Archive for April, 2009

"Hap" Hadley, born Alvan Cordell Hadley in 1895, was an American artist who gained world-wide acclaim specializing in pen and ink representations of popular subjects – he was especially adept at movie poster art in the 1930's. But if you asked him what was more memorable to him than a career in the movie industry he would modestly say it was his service in the United States Marine Corps during WWI that meant the most. He enlisted in the same place I did, St. Louis, MO, 51 years ealier in 1917. He was just 22 years old.

I have spoken in this blog many times about my uncle, SSgt Jack Rice, USMC, deceased. It was while arciving some of his Marine memorabilia that I discovered a rare gem, hidden away in Jack's personal papers a cartoon drawn by Hapley while enlisting in the USMC at age 22. Although Jack didn't get to know "Hap" Hapley until the late 60's, he followed his career as a movie poster artist and often spoke with him on the phone from his home in Los Angeles.

Jack and "Hap" finally met just before his death in 1976 and it wasn't until Jack's death in 1982 that I was made responsible (Jack's sister was my Mother) for putting his affairs in order. Among his most valued possessions I was amazed to find this cartoon rendering of the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in St. Louis reproduced in the August 5th, 1917 St. Louis Post Dispatch, Sunday Magazine Section, the place where Hap enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps during WWI. I was even more amazed to discover the artist of this little bit of cartoon mischief was none other than Alvan "Hap" Hapley himself!

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Fit And Fat?

Yep, it's a proven fact. All you need to do is look at some of the bigger players on your favorite NFL team to know that while these big guys might appear to be fat they are actually fit as a fiddle! And most of these guys can sit down at the trainers table and test well within normal ranges for blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure! By the way, I would never call an NFL player FAT, not if I want to live, I refer to them as BIG and it seems to be ok.

Size Doesn't Matter

At least when it comes to fitness! And, it turns out that those skinny little wide receivers are more prone to heart disease than their blocking buddies! It's enlightening (and encouraging, in a weird way) to discover that almost 25% of thin people are more prone to heart disease than their overweight brethren.

More From Lowcarb Marine

• New Fat-Busting Science – Fact Or Fiction Part 4
• New Fat-Busting Science – Fact Or Fiction Part 5
• Out Of The Corps

You can follow my sometimes hilarious, oft-times, heart-breaking journey to lose two-hundred pounds and attempt to fit back into that Marine Corps blouse hanging in the closet. I know I am crazy to try but it keeps me focused. Along the way I will talk about what I ate, where I got it, how it was cooked and how I was able to do away with sugar and bread. How I deal with alcoholic beverages (a Marine staple but I still can't drink Pabst) and about how I was finally able to change my eating habits for good. If you see any part of yourself in me then maybe I can help you.

Marines are no different than any other human beings when it comes to weight control, some never have a problem and some, like me, fight it all their lives. The Corps says you can't weigh more than they say you can or else and while you are on active duty PT keeps you from going over the top due to bad eating habits.

If you don't get the PT or if you get out and don't excercise trouble will be coming. Along the way I will share my story and the stories of other Marines that I admire – real hero's. I hope that you enjoy your visit and welcome your comments.

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Funny thing about the Marines. As much as you think you hate it when you are in it, you tend to only remember the good times when you are no longer a part of it and woe the person who says a bad word about MY Marine Corps! Then, when you first step that un-booted foot on the civilian shore again your new concept of freedom takes on a life of it's own. Suddenly you can eat what you want, stay in the rack as long as you want, grow your hair down to your butt if that's what makes you happy and all sorts of un-marine things.

Naturally, this sort of attitude has great potential for disaster – and brother did I ask for it! All of a sudden I turn around and I am a FAT 55 year old capable of being weighed accurately only by a truck scale out on the interstate! Seriously, at 5'-9" tall and close to 400 lbs. that is nothing short of blobsville.

Long story short, self-esteem goes down the tubes, depression leads to eating, eating leads to depression, a cycle you can ride straight to hell if you aren't careful – and on this hog a helmet won't help! At the point where I thought I had reached bottom I discovered the book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and saw light at the end of the tunnel. If I had learned anything at all about my yo-yo battle with weight over the years since leaving the Corps I had forgotten it and then it hit me; everything I had put in my mouth up to that point had done absolutely nothing for me but make me unhappy, why not try something new?!

And when I went through my Mother's losing battle with cancer my stress relief was eating. I am paying for that now but believe me, it's never too late to change, no matter what your age or condition. I have already lost a 120 pounds but a guy as big as me can lose that in no time.

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• A Marine's "Old Corps"
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Out! – College, work as a veteran's counselor and a job in sales followed in the years after I returned to my home town of St. Louis, Mo in 1972. The war was still dragging on and I was often asked to attend anti-war demonstrations, which I declined to do. I had simply had enough of it and just wanted to forget all that and get on with my life. Twenty-one year olds can do that. I still find it hard to believe that it has been 36 years since all of this took place and lately I have become motivated to re-connect with some of the guys I served with.

This new blog I have created will help me get some things off my chest, things I haven't spoken about to anyone until now. Hopefully it will encourage other Marines to do so as well. It also gives me the opportunity to talk about and promote the carbohydrate controlled nutritional approach to a healthy lifestyle that I have adopted at this stage of my life.

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