I always talk about how great healthy food can taste. Kelli knocked it clean out of the park tonight. It may surprise you.

Quinoa Concoction

1/2 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups of vegetable broth
1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 head of broccoli
1 can of kidney beans
1/2 white onion
1 tomato
Garlic powder
Chives
Marjoram(Seasoning)
Basil
Thyme
Celery salt
Kosher salt
Black Pepper

I'm estimating 600 calories and a nice balance of protein and carbs. Fiber is off the charts. I'll eat a healthy desert to get my calories closer to 900 tonight.
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I enjoy some tasty quinoa occasionally... you married well. :D

You're damn right. :lol:

I just survived a house full of strep throat..not sure HOW I managed to do that, but I think a few things helped.

One being I supplemented zinc twice a day after breakfast and dinner and 2nd, I ate raw onions, which pretty much will kill any living thing in my throat and sinuses. Not sure if those were the silver bullets, but coming out clean of a house filled with 2 snotty kids and wife is something I have to brag about.

:relax:

Winter regimen: Onions, vinegar and zinc. The kids love to bring home germs from public school.

Yesterday was quite possibly the best I've felt in my entire life. Just buzzing with energy from bell to bell. I've been working on my health constantly for over a year now and want to share all the major factors I feel contributed.

Education-I've read well over 1,000 pages on health and nutrition.

Drastic weight loss-Over 30 lbs

Alcohol intake-Drastic reduction

Consistent exercise-At least 4 times per week/high intensity

Medical-Supplemented to fix B12 deficiency and low HDL(Confirmed results through blood test) Take oral B12 and fish oil daily.

Went to my 3rd ENT and finally have a nose spray that works. Breathing better than I have in a looong time. Helping with sleep and exercise. Had 90% blockage upon seeing my current ENT. Down to 70% and improving. Looks like I will avoid surgery.

Probiotics-Take 50 billion good bacteria per day. I have suffered from chronic constipation most of my life. I haven't needed a laxative since I started a real probiotic. (Foods don't contain enough)

Nutrition-I started out with Jack Lalanne ideals and have branched off based on research and how I feel. I stay away from dairy as much as possible. I eat no high fructose corn syrup if I can help it. I stay away from GMO's if at all possible. I eat very little meat. Two to three times a week.

To sum it up, it's been a constant progression towards a whole food, plant based diet. (Lot's of vegetable, fruits, beans, Non gmo wheat, nuts, quinoa, hummus)

My Wife is on board and shops with these ideals and cooks meals that will knock your socks off.

Supplements-(In addition to above)All I take is a green drink called Green Vibrance. It's loaded with vegetables and herbs. My body really reacts well to it. http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Health...green+vibrance

I've fought really hard to get to this point. There has been a bunch of trial and error along the way. I think it's important to point out that there is health AND fitness. You can be fit and not feel great and vice versus. I speak from experience.

Then, you can be fit and healthy and have a rotten mind. To be honest, I'm not sure how healthy you can really be if you aren't mentally fit. The mind and body work in unison. I've worked harder on my mind than I have my health and fitness. Over 30 books, dozens of cd's, two journals, notebook full of ideas, accountability meetings, coaching, and on down the line. I've quit watching news and made new positive friendships. I've went outside my comfort zone and tried new things that I thoroughly enjoyed. I've nailed down my inherit weaknesses that effect my attitude and continually work on them. I set real goals at work and home and Kelli and I have combined goals. (Where we want to travel, how much retirement income/net worth, where we want to live, etc) Nailed down what really pulls me to get out of bed and suck it up everyday. WHY Come up with your 5 most important reasons.

I'm sure you are thinking, that's a hell of a lot of work and I don't need to change this much. We can all improve and it really all starts with a new habit like an apple a day or reading before bed, listening to a cd on the way to work. You keep adding bricks to the stack every day. Doing the uncomfortable until it becomes comfortable. I've probably done 10 years worth of changing in a little over a year.

What I once loved, I now hate, what I once hated, I now love. My old bad habits have been replaced by good disciplines that have now become like brushing me teeth. It's been a fun ride and I'm not looking back. I've got a lot to learn and places to go.

I'm a firm believer that if you want a better life, you must become a better person.

Thanks buddy. :cheers: I feel like I have built a solid foundation for the new plane my life is on.

If I had to pick the top 5 for each category right now:

Health:
1. Education
2. Whole Food/Plant Based Diet
3. Work out routine
4. Probiotics
5. Green Drink

Mental:
1. Realizing I had to take 100% responsibility for my future and circumstances. That I had to improve myself to improve my life and my life would improve to the degree I improved myself. (Not wait for external influences to change like the economy, friends, taxes, president, market, etc)
2. Spending 1 hour a day on personal development. Feeding my mind with positive influence. (Books, CD's, Positive Friends, Etc)
3. Setting long term goals that pull me into the future. Nailing down the 5 top reasons to get out of bed and fight adversity everyday.
4. Real reflection and realizing where I wasn't doing my best and making the adjustments. Your subconscience has a way of knowing when you can't put your finger on it. (I was lacking in many areas but my business was the major)
5. How I feel about myself and others. Not being so critical of myself and not making negative judgments and assumptions on others.

I could go on for days on the Mental side but these come to mind right now. It all comes down to a change of perspective and a refined positive attitude. The personal development gives your mind new information to process which leads to better attitudes, then focused action that leads to desired results and ultimately, great lifestyle.

The three cornerstones of an Ambitious life:

Focus:
Be wherever you are. If you are at work, work and vice versa. Scheme and have a game plan for success. Do your best. Grow, adapt, and change with progression.

Resilience:
Once you've found your focus, there will be off days and unanticipated challenges. How bad do you want it? What's pulling you? These are the days where personal development makes the greatest difference. How fast can you turn your attitude around and get back on plane working towards your goals?

Integrity:
The other two mean little and will blow up in your face if you aren't living a life of service to others. Don't sell your soul to get what you want. Living a life of integrity means doing the right thing at the right time. Not making promises you don't intend to keep. Always doing more than you get paid for.

Have a great day....

Very well said Todd.

Thanks

Thanks Mike....:flag2:

Winning the war between your ears

I think it's life's greatest challenge. It's certainly one of the biggest factors in leading a life of prosperity. No matter how great your faith may be or how positive your influences become, negativity will creep in and fight for territory.

To a certain degree, you must experience the bad to appreciate the good. Without failure, would there be success? Without night, would there be light? Without heartbreak, would there be jubilee? It's the twin scenario of life. You must drink from both cups.

A book I'm currently reading based on the Toltec philosophy states that the highest conscience is being your true self and finding inner peace. A place where nothing nudges you off course. Where negativity is virtually extinct. You WIN the war in your head.

It's an interesting perspective on life. I'm just not sure it's realistic. What I do think is realistic is the amount of time you spend on the downside of the slope and how effectively you can win the battle between your ears.

There are countless variables that effect the way we think. Having purpose and faith are certainly high on the list. The way you feel about yourself and everybody around you rank high as well. The food you feed your mind on a daily basis through positive influence makes a great difference. Doing your best no matter what the circumstance. Helping others achieve success and growth ultimately leaves you as the greatest benefactor. Achieving the greatest health certainly makes a great difference. I could go on for days but you catch my drift.

At the end of the day, it's an accumulation of new perspective and consciousness progressing towards the strongest mind you can achieve in your lifetime. Maybe I'm wrong and I hope I am, maybe you can achieve inner peace and what the Toltec consider Heaven on Earth.