Articles

Monday, December 22, 2014

Lessons Learned


Mom, big bro and I…I'm the little guy

Sometimes, we have to take a chance, rely on faith and allow yourself to be 
vulnerable to better ourselves, others and maybe, just maybe the world.  Well 
this is one of those times for me.  I learned the value of taking those chances 
and relying on faith from one of my heroes, my mom.  The following story is 
dedicated to her, Teri Arlene Donaho, and to let her know and remind her that 
she has made that difference in me, others and now in you. 

I can still remember at the age of 6 being awakened in the middle of the night 
to watch The Beatles movie, Yellow Submarine, with my mom.  It was a bizarre 
movie, which I speculate required some LSD to truly understand. Afterwards, 
she explained some of the meanings and innuendos contained in it.  Not the 
typical conversation most kids had with their parents at that age.  We had  
quite a unique relationship.  I grew up in Austin, what I considered at the time 
a “hippie” town and my mom very much fit into that category. 

Mom and Dad 



After I lost my dad to suicide at a very young age, my mom took on the role of 
both parents.  I didn’t understand it at the time but years later, I grew to understand 
the fears and demons she battled trying to make sure my brother and I were ok.  
I know she feared that we would feel shame or resentment over the loss of my 
father, so for many years she would come to my bedroom and tell me a story 
about my dad.  Usually about one of his many athletic accomplishments, academic 
achievements, his determination and the pride and love he had for my brother and I.  
In a way she helped to allow me to create the perfect father in my head, one that I 
would not want to disappoint. 

As the years went on, she went through several relationships, some with some really 
good guys and some that were not so great.  I was pretty easy going and didn’t mind 
as long as they were good to my mom.  If they weren’t, they would have to deal with 
her protectors, my brother and I…we were hell on wheels, just ask my mom.  I watched
her work so hard, battle addiction and take on other people’s problems and she still had
the ability to show love to others without judgment and always put herself last.  I knew 
she was in pain and desperately wanted to save her.  When I was little, around 4 
years old, she would tell me stories and often begin to cry so I would tell her, “momma,
I am gonna build you a spaceship and take you away.” It was around that same age that
my mom got arrested for possession/manufacture of pot.  Not just a few plants mind you,
oh no, when she did something big, she went all in!  It was a professionally built, irrigated,
temperature controlled greenhouse that housed 999 pot plants!!!! Not bad for 1977, huh?
Yes, holyshit, that is what I said.

The day she got busted in Lampasas, Tx they surrounded our house and kicked in 
our doors and raided the house.  Quite an experience for a 4 year old.  I watched as she
was taken away in handcuffs.  The court case dragged on for many years and as my
brother and I got older we realized our mom may get sent away for a long time and that
we might end up in an orphanage. We promised if that  happened, we would
escape and live on our own.  Fortunately it never came to that, the court decided
in her favor and the worst was behind us! Or so we thought.

The next few years were pretty stable and then through a series of events we 
found ourselves on our own again struggling and eventually homeless.  One thing I
learned from my mom was if ya want something in life, ya gotta work for it.  So I began
to hustle and started working at the age of 12.  Mowing lawns, cleaning lots for gas
stations, working at construction sites throwing out trash, helping build fences and any
other odd job I could find.  In the summer of 1985 I saved up $150 to buy a bad-ass bike,
a Laser 1000. That was a lot of money back then!  I’m still pissed it was stolen.  From
that age on, if I needed something, I bought it, that included my own clothes and food. 

Bull Creek Now

Taking care of myself was easy, trying to take care of my mom was the tricky party.  
Soon we found ourselves living in campsites at Bull Creek in Austin.  Everyday was 
an adventure.  Finding food was pretty easy.  One day it might be snake, crawdaddys 
or duck and another it would be free food from a food bank.  There would be stretches 
where I wouldn’t see my mom for days at a time.  She would do what she had to get 
some money and place for us to stay for a while.  I can still remember the shock of 
sleeping in a house with air conditioner!  Ahhhhh, the little things! 

It was quite a roller coaster at times.  We went from living a very comfortable lifestyle
 to getting our food of dumpsters and waiting in lines to get handouts.  My mom 
would always tell me that everything happens for a reason and that God has a plan for each 
of us, we just gotta listen.  She also taught me that every person is special, worthy to 
be loved and that we mustn’t let our hardships define us but allow how we overcome 
those hardships to be our defining moments.  These were important lessons and ones 
that I would remind myself of on a regular basis.  I still remember how often folks 
would judge me, either at school or in public, and how that would make me feel.  
It was pretty obvious that we didn’t have the nicest clothes or material things. All that 
did was motivate me to work harder to prove everyone wrong, and occasionally get 
in a fight here or there.  One thing my mom cultivated in me is a sense of pride and 
dignity and to respect the same in others, which helped me get through some trying times.   
When I think back to those times, I remember that I was always happy and believed
that if I worked hard enough, things would get better and they eventually did.

