Feeding The Attraction
The butterflies flitter in unsteady patterns, pulsating rhythms of vibrations, sending shivers down my spine. The atmosphere closes in, slight beats of drums I can feel. The world that I see has a different aspect to it, unknown to billions of people on this planet who walk the corridors of life with their eyes firmly closed, darkness filling their surroundings. If only they knew how to open them, their lives would be swept away with tsunamis of dreams that could suddenly be achieved. Like a tome of Alice In Wonderland dropping from the skies, the strange little key held in my palm, ready to open that peculiar little world that only I have control over.
The slightly built man in the starch tight suit stands in front of the microphone, adjusting his tie as a nervous little smile creeps across his chubby face. He cracks a private joke to his spin doctors standing behind him for support. The camera crew and his fans immediately stop their conversations as he commands their attention, ready for the circus to begin. They listen with their ears perked up, keen to swallow all he has to say with evident respect, whether they voted for him or not. He oozes such power, his ego pounding through him, seeping out of his pores. Yet a civilian off the street could enable himself to command more power, fame and respect just by entrapping his thoughts and focusing them to be more productive, sending them in the right direction rather than a scatter of hazy clouds, awaiting action.
I lie on my bed, excitement pulsating through my veins, pounding as the visions in my head become so strong, they become my sight. My bedroom is slightly cool but I feel so warm and loved, my two beloved cats snuggling into my sides. I feel the quilt under me, caressing it with my fingers and smile with happiness at how awesome life feels right now. I take a look at my perfectly neat room with the bookshelves in the corner storing my university books with a matching table to its right, a computer on top awaiting my commands. The carpet matching the curtains and mirrored closet doors. Adrenaline pumps through my body as I feel so lucky, so at peace and in control of my life. The direction I choose suddenly so clear and my problems and issues nothing more than little mounds of dirt.
I’m sitting back in my car, the radio playing casual Saturday morning music. My crumpled Holden quilt and Astro Boy pillow on the passenger seat. I take a look around at my pleasant environment, entombed with tall trees bearing history and bushes of Kings Park, a pleasant breeze running through the car, whipping my hair.
I release the visions of my beautiful room in my new house the way I imagine it, excited that it would soon take place, like winning lotto after I dream it. I feel sad for all those dreamers who fail to make it a reality, they never release their thoughts and desires, to continue its process into manifestation. Then I realise it’s not my problem and I have my own dreams to work on, one at a time like a stepping stone over clear water leading to my heaven. I let the universe complete its process and I sit back to enjoy every wonderful moment I have in this life.
www.deepintodark.com
Living on the Streets – A Serious Crime
If every man comes from God, why are we so driven by stereotypes and justifications to separate the human race? A man of fortune is on top of the food chain but instead of helping the less fortunate, he thrives on classifications.
There are many reasons why people become homeless which comprises those who are couch surfing, living it rough, in their car as well as visible on the streets. Experiences passed through generations, job losses, mental illness, bad decisions, too many children, lack of finances? Personally, I’m living in my car due to bad decisions and trusting friends who I thought were good. It’s a game of dominos. Sleeping rough makes you exhausted, you become a liability if you’re employed, you run out of money and food and BAM! You face the idea of hanging yourself, committing an armed robbery or toughing it out. So far I’ve only resorted to the last option.
I close my eyes, listening to the rumbling of the local insect air fields interrupting my sleep. The heat intensifies with excessive temperatures of 30 degrees outside my window, my heavy quilt protecting me from the loud mosquitos, yearning for my blood. I try and dream of something pleasant, happy memories but the hungry pains in my stomach rumbles me awake, the added “time-of-the-month” women’s syndrome intensifying my hatred of myself, my life and my choices. Social crimes connected to living on the streets such as move on notices issued by the police, drinking and swearing in public has branded me a criminal for life, whether I have committed them or not. I have never stolen, never assaulted, never done drugs but no one cares. It’s all the same. Now I can never enjoy the same benefits of life as those who have never been in trouble and there are many jobs I can never apply for like a security licence. The inbuilt classifications as a result will follow me through my life, the world and especially the government, who will never be prepared to give me another chance.
