Our world is always throwing challenges of all types and sizes at us. How we respond depends on who we are and the environment we have grown up in. Some meet danger without fear and a calm mind; others avoid it like a plague, feeling crippled in the process.

How can we be more fearless and confident when it comes to our safety and security? If these things aren’t automatic then they must be learned. Be warned that learning them comes with great responsibility. This power is for your safety and safety of your dear ones, but you must use it only as a last resort.

Good news is that just knowing those skills will show in your image, they way you move and interact with the world. This is often enough to keep various physical trouble out of your life.

Also knowing what resources to access in emergencies, how to assess and confront danger physically and mentally are all skills. If these are skills then there is nothing holding us back from learning them.

Following the information in this article will have you become more in tune with your body and mind, allowing you to know and test your limits. It will put you on the path to becoming more fluid and dynamic.

Emergency Kits and Resources

The Government of Canada launched a 72hrs Emergency website www.getprepared.gc.ca. The site contains many useful tips on preparing for emergency. You can watch the videos on the site, they’re short and to the point.

Some of the key points include making copies of important documents like passports, birth certificates, wills and storing them away in a fireproof/waterproof safe. A small safe costs as low as $30 at Staples Business Depot.

In addition to that, you can scan the documents and store the encrypted files on a server somewhere else, for example, your website host (in the “private” folder). One more option is to copy them to a CD/DVD/USB/HDD and keep them in a safe place like a security box at your bank.

Make photocopies of everything in your wallet, include an emergency contact and “if found” notes on everything that you carry around (keys, cell, notebook, helmets, wallet, etc.). See the Cleaning the Clutter article for more info.

Color Codes for Combat Readiness in Your Everyday Life

Experts in defensive tactics use color codes to describe levels of combat readiness. These levels represent how aware you are of threats around you and your resulting ability to deal with those threats (by Col. Jeff Cooper).

Condition White: You are unaware of what’s going on around you. Perhaps you’re tired, or worried about work or school. Maybe your senses are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Either way, you are not ready for anything.

Condition Yellow: You are alert but calm and relaxed, scanning your surroundings for threats. You know who’s in front of you, to your sides, and behind you. You don’t think anyone will attack, but you are mentally ready in case something happens.

Condition Orange: In Orange, you sense that something is not right and you might get attacked. You are aware of the positions of all potentially hostile people around you, as well as any weapons they may be able to use, such as in their hands or within reach.

You are developing a plan for dealing with the potential hostiles: “…first I take out the guy with the bat, then the big guy near the truck…” You have also identified multiple escape routes, depending on what response you will use. In addition to being mentally ready, you are physically ready as well.

Condition Red: The fight is on. Someone is assaulting you and you are reacting to the attack and defending yourself. You are taking immediate and decisive action to stop your opponent, flee, or get help.

Know Your Strength and Apply only What’s Needed

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

En route home I saw some aggressive drunk male bothering people at a bus stop. One man talked nicely to him saying “friend, come with me, tell me what’s wrong, we don’t want to bother these nice people here.” He put his arm gently around the drunk man’s back and escorted him out of the bus shelter.

I don’t know who he was or what was his self-defense skill level, but just my thought that confidently knowing (but not actually using) martial arts techniques such as arm twisting would be helpful in situations like this.

During my Martial Arts training class I partnered with a large man, because my friend didn’t make it in. Overall my technique was a bit rusty, but pretty good for the first time after coming back after few years.

Though the man’s technique and strength was better, I had much more endurance and speed due to consistent cardio and core training. I didn’t gasp for air once, whereas he needed a breather now and then.

So at home I watched some Human Weapon episodes on YouTube, which definitively reminded me of some useful techniques. Also watched the Marine Corps Human Weapon and it really “installed” a Drill Sergeant in me to push myself during the workouts.

My power, endurance, speed, and accuracy restored to top-notch fast.  I need to work on my technique a bit more. I destroyed the guy despite going rather easy; those 70lbs dumbbell chest presses with [my Personal Trainer] are working magic. Flexibility is good too, but I should resume Hatha Yoga on regular basis.

The form and techniques are highly technical and do not require high intensity. They require a lot of time and patience to become automatic (muscle memory and habit). Increase speed over time and then when you go all out, you don’t risk losing good form and effectiveness of the hits.

Again, remember that the goal is not to destroy but to train. Practice FLUIDITY and DYNAMISM!

Walking Away vs. Teaching a Lesson

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

One night I saw two young men yell at a shorter male.  The short male was calmly speaking back and had a facial expression/body language of “you’ve taken on the wrong guy!” The two aggressors just stood there yelling, but not doing anything physical. Eventually they left. This is a great example of ignoring  or walking away vs. teaching a lesson.

It helps to have some Martial Arts training and gym time so that the impression is believable through the physical presence. It’s a great first line of defense before it needs to get physical. That or walking away when possible. Protecting your ego is not worth getting injured, even if you know your stuff. There is nothing to prove, except that you have a self-confidence complex.

In the situation where you have to fight, let the opponents know your eagerness. Strike the one that you cannot see first. If the opponent force gets too overwhelming, you lose. Don’t let your ego get to you, walk away if possible.

The best advice: The sparrow doesn’t land where the lion roams.

A few notes straight out of my Journal (from long time ago):

While sitting in my car and chatting with a friend, some man in front of me was parking his car and slightly hit me. In response, I gave him rude remarks about learning to park.

The situation evened out later that day when I was driving home (around 10pm).

I was making a right turn and stole the right of way from a pedestrian (while he was still far enough on the sidewalk). I signed “I’m sorry” with my hand, which he possibly didn’t see. When I was almost done with the turn he hit the back of the car.

I stopped the car and got out, caught up to him, and asked why he hit my car despite my showing him the sorry sign. He was calm and said that I almost ran him over (which was an exaggeration). I knew I technically was at fault (pedestrians always have right of way) and I wasn’t really angry anyway, but I was kinda hyper.

He took in a deep breath and then seeing that I had no intent to attack, he just turned and walked away as the better and bigger man. I yelled a couple more things in his direction, but then decided to come back to my car.

A few lessons here:

• It’s good to breathe/puff up and show readiness to defend/attack. However, this quick act exposes a weakness by not looking always ready (the man wasn’t prepared for confrontation after initiating one – at 10pm on an empty street).
• Walking away (the man) was good after puffing up and testing the individual (me), but he shouldn’t have turned his back on me – that was technically a risky thing to do.
• I was lucky in the two cases that the two men weren’t volatile, the universe went easy on me this time, as the only consequence (of the 2nd one) is feeling uneasy in my heart which is a common theme when I have a lesson to learn.
• Bottom line, I must keep calm and be even more careful not to do to others what I don’t like to be done to me (to the best of my abilities).

As I become more well rounded, I must remain humble and gentle unless needed otherwise. Basically, not to be a snob or provoke fights, and don’t react impulsively to others’ heated reactions.

I must remember to walk away, forget it, and be the better man. Whether on the street, in the clubs, wherever. Just walk away. I have nothing to prove to anybody. My intention in both situations described earlier was to teach them a lesson: “scare them a bit so they don’t provoke fights in the future”, but is it really my job? Maybe I did all this to teach this big lesson to myself.

This experience shed a light on how some people feel when they just look for trouble on purpose. It doesn’t have to be a valid or good reason, they just feel the rush from yelling at somebody and creating fear in them.

It’s interesting to notice that the man did NOT defuse the situation by walking away. I didn’t feel “satisfied.” I think a better solution in this situation would be to actually say: “that was my mistake, I’m sorry” – that would work much better on me – basically make my ego happy and suppress the heat. Thus, ditto note to self.

Calming down the situation and walking away works on 99% of aggressors, especially if it SOUNDS genuine. But keep in mind one very important thing: never turn your back on the aggressor when walking away. You can’t completely trust them to behave.

Will, Worth, Integrity Ego, Hidden Wants and Needs vs. Actual Communication, and other Related Thoughts

We regain our will when we act and use it towards our integrity, feelings of harmony, and self-worth. For example, use a strong but soft resonant voice, and win-win i-language such as: “I feel uneasy about this. Let’s work together and try to resolve this.”

During my self-growth I have experienced that it is important to work together with the ego. Feed it positive knowledge, images, phrases, affirmations, beliefs, and ideas. It is always helpful to acknowledge successes or learn if something can be done better next time.

Do not give yourself goals that are too hard, learn to take baby steps. When negative self-talk happens change it right away to something positive. Do not validate other people’s negativity around you. Reassure yourself that you are doing fine and looking great:

“I am successful! I am likable and I invite others to experience this in me!”

In your prayers, personal image, and communication present a consistent message about what you want using your words, voice, eye contact, body language, and actions.

Learn to accept gifts from others or Universe. Ask for what you want and act like you are able to handle it and are worthy to receive it. No one will pass the ball if your arms aren’t open!

To get and accept what I want, I:

• Directly ask for what I want
• Mention that it’s important/matters to me
• Connect with my heart and feelings
• Show myself as worthy, big, and grateful
• Make it easy for others to give me things
• Accept gifts with warmth and thankfulness
• Do not say “You shouldn’t have,” instead say “Thank You”

When asking for things or favours, believe in yourself and do not put yourself down. Let your request be coherent, positive, and easily accepted by others.

When asking a store clerk for a better price, ask warmly and without an emotional agenda. Maintain a comfortable stance like it’s a reasonable thing to do. Often sales people feel good about granting the request because an honest and playful request is a contrast to regularly heard demands.

To get what you want, your requests and actions must come from yourself, your heart, and your feelings. Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be. But improvement is always good.

Martial Arts and Different Fighting Styles

The above advice can work well by itself, however, not all of us can fake it till we make it. Therefore, some of you may require the necessary skills in order to be completely confident in your security. Martial Arts provide this opportunity.

Martial arts are divided into many categories or a number of axes: Chinese vs. Japanese vs. Korean, Asian vs. European vs. American, striking vs. grappling, hard vs. soft, internal vs. external, and more.

You can often train in a traditional style while also training in boxing/kickboxing to develop a better ring fighting style if you wish. But the old saying goes that if you chase two rabbits for lunch, you will go hungry…

Karate practitioners used to toughen their knuckles by striking a makiwara, or striking post until heavy calluses formed on their hands. Tae Kwon Do stylists pride themselves on breaking boards, tiles, and bricks with forceful kicks. Muay Thai fighters often lack feeling in their shins, the result of using their lower legs as clubs against their opponents.

External martial artists use force against force, for example, performing a block by tensing the muscle at the point of impact to absorb the shock and transfer damage to the opponent. This is in contrast to a Kung Fu open-hand parry, which follows the line of an incoming punch, catches up in speed, speeding up the attacking fist, except in a direction away from the Kung Fu stylist. This is done with relaxed and loose muscles, ie. not tense.

Internal martial arts focus on the martial artist’s internal attributes, such as focus, timing, awareness, and precision of technique. Aikido, with its emphasis on blending with the attacker’s movement and guiding him or her into the technique, is a classic example of an internal martial art.

The following table describes some attributes of both categories:

No discussion of internal martial arts is complete without the notion of Chi. The pinnacle of internal martial arts is the cultivation of Chi, the mystical “Force” that powers all things in the universe.

Although the discussion of Chi (or Ki, or Qi) takes an entire article, let it suffice to say that this mystical energy is the focus and center of many martial arts. As the foundation for many martial arts styles and practices of medicine, its perceived effects are profound.

List of various Martial Arts styles and their primary focus:

Striking/Standup: Boxing, Karate, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing

Grappling/Ground: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Russian Sambo, Shootfighting, Wrestling

Throwing/Takedown: Aikido, Judo, Hapkido, Shuai Jiao

Weapons: Kali, Iado, Kendo

Low-impact: Tai Chi, Ba Gua, Chi Gong based styles

Defense: American Kenpo Karate, Hapkido, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ninjutsu, Muay Thai

The people who master these arts have mastery of TECHNIQUE. They are not necessarily bigger or stronger, they simply know how to use their bodies for maximum efficiency. They are not clunky and uncoordinated, they are FLUID and DYNAMIC!

