Peter B. Ultimate

It’s easy to become discouraged when trying to lose weight. Instead of focusing on the failure of your past habits, consider focusing on 30 minutes to a flat stomach. Set attainable goals. This means goals that you have control over. If you set a goal to lose five pounds in a week, you have no control and set yourself up for failure. Instead, set a goal to exercise 30 minutes a day five days a week. Along with that set a goal to stay within your calorie count. As you achieve these goals each week, your motivation will increase. Other tips include:

• Measure instead of weigh — Measure your waist and stomach before you start and again each six weeks. Weight can fluctuate as fat is replaced by water or muscle. A tape measure shows the inches melting off your midsection.
• Keep a food diary
• Reward yourself with a pedicure or massage after six weeks
• Plan ahead – Print out a copy of calorie amounts for various fast food chains and keep them in your car. Then if you find yourself in a situation where you have to eat out, you’ll be prepared to make informed choices. You can find fast food calorie information on line.
• While walking for exercise, also hold in your stomach muscles to the count of 10. Release for a count of 10, and repeat. This will help to tone your stomach as you walk.
• If you start to get bored, change to another routine. Mix things up.
• Drink plenty of water.

American naval officer David Farragut is remembered for his Civil War victory at Mobile Bay and his rallying cry, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” Farragut was a lifelong sailor, a boy-veteran of the War of 1812 and a career naval officer. A southerner, he nevertheless fought for the Union during the Civil War. His first great success as a commander came with the capture of New Orleans in 1862; his victory led to his promotion to rear admiral, making him the U.S. Navy’s first such officer. Farragut’s attempts to then take Vicksburg were unsuccessful, but in 1864 he captured the defenses at Mobile, Alabama. During the Mobile Bay battle, one of Farragut’s lead ships struck a mine — then called a torpedo — and sank, causing confusion among Union sailors. To rally them to order, Farragut shouted to his flag captain, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead, Drayton!” and proceeded to sail through the minefield and on to victory. In December of 1864, Farragut was promoted to vice admiral (another first), and in 1866 he became the nation’s first admiral, although he was no longer in active service.

Farragut changed his first name to David as a boy, in honor of his sea-faring guardian, family friend David Porter… Some sources list Farragut’s birthplace simply as “Near Knoxville, Tennessee.” According to a 2001 article in”The Knoxville News-Sentinel,”  “Farragut was born in 1801 in a farmhouse at what is now known as Lowe’s Ferry… His birthplace was designated as Campbell Station, which at the time was the nearest post office.” The nearby town of Farragut, named in his honor, is about 10 miles from Knoxville.