At 16, I was on my own working full time and going to high school.  I didn’t have 
a lot of friends in high school because it was difficult to relate.  While most kids were 
complaining about not getting the latest shoes, I was trying to pay bills and get 
groceries.  Growing up the way I did taught me a lot but it also left a few scars.  
I found myself always searching for the next challenge to overcome, adventure, never 
backing down and always trying to be the best at everything.  A little bit of an 
over-achiever, mixed with a dash of “everything is a competition” and a sprinkle of OCD.  
This might explain some of my decisions in life and why I was drawn to the military 
and a career in law enforcement.  

As a result, I drifted from some of the very important things my mom taught me.  
First of all, learn to appreciate the little things and have faith that God will always 
provide.  We don’t have to have best of everything and things don’t have to be perfect for
us to be happy.  We just have to learn how to appreciate.  Second, everyone is 
special and has a purpose.  We all have a story to tell and we can all learn something 
from one another.  Competition can be a good thing but it can also work to separate us.  
When this happens, the seeds of shame and isolation are planted breeding fear and
insecurity.  Learn to forgive and practice empathy, learn to see things
through the eyes of others and they will learn to see through yours.

It took me along time to really understand the value and impact of what my mom 
was always trying to teach me and that it was okay to let down my guard.  I now 
know what my purpose is and, through what can only be a miracle from God, have 
been given the opportunities and ability to do pursue it.  My purpose is simple; I am 
here to fight the good fight, share my story with others and to leave this world a 
better place then when I found it.  By taking the time to appreciate what is around us,
allowing ourselves to be a  little more vulnerable and ignore the fear of what others might
say or do, we are able to follow our hearts, be happy and connect with and inspire 
others so that they may do the same.  There will always be nay-sayers and 
critics…believe me, I have met might quite a few…but remember, they do what they 
do out of their own fears.

Now married with a family, a great career and the opportunity to connect with 
and inspire others I am living the dream.  When I think back on my past, it seems 
surreal but I wouldn’t change a thing.  My hope is that I set an example for my kids 
and that this story connects with just one of you who are reading this. I believe that
by opening up and sharing my story and some of the lessons I have learned, it will 
help others in some way and even inspire someone else to do the same.  And to 
my mom, know that you have made a difference in me and now in others. If you
were to talk to her she would likely say "bless your heart" or something crazy like
"hot diggity," "dadgummit" or "I'll be a monkey's uncle!" And, finally, to you, the
reader, like my mom used to say, you are special and have a purpose.  Just take a
chance, know its ok to be vulnerable and have the faith to follow your heart and
maybe, just maybe together we can make a better world.  :)

Thanks mom, I love you.  I didn't get to build ya that spaceship, but maybe 
someone reading this will!


Mom, one of the Grandkids and I a few years ago


This is dedicated to my mom, my family and all the
wonderful people that have inspired and helped me along the way









Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Free Health and Nutrition Seminar December 15, 2014




This seminar is free!!!


I know, I know its about time...but on Monday December 15, 2014 from 8:00 am-5:00pm at the FWPD Training Academy in the Auditorium, I will be giving a health and nutrition seminar.  

  Topics will include:
  • Nutrition fundamentals
  • History of food and disease
  • Basic physiology
  • How to lose fat and build muscle
  • Identify and reduce health risk factors
  • Modern diseases and their connection to foods
  • Making sense of it all
  • Understanding cholesterol
  • Dispell nutrition myths
  • Emotional intelligence and health
  • and more!

  


The class is free and will have limited seating, so please sign up early.   Bring a friend. TCOLE credit will be given to law enforcement officers attending. 


Here are the details:

When:     Health and Nutrition Seminar, Mon 8am-5pm, December 15, 2014

Where:   City of Fort Worth Police and Fire Recruit Training Academy-Auditorium
                1000 Calvert St. Fort Worth




There will be a lunch break given during the class.

If you or someone you know is struggling with health issues or just wanting to learn how to improve their health and fitness then attend this class. Learn valuable information on how to look and feel better, improve performance and health and even add a few years to your life!

Law enforcement officers wanting TCOLE credit will need to provide a PID # when they attend the class.  I encourage everyone to bring a pen and paper to take notes.   You can also contact me through my contact information on this blogsite or send me an email at btswheels@gmail.com

Sign up soon, this class fills up fast.  I will see you guys there!

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Is Coconut Oil a Possible Cure to Alzheimer's or Dementia?



