Have you ever had a friendship with someone completely different from yourself?
I’ve had people on twitter ask me why I choose to tweet so much about other subjects other than health and fitness.
My answer is because I find all people interesting.
Maybe business wise it’s not what would be advised because of that whole niche thing, but I can’t imagine being limited to one group of people and staying within my own circle of interests.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”
If we seek to only be with one group, and people similar to us in lifestyle and interests do we short change ourselves?
How boring is this?
Social well-being has time and again been linked to good health and a lack of a social life, a contributor to disease and sickness. With so many people involved in social media, hopefully the tendency won’t be for us to only look for relationships that we find familiar and comfortable. New people, places and interests cause us to grow. I think it also helps eliminate the us against them mentality.
What does being socially diverse have to do with the physical?
If you have a accountability partner, your chance of success at sticking with your workouts and healthy eating will increase greatly. Trying to go it alone is tough no matter what aspect of your life you’re trying to improve. Even better is a group that can work together and give encouragement. The group success has to be not only about what you have in common, but where you differ. Where one is weak the other is there to encourage. It’s not only about completing your workouts but about the support and help of a social group that keeps you coming back for more.
photo credit: lumaxart.com
If we are to strive to be healthy humans, we have to be able to contribute to those around us and work as a group.
Have you ever done something for someone and realized that you felt great, inside and out?
Just as we have muscles that must be moved and brains that have to be used, our hearts and souls have to be exercised to stay healthy.
Look around and reach out to someone new. There’s no better time to start than right this moment.
We love your thoughts and ideas. Don’t be shy! We adore your comments!
Have you ever tried to accomplish a goal but felt that the universe was conspiring against you?
At every turn, it’s like everyone knows what you’re trying so desperately to do and they’ve all banded together and decided to trip you up. Well, maybe that’s being a little paranoid, but at times, it seems that way.
Conspiracy theories aside, part of what makes sticking to a goal, is not only negative outside influences, but our lack of self control. This is especially true when it comes to what we eat. We can blame our work schedule, our family food requests and lack of money to spend. But where we do have control is what we choose to buy and put in our fridge.
The fridge is not the enemy
Here’s an example that recently illustrates my lack of self control when it comes to guacamole. I’m at my favorite local grocery store and I’m shopping away, minding my own buisness, when a voice from the fruit and vegetable deli section calls to me and says ” we just made fresh organic guacamole.” I truly think she was sent by satan.
I bought not one container that weighed over a pound, but two! I told myself the family might enjoy this. Yeah, ok. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not insulting avocados, because they are great for you, but not a pound at a time.
My first mistake was talking to that wicked deli woman (it’s her fault isn’t it?) and then convieniently forgetting that I will eat whatever is in the fridge. Or pantry, or on the cabinets shelves.
The reality of the situation and some ideas on how to make friends with your fridge:
• Admitting: Your (my) quest to eat yummy food seems to have a mind of it’s own, and is at times relentless. We are going to fail and eat stuff we shouldn’t.
• Take Inventory: Go to your fridge & cupboards and look at what’s in them. Write a list of foods you know are bad. I’m especially referring to the ones you always purchase. Are there lots of boxes of processed food? Check out the condiments you’re using. Take note of the salad dressings and sauces and don’t forget that little drawer you hide the chocolate kisses in so the kids don’t find them (I’ve heard some people do this).
• Start Purging: Money is tight for many people and throwing away $100 worth of food, even if it’s crappy, is a tall order for anyone. Like most real changes, it’s one small step and that step would be throwing away the really bad stuff first. That would be the hamburger helper, twinkie and soda type items. Worst goes first.
• Alternative Choices: Almost every store has what’s called a health food section or organic section. Are the items more expensive? Generally yes, but not in all cases and many items that are non-perishable can be purchased online. The dollars you don’t spend on bad food can now be spent on good food. This will of course take more energy and creativity, but by using real food that’s good for you, you’ll find that the cost can be about the same. Buying junk for mindless snacking can be an expense that’s not realized because somehow we tell ourselves it’s a necessity. It isn’t. This is especially true if you need to drop some body fat.
• Make A List: When shopping in a new way with a new goal, a list of what you will buy is crucial. Take the time and effort to make a list with ideas for snacks and meal plans. You have to stick to the list even if you are tempted to try the free samples and it’s just so yummy, you’ll just buy it this one time. Stay away from the samples! If you have to eat them, you made the big no-no of going to the store hungry.
