Sunday morning – yes, I wrote that as a stall a balk as I didn’t know what to write about. I didn’t have a clear thought, or worry, or grateful notion to express. There are two things however I need to look at.
1 - Diet
2 - Wasting time
1 -Diet: What is it about eating poorly in the evening that I allow to control me? It’s not that it’s so silly, or stupid, or I have a sweet tooth – it’s so much more than that. It’s time to look at this self-limiting habit and rid myself of its self-limiting grip.
A - Sounds dramatic, well it’s not. The most obvious result is a pot belly. I’m about 10 pounds overweight. The next result is about vanity, do I want to have a pot belly while the rest of me is damn good shape. Do I want to keep throwing out t-shirts because they “make me look fat?” Obviously not.
B - More importantly, I sleep poorly every night I eat late, or eat sugar. I don’t come close to maximizing my energy, my focus, my brain capacity as day after day opportunities float by. Yes, I do have a lower drive to succeed but does it have to be that way. Do I need to accept that as mandatory? Am I okay accepting less life than what I am capable of? I’ll repeat that… am I okay accepting less life than what I am capable of? Yes, when I write it twice it makes absolutely no sense. So, I’ll ask myself the question that Adriana did a while back.
C - Gil, would you feel okay looking back in 5 years knowing that I could have accomplished so much more if I didn’t eat chocolate and ice cream at night? Would I be okay never making my oil-rig movie, or 10 Things I Hate About Me? Would I be okay kinda, sorta, maybe, making $100,000/yr from Breakthru knowing that with not a tremendous amount of effort I believe I could make $500,000/yr if I put aside chocolate and ice cream. Ridiculous right? Right. Plus, all those projects could easily be Ben’s pathway to greatness. If he made two films with me by my side… there’d be no stopping him. No stopping him. I need to do this for us, not just me. Us.
D - So the next question Adriana would say: Gil, what do you need to give up to move towards the life you want? Gee, that’s a tough one- STOP EATING THE SUGAR STUPID. Of course, I understand it’s deeply interwoven and deeply set in my old patterns of behavior. I’m sure there is also a chemical addiction involved as well. But Gil, you gave up a decade of hard-core drug addiction. You made a decision, did the hard work, looked at the most uncomfortable parts of you, you persevered and changed a pattern that was not only deeply engrained, but it was also your medicine. It was an effective way of helping you avoid painful feelings of inadequacy UNTIL IT DIDN’T WORK anymore. If you can be courageous enough do give up drugs and alcohol, your best friend of 13 years, you can give up sugar and late-night treats.
E - I’m frustrated with me, but there’s no real value in that. I know this. I can talk the talk till I’m blue in the face, but it isn’t until I commit to change, until I take action it’ll just be words. Words that I’ve said over and over for 20 years. They’re meaningless without action. My birthday’s coming up in a week. 69, yes 69 yet I feel 49. It’s so crazy. Gil, are you ready to do the hard work AGAIN, without the guarantee of a quick reward? Are you, or are you going to be writing this same bullshit entry 3 months, 3 years from now?
F - Another thing Adriana has often said that resounds so powerfully with me: What is the example you want to be for your children? What do you want to leave with them. Here I am so very excited, maybe more excited than I’ve been in years that Ben is finally opening up to a new way of living, a new approach to therapy, a daring approach that I believe in and am even doing for myself. If what I want for my boys requires the type of work and dedication I’ve used in my past to great benefit – don’t I want to lead by example? OF COURSE I DO.
G - Gil, come on, be the man you want your children to aspire to be. Be the man I know I can be. Be the best version of me. Have I been doing that? My answer would be 85% yes. Do I want to leave the 15% behind for no reason at all? Am I an 85% man? Was living an 85% life the reason I’ve reached so much success in my life? Fuck no. So why live 85% now—Let’s go Gil. Give yourself an extraordinary birthday gift. Cut out the bullshit food. That will lead to:
Better sleep
More energy
More focus
More success
More joy
Happier kids
Happier life for me, my boys and those close to me.
It starts today. It starts today. I’m giving myself a 30-day challenge. 30 days. I will make an entry into these morning pages every night of my eating habits after 7:00pm. Be the best part of me.
I love you, Gil Junger. I Love you Gil Junger. I love you, Gil Junger. I love you, ice cream… ooops, okay that’s a joke. Gil GET THIS DONE.
Self reflection is often a good thing and sometimes it's self flagellation in a costume. Nothing wrong with a desert every so often - a little extra weight, well you need something to protect you in a trip and fall. As an old friend of mine once said, "In Milwaukee we'd be super models!". Adjust your eating habits and see how it goes. If it makes you happier and you feel noticeably better it will stick and the sweets cravings will go away . Here's to a happier healthier tomorrow - shoot for 95% and keep that extra 5% for non productive joy.
Thanks for sharing this Gil! Very inspiring and humbling. I also have been struggling with late night snacking and have had this cloud hanging over my head to want to do better with my eating habits and my fitness. I just turned 40 and have way less energy than what I used to. I will also challenge myself to get more active and cut out the late night snacks. Thanks again!