With the coming of spring many of us are headed out and joining summer leagues to play softball, go swimming or maybe ultimate Frisbee. Now is a good time to look at sports nutrition and how it can help us perform better and (especially for those of us, like me, that are in the over 40 crowd) recover quicker.
Protein and Diet
The primary reason athletes require protein is to repair and rebuild muscle that is broken down during exercise. Protein also helps to optimize carbohydrate storage in the form of glycogen. Protein isn’t the best source of fuel for exercise, but the body can and will use protein when there is not enough carbohydrates in your diet. This is not a good thing.
If protein is used for fuel, there isn’t enough available to repair and rebuild body tissues, including muscle. And in the case of a starvation type diet, the body will even steal protein from the muscles including the heart.
If you are an athlete that is into strength training you might believe more protein is important to build muscle. It turns out that strength athletes actually require high carbohydrate intake. The glycogen stored up from carbohydrates is required to fuel their workouts. It is the strength training workout that leads to increased muscle mass and strength.
This is because all high intensity, powerful muscle contractions (such as weight lifting) are fueled with carbohydrates. Neither fat nor protein can be oxidized rapidly enough to meet the demands of high-intensity exercise. You must get enough dietary carbohydrates in your daily diet to restore glycogen levels. Protein is necessary for the rebuilding and repair of the muscle, but carbohydrates can’t be ignored.
Many athletes support rapid recovery and repair of muscle tissue with protein shakes and powders. Don’t settle for mere protein, use a clinically proven Bio-Build® formula that combines 18 vitamins and minerals and essential amino acids. This will provide the body the nutrients it needs for recovery and repair, and for rebuilding muscle tissue.
Water and Staying Hydrated
Proper hydration is especially important during exercise. For athletes, drinking water is essential to comfort, performance and safety. The longer and more intense your exercise routine, the more important it is to drink the right kind of fluids and in the proper amounts.
A majority of people do NOT get enough fluids in their system each day especially when exercising.
Athletes, ever weekend athletes, need to stay hydrated for optimal performance. Studies have found that water loss due to sweating is linked to a drop in blood volume. This condition can cause the heart to work harder and can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue and even heat illness such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Causes of Dehydration can include
· Inadequate fluid intake
· Excessive sweating
· Failure to replace fluid losses during and after exercise
· Exercising in dry, hot weather
· Drinking only when thirsty
Consumption of beverages containing electrolytes and carbohydrates can help sustain fluid-electrolyte balance and exercise performance.
To help avoid early fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, lightheadedness, and nausea, the body must stay hydrated to replenish these nutrients.
Whether you’re an elite athlete or just an aspiring one, an Endurance Sport Drink is the perfect drink during workouts. This thirst-quenching beverage keeps you hydrated and sustains energy. The advanced OptiCarb® formula enhances endurance, giving you the extra fuel to reach your performance goals.
Read some bio’s of other athletes who use products to make workouts and sports more enjoyable before, during and after. They help both the amateur and the professional.
Here is to your health and Making Life More...
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Improve your Health
An ounce of prevention towards wellness -
Learn the simple steps to living a healthier and happier life!
Concern over health and how to improve your health has become a topic more and more of us think about and try to implement in our lives. Advances in medicine have helped us live longer lives and have allowed us to overcome some of the ills and infections that used to kill many people. Vaccines have helped prevent illness and death. They have eliminated diseases like smallpox and have helped against rabies, diphtheria and the plague.
However, we have started to incur a new host of health problems due to the length of our life, the processed foods we eat, the fast paced lives we live and the chemicals that pollute our world. Everyday we see new commercials on TV about the next great drug that will make your life better or healthier. But do you actually listen to the list of possible side effects. Are these drugs really helping or just creating different problems. Remember, no pharmaceutical company ever made money by curing you quickly so you could stop taking their pills.
Why wait until you feel poorly before you see a doctor that will only work on alleviating your symptoms and not on fixing the underlying problem. Start achieving wellness and begin improving your health before you get to the point you need to see a doctor. Work on improving your overall wellness.
As the old adage says “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Of the leading causes of death in the United States, many can be prevented. The likelihood of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues can be directly impacted by the choices we make every day. The choices about what we put into our bodies and the choices we make that affect our personal environment.
Click here to see a study done by UC Berkeley Medical that shows how making the right choice can directly impact your health.
Here are some things you can do to increase your wellness and start down the path to improve your health:
Diet and Nutrition -
Your diet does a lot in determining your overall health and wellness. What you put into your body does make a difference. "It's easy to buy into some pretty popular nutrition misconceptions -- myths and half-truths that ultimately find us making far fewer healthier food choices than we realize," says New York University nutritionist Samantha Heller, MS, RD.
Read labels, don’t trust all the advertising and always try to get whole foods and not processed substitutes.
The same goes for your supplements. Get those that are made from natural ingredients and aren’t over processed. Every vitamin and mineral and phytochemical in our body works in concert with one another, and it's easy to knock that balance off. Be sure the supplements you are taking are balanced and introduced to your body in a way that they are usable and work together as nature intended.
Some of the things you want to make sure you get enough of in your diet are fiber, antioxidants, soy, and water. These things along with a well balanced nutritional intake of whole foods and supplements can go a long way in improving health and increasing wellness.
Weight -
Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to improving health. You don’t have to be as thin as a rail – this is actually just as unhealthy as being overweight – you just need to keep the excess in check.
It all begins with attitude. Start by changing how you feel about yourself, your body and your eating habits. Change to a can do attitude where you start to do what’s right for you. Simple moderate exercise, eating a healthy breakfast (no skipping allowed), reducing your calorie intake by not taking just one more are all small things we can do to get in better health by being at a better weight.
Don’t go for the fad diets that don’t work or at best get you to lose weight for a while but then just put it back on later. A slow and steady change will help you lose the weight and keep it off and it will be much healthier for you. Get plenty of whole foods, protein (quite often a good soy protein can give you what you need without adding fat to your diet) and drink lots of water.
Water is critical to the health and wellness of your body. It helps rid you of toxic build up and it is needed for normal cell processes to work. Another side effect of water is that it can make you feel full without adding the calories so you will eat less.