I met a friend on the streets, a tall happy larrikin with a beautiful smile that could turn winter into summer and night into day. His heart on his sleeve, showing the world his care and love for those he never personally knew. He forks out $50 to a homeless bum on the side of the street, not caring if it was for drugs but happy to have helped the man with his temporary issues. A middle class man enjoying the summer riding his bike before he returns to working on the mines, he doesn’t benefit from stereotyping anyone.
A police officer working the streets is driven by classifications which dissects his mind into targeting who should be fined or moved on and who should be left alone. It appears for many cops, the judgements of the job is in balance with the heaven and hell issue. What part of their life did they change to become so mentally heavy handed? Is it people’s experiences or hatred of particular social groups?
How do people benefit from issuing such critical statements about other people? Are they low on self-esteem and need to feel like they have the world at their fingertips? They command the power over the poor and those affected by social injustices? I am yet to see any proof how classification cruelty can enable you to have a better life, other than the financial proceeds of gossip magazines, bringing entertainment from those making mistakes in the spotlight. If we could walk on the street and give 5 strangers a warm compliment, wouldn’t the world be a better place rather than angry and shameful? But that would be too hard.
www.deepintodark.com
What It’s Like Living on the Streets?
Life on the streets
Homelessness is living on the streets, on a friend’s couch, in your car and anywhere that makes you transitional. Some people end up that way because life gets too hard and giving up seems to be the easiest option. There are agencies out there but you think they might be too busy to help. You should be able to take care of yourself, why would someone want to help you?
When you’re a kid on the streets, it’s a lot more fun. You don’t need to take responsibility and you can run amok. If it gets cold or you’re hungry, give the police some trouble and you end up soaking in the luxuries of juvenile detention, which in some Australian places are more like a summer camp than a penitentiary built to doll out punishment.
According to ACTnow.com.au, 105,000 Australians are homeless on any given night!
But what does it feel like?
The cold passage of Forrest Chase’s General Post Office drips cold water from the dark clouds, setting in like depression. The chilly gusts of wind penetrate my clothes. Hunger rumbles through my stomach as I watch some litter dancing in the wind. The alcohol I rely on makes my body shiver as I yearn for more to dull the stages of hanging out, my body weak and idle. I have no possessions, no blankets, just the things I see and feel. I yearn for the summer, the bright sunshine burning heat through my clothes and soaking me with happiness. Life becomes joyous when it’s warm and happy, no time for depression. It’s drink after drink with regular street feeds and more friends coming out from the hostels, where they’ve been hibernating through the long winter periods. Camp fires and bottles of bourbon, cheerful atmospheres and nice cool swims in the oceans.
The police come out in force in the summer, like parades of ants, wanting to take control of the streets. Moving us on and closing down squats which have sheltered some of us all winter long. After several move on notices and policies in place to deal with vagrants like us who litter the precious tourist environments, it gets to a point where locking us up is the best thing for us.
The Magistrate with his grey hair and bulky black rimmed glasses, peers down from the high bench. We’re at the bottom of society’s food chain, fines and middle-class punishments are no use to us. Jail is the only solution.
The cold bars slam home in the small cell, which offers protection against the dangers of society. Three feeds a day with a warm bed and shower. Amidst the hierarchies of armed robbers, prostitutes and drug dealers, the violent thieves who want to punch our head in for our share of cordial. Perhaps it’s safer in here but after a few weeks, it’s back on the streets and the cycle begins. There’s no point in putting my name down for a Homeswest House. It takes 2 years to get anywhere and there’s always people jumping the queue, popping out kids left, right and centre. So what do you do?
That’s why I call the streets home.
www.deepintodark.com
8 Healthy Cycling Tips For Racing
1. Drink heaps of water and isotonic drinks
You can’t beat the heat but you can prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated and that’s where the benefits of water come in. Unfortunately, plain water can’t be absorbed at the rate that it needs to be. There’s a big move for what we call isotonic drinks. The electrolytic drinks (with the magnesium, calcium and other minerals), helps the muscles to absorb water at a higher rate. Beating the heat means more water in the system! It’s absolutely crucial. You need to drink 2 litres of water a day standard but for every one hour of exercise, you must have an extra litre of water. So if you’re exercising for two hours straight, that means you’ve actually got to drink 4 litres of water. There’s a lot of professional supplements on the market that will keep your body hydrated. If you keep the body cool, you can perform better. Prior to a race, it’s always good to make sure you’re well hydrated and drink plenty of electrolytic fluids in the body like Endura. The commercial electrolytes are a little bit of a electrolytic drink but they are high in sugars and corn syrup which represent problems with your blood sugar levels and I wouldn’t be recommending that before a race.