• Never Stop Trying: Healthy eating is a lifelong goal and failing along the way is part of it. The idea is to start shifting over to more and more success. This week might be the end of soda in your house. That’s a huge step where that’s been the beverage of choice for a long time. For someone else it could be the pizza they order three times a week. Or a serious guacamole habit. Each week go through the steps and make them a part of your food shopping and meal planning. They will become habit.
Do you have some more ideas to share? We’d love to know in what way you’ve made a change and what’s worked for you or what hasn’t. Be free to express yourself here! We adore comments!
I’m so glad there are unique people in the world. It would be an incredibly boring place if we were all the same.
Being unique does not mean being less than someone else. You can be the best you and still be unique.
We are surrounded by images of perfection (who decides this I’m not sure) at every moment. If we buy into the ideal of what’s perfect, do we now lose what makes us so unique?
What researchers are discovering is that our pursuit of perfection might actually make us sick or worse!
In a recent article in LiveScience, research seems to be showing that
“Though perfection is an impossible goal, striving for it can be a boon for one’s health, causing one to stick to exercise programs to a tee, say, or follow a strict regimen for treating chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes. But the same lofty goals can mean added mental pressure when mistakes are made and the resistance to asking for help from others in fear of revealing one’s true, imperfect self. In fact studies show the personality trait of perfectionism is linked to poor physical health and an increased risk of death. ”
Wanting to have the perfect face, the perfect body, or to be the perfect parent, husband, wife, or friend is impossible; and we short-change ourselves by comparing ourselves to others we decide (yes, it’s us that decided) are perfect.
It’s all about direction notperfection. Are you moving forward in your in your personal life, with your health, with your passions? The wrong direction (usually backwards) causes us to become less of what we’re meant to be.
What we need to focus on is our best self. What’s so great about breaking free from the pursuit of perfection is that it allows us the chance to breathe and make mistakes and grow. Personally I don’t want a perfect friend, spouse, child, etc., because that would mean perfection would be expected from me, and we all know that’s seriously like a snowball’s chance in hell unhealthy!
Are you a perfectionist? How do you feel it impacts your life or others around you? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts with us!
“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” ~Anna Quindlen
I think we Homo sapiens love to treat the truth like play-doh. We sort of shape it to fit our needs and justify our behavior. We can’t help it really.
What’s so amusing about ourselves is that what’s truth to us 5 years ago is no longer true today.
A little over a year ago I said I didn’t get the whole online social media thing. I couldn’t figure out what was so appealing. I thought ”Sheesh, what a waste of time”. That has definitly changed.
I believe, if someone truly cares about you, they’ll tell you the truth.They’ll let you know about spinach in your teeth or that those jeans do make your butt look like a billboard. That’s because they care about what’s best for you.
Of course, if they tell you that in front of bunch of people and get a big laugh — they might not.
That’s one of the great things about the Internet. If you want to find the truth, you just do a bit of searching and there it is. You can work on yourself at your own pace and in private, and the rest of the world never has to know.
But do you want the truth?
Let’s take the subject of weight loss for an example. The health consequences of being overweight are almost too many to list and everyday there’s more and more studies that confirm that fact. Really, you’d have to live under a rock to have not seen or heard of at least one scary fact about it. Aside from the possiblity of an underlying medical condition, the choice to be obese is simply that: a choice.
Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that if you’re obese, you might be one of the few that live a long and healthy life free of consequences, but it isn’t likely.
That’s the truth.
The obesity issue is not about looks or vanity, but purely about health. For example,the standards that The American Heart Association give to the public are based on research and studies. They are facts to help the general public live a healthier life.
The American Heart Association states:
Waist circumference measurement and body mass index (BMI) are the recommended ways to estimate body fat. A high-risk waistline is 35 inches or higher for women, and 40 inches or higher for men. A BMI of 30 or higher indicates obesity.
Even when there are no adverse effects on the known risk factors, obesity by itself increases risk of heart disease.
I’m finding the issue of obesity becoming more and more a touchy subject. When someone tell us the statistics on smoking, obesity or what carcinogen has been found in our food, I think we would be wise to at least research the information and find out for ourselves.
I’ve found that the people that care the most about me took the chance and told me the truth. And for that I’m forever grateful.
Do you feel like the truth has helped you become better, whether at your job, relationships or healthy decision making? Are you one who tends to share it? We’d love to hear what you have to say!