Exercise -
Aerobic exercise is very important to maintaining your wellness and improving your health. It has been linked to cancer prevention, reduction of osteoporosis, helping with depression, lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and of course obesity and weight control. It can also help with cognitive functions – meaning you can think more clearly and work more efficiently.
Aerobic exercise makes most of us think of joining a gym or having to run several miles everyday. This is just not the case. You can keep it very simple and still achieve benefits. Walking is one of the best exercises out there. It is simple, easy on the joints, doesn’t cost us a lot of money and it can be done pretty much anywhere. To get a benefit from walking, you just need to make sure that it is aerobic. That means you want to walk at a pace that leaves you feeling "warm and slightly out of breath". One good way to start is the 5 out 5 back plan. Just walk 5 minutes away from the house and then you are force to walk 5 minutes back. Increase the time out as your health and fitness increase.
Stress Management -
Most of us live with some type of stress everyday. It has just become part of our lives. It has also become one reason we don’t always feel our best and why we are susceptible to feeling run down and ‘sick’.
Reducing stress can help now and our long term health. Stress keeps our bodies from functioning at their best and slowly wears on us. Find way to relax, to have that ‘me’ time where the pressures of the day can be pushed aside.
Try to simplify your life. Our world has become so fast paced and ‘in your face’ – ‘do it now’ that we just don’t have time to sit and watch the clouds or the rain or…. One simple way to gain a little sanity is to disconnect from the fast pace, try just turning off the cell phone. Just leave it behind for an hour.
But, no matter how much we work on getting rid of the stresses in our life there will always be something that causes us stress. Luckily, there are ways to help us overcome the stress nutritionally.
Avoiding Toxins -
With all of our advances and science and technology, man has come up with many great things to improve our quality of life. However, we are learning that some of these things that are there to improve actually produce side affects that can hurt us and our health – now and in the future.
The EPA has warned that indoor air pollution is more of a concern than the pollution we find outside. Many cleaners as well as skin and beauty products actually contain harmful toxins.
There are companies out there that do produce green cleaners that are safe for people and for the environment. Read labels and know what your beauty and cleaning products contain.
Click here to read about the many toxins that are out there and where they are found. One of the best ways to maintain your health is to wash your hands. We touch so many different things with our hands things that might have been cleaned with toxins or touched by something unhealthy that by just washing, you can cut down on many unwanted health affects.
Adequate Sleep -
Giving your body the sleep it requires is a great way to keep it healthy. During sleep your body regenerates and rejuvenates. It is absolutely imperative to get enough sleep, but getting more doesn’t always mean you are getting better quality sleep. Click here to read about the importance of sleep and how a good sleep program can improve your life in so many ways.
Quit Smoking -
Despite the many warnings and the known health risks smoking is still prevalent around the world. Quitting this habit can not only improve your health drastically and improve your chances of preventing future disease; it can relieve you of a financial burden. Just think if you applied all the money you spend on cigarettes on healthy nutritional supplements how much you could increase your health and wellness.
Its not always the difficult path that is required for change. Quite often making a few simple changes in our lives can make dramatic results.
Think about it!
Learn the simple steps to living a healthier and happier life!
Concern over health and how to improve your health has become a topic more and more of us think about and try to implement in our lives. Advances in medicine have helped us live longer lives and have allowed us to overcome some of the ills and infections that used to kill many people. Vaccines have helped prevent illness and death. They have eliminated diseases like smallpox and have helped against rabies, diphtheria and the plague.
However, we have started to incur a new host of health problems due to the length of our life, the processed foods we eat, the fast paced lives we live and the chemicals that pollute our world. Everyday we see new commercials on TV about the next great drug that will make your life better or healthier. But do you actually listen to the list of possible side effects. Are these drugs really helping or just creating different problems. Remember, no pharmaceutical company ever made money by curing you quickly so you could stop taking their pills.
Why wait until you feel poorly before you see a doctor that will only work on alleviating your symptoms and not on fixing the underlying problem. Start achieving wellness and begin improving your health before you get to the point you need to see a doctor. Work on improving your overall wellness.
As the old adage says “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Of the leading causes of death in the United States, many can be prevented. The likelihood of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues can be directly impacted by the choices we make every day. The choices about what we put into our bodies and the choices we make that affect our personal environment.
Click here to see a study done by UC Berkeley Medical that shows how making the right choice can directly impact your health.
Here are some things you can do to increase your wellness and start down the path to improve your health:
Diet and Nutrition -
Your diet does a lot in determining your overall health and wellness. What you put into your body does make a difference. "It's easy to buy into some pretty popular nutrition misconceptions -- myths and half-truths that ultimately find us making far fewer healthier food choices than we realize," says New York University nutritionist Samantha Heller, MS, RD.
Read labels, don’t trust all the advertising and always try to get whole foods and not processed substitutes.
The same goes for your supplements. Get those that are made from natural ingredients and aren’t over processed. Every vitamin and mineral and phytochemical in our body works in concert with one another, and it's easy to knock that balance off. Be sure the supplements you are taking are balanced and introduced to your body in a way that they are usable and work together as nature intended.
Some of the things you want to make sure you get enough of in your diet are fiber, antioxidants, soy, and water. These things along with a well balanced nutritional intake of whole foods and supplements can go a long way in improving health and increasing wellness.
Weight -
Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to improving health. You don’t have to be as thin as a rail – this is actually just as unhealthy as being overweight – you just need to keep the excess in check.
It all begins with attitude. Start by changing how you feel about yourself, your body and your eating habits. Change to a can do attitude where you start to do what’s right for you. Simple moderate exercise, eating a healthy breakfast (no skipping allowed), reducing your calorie intake by not taking just one more are all small things we can do to get in better health by being at a better weight.
Don’t go for the fad diets that don’t work or at best get you to lose weight for a while but then just put it back on later. A slow and steady change will help you lose the weight and keep it off and it will be much healthier for you. Get plenty of whole foods, protein (quite often a good soy protein can give you what you need without adding fat to your diet) and drink lots of water.