2. No cola and soft drinks
The biggest problem with cola and soft drinks, is that they are very high in sugar which elevates your blood sugar levels and therefore drops you down once your insulin is injected into the body. I think the worse thing about colas and soft drinks is, they are very acidic and they leave the body in a very acidic condition. If you want your body to repair quickly, your muscles to work properly, if you want them to grow and maintain, you have to be in an alkaline situation. That means alkaline opposite acid. If you’re acid, you basically decay inside. If you’re alkaline, you become clean and perfect inside and the muscles need to function in an alkaline condition. Cola robs you of energy. Low blood sugar means light headiness, lack of performance, tiredness and no energy whatsoever.
3. Carbohydrates and protein before racing
I believe protein is really important prior to racing because you have to protect your muscles from breaking down during racing. Get up in the morning and have some type of carbohydrate meal like rice, pasta, fruit or banana. A simple thing like a banana and honey sandwich can be enough carbohydrates to give you energy for the race but after that, you need a protein shake because it provides the muscles with protein and energy, protects your blood sugar levels and helps your muscles to cope with the stress of racing.
4. Eat and drink between races
It is very important that you allow your body, if you’ve been racing, to recover. You need to feed your body while you take a break. Sometimes you might see a professional person peel a banana between a race to give him the extra energy. Keep up with the electrolytic drinks to help give you energy to hydrate rather than drinking straight water. Also between races, you can also have a carbohydrate drink, which loads you up with energy and replace the energy you’ve just extended from the previous race. I think they are fantastic. I would rather drink a carbohydrate drink than have a banana because I find the banana hard to digest at times and I end up burping it up when I try to race but with the proper carbohydrate drink, they have a range of great flavours like lemon and orange and gives you that little bit of edge and the energy you need for your next race.
5. Oxygen
The best thing to do on a break is breathe deep, hold your breath and make sure your body’s relaxed. It is very important to massage your muscles and increase the blood flow to them. Oxygen is critical for energy and firing up your body. Your whole performance is based on how your muscles work. I believe it’s one of the most important things people forget. We can only last a couple minutes without oxygen so that tells you how important oxygen is to the body.
6. Avoid lollies and junk food
Anyone that eats lollies and junk food before a race, can almost guarantee they are not going to win, particularly if they are endurance racing. They are high sugar foods and are not classed as carbohydrates. Lollies that are full of sugar, spike your blood sugar levels immediately and that’s very dangerous because after you finish eating them, you will get a bit of a high, very similar to drinking cola and then bang, you will go down in the doldrums and don’t expect to perform like that.
7. Get a good night’s sleep
A good night sleep is a critical component for an athlete’s performance. You cannot expect to perform, to be a winner if you don’t get a good night’s sleep. It allows your body to repair and to recover for the next day. It is where all the mechanisms of the body takes place to ensure that you’re the number one athlete the next day. If you cut that process short, you wake up very sluggish and tired because the body hasn’t had a chance to clean and repair.
One way to not get a good night’s sleep, is if you have pasta, rice or any sort of starchy food like potatoes and bread, they are loaded with sugar and that sugar will ensure that you don’t get a good nights sleep. Always have a protein meal before you head off to bed like chicken, fish, steak with a little bit of veges. You can not expect to perform properly if you carb up over the night time and that is old thinking as far as I’m concerned. Modern thinking is carb up at breakfast time. If you have a cup of sugar at night before you go to sleep, can you expect to get any sleep? No you won’t. And 150 grams of pasta has the same effect as a cup of sugar, so why would any good BMX rider do that?
8. Ease up on the alcohol
Alcohol has its place and isn’t actually dangerous. Excessive alcohol, any more than 2 or 3 drinks at any given time, will put some sort of stress on your liver. But alcohol on occasions is not a problem. I know some world class athletes who are not performing at the moment and I’m talking about a lot of female tennis players who go out every night and smash themselves with alcohol. And everyone of those that I know, have just lost their game at the Hopman Cup. If you trash yourself, don’t expect to perform. Alcohol is also very fattening. If you want to stay nice and lean, you can’t expect to drink. If you have 2 or 3 beers, that could be anything from 600 to 1800 calories going into your diet and that will go end up straight body fat.
