Healthy Living 101

[Tony_SS]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I love me some Bison. It has less calories than beef, more protein, less saturated fat, and less cholesterol. It's become my favorite animal protein.

http://www.bisonbasics.com/nutrition...mparison2.html

But saturated fat is THE best fat for you, contrary to popular beliefs. For this reason, I love beef from grass fed cows. It's a lot juicier compared to bison too. Taste better, better for you.

I'm trying my hand at some square foot gardening and so far the veggies are growing like gang busters. NO miracle grow or other chemical crap needed. I mixed up peat, vermiculite, and 3 different brands of organic compost (no cow ****!). Mix and dump in a 4'x4'x8" deep box and were are growing carrots, white onions, green onions, snap peas, a variety of bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach and lettuce. Growing food is like printing your own money... its great eats too.

[Vegas69]

Hey buddy, I like chocolate ice cream, you like vanilla.

Kelli and I took a course one Saturday at the local community college on gardening in the desert. It was enough for me to decide against it. If you miss one day of watering, you can lose a plant. We actually have a short growing season due to the time available in spring and fall. If I lived in the Midwest, you bet. Nothing like home grown produce.

Good to see you back.

[Vegas69]

Health: A delicate balance of body, mind, and soul.

The mind can devour a healthy body and a rotten body can shape the attitude of a sound mind. A lack of faith in yourself, your future, and something bigger than yourself can bankrupt you in the form of joy, happiness, and fulfillment.

Which makes the greatest difference? That's a tough question. They all make a large contribution to ultimate health. My opinion is that you can have a sound body and mind and still lack great spirit. I know that great strides in a healthier body and mind lead to greater happiness and being. At some point they do become the new "normal" and that new car smell wears off. I think that a healthy spirit can lead to long term fulfillment.

Some of the majors:

Productivity: We must produce positive results. Whether it's work, marriage, or family. Do the best you can.

Friendships/Helping Others: Friends can be a great support system. Investing your time for the benefit of another is one of life's greatest sustainable joys.

Exercise: The body is meant to move, stretch, and be challenged. Start with a walk around the block if you have to. Four thirty minute workouts a weeks is all you need. You can't find the time?

Nutrition: Study, Track, Experiment... You are what you eat. I don't personally believe that you need to be a Vegan. I also don't believe you should eat a 20 oz steak everyday either. My philosophy is to eat a whole food diet. I like my diet to be in the 75% plant based category with lean meat a majority of the time. Bison, Wild Salmon, I do thing you can eat steak, eggs, ice cream in moderation. I eat healthy 90% of the time. I've studied and experimented enough with nutrition that I can fine tune my weight easily without tracking. Just a tweak in my intake. Usually meat and alcohol as my tendency is to start sliding back where I came from.

Growth: I do an hour of personal development everyday of my life. I'm always reading a new book, listening to one of my 75+ cd's, developing a new skill.

New Experiences: Life can get dull, don't close the door on new ideas and ways of thinking or doing. You may just find something you will enjoy the rest of your days.

Rest: I take a 10 minute rest EVERY afternoon. Call it meditation or a nap, whatever. I'll lay my seat back in my car while at work or lean back in my favorite chair here at the house. Did you know that most of our presidents took a nap everyday in the oval office?

Attitude/Perspective: I do believe that it is a choice to take the high road. However, I think you need new ideas from those that have come before you and have achieved greater success. If you have thought a certain way for 50 years, you need new ammunition to dispute your own conscience. And it will be a challenge and will take a disciplined effort.

Fun: When I first started to overhaul my life, it wasn't any damn fun after a while. It's one thing to make progress and be disciplined, but you have to laugh and have a good time!

Persistence: Not giving up is a form of faith. Even when the cards seem stacked against you, persisting and finishing the job or achieving your goal. Self discipline is one of life's requirements. We must be consistent and it's up to US.

Reflection/Results: I like to use a journal to record my major thoughts and life altering ideas. I also like an accountability partner and to actually look at my numbers, goals and tweak as necessary.

Optimism/Faith: A tough minded optimist see's the challenge as it is, the difference is that he also see's what it can be. He has faith that by doing the right things, there will never be any lack in his life.

Assumptions/Judgments: It's easy to make a negative judgment or assumption against another person. It's a slippery slope. I have been working on this one for a while. I force myself to make a positive assumption of judgement or kill it. Of course there are times that have greater weight and need a negative view. However, I've found that 90% of the time, it's a waste of mental energy.

Love: Making a conscious effort to grow the relationship with your wife and family. Maybe it's you that needs to change? I've found that through all my growth, people are attracted to me and their attitudes have changed.

Religion: I personally believe in God and the lessons of the bible. I think it's a major, major piece of your ultimate health and quality of life.

Lifestyle: The ultimate challenge of life. It's like your favorite recipe. A little of this and a little of that. What delicate balance of life's majors works for you?

Do I have it all figure out? Nope, I don't think that is possible. I do keep adding more value to my life and learning, that is key.

[Tony_SS]

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.

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell

[Vegas69]

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.

[glassman]

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