What’s really great is finding articles on the health benefits of wine, chocolate and coffee and then posting them on Twitter.
What about Twitter itself? How could sitting on the largest muscle in your body be a healthy thing?
Wouldn’t it be great if it could be healthy, and therefore we could continue to tweet incessantly and feel good about it?
Here’s 5 of the ways Twitter can be good for your health:
1.Access to the latest health info: If you want to learn about practically any subject, Twitter is the place to find the latest news. There are some really great health experts that post all the latest research, studies and advice. You can easily read about all your favorite health and exercise interests from great people like @fitbet on yoga or @coachprs about training for a triathlon, or healthy skincare advice from @modelsupplies. Here’s my list of health, fitness and sports people along with great companies with great products. I hope you find them helpful; I’m always adding new ones I find.
2. Inspiration: I never thought Twitter would end up being my go-to place for all things inspirational in business, personal growth or personal relationships. People like @iconic88, @LoriMoreno, @2morrowknight, and @earthxplorer provide us with a constant flow of positive messages to remind us to direct our thoughts in a positive way and become better than we are. You can log into twitter in the crappiest of moods and within minutes be lifted by their words.
3. Friendship: I can’t even begin to name all the friends I’ve made on Twitter, but I will share the list I made of my Follow Friday Favs. Friendships are crucial not only for your emotional health, but also for lowering stress levels with the support and love they provide.
5. Giving: Becoming a giver, if you aren’t already one, is easily inspired from the people on Twitter that selfishly give of their time and resources to help not only charities, but also individuals. I’ve been personally inspired by people such as @Paul_Steele who continues to give without the thought of what he’ll get in return and @askaaronlee, @adamsconsulting, @RickBakas, @Sung_H_Lee and @unmarketing with their big hearts and busy schedules who will take the time to be helpful and kind. I’m so thankful for people like them on Twitter. They truly show great character and put to rest the notion Twitter is all about what you can make off of it and the people on it.
All things in your life, not just nutrition and exercise, contribute to your health in a positive or negative way.
What’s been your experience with Twitter or other social media sites? Do you feel that it’s contributed to your health in a positive way or negative way?
Please be so kind to share and let us know what you think!
It’s a new workout guys and this one’s a killer! It’s interval training at its best and the best way to see what it’s all about is to watch this video. See what the awesome Chalene Johnson has created that you can do right in your own home. This one is for those of you that want to get in incredible shape and are ready for a challenge. Are you up for it?
Do you wake up in the morning and say today’s the day! I’m going to eat better and exercise! And then the end of the day comes and…..
You ate cake and spent your time sitting in front of the T.V. and/or checking Twitter and Facebook after work. The day slipped by and now, you have another reason to eat a piece of cake.
It will make you feel better about your eating your first piece a cake and what the heck, the day is a wash anyway.
Here’s the secret to that problem.
You have to WANT to change!!
This is the exact reason I don’t straighten my linen closet. I don’t want to. I’d rather stick needles in my eyes do something else.
So let’s say that you DO really want to start the road to a healthier you. Where do you start?
1. Make it a priority: That means it’s at the top of list above getting a pedicure and of course, straightening the linen closet. Although grabbing a beer with your pals is lots of fun, wouldn’t it be more fun sans the beer gut? Mentally you know where you had it on your list before. Last if not close to it.
2.Saddle up: Being a semi serious musician I’ve heard it often said, “Yeah, he just likes to saddle up”. Translation: “That Dood has all the equipment I wish I really had, but I’m broke and he sucks anyway”.
In the case of workouts, saddling up is a great motivator. Putting on your workout clothes right when you walk in from work or first thing in the a.m. is a great way to mentally keep it in the front of your mind. Place your workout DVD’s on the table in clear sight. Healthy food goes in the front of fridge shelves. Start tossing the bad stuff and don’t keep it in your house! Keep your food journal with you throughout the day. Tell everyone beforehand you’re heading for the gym after work. Start doing the things that a healthy person does. See yourself as that person. It has to happen in your brain first!
3. Don’t go it alone. There is power in numbers.
Reach out to someone you know is making the same excuses.
You discuss how you both succumbed at a toddler’s birthday party (it’s rude not to eat the birthday cake right?) and really enjoy that there’s someone to share your health sins with. What you and your friend need is to take the narrow road and start sharing what you did right and encourage each other.
