I’ve never had truevia.

  14. Jack Sh*t outdid himself today!!! I read about that juggling on his blog & this whole tying it in to weight loss along with a very funny story is too much! LOVED IT!!!!!

    Thx Jack * Miz! Miz, just about sleep time for me so will have to listen to Gabby & you after I wake up again…. I know, I am CRAZY!

    Oh, thx as always for giveaways!

  16. That was a fantastic analogy; I bet that will be making the rounds of the internet for years to come.

    Now lots of people will know Jack Sh*t.

  18. Can I say that Gabby and I look as if we were born of the same mother? Gabby is my twin.

    I’m off to juggle shower water.

  20. Jacksh*t is my new hero! I want to be able to juggle like that! And not just literally. Love his reminder about how great things don’t happen in a day. In our quick-fix biggest-loser celeb culture we feel like failures if we don’t lose 10 pounds a day.

    Also – Gabby: not as relatable as I’d hoped she’d be. Don’t know why I’m surprised.

  22. Great juggling/weight loss connection.

    I like what Ms. Reece said about being aggressive in how she works out, but it was a little weird how she kept comparing her kids to fitness.

  23. Love Jack. he always cracks me up.

    So I can comment on anything? Can I say that I am excited to go to a lecture to see Dr Eugenie Scott tonight? šŸ™‚

    I’d love to win the goodies. sign me up

  25. Forgot to add that your boyfriend, Dr. Oz, was on our local NBC station this morning. He did the weather at the end and he was even great at that! (sigh)

  29. I saw Gabby Reece on an episode of cribs and her and her husband are crazy fit and have, like, an entire cabinet of vitamins and tablets and crazy things. But lord knows it works because they are fit as fiddles!

    Great Post, Jack!

  30. Very true. Weight loss occurs when you are in control of all the pieces of the puzzle. At least that’s been my experience.

    Though, the juggling part…I’ll have to think about that a little more.

  31. The podcast was long but pretty interesting.

    With all due respect (and you don’t have to enter me šŸ˜‰ I’m not gunning to win) I’m more inspired by regular people like you, Miz.

    I wonder if Gabby has ever read your blog?

  33. Miz, that was an awesome roundtable with Gabby! Very informative. I listened to the entire thing. šŸ˜€

    ( and my Sh*tty Jack is awesome-est too. šŸ˜› )

  34. Good analogy, but way better story. I needed the fun story with work-related stress today!

    (And sweet giveaway! Perhaps the giveaway gods are on my side today?)

  35. I pride myself in also being able to juggle, and whip out the talent to shock and amuse at times… like my own blog that has a bit of humor, but Jack is a master of juggling and a master of humor with something important snuck in when you’re not looking. I guess he is good at magic too!

    At Foolsfitnesssee the magic of cake disapear before your very eyes… into my mouth- Alan

  37. How very cool – Gabby answered my question!!! I had to rewind the podcast because I yelled out loud when I heard my name! I enjoyed listening to her – and you, Carla – and I liked her attitude towards food. And working out – think it’s funny that she and her husband don’t workout together, but I guess with two competitors in the house, they know what works for them.

    Jack Sh*t’s post was right on the money.

  38. that was a really funny story with a very nice point that followed…a little jealous of his writing style.

    i listened to gabby in SF and just thought she was an amazing woman.

  39. I really want to try the Purvia – I am trying to cut back my sugar, and have been doing pretty well, but there are still a few things that I don’t like unless they’re sweetened.

  41. I love that analogy. I’m sure lots of us have tried it many different ways before really learning how to do it properly. It’s actually sticking because I know how to balance it instead of going hog wild and then super strict.

    And the joke is hilarious šŸ™‚

  42. I’m a big fan of Jack’s. I’m also a writer, and I find that the parallels between writing and weight-loss parallel the parallels between juggling and weight-loss. (I know that’s terrible–parallel the parallels–but I couldn’t resist. Some times it’s fun to write badly.)

    Anyway, there are fundamentals to learn, then tricks to the trade. The bottomline? It takes loads of hard work, and most walk away before they find success.

  44. Weightloss is like juggling. Great guest post Jack!
    Thank you for posting the Gabby panel. I saw your post about it earlier and was curious. I listened to the whole thing and like the way she balances everything. I am going to start using my stability ball more…:-) I also like her suggestion about scheduling exercise and scheduling exercise with others too. I love my new “I am my own superhero” tank top. I told my hubby I wanted one for my bday. The next day I ordered one for myself and didn’t realize he also ordered one. It worked out great because I was able to give the extra one to my cousin who is battling cancer. I posted a photo of us wearing our shirts on my blog yesterday…:-) Thank you!

