Which really is Faster?

“You can’t medicate your way out of a disease that you behaved yourself into.” -Unknown. 

This quotation applies to more than just individuals who want to reverse a lifetime of poor choices with a magic pill.  Everywhere you look there are quick fixes to problems that previously required some good old fashioned effort and behavioral change. 

Is faster, better?
Headache medicine instead of rest
Teeth Whitening instead of attention to oral hygiene
Bark collars instead of proper training

What “quick fix” situations do you see around you?  Could they be replaced with a more wholesome solution?  Something that would cause responsibility and maybe even some personal growth?  Some collaboration with others perhaps?

Science is incredible, I have dedicated my lifetime to studying it and using my findings to help others through education.  When does science replace human behavior?  Or is it just "us"?  We don't have the discipline to decide the difference between an ailment that is only solved by a modern medicine solution and a behavior that has caused damage, but can still be corrected.  

I base a lot of my own health around finding the root of the problem and correcting it.  It is how Muscle Activation Techniques locates and treats inhibited muscles, sometimes saving an individual from surgery or pain medication.  It is how people avoid going on high blood pressure or cholesterol medication.  It is how you teach a young child to behave without extrinsic rewards or bribery.  

It takes longer, yes!!!  But in the end, the results will be lasting, rewarding and without other side-effects.  Take a look at your life this week and find something that you use a quick fix for.  Attempt to make some changes.  If you have caffeine every morning to counterbalance lack of sleep, try to get to be earlier just 1 or 2 nights more than previously.  You don't have to change it all and I am not saying that a cup of Joe in the morning isn't necessary in many cases.  Its when that occasional quick fix becomes a habit that you will eventually need another down the road.  

Only treating the symptoms will lead to more symptoms, which will require more symptom treatments.  It is like an endless pile of dominoes knowing one another over.  Stop the chain now!  Get started!!! 




Onions

I am not referring to the type that you eat, but rather a favorite analogy I use about making changes to your life.  Have you realized that the year is already 1/4 started?  How are your New Years commitments unfolding? 

I have encountered many people recently who are ready to make changes in their life, yet feel overwhelmed by the distance between them and the outcome.  It is important to have LONG TERM goals, which would be congruent to a DREAM.  The short term goals are just as important though. 

Picture an onion, with all its layers.  When you identify the issue at hand and the new behavior you wish to acquire, this is like peeling off the outer layer, the protective layer that most people do not eat.  That can often times seem like the hardest part, taking the first step, making the decision to take on the challenge of slicing the onion - which will might even appropriately bring you some tears of joy or pain of realization.  This would be your first step out of denial and into contemplation of change!  Congratulations! 

As we all know, peeling that outer layer of skin, is actually one of the easiest parts, because now comes the tricky task of getting through the remaining layers, which for some people there are multiple. 

Identify a behavior of your own, that you wish to change and match it with the behavior you would like to replace it with.  Now rather than focusing on the old habit, write down small steps that can lead you to this new behavior.  And only choose 1 for the week!!!  That larger LONG TERM goal is on your mind, but not your main focus right now.  It is simply your motivation to make the first SHORT TERM goal successful. 

Example: I interrupt people too much, I talk too much.
New behavior: Being a better listener.  (after all we were given 2 ears & 1 mouth!)

                                                         Action Plan!!!

First week: Clear your thoughts & opinions out of your mind when others are thinking.  Focus on repeating small parts of what they say.

Second week: Focus on asking more questions then making statements.  

Make a list of small skills such as these and then implement one each week or each day if you are a real go-getter!  If you can’t think of a lot, rotate them through.  Its going to take a week or so to start making this habit feel more natural and then a few more weeks before you don’t have to think about it anymore.  From there, you can set yourself a new challenge, taking this skill to another level or you can choose something new.  Good Luck!  Let me know how it goes....
 

What if I offered you $3 million?

If I offered you a penny/day which would double in value every day for a month or $3 million upfront, which would you take? 

Most of you know the answer...  Go ahead, take out a calculator, put in 0.01 and multiply by 2, 31 times = $10 million.
This principle applies to everything in life.  If you are trying to make changes in your life this year, rather than work in big chunk on certain days, or when you "feel like it".  Try doing a little every day.  30 minutes of reading positive material, 5 minutes of meditation, 10 minutes walking outside per day instead of 2 weeks at the gym for an hour & then quitting.  What ever it may be, you don't need to be drastic in your changes.  Eat one healthy meal a day instead of going on a strict, unrealistic diet for a month only to quit the next month. 
In the beginning the results are INVISIBLE, but over time they will start increasing at such a rapid rate it will surprise you!  Give it a try, stay committed & let me know how it goes!!!