Weight or size does not determine who wins or loses a fight. When you train hard and use the principles outlined above, you can and will prevail. Use your head; don’t let your opponent use his or her strengths against you. Fight your own fight.

Karate

I will describe one form of martial arts just to give you an idea of what one can expect.

The basic goal of Karate is self-defense. It teaches practitioners to block the strikes of opponents and then disable them quickly with pinpoint strikes. When take-downs are employed within the art, these tend to be used to set up finishing strikes.

Goju-ryu (a sub-type) Karate is generally a stand up style, characterized by both hard (closed fist) and soft (open hand or circular) techniques. Many Goju-ryu practitioners feel as if they are martial arts technicians, in that they utilize angles to deflect strikes rather than trying to meet strength with strength.

In addition, Goju-ryu tends to emphasize meeting opponents with the opposite of what they are utilizing. For example, striking the head (a hard part of the body) with the open hand (a soft part of the body) or striking the groin (soft) with a groin kick (hard).

Beyond this, Goju-ryu Karate is known for teaching breathing techniques to a great extent. It also utilizes some take-downs, throws, and weapons. Interestingly, because of the Japanese suppression that occurred in the 1600′s when they were invaded, Okinawan martial artists tended to use weapons that were really farm tools such as the Bokken (wooden sword) and Bo (wooden staff) so as not to bring attention to the fact that they were practicing martial arts.

On Choosing a School and Instructor

Learning martial arts is a journey and therefore the people you want guiding you should also be competent and supportive, especially at the novice level.

Be aware when looking at your local schools that many teachers will tell you that their school and system are the best. There are many martial artists that are very loyal to their arts and will be negative if you express interest in something else. Be careful if this happens, they probably are not the best instructors if they do not show respect for others in this way.

Call the schools

Most schools conduct regular classes at certain times during the week; you’ll want to see if you’d be able to attend the classes at those times. Pick a couple to attend; you should try to attend more than one class at each school to get a good feel for the environment

Check the teacher’s qualifications

• Who did this person learn from?
• How long did he or she study with this person?
• How long has he/she practiced this art?
• Does the teacher have any experience as a teacher, or is he or she simply a skilled martial artist? Just like great football players can make bad coaches (and vice versa), great martial artists are not necessarily great teachers.

Watch the instructor

What’s the instructor’s teaching style? Does he or she berate students or coach them along with encouragement? Do the students appear to fear the instructor or are they comfortable with him or her? Does the instructor have a huge ego, or does he or she seem more humble than the students?

Rather than focusing on a specific art, it may be better to find the best teacher in your area, and study whatever he or she is teaching. As the months go by, the frustration of long travel times to and from class can lead to quitting early. Having quality and positive lessons are better in the long run.

Buy on your own terms

As terrible as it may sound, some martial arts schools use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to sign up. Just as when buying a used car, don’t give in! Make the decision to join at your own pace and comfort level. You are the one who is in control!

Staying Grounded and Centered

To stay calm and confident, the objective is to get legs feeling strong and heavy on the ground. It works like a charm: you feel strong, calm, and masculine. You move with purpose, movements are slow and fluid, you speak only what is necessary – no filler. You look and act the part.

Here is one method I practice sometimes that works for me: I drum, stomp hard, have straight posture, and breathe deeply. I perform fast, loud, deep breathing through the mouth – it’s called a Shaman Pose. I energize myself with some of these activities (or variations) whenever I feel they’re needed.

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

This slow deliberate pace allows me to be well centered in mind, thinking clearly and asking the right questions, my voice being nice and deep. I know that not everybody will respond positively to me and that’s okay, slowing down and breathing helps keep me grounded. It also keeps me fluid and dynamic.

A new habit of mine is taking the stairs rather than the elevator (to the 16th floor). I am super patient with my feet stomping heavily on the steps and having my upper body swaying with every step.

Regular deep breathing in and out through the nose increases my energy and enhances relaxation. In order to get rid of negative energy, I have found that it helps to inhale through your nose and exhale through the mouth with a lot of power.

Centering requires breathing into the heart. Grounding requires you to breathe-in physically and mentally all the way from the nose, to the feet, and into the ground. You then exhale back from the ground and out the nostrils.

Being polite, saying that you are sorry, not taking things personally, or not talking all the time, all portray that an individual is grounded and centered. However, if the circumstances require escalation simply saying “it’s none of your business!” should reaffirm your stance.

Let me give you a practical example straight out of my journal:

I politely turned down a corn offer, but the individual insisted: “Why not, it tastes so good; I could eat it all day.” My answer with stress on “I” was: “But I don’t like Corn!”

Adjusting your response and reactions to different people and situations help you to stay grounded. Keep your own interests and objectives first, know your boundaries, and take a moment to think about your response. Accept only a win-win deal, that is, BOTH parties benefit — that includes You AND Them.

Conclusion

By now you have gotten the idea of how to be safe and secure through emergency procedures, how to create and maintain self confidence, and how you can be physically secure through martial arts.

How you interact with others will be indicative of your confidence and security, which others can detect. Taking these steps will not only make you feel more relaxed with people, but also you will be more focused and direct.

If you feel you can accomplish anything, then by default you will be fluid and dynamic in your actions and interactions. As James Barksdale, former CEO of Netscape Communications said:

The outcome of the battle between the alligator and the bear depends upon the terrain.

Resources

For more information on esoteric energies in Martial Arts and corresponding top Martial Arts Masters, search YouTube for “Mind Body and Kick Ass Moves” (here: Okinawan Killer Karate tricks, including 60-second beginner lesson for Women).

If you live in Toronto, TKMT is a great supporter of helping and training women.

Other sites: www.thesurvivalistblog.net, www.thepreparationstation.com

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Personal Safety, Security and Martial Arts is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

If I asked you to think of some words that best describe health and well-being, what would you come up with? For myself, some words include pure, clean, stable, calm or energized.

These are only a selected few, but they establish a point: health and well-being do not emerge from OR can not continue in a negative environment. Today’s world has us drowning in material, informational and emotional clutter. With so much focus directed towards these things we lose quality time for ourselves and with others.

Instead, this time is used for worries that do not make us happy, when all the while, time could be used for fitness, learning better eating habits, more time with friends, more time for rest, and a host of other possibilities.

My goal is to show you that when you clean up your life’s worries (decrease resistance in your life), possibilities for more positive things start pouring in (positive power increases). When you immerse yourself in a positive environment, health and well-being follow.

What do you really need to clean? It could be your messy garage, your messy desktop, tax files, basement, car, relationships, strenuous obligations, etc. I’ll tell you how to go about eliminating these messes. Stay tuned.

Material Clutter

Upon entering a house you will probably find a home cliché greeting you such as:

A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.

For a long time my house was just a place where I slept and ate. For others, I have learned, it is a place where relationships flourish, children are raised, and couples live out their days.

These life stages cannot occur if you have a messy lifestyle.

Where and how we live provides the foundation of ourselves. If you cannot be accountable for the things you own, then you cannot be accountable for yourself.

Possessions then turn into things we have to manage. If you own a car you must make sure it is insured, running properly, full of gas, equipped with proper tires, etc. Either you do it yourself or pay others to do it for you.

Paying for those services in the end is better than mastering all of the skills necessary to manage them yourself. Either way, you lose time or money that could be spent on other constructive or fun things.

Cars are a convenient necessity however, and there should be a degree of care put into them. The key is to distinguish what is a necessity and what is not. What you do not need should not be given equal weight to something you do need. For example, you wouldn’t spend hours to neatly organize your household garbage when you’re going to toss it the next day.

When you distinguish necessities, what you choose to keep, in a way, becomes a part of you. Therefore, taking care of your possessions is like taking care of yourself. I have always felt great when cleaning the inside and outside of my car, because not only does the car look better but it makes me feel much better too! Seeing the end result of my quality care and hard work always puts a smile on my face.

This level of care cannot be the same for all things you own if you work or have other commitments. Try to clean up and/or organize as much stuff as possible to free up stagnant energy and allow new fresh energy to come in.  Clean up dust, dirt, junk, paper stacks, boxes, and junk from storage lockers, then organize your balcony, basement, garage, and car trunk (good spare tires, etc).

To make these changes more manageable YOU MUST set goals for yourself. What has worked best for me is creating one big goal per month of a mess that must be cleaned up, and then smaller weekly sub-goals to keep myself motivated.

De-cluttering is a skill set and the more time you practice it the better you get at it. If over time you achieve your goals quicker then set two big goals per month to speed up the process. If you are good at something, revel in it!

TIP: Every item should have a “home.” This way you automatically know where stuff goes and later you automatically know where to find it. Visit an Organizing Store to get some boxes and folders and then organize your bills, bank statements, car related documents and receipts. Similarly, sort your computer files and emails info their respective “home” folders (more on this later).

Most people have a hard time letting go of the things they own. However, it doesn’t have to be all losses. In today’s economic climate people will buy what they do not want. Shows like Storage Wars, American/Canadian Pickers, and Pawn Stars are a testament to this.

I established different levels of importance to keeping specific things: from the safe and USB hard drive, through the computer and books, through bicycle and ski boots, through clothes and little semi-useful stuff, to everything in the room. In other words, depending on urgency of survival, I assigned importance to the items from 1 to 10. It was good to go thru my stuff and at the same time make “emergency to take” notes.

Even if the clutter you are getting rid of isn’t very valuable, it is still sell-able. Making use of garage sales, newspaper classifieds, online classifieds like Craigslist or Kijiji, and even eBay are methods of making a buck or two on things you no longer want to keep.

More space, increased organization and some extra money are some great benefits for cleaning your house!

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

It’s interesting that this week I practiced (and experienced) mentally letting go of most of my possessions. I tried to imagine which things I absolutely must keep and there weren’t many! Of course I would make my life (and my life purpose) much more difficult if I only kept the bare minimum like the clothes I was wearing and nothing else, so this wouldn’t be a wise thing to do. But the “letting go” exercise was very powerful and relieving.

Now that things are cleaner and spacious, how do you stop it from happening again?

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET! Recall what I said earlier about possessions being things we manage and take care of. No matter what one’s income is, the more junk you own the more it sticks out as a nuisance.

Buying something to replace something older may not seem like much but it adds up quickly. This is more true if it’s many different kinds of products like jewellery, clothing, television sets, gadgets, etc.

When we buy something new, it is for the sole purpose of replacing something we don’t need any longer with something better. When you decide to replace something, make sure the product formerly used is sold, recycled, thrown out, or donated.

Informational Clutter

With new technology there must come new ways to manage it and make it work best for us. Thanks to personal computing and the Internet we have become more and more connected to the world around us.

It also allows us to store an absurd amount of information. Depending on what we do (or not do) with that information, it could become very tiring.

We focus our attention into so many different things that it ends up scattered all over the place. All the many possessions we may have or the many things we feel we need to get can become a physical weight or informational weight.

Many worries in life can be eliminated. Start with getting a home insurance. If you live in a regular apartment building, it costs about $20 a month. Take photographs of all your stuff including model and serial numbers. Get a fire-proof and/or water-proof safe ($30 and up) and put all of that in there. Get a small fire extinguisher.

Store a copy of your important computer files on a CD, DVD or a portable Hard-drive in an off-site location, or upload your securely zipped files to a secure storage server. Invest in a Hard-Drive mirroring expansion card (RAID1) and a second hard-drive to always have a real-time copy of your files. Install better locks and chain on the front door. Secure your windows.

TIP: Make photocopies of everything in your wallet and store these in the safe too. Clean up your wallet and make it as thin as possible – this is one of my favorite inducers of light energy. I’ve actually gone a step further and copied multiple cards onto a single double-sided sheet of paper, which I carry in my wallet instead of all those cards (especially non-swipable cards with just numbers or barcode). Make two such sheets, so that once the first one deteriorates, just shred it and use the second one.

This also provides you with easy access to web sites and phone numbers in case you need to replace anything that was lost or stolen.