Start a friendly competition.
Schedule workouts with friends at the same time even if you’re cities apart.
Call each other when you’re about to reach for a snack you’ll later regret.
Go shopping together for workout clothes instead of clothes that make you seem slimmer.
A small side note:
Sometimes a lack of motivation can be a sign of some depression. In an article about a study done to see the effects of exercise on depressed people, not only were they less likely to become depressed, but aerobic exercise helped them improve as much as the drug Zoloft, minus the list of side-effects of course. The researchers said that exercise, not the sedentary lifestyle that many live, is more natural. We just aren’t built to live a life without exercise.
Something to think about.
Please leave a comment and tell us what your thoughts are! Comments are always welcomed and appreciated! (even the snarky ones!)
Find some buddies here and be a part of the community!
Thank you to all that commented and shared! It’s always appreciated!
Thank you very much to Tanka Bar! Be sure to check out their products and use your 20% your entire order coupon! Code is Joyce and it’s good till July 31st, 2010. *excludes specials
It’s not everyday that you come across a company that you fall in love with–not only with their product, but also with their mission. While I was on Maui recently and shopping at my old stomping ground Mana Foods, my dear friend turned me onto Tanka Bites. Since I had recently started eating Primal, the brighty colored package caught my eye. I became an instant fan. I was never without them for the rest of my trip.
I had a chance to connect on twitter with the wonderful Linda Crider, Director of marketing and communications for Tanka Bar. We had a great chat about the products and what the company is about and I wanted to share with readers what has made me a die-hard fan. They kindly sent me a variety of products to try and review.
What’s a Tanka bar? The best way to descibe it is slightly sweet, smoky, moist jerky.
The Taste Test
My favorite of the products is the Tanka Bar. It was moist and chewy and I love the combination of the buffalo and cranberries–a perfect meeting of the two flavors but without the excessive saltiness of regular beef jerky. What I liked is that the cranberries were moist and sweet and not dry when you took a bite. The texture is awesome. I always found beef jerky to be hard to chew, and this was not. The Tanka Bites, which are basically the bar in bite-size form, also come in regular and spicy flavors. The all-buffalo hot dogs were my next favorite and the kids loved them. I refuse to feed my kids traditional hot dogs and have tried non-meat types which they expressed were generally disgusting. They thought these were great and were happy to know I approved of these. Hot dog issue solved.
My least favorite were the sticks which also have non-GMO wild rice added; I found them to be more on the dry side and would prefer if they had a bit more of the yummy cranberries.
Tanka bars, bites, and sticks are a hiker’s dream. Like most people I talk to, they’re sick of the “healthy” candy bar. It’s never a good trade-off to eat tons of sugar and chemicals just to get a dose of protein. I brought my Tanka Bites to the beach and they were perfect after hours in the water. They keep perfect in a backpack and aren’t a melted mess when you open the package! The only problem I had was easily eating the whole package at once. Good to note the serving size is 4 bites, and the nutritional info reflects that.
No matter how great something tastes, it all comes down to nutrional value and it’s important to choose wisely. You have only so many calories a day to “spend” so you have do some comparisons. The American Heart Association places buffalo on their choose-from lists as one of the meats recommended for a healthy heart, stating along with emu and ostrich “These are very low in total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium”
The nutrional facts from Tanka Bar:
‣ Made from 100% Natural prairie-fed buffalo sourced from as many Native American ranchers as possible
‣Free of hormones, antibiotics and fillers. Federal regulations prohibit the use of growth hormones in Buffalo.
*Tanka Dogs contain a small amount of milk powder.
The Tanka line of products is made by Native American Natural Foods LLC and is located on the The Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The products are made from farm raised cranberries from North America and the buffalo are Great Plains buffalo raised on prairie grass. Native American Foods participates in the Buffalo Nation Restoration Fund.
100% of their sales, marketing and fullfillment staff are Native American.
Their Mission:
Our mission is to heal the people and our Mother Earth by building a comapny that innovates non the traditional values of native American respect for all lin=vninfew food products based on the tradional values of Native American respect for all living things by living in balance with mind, body, and spirit.
Tanka Bar, bites, sticks and hot dogs can be found in a wide variety of stores and can be ordered online. Check out which stores in your areahere.
Try them and let me know what you thought! Special coupon code> for a 20% off on your entire online order enter coupon code Joyce. Specials excluded. Coupon code good till July 31st 2010.