Death is a part of life.  We all know it will happen but what we are most concerned about is how it will happen.  Growing old and dying from natural causes is what most people would chose.  Whereas growing old, senile, forgetful and helpless is what most of us want to avoid and is a scary thought.  This is what happens with Alzheimer’s, a degenerative disease in the brain.  What can we do to avoid this?  Well quite a few things, but first how ‘bout a lil history and some statistics…

Up until about 100 years ago degenerative diseases such as cardio vascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alzheimer's were rare and found mostly in modernized or western cultures.  One of the primary contributing factors involved the drastic changes in our diet.  These changes include the rapid increase in the consumption of processed vegetable oils, refined carbs and sugars, grains and decrease in consumption of saturated fats, fruits and vegetables.  I am sure we can list a few others such as exposure to toxins and less exposure to sun light but we will keep it simple for now.  

Alzheimer's, which is what we will focus on, is a degenerative disease that causes dementia and memory loss to name a few symptoms.  It is commonly associated with senior citizen's but is now being found in individuals as young as 30-40 years old and its numbers continue to rise.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, the deaths caused by this disease have risen more than 65% in the last decade, pretty crazy.  Here are a couple more statistics:


  • One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease.
  • Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.



According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease cannot be prevented or cured.  Well, recent studies say otherwise.  First we have to understand what the disease is.  It occurs when the brain is no longer able to uptake or use glucose.  If you have read my previous articles the next part may be a little repetitive.  The brain uses glucose for energy, about 4-6 grams per hour.  It cannot use fat, thank goodness, because the brain is made up of primarily fat.  What is another disease where the body cannot use glucose effectively?  That's right.  Diabetes.  There is type-I, juvenile, and type-II, adult onset that we develop, usually as a result of years of excessive carb consumption.  Another term for diabetes is insulin resistance.  How do we get insulin resistance?  Eating too many carbs, which causes our body to make too much insulin.  So how do we fix it?  Well modern the medicine prescription is to give us more insulin, which further increases our insulin resistance OR we can go to the root cause...carbs...and simply reduce them. 

Now back to the brain.  If Alzheimer's is a condition where the brain is not effectively utilizing glucose, isn't that a form of diabetes? Yes, it is.  Alzheimer's is also called type-III diabetes.  So it would stand to reason that by going to the source, carbs, and reducing the load there should be improvement, right?  Well, unfortunately once damage occurs in the brain, that portion may never be able to effectively use glucose.  But wait, there is another fuel source the brain can use.  Ketones, are a type of clean burning fuel made from fats.  Yes, fats.  Ketones are generally not produced in the presence of carbs.

Anyone who has had to make weight for an event is probably familiar with ketones or being in ketosis, a state where our body makes and uses ketones as a primary fuel source.  In this state, the body burns fat and leans out very quickly.  Ketosis is not to be confused with ketoacidosis, a toxic state usually brought on by disease where the body is making too many ketones that it cannot use and, as a result, the body becomes toxic.  Generally, to enter a state of ketosis, a person has to consume less than 20g of carbs a day for several days.  I describe it as shifting gears.  Feeling tired or lethargic on a low carb diet is normal, but after a few days to two weeks the body enters ketosis.  And when it does, energy levels shoot up and it feels like the fog has been lifted and mental clarity greatly improves.   This is because ketones are a very clean burning fuel unlike glucose, which oxidizes easily and leaves residue and increases free radical production.  Ketones are sucked up by the cells, without the use of insulin, and burn very efficiently yielding more energy per gram. 

By using ketones we also improve our insulin sensitivity.  I compare glucose to ketones as unleaded low-octane gasoline to unleaded high-octane gasoline.  The high-octane gasoline burns more efficiently, yielding more energy and less waste.  So how does all this relate to the brain? 

Hang on, here we go. Saturated fats, such as animal fats, comprise up to 50% of our cell membrane walls, they resist oxidation, cannot be turned into trans fats, hold up to high heat and are vital for hormones, brain, cancer prevention, skin, and immune function. We have to have them to be healthy.  It is when we started taking saturated fats out and replacing them with processed vegetable oils that we, as a society, began to have serious health problems. Saturated fats, or any other type of fat, can still be problematic to folks who are already sick or continue to eat high carb/high grain diets…either way, saturated fats are much healthier that the processed, omega-6 rich vegetable oils that most consume or fry their foods in.