TIP2: Make sure that your keys, cellphone, notebook and other “mobile” stuff have your contact information, eg. “War Amps” tags or “if found please call <number>” and optional “Reward!!” I lost things on a few occasions and they always made their way back to me. Also have an emergency contact information inside your bicycle helmet or in your wallet.

Store important dates or events in your calendar (Outlook, phone, paper, etc). See if you can setup a “recurring event” so that you’re automatically reminded a few days before. This is good for bill payments, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Now you don’t have to worry about remembering those, which eases the load on your brain.

Most of us are becoming more and more connected with smart phones and other high-speed devices. This makes the information flow throughout the day seem endless and overwhelming. If we don’t manage this information effectively, one’s quality of work, life, and relationships can quickly deteriorate.

Be very selective what automated emails and news feeds you receive, and make “email rules” for them, so they flow to their “home” folders automatically. If they don’t add value to your life or business, just opt-out. Keep your inbox nice and clean.

As a tip, if there are many websites you want to look at, schedule a time of day when all the information is ready and accessible. Some sites update in the morning, afternoon or evening, so pick a time when you can access all of them in one sitting.

I know that when I’m working (like right now), sometimes I feel an urge to see what else is going on, whether it’s social networking, news sites, sports scores, or PWG . However, these only serve as distractions where you can lose your train of thought or simply become too engaged. This means loss of productivity.

Set limits during the day when you want a break to unwind and catch up with the world. Technology is a tool, use it and then put it away when you’re done!

Emotional Clutter

The strongest things that affect us are by definition combined with emotions. Love, lust, anger, and jealousy are all natural feelings we are bound to experience. However, how they happen in our lives and how we deal with them can differ between individuals.

If we are often surrounded by negative energy from people we spend time with or events we divert our attention to, we ourselves can end up sharing those sentiments forward.

When you choose to clean up your life, emotional clutter can make or break your attempts. Our friends and family can act as a support network or they can greatly contribute to our downfall. I personally experienced both and was pretty much forced to develop effective strategies to overcome such a roller coaster. More on this coming up in the Emotional section of Practical Wellness Guide soon.

An example of this can be found when losing weight. People can be very motivated to drop excess weight, but if their environment (people at work or at home) are not supportive of those goals, then motivation starts to decline rapidly.

These people make great attempts, but then go back to old habits or just stick with only going half-way. One of my friends used to be 60 pounds overweight and when he decided to lose it, he exercised hard. He met early success through the great change of consistent exercise, but struggled with modifying his diet.

With parents who were out of shape themselves, his habits began in his childhood and teens when it was hard to take full control of his own life. Luckily as years passed and he spent less and less time at home and more time with health-conscious people, more positive results eventually followed.

You are heavily influenced by the company you keep. Surround yourself with positive influence. When you have the right support you can lay down a great foundation towards change and achievement!

You can’t be at your best if your life is full of clutter. It may sound harsh, but just let go of (or reduce exposure to) those people who suck the energy right out of you, leaving you feeling like a wet dishrag.

What we choose to expose ourselves to is also of great concern. Being surrounded with bad news and the pitfalls of existence takes it’s toll on a person. We are constantly bombarded by reports about how gloomy things are regarding money, countries, human rights, etc.

As important as it is to raise the world’s consciousness of these issues, it is even more important to be optimistic in looking for constructive solutions. You can’t get consumed by apathetic thinking as it is just a downward spiral of negativity.

So unless your profession is to analyze those things (economist, psychologist, epidemiologist, etc.) – DON’T. It is too much mental wear and tear when you could be focused on YOURSELF and the people YOU care about instead.

TIP: Cancel your cable at home. Beside saving a lot of time and money, you will save your mind from being polluted with daily bad news. If you insist on being informed, visit news websites and only click on links that are really of interest to you.

Be selective about the stuff that gets into your head. Keep it positive and allow only the news that make you or your situation absolutely better. If you don’t walk away from the news with the feeling that you’re closer to your goals, you just wasted your time. Best of all, you can read much of positive material for free online like you are doing right now!

You’ll be amazed at how light and creative you feel once you’ve de-cluttered your life of negative energies and how quickly success follows.  Help from supportive people can be a wonderful boost for whatever goals you wish to achieve.

Basically it comes down to how you can manage things. Our brains already block out enormous amounts of stimulation that is declared unimportant. However, we have to consciously lend a hand and learn how to avoid overexposure to useless or negative information and how to live freer.

Even the Sky isn’t the Limit!

Now that I have got you thinking about cleaning up your life, you can make the same changes that I have. It will take some time, but that can be a good thing! That means more positive feelings with every accomplished goal.

Clean desk, organized shelf, minimal furniture, no dust – all contribute to a feeling of well-being and automatic effectiveness. You actually get a lot more done with a lot less stress when your environment is clutter-free.

Keep ONLY what you NEED and minimum of what you want. You can always rent cottages and boats and leave the maintenance to someone else.

This article started by bringing up health, but in the end making these changes will have you feeling renewed while enjoying the clean environment. And that is a great step to making even more and even bigger changes.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Cleaning Up the Clutter is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Do you have problems with your image and appearance? Are people not viewing you in the way you want to be viewed? Are they not treating you the way you want to be treated?

Your appearance can affect your daily life and the way people treat you. I’ve learned some simple ways you can present yourself in a better way.

In 2008, I spent time researching how my appearance affects my daily interactions. While I was sitting in Starbucks one day, I discovered an obvious but interesting thing. The polished look of the men and women that walked by came across as attractive and trustworthy. Perhaps the reason I noticed this at that time was because I needed to work on my own appearance.

I learned that image can have an impact on the way you feel about yourself, and on the way other people view you. It’s amazing what the right image, attitude, calmness, and the perception that “money is no object” can do for you. No matter what is really the case, people tend to treat you based on how they perceive you.

They say don’t judge the book by the cover, but at the end of the day, people do measure you in the first few seconds of seeing you, even if unconsciously.

Be who you want to look like, or more practically, dress who you want to be.

In my personal transformation process, I changed everything from my hairstyle, teeth, and clothing, to my posture and voice. The details of my transformation can help you become a new and successful you!

Side note: I did some research on being tall and on being short (height-wise). It doesn’t seem to make a difference whether you’re tall or short if you have the internal confidence. No matter what, you must retain the posture of success. This means standing straight with your chest out, speaking slowly when necessary, and being calm.

First Step to Fixing Your Image

Making a list of what I needed to fix about myself was the best way to start. The first step is knowing what the problem is so that you know what to fix. Is it voice, image, teeth, hair, style, grooming, or character? Identification is the first step.

There is no harm in asking your friends for their perceptions of you. If you’re aware of how others view you, you’ll know better what to fix.

Next, ask the experts about solutions. For example, ask a hair stylist what shampoo to use or ask a store clerk about his/her recommendation. Ask people that know you or strangers. If you’re friendly, people will be happy to help you.

On day 4 of my self-improvement challenge, I asked about 8 random women (ie. “appearance experts”) for their opinions while I tried on different clothes or hats. All the women, with the exception of 1, seemed genuine in their advice. Because of their helpful advice, I was able to choose a cool French-style wool hat from The Bay (Esprit brand). Asking “experts” for help is effective and fun!

Consider having a wardrobe and image assessment. You can learn how to dress yourself better, but also gain a new personal outlook. Making changes to your appearance can make you a more confident person that’s more in-tune with your goals.

In my personal self-improvement challenge I identified the following key things:

• Dress well
• Stand straight with chest forward
• Increase muscle definition
• Adjust beard style (if you’re a man of course)
• Smile or develop a photo expression
• Wash face frequently and properly
• Wash and Brush hair frequently (great scalp massage for stress and against hair loss)
• If you’re eyeglasses wearer, consider more attractive/stylish/brand-name glasses

For me, dressing well means wearing a shirt, dark pants, or a textured, grey or navy suit and tie. I suggest experimenting with your clothing, asking for feedback, and going shopping with your female friends. This way, you’ll learn how to dress better.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Adjust your facial hair in consideration of changing your image. Research various beard styles depending on the shape of your face and the message you want to convey.

When I say brush hair as my seventh point, I mean styling your hair differently. Try brushing your hair so that it is more forward at the front and more straight up mid to back (or whatever works for you).

Washing your face regularly with face products will help to reduce the oily appearance of your skin. Consider looking at the website www.DefyAgingNow.com, which offers information about keeping your skin clean. Also, consider getting a suntan, but keep the UV time to a minimum.

Sharp Image

In my experience, having a sharp image improves your life significantly. It means you have the confidence and trust of others and you have their respect – at least as far as the first impression is concerned. You also have an easier life as people work with you better. It also means looking good on the outside and feeling good on the inside.

After about 15 minutes you must be able to keep up the conversation to keep up that image, so you better be the expert in your niche, or a creative and interesting speaker otherwise. Being silent is also your option if you can pull it off well enough.

One day I was watching the Family Feud TV Show and observed what the generally accepted features of a successful man are (host and some contestants). When people see a man, they can usually tell whether he is successful in life through the following key features (of course grand exceptions to this are very common):

• quality of clothes and shoes (must be polished!)
• confidence, attitude, posture, fitness, face expression, slow speed of body movements
• great woman or entire family
• accessories such as jewelery, watch, glasses, car, boat, and house

The power image is made up of several features. It’s made up of your voice, your posture, your smile, and the way you dress. It includes aspects of your overall image that culminate the belief that you deserve respect and have the power to accomplish anything. If you can convince people that you’re a confident businessman, people will treat you like you’re a confident businessman.

On many occasions I observed that because I was dressed well, people treated me differently. I had random people coming up to me and wishing me a great day. Talk about how peoples’ reactions to you change depending on how you present yourself!

When it comes down to it, your appearance will dictate how people treat you.

Later, I was being called “boss” or “sir.” I was well dressed and getting compliments. All of this was because of my clothes and how I presented myself. Just imagine the power you could have if you made some adjustments to your image.

My original goal was to sharpen my image, and to create an empowering image for myself. My image changed with the clothes and shoes I chose to wear and the physical changes I made to my appearance (teeth, eyes, skin, hair). I also made changes to my character, posture, and body movements.

Posture, Body Movement and Eye Contact

In the Being Centered: Positively Contagious! book, I read that the most important key to maximizing your power is posture. You should stand up straight and high, and breathe deep. I worked on my posture, my body movements, and on making eye contact.

Your posture, body movements, and whether you maintain eye contact will affect the way people view you. To project confidence, you have to maintain eye contact with people.

Your body movements can tell people that you are confident. They can also give away whether you are hyper, under confident or any other undesirable characteristic.

Your body movements can also showcase your confidence to other people. If your movements are smooth and if you don’t appear to be in a hurry, you will come across as more relaxed, calm, and confident.

One day, I saw some wealthy men on their boats in the harbour. Aside from their flood pants, polos and aviator glasses, the most important aspect of their image was their straight posture with their chests forward. They looked very confident.

My personal trainer advised me to do lower pectoral muscle stretching (raised arms stretching) and back extension exercises, which allows one to achieve the straight posture and a boost in confidence. The trick to this is to also have a flat stomach so that it’s easy to walk around confidently and at ease without the hidden tenseness of sucking the stomach in.

On trying out my posture for the first time, I was straight with my chest forward and my head held high. I also noticed quite a few looks from women when doing grocery shopping.

Power Image Practice and Observations

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Fitness training is one answer to creating your power image. In my opinion, martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu or Karate, and fitness training, give you a confident walk that people find appealing. With a great body you could be wearing just jeans and t-shirt and it will look very powerful.

I experienced various situations indicating that my image upgrade is working. One day I was wearing suit pants, a nice shirt and wool coat, and I had a short, healthy haircut and radiated confidence. I was getting mini-deals at various stores (upsized drinks or discounts on meals, and faster service at various services). I was passing various intimidation tests such as very strong eye contact from super-muscled men at the gym, top executives, or the most attractive women.

One day I witnessed a great example of the power image in practice when I saw two young guys yelling at a homeless man. The homeless man calmly yelled back and said they had messed with the wrong guy. The two guys just stood there and kept yelling, but they did NOT do anything physical!

