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.

The Taste That Kills!

Increase Shelf Life!
Increase Flavor!
Increase Sales!!!

Sounds great!  Right?  WRONG!!!!

The Kraft Documentary reported that sales went up when they marketing the convenience of packaging, individual slices etc.  Nothing went up when they advertised the taste, health, etc.  Is convenience equivalent to happiness???? 

Cooking with preservatives does not reduce harm as it does with bacteria in food, it makes the chemicals more harmful, the heat adds more effects.

Your body and fruits both produce some of the ingredients in your food already - which makes them seem harmless, but in larger amounts these become deadly: glutamante, phenylalamine, sulfates.  

Top Killers: Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes
We are getting more scientifically advanced, so why are these still an issue???  Its ironic that preservatives lead to all 3 of these...

We are raising $ for cures, but what about prevention?  Instead of ignoring what’s in your food (the easy way) and then seeking out pharmaceuticals for answers, what if you spent some extra time learning now and less of your health and money later?  Its great to find cures, but how about we spend our donations on prevention so we don't have to spend as much on the cures after the pain & suffering?

You can actually get away with consuming more calories if it is natural, a lot of time the preservatives cause weight gain!  If our body can’t metabolize the chemicals, they are stored in fat, outside of cells.

Don’t get overwhelmed and as a result do nothing.  Strip the layers, like an onion.  Eliminate one item at a time and work your way through.  Good Luck!

Inspired by: Dr. Ivana Nedic of North County Family Chiropractic

Read more on Web MD Click Here

Another great article to look at Click Here

Maximizing a Job Fair

My sister inspired me to write this entry, as she searches for a job.  Having interviewed 100’s of students and participating in countless interviews myself, I organized a list of pointers for anyone out there hunting!

Remember....The goal is to set yourself apart from everyone else!!!

1. Research the companies you are interested in.

Prepare educated questions to ask the recruiters/interviewers.  Impress them with questions demonstrating your knowledge of their philosophies, backgrounds, etc.  You won't just spew out what you know, but you would say for example, "In your mission statement you talk about prevention, I was curious if my job would involve opportunities to help facilitate preventing disease."  Practice some questions ahead of time.

2. Be prepared to interview on the spot if at a job fair. 

Think about questions they may ask you ahead of time.  Why do you want this job?  What interests you about our company?  What qualifications or experiences do you have for this position?

3. Do some writing/soul searching. 

Write down your strengths & challenges (with what you do to overcome challenges).  Write down specific situations you have encountered in life that would relate to this position.  Match some of the company philosophies to those of your own.

4. Create a Portfolio. 

This is especially important if you have little work experience because of college.  If you have any samples of work or papers written that would support the position you are applying for, put them in a folder & bring them.  Maybe something you wrote in school that related to the job.  Anything you can muster up that is somewhat related, you never know when it may come in handy that day.  Its better to have it with you and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

5. Practice. 

Find someone to ask you questions ahead of time and give you feedback about your answers.  This will be the most beneficial part of the process.  If you can’t find someone to work with you, I offer career coaching, resume review and other services that can help you get working!

6. Social Media. 

Linked-In is a great service to have a well-rounded portfolio, resume & recommendations ready to go at any time.  If you have some time, set this account up & it might just come in handy!  www.linkedin.com    

                                                    ~Good Luck!!!

Sketchers Shape-Ups

Are Sketcher's Shape-Ups good for me?

I get asked about shoes often and its important to remember, that each shoe is a different tool for your body to get around.  Think of a screw-driver, a hammer and a wrench.  They all have a different function.  Another great analogy is your workout in the gym: Upper Body, Lower Body, Core, Balance, Cardio, etc.  These are all tools for fitness.  You wouldn’t choose just one for an overall conditioning of your body.  Think of your shoes this way, each one can be compared to a treadmill or a bike or an elliptical.  Each having a different purpose.

We are all looking for the quick fix, the easy way out and the most efficient method.  Its human nature!  As far as the Sketchers Shape-Ups are concerned, they are supposed to help tone certain leg muscles.  Remember, the muscles they tone will vary depending on your body type, fitness level, previous conditions and biomechanics.  They will cause you to compensate certain foot muscles however to accomplish this, so it may not be wise to wear them all day.  I like to compare wearing rigid shoes to wearing an oven mitt on our hands...  Would you keep your finger restricted? 

When I asked my Facebook friends I received a variety of responses, “I could definitely feel it working my legs”, “I bought them for my girlfriend, she hearts them”,  “All day wear IMO really depends on how the individual walks (pronation vs supination) and the design of the shoe”, “I was told NOT to wear MBTs all day & to build up in small increments”. 

Regardless, any shoe is going to change the natural bio-mechanics of the foot.  My philosophy is to have well-rounded footwear, based on your own goals and biomechanics.  Don't spend too much time in any one shoe and spend as much time barefoot & aware of your foot strength as possible.  Wear sneakers like the sketchers as you would commit yourself to a 45 minute workout. So wear them for a little bit everyday for benefit, but not all day long (you wouldn't lift biceps all day long).

Some of my favorites are Ecco’s and Feelmax.  When worn in properly, they can provide an adequate amount of balance throughout the joints and allow the body to move the way it was designed.

Click on the links throughout the article to take a look at some of this footwear!!!