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I turned 40 yrs old this past March. I think I'm in the best shape of my life since I was in high school, if not better. But past that, the old cliche of the mid life crisis is becoming real. What have I done with my life, where am I going and what are my goals? I look at my kids and all the sudden my boy is 7, he's crazy smart. In second grade but reads at a 4th grade level. End of the year testing, 40-60 is progressing normal. He scored a 99. This kid is nuts and I feel like I don't spend enough time with him or my daughter. She's going in kindergarten and is already reading at a 2nd grade level. Right now is the opportunity for me to make their life great. This is going to be satisfying for me, not the typical red Corvette you hear about when the old man turns 40. Growing up very selfish myself, with extremely selfish parents, one thing I've been striving for is to NOT carry on their bad trait. I'm learning that it's very enjoyable to give away your time to those who you love. It's one of the most rewarding things in life.
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Tony, being self aware and willing to change is a big deal. A majority of Americans simply aren't comfortable analyzing their own life, traits, and looking for positive change. It's easier to be complacent, blame your parents, the government, economy, weather, etc... for a life that is less than you hoped for. I'm guilty of it in my past as well.
I admit that I had barely a clue of why my life wasn't going the direction I had hoped when I started down this road of personal development. One of the hardest pills to swallow along the way has been learning my many weaknesses. Now, I'm definitely aware of them but I'm working on them through different perspective and attitude. It takes time to form bad habits and traits just like it will take time to make progress on those weaknesses. The positive side is you also learn your strengths and that is key. You can improve on that side of the court as well. I've learned of my strengths and weaknesses through books, tests, and asking for other's opinions. How do they see me? My wife, close friend, employees, that was a very valuable exercise. Three perceived strengths and two constructive criticisms. |
Key word, "constructive".
Friggen great song by one of my fave's...."you run you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking, the sun is the same in a relative way but your older, a shortness of breath and one day closer to death." Dark but true, very true. Very sad dark band, but one of the best of all time....imo |
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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2df02ac3.jpg Yup, I'm down below 240 for the 1st time in years! The lack of sugars has helped tremendously with craving crap foods and I'm following what is essentially a "Paleo diet" for now. I did make my own BBQ ribs for the 4th of July but cut down on the sugar I used in my rub. Still felt a little funny after eating it but I only had a few ribs, my meal portions have dropped a bit too. I'm going to get a full check-up at the annual doctor inspection next month, going to get some blood work now that I'm eating better. Still struggling with the cigarettes, though. I'll ask for the anti-smoking pills when I see the doctor as I've had 4 friends actually quit with them, even though I hate taking meds... |
Very cool.
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Awesome Russ, keep your momentum.
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Allergens:
There are three major categories that we can work on to reduce our toxic load. The less we make our immune system and organs labor, the more vibrant you will feel. Food/Water: Where your food is sourced and the chemicals used is important. Eating whole foods and USDA organics is a good start. Reducing your dairy and wheat intake is also a good trend in the right direction. As they tend to be two that create some problems. Dairy has been linked to breast and prostate cancer but that's a different discussion. Our immune system is largely in our digestive system. Pre and Probiotics are crucial to healthy digestive balance and strong immune system. Pre comes from fresh fruits and vegetables, pro normally comes from yogurts and supplements. I eat mostly coconut yogurt with occasional non fat dairy. Probiotics are strains of good bacteria that fight the bad in our guts. The balance can lean towards the bad with a poor diet and over consumption of alcohol. This can lead to constipation, chronic sickness, and lethargy to name a few. Many foods can grow mold without you knowing it. Things that sit in your cupboard and even your fresh veggies. Mold can be a problem for some. Peanut Butter has a tendency to have to much mold. Consider rotating almond/sunflower butter into the mix. All natural of course.... It's recommended to wash produce with vitamin C crystals to remove molds and chemicals. How you prepare your food is also important. Using Teflon/Non Stick pans can slowly load your system with PFOA which our bodies have trouble eliminating. Even aluminum or stainless steel can load our bodies with Nickel/Aluminum and other harmful compounds. It is recommended to use cast iron, glass, or ceramic. Cast iron actually helps us with our iron needs. Wood utensils eliminate the leaching while cooking and won't scrape up your pans. Storing your food in plastic or heating a plastic container in the microwave is not advisable. Many are bpa free these days but glass should be your goal for all storage. Plastics can leach. Also, for your young kids. Make sure their toys are bpa free. Water is a huge deal. They haven't changed the regulations much in a long time. That means that many chemicals that have become prominent in our environment aren't regulated. I have a whole house filtration system that removes particles and chlorine. This comes into play with showering as well as the chlorine and chemicals are inhaled and absorbed through the skin. We have bottled water delivered that is sourced responsibly and filtered thoroughly for drinking a majority of the time. A good reverse osmosis system will do the trick. Alcohol in moderation. The fermentation effects some worse than