Then the homeless man stood up and had given them the impression that he was too dangerous to mess with. At that moment they actually stopped yelling and shortly after decided to leave. It was an amazing example how inner confidence can have an affect on those having an ego trip.

Character and Communication

Character and communication are extremely important, because that’s how you give an impression of yourself. One day while watching “The Matrix” on TV, I realized that it was the dialogue that gave the movie its depth.

It’s also important to be a great listener. Being a great listener means that people will appreciate their conversations with you even more – they will feel appreciated. Making small talk also puts people at ease.

Minding your manners is self-explanatory. If you treat people well, they will feel more comfortable with you.

I put my communication skills to the test with my vocal coach. I presented myself well and didn’t talk too much. I did this very naturally and appeared comfortable.

I came across as a centered, mature, articulate and conscious businessman. She saw that I was willing to listen and learn instead of talk, and I think that put her more at ease. More importantly, I came across as impressive to her.

When interacting with women (in general), the key is to present integrity, personality, and an unshakable character. To women, a man with those characteristics has tremendous value. Women don’t want someone that appears to be trying to pick them up. A man that’s confident will have more success than a man that’s funny.

One time, I met with a female friend for tea. I practiced my new me with her. This involved active listening, asking good questions, saying interesting things to her, and keeping comfortable eye contact. It was quite a challenge to avoid my regular fidgeting and to smile.

For the most part, it went okay. Though it was difficult to maintain the conversation. I know I have to relax more and work on looking friendly. Eventually with practice and overall improvement, those things became effortless, second nature, and above all – real.

Voice

Although my goal was to create a power image for myself, I also knew that I needed to work on my image through voice.

The problem was that if I were completely myself, I was either serious and “scary,” or like a kid. I naturally have a large physique, so to soften that image and appear more friendly, I used a childish voice. My natural voice is deep and strong, but the social feedback made me not use it – possibly because I looked too young for that voice…

Although there is much more to it (the whole confidence and image package), I read up on how to have the perfect speaking voice.

I discovered that your posture helps keep your spine and vocal channels in line, and deep breathing (from lower abs) gives you more and longer-lasting vocal energy without effort. A relaxed jaw, neck, shoulders, abs, and back allow for a better resonating chamber, and moving your mouth and jaw means that sound isn’t blocked.

Also, as an exercise to improving my voice, I taped myself while lying down on my back (more resonance) and then while standing up with my power posture. My work on my voice was becoming more noticeable and paying off! A deep, slow and calm voice that’s friendly and professional is a better match for my physique.

Smile

I decided I also had to work on my smile. I wanted to look more approachable.

When I went to my heat yoga class one day, I didn’t get the best reactions from the girls there. They didn’t look at me in a friendly (or at least natural) manner. I knew it was a reflection of me, as I didn’t look too friendly.

I got this same impression with other familiar strangers (eg. instructors at the yoga classes). Both looked at me and their facial expressions changed to frowns. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror in the class, and behold, my mouth was in a frown without my realizing it.

As a result, I practiced smiling and grinning.

I decided that my smiling was better when it was small and subtle, but the key was also to smile with the eyes. To do that, I had to think positive. I had to feel my eyes and eyebrows somehow open up and lift, and my cheeks lift as well. Think of a smiling baby and how he/she shows the internal joy. In a way, be that baby

As part of my work on my smile, I took a few pictures of myself in my suit one day. The best pictures of me were with my mouth closed, my eyes smiling, and a semi-side profile. It’s like Daniel Craig, who doesn’t show his teeth when smiling. He does a calm and confident grin. Even with a big, deep smile, his mouth is closed and his eyes are smiling.

After observing a woman on the street that had a frown on her face, I decided that having issues shows and makes people unapproachable. Being internally happy and appearing content is the most attractive image and can make you appear more approachable. You can achieve this through your smile (internal and/or external).

Appearing approachable takes work and your smile cannot be faked. The best way for me to achieve a natural smile is by thinking positive thoughts. A forced smile doesn’t look very good while a natural smile is awesome.

Even when I didn’t shave for a while and didn’t look my best, but I felt good on the inside and was internally smiling, I still got lots of looks from women on the street. I know it was because it was showing that I was happy and confident internally.

Hair: Frizziness

If the thing you most want to fix is the frizziness of your hair, there are numerous solutions.

A product that is applied to soaking-wet or towel-dry hair is essential for combating frizzy hair. Finishing products are great for finishing, but you have to start with an anti-frizz look before you can put on the finishing touches.

My barber applies a natural leave-in conditioner and wraps my head in a super-hot towel (cold wet towel in the summer) for 2 minutes – instant fix! I tried to do that myself, but it didn’t work too well. When I asked him what his secret is, he just smiled

There are many options for reducing frizzy hair. However, the best solution for me is the leave-in Moroccan Oil, which was recommended to me by another barber. He said it is also important to change your shampoo and conditioner from time to time and really take time with the hair washing (leave the shampoo and conditioner in the hair for a few minutes). I found the advice to be very true.

There are some other solutions that I didn’t try, so please do your due diligence:

5. Citre Shine Miracle Anti-Frizz Polishing Serum

4. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum

3. Marc Anthony Simply Straight Instant Straightening Cream

2. Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum Hair Styling Serums

1. Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness Smoothing Shampoo

Others:

Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey

Avon Advance Techniques Anti-Frizz Capsules

Haircuts

Part of my research involved looking at haircuts, since this is a feature that some may wish to improve. I found some great advice on haircuts for different heads in Hudson’s FTM Guide. Then I did a Google Image search for my type of face, picked the look I most liked and printed it out.

I took the photo, scheduled a hair appointment with my barber (Italian of course ) and went for the big job. I loved it! It was definitely interesting, different, and sharper.

The same day as the haircut, I observed the responses I got throughout the day. I definitely got way more looks from women (yes, it’s my standard appearance test). If you polish up your look with a new haircut, you’re likely to get a positive response!

Skin

If your skin isn’t the way you want it to be, there are also solutions to fix that. By using hydrating skin-care creams and sunscreen in the summer, my skin looked amazing. When I had too much sun in a given day, I used Peter’s Island/Banana Boat After Sun Aloe Vera moisturizer/restorer to undo some of the damage.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Over the years I used many brands of balancing toners, scrubbers, tonics, cleansers, shaving and aftershave creams, and hydrating toners. Most of them worked OK to improve my skin’s appearance. Last year I found the Tahitian Noni products and never looked back. They’re easy on the bank account too!

In critical situations (zits or skin redness), I BRIEFLY use a blow drier on my skin that helps bring some blood to the face and evens out the tone – I don’t do it often so please use the idea responsibly.

Eyes

I decided to consider laser eye surgery. I found out from my optometrist that the highest rate of success and the lowest rate of complications is with Bochner Eye Institute.

Preliminary tests revealed that I needed the PRK over Lasik. PRK is usually recommended to patients that have a thin cornea, which is what I have. My friends who had the eye surgery done, highly recommend it as one of the best things they’ve ever done. A close friend of mine also had PRK done is now seeing 20/15.

Teeth

To improve the appearance of my teeth, I got laser whitening done. It was great because there was no pain like with the gels and trays, and my teeth were a few shades whiter within an hour.

Later, I had more restorative work done to my teeth (all because of eating insane amounts of candy and ice cream when I was a kid). The new teeth looked great because they were white and straight. It was so refreshing to be able to smile naturally, because I felt comfortable with showing my teeth.

Clothes

There is no doubt that maintaining a sharp image means having nice clothes. When I dress well, I feel much better and tend to get positive attention.

My old jacket was saggy from age and didn’t fit me anymore. I knew I needed to get a new jacket.

When it comes to choosing clothing, do some research online (Google images), and then just go shopping (ideally with a female friend). Experiment with different styles or even find someone who is well-dressed and ask him to give you some suggestions.

When I did this, I found the I was very comfortable and looked good in navy relaxed jeans, a light beige striped shirt, a deep V-neck t-shirt, a black suit jacket, and a big belt buckle.

I was being viewed in a more positive way when I began dressing better. When I was on the subway one day, I had numerous women looking at me. That day I was wearing black pants, a light purple shirt, and a black wool coat. I had a light beard and looked busy and focused.

Dress the Part

You must let everyone you meet know that you know your stuff. If you are a business person, look like a business person. Dress the part. When I moved to Manhattan to do my first deal, I did not have money or employees. When I went into an office, I looked as if I had an organization. Few people knew that my organization had no employees except myself and operated out of my studio apartment in Manhattan. I dressed the part of a successful Real Estate Entrepreneur. I would march into the seller’s office, impeccably dressed in my black pin–striped suit, white shirt, and monogrammed tie looking like someone who was going to make things happen. Nobody ever questioned whether I could do it. From the very start I commanded everyone’s respect.

- Donald Trump

Dressing the part is extremely important. If you are not dressed appropriately for the job you want, you won’t get it. You won’t attract the people you want to attract, nor will you get the promotion you are aiming for.

It is important to dress the part depending on the environment you are in. When shopping for a sports car, for example, nascar-like clothing would be better than any other clothing. Business clothing would work better when shopping for a high-end sedan. You get the idea…

Throughout my challenge, I noticed that I was being treated differently and getting more noticed by women depending on what I was wearing.

One day I dressed in a white shirt and a new grey suit. Not only was I getting looks from attractive women, but I was also being respected even more at various stores. One interesting thing I noticed is that when I was dressed well, people somehow EXPECTED me to say less. They assumed I was well educated and intelligent, which is great news if you don’t like to talk too much!

Another interesting thing I’ve found was that because classy women tend to wear wool coats in the Fall and Winter, they tend to see men who wear wool coats as more attractive to them. Thus it’s important to assimilate your style with the style of your target demographics (pardon the science talk) and you’ll be more likely to be viewed as more attractive (or fitting).

Putting Your Best Face Forward

Putting your best face forward is important in all aspects of your life, including when you use social media.

Does your avatar draw in people or does it drive them away? This is probably one of the questions you have to answer before you take the big social media plunge.

Having an effective avatar is an important way for you to present yourself or your company’s image. For example, you can’t have an avatar of you making a funny face because it would harm your company’s image. The last thing you want is to misrepresent your company and have people think you don’t take your company seriously.

Look professional to best represent yourself or your company. It is important to use a photograph of yourself because you will establish more trust that way.

Personalize your image. Your avatar should look like your best self. It should represent the best you, because your target audience may be put off by the fact that you haven’t made an effort. If you haven’t put in the effort, your company will come across as cheap and like you don’t care.

Keep your image clean and simple. You should have a quality image that’s not blurry. This is particularly important if you want to maintain your professional image.

Conclusion

The combination of changes to your clothing, hair, attitude, body language and more is the answer to improving the way people view you. These improvements are important if you want to be treated professionally and with respect.

As a result of my transformation process, I was treated better and was more successful. By being aware of my problems, I was able to fix them.

I began to dress better and to cut my hair in a more fashionable way. I adjusted my posture to give me a boost of confidence, and made numerous other changes to my physical appearance.

Making changes to your appearance is one sure way you’ll be the person you want to be!

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Personal Image and Appearance is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

There comes a point in person’s life (preferably sooner than later) when we know we have to work on eating and being healthier. I started off by making an effort to eliminate alcohol, sweets, saturated fats, white bread, and coffee from my diet as much as I could.

*When you’ve been eating very healthy for a few months, your body actually starts WANTING what it needs! If you can hear your body’s subtle cues, making healthy choices at the right times becomes very easy!

My effort to become a healthier person led me to explore alternative healthy food options. I began to eat a whole and well-balanced breakfast, more fruit, organic vegetable salads, vegetable-based soups, and various natural supplements.

Throughout the process, I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter what the cost, your #1 priority should be to maintain your health – it’s the best low-cost insurance policy for your long-term well-being. Once things deteriorate, fixing is often costly, painful, and takes a long time. Also keep in mind that for the optimized health, the body needs variety and balance.

Eating healthy food and going to the gym helped me lose 35 pounds of weight (ie. lose fat and gain muscle), ending up at 190 lbs. I also had a fit and toned physique. There’s no doubt that your diet can do wonders for losing weight. In fact, fat loss is 70% about the diet and only 20% about the exercise.