  45. I know. We all love the Sh*t huh? And, alas, methinks he’s happy at his own blog so I can’t steal him away.

    (Oh and Kat? THANK *YOU* I can’t wait to see the pics when I’m back @ computer!)

  47. Gabby’s (cuz you know we’re on a first name basis, her and I) bit about scheduling workouts in is right on. No matter how busy i am, I make myself get up and work out. Might mean getting up at the crack o dawn, but on those days that I have a workout scheduled, I get my butt up. Sometimes I may only get up 15 min earlier and do a short run, but I still do SOMETHING. Its on the schedule.

  48. What a great reminder! So need to remember that when I get all uppity at myself for something little – two years ago I was just starting to build those healthy habits that just come naturally now. You don’t just all of a sudden go run a marathon, you have to train for months (years) to be able to do it. You don’t just one day juggle, you have to dedicate the time. You don’t just be healthy, you have to train yourself. They are all the same – and it’s just as ridiculous to ask yourself to be perfect at one immediately as the other. šŸ™‚

    Will check out the podcast when not at work.

  51. Heh, Juggling is something I’ve always admired as a skill, but never had the coordination to accomplish. Interesting parallels between Juggling and Weight Loss…maybe I’d have better luck with Juggling now that I’ve been working on weight loss for so long? ^_^

  53. I wonder if all fitness bloggers did pod casts if there would be an mix you could buy and work out to. I love some good music when hitting the gym but i’s be up to listening to pod casts as well. Hummm. Anywho.

    Thanks for stopping by the site. I know what you mean. Good, Better, Best is what i call it when i have to say no to something Good for something that is Best for me.

  55. Oh, Jack’s joke cracked me up today! I hadn’t heard that one before and was in need of a good laugh! šŸ˜€ And I like his analogy of juggling/weight loss. “Controlling patterns,” I like that.

    And the podcast was fun to listen to. (I had no idea who Gabby Reece was before this, though…I know, huh, stuck under a rock I’ve been.) She made a good point about being protective of your exercise time, yet flexible (as in, not scrapping it because you only have 20 minutes).

  59. I literally LOL at the juggling post-very cute.Can’t listen to Gabby(I’m at work)but I usually love everything she has to say on fitness.She looks amazing after two kids.

  61. Loved the message: it takes a lifetime to get healthy and STAY healthy. I figure it took me a good 10 years to pile the weight on so I shouldn’t expect it to come off in a short period. I am well into year 2 of my weight loss journey and still have a way to go. Relinquishing to the process was one of the hardest/best things I could ever do.

    On another note, I am glad fall is hear, soup season is IN and ice cream season is OUT!

  65. Please don’t enter me for the prize, lovely as it is, because it’s been so long since I’ve commented I’d feel like a total loser if I won…if that makes any sense.

    But I did want to say how much I appreciate this post…so much in life is dependent on these same basics, this same skill set, and so often we expect to be able to do things instinctively. Whether it’s losing weight, parenting, dealing with tragedy or undergoing any sort of life change, we somehow think we should “just know how” to do it, and that’s silly. It takes time, patience, and self-education…and we should be firm but gentle with ourselves in the process. Nobody ever became a master juggler by beating himself over the head with every ball he dropped…I needed that reminder tonight. Badly.

    Thanks, MizFit and JackSh*t. šŸ™‚ (Such a poetic combination!)

    V.

  66. Well, all I have to say is that if Jack is telling the truth then I am about to grab some balls ’cause the dieting thing is not a strength at the moment. Maybe juggling is the way to go…how many calories does juggling burn?

  67. Juggling… not with THIS chest, I don’t! Although… I can juggle managing 5 kittens, one hubby, an angst-filled teenaged daughter, and a bottle of sparkling water all at the same time…
    Great article!

  68. “The art of controlling patterns” … how I like that! And it’s good to remember the balls might fall, but it’s OK to pick them up again. Thanks for the reminder & inspiration, Miz, and for stopping by The Porch.

  69. I’ve been juggling (like actual juggling) since I was eight šŸ˜‰
    easier for me than the other kind of juggling perhaps! haha

  70. I like the juggling analogy especially when it comes from a true juggler. Nice post, and amusing beginning story too!

  72. Maintaining weight loss is like juggling also. Sometimes you drop a ball (or have not 1 but 3 brownies) but you have to pick it back up and keep going.

  74. Sounds like a great giveaway…yes please!!! And that discussion with Gabby Reece was awesome, I think she is an amazing role model and beautiful to boot!

    Courtney
    Adventures in Tri-ing

  78. I like long posts–no need to apologize for them. šŸ™‚ Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

  79. oh my goodness!!! i’ve been a huge advocate of stevia for years, and have wanted to try PureVia…I was disappointed with Truvia, so i’m hopin’ here. My favorite brand is NuNaurals’ NuStevia…mmm šŸ™‚

    And i love your long posts!

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