others. Fermentation creates mold and it does effect your allergies. I know it does mine. In fact, it seems certain alcoholic drinks are worse than others. I'm sure it comes down to the ingredients and process. Air: Enviromental loads come with the territory. Where you live dictates the air we breath. Las Vegas has some of the worst air in the nation but there are things we can do to control our indoor air quality. Some new furniture leaches formaldehyde for years. (The cheap stuff) Chemicals should be in the garage like paints. Cleaners used should be non toxic. Large HEPA filtration units in different areas of your home with a charcoal filter clean up the air greatly. Buy the better filters for your AC/Furnace and change them often. Keep the house clean and animals bathed. The goal is to reduce compounds like the VOC's from cars, industry, dust mites, pollen, and on down the line. Take a shower before bed to remove the pollen, chemicals, and dust mites from your body. This will improve the air you breath at night and extend the service life of your pillow and mattress. Dust mites which live on your dead skin congregate in your pillow and mattress over time. Replace your pillow on a regular basis and your mattress every 5 years. We actually inhale the dust mites and they can take a toll on your respiratory system. Constant problems with your respiratory health may lead you to the recommendations here. Skin: This is one I didn't really think about until finishing a book recently. Most of the soap used is anti-bacterial. The problem, it kills GOOD and bad bacteria. That means you are removing the bacteria that is your first line of defense against sickness and disease. They make probiotic soaps that are gentle on the good and help eliminate the bad. I read and plan to try it, but she claims you can get away with natural deodorant after restoring the good bacteria on your skin. That means not subjecting yourself to the Anhydrous in your deodorant which has aluminum and adds to your toxic load. Clearly chemicals like oils, brake cleans, etc. are bad and can cause long term problems. Use gloves to reduce your toxic load. I don't know about you, but I want to achieve the greatest physical health possible. These small changes compound into greater cellular health and play a role in overall health. The state of our bodies directly effect our mental health. To take it one step further, the elimination of toxic load on our bodies may very well extend our lives and help us avoid major sickness like cancer. This is speculation on my part but it can't hurt. I hope this helps you and your family become healthier and more vibrant. |
Todd,
Thanks for the informative posting, as usual! You mentioned chemicals that we use and this is something I know well! I used to have a brake shop a few years back and I started getting sick on a regular basis after a couple of years of doing that work. It turned out the brake cleaner and other chemicals we used regularly were getting to my liver! Any chemicals we get on our hands, or skin, ends up in our liver within 30-45 minutes and can cause all sorts of health issues! now I use gloves at all times when working with chemicals and recommend the same to others! |
Russ, you are welcome buddy! Glad to hear you figured it out before it really destroyed your health. Allergens are anything that causes our bodies to work to eliminate them. Many chemicals are very difficult for our liver and kidneys to eliminate as we just weren't meant to be exposed to them. Over time our toxic load can get to high and that can lead to severe consequence.
Modern times has brought in a slew of variables from industry, pharmaceuticals, over population in some areas, and convenience from everyday products. We must continually adapt to our surroundings and analyze seemingly inconsequential choices. |
"I have heard it said that most men spend their entire lives perfecting their faults. That is, you acquire a fault when you are young, emphasize it all the rest of your life, and finally die with it." -Norman Vincent Peale
I underlined this in a book I just finished by the late, great, Norman Vincent Peale. The book is Navigate. It's a unique perspective. We've all heard that most never change. We all know somebody, maybe it's you. There is nothing wrong with it, if that's the life you wish to lead. It's my philosophy that we are meant to grow continually. Not just mine, it's in the bible and a majority of the most successful American's throughout history would agree. You go one of two directions, you progress or you recede. Once you stop fighting for territory, what you don't want automatically takes over. It could be a thought process that has nagged you since childhood. A fear that has shackled you from creating real success on your terms. A habit that has progressively gotten worse with time. Today, I challenge you to pick out something and begin the process of changing it. If you go to the bar every Wednesday night, how about volunteering at a homeless shelter instead? If you fear public speaking, go to toastmasters? If you never exercise, how about walking around the block every other day this week? If you are blaming your wife for the problems in your marriage, how about doing something special for her that has been neglected for how long? If you haven't read a book in some time, how about reading one that will help you with my challenge? If you want to improve your finances, how about starting with a balance sheet that outlines your income, debts, and net worth and taking action? If you want to lose weight, how about reading a book on nutrition and tracking your daily calorie intake? Instead of judging everyone we meet, how about consciously accepting them for who they are? (Unless warranted) Instead of letting someone get under your skin like they usually do, how about not taking it personally? If you have religious faith, how about getting back to church? I'll use the analogy of building a car. If you make a little progress on yourself, every, single, day. You can begin the creation of a masterpiece. It's those new perspectives, emotions, thought processes, habits, and faith that get you on the path to a progressively greater existence. |
Todd, did you say you take Green Vibrance? What was it that cured your digestive issues?