It’s a very good idea to explore ways to boost your well-being through healthy supplements such as herbal remedies or superfoods. Ginseng, ginkgo, lecithin and Matcha green tea are excellent resources for boosting your energy and metabolism, and thus the perfect replacement for coffee. Echinacea, rosehip, and vitamin C are the answer to increasing your immunity against colds and flus.

Taking a high quality multi-vitamin and probiotic (good bacteria) supplement daily will promote good digestion and elimination, which in itself is a great well-being booster (you eat less, don’t feel hungry, and feel light). An occasional gentle cleanse and detox further increases that well-being (see the monthly Cleanse Pack option at www.GetFitBodyNow.com for more information).

But don’t just take my word for it; educate yourself on herbal remedies and vitamins that lead to a healthier lifestyle. Do some blood tests and/or EIS Biofeedback Scan, which evaluate all your body organs to find out what imbalances in your body you need to address with the appropriate supplements.

How to Eat

The following are some useful tips to keep in mind when eating or thinking about eating.

You should:

• Always Always wash your hands before eating
• Eat most fresh and nutrient rich food you can
• Eat balanced meals (pay attention to variety of colours in your meals)
• Bless the food (be grateful for it and its value)
• Eat slowly and chew each bite – think about eating

The first three points are pretty self-explanatory (more on that below). However, blessing the food, eating slowly, and thinking about eating may not be. The way I think about it is being aware of what you’re eating and seeing it as a process. This way you feel less inclined to snack and you establish a formal process about your mealtimes.

You should chew your food thoroughly before swallowing – up to 30 chews per bite. Digestion starts in the mouth, and if we don’t chew our food properly before swallowing, we’re only getting a portion of the nutritional value of our food. Also if you don’t chew your food properly, your body needs to use a lot of energy for digestion and thus you don’t function as well, for example, you feel sluggish and mentally unclear.

I also enjoy an occasional change of scenery as an important part of the balanced life. I spend time or have my meals in the countryside or parks where the air is cleaner and where there’s no noise pollution. The value of such a recharging break is priceless.

Cooked / Uncooked Food

During my research about being healthy, I also came across some useful principles of super health.

Most nutritionists agree that some nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are destroyed through the cooking process. Enzymes, which are essential for proper digestion, are destroyed too. Further, because cells don’t get enough nutrients, you feel hungry even though you’ve just eaten; you eat more food and gain weight.

When I learned about this, I realized how important it is to eat as much raw food as possible to ensure that I’m getting enough nutrients. I actually feel a huge difference in my body after a freshly squeezed vegetable juice or fresh vegetable salad.

However, keep in mind that some vegetables need to be lightly cooked or steamed to increase their nutritional value. For example, cooked carrots, beets, mushrooms, asparagus, cabbage, peppers and many other vegetables supply more antioxidants, such as carotenoids and ferulic acid, to the body than they do when raw, according to Scientific American.

I did a 3-week experiment once, eating just cold raw food. At first it was great, but eventually I started feeling pretty awful. My body was craving a hot meal. I know a few gluten-free no-milk vegan people and even they eat hot soups or meals from time to time. Not only does cooking kill bacteria and other unwelcome organisms, but it tastes better, it’s softer to chew and warms up the insides.

For example, I highly recommend eating hot soups such as Pho Ga, a (spicy) Vietnamese chicken soup, or a vegetarian alternative with tofu. Whenever I eat it, it clears up my mucus, sinuses, breathing, sleepiness, and my overall sluggishness. It also makes my stomach feel lighter. So do alkaline Japanese meals such as Miso soup with Dragon Roll sushi or Smoked Salmon & Avocado sushi. Cooked food has its benefits!

In general, it’s like the saying goes – everything in moderation. Balance as part of a healthy diet consists of both raw and cooked (or smoked) meals.

Breakfast – The Most Important Meal of the Day

According to a generally known fact, breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Because of that, I’ve been making an effort to eat healthy breakfasts. And it really makes a big difference during the day (performance, effectiveness, well-being, etc.)

One day, I had a really nice breakfast. It consisted of some small dark blue grapes, 2-egg veggie omelette, 1 piece of toasted bread with tex-mex cheese and a glass of orange juice. I find it’s a really good breakfast because it feels satisfying but not heavy. Plus, I don’t need coffee, which I should be avoiding anyway.

The omelette had red and green peppers, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, and oregano. It’s not only delicious, but very healthy.

When going out for breakfast, it’s the omelette that looks best to me on the menu – not crepes with jam or fried sausage. This tells me that I am definitely thinking in more healthy terms when it comes to food. I know that once you get used to having healthy food, you’ll never find the bad stuff appealing ever again! (you might have a rare occasional sugary snack, but it’s never due to a craving).

There are many healthy options for your breakfast. If you want to apply some of this information to your breakfast, just remember to have a balanced breakfast with many varieties of vegetables, cheese, optional light meat, but no sugar. You’ll find that you stay full for a longer time.

You can find some great recipes on this CBC Best Recipes Ever website. I use it quite frequently for inspiration.

Practical Ideas about Food

Easy Rule of Thumb:

When choosing or having a meal, make sure your dish contains all the major colours, preferably as rich (saturated) as possible. As a general example consider including green, red, yellow/orange, purple/black, brown, and white foods in your meals:

• Red: tomatoes, red peppers, radish, beet
• Green: broccoli, beans, kale, swiss chard, spinach, green peppers, peas, lettuce, celery
• Yellow/Orange: cheese, eggs, carrots, ginger, pumpkin, squash
• Purple/Black: purple onion, cabbage, eggplant, black beans, olives, raisins, figs
• Brown: whole wheat bread, pasta, and rice
• White: almond milk, plain yogurt, coconut, garlic, cauliflower, onion, potato

Ensure that you are having balanced meals that include as many of these colours as possible. If you can’t do that, at the very least, include the major colours like red, green and yellow. Many authentic Chinese dishes are usually balanced.

Eating a wide range of colours means ensuring your body gets the nutritional variety it seeks. If you include colourful and healthy foods in your diet, you will not feel hungry for an extensive time. Hunger is nothing else but a signal that you are running low on nutrients. If you’re skilled in listening to your body, you can actually tell what your body needs at any given time.

Also don’t forget about a wide gamut of colourful fruit. One of the best fruit for snack is grapes (low GI [Glycemix Index], rich source of over 80 nutrients, anti-oxidant, and other numerous health benefits). Explore local and exotic fruit for even more selection. Just FYI, Tahitian Noni® Juice has over 10,000 nutrients and in part contains grape and blueberry juices for flavour.

One easy way to get fresh and colourful meals is to take advantage of fresh organic salad bars. They also usually offer delicious soups such as Red Curry Cream of Coconut, Minestrone, or organic Chicken Noodle. I sometimes opt for couscous and 7 grain salad, soup, and plain organic yoghurt. It fills me up and feels good for hours.

Another healthy option I like to enjoy includes Mediterranean cuisine, such as falafel (but only few places get it right so it doesn’t taste and feel oily), fish pitas, lentil soup, etc. Keep in mind that food high in protein and fat requires more energy to digest and produce more metabolic waste, which takes even more energy to clean up. This means less energy available for your other mental tasks.

I eat a lot of fruit throughout the day – 3 to 4 portions, which are high in water and vitamins, and digest quickly and easily. This includes grapes, mangoes, apples, oranges, kiwis, berries w/ yoghurt, and possibly a small croissant on the side. I try to keep bananas only for the immediately-after-workout times due to it’s high carbohydrate count (double of average fruit).

Generally recommended daily consumption is 5-10 servings of fruit AND vegetables combined. Balance between fruit and vegetables can vary daily depending on taste, health, and other personal factors.

TIP: Fruit is a privilege – the more fit you are and exercise frequently, the more fruit you can eat, as you easily burn the excess carbohydrates. When you’re just starting a weight loss regimen, it is generally advisible to skip all fruit for the first 2 weeks to decrease sugar in your body. It’s a tough gig, but it really works magic for your waist line!

TIP 2: Exercise can be very easy – Regular exercise that gets your heart rate up will help to boost your metabolism and will help deliver greater mental clarity well into the afternoon. Don’t make excuses or overcomplicate it. If you can’t think of anything you’d rather do, just put on some music and dance around for 20 minutes in the morning. Then stretch for 5 minutes and you’re done.

One day at I ended up in the sauce section at my local food store. I bought some healthy Lebanese sauce and black beans. That night, I had whole wheat rice, chicken cutlet, and black beans, plus a mixed-greens salad. I had an awesome meal in less than 10 minutes!

I enjoy a healthy vegan lunch like lasagna, humus, sweet potato cake, and apple cider. Just remember that it’s the healthy colours that keeps you full until your next meal!

While I was changing my diet, I noticed that I wasn’t tolerating meat as well anymore. It made me feel overly full, and the taste and visual, especially in the raw state, wasn’t appealing to me anymore.

I don’t like to eat lamb, moose, or pork anymore. I can still tolerate a bit of beef and chicken, but in a small quantity such as once or twice a week. I could still enjoy shrimp and fish. I really began to appreciate vegetables, beans, and pasta.

As part of the healthy switch, I decided to push my comfort zone and went on a very strict candi diet. It was rough, but I felt better and went down a belt loop in my waist! I dieted on beans (full of fibre), powdered protein, brown rice, and salads (greens). I found that they filled me up and lasted longer, which meant I ate less.

Teach a Man How to “make” the Fish

I decided to take some cooking courses. From my experience I can tell you, they are an excellent way to learn how to cook well, especially healthy meals.

I began with a course called “Chef on the Go”, which I signed up for in January-March of 2009 through www.learn4life.ca. It was really cool and hands on. I learned how to cook my own healthy meals in 30 minutes or less.

Sometimes when you’re on the go, it’s difficult to eat healthy, so the “Chef on the Go” course was definitely beneficial to me. We cooked our own meals in groups of 3 people.

The “Chef on the Go” class was really great. I began to get the reputation of timing everything, being a calculator, and constantly thinking ahead. The food was always so amazing. My absolute favorite meal was a coconut chickpea soup, which was really really delicious!

Every dish we made was so rich in flavour. I was shocked because I enjoyed a vegetable and mushroom dish more than a chicken dish. It had sweet chard, pepper, onion, garlic, Lebanese spices, and tomatoes. Each ingredient was sautéed individually in olive oil first.

We made baked potatoes too, which were so good. They were smothered in a chicken tomato sauce and olive oil. Then they were baked at 400′F for 45 minutes.

Another course I signed up for was a very healthy “Mediterranean Cooking.”

The class was small and friendly. The meals were on the advanced level, but it was educational to watch everything progress and see how it’s all done. My instructor was cool and fun, but came across as knowledgeable and respectable.

One of the Mediterranean cooking classes focused on cooking vegetarian food, which was fantastic.

I loved some of the food so much that I sent the instructor, Nabil, an email to ask for the recipes. I asked him for a sweet chard salad recipe and the recipe for baked potato wedges.

One day I decided that I was going to make dinner for my family based on the first two courses. I did some grocery shopping, including the crème de coconut for the coconut and chickpea soup I learned to make.

I did the soup, a chicken stir fry, and baked potatoes. The potatoes didn’t turn out the best (not perfect), but the main two dishes were excellent!

After my initial excursion into cooking, I ended up buying some basic kitchen tools. These included a quality can opener, peeler, a set of professional knives, measuring spoons and a measuring cup. Cooking is so much easier if you have the right tools.

I cooked many kinds of other dishes too. Once I had so much hands-on practice and observation, I was able to come up with my own dishes on the fly. Sometimes I use lots of garlic (like Nabil used to do), which is a great and really healthy ingredient to use, especially in the flu season.

One time, I made a quick tortilla with sautéed vegetables and ham inside. I also made pasta with sautéed vegetables, a vegetable pasta sauce, and basil. Both were pretty good, and I only spent 20 minutes making them.

