Sarah and I are both working at a conference in Los Angeles, California this week, and in the time that we get off, we try to take in as much of the “sights and tastes” as we can.  Which brought us to Pink’s Hot Dogs on the corner of Melrose and La Brea, right in the heart of Hollywood, USA!

Pink’s is arguably one of the most famous hot dog stands in the country, but in L.A., it’s an institution!

Pink’s was started by Paul Pink in 1939.  It all started as a simple hot dog stand during the depression.  But Pink’s chili dogs, complete with a large warm bun, over-sized hot dog, mustard, onions and thick chili sold for 10 cents each, which was a hearty meal for a small amount.  And that helped it grow into the L.A. landmark it is today.

It’s not uncommon to see celebrities and dignitaries from all over the world standing in the extremely long line for their hot dog delicacy, but remember: Pinks does not accept credit cards, and they do not have an ATM on sight..so bring your cash!

Sarah tried the veggie-dog and stayed healthy, while I had the “Mulholland Drive Dog,” a 9″ hot dog with onions, mushrooms, bacon, and nacho cheese…OUTSTANDING!  We both shared a generous portion of onion rings as well.

The hot dogs were amazing and worth the wait, the smell was intoxicating.  And the atmosphere was incredible.  The crowd we waited with was truly a melting pot of all cultures and nationalities, it was like a United Nations brought together with hot dogs and hamburgers (Pink’s also sells burgers, fries, and sausages, but that another trip).

The next time you are in the Los Angeles area, you need to be on the lookout for Pinks Hot Dogs.  It’ll be easy to see, just look for the crowd of people and following the aroma of succulent hot dogs and sausages, fresh meaty chili, and grilled onions!

We have had such a crappy time with Internet, it’s not even funny…so please forgive my lack of consistency.  Today was pretty easy…sight-seeing, food, Cuban Coffee, Sight-seeing, food, met our fishing trip boat captain, more sights, more food.  And then sleep.

We are all trying to catch up from the mad dash down to the Keys, so we are all feeling it.  Enjoy, Journey to the Keys, Day 2!

It’s taken me a while to get used to this, but I think I can honestly say this with a straight face and truly mean it: I am a runner! I may not be a LONG DISTANCE runner yet, but I run almost as much as I walk for 2, 3, 4 miles and I have even competed in several 5K events.

I hear you out there: “But John, you’re a….BIG GUY…and you can HONESTLY call yourself a runner? Dude…seriously?”  And to that I say…absolutely!  I am over 300lbs, I’m losing that extra weight, and have run/walked 5 Disney 5Ks and also competed in last year’s Disney’s Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon Relay.  So, yeah naysayers…suck on that!

So the REAL point of this little article was to try to encourage all you other BIG GUYS (male and female) to get off your cans and get healthy and become runners too!  Here’s 5 (Not) Easy Steps to go from Fat Guy to Runner!

Step #1 – GET OFF THE COUCH!

I know you have the highest score on RedKillAlienDeathMegaCoolAwesomeShock, but seriously, is THAT what you want on your tomb stone? Do you REALLY need to watch that episode of WHATEVER?  Look, we would all LOVE to just sit on the couch and WISH those extra pounds away, but we live in this little place we like to call REALITY!  The ONLY way those pounds are going to fall off and turn you into a runner is to get you butt off that deadly life-sucking couch and DO SOMETHING!

Step #2 – Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Go for a walk.  You may only be able to get to the mailbox, but start there.  Then go to the end of the street….then go to around the block.  Then go TWICE around the block.  Keep adding more and more laps until you get one mile, then two, then three…  You get the idea.  The only way to start running is to walk.