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Tony, hope you are well buddy. I am still taking Green Vibrance everyday in my smoothie. It did help my digestion but I also feel it helps bump me up a notch from a overall health perspective. Are you having digestive issues?
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I've neglected this thread so I thought I'd take the opportunity to update it with Tony's question. If you digestive system works like a clock, move on to Dave's 10 year saga to build a car that runs. :popcorn2: If not, read on....
Phase One: Most fit into this category to have a free flowing digestive system. A balanced whole food diet will suffice. That means you are getting enough fruits, vegetables, and grains to provide enough fiber to keep things moving. Fibers: Soluble: Whole Grains/Fruits & Veggies Whole grains absorb 3 times their weight in water to help with pushing things through. Pectin in fruits and veggies can hold up to 100 times their weight in water to help with the plumbing. Insoluble: White Bread/Absorbs no water We must move to keep the plumbing working. Setting on your ass for a majority of your life can effect your digestive system. Being active will help your regularity. Water intake is crucial for most. 80-120 ounces a day depending on your lifestyle. Coffee is a diuretic but things fruits and veggies contribute to your water intake. Phase 2: I personally fit into this category. I've played hell getting my plumbing working properly with a fantastic diet, exersize program, and plenty of water. A probiotic is helpful. A good start is 25,000,000,000. That's right, billion. That helps balance the good bacteria vs. the bad in the gut. This helps with plumbing but also your immune system. Oils: Olive Oil, Flaxseed, and other healthy oils help lube the system and generate more bile which helps keep more moisture in our stool. Magnesium: A trace mineral that is supposed to be in our water. It's filtered out in bottled water and RO. This also helps keep water in our stool. Constipation happens for most due to the fact that the colon removes to much moisture, to quickly. Start with 400 mg a day, than go to 800mg. If you get to crapping through a screen door, you went to far. ha Cascara Sagrada: Tree bark which is an old Indian herb. This helps you get the urge to go. It promotes the contraction of your colon. I've tried every single one and they all work. You have to find your magic combination. If you have a normal digestive system, phase one will suffice. If you have a problem. (I believe mine is underproductive bile) then you need phase 2. I'd start with magnesium and more oils. If you have a lifestyle problem that fits in phase 1, you can cover up the problem in phase two. I'd recommend you clean it up before it costs you, big time. If you are over active, I'd look at reducing your magnesium which could come through a multi vitamin or your oil intake. Hope this helps fellas. Dinner is ready.. |
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Fellas, magnesium is a life saver for me. I take 400 mg in the morning and evening for 800mg total. It really softened up my stool and I empty out almost every morning now. I usually go 2-3 times a day. It wasn't long ago when I was lucky to go 2-3 times a week!
If you aren't going everyday a majority of the time, you have health to gain. A healthy transit time from mouth to stool is under 36 hours. For peak health, I'd say under 24 hours. If your stool is normally hard and difficult to pass, start with 400 mg of magnesium and then go to 800 if that doesn't work. If you just don't get the urge, try the Cascara Sagrada. It will help as I still take it. I tried every combination of diet known to man including ultra high fiber. I tried drinking 100-120 ounces a day of water. I tried extra oils. Bottom line, my body removes to much water from my stool, naturally. The magnesium keeps more water in our stool which is the key. |
Its been a while since I read this thread but my wife and I followed the south beach diet which is really nothing more than cutting out sugars and carbs and eating more greens and i'm down 20 and she's down 10. I still cheat but i have totally changed how I eat normally. Very little bread / pasta more ground turkey, chicken and lots of veggies. keep at it guys we are not getting younger.....
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I'm way regular with #2. Am always thirsty, but always peeing (clear not brite yellow indicating dehydration) and only drink 30 to 50 oz per day... Whats the magnesium's purpose? mainly for stool? |
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I eat 4-6 helpings of fruit or vege's each day, spaced out (like me)....but am seriously addicted to carbs... |
Don't take the magnesium if you are regular, it will take you to far.. ha
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Fellas, I've neglected this thread for a long while so I thought I'd fire it back up!