Besides the “Chef on the Go” and Mediterranean Cooking classes, I took a “Tastes of Thailand” cooking class. The food was really amazing. We made Pad Thai, Lemon Grass soup, and many other light and healthy meals, for example, rice paper spring rolls, chicken, shrimp, vegetables, and a spicy vegetable soup.

After that I had a great cooking night at home. I decided to make salmon in mushroom sauce, which I had learned at one of my cooking classes. I didn’t have all the ingredients, so I simplified it a bit, but it was still very delicious. I really felt joy while cooking.

I think it’s really important to cook if you want to be a healthy person. You can control your ingredients and have as much variety as you want. It opens up doors to healthy food from other cultures too, as I learned through my cooking classes.

Alkaline Water and Handy Snacks

Drinking lots of water is important for keeping yourself healthy. Often the hunger or craving can be quenched with water. It’s really important to be able to tell the difference between thirst and hunger. Water is integral to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I suggest starting your day with a glass of warm water with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

In pursuit to be at your healthiest, check your body’s alkaline level. I tested my alkaline/acidity level with the orange pH testing paper on my tongue. I was pretty balanced, at around 6.8. I was told it would be even better if I was at 7.4, meaning slightly more alkaline. Below 5.5 is really bad and many long-term ill people are below that mark. Eating a lot of fast-food or “yellow food” and coffee is sure to get you in the acidic side pronto.

Sometimes my body is craving an alkaline meal, especially after a stressful season of hard work and fast food. First remedy for me is an alkaline break consisting of Acai Protein with Powerzone herbal add-on smoothie at Jugo Juice. I would have some Noni Juice or E3Live! and voila! What a difference! I have a nice light and clear feeling after that.

Just fyi, most bottled water is highly acidic and you don’t want that acidity in your body. Tap water is neutral (because city’s priority is to minimize maintenance on the underground pipes, so they stay clear of acidity), however, I suggest getting a high quality filter that will get rid of the bad things in your drinking water and keep your body’s pipes protected.

Another option is to filter your water with an alkaline water machine. These usually run in hundreds to thousands of dollars, but the water is so pure, clean, soft, tasty, thirst-quenching and healing – it’s amazing.

It is important to drink water because dehydration makes you tired. Dehydration can also cause dizziness, constipation, hair loss, headaches, and numerous other conditions. You should be hydrating yourself every hour to prevent this.

However, drinking too much water isn’t good for you either, because you dilute electrolytes, which temporarily decreases your mental clarity. You should drink a glass of water once every hour. When you’re feeling sluggish (eg. after a power workout) you can add a pinch of sea salt to every gallon of filtered water you drink to restore the electrolytes the easy way.

Besides the act of drinking water, snacking can also be difficult to get under control, especially when you’re trying to be healthy or lose weight. I find that bars that are low in sugar and fat are excellent snacks to have on hand. My favourite bars are Taste of Nature bars, which are Gluten-free, organic, and contain nuts, seeds, fruit and crispy brown rice.

Some seemingly healthy snacks aren’t really what they seem. Baby carrots, for example, which are cut from larger deformed carrots, are not the most healthy to eat. When the carrots are cut, they are then dipped into a solution of water and chlorine. The water and chlorine help to preserve them, because they no longer have their skin or their natural protective covering. Chlorine is a carcinogen, so it’s not a good idea to be eating it.

Black beans, on the other hand, are extremely good for you. Preferably fresh, but canned beans are ok too, since beans are loaded with antioxidants. They also keep you full for a long time, while help you stay regular.

Nuts, in particular walnuts, are rich sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid. A mixture of walnuts served with dried fruit pieces is known in some regions as student food (orig. German: Studentenfutter) and is popularly recommended as a snack for students and other mental workers.

Oily fish, such as salmon or fresh tuna (not tuna canned in oil) are also good. There are numerous solutions for improving your memory, and it’s useful to consider all of these options.

Coffee and Alcohol

Coffee and alcohol are somewhat okay to drink, but only certain ones and only in moderation. They aren’t the best products to maintain your best health though.

While trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I reduced my coffee intake a lot. I went to having only 1-teaspoon coffee in the morning. Sometimes I had an optional 1-teaspoon coffee in the afternoon as well. Generally, though, it’s best to try to stick to 1 light coffee per day maximum.

While coffee isn’t good to drink in excess, and you shouldn’t have have more than 5 coffees per week maximum, it’s a good metabolism boost in the morning, especially 15-30 minutes before an extraneous workout.

One coffee once in a while is great, but having caffeine too often puts your body into a state of stress and your mind becomes increasingly foggy. It becomes more difficult to focus and make clear long-term decisions. After about a week or two on caffeine, your body adapts to it and soon you have to drink coffee just to feel normal. This isn’t your optimal best performing state.

I know it’s really difficult to reduce your coffee intake suddenly, and I definitely felt it. I felt sleepy sometimes, but I didn’t want to ruin my health by drinking too much coffee. I knew I had to think of some other solutions.

I found that a good way to fill the void of coffee was by gradually switching to high quality herbal teas like Green, Chai or Earl Grey tea, interleaved with decaf coffee once in a while.

I found a further great coffee void-filler to be Arthurs Goji juice, which I bought at Dominions supermarket. Later I discovered Tahitian Noni® Juice and FIT Reset cleansing drink to be VERY effective and  ultra healthy alternatives.

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Sleepy biorhythm kicked in, so I took a quick nap, followed by breathing and meditation, instead of coffee. Felt so good and reenergized. I could feel the power back in my veins. Listening to your body and giving it what it wants is the key! This includes a break, good food, green tea and frequent glasses of water.

As far as alcohol is concerned, I completely eliminated beer and liquor. The only alcohol that has some anti-oxidant benefits is a vintage red wine (based on grapes mentioned above), which I have no more than 3-4 glasses per week.

Sugar High, Sugar Low

When experiencing Sugar Low after unintentionally overdosing on sugar (Sugar High), I found the following helps me to recover the quickest:

• avoid more sugar – NO white sugar and maximum of 2-3 servings of fruit per day (including in smoothies)
• have a quick nap, freshly squeezed veggie juice (MaxVeg), peanuts/peanut butter or almonds/almond butter
• do an intensive cardio exercise, go to a steam room, and drink a lot of water
• have an espresso after a couple of hours to reboot

During my strict regimen, I made the mistake of having too much “secret” sugar over the course of a day. One morning for breakfast, I ate cereal and a “regular” nutribar which had a lot of sugar. I felt ill after eating them and felt hungry all day. My teeth were sensitive to the sugar too for a few days, which never happened before. It was a great wake up call and from then on I was paying more attention to the hidden sugar in my food.

Related Resources

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – not hydrogenated oil, not bleached!

About Coconut Oil – coconut and olive oil – good for metabolism and weight loss

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Nutrition and Cooking: Become a Healthier Person is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Self-Motivation Mindset

When it comes down to exercise motivation and discipline, it’s all about the mindset. One best way that worked for me was to make Health my #1 Priority – everything else came second!

A workout session clears your mind, shifts your energy, changes your outlook on life to positive, puts you in a better mood, improves focus, and makes your body feel better.

After a few workouts you will notice that you feel much better and you’re more productive after – every time! And it doesn’t depend on whether the workout was intensive or not, although you should strive for one most of the times.

Use this fact to your advantage. Whenever you just don’t feel like going to the gym (feeling mellow or tired), or you have a lot of work to do, or the gym closes in 40 minutes and you think there is no point, or you’re hungry – address the problem directly (jump up and down, have an apple or granola bar, have some coffee, take an mp3 player with you) and say to yourself:

I feel better EVERY TIME after the gym! That’s EVERY TIME including today!

I know I will feel better after I go, so this is it: I am going to the gym!

Once you’re at the gym, here are some of my tricks to get going:

• Step into a steam room or sauna for a couple of minutes (in workout clothes)
• Breathe deep, first slow then fast, stretch your neck, touch your toes, stretch your legs
• Just start! Get on the elliptical or a bike and start cranking for 5 minutes
• Put some music on: hard rock, heavy techno, deep house, whatever gives you a boost
• Once your heart-rate is up (130+) you will feel better; increase speed and resistance
• After 15-25 minutes do some machines or weights, few push-ups, crunches and planks
• BEST SOLUTION: Find a vigorous fitness class that you truly enjoy, eg. kick-boxing, zumba

Motivation is a powerful tool to push you in the right direction. When you find a support system that works for you, remember what is is and use it as much as possible. When is stops working, find another, then another, then perhaps come back to the first one.

Do whatever you have to do and become the master of your body, your mind, and yourself.

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.
– Zig Ziglar

I faced a lot of challenges, both internal and external while trying to achieve my fitness goals. For instance, friends would invite me out or delicious food would drive me nuts. Bottom line, I had to do whatever it took to achieve and then maintain my goals.

Check out this most inspiring video you will ever watch!

Make a commitment

Get an inspiring mental picture and bring it up whenever you feel tired or lazy. Even better, I photoshopped a picture of some random guy with a fit body I found on the Net and put my head on top. I printed it out and showed it to my trainer for an extra “no mercy” push. I looked at the picture from time to time for my own mind power boost.

Another great boost is having a drill sergeant pushing you or even yelling at you. It may sound annoying, but it works! If you don’t have access to one (you’re not in the army or a bootcamp class), watch a Navy Seals or Marines training on youtube and “install” a drill sergeant in your own head. Play back the empowering yelling to yourself in your head when working out.

This self-motivation mindset works for me like a charm when pushing myself to 110%:

Come on, 2 more reps, 2 more steps, 20 more seconds, you got this, finish it!

Personal training can get expensive especially if you want to keep it for maintenance purposes after achieving your goals. I tried bootcamp sessions at DCC, TKMT, and MECCA for a few months. They’re not the same as personal training, but they work as an awesome alternative. One thing for sure – exercise motivation is plenty!

Here are some of the benefits that I found in joining a bootcamp:

1. It was in the morning so it was a good way to start my day
2. A very intense workout… you really feel it!
3. Location was convenient…so I had no excuse to skip
4. The class size was smaller (7 – 15 people)
5. An option to work outdoors in the Summer

Maintain your Diet

When you are hungry, you are simply short on nutrients. It’s not HOW MUCH you eat, but HOW WELL. It’s about quality, not quantity! You have to focus on maximizing nutritious food – fresh and organic as much as possible.

Diet was always much harder for me than exercises. I bought a recipe book on quick healthy meal options – it was a great investment.

At this stage, try to focus more on controlling and managing your diet more than on the exercising. You need to develop a new lifestyle now. It’s time for action.

The Get Fit Body Now website offers just the right diet support that I wish I had access to:

GLOBAL PRODUCT LAUNCH – TOTAL BODY COMPOSITION – Jan 8, 2011

In the US, 70% of Americans are overweight or obese — more than 200 million people. Obesity among children has tripled in the last 30 years. Globally, 23% of adults are overweight, almost a billion people, and that number is expected to double by 2030 to nearly half of all adults.

FIT is NOT a weight loss system. It’s about achieving the ideal ratio of lean muscle to body fat. It’s about how you look and how you feel. Fit is about achieving your ideal body composition and feeling good everyday!

Click ↑ to Enlarge

TNI has developed a program that helps build lean muscle, the most efficient fat-burning tissue. FIT is designed to optimize nutrient absorption, build lean muscle, flush fat, satisfy hunger and ensure proper nutrition.

Enjoy downloadable strength and aerobic exercise plans, healthy food guides and meal recipes, plus calorie-specific menus – all at no cost and no sign up required!

Take Action: Get FIT Body Now!

Real People Real Results: FIT Intro Video

Get Fit and Win Big Prizes: FIT Challenge

Achieve Optimal Body Composition: FIT Products

More quick tips:

1. Plan your weekly meals in advance. Knowing what you will eat for breakfast makes it a reality. You will reach for the right things in your kitchen and there is less chance for you to drift from your diet.
2. Control is important when you are eating out with friends.
3. Start eating several small meals through out the day. It will be difficult and you will get hungry more frequently, but try to manage it by eating things that fill you up. For example, for breakfast try a slice of multigrain bread, less than a tablespoon of peanut butter and a small banana.