Step #3 – Eat Less and Drink Water

Look, it isn’t rocket science, if you pound 2 cheeseburgers, a large fry and Coke, no matter how much you work out, you’re not going to drop any weight.  But you don’t have to go cold turkey…start buy just eating 1 burger, a small fry, and forget the Coke.   Then start making better (wiser) substitutions like salads and eventually dropping fried, greasy foods from your life all together.  Carry a gallon jug of water with you everywhere you go and drink LOTS, and LOTS, and LOTS of water.  You’ve probably been living your life dehydrated.  You’ll be AMAZED at how much better you feel when you ditch the coffee and Cokes and chug some good old H2O!

Step #4 – Sign Up for a 5K

Look for a “Fun Run” or a 5K that isn’t to strict on TIME and sign up for it.  You will find an AMAZING amount of motivation when you pay YOUR MONEY to participate in a run.  Put your name, and more importantly, your reputation on the line and sign up for a run.  Better yet, tell your wife, your friends, your co-workers, and your kids that you signed up for a run…there is all the motivation you will need.

Step #5 – Find a Training Plan That Works

Once you get past the walking, eating correctly, and get signed up for that first 5K…you’d better get to training, because if you don’t…your butt will DIE on mile 2 or 3, trust me…I’ve been there.  I use the Jeff Galloway method to train with is basically two 30-minute runs during the week and a longer run on the weekend.  We also try to to do some other type of workout on our “non-run” days.    So Monday-Friday we’re training and Saturday, we’re running for distance.  This also gives us a day off…which is nice.

But Seriously

If you take anything away from this article, please let it be this:  I don’t care if you’re a runner, walker, bicyclist, or swimmer…you must do something to get healthier.  We’ve become a society of fat, lazy people who are leaving a legacy of fat, lazy kids.   I want to have a family one day soon and live a long, long time, but if I don’t get healthy and drop this weight, I’m not going to be here for my wife or (future) kids.  And I want you here with me too.  I chose running, but you may choose something else…whatever it is, I don’t care, but please do something.  If not for your family, do it for yourself!

It’s been a LONG time since I did a Sunday Night Decompress…and it’s been a while since I darkened the door of a church.  And since I went to church this morning, I thought I might as well drop a little decompress on you!  Sometimes you don’t have ANYTHING to say, and sometimes you have STUFF to say…today is that day…

So without any further adieu, here goes!

• Have I mentioned lately that it’s FOOTBALL SEASON!!!???  Thank you Lord, and Hockey season is coming!
• I went to New Walk Church today – one of my favorites and several friends have been attending lately.  As always, great music, great speaking, and great to see so many old friends!
• After church Sid and I spent some time at Smokey Bones for lunch.  We had received some gift cards way back when, and finally got around to using them!  I *heart* good BBQ!
• We spent a few hours running SUPER SECRET errands…more on that MUCH later.
• It’s Sunday in Fall, so that means football and ANOTHER day of the Bucs sucking their way through a game…BUT my Dirty Birds (Falcons) pulled an upset in New Orleans! WOW!
• It’s Sunday and that ALSO means taping a nap with my lovely bride in the afternoon…  Ahhhhh life
• After we woke up it was time for our late night run: 3.1 miles at an 18 minute pace – not great, but better than a year ago.  (A year ago, I was a couch potato…so ANYTHING is better than last year, and NEXT year will be better than THIS year!)
• Got home and had a little dinner and Undercover Boss – INSPIRATIONAL!
• Heading to a really much needed sleep!

LOOKING AHEAD

• On Friday Mom and Jim come in for a few weeks in FLA (we’re spending 3 nights at Disney, which is AWESOME!)
• Saturday AM Mom, Sid, and myself will be running/walking in Mickey’s Halloween 5K and then in the late PM, Sid and I will be running in the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon Relay!  Prayers are VERY welcome.
• Sunday night the whole family is attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom – very excited!!
• Sid starts working in Orlando on Wednesday – which will be great and nerve wracking all at once.  She’s commuting and starting a job custom made for her.  It’s truly a blessing.
• I hope to be blogging more…I have some topics to unpack, but it may be uncomfortable for me to write and for you to read.  We shall see…