I'm still doing the deal some 4 years later. I've now done thousands of hours of personal development teamed with putting the ideas into action. One of the biggest positives in life is that our growth is limitless. The strength of our marriage, influence on our kids, support for our friends, how healthy we feel, our incomes, net worth, impact through benevolence, contentment, and last but certainly not least, the depth of our faith. Some of the goals all this hard work has engendered over that time: A much stronger marriage A much stronger leader A much stronger faith Making a difference in my community through benevolence Tripled my income and net worth 100% Debt free (The house, land, cars are all paid for) The business is run debt free as well. From a pessimist to an optimist (Tested) Top 40 real estate agent/Under 40 in Southern Nevada Cleaned up so many health deficiencies (B12 deficiency, Regularity, Sleeping habits, Whole foods based diet, and the list goes on and on) Lost 35 lbs initially. Ran a mile at 6:15 pace. Placed 15th out of 369 runners in a 5K. Learned to manage my energy and time wisely Worked hard on a personality of equanimity. Patience, contentment, judging others and myself, accepting responsibility, etc.. I've learned to manage my own mind more effectively than ever and have good self awareness. I'm certainly not listing these things to puff out my chest. i just think it's important to show that I've walked the walk consistently. I've put in the hard work! It takes some serious self discovery to make way for BIG change. That means uncovering some serious weaknesses along the way that need attention. I think that's a big stumbling block for most. Do you really want to know? It's hard on the mind until you learn to accept things and your self to a large degree and move forward. Get more effective and managing yourself. At the end of the day, self management is one of the huge secrets of success. You simply need the tools and that happens through work. The positive side, you also discover your strengths along the way and your tendencies. They are discovered through books and many tests out there to give you a better understanding of why you are wired a certain way. These strengths can be harnessed and honed to help you progress in any area. For instance: I've learned that I'm an introvert by nature in a sales job. I've learned to be extroverted M-F. On the weekends I've learned to avoid busy places like concerts and places where I must engage. I recharge in nature or spending time alone. This is energy management. Time management is said to be the best kept secret of the rich. How about the energy you have to spend on that time? More importantly, the energy you have for your family and passions? Learning what makes you tick is key to energy management. So are focusing on value in your days. Learning what is of greatest value in your business every day so you have piercing focus. That can diminish a 50 hour work week to 35 easily with better results. Life is always a delicate balancing act. We aren't meant to figure it all out, but I believe we are meant to keep improving, tweaking, renewing, and getting better. Being ambitious and content is a tall order. One I've worked hard on as of late. Contentment comes from simplicity, lack of debt, and definitely your attitude towards your future. I could go on for days.... A good place to start: Change a habit today. Read a positive book or watch a video first thing in the morning with your coffee. End the day the same way as you lie in bed. You control both ends of your day. The start and the ending. Your attitude will improve immediately. Make it a habit by doing it EVERYDAY for at least 30 days. A good book to start with is WOODEN. A great book buy John Wooden. "You attract the things to yourself by the person you become."-Jim Rohn What do you guys have to add? |
Why have Americans become so unhealthy in our push button society? Diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer have become an epidemic in our country over the last 50 years.
Food Consumption Do yourself a favor, pull something out of your pantry, fridge, or off the shelf at the super market. Look at all the ingredients you can't pronounce that are listed for a mile. Those are engineered fillers and preservatives. They extend the life of the product and increase the manufacturers bottom line. Do you think they are healthy? How good do you think the quality is at McDonalds with their 2 for 2.50? Americans have become dependent on quick and easy and the food manufacturers oblige. We are meant to eat whole foods as much as possible. Your grandparents had a garden and fresh meat. It's really a simple philosophy. If you can't pronounce it and you don't know what it is, eat as little of it as possible. Fresh whole foods are disease fighters. All these engineered ingredients, they increase your toxic load. I believe in a balanced diet. I don't believe in being a Vegan or the Atkins diet. That's to far out of balance. My personal philosophy after trial and error for years is a 75/25 diet. That means 75% of my calories come from plants, 25% come for animals. The whole food plants are disease fighters with there antioxidants and lean meats supply our bodies with necessary fats, amino acids, and proteins. I also believe in a high quality multi vitamin to fill in the gaps. Many don't, but I think it makes a difference. Sedentary Lifestyle Who has time to exercise? You better find it! We are meant to move, not sit around in an office chair all day. Exercise in moderation keeps us healthy by reducing weight, increasing vitality, and reducing stress. Our bones and muscles are meant to be challenged on a regular basis to keep us young and vibrant. 3-4 days of 30 minutes will do. I like to work out early in the morning so it's a priority and work or life doesn't get in the way. Schedule it like you would a meeting at the office. Otherwise it won't happen! Stress Americans are working more hours than ever with less vacation time. All to pay for bigger houses, fancier cars, and huge mounds of student loan debt. They keep digging a deeper and deeper hole. The diet goes first, then the exercise, then the marriage, and last but certainly not least, the health. Stress in excess is a killer. Stress can be reduced in many ways. Exercise, Alcohol in moderation, Sex, Journaling, Talking things out, and the list goes on. Shutting out your work is a big one. We need to detach from our email and cell phones. I shut mine off almost every day when I get home. It can wait... Influence You can't pump a gallon of gas these days without fox news playing at the pump. It's everywhere... Americans are being duped into thinking the country isn't great anymore and opportunities aren't what they once were. These news organizations are feasting on us and making a HUGE profit. It's eroding the attitudes of our people. The truth, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the freedom we are blessed to have. You must learn to control your influences and engender a positive attitude and outlier perspective. That or you can follow the herd? There is plenty of positive influence out there. You must seek it. Healthy Habit #2 Yesterday I said to start by reading a positive book first thing and last thing. 10-15 minutes each time. Today, let's talk about a breakfast that is guaranteed to make you feel great! I've been drinking this smoothie for years and it always takes me up a notch or two. I drink it every other day. 12 oz of Unsweetened Almond Milk Scoop of Vegan protein powder Scoop of Green Vibrance (Full of superfoods and probiotics) Scoop of Oatmeal Half scoop of Flax Seeds Cup of Blueberries (Organic) Handful of Carrots (Organic) Handful of Spinach (Organic) 10 oz of Coconut Water The bottom line, we must take care of our bodies by eating healthy foods, moving, reducing stress, and managing our influences. |
We are practicing (or trying to practice) a lot of what you preach above ourselves Todd. The whole foods part we started about 4 years ago, it is amazing the amount of crap in each grocery store that we don't even look at anymore. It does take more frequent trips to the store and we are only feeding two people, but it is worth it.