Water is critical to the health and wellness of your body. It helps rid you of toxic build up and it is needed for normal cell processes to work. Another side effect of water is that it can make you feel full without adding the calories so you will eat less.
Exercise -
Aerobic exercise is very important to maintaining your wellness and improving your health. It has been linked to cancer prevention, reduction of osteoporosis, helping with depression, lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and of course obesity and weight control. It can also help with cognitive functions – meaning you can think more clearly and work more efficiently.
Aerobic exercise makes most of us think of joining a gym or having to run several miles everyday. This is just not the case. You can keep it very simple and still achieve benefits. Walking is one of the best exercises out there. It is simple, easy on the joints, doesn’t cost us a lot of money and it can be done pretty much anywhere. To get a benefit from walking, you just need to make sure that it is aerobic. That means you want to walk at a pace that leaves you feeling "warm and slightly out of breath". One good way to start is the 5 out 5 back plan. Just walk 5 minutes away from the house and then you are force to walk 5 minutes back. Increase the time out as your health and fitness increase.
Stress Management -
Most of us live with some type of stress everyday. It has just become part of our lives. It has also become one reason we don’t always feel our best and why we are susceptible to feeling run down and ‘sick’.
Reducing stress can help now and our long term health. Stress keeps our bodies from functioning at their best and slowly wears on us. Find way to relax, to have that ‘me’ time where the pressures of the day can be pushed aside.
Try to simplify your life. Our world has become so fast paced and ‘in your face’ – ‘do it now’ that we just don’t have time to sit and watch the clouds or the rain or…. One simple way to gain a little sanity is to disconnect from the fast pace, try just turning off the cell phone. Just leave it behind for an hour.
But, no matter how much we work on getting rid of the stresses in our life there will always be something that causes us stress. Luckily, there are ways to help us overcome the stress nutritionally.
Avoiding Toxins -
With all of our advances and science and technology, man has come up with many great things to improve our quality of life. However, we are learning that some of these things that are there to improve actually produce side affects that can hurt us and our health – now and in the future.
The EPA has warned that indoor air pollution is more of a concern than the pollution we find outside. Many cleaners as well as skin and beauty products actually contain harmful toxins.
There are companies out there that do produce green cleaners that are safe for people and for the environment. Read labels and know what your beauty and cleaning products contain.
Click here to read about the many toxins that are out there and where they are found. One of the best ways to maintain your health is to wash your hands. We touch so many different things with our hands things that might have been cleaned with toxins or touched by something unhealthy that by just washing, you can cut down on many unwanted health affects.
Adequate Sleep -
Giving your body the sleep it requires is a great way to keep it healthy. During sleep your body regenerates and rejuvenates. It is absolutely imperative to get enough sleep, but getting more doesn’t always mean you are getting better quality sleep. Click here to read about the importance of sleep and how a good sleep program can improve your life in so many ways.
Quit Smoking -
Despite the many warnings and the known health risks smoking is still prevalent around the world. Quitting this habit can not only improve your health drastically and improve your chances of preventing future disease; it can relieve you of a financial burden. Just think if you applied all the money you spend on cigarettes on healthy nutritional supplements how much you could increase your health and wellness.
Its not always the difficult path that is required for change. Quite often making a few simple changes in our lives can make dramatic results.
Think about it!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Guide on How to Choose the Right Supplement!
So many choices and so many claims - How do you Choose?
Here's a guide to help you choose the best supplement for you.
More and more people are turning to nutritional, dietary and herbal supplements to prevent diseases and promote general good health.
Taking steps and improving my health lead me in the direction of nutritional supplementation or more simply put - Vitamins. Growing numbers of people (including me) feel that modern medicine is failing to address the issues that are important. The huge cost of medical care has many of us looking to maintain wellness and prevent disease so we can avoid the need to be so dependent on doctors and prescription drugs.
Modern lifestyles expose us to processed unnatural foods as well as toxins in the air we breathe and the water we drink. There are many aspects of modern day life that threaten to damage our health and push us down a path to poor health.
Even health conscious people can struggle to get all the basic nutritional elements they need.
Nutritional supplements can be the answer for many people as they provide the essential elements our bodies need to thrive and achieve the best health possible.
Remember that vitamins and supplements are a great way to complement your diet, but they are just that a good complement. They are not a "magic Pill" that gives us the freedom to eat a diet of junk food while we sit on the couch doing nothing.
The right supplement will definitely improve your health, however eating some fruits and vegetables and getting some exercise gives the body the best chance to achieve maximum wellness.
Be sure to choose your supplements wisely!
Not all supplements are created equal. Just as there are different levels of quality in the food we eat and the products we buy there are quality levels in supplements. The nutritional health and wellness industry is growing by leaps and bounds (partly due to the aging baby boomers) and many companies are putting vitamins and supplements on the shelves and online.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to know if you are getting quality that you can trust.
A recent study shows that the likelihood of choosing a non-toxic and effective health supplement from the overwhelming array of products that are available is only 2.5%. In other words, there is a 97.5% chance that without investigating the reliability of the product yourself you could select a nutritional product that might be hazardous to your health! (I call that a step in the wrong direction).
SO.... The question is "Who can you trust and what is actually good for you?"
It comes down to making choices.
Research your products and the companies that make them before you put your health on the line.
Many of us agonize over what clothes or car or TV we should buy but just grab the cheapest vitamin on the shelf. It’s your body and your life. The choices you make now affect your future health and wellness.
So how do you choose the right supplement?
First let me educate you on some information that I wasn’t aware of until just recently.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate the vitamin and supplement industry.
That means that what is written on the label of a vitamin bottle might be true but also might be just a scam trying to make the supplement look better than it is. There is no one regulating what can or cannot be said about the effectiveness of the supplement.
This also means that there are no laws regulating the serving size or amount of vitamin and/or mineral contained in each tablet or capsule you are ingesting. No one to make sure it is a dosage your body needs or can use to maintain health.
Many vitamins work together in your body and if the proper amounts of each are not ingested together they might as well not be ingested at all.
