Addictive Behavior

Wow, I had a great workout this morning, thanks in part to one of the Everybody Loses trainers. She suggested that I try something new for my cardio.  "get your cardio in in 45 minutes (versus 60 or more) and make sure you include 3-5 hard intervals that last anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes."  What a difference it made this morning!!
I have been labeled by people in my life as someone who has an addictive behavior.  So I decide to Google "What is an Addictive Behavior?  Answer: Addictive behavior is any activity, substance, object, or behavior that has become the major focus of a person's life to the exclusion of other activities, or that has begun to harm the individual or others physically, mentally, or socially.  Ok, sounds like they may have been right.  (LOL).  Here's a list: Fast Foods (eating out), tobacco (Cigarettes and Copenhagen), Caffeine, there is probably more on the list if you ask the right people. Lucky for me I have never been addicted to Alcohol or Drugs, that would be crazy, I mean those types of addictions could ruin my life, right. Little did I know that my other addictions where beginning to take a toll on my life.  As long as I was not doing anything illegal I thought it was ok. 
First, let me make this statement, I'm not a therapist of any sort.  Everything shared here is my opinion and my opinion alone. (LOL). 
What I have learned in the past couple of months is that alot of my addictions were nothing more than Mind Over Matter.  I would tell myself that I had to have 44oz. Mt. Dew before work every morning, I had to have Copenhagen every morning first thing, I was convinced that I owned stock in all fast foods restaurants and if I own stock I must eat at all of them.  Here is one I'm sure we have all heard before: "I have to have a cup of Coffee before I can start my day" And as with most addictions, I enjoyed all of them.  I enjoyed sipping down an ice cold Mt. Dew, while having a chew of tobacco, heading for a fast food restaurant to eat. I loved it. I was also blinded and dumb founded to think that I was going to be ok. So, What changed all this for me, you would think having a son would change it, having an amazing woman in my life would change it, being a PE teacher would change it, nope none of these things convinced me to change.  There is only one thing that could make me change, only one person.  And that person is ME, Timothy Carroll Anderson. It was not until I decided to make a change in my life that I have be able to control my addictive behaviors.  I'm proud to say that it has been almost 10 weeks since I have used Copenhagen and 4 days of being soda free, it has been over 20 years since I have smoked cigarettes. I have not eaten at a Fast Food Restaurant since June of 2010.   

Gotta make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror

"Be Good to Yourself"
Tim