January 16, 2014

Man Overboard-Can Jack Swim Back?

Matthieu van Plattenberg - A Dutch Ship in a Storm

How lucky are we?  Not only is this a guest post by Jack from Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit, but it's the first in a series!

If you don't know Jack... he's a weight loss blogger known 'round the world for his clever parodies of songs and nursery rhymes.  He is also a notorious abuser of adorable puppies.  

In this series, which begins with an introduction many times longer than the post itself (a practice of which I heartily approve, because that whole "getting to the point" thing is totally overrated) you will notice something kind of exciting:

Jack gets real.

Stay tuned, I think this is going to be awesome.

--Crabby


This is a true story.

And when I say, "this is a true story", I don't mean it the way I normally do when I say "this is a true story"; I mean this is actually true.

Late last year, I started a super-secret project: a second weight-loss blog that had nothing to do with the one that I'm most noted for,  Jack Sh*t Gettin' Fit.

"Why Jack? Why a super-secret weight-loss blog, you magnificent bastard?"

That's a great question.

Somewhere along the line, it dawned on me that my blog had lost its mojo Sure, it had enough fans to keep me from shutting it down, but it wasn't pushing me along toward my health goals. Truthfully, it had become more of a writing and comedy exercise. It was still fun to work on, but not really helping me with my weight-loss efforts.

And I was struggling.



So I went through the process...for a second time...of setting up a blog. I created a persona (Big Mo) and started getting excited about the prospect of really talking about what I was doing, how I was feeling and how I was going to hold myself accountable to the few readers that stumbled across my site.

Then I promptly forgot my password, and then forgot the password to the email account I had set up for the site. I spent a couple of days fighting with it and then let it go.

During the holidays, my pal Crabby McSlacker reached out and invited me to come work for free contribute a little something to Cranky Fitness. Once I was assured that I wouldn't have to remember any passwords, I suggested that she run the series of posts that I had begun and since abandoned.  She enthusiastically replied, "Yeah, whatever, Jack. Whatever."

So here goes..

MAN OVERBOARD

 Call me Ishmael.

No...call me Mo.

Big Mo.

My story...

Well...my story is as old as the sea.

I went overboard...during meals and with snacking.

I went overboard....at parties and after-work-get-togethers.

I went overboard...thinking "Where's the harm?" or "Why not do what I want?"

I went overboard, thinking that I could always swim back to safety.

Now I feel like I'm drowning and I don't know if I can make it back.

But I am going to try.

Image from http://www.mpzflame.ru
"If you want to build a ship,
don't drum up people to collect wood
and don't assign them tasks and work, 
but rather teach them to long for the
endless immensity of the sea."

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery


Please welcome Jack and convince him that he should keep hangin' out at Cranky Fitness!


23 comments:

  1. Yes, please share more, Jack!!!
    And just keep swimming - you got this!!!

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  2. Jack in our own little ways we are always the engine that could.... so ... keep swimming.. keep chugging and chugging up the track or swimming until you reach the shore... which ever works ... the only time you drowned or derail permanently is when you give up.. !

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    1. Excellent advice Honibi!

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  3. LOL... I did the same thing. There is no more Fabulous @50... there's only Rediscovering Kate

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    1. Great to rediscover your Secret Blog Kate!

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    2. Too funny, because I've been thinking about revamping my joint, too. Seeing as how I haven't posted since last May.

      Jack - I was an occasional reader of your joint a while back - I think you're a natural fit for this crowd.

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  4. Get back, Jack... do it again!!! Wait... haven't I heard that somewhere before? hmmm. Whatever and more seriously, DO NOT ABANDON YOUR SHIP! Let an ocean of support buoy you when the going gets tough and remember these words from an old song (which I've used to help me through rough patches): "No storm nor fire can ever beat us down. No wind that blows but carries us further on." So even when those waves buffet you about, you know it will be ok.
    Anon

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  5. Oh HO! Cheating on Jack Sh*t.
    Your Jack Sh*t site looks like a lot of work to me with all that cleverness. I can't imagine trying to keep two blogs going!

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  6. Sweet… and I mean that in a very non-caloric way. I'll add the secret you to my reading list. :)

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  7. I can totally relate to drifting from my purpose of why I started the blog, I feel like I've been drifting for the last year. I have to remind myself to keep swimming as well. Great post!

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  8. If I could, Jack (err, Big Mo), please allow me to replace your "magnificent bastard" reference with "magnificent sexy beast". I call 'em how I see 'em.

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  9. Always love Jack & love that last quote!!! I know he can do this... it is funny.. so many people excel at their careers & can't transfer that to weight loss/maintenance.. I am the exact opposite being able to maintain & improve for all my years the but suck at the job thing & trying to crawl my way out there.. interesting....

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  10. Keep coming back, Jack! Reaching out will help you as much as it helps us.

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  11. Ohhhh puppies AND Antoine de Saint-Exupery quotes? New fan here.
    Hope Jack will keep coming back and keeping us posted. I think there are several of us here who have not only fallen overboard numerous times, but have learned Water Safety Instruction :)

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  12. Always here for you Jack. Strength, brother.

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  13. Welcome, Jack. I immediately had to go check out the puppies post and am totally smitten. Looking forward to seeing more of your.. errr.. less of you you here. I mean that in the good way.

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  14. Welcome, Jack. I've had lots of good laughs at your non-secret blog (my few comments there have been anonymous). It's great to get even more here!

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  15. Enjoyed your post! I hope you'll be back soon. Remember what Yoda said: "There is no try, there is only do". Or something like that! Anywho, welcome to Cranky Fitness.

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  16. Love it Jack, keep 'em coming :)

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  17. Go Jack!! I know you can swim back!

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  18. YES! I am totally on board with Jack. Or Big Mo. Or both!

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  19. Big fan of the Jack man! I was hooked the first time he added whoregano to a recipe....

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Thanks for commenting, Cranky Fitness readers are the BEST!

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