They could actually do more harm than good.
Another important thing I learned during my supplement research is that many of the vitamins available use fillers and artificial ingredients in their products. I always thought if you bought Vitamin C then the pill was all Vitamin C. Turns out it might have things like petroleum in there too. It might even have more ‘junk’ then it does the actual vitamin.
The first step in choosing a vitamin or supplement is choosing a vitamin or supplement company.
Look at the label of any vitamin you plan on purchasing and see who the company is and check for contact information. Look them up on the Internet or even call them and find out some of their manufacturing practices.
Here's a guide to help you choose the best supplement for you.
More and more people are turning to nutritional, dietary and herbal supplements to prevent diseases and promote general good health.
Taking steps and improving my health lead me in the direction of nutritional supplementation or more simply put - Vitamins. Growing numbers of people (including me) feel that modern medicine is failing to address the issues that are important. The huge cost of medical care has many of us looking to maintain wellness and prevent disease so we can avoid the need to be so dependent on doctors and prescription drugs.
Modern lifestyles expose us to processed unnatural foods as well as toxins in the air we breathe and the water we drink. There are many aspects of modern day life that threaten to damage our health and push us down a path to poor health.
Even health conscious people can struggle to get all the basic nutritional elements they need.
Nutritional supplements can be the answer for many people as they provide the essential elements our bodies need to thrive and achieve the best health possible.
Remember that vitamins and supplements are a great way to complement your diet, but they are just that a good complement. They are not a "magic Pill" that gives us the freedom to eat a diet of junk food while we sit on the couch doing nothing.
The right supplement will definitely improve your health, however eating some fruits and vegetables and getting some exercise gives the body the best chance to achieve maximum wellness.
Be sure to choose your supplements wisely!
Not all supplements are created equal. Just as there are different levels of quality in the food we eat and the products we buy there are quality levels in supplements. The nutritional health and wellness industry is growing by leaps and bounds (partly due to the aging baby boomers) and many companies are putting vitamins and supplements on the shelves and online.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to know if you are getting quality that you can trust.
A recent study shows that the likelihood of choosing a non-toxic and effective health supplement from the overwhelming array of products that are available is only 2.5%. In other words, there is a 97.5% chance that without investigating the reliability of the product yourself you could select a nutritional product that might be hazardous to your health! (I call that a step in the wrong direction).
SO.... The question is "Who can you trust and what is actually good for you?"
It comes down to making choices.
Research your products and the companies that make them before you put your health on the line.
Many of us agonize over what clothes or car or TV we should buy but just grab the cheapest vitamin on the shelf. It’s your body and your life. The choices you make now affect your future health and wellness.
So how do you choose the right supplement?
First let me educate you on some information that I wasn’t aware of until just recently.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate the vitamin and supplement industry.
That means that what is written on the label of a vitamin bottle might be true but also might be just a scam trying to make the supplement look better than it is. There is no one regulating what can or cannot be said about the effectiveness of the supplement.
This also means that there are no laws regulating the serving size or amount of vitamin and/or mineral contained in each tablet or capsule you are ingesting. No one to make sure it is a dosage your body needs or can use to maintain health.
Many vitamins work together in your body and if the proper amounts of each are not ingested together they might as well not be ingested at all.
They could actually do more harm than good.
Another important thing I learned during my supplement research is that many of the vitamins available use fillers and artificial ingredients in their products. I always thought if you bought Vitamin C then the pill was all Vitamin C. Turns out it might have things like petroleum in there too. It might even have more ‘junk’ then it does the actual vitamin.
The first step in choosing a vitamin or supplement is choosing a vitamin or supplement company.
Look at the label of any vitamin you plan on purchasing and see who the company is and check for contact information. Look them up on the Internet or even call them and find out some of their manufacturing practices.
- Do they follow and meet with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance?
- Are the products they make independently tested and analyzed for effectiveness?
- Does the manufacturer test the supplements for purity and potency?
- What types of ingredients are used? Are they natural or synthetic?
- Is the product full of fillers and other artificial ingredients? Many companies use fillers, binders and coatings in their vitamin tablets. These are usually inactive ingredients that are unnecessary for your body and can actually do harm.
- Fillers are just that. They fill up space and help form the tablet.
- Binders help keep everything together. Many times these can actually be harmful and include such things as gum, carbopol and povidone.
- Coatings help keep it all together and can contain artificial flavors to make it taste better. (If you are trying to cover up petroleum and other nasty things no wonder you need artificial flavors.)
- Are the products bioavailable? Meaning does it actually get absorbed and used by the body and not just get passed through the system as waste.
- Are your vitamins and supplements a food or a drug?
All of this information should be available on the company’s website or by contacting their customer service representatives. If you are unable to find it or if they are unwilling to share this kind of information then it is probably in your best interest to avoid these supplements.
The second step is to research and educate yourself on how vitamins and supplements affect your body.
Learn what vitamins work together and why you need a good balance. Taking too much of a vitamin or taking an improper balance of vitamins can actually do more harm than good.
This knowledge can help you when it comes to choosing which supplements to purchase.
The key is to take a step - DO SOMETHING! Take an active role in maintaining your health.
Think about it!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
New Year’s Resolutions: Hype or Hope?
As the year comes to a close, the tradition of making your New Year’s Resolutions stares you in the face. It’s a time for all of us to look back at who we are and what we have done. It’s a time for us to look forward at who we want to be and what we want to do and accomplish in our lives.
A New Year’s Resolution is a commitment made by someone trying to change a habit or part of their lifestyle. Usually it is something that is meant to change life for the better or what is perceived as better. With the coming of a new year, it is a symbol of rebirth and a great time to make a positive change to one’s life. The concept of a New Year’s Resolution has been around for hundreds of years.
And for hundreds of years many of the annual self-improvement plans are broken. Some resolutions are never really started while others make it a few weeks or months before being dropped to the wayside. Quite often it is the difficulty of change and the comfort and ease of just keeping things the same that causes us to fail at the resolutions we make each year.