My wife gave up any meat that grows on 4 legs or less for 6 months as a test and recently started to enjoy a good natural protein again. She gained a bit of weight but other than that had no other positive outcomes from quitting beef, pork and chicken. We don't eat a ton of red meat but some is beneficial I am convinced. I just wish we had a more ample supply of good natural raised seafood available here in the Midwest, lots of farm raised stuff but it's almost as bad as processed foods... We are also reducing our stress load BIG TIME. Retiring from retail was a big part of that for me. End of Sept will be a year for me, we are closing on the sale of our commercial building next week and that will be a huge load taken off of the responsibility list for me. My attitude has been so much better after adjusting to the non-retail life. I still get up every morning, eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, get dressed and head to my office in my outbuilding to work my wholesale business but my schedule is soooo much more flexible now. Weather is good, lets take the dogs for a walk before lunch, have errands to run, hop in the car with the wife and run them...she loves me to chauffeur her around, spur of the moment out of town trip for pleasure, we can be ready to hop in the new RV and head out in less than a couple of hours. I do most of my work on my phone anyway so I can pretty much work from anywhere unless I have to receive a shipment which can be arranged ahead of time as well. Now...the latest issue... Our cable TV\internet\phone bill just went up another $30 a month and we are seriously considering cutting the cord completely. The wife has been ready to do this for years, I'm a bit more hesitant...I do enjoy relaxing on the couch and watching some car related cable shows that I've recorded on the DVR and all of that will go away if we cut the cord. Most of the TV we watch together is network channel related and we get all of the networks OTA so that isn't a big deal (except the loss of the DVR, I hate commercials). Still looking at all options here but something has to change in that area. Still need to go back and get my bloodwork checked...been a few years now. I have high triglycerides but everything else is pretty normal. Doc always wants to put me on meds for my triglycerides but I won't do it. I'm 6'0", 175#s and am in pretty good shape for an almost 50 year old I think. We don't work out per se but are plenty active and I can keep up with most half my age in walking, hiking, manual labor, and what not. The wife is big into yoga and yes, I've been a few times...I like it as it is low impact and stretching is good...and its' way more of a workout that one might think. I just don't make to time to go regularly as she does. That's it for now...gotta get breakfast ate and head over to the salt mine... :D |
OK Todd, I'll "bite".
My wife has been gluten free for 2+ years. She just does not feel good when she eats anything with gluten in it. My 7 year old boy is very thin. When he was a baby he could not process mother's milk, dairy, soy, and etcetera. We had to get a special prescription based synthetic formula to feed him. There are a multitude of foods he cannot process or won't eat because they bother him. My wife has been trying for years to figure out the right diet for him. In March we went to a local place that has programs focusing on diet, nutrition, functional medicine, and etcetera. I was skeptical, some of it is what is considered holistic or alternative medicine and I have seen plenty of scams in this wide and unregulated field. I could not see how we were going to pull off this program if my wife and youngest ate by one set of rules and the rest of the family by another. I was, and still am overweight. I committed to the program along with my son and we changed the diet for the whole family. March 21st, 2016 I started tracking what I eat. A week later I started the diet program in earnest. I have not made any effort to limit how much I eat. I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Otherwise if I am hungry I eat a snack.
