While exercise addiction may sound like a pretty good addiction to have, considering the dangers and downfalls of alcohol addiction and drug dependency, the control that exercise has over an addict’s life is anything but harmless.

Exercise addiction, also known as exercise bulimia, has much of the same side effects as eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia, including unhealthy body weight, injury to self, lack of self-worth, and depression.

How do you know when you’ve become addicted to exercise? When exercising starts to control your life instead of fitting nicely into your schedule. Classic signs of exercise addiction include:

• working out despite an injury or illness
• exercising for hours on end each day
• doubling up on workouts the day after you had to miss a workout
• ignoring feelings of fatigue to exercise despite the fact that you’ll be even more exhausted afterward
• allowing exercise to become the number one priority in your life, even if it means canceling prior obligations or letting down or hurting loved ones.

It may be difficult for you to recognize exercise addiction in yourself, but it’s probably pretty easy for an outsider. So if someone is telling you they think you may have a problem, listen up and get to your doctor for help.

It has not taken long for Mark to get back in the gym. I thought he would take a week off or something since he just came off a spectacular showing at his first bb show. He finished 2nd in the Novice and 3rd in the Open Iowa. I was so proud of him! His wife also did amazing. She won her class but lost in the overall.

We were back in the gym Monday hitting shoulders and today arms. Now, we are focused on my show. Mark is a great inspiration for me. He is so fired up every morning. It is so refreshing. Our workouts are hardcore. I love it!

I am in the clinic late tonight so I better get back at it. American Idol is on tonight so I am sure we are going to be slow. You would be amazed how TV runs some people's lives.

I learned a valuable lesson last night...................It does not matter! It does not matter if you if you are jew or gentile, circumcised or uncircumscised, slave or free (Colossians 3:11)...........it doesn't matter.

What does this tell you? I hope it tells you that God does not distinguish between color, race, class, financial status, and on and on and on. WE are all God's children and He wants us to love one another instead of judging.

In today's society, we are quick to judge and slow to love. We judge poor and rich, fat and skinny, high class and lower class. Funny, how this came up at the sermon I attended last night just prior to going to some friend's bb show. A bb show is judged! It is judged by too much muscle, not enough muscle, too light, too dark, too tall, not tall enough. It is amazing how wrong we can all be! I hear things all the time backstage or when sitting in the crowd. He or she shouldn't even be up on stage.............they look terrible..............so and so is fat.........I am going to beat him because I look better than him. What is this all about? What about loving one another, and helping one another, and praising one another, and most of all enjoying the gifts of others. If we are all created in the image of God, we are all ONE! Not one of us is any better than the other. If each of us carried with us this attitude, there would not be so much hate and animosity in our world. Instead, if we focused on being the best that God created, we would love ourselves and as a result be able to love one another.

I have a show coming up in July. I will be putting myself in a position to be judged by someone sitting behind a table, with a pencil in hand, with negative thoughts in the mind because in the mind of a judge.............EVERTHING is wrong with you until you prove to them that your wrong is better than someone else's wrong. So true, eh? Well, this time I am going into my show praising God for my blessings and knowing that my biggest champion is God. He has a purpose for me that no one has the right or capability to judge. So, I am keeping my eyes of faith focused forward because I have God's favor as long as I stay in FAITH!

By the way, I had a great time at the show. I went backstage to help my friends but I also praised a lot of others. I really enjoyed spreading praise for their hard work. I could see that the praise I gave them made them feel and think they could do anything they wanted to do. The energy that I exuded was the same energy they took out on that stage. Is that not great or what? Yes it is!

Share some love today.............start with yourself! And, then, let it spread to a friend, your family, your coworkers!

One last note, my birthday party pics are up in the gallery. Look at all the happy faces. There was a whole lotta lovin' goin' on!

It's a beautiful morning.........again! What a blessing to wake up each morning to enjoy the next day God has in store for us! I have a lot planned today. I was up at my usual time of 415 am and already cleaned up my place. I try to do this on weekends. I enjoyed a cup of coffee and finished emails. Saturday's are so relaxing for me and they are my favorite day of the week.

I am hitting shoulders with Mark in about an hour. He is 1 week out from his first bb show. I think he is looking fabulous. He has been working with me on his posing. I must say, he is a fast learner.............and, he has a fantastic coach. She is passionate and driven. She does not judge or condemn, but instead focuses positively on change. She has a way that inspires others to be their best. I am talking about ME! This is the way I see myself. These are the gifts I have been given and I am using them!

As you may know, we are all full of opinions and certainties. As a result, we are tempted to pass judgement on other people. The result? You tune out what others think and feel as you focus only on your own take on reality. Doing so makes it hard to be compassionate. Compassion is a way to get into others feelings. Compassion is usually a process we learn over time, not something we attain fully once and for all. Everyone has shortcomings in response to other's needs. I have to work on this every day, because sometimes I slip up.......because I am human! Human! Did you hear what I said? Yes, being human illustrates the fact that we are not perfect. Only one perfect being exists..........God!

Whether it is helping Mark pose, seeing patients, or developing relationships, love and compassion are the key. I might also add that it is so important to love yourself. If you love yourself, it is so easy to love others, respect others, have compassion for others. It is amazing--try it!

Since I mentioned loving oneself...........I can't help but to mention my upcoming birthday on Tuesday May 16th. I am very excited. I have a get-together planned at a local Japanese Steakhouse (Takki). They are famous for their sushi. I hope all my friends can come and enjoy my special day!

Helloooooooooo, happy May Day! This can only mean one thing...........15 days to my birthday. Yeah, this is my favorite day of the year. I simply love MY DAY, Dr. J Day! Yahoo!!!! Last year, you may remember me telling you about my fabulous party hosted by one of my best friends. This year I have decided to allow more people the chance to enjoy MY DAY. So, I have decided to celebrate MY DAY Monday May 15 through Friday May 19. I have treats and goodies planned each day of the week. It is going to be so fun. I am VERY excited. My favorite treat, of course, is cookies and ice cream. I will have my treats on May 20th. This will be my splurge meal. I give myself one day a week to enjoy a treat. 10 weeks and 5 days to showtime. Let the journey begin!!!!!!!!!!