Many of us make one or more of the following “Top 10” yearly resolutions –
1. Spend more time with family
2. Get fit
3. Lose weight
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy life more
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get out of debt
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. Get organized
Change no matter how good it might be is a hard thing to do. Many of us live with bad habits and bad situations but because it is easier to just keep going we never make the effort for real change. The New Year and the chance for resolutions and change give us all hope but most of us don’t do what is required to make the change.
If you find yourself making one or more of these resolutions each year only to see it never be accomplished, here are a few helpful hints and tips to try and really make the positive change you desire.
1. Write down your goals and resolutions – be detailed in what you want to do and get. If you want to lose weight, how much. Don’t just say be skinnier, but say I want to lose 10 pounds or 1 pound every month.
2. Post your resolutions – Once you have them written down put them somewhere you will see them every day. Hang it on the mirror or above your desk. You have to keep reminding yourself what you are trying to accomplish.
3. Find pictures or sayings that show you your final goal. If it was to make more money, what were you going to do with it? If it was to get that new car, find a picture of that car. If you wanted to lose weight to buy that new dress, place the picture of it next to your resolution. It’s much easier to keep working if you know there is a reward at the end.
4. Be realistic – Set a goal that you can actually achieve. Becoming the starting quarterback for your favorite NFL team might be a great goal and a lifelong dream but are you really in the position to get there? Can you really lose 50 pounds this year? Making small achievable goals allows you to have success. Success breeds success! Once you are successful at achieving a resolution, it will be that much easier to accomplish another one.
5. Find a partner or group that has made the same or similar resolution. Having someone to talk to and help keep you on track is a HUGE bonus. It becomes easy to rationalize or quit on ourselves, but if you have someone relying on you to be there for them and help them succeed it will keep you on track and going strong.
Achieving your goals and making resolutions that are attainable is not an impossible job. Just follow a few simple rules and you too can be having success making positive change. And don’t forget, it doesn’t have to be January 1st in order to make a change. Be open to possibilities and let change happen.
Don’t dwell on the past or the future, as the wise Kung Fu master once said, “The past is history, the future is a mystery but today is a gift that is why they call it the present!”
One day at a time, one step at a time we can all succeed.
Think about it!
A New Year’s Resolution is a commitment made by someone trying to change a habit or part of their lifestyle. Usually it is something that is meant to change life for the better or what is perceived as better. With the coming of a new year, it is a symbol of rebirth and a great time to make a positive change to one’s life. The concept of a New Year’s Resolution has been around for hundreds of years.
And for hundreds of years many of the annual self-improvement plans are broken. Some resolutions are never really started while others make it a few weeks or months before being dropped to the wayside. Quite often it is the difficulty of change and the comfort and ease of just keeping things the same that causes us to fail at the resolutions we make each year.
Many of us make one or more of the following “Top 10” yearly resolutions –
1. Spend more time with family
2. Get fit
3. Lose weight
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy life more
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get out of debt
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. Get organized
Change no matter how good it might be is a hard thing to do. Many of us live with bad habits and bad situations but because it is easier to just keep going we never make the effort for real change. The New Year and the chance for resolutions and change give us all hope but most of us don’t do what is required to make the change.
If you find yourself making one or more of these resolutions each year only to see it never be accomplished, here are a few helpful hints and tips to try and really make the positive change you desire.
1. Write down your goals and resolutions – be detailed in what you want to do and get. If you want to lose weight, how much. Don’t just say be skinnier, but say I want to lose 10 pounds or 1 pound every month.
2. Post your resolutions – Once you have them written down put them somewhere you will see them every day. Hang it on the mirror or above your desk. You have to keep reminding yourself what you are trying to accomplish.
3. Find pictures or sayings that show you your final goal. If it was to make more money, what were you going to do with it? If it was to get that new car, find a picture of that car. If you wanted to lose weight to buy that new dress, place the picture of it next to your resolution. It’s much easier to keep working if you know there is a reward at the end.
4. Be realistic – Set a goal that you can actually achieve. Becoming the starting quarterback for your favorite NFL team might be a great goal and a lifelong dream but are you really in the position to get there? Can you really lose 50 pounds this year? Making small achievable goals allows you to have success. Success breeds success! Once you are successful at achieving a resolution, it will be that much easier to accomplish another one.
5. Find a partner or group that has made the same or similar resolution. Having someone to talk to and help keep you on track is a HUGE bonus. It becomes easy to rationalize or quit on ourselves, but if you have someone relying on you to be there for them and help them succeed it will keep you on track and going strong.
Achieving your goals and making resolutions that are attainable is not an impossible job. Just follow a few simple rules and you too can be having success making positive change. And don’t forget, it doesn’t have to be January 1st in order to make a change. Be open to possibilities and let change happen.
Don’t dwell on the past or the future, as the wise Kung Fu master once said, “The past is history, the future is a mystery but today is a gift that is why they call it the present!”
One day at a time, one step at a time we can all succeed.
Think about it!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Helping Out
Recently I was contacted by a member of a support group for people afflicted with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She asked if I would help support the group and spread the word about this condition. If you are someone affected by IBS but think you are all alone, I want you to know as many as 1 in 8 people have some form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Don't be afraid to get the help and support you need. ~
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS
If you are afflicted by Irritable Bowel Syndrome you already know that while it’s not classified as a disease, it can be very debilitating.
There is no magic pill or set cure that can relieve your symptoms, but you will be happy to know that with some changes in your lifestyle such as diet, exercise and supplementation, you can relieve many of the symptoms of IBS and actually live a more comfortable and enjoyable life.
So what is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also called spastic colon, is a functional bowel disorder that can be characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain or discomfort. It can cause bloating and an alteration of your bowel habits.
People with IBS are believed to have nerves and muscles in the bowel that appear to be extra sensitive. They many contract too much when the person eats or the nerves may react when the bowel stretches, both of these can cause cramping and pain. The symptoms of course are abdominal pain relieved by or associated with bowel movement, chronic diarrhea, constipation or both.
Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their menstrual periods.
IBS is a syndrome, meaning it is a group of symptoms. It is not classified as a disease but a functional disorder meaning the bowel doesn’t function correctly.