In my day, we never touched alcohol whilst we were competing or anywhere near our training days. If anything, it might be a bit on Saturday night to relax, we might have a few beers or bourbon, I don’t have a problem with that.
Interview by Delphine Jamet on Barry Andrews (www.naturopathperth.com)
How can supplements help maintain your health?
Exercise and training places huge demands on the muscles and internal organs and if the extra nutrient requirements is not met on a daily basis, the body starts to get run down. This leads to immune issues such as constant colds, sore throats, cold sores etc.
If you don’t keep up with the extra requirements of supplements that the body is screaming for, then the over training syndrome occurs, which means the loss of performance, the loss of muscle tissue, loss of energy and endurance.
If this is left too long unaddressed, then you can suffer the fate of becoming chronically fatigue, a condition you may never ever recover from. One of the worst things that happens when you train, is oxidating damage to the body which can be dangerous to your overall health and longevity.
Oxidating damage and ageing of the cells is caused by free radicals being released into the blood stream as a result of muscle breakdown, acidosis and burning of the fat.
This is all toxic to the human body and therefore, it is critically important that the cells are protected by a daily intake of antioxidants such as vitamin c, vitamin a, vitamin e, bioflavonoids, beta carotene, folic acid and selenium etc.
And that’s a result of the tissue, muscles and the fat competing with the blood supply. If your body doesn’t have a lot of antioxidants, then there’s no protective measure around the cells and the cells can be very badly damaged. That means DNA damage inside the cells, damage to the membranes . . . all that can have an impact on a particular organ like the liver.
So the idea is, you need to get plenty of these types of foods into your diet that will nourish the body over and above its normal demand. You can go and eat fruit and veges from the supermarket and live a normal life and that should be okay. But when we stress our body due to exercise or putting chemicals into our body like cigarette smoking, that’s when we actually need extra protection. And if we don’t supplement on a daily basis, you are in big trouble. The end result will be break down of the human body and you don’t want that. So the idea is, in all cases, protect yourself and that’s why there’s a lot of advertisement lately with antioxidants.
I recommend just for a start, getting one particular type of antioxidant, drink 3 cups of green tea a day. Then eat the right fruits and berries and all the foods that contain very powerful antioxidants. Now I’ve just talked about one reason to supplement. There are 100 other reasons you need to supplement over and above your daily diet if you want to be a champion, body builder or sports athlete.
It’s absolutely diabolically wrong for the media to tell people that you need to eat iron man food and breakfast of champions food, that’s rubbish. You can not get enough nutrient value out of powdered and crunched up foods that have all the goodness taken out of them and virtually no goodness put back in, apart from a massive load of sugar.
If you have champions and BMX riders getting up and having iron man food for breakfast and then not supplementing on top of that, they will not be able to perform properly because iron man food contains so much sugar, it ends up spiking the blood sugar levels and you end up getting more of a lull in your energy levels instead of a boost because you’ve put too much sugar at a given time and you didn’t balance it out throughout the day.
So therefore it becomes important to know to supplement with proteins for instance, which is a way to mediating and helping to normalise blood sugar levels. It doesn’t mean you can’t eat iron man food. It is rubbish food as far as I’m concerned and that is only my opinion but if you do eat rubbish like that, where are you going to get your nutrients from? So therefore supplementation is very important.
This information is only the tip of the total information that’s available to an athlete or what I would tell them. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I have learnt a lot through trial and error, studying and personal involvement. I’ve used a lot of these formulas and supplements and I know that they work.
I am a sports nutritionist. I apply naturopathy, natural medicine and natural repair processes to sports regime, looking for the more natural point of view instead of commercially. I’ve combined two fields – natural nutrition and sports nutrition which is a perfect combination for a natural way of looking at the human body.
I used to be a state road and track racer back in Grafton, New South Wales. But that was in my young days. I used to be a champion swimmer and when I was in my early 30’s, my father and I were body builders. My dad was an Australian champion body builder and world champion wrestler and he knew a lot about the natural nutrition and how important it was to eat protein and supplements back in the 60’s.
Interview by Delphine Jamet on Barry Andrews (www.naturopathperth.com)