And now the fun part for you!!!
A Giveaway! Your chance to try an assortment of Tanka products! It’s simple!! Leave a comment letting us know the following: When reaching for a snack, are you more likely to go for a healthy snack or an unhealthy one?
Giveaway ends Friday 6/18/2010 at 11:59 pm Central Standard Time.
Winner anounced 6/19/2010.
Winner will be selected using a random number generator.
Reviews on Joyce Cherrier’s Blog reflect the personal opinion of the writer. This product was supplied to me (Joyce Cherrier) by the company for review purposes. No compensation was accepted by me for this review.
Getting results with a fitness program is all about finding what works for you. If you find the trainer’s voice grates on your nerves or you can’t stand the music, it’s likely you won’t stick with it. One size fits all doesn’t apply when it comes to exercise and fitness programs. So Beachbody has come out with a new workout that appeals to people of faith. It’s all about motivation and inspiration, and for many, that comes from their spirititual side. If you’re one of those people who want to combine body and spirit, this one’s for you. It’s always good to know if you aren’t happy with the program Beachbody backs up their products and tells you:
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
You have 30 days to try Body Gospel for yourself. If you don’t get the results you want, simply return it within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price (less s&h)—no questions asked. But keep the 3-Day Jump-Start Plan, Stepping in the Spirit, and Body Gospel LIVE! as Donna’s gifts.
Body Gospel is a comprehensive fitness program that connects the power of your faith with your desire to lose weight and get fit. It includes fat-burning cardio workouts set to uplifting gospel music, muscle-firming resistance bands, and a complete nutrition plan created by inspirational fitness expert Donna Richardson Joyner to help you transform your body, mind, and spirit.
Order now and get Donna’s 3-Day Jump-Start Plan to help you lose up to 3 pounds and 3 inches in just 3 days—guaranteed!
6 glorious workouts for a slimmer body and stronger spirit
Body Revival
Lift your spirit, slim your body, and feel energized all day long with this calorie-blasting cardio workout. (Approx. 35 mins.)
Power & Praise
Tone and define your muscles while you burn fat in this interval training workout that uses Donna’s specially designed resistance bands. (Approx. 35 mins.)
Gospel Glory
Shrink your hips and thighs and flatten your tummy with this advanced body-slimming cardio workout. (Approx. 45 mins.)
Strength & Spirit
Sculpt and tone your body from head to toe. You’ll alternate between strength and cardio training for maximum fat and calorie burning. (Approx. 55 mins.)
Core Revelation
Lose those love handles and define your abs while slimming and trimming your thighs and backside at the same time. (Approx. 20 mins.)
Stretch in the Spirit
Increase your flexibility, reduce stress, and breathe new life into your healthy temple. (Approx. 10 mins.)
Tools for tracking your progress
Total Transformation Guide
Track your progress with a 30-day workout calendar and inspiration journal, and read daily scripture to help strengthen your faith in God and yourself.
Feed Your Body, Feed Your Soul Nutrition Guide:
Lose weight, stay satisfied, and have more energy with Donna’s delicious and filling recipes for meals and snacks.
Body Gospel Basic 10 Training Cards
Get a quick workout on the go—anytime, anyplace.
Body Gospel Bands
Sculpt and define long, lean muscles with these pro-grade resistance bands.
24/7 Online Access
Get training, nutrition tips, and amazing support from Donna and the Body Gospel community.
Plus 3 FREE Gifts
Bonus Workout – Stepping in the Spirit
Enjoy an inspirational walking workout set to uplifting gospel hits. (Approx. 20 mins.)
3-Day Jump-Start Plan
Lose up to 3 pounds and 3 inches in just 3 days with this safe yet effective quick-start program.
Bonus Workout – Body Gospel LIVE!
With this energetic, fun-filled workout to a live gospel choir, you’ll be sweating in the spirit in no time! (Approx. 30 mins.)
Being a healthy, balanced person isn’t just about your physical self. If this combo of fitness and faith is just the inspiration and motivation you need, click here, contact me, and start now. Decide. Commit. Succeed.
I moved to Louisiana from Maui, Hawaii, where, in the past, I surfed, skim-boarded, professionally windsurfed, managed a gym, and co-owned a health-food store. That was my first life. Second life is mom, wife, bassplayer and slightly obsessive health nut (I mean nut in the best sense of the word) helping people to create a healthy lifestyle by [...]more →
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