Ok, so now that I have IBS what can I do about it?
Often times, Irritable Bowel Syndrome begins after a stressful life event or possibly after an infection. It can also be tied to problems with your immune system.
IBS really has no cure; however, there are lifestyle changes you can make that can relieve your symptoms.
Because Irritable Bowel Syndrome is related to the colon and the digestive system, what you eat and how you eat are big factors in controlling IBS.
Things that can help improve or relieve the symptoms include Diet changes, medicines, stress relief, nutritional supports are methods of relieving the problem.
The following information is not intended to replace medical care. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure.
I cannot personally recommend something I have not used, or products with which I am unfamiliar. This information is from people who have used products from a Shaklee Distributor like me. I can not take any responsibility for other products used in place of those that I mention below. While I do distribute Shaklee products, I am writing this page purely for information and to educate. If you find it helpful and would like more information about any of the products or more detailed testimonials please feel free to contact me, Thanks, Mike.
Fiber is very important for helping with IBS. Be careful to add a little at a time to your daily diet plan. Too much can trigger gas, which triggers symptoms in an IBS person. A good fiber powder is recommended. Remember, all fiber is not equal.
Adding fiber foods is also good, whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, but again, small amounts at a time until the body can get used to more fiber.
Eat small meals, several times a day rather than large meals.
Laxatives may be prescribed but most laxatives strip rather than making the bowels work and laxatives make them weak. I do recommend the Herb Lax developed by Dr. Shaklee years ago. Two of the herbs in the product make the intestine and bowel work and become strong.
People have reported stress will make IBS symptoms worse. "Stress" creates damage in all parts of the body and should be "tamed" if possible.
Carbonated drinks, fatty foods, chocolate, milk, alcohol and caffeine can also trigger symptoms.
Drink lots of water. Be sure to get at least 6-8 cups of water each day. It will help keep the stool soft (especially important with increased fiber intake) and it will keep you hydrated if you are experiencing diarrhea.
Exercise is always good for the body and keeping it functioning properly. It doesn’t have to be extreme. A nice walk that gets your body feeling warm is perfect. If you are “new” to prescribed exercise, the 5 out plan works well. Just walk 5 minutes away from home and then you HAVE to walk 5 minutes back. As you feel up to it increase the time walking away from home. It’s easy, reduces stress and you might even meet some of your neighbors.
Nutritional support
There are three stages for adding supplements recommended for people that have Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
Stage 1: Start the healing process – The following supplements are a good way to get started towards relieving IBS symptoms
· To reduce inflammation, a garlic supplement that has not been killed by over heating
· Unflavored Fiber Plan - 1/2 tsp to start. Work up to 1 tsp and then 1 Tablespoon 2 times a day. You need to start slowly and listen to your body. Fiber can make things worse if too much is taken too quickly. Let your body get used to the new fiber slowly.
· Herbal laxative: promotes cleansing of bowel irritants; stool softening.
· A non-GMO (not engineered) soy protein which contains the Genistine which aids in mucosal tissue repair, taken 2 x a day in water, soy or rice milk. (remember dairy can make things worse)
· Omega 3 fatty acids (uncontaminated) are important for anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties and better insulin receptors (much better than flax oil.)
· A good GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid) can also be used.
· It can also help if you add a product which provides peppermint, ginger, and other herbs used traditionally for stomach soothing effects as well as fennel and anise.
· Lecithin: lubricates and heals bowel lining
Stage 2: Rebuild health and better bowel function – Now that the healing has started, we want to get the colon back to optimal health
· Alfalfa, 1-2 a day, build up to 10 a day. Alfalfa has minerals you will not get any place else. It is an excellent bowel cleanser and alfalfa promotes healing.
· Prebiotic / probiotic - Optiflora, repopulates the bowel with "friendly" bacteria. You want to rebuild health of the intestinal tract and protect lining of the intestine. If the bowel is inflamed may need to take one capsule for the first 5 days and start the powder at just 1/2 tsp per day.
· Beta Carotene and other carotenoids help heal the lining (CarotoMax)
· Vitamin E - blocks aracononic acid which promotes the inflammatory response.
· Vitamin B-Complex - provides support and is also known as the happy vitamin as it contributes to stress relief product.
· Vitamin C - promotes intestinal healing
Stage 3: Maintenance – Keeping your colon healthy and working right goes a long way towards relieving Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Everyone is different and the amount of supplements and how long you take them will vary. Some of the stage 1 and 2 supplements should be included in your maintenance program.
· Multi-Vitamin and minerals – be careful at this stage. If the bowels are really inflamed, the minerals in a multivitamin may further irritate them. Be sure to start the healing process with the first 2 stages before beginning with a good Multi.
· E-Z gest - Digestive enzymes can aide in and are important for proper digestion.
The 3 stages don’t have a set time table. The best information you will ever get is the information your body is giving you. Start slow, give the supplements time to help and listen to your body on what is working for you.
Remember everyone is different. I just know that the supplements and lifestyle changes mentioned above have helped others, but I am not a doctor and I cannot prescribe or diagnose so it is in my best opinion that I am giving these recommendations. If you want more detailed testimonials or product descriptions please contact me. You can also click the product names. Many of them are linked to other more detailed pages.
I would love to hear your success stories. Many of us have little problems in life and the support of others gives a good deal of relief and helps us all keep up the faith.
Remember a little education goes a long way!
Think about it!
If you are afflicted by Irritable Bowel Syndrome you already know that while it’s not classified as a disease, it can be very debilitating.
There is no magic pill or set cure that can relieve your symptoms, but you will be happy to know that with some changes in your lifestyle such as diet, exercise and supplementation, you can relieve many of the symptoms of IBS and actually live a more comfortable and enjoyable life.
So what is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also called spastic colon, is a functional bowel disorder that can be characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain or discomfort. It can cause bloating and an alteration of your bowel habits.
People with IBS are believed to have nerves and muscles in the bowel that appear to be extra sensitive. They many contract too much when the person eats or the nerves may react when the bowel stretches, both of these can cause cramping and pain. The symptoms of course are abdominal pain relieved by or associated with bowel movement, chronic diarrhea, constipation or both.
Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their menstrual periods.
IBS is a syndrome, meaning it is a group of symptoms. It is not classified as a disease but a functional disorder meaning the bowel doesn’t function correctly.
Ok, so now that I have IBS what can I do about it?
Often times, Irritable Bowel Syndrome begins after a stressful life event or possibly after an infection. It can also be tied to problems with your immune system.
IBS really has no cure; however, there are lifestyle changes you can make that can relieve your symptoms.
Because Irritable Bowel Syndrome is related to the colon and the digestive system, what you eat and how you eat are big factors in controlling IBS.
Things that can help improve or relieve the symptoms include Diet changes, medicines, stress relief, nutritional supports are methods of relieving the problem.
The following information is not intended to replace medical care. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure.
I cannot personally recommend something I have not used, or products with which I am unfamiliar. This information is from people who have used products from a Shaklee Distributor like me. I can not take any responsibility for other products used in place of those that I mention below. While I do distribute Shaklee products, I am writing this page purely for information and to educate. If you find it helpful and would like more information about any of the products or more detailed testimonials please feel free to contact me, Thanks, Mike.
Fiber is very important for helping with IBS. Be careful to add a little at a time to your daily diet plan. Too much can trigger gas, which triggers symptoms in an IBS person. A good fiber powder is recommended. Remember, all fiber is not equal.
Adding fiber foods is also good, whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, but again, small amounts at a time until the body can get used to more fiber.
Eat small meals, several times a day rather than large meals.
Laxatives may be prescribed but most laxatives strip rather than making the bowels work and laxatives make them weak. I do recommend the Herb Lax developed by Dr. Shaklee years ago. Two of the herbs in the product make the intestine and bowel work and become strong.
People have reported stress will make IBS symptoms worse. "Stress" creates damage in all parts of the body and should be "tamed" if possible.
Carbonated drinks, fatty foods, chocolate, milk, alcohol and caffeine can also trigger symptoms.
Drink lots of water. Be sure to get at least 6-8 cups of water each day. It will help keep the stool soft (especially important with increased fiber intake) and it will keep you hydrated if you are experiencing diarrhea.
Exercise is always good for the body and keeping it functioning properly. It doesn’t have to be extreme. A nice walk that gets your body feeling warm is perfect. If you are “new” to prescribed exercise, the 5 out plan works well. Just walk 5 minutes away from home and then you HAVE to walk 5 minutes back. As you feel up to it increase the time walking away from home. It’s easy, reduces stress and you might even meet some of your neighbors.
Nutritional support
There are three stages for adding supplements recommended for people that have Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
Stage 1: Start the healing process – The following supplements are a good way to get started towards relieving IBS symptoms
· To reduce inflammation, a garlic supplement that has not been killed by over heating
· Unflavored Fiber Plan - 1/2 tsp to start. Work up to 1 tsp and then 1 Tablespoon 2 times a day. You need to start slowly and listen to your body. Fiber can make things worse if too much is taken too quickly. Let your body get used to the new fiber slowly.
· Herbal laxative: promotes cleansing of bowel irritants; stool softening.
· A non-GMO (not engineered) soy protein which contains the Genistine which aids in mucosal tissue repair, taken 2 x a day in water, soy or rice milk. (remember dairy can make things worse)
· Omega 3 fatty acids (uncontaminated) are important for anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties and better insulin receptors (much better than flax oil.)
· A good GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid) can also be used.
· It can also help if you add a product which provides peppermint, ginger, and other herbs used traditionally for stomach soothing effects as well as fennel and anise.
· Lecithin: lubricates and heals bowel lining
Stage 2: Rebuild health and better bowel function – Now that the healing has started, we want to get the colon back to optimal health
· Alfalfa, 1-2 a day, build up to 10 a day. Alfalfa has minerals you will not get any place else. It is an excellent bowel cleanser and alfalfa promotes healing.
· Prebiotic / probiotic - Optiflora, repopulates the bowel with "friendly" bacteria. You want to rebuild health of the intestinal tract and protect lining of the intestine. If the bowel is inflamed may need to take one capsule for the first 5 days and start the powder at just 1/2 tsp per day.
· Beta Carotene and other carotenoids help heal the lining (CarotoMax)
· Vitamin E - blocks aracononic acid which promotes the inflammatory response.
· Vitamin B-Complex - provides support and is also known as the happy vitamin as it contributes to stress relief product.
· Vitamin C - promotes intestinal healing
Stage 3: Maintenance – Keeping your colon healthy and working right goes a long way towards relieving Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Everyone is different and the amount of supplements and how long you take them will vary. Some of the stage 1 and 2 supplements should be included in your maintenance program.
· Multi-Vitamin and minerals – be careful at this stage. If the bowels are really inflamed, the minerals in a multivitamin may further irritate them. Be sure to start the healing process with the first 2 stages before beginning with a good Multi.
· E-Z gest - Digestive enzymes can aide in and are important for proper digestion.
The 3 stages don’t have a set time table. The best information you will ever get is the information your body is giving you. Start slow, give the supplements time to help and listen to your body on what is working for you.
Remember everyone is different. I just know that the supplements and lifestyle changes mentioned above have helped others, but I am not a doctor and I cannot prescribe or diagnose so it is in my best opinion that I am giving these recommendations. If you want more detailed testimonials or product descriptions please contact me. You can also click the product names. Many of them are linked to other more detailed pages.
I would love to hear your success stories. Many of us have little problems in life and the support of others gives a good deal of relief and helps us all keep up the faith.
Remember a little education goes a long way!
Think about it!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
New Years Resolutions
Well 2008 is almost over and I have returned to look at the blog I started almost 1 year ago. I resolved to write down my resolutions and document what was happening in my life. As I searched for change I thought writing things down would help me to continue down the course of change much easier.
Well here is my progress report:
I did pretty good about changing some things this year. I took the big step of quitting my job and starting my own business(es). It is going ok. Slow but promising.
I didn't do so good about writing things down in this blog as I resolved to do.