I used to drink 4-6 12oz cans of diet Pepsi per day. On March 21st I cut back to 1. On March 24th I drank the last one and have not had a soda since. I used to drink 1-2 in the afternoon because I would crash in the early afternoon and needed something to get me going. I no longer have this issue, it probably had more to do with what I was eating at lunch. Rules on the diet: No caffeine.Not an easy diet to start with. You start by eliminating one thing at a time. Once you are on the diet and feeling great it is hard to imagine eating the stuff that you used to eat. Cost wise I think we spend almost 1-1/2 times as much as we used to on food at the grocery stores. We also do not eat out much at all any more, but overall we are spending more on food. Shopping can be a hassle, if it is not a familiar brand you read the label. We do not buy much of anything in a box any more. It is shocking the garbage that is added to food. Go to your local store, pick up a loaf of bread, and read the ingredients. Many of them have gluten added on top of the gluten in the wheat! The added gluten makes the bread more springy and gives the perception of freshness. I also had an H.Pylori bacterial infection. This caused me to have constant reflux issues, I was taking antacids several times a week and had to sleep on my side. They put me on a treatment that eliminated the H.Pylori and I now sleep on my back, on my stomach, or pretty much any way I happen to lay down! Awesome! I have not had any antacid, aspirin, allergy pills or medication of any kind since March. That and I can fearlessly eat spicy foods, chilies and grilled onions which just made me miserable before. After you have been on a clean diet they check you out and put you on a 4 week detox program to help "clean out" your system. That was tough, especially week 3 with no meat! The general diet is what caused me to lose weight, the detox did not change that. You can do most of this on your own I suppose. Our program includes some medical supervision and a few blood tests. I would have not known about the cause of my reflux if I had not been in the program. I often eat out at work with the guys. I can always find something on the menu I can eat. I also take a bag of snap peas and/or carrots with me to snack on if the restaurant does not have good vegetable options. Last week we went to Colorado on vacation. We rented a house for the week. We have a family of 5, it is about the same price as renting a hotel room or rooms. Renting the house allowed us to shop at local grocery stores and prepare most of our meals. We ate breakfast at the house and packed our lunch. We only ate out 3 times. The kids of course complain about restaurant foods, they like my wife's and my cooking better. When we were in Telluride we stopped in at a shop and got a chocolate treat for everyone. Wow! What a sugar rush! It was a treat, something you do once per month maybe, but the only "big" violation of my diet since March. We buy chocolate coconut milk based ice cream about once a week for the family. It has some sugar but no dairy. By the letter it is not within the bounds of the diet either. While on vacation we went hiking. One day about 6 miles at 8,400' and another day about 10 miles at 8,000'. No issues keeping up with the kids. Did not get tired. It was about 70, I did sweat a little on my back under the daypack. I imagine if I weighed as much as I did in March I would not have done as well. |
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If you have a Costco close, I know they have wild caught Alaskan Salmon from time to time. Simplicity! I love it! I'm working on the same thing. It's a HUGE part of contentment. Being over busy gets f'in old. What's the point if you can't enjoy life. I believe we must put in the time and burn the midnight oil for periods, but that's not what life is about. Quit digging a deeper hole and enjoy what you HAVE! That's a big part of why I paid off my house and hired a new assistant that can play more roles. It gives me so much more flexibility to be a good Dad, volunteer, and become financially independent. It's called living well below your means. One thing I left out above is, our grandparents generation moved naturally. They worked on farms, they knew manual labor. That kept them healthy without them knowing. Today, Americans don't get enough natural exercise. That's why it needs to become a priority to get the blood flowing. With your new diet, your cholesterol should be within guidelines. It would be interesting to compare. If it's still to high, try my 75/25 diet. My total cholesterol was in the 120's last time. My doctor was amazed. He thought I was a Vegan. ha |
Count macros......... more macros gain weight less macros..... lose weight. There is some work involved in this but if you do some research you can be very successful. If it fits you macros IIFYM diet.
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You must have a really sharp nutritionist. That's one things I can't believe. I spent 35 years of my life with my head in the sand when it comes to nutrition! It makes a huge difference. I really think it's been one of the big factors in my growth in other areas. How can you be ambitious if you don't feel well? I've read a bunch of books and experimented endlessly. Do I feel like I have all the answers? No, but I've come a long way. I think seeking a nutritionalist is brilliant. That's certainly one of the blessings of you son. Water, I couldn't believe how much water we need to drink. The old 64 ounce rule just doesn't cut it. I always feel better if I'm over 80 ounces. Over 100 if I worked out that day. Diuretics like coffee and ice tea offset water intake. Diet sodas and such are even worse. Think of all those toxins you shed! One things I would caution. I've been know to be super disciplined in areas and it can lead to complacency and no fun. Treat the family once in a while to a splurge. It just might help you stay on track. Good for you!!! |
Healthy Habit #3
On day one: Read something positive to start and end your day. On day two: Eat a breakfast packed full of nutrients. Healthy Habit #3 Establish your sleep cycle. We've all heard to get 8 hours of sleep per day, but our bodies desire rhythm. I try to get to bed and get up within 30 minutes everyday. My bed time is 10 PM and wake up is 6 AM. I try to vary only 30 minutes each way. I tend to feel at my best with roughly 7:30 minutes of sleep. So, to bed at 10, up at 5:30. To bed at 10:30, up at 6. You get the point. Of course there are times when we are extra tired and need more sleep. Listen to your body. However, a majority of the time, you will feel the most rested with this philosophy. To little sleep, to much sleep, and an erratic rhythm won't get you to your best self. Off to the gym.. |
Todd, thank you for resurrecting this post, funny, I've been eyeing it the last few weeks thinking of saying something, but not knowing what too say. But, anyway's, love the topic, VERY close to my heart.....
