Blog
EXCUSES BE GONE
Knowing that what you’re thinking in a moment of weakness is one thing, but you also need to know how to defuse the power of the excuse. What follows is a simple process you can use to regain your power whenever one of those self-defeating thoughts arise.
BUILD CONSISTENCY FIRST
Consistency is vital to long-term wellness. The thoughts you hold in mind on a regular basis lead to actions, which create (or frustrate) you on your path of optimal health. What you hold in mind also sparks feelings that can propel you into the gym early in the morning and may compel you to choose a salad over a cheeseburger.
MAKE ONE CHANGE
The thing is, change takes time and happens one step at a time. Your mental energy is finite and every decision you make uses it. This is especially true if you are using “willpower” toward a new endeavor or one in which you’ve struggled in the past. The key to successful change is giving yourself permission to master one change at a time.
CREATE YOUR FUTURE
It is time to build on your clean, strong foundation in this excerpt from EMPOWERED. There are three things which happen when you reframe the way in which you eat and exercise. First, you change from external to internal meaning. Second, you make choices from autonomous strength, rather than following the dictates of others. Third, your motivation becomes positive and not negative.
DISCOVER YOUR MEANING
You continually get messages which influence you. Today more than ever, you are inundated by social media, traditional media, advertisers, so-called influencers and, not to mention, the ideas and opinions of your family, friends and peer group. You are a social animal and you have adopted, at least some, of other people’s views about diet and exercise. It’s time to decide which ones to keep and which ones do not serve you.
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
Change is going to happen, whether you like it or not, and you won’t be “perfect,” so let’s forget about that right now. Holding onto some idea of what you think you “should” be is also a sure path to disappointment. Worst of all is trying to be what someone else says you should be. You decide for yourself. The key is to know why you are materializing your dream.
CHANGE?
It's time to take an honest look at your health and acknowledge the flimsy gauze of excuses you’ve allowed to cover up your real self. You are ready. All you need to do is decide to become who you are. You feel the pull of a desire to be who you deserve to be and are reading this post. Let’s get started!
WHAT IS OPTIMAL HEALTH FOR YOU?
You would not be reading this if you weren’t ready to own your power. This process is based upon an acknowledgment of the influence your thoughts and feelings have over your body. In these pages you will address the influence of your family, friends, the media and others in your life. This is not about blaming yourself or others for where you are now. When you begin to recognize and release the fallacious mind viruses you innocently accepted, you can release them and choose a mindset that supports you. It is your willingness to release mental patterns, which opens you up to the joyful aliveness you deserve.
LET'S THINK BIG
What you think you become, is one of those truisms we all acknowledge and may not live. The incessant bombardment of ideas, opinions and feelings you are exposed to each day can smother you in mental chaos. This confusion leads to malaise and, if you’re not vigilant, a loss of hope.
THE POWER OF 10
You say you’re too busy to take care of yourself? Do you have 10 seconds to spare? If you feel crazy, do you have 10 minutes to invest in your health? Take a look at the best ways in which you can make the most of those precious 10 seconds or 10 minutes:
LET'S GO OLD SCHOOL THIS SUMMER
Technology is a wonderful servant, but a horrible master. Until the robot overlords compel us to serve them, step out of your comfort zone and walk around the block, hike in the woods or have dinner on the patio without your phone by your side. Your social media accounts are not going anywhere and you may find some of the joy and peace you remember from summers past.
ARE YOU LISTENING?
Remember, the point of getting quiet and listening is to become aware of the feelings behind your actions. This is not about judging yourself or anyone around you as good or bad. All you need to do is observe the way you feel in your body while you take another deep breath. Now you can decide how to move forward with this awareness.
A SLEEPY SECRET FOR A BETTER BODY
Sleep might be the most ignored strategy for a better body! If you are chronically sleep-deprived your body is under constant stress. If you are stressed your body releases hormones which cause you to store more fat and more fat leads to a variety of serious health concerns. Of course, you may not be able to remember the last time you weren’t tired.
STAYING HEALTHY IN THE FACE OF GRIEF
Grief is a powerful emotion. It is often sudden and can cause intense reactions in even the healthiest of people. Stress may leave you feeling numb, guilty, or angry, and it can even have a negative effect on your immune system. However, no matter what you are grieving, taking care of your physical health will help you get through and find the strength to prioritize your mental health.
DON'T WAIT TO MAKE YOUR RESOLUTIONS
Am I willing to decide, is the question you need to ask yourself? What is a decision you have been avoiding in the hope it will be made for you? Are you waiting to commit to daily exercise because work is too busy right now? Or will you start eating healthier when your spouse stops ordering pizza?
DON'T ACT YOUR AGE
Research has confirmed that consistent exercise can add years to your life. More importantly, an active lifestyle lowers your biological age regardless of your chronological age. If you stay fit and healthy, you’ll never act your age.
THERE IS A BETTER WAY
Why do you really desire (I’d say deserve) vibrant health? The stimulus for achieving this is inside of you – and I’m not just being optimistic. Over 30 years of research from the National Weight Control Registry indicates no specific diet, exercise protocol or pill has been found to manifest long-term weight loss. Instead, changes in thoughts, behavior and lifestyle are by far more likely to create lasting changes in health.
Guest Post: Tips for Boosting Confidence While Entering the Post-Lockdown World
For many, social anxieties are part of the mix of emotions leading to this stress. If you’ve been locked down and working from home all the time, odds are it’s been a while since you regularly interacted with people outside of your household. Justin Bennett of HealthyFit.info has created this guide to help you figure out tools you can use to boost your confidence and get back out there.
EAT LESS AND ENJOY EVERY BITE
If you’re uncertain about how to start eating less and with more awareness or think, “there is no way my family will ever sit down for a meal without their phones,” may I offer something for you to practice? The acronym, BASICS, can serve as a reminder of how to practice more mindful eating. No one has to know J.
BE A CAVEMAN
Does the dramatic rise of obesity and degenerative disease may stem from mankind’s recent adaptation of processed foods, many of which contain grains or products, such as gluten, which come from processing grains? This is a contention behind what is alternately called the Paleo or Caveman diet.