So as I appraoach a new year I am continuing my resolve for change and change for the better.
I am writing more and getting better at it so I will once again resolve to add more to my blog and make it a part of my life.
I am now a part of the network marketing/social marketing scene. It is lots of work, but very exciting each little successful step. I really enjoy the challenge and the chance to help others achieve their dreams of change.
I hope you will join me on this quest for change for the better and success on our own. Its scary but exciting to be out of the employee mold and into the self employed - boss - mode.
Here's to a great 2009.
Well here is my progress report:
I did pretty good about changing some things this year. I took the big step of quitting my job and starting my own business(es). It is going ok. Slow but promising.
I didn't do so good about writing things down in this blog as I resolved to do.
So as I appraoach a new year I am continuing my resolve for change and change for the better.
I am writing more and getting better at it so I will once again resolve to add more to my blog and make it a part of my life.
I am now a part of the network marketing/social marketing scene. It is lots of work, but very exciting each little successful step. I really enjoy the challenge and the chance to help others achieve their dreams of change.
I hope you will join me on this quest for change for the better and success on our own. Its scary but exciting to be out of the employee mold and into the self employed - boss - mode.
Here's to a great 2009.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Stress - what is it good for?, absolutely nothing - say it again, STRESS!
Like the song says, "WAR, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing -" But it still keeps popping up.
Like war, stress seems to stick around dispite all of our attempts to rid our lives of it.
Also like war, stress is a killer. Stress is the cause of 99% of all disease. Reducing stress is guaranteed to give you a healthier life and can prevent future health problems!
Most of us feel some kind of stress every day.
The dictionary defines stress as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. Everyday 87% of the population lives under this type of stress. We worry about money, children, jobs, our spouse or significant other and hundreds of other things on a daily basis. Just driving to the corner store can cause tension as you dodge that crazy driver or see the price of gas at the pump.
Some people are very aware of the strain and tension in their life, but many of us live with stress that we don't see or are unwilling to admit we have. We just go about our daily life thinking this is the way it is supposed to be, the norm. We build our lives and behaviors around stress.
Learning the right way to relax and reduce tension can help your body work better and create a healthier life. Your body’s natural processes are affected by stress. Stress can be a killer and reducing your stress should be a top priority in your life.
Like war, stress seems to stick around dispite all of our attempts to rid our lives of it.
Also like war, stress is a killer. Stress is the cause of 99% of all disease. Reducing stress is guaranteed to give you a healthier life and can prevent future health problems!
Most of us feel some kind of stress every day.
The dictionary defines stress as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. Everyday 87% of the population lives under this type of stress. We worry about money, children, jobs, our spouse or significant other and hundreds of other things on a daily basis. Just driving to the corner store can cause tension as you dodge that crazy driver or see the price of gas at the pump.
Some people are very aware of the strain and tension in their life, but many of us live with stress that we don't see or are unwilling to admit we have. We just go about our daily life thinking this is the way it is supposed to be, the norm. We build our lives and behaviors around stress.
More Medical Problems are caused by Stress than anything else!
Learning the right way to relax and reduce tension can help your body work better and create a healthier life. Your body’s natural processes are affected by stress. Stress can be a killer and reducing your stress should be a top priority in your life.
Stress can cause
- Your Body to Age: - Which means all your cells and organs are getting old before their time. When your stomach ages, food sits in it longer and can start to spoil before its even digested. This can lead to colon problems. Your skin and heart can also be affected by stress.
- Sugar to Build Up: - When humans were hunters and gatherers, they had stress when they were being stalked by a predator. The body understood this stress and releases sugars for instant energy so we could flee or fight. Now, when the stress causes the sugars to release, we don't use them for energy. They go unused and the body stores them as fat instead.
- Your Blood to Thicken: - Thicker blood allows it to carry more oxygen to help with our fight or flight as previously mentioned. Again we don't use this feature as nature originally intended and now thicker blood only starts the process of building up plaque on the walls of our arteries.
- Increased Number of Diseases: - Stress depresses the immune system. Colds and viruses are more common in stressed people. Viruses can cause some cancers, thus keeping a strong healthy immune system is a must. Stress has also been linked to Parkinson's disease.
Because it is impossible to get rid of all stress, we need to give our bodies the things it needs to be healthy and overcome the ill effects that stress creates. These can include:
Providing you body with the nutrients it needs.
While this sounds simple enough, when you body is under stress , the stomach shuts down so even if you are eating a good diet, your body isn’t getting what it needs. Supplementation is the answer. But again, be careful. Not all supplements are created equal. There is only one company out there making supplements that can be used by the body when it is under stress. They have created a vitamin pack that provides your body with over 80 bionutrients. It has 14 patents on its delivery system. This means it is guaranteed to get the nutrients to your cells where they are needed and not just on a nice ride through your digestive tract.
Boosting your immune system.
Stress makes our bodies more susceptible to disease. It lowers your overall immunity and it creates a situation where a majority of you immune system is battling disease in you colon.
Interferon was discovered almost 50 years ago by a Japanese researcher. He spent a good portion of his life learning how it works with our immune system and helps our bodies defend themselves against disease. He learned how to put it into a form that we can take to boost our immunity. It is a patented process and it can give you a supercharged immune system.
Order this patented product - its 100% guaranteed!
Getting more protein.
Most people don’t get enough protein. Stress causes the body to need more of it and so your body raids the muscles to get what it needs. When there is nothing to replace the muscle protein it gets replaced with fat. We slowly lose our shape and definition as we lose muscle.
Adding more meat to our diet is not the best solution. Today, almost all commercial meat is contaminated in some way. The beef, pork and chicken you buy from the supermarket is pumped full of antibiotics.
A better solution is soy protein. This is a plant protein that has all the amino acids a human body needs. There is one company that has developed a way to get the protein out of the plant without damaging any of the amino acids. They also extract critical enzymes from the plant that allows our bodies to absorb the protein and use it to rebuild muscle. Without the enzymes, the cells can’t use the protein properly.
To learn more, visit my HealthyLife website at http://www.healthylife-healthyplanet.com/
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