Lance, great for you. I feel like I know you from here/general forum and Investin102 and what we have in common in our lives and hobbies. looking forward to meeting you one day.... Michael from Plano, dude, serious congrats!! That is super inspiring (and hard too!!). Was thinking to myself as I was reading it and thinking, yeah, the grocery bill will be higher, but long term medical costs will go down. I'm sure of it. As far as me goes, well, turned 50 on the 2nd. Feel good for 50, but not good enough in general. Diet is about 75% whole foods, 25% good food but processed. Funny, when I go out and eat and order a hamburger (my favorite) i get sick/nauseous, so can only eat half. Haven't lost any weight since I last typed here, 180 trying to get to 172ish att 5'11. My doctor says don't worry about it. I just did major blood work and full physical everything came back good. But still battling energy. I'm thinking age, pace (own a small company with 10 great employees) has something to do with it. Although, I'm having problems with my stomach, I have some complactied gut issues going on. I get the runs quite easy and it has something to do with too much and not enough proteins. Nobody has been able to find out what's going on yet. So, I have a doctor, physchitrist, physiologist, Nutrionalist, and I see all (cept the physc) on a monthly basis. I've had servere ADHD/anxiety all my life, but have only sought treatment the last 5 years (being in denial of it and not thinking it really existed, knowing where all different anyways....). Trying to control the symptoms by diet in some cases is merely not enough. I'm on a clinical trial for a new med (I hate, yes hate, taking medicine, too many side effects) and while I've been on it one year (I take 1/8 the recommended dosage) the brain activity has slowed, the side effects have been ringing of the ears and jaws being clamped/locked at nite during sleep. Mental health is very important, and very much has to do with our physical health as well..... So, summary for me, at 50, learning to "take it easy", "chill", etc..etc...Have three kids (25,23,22) our 25 year old, Christopher, just got married and is currently a mental health theripist (working on his doctorate) and just got married to a sweetie he met in graduate school. My 23 year old (Brandon)is a music teacher and very talented individual. And my 22 year old daughter (Taylor) is a pastor, just finishing up her degree in biblical studies and leadership. My wifey of 28 years is my business partner at our company, and let me tell you all, it ain't easy, but, it makes us much stronger as a couple. We've been dating for 30 years and very much into "Serving" each other, a byproduct of following Christ for 20 years). We have a very good balance and my staff at work is helping me create a less busy/stressful schedule, building a corporation is a lot of work. And the one thing I've learned from it is, IT HAS NOTHING to do with my product and how good i am with it, ITS ALL ABOUT the people, how we treat them (Customers, vendors, employees, tax people). So, things to do for me, need more energy, must make exercise more CONSISTANT, I do it, and am in good shape, but consistancy is most important. Gotta go to the kidney doc and get checked out, my grandpa died of renil kidney failure, my 9 year old nephew had kidney cancer three years ago, and I found out yesterday, my dad has a lemon sized tumor on one of his kidneys (he just went in the hospital Wednesday for emergence gall bladder surgery and they found a host of problems) YEs, he's bout 100 lbs overweight and lives a sedentary lifestyle, I love him dearly, but it is sickening watch someone you love decay like that, especially when you can do something about it.... As I sign out this morning, this thread is a good reminder of what we/I need to do. IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH< YOU HAVE YOUR WEALTH!!!! Live well, love lots. Remember to tell your loved ones you love them and care about them, life's too short. I Have to remind myself, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say nothing"..... Cheers all from sunny CAlifornia....... |
Regarding water intake...I've tried to increase my intake...but all it does is make me pee more. WTF good does it due to push liters and liters of water through your system if all you are doing is peeing it right back out again?