As I went along, I also learned that health food was actually turning out to be healthier for my wallet too! I would sauté some vegetables such as broccoli, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, use veggie pasta sauce and add it all in a whole wheat pita with a bit of low-fat cheese. It’s filling and tasty!

Also add a lot of fibre to your diet and opt for veggie options when eating out. Lots of cool water as a snack and avoiding bad fats and simple carbs (white bread, sugar, etc.) will show you some excellent results!

It is also a good idea to get your blood checked for HCL and LDL to establish your weight loss goals. Doing things in steps will keep you moving towards your objective and you will feel less discouraged if you set reasonable short term targets.

Find continued support

Working out with a friend can be very empowering. Make a pact with him or her to be firm with each other. As an example consider the following of how you can both keep each other motivated and focused:

The Terms:

1. Total strikes allowed: 3
2. Must attend Gym five times per week, one hour per visit
3. If location is convenient… no excuse skip
4. Skip gym and you get a strike
5. Three strikes: paid cover to a hot night club, cooking a meal, etc.

You should also learn to say NO to anything that takes you away from your commitment to yourself. We go through life making promises to other people in our life, but the hardest promises to keep are those we make to ourselves. Do this for yourself!

Access the bad habits that hinder your fitness goals and follow my rule of fixing it: “Attack it from 3 fronts and find a Replacement.” To eliminate my habit of “eating out,” here is how I applied the Attack and Replace rule:

1. Environment: Avoid friends or places that promote bad habit; seek those that encourage and help you. Don’t keep unhealthy snacks in your house nor allow anyone to bring any.
2. Mind: Change your mindset – remind yourself why this is not a healthy food choice for you and you should choose better.
3. Result: Make the unhealthy food taste awful (burn it, add some unpleasant herb, etc), then find ways to make healthy food more delicious (good herbs, lemon juice, vegetable mushroom pasta, etc.).

Find a replacement, eg. a tastier healthy alternative (eg. organic salad bar, rich veggie or chicken noodle soups, plain yogurt with raspberries and blueberries, etc.)

We all have good days and bad days. Believe it or not but even those tough and buffed personal trainers have off days! The trick is to pace yourself on your slower days so it does not go as a total waste. Here are some tricks that I use:

1. Pace yourself or Push yourself, depending upon your energy level that day
2. On days you are upset, use the anger to fuel your best cardio workout!!
3. Find a workout buddy
4. Eat good nutritious food for breakfast
5. Have a protein shake after your workout. Also have a freshly squeezed veggie juice.
6. Take multi-vitamins with breakfast and dinner (eg. Sport Multi-vitamin for Men/Women)
7. The steam room for 2 minutes with your work out clothes on. This will heat you up, increase blood flow, soften the muscles, and wake you up!

If there is one thing you can get out of this article is that the key to staying on track is knowing how to channel your energy in the right direction.

If you are feeling less then 100% today, don’t skip the gym, just do an easier workout. Always focus your mind and all your power on the muscles involved, breathe properly and allow yourself 30-120 second breaks between sets.

I guarantee that you will feel much better at the end of the workout than you did at the beginning of your hour! If you completely don’t feel up for a workout, just do it anyway. Like I said, after every workout I always feel better. EVERY TIME!

Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.
- T. Alan Armstrong

Your workout should not be limited to just going to the gym. Try getting exercises done at home like doing push-ups or sit-ups after waking up and before going to sleep. Walk and take stairs anytime you can.

At the gym, change your exercises often to keep the workouts interesting and keep the body guessing. Think about it as switching the TV channels vs. watching the same channel everyday for weeks – it makes sense.

Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to download free fitness & workout eBooks. Also check: Personal Health, Weight Loss Success, and Fitness Workouts.

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Exercise Motivation and Mindset is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

I started my fitness transformation by using a promotional offer at the Extreme Fitness gym. I signed up for a 60-day no obligation trial membership and with excitement, started a daily regimen.

Pursuit of Performance

It took me four months of working out and committing myself to a strict plan to get the body I always wanted. I combined working out and eating a balanced diet to reach my goals and have never felt better!

The healthy and nutritious diet for my new body is like putting Premium gas into a Ferrari Enzo – maximum performance and a priceless feeling!

After about a year, I decided to educate myself further and completed a Can-Fit-Pro Personal Training Specialist course. Everything that follows has been experienced personally and it is backed by the up-to-date fitness industry education.

The Beginning

With my new Health as my #1 Priority mindset, I went for a workout regularly and started seeing a difference within 2 weeks. That means that when having to choose between health and anything else (party with friends, optional business trip, procrastination), health would win. When you make your health #1 priority, everything else becomes irrelevant.

After my 60-day trial, I continued to work out on my own, progressing with weight and intensity, but I realized I needed that extra push and/or a better technique. I did some research by inquiring about personal training at different locations – it’s the same rate at every location, but the knowledge is power. I signed up with a personal trainer for 22 sessions with monthly payments for 18 months and no-interest.

GLOBAL PRODUCT LAUNCH – TOTAL BODY COMPOSITION – Jan 8, 2011

In the US, 70% of Americans are overweight or obese — more than 200 million people. Obesity among children has tripled in the last 30 years. Globally, 23% of adults are overweight, almost a billion people, and that number is expected to double by 2030 to nearly half of all adults.

FIT is NOT a weight loss system. It’s about achieving the ideal ratio of lean muscle to body fat. It’s about how you look and how you feel. Fit is about achieving your ideal body composition and feeling good everyday!

Click ↑ to Enlarge

TNI has developed a program that helps build lean muscle, the most efficient fat-burning tissue. FIT is designed to optimize nutrient absorption, build lean muscle, flush fat, satisfy hunger and ensure proper nutrition.

Enjoy downloadable strength and aerobic exercise plans, healthy food guides and meal recipes, plus calorie-specific menus – all at no cost and no sign up required!

Take Action: Get FIT Body Now!

Real People Real Results: FIT Intro Video

Get Fit and Win Big Prizes: FIT Challenge

Achieve Optimal Body Composition: FIT Products

Choosing a Personal Trainer

Personal training is a big financial investment, so before you start, make sure you find the right qualified trainer. Hire someone who is experienced, punctual, friendly, motivates you throughout the entire process (very important!), and gives you clear and honest answers to your questions.

I connected with my trainer right away. This is really important so make sure to find someone you get along with. If your trainer isn’t the right fit for you, simply ask for another trainer.

The discipline goes two ways. In return for your trainer’s competence, you should be a great client by pushing yourself without whining, being punctual, friendly, and above all – showing up at the gym even when you don’t feel like it… or even when it’s raining!

I didn’t skip the gym even when my trainer called in sick. I showed up on time at 9:00am and had a great workout session on my own. After you pass “the hump” you will feel so good, this will make sense to you. You’ll see!

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Got up at 7:30, left at 8:05 and ate one regular nutribar with bottle of water, and made it to Extreme Fitness by 8:45 for 9am for my 1st workout with the Trainer. A hardass dude at first glance, but after reading my Goals, Attitude, and Expectations (including humour), he lit up and said: oh Thank You! I am sick of whiners, I want to train athletes, but not be so serious during sessions. So a win-win workout was good: 110% – it felt good. And I didn’t even have coffee this morning! En route to office I had veggie juice (carrot, beet, apple, parsley, broccoli). At the office at 10:45 had 1.5 scoop of protein with milk. At that time I wasn’t hungry, but at 11:30 hunger started and energy went down. So must eat at 11.

I was chubby all my life and my diet was horrible, but it took me two months on my own and another two months with a personal trainer to reach my goals. Believe me, if I could do this massive shift, you can do it too! Movie stars do it all the time! It’s possible!

To reach my fitness goals, I began by working out five times a week: three times with a personal trainer and two times on my own.

Ask your trainer to design a simple plan for you for the “on your own” times. Just remember to be patient and persistent! Keep your workouts simple but focus on the correct technique to make them as effective as possible.

Working with a Personal Trainer

There are 4 major workout phases that can last a few months to a year. After you complete the 4 phases, you can repeat the whole process and progress to an even higher level of fitness. My first round of the 4 phases with the trainer was as follows:

Phase 1 is the hardest one to survive. Your body and mind resist change with all their might. Add to that the new diet and it comes down to strength of your character.

Phase 2 is a bit different. You already see the results and have the motivation from watching your body change and your muscles grow.

Phase 3 is just like Phase 1 all over again with Phase 2 interweaved, but since you’ve already developed a habit and feel strong, it’s a lot easier.

Phase 4 is finally about the relief. My trainer showed me what to do and I took it from there.

There is a big difference in working out by your self, and working out with a trainer. A trainer will make sure you feel the right muscle in your body and push you to your 110%.

My recovery time after a really hard workout was exactly 48 hours, but I felt great! Consuming High quality Whey Protein after such a workout was very helpful in this process. Consider scheduling morning workouts if your schedule permits for 300% better overall workout effectiveness (your metabolism keeps working all day).

Don’t forget to take 5-10 minutes to stretch after every workout – very important! Otherwise you will be hurting plenty the next day. Also attend yoga class 1-2 times per week for flexibility and relaxation. Consider deep tissue massage like Shiatsu after few days of intensive workouts..

Your workout should not be limited to just going to the gym. Try getting exercises done at home like doing push-ups or sit-ups after waking up and before going to sleep. At the gym, change your exercises often to keep the workouts interesting and keep the body guessing. Think about it as switching the TV channels vs. watching the same channel everyday for weeks – it makes sense.

Get a book on working out or start with my fitness eBooks (sign up for my newsletter to download them all). If you are serious about body building, consider Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: Fully Updated and Revised.

Maximum Strength Workouts (Phase 2)

In phase 2 for your muscle to go into a growth mode, you need to push the weight you are not used to even just a few seconds. So let’s say you are comfortable doing some exercise at 40 lbs, make sure you increase the weight 5-10 lbs for every set and hold the last 2-3 reps for a few seconds until muscle failure. The difference is astonishing (make sure you stay safe – have a spotter for the last heavy reps!).

In Phase 2, I was using Powerbar Carb Gel just before the workout and did feel the boost in a way that the limit line wasn’t as clear. This made me realize that I can push more weight than I “think” I can push. So when you workout by yourself, always try a bit more weight than you think you can handle – you can always go down a notch. But DO stay safe and have a spotter!

Before each set, take a couple of very deep breaths. Then as you are pushing the weight, direct your conscious thought to the muscles doing the work. It helps to know the exact technique and which muscles should be doing the work. I noticed that when I focused on the muscles doing the work and breathed slowly, I got the most power in the movement.

Challenge yourself – the ultimate WIN is when you beat your own self! Keep saying to yourself “I can do this, just a bit more, 4 more feet, 2 more reps.” Swear if you have to! Mythbusters proved that swearing or growling gives you more power, so don’t be afraid to make noises. But please, remember to be respectful towards other members.

You should schedule a 20-30 minute nap time about 1-2 hours after a power workout – your body will need it and will definitively let you know about it. These will be some of the best naps of your life.

Elements and Benefits of a Workout Session

There are 4 elements to a workout session: Warm-up, Cardio, Resistance and Cool down. When done right, you will feel very good after a workout, avoid muscle pains, and clearly notice more strength during the next session.