One of those fatty acids is lauric acid, which is what coconut oil is mostly comprised of, has been shown in some studies to have a neutral effect on cholesterol but according to the Journal of Clinical Nutrition “Comparison of Effects of Lauric acid and Palmetic Acid on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins” 1992, it did show to increase cholesterol slightly. Another study showed that Lauric acid increases primarily HDL. Study showing Lauric acid elevates HDL. Additionally, Lauric acid is converted to Monolaurin, which is a potent antimicrobial and immune system supporter. Lauric acid is a medium chain triglyceride (MCT).  Coconut oil is loaded with lauric acid and other MCT's.  What is unique about MCT’s are they up regulate mitochondrial activity in our cells enabling them to burn fat at a higher rate. Mitochondria are the “powerhouse” or “motors” of the cells. Any of you who attended any of my classes will forever remember what mitochondria are.

Mitochondria love MCT's.  Normally fatty acids need a substance called carnitine to transport them across the membrane.  Not with MCT's, they are absorbed right across the membrane of the mitochondria.  If there is an abundant supply of MCT's and we are not engaged in high intensity aerobic activity, the Krebs cycle (process in our cells by which fat is converted to energy) can't keep up with this influx of MCT's and has to do something with them.  So what does it do? It converts the MCT's into ketones.  Even with the presence of carbohydrates.  Amazing.  This means, without going on a long-term low carb diet, the body can make ketones in the presence of carbohydrates.

Now back to the brain...remember I mentioned how the brain can use ketones for energy in addition to glucose?  To be more specific, the brain could work just fine utilizing 75% ketones and 25% glucose for its energy!  Ketones do not require insulin to be absorbed by the cells in the brain.  So if someone has insulin resistance in the brain (Alzheimer's), their brain can use ketones, which do not require insulin.  How do we do this without drastically reducing carbs?  Add coconut oil.  Extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil, not the refined or processed crap.

It is the very diets high in carbs and low in cholesterol that are linked to insulin resistance, Alzheimer's,  in the brain.  The whole cholesterol myth really irritates me.  I have written about it several times, so I won't go into too much in this article.  But we have to remember that it is cholesterol that is essential for the growth and repair of the myelin sheath, which is the insulation of all the "wiring" in our brain and nervous system.  When people start consuming too many carbs and eliminating cholesterol, the building block of all hormones, we are welcoming diseases just like Alzheimer's.  I'm rambling...again. Back to the article.

This is an incredible revelation for those who suffer from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia or knows someone who does.  Some of the people leading this research is Dr. Mary Newport and Dr. Mary Enig.  According to Dr. Newport, who's husband suffers from Alzheimer's, the optimal dose is about 4-6 tablespoons of coconut oil per day. Here is an article written by Dr. Newport about coconut oil curing Alzheimer's.  In the article, Dr. Newport chronicles her experiences with her husband and the improvements he made.  By using therapeutic doses of coconut oil, Dr. Newport was able to bring her husband back from advanced stages of Alzheimer’s to living a productive and normal life.  Pretty cool.  The picture below is Dr. Newport and her husband and pictures of a clock her husband drew before treatment then and 14 and 37 days into treatment.






Another proponent of the uses of coconut oil is Dr. Mary Enig, who has been around for quite a while and still gives lectures at major universities around the country.  She has done a lot of research on coconut oil, and fats in general, and believes we should all consume about 3 tablespoons per day.

Does a person have to be suffering from Alzheimer's to get the benefits of coconut oil?  Absolutely not.  Remember, our cells love ketones, we just need to supply them.

The ketone benefit from coconut oil is just one of many of the benefits of coconut oil.  Coconut oil is among the most stable of all oils, it's slow to oxidize and thus resistant to rancidity. In comparison to most oils, coconut oil has a long shelf life (up to 3 years), which is due to its natural ability to be unaffected by fluctuating temperatures and oxidation.   Coconut oil is also a potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and is great for the skin.

The evidence supporting the use of coconut oil to treat Alzheimer's is so strong, pharmaceutical companies have already started clinical trials using "prescription" coconut oil to treat patients!! Yes, that is right, prescription coconut oil!!!

If you don't want to eat coconut oil by the tablespoon, don't worry.  It is great to cook with or mix into oatmeal, smoothies and just about any meal!  

So to sum it up, there are many health benefits of coconut oil.  One just happens to be that coconut oil is full of MCT's which make ketones even if we are eating carbs.  And those ketones provide our body, and more importantly, our brain, with a clean burning fuel source.  It is this ability to make ketones that can help those suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, and according to some research even stop and reverse the symptoms.


Here is an article by Dr. Mary Enig on coconut oil listing even more benefits of coconut oil.  Coconut oil is getting easier to find in stores now.  I usually order mine from Tropical Traditions or get it from Costco.  Well that's a lot to think about, so if your brain hurts go have some coconut oil...until next time, be sure to get some sprints in and pick up something heavy.