Hi Andy,

You wrote:

"Truth is, the great majority of the mb masters don't even have the
will-power to follow what they preach, how much less so can a guy who
goes out on Sunday's and tries to take the heads off their opponents on
a gridiron."

Who or what "mb masters" are you talking about? I have not met anyone
who claims the title of "mb master". However, I have met many like you
that like to point fingers and call others "mb masters" and speak of
them either in great reverence or in great disappointment. The label
seems to me to be used more for the purpose of distancing oneself from
such a person (or persons) and has no semblance to the truth. It is a
convenient way for one to say that "I am not like them" for whatever
self-purpose one has.

Also what is it that they preach they don't have the will-power to
follow? In all my years of being involved with macrobiotic education, I
can't recall anyone who has not practiced what they preach - since I
always understood macrobiotic teaching to be based on understanding the
order of the universe, individual free choice and non-credo. Indeed,
when one teaches the order of the universe then to me, it is logically
impossible to not practice what one preaches even if one ate meat,
sugar, did drugs, became ill and lived a short life.

But then again, if we define a macrobiotic person (or "master" - as you
call them) as someone who takes care of their health and lives to a ripe
old age, then the only ones qualified to call themselves as such - are
those that actually live to a ripe old age. But just how old? 80? 90?
100? more? When is the cutoff age? Also, at those older ages, does it
really matter what one ate or how well disciplined they were? Just the
fact they lived so long is a testament enough of their macrobiotic
"mastery". Also and indeed, living a life without discipline might even
be preferred and desireable over following a rigid routine - it might
even be necessary in order to live so long. Maybe, the best solution
lies somewhere in the middle oscillating back and forth between
following a dsiciplined routine and living a wild and care-free life. 
Who really knows? I'll let you know if I ever reach such a ripe old age
and along the way I am certainly going to do whatever I like or please
regardless of what anyone calls me or thinks of me.

Also, I always have been under the impression that professional athletes
maintain a tremendous amount of discipline, especially those who are
successful and command high salaries. They would need to be in order to
be so successful. For that matter, doesn't anyone successful maintain a
certain level of discipline in their life which then correlates to the
level of success that they attain?

Respectfully,
Phiya

--- In moderndaymacrobiotics@yahoogroups.com, "andyboyshao"
<andyboyshao@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Melanie -
>
> If an N.F.L. player was on a genuine mb diet (i.e. like one Kushi
> describes in his books) I would be very shocked. I suppose anything
is
> possible. My guess is that if one was a fly and followed the player's
> every move, one would see some very interesting things. This is not
to
> say that your friend was not following mb principles, he very well
> could have been. Truth is, the great majority of the mb masters don't
> even have the will-power to follow what they preach, how much less so
> can a guy who goes out on Sunday's and tries to take the heads off
> their opponents on a gridiron. Anyways, I do applaud your friend...he
> has accomplished more than the masters. If you do find out the names
> of the mb NFL players perhaps you can share it with us. I used to be
> very interested in the NFL (although today it totally bores me) and
I'm
> hoping the player was one I was fond of.
>
> Love
>
> Andy
>