1).01 x 2 = .02
2).02 x 2 = .04
3).04 x 2 = .08
4).08 x 2 = .16
5).16 x 2 = .32
6).32 x 2 = .64
7).64 x 2 = 1.28
8)1.28 x 2 = 2.56
9)2.56 x 2  = 5.12
10)5.12 x 2 = 10.24
11)10.24 x 2 = 20.48
12)20.48 x 2 = 40.96
13)40.96 x 2 = 81.92
14)81.92 x 2 = 163.84
15)163.84 x 2 = 327.68
16)327.68 x 2 = 655.36
17)655.36 x 2 = 1,310.72
18)1310.72 x 2 = 2,621.44
19)2621.44 x 2 = 5,242.88
20)5242.88 x 2 = 10,485.76
21)10485.76 x 2 = 20,971.52
22)20971.52 x 2 = 41,943.04
23)41942.04 x 2 = 83,886.08
24)83886.08 x 2 = 167,772.16
25)167772.16 x 2 = 335,544.32
26)335544.32 x 2 = 671,088.64
27)671088.64 x 2 = 1,342,177.28
28)1342177.28 x 2 = 2,684,354.56
29)2,684,354.56 x 2 = 5,368,709.12
30)5,368,709.12 x 2 = 10,737,418.24

Have you said hello to someone new today?

STORY:

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.  His name was Kyle.  It looked like he was carrying all of his books.  I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?  He must really be a nerd.I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.  As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.  They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.  His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...  He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.  As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.' They really should get lives. He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'  There was a big smile on his face.   It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.  I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.  As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before..  He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.  We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.  He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.  I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends.   He said yes.  We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.  I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!”  He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends..  When we were seniors we began to think about college.  Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.  He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.. Kyle was valedictorian of our class.   I teased him all the time about being a nerd.  He had to prepare a speech for graduation.  I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.  Graduation day, I saw Kyle.  He looked great.  He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.  He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous!
Today was one of those days.  I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'  He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. 'Thanks,' he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began, 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends..... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
I am going to tell you a story.'  I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.  He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.  He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 'Thankfully, I was saved.‘ My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..' I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.  I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions..
With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse....

Do you know these nicknames?

Maybe you already avoid high fructose corn syrup.  Good!  But do you know its other names???

Other names: Corn syrup solids, fructose, corn syrup, glucose

Let's learn a few terms:

Fructose is found natural in fruit & honey (which also contains fiber and other nutrients needed in the body & biochemical properites that help us digest it better).

Sucrose is table sugar (you should limit to <6 tsp/day)

Lactose is milk sugar and  Maltose is malt sugar.

Glucose is formed in the blood by sugar breakdown in the body & signals the pancreas to release insulin to uptake the glucose for energy.  (A malfunction here can lead to diabetes)

There is no need to add fructose or glucose to your diet in an unnatural form, as fructose is in fruit & glucose is made within the body!  You know that too much sugar is bad!  Just because we recognize the name on the food label, doesn't mean it is good for us.  Sure!  It might be "natural", but it might not be complete and its might not be necessary!!!

Corn sounds healthy, right?  Sure - everything in moderation.  But corn syrup?  Genetically modified food (corn) is altered so it can grow bigger, the problem is it also makes us grow bigger!

Put it in Perspective
Eating all fruits & vegetables all day will amount to about 15 grams of sugar
1 can of soda will equal about 35 grams of sugar! 

High Fructose Corn Syrup is only digested by the liver, yet the liver cannot digest it, so transforms it into fatty deposits.  Furthermore, no Leptin (satiety) is released when you ingest HFCS, so there is no signal that you are full.  Hmmmm.... 

Did I hear childhood obesity & diabetes??? 

Suggestions:

Use raw sugar (brown just has molasses in it, its not really healthier)

Steevia or Agave

Honey, has enzymes that are healthy for us

Eat fruit when you have a sugar craving, add it to oatmeal or squeeze some fresh lemon/lime/orange into sparkling water!  It will taste "healthy" at first, but you will get used to it!  Just like you got used to the High Fructose Corn Syrup or other sugar that you ingest.