I don't drink any types of soda, 2 cups of coffee every morning is it, unsweetened tea if I desire something other than water and maybe a bit of red wine every now and then. I can tell if I start to get dehydrated as I'll start getting some kidney pain, this usually happens when working hard outside, sweating at a racetrack all day or something like that. Pushing some water clears it right up. Otherwise I have an insulated cup with ice water in it with me at all times during the day every day but I drink maybe 26-36 ounces a day...no where near what most say I should. Anymore than that and I have to make sure I'm around a facility at all times it seems... |
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I know you are a man of faith like me. Let me share something with you that I heard recently. It ties right into the simple living and contentment we've touched on is this thread. Jesus was a simple man himself. You don't read or hear about his possessions. Not a home, clothes, jewelry, nothing that I'm aware of. He was a carpenter that came to serve. I think a lot can be learned from that example alone. Complexity leads us away from our faith. Simplicity gets us closer and give us more time to be a faithful disciple. Our mental picture absolutely affects our physical energy levels. There are times now where I recognize my attitude and what it's doing to my energy levels. A simple attitude change can turn it around if it's mentally driven. It's almost like a light switch. I think we can all agree that self management is one of life's biggest challenges. Controlling our attitudes and thoughts is no cake walk! I do believe self management is one of the big keys to success and progression. We all have bad thoughts and sour attitudes, the question is, what do you do with them? Are you capable of forgiving yourself and moving on or do they dictate your actions? I personally don't think it's possible to eliminate the sour thoughts no matter what you do. I think the key is to accept them and not berate yourself for having them, then move on and focus on a new and positive perspective. I spent an entire year working on optimism and faith. It didn't get rid of the sour thoughts, but it gave me tools and new perspectives that will serve me the rest of my life! In regards to energy, keep experimenting with nutrition and you are 100% correct, work outs create energy and diminish stress. There are days when I am metaling fatigued and force myself to work out. I always come out of those workouts energized! I'd also make sure you are giving yourself a break from work every 2 hours. A walk around the block or a call home, etc.. We tend to work with to few breaks. Some healthy snacks in the morning and afternoon also help keep your blood sugar stay consistent. Most days, I'll kick back in my truck in the mid afternoon and close my eyes and try to clear my mind for 5-15 minutes. Many times I'll breath deeply similar to meditation. It always moves me up a notch and I'll follow it up with a green tea with some honey which is a healthy way to get a little pick me up. Am I energetic all the time, hardly! I have made some big gains in managing my energy and making the best of my days by knowing my bodies cycles and what makes me as healthy as possible. Progress is all we can hope for. You nailed it by saying health is wealth! |
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Healthy Habit #4
Day One: Read something positive first thing and last thing every day. Day Two: Eat a breakfast packed full of nutrients Day Three: Establish your sleep cycle and stick to it. Day Four: Work in periods of rest throughout your day. Studies have shown that we can only focus for 90-120 minutes before we need a break. Try walking away from your work for 10 minutes at least twice a day to take a walk, read a book, meditate, and clear your mind. These breaks are a good time to grab a healthy snack like an apple or raw nuts. You will come back with more energy and focus. I'd also urge you to schedule in a 30 minute lunch everyday. I work my schedule around these things most days. We don't have to be as reactive as most think. This is energy management. If this subject interests you, pick up the book "The Power of Full Engagement". |
Healthy Habit #5
Day One: Read something positive first thing and last thing every day. Day Two: Eat a breakfast packed full of nutrients Day Three: Establish your sleep cycle and stick to it. Day Four: Work rest into your daily schedule. Day Five: Slice out the time to spend quality time with your spouse or family. Less couples and families are taking the time to sit down for dinner on a daily basis. This is crucial for the harmonics of a marriage and family. When it isn't a priority, the connection fades. This ranks right up their with oxygen and health. :lol: |
Healthy Habit #6
Day One: Read something positive first thing and last thing every day. Day Two: Eat a breakfast packed full of nutrients Day Three: Establish your sleep cycle and stick to it. Day Four: Work rest into your daily schedule. Day Five: May family time a priority in your daily schedule. Day #6: Simplify your life in some way. Clean out the clutter and give it to charity. Put the bills on auto pay. Put together a real debt reduction strategy. Make a list of the most valuable things in your personal life and business. Move towards focusing on them more and more.... Americans wear a complexity badge like it's an olympic medal. I've been there, it's nothing to be proud of. Complexity leads to burn out, stress, and lack of a value driven life in many cases. Do yourself a favor, start living with more margin in your days. Make time for what's of greatest importance. Reducing complexity is a great place to start! It will take time to unwind the massive web of complexity, but it starts any day you choose. |
Healthy Habit #7
Day One: Read something positive first thing and last thing every day. Day Two: Eat a breakfast packed full of nutrients Day Three: Establish your sleep cycle and stick to it. Day Four: Work rest into your daily schedule. Day Five: Make family time a priority in your daily schedule. Day Six: Find one way to simplify your life today. Day Seven: Make time to nourish your spirit. If you are a believer, get to church this Sunday, open your bible, or say a prayer. If it's nature, get out to the lake, into the woods, or up in the mountains. |
Healthy Habit #8
Day One: Read something positive first thing and last thing every day. Day Two: Eat a breakfast packed full of nutrients Day Three: Establish your sleep cycle and stick to it. Day Four: Work rest into your daily schedule. Day Five: Make family time a priority in your daily schedule. Day Six: Find one way to simplify your life today. Day Seven: Schedule time to nourish your spirit. Day Eight: Order a book on health and nutrition and educate yourself. Your diet has a HUGE effect on the state of your health. Most Americans are in the dark when it comes to what's healthy and what's not. Sorry fellas, high school health class was way to long ago. :lol: This is a key skill in the game of life. A skill that can result in a greater quality of life and can influence your family to better health. A couple books: Live Young Forever-Jack Lalanne All Pro Diet-Tony Gonzalez |
Both great people who truly practiced what they preached.
Any body who doesn't know who Jack LaLane is/was, needs to look up his bio. He was a pioneer in exercise and nutrition.... |
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