0 Job Funk?? Lift the weight off

Dear McCrabby,

I have been searching for a job for two years+ and have found almost no work; I've done a couple of short contract things, and I earn a buck or two doing whatever I can find that fits any talents I have.  I'm 59 and I am now convinced I won't find a REAL job.  I've seen all the scam jobs (read SCAM), and I've heard about the age-, sex-, gender- bias in the workplace and it's frustrating.  I even wrote a couple of your Reject the Rejection letters (read REJECT), to make myself feel better.  It worked, but only for an hour or so.

But, McCrabby, do you know what's most frustrating??  I'm in a funk and I can't seem to get out of it. 

I've gained weight (35 pounds in the past two years, and I was 40 pounds too heavy before that -- maybe 45), and I can't seem to get rid of the weight or the funk.  My wife seems to be upset with me all the time (like I'm not trying to find a job??), and I can't seem to change that.  I don't want to spend time with friends, and can't really afford to do anything with them anyway.  It's a depressing time.


Maybe I'll start smoking.  I'm beginning to feel a little self-destructive (not suicidal  -- don't get me wrong or send the police out -- but depressed).  I guess FUNK is the best word for it.  Mine is deepening.  How do I lose the funk?


Funked in Fort Wayne
______________________________
Dear FFW,

McCrabby is going to take a stab at something here.  The funk?  We've seen it, we've been there.  And, you know what?  We think if you address one of the issues you raised, you'll impact all of them. 

McCrabby has had weight problems since college (that's a long time), and has weighed more than he'd admit for a long, long time. 

One year ago, we got serious.  We got motivated (and, when we say "we," that means McCrabby AND Mrs. McCrabby).  We got committed. 

The McCrabbys began eating better, joined a gym and started going AT LEAST three times per week, and started losing weight.  We even watched a bit of "The Biggest Loser" on TV, and it became a little bit of a motivator.  Have you looked at the before-and-after pictures??  OMG!!



Olivia won the 2011 Biggest Loser
Her BEFORE and AFTER-20-Weeks



So, what are the results of this effort?

• McCrabby has lost 50 pounds (it doesn't go that fast, but it does go), and Mrs. M has lost a few more than that (she is looking HOT!!).  Mrs. M weighs less than her wedding day in 1972.
• This became something that the McCrabbys did together -- an event or task that they worked on together, spent time with one another, and supported each other in the process.
• McCrabby still needs to lose 30 pounds, but that doesn't sound so daunting, and he's working on it...   And Mrs. M is still there, by his side, working out with him, and looking hot.
• McCrabby plays racquetball 2-3 times per week, and then works out with Mrs. M 2-3 other times per week (sometimes he'll pick up a racquetball game instead of working out, if someone good is playing and needs a partner). 
• And, when McCrabby works out in the evening, he tries to go about 6 p.m., after eating a late, light lunch -- that way he skips dinner, and maybe just eats a 100-calorie snack when he gets home (when you're really sweaty, you aren't hungry anyway).  Skipping 3-4 meals per week and working out 4-5 times, gets some decent results.

So Funked, do something to feel better about yourself, and others will feel better about you, as well.  Your confidence will improve, your attitude will lift, and your relationships could be enhanced.  All that helps you reduce the funk and improve your odds in the job-search. 

Go for it now; don't wait.  And, let us know how you're doing.  McCrabby will work with you, as he still plans to drop that 30 pounds before the end of the year.  He can do it; so can you.

So, here are a few things McCrabby considered when helping a friend to get motivated about her weight loss.  It helped motivate McCrabby, his friend did better, and maybe it'll help you.  McCrabby is obviously no expert, but we've done some things that have worked, so we're throwing these out there, hoping to pay it forward, and maybe it will be beneficial for you (if you don't want to lose weight, substitute almost any other self- improvement in here, and it can work).

Ask yourself, or tell yourself, a few of these thoughts....

1. 30 minutes a day, gets you fat; then, you're fat for 24 hours a day...  Is that worth it?
2. A lifetime decision does not take a lifetime; it takes one second -- make the decision NOW!!
3. Do I really enjoy eating THAT much??  Or am I eating because it’s “time to eat?”
4. Do I look forward to re-uniting with “old” friends, or going to a class reunion?  Did I enjoy my daughter’s wedding as much as I should have?  Why not?
5. As grandchildren come, won't it be better to be a source of fun in their lives, instead of sadness??  Will I be able to keep up with them?
6. And, I want to play with those grandchildren..
7. Do you hurt when you shouldn't hurt, or ache after physical activity?  Can you play sports as well as you'd like?  You're losing out on the fun of life.
8. Life is full of excuses; no one cares about most of them -- quit making them...
9. Life is what you make it; why not make it GREAT!!!
10. If you have life challenges that you can’t control, control the ones you can; this one's tough but you can do it..
11. Do I really enjoy overeating so much that I'm willing to constantly be miserable?
12. Pick a day to improve your life; TODAY might be a a good one to pick.  Tomorrow, you can pick TODAY again...

So Funk, good luck on losing a couple of L-Bs, and good luck on your job search; we think one will help the other.

NOTE:  Wanna connect??
See all contact info HERE