All the 4 elements of the single workout are really important. Make absolutely sure you never skip a warm up or cool down. Consider the benefits below:

Warm up Benefits:

1. Increased muscle temperature (reduces chance of injury to joints or muscles)
2. Increased neural transmission (better contractive speed, strength and coordination)
3. Allows the body time to adjust blood flow
4. Prevents early onset of fatigue (body has the time to deliver oxygen to working muscles)
5. Allows gradual increase in oxygen requirements (reduces stress on cardiovascular system)

Cardio Benefits:

1. Reduces resting heart rate
2. Helps normalize resting blood pressure
3. Makes day-to-day activities easier
4. Reduces risk of heart disease (lowers cholesterol)
5. Increases blood delivery (circulation) due to stronger heart muscle
6. Increases ability of muscles to produce Energy aerobically (endurance)

Resistance Benefits:

1. Speeds up metabolism due to increase in muscle mass (helps you lose weight)
2. Better muscle strength, bone strength, ligament and tendon strength
3. Maintain a toned and physically strong physique (basically you look good!)
4. Better core strength and posture (increase look & feel confidence)
5. Helps prevent Osteoporosis
6. Increased cardiovascular strength
7. By being stronger, it makes day-to-day activities easier

Flexibility and Cool Down Benefits:

1. Reduces stress and tension in muscles due to exercise
2. Assists with better posture due to better balanced muscle tone
3. Reduces risk of injury during exercise and day-to-day as muscles are more flexible
4. Improves performance and range of motion in exercise and sports

One huge benefit of working out is the improvement of the core strength. When riding a city bus and the driver suddenly slams on the brakes or when you slip on an icy sidewalk, the ability to maintain your balance is priceless (plus it looks cool). Overall life gets a lot easier when you have a strong control of your body in such unexpected situations.

Nutrition

Exercise and diet go hand in hand. Your results will be guaranteed only if you combine the right foods and nutrients with your workout routine. I know this requires discipline and patience, but you will love yourself for it. Consult the information and tips listed in my Weight Loss Success article to nicely drive this journey home.

Choose a high quality protein such as Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Protein. Not only did I experience my muscle recovery and growth to be super fast, but it also tastes and mixes great. At first I was mixing it with milk, but then I got used to mixing it with water (for me, Vanilla tastes better when using water).

I bring my own cup and 1-2 portions of the protein in a zip lock bag. I consume the mix within 10-20 minutes after finishing the strength workout. Do alternate the brand of protein now and then and every few months so that the body doesn’t get used to it. My recovery was at most exactly 48 hours after super hard work out, and I could feel the protein working its magic on my muscles.

Avoid smoking and alcohol and introduce a high protein and low carbohydrates diet. Do not rely on artificial drugs or chemicals to enhance your body. Use natural and only the best supplements to fuel your body. With a solid commitment and great nutrition, your success is guaranteed!

Let me reiterate the key point again: having a fit and healthy body is priceless! If you take the step today and make a commitment to yourself, I guarantee that you will see results. Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter at the top of this page to get my free fitness eBooks including the 122 Life Enriching Reasons to Exercise. Something will speak to you in there!

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Went to the gym, did wide-grip pull-ups with assist (50, 40, 45), tricep dips (no assist), shoulders and biceps. Then had a protein with water and MaxVeg juice. Within half an hour I felt this awesome healthy feeling. I am over the exercise hump. The Green Food hump is next. En route to the grocery get a spinach salad. It’s all about making the BIG decision for yourself.

So believe you can do it, believe in yourself, and just do it!!!

Resources

Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to download free fitness & workout eBooks. Also check: Personal Health, Weight Loss Success, and Exercise Motivation.

Shin Ohtake has a great free eBook and newsletter on fat loss, metabolism, and fitness. His world-famous fitness program has transformed and reshaped the bodies of thousands of people in over 100 countries.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: Fully Updated and Revised was a highly recommended read by my Personal Trainer.

Other great fitness websites:

Body Building Website and Body Building Forum

Sports Fitness Advisor and Holistic Health Guide

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Fitness Workout that Works is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Now go do something useful!

Focus on ONE project with the most promise and drive it ’til completion for fastest results.

For different results than you are getting right now, do something radically different in the New Year.

Set a POWER INTENTION to spark up your PASSION, then make a step-by-step plan to spark up the DISCIPLINE and FOCUS.

Hint: Keep it simple, enthusiastic, aesthetic, truthful, honest, passionate, and above all .. be fully present while giving the best of yourself and your message, product or service.

Use MPS: Mindset-Platform-Strategy

Mindset: DAILY positive messages, inspirational videos, personal development books
Platform: Pick a hot vehicle: internet, network marketing, business, real estate
Strategy: Make a step-by-step plan by modeling already successful people

Side Note: of course do remember the wholistic balance in life: wealth, health, relationships, love, personal growth and spirituality.

So whatever it is you wish to achieve in this year, here is what you do right now, that’s NOW .. yes, DO IT NOW! RIGHT NOW!!!

Ingredient’s list first: (on paper, in writing, post it around the house)

• power intention
• dream-big goals
• step-by-step goals
• cooking time and deadlines
• daily inspirational support systems
• successful role models

Then bake it all together with FOCUS, DISCIPLINE, and PASSION.

This is Your year.
Make it happen.

Kamil

Here are a few links to get you going:

Health Improvement
Weight Loss Success
Business Training
Business Ideas
Change the World

Start from Scratch:

Why Should I Change and Where Do I Start? (the Big Why)
Preparation Work and The Next Step (to help you with the list)

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Start Here INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Achieve Success in the New Year is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Self Improvement from SelfGrowth.com

SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self-Improvement, Personal Growth and Self Help on the Internet. It is designed to be an organized directory, with articles and references to thousands of other Web Sites on the World Wide Web.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Self Improvement Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

The Green Living Expert

Great site with plenty of ideas on how to Go Green. Read about Clean Air, Green Cleaning, Food and Water, Personal Products, Green Cars and Energy, and more.

Globally Well – Green and Eco-friendly Products

Complete store with a wide variety of high quality Green Ecologic products that fit your lifestyle: 5-stars laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaners, and much more.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Green Living Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

PayPal Business Merchant Account and The Square

Take Credit Cards or receive other forms of payment with PayPal Business Account. It’s the most commonly used Payment Gateway on the Internet. It features quick setup, no start-up or monthly fees, no cancellation fees, no minimum payments, lower transaction fees (1.9% – 2.9%) and lower fraud loss rates than other merchant accounts. Or take Credit Cards on the spot with The Square Credit Card Processor and your iPhone, iPad or Android.

Bomba Templates – Best Website and WordPress Templates or Top WP Themes Free

Bomba Templates contains ready-to-use professional website templates created for fast and high-quality website development. All packages contain source code, images, fonts, and other files necessary to completely customize the template to suit your specific needs. The templates are of the absolutely highest quality designed specifically for the power wow-factor and easy maintenance. Browse Website Templates, Flash Templates, osCommerce Templates, WordPress Themes, and many more.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People CD Set or DVD or Book by Stephen Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People continues to be a business bestseller with more than 10 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness. Before you can adopt the seven habits, you’ll need to accomplish what Covey calls a “paradigm shift” — a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your “proactive muscles,” and much more –Joan Price

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey says that the new Information/Knowledge Worker Age, exemplified by the Internet, calls for an eighth habit to achieve personal and organizational excellence: “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs” –Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Stephen demonstrates in words and a series of 16 brief DVD clips (included), and selects samples from past and present, exactly how to find your own voice and, for leaders, how to support the discovery of the organization’s voice –American Library Association.

The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons by Napoleon Hill

The Law of Success was a precursor to Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. Hill was well known for researching what made millionaires different from the common man. The sixteen lessons in this book perfectly crystallize everything you will need to know to succeed during these hard economic times. Once you’ve read this book, you will understand what gives certain people an edge over everyone else. By following the advice laid out clearly herein, you’ll be the one with an edge.

The Magic of Thinking Big

Millions of people throughout the world have improved their lives using The Magic of Thinking Big. Dr. David J. Schwartz, long regarded as one of the foremost experts on motivation, will help you sell better, manage better, earn more money, and — most important of all — find greater happiness and peace of mind. Dr. Schwartz presents a carefully designed program for getting the most out of your job, your marriage and family life, and your community. He proves that you don’t need to be an intellectual or have innate talent to attain great success and satisfaction — but you do need to learn and understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will get you there. This book gives you those secrets!

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to “the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people.” He emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated –Joan Price

The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard

For more than twenty years, millions of managers in Fortune 500 companies and small businesses nationwide have followed The One Minute Manager’s techniques, thus increasing their productivity, job satisfaction, and personal prosperity. These very real results were achieved through learning the management techniques that spell profitability for the organization and its employees. The One Minute Manager is a concise, easily read story that reveals three very practical secrets: One Minute Goals, One Minute Praisings, and One Minute Reprimands. By the book’s end, you will know how to apply them to your own situation and enjoy the benefits.

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher

We’re constantly negotiating in our lives, whether it’s convincing the kids to do their homework or settling million-dollar lawsuits. For those who need help winning these battles, Roger Fisher has developed a simple and straightforward five-step system for how to behave in negotiations –Sharon Griggins. “This is by far the best thing I’ve ever read about negotiation. It is equally relevant for the individual who would like to keep his friends, property, and income and the statesman who would like to keep the peace.” — John Kenneth Galbraith

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Anyone stuck in the rat-race of living paycheck to paycheck, enslaved by the house mortgage and bills, will appreciate this breath of fresh air. Learn about the methods that have created more than a few millionaires. This is the first abridged miniature edition of Rich Dad Poor Dad. The full-length edition has sold millions as a New York Times bestseller. As proven by the runaway success of The Secret and like titles, changing one’s thinking to influence one’s fortune sells big, and forms the basis of rich dad’s advice. Learn to think like a rich dad and let your money work for you!

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Business and Money Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Reverlri – Energetic Healing at your Doorstep

Explicitly ask for energetic help, healing or prayer on a new website called Reverlri. It recently opened just for that purpose and I highly recommend that you post your request there just like my friends posted such request when I had my accident.

The Laws of Spirit by Dan Millman

Millman’s parable of a wise woman and laws of spirit which help to make life work smoothly, contains gentle reflection and spiritual education for all who consult his title. The laws of spirit are at the basis of all religious traditions: Millman’s outline documents their importance. — Midwest Book Review

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

According to Tolle, humans are on the verge of creating a new world by a personal transformation that shifts our attention away from our ever-expanding egos. This idea is well realized through Tolle’s remarkably well-paced narration. Naturally, the author understands his material so thoroughly that he is able to convey it in an enjoyable manner, but Tolle’s gentle tone and dialect begs his audience’s attention simply through its straightforward approach.

Introducing Abraham – The Secret Behind “The Secret” by Esther and Jerry Hicks (DVD)

On this inspirational DVD program, Esther and Jerry Hicks present the teachings of the Non-Physical entity Abraham, whom Esther calls infinite intelligence and Jerry refers to as the purest form of love I have ever encountered. The Law of Attraction is never more evident than in the pulse of an Abraham-Hicks Art of Allowing Workshop. And this is one of the years best, The Secret Behind The Secret…so sit back, relax, allow, and attract! Abraham defies explanation. Defies reason. Defies logic. Defies what many call common sense. Once you have heard it, your life will never be the same again.

Crystalinks – Metaphysics and Science

Comprehensive and informative website on metaphysical and spiritual concepts. Read about Ancient and Lost Civilizations, Astronomy and Mythology, Conspiracies, Creation, Crystals, UFO’s, Healing and Energy, Prophets and Prophecies, Psychic and Spiritual Development, Sacred Places and Teachings.

Meditation Techniques Guide

Meditation Techniques Guide offers in-depth knowledge of Meditation and a large collection of meditation techniques that help to reduce stress, achieve mental peace and tranquility, and a total self-transformation.

Reiki New Moon Meditation

Combination of new moon meditation and Reiki for personal growth and world service. Read about components of the Reiki new moon meditation, moon energies, and the 8-step howto.

Current Moon Phases

Clearly presented dates and times of the Last and Next Full Moon and New Moon. Includes a nice image of the moon within the current phase.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Spirituality Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Effective Mind Control

Your mind senses patterns. Explore that logic and use it to control your hidden emotions and drives. Get rid of dread, despair and boredom!

Stress Relief Workshop

A web site to help you discover how stress could be affecting your life and how to manage it, using techniques and coping strategies on a daily basis, to improve health and lifestyle.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Mind Health Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Clays Relationship Advice

Complete relationship advice for all types of relationships. From romantic dating to marriage, horoscopes, astrology and divorce, you will find your answers here. There’s lots of fun stuff like relationship tests and quizzes and much more.

The Game and The Rules of the Game

Are you just another AFC (“average frustrated chump”) trying to meet a HB (“hot babe”)? How would you like to “full-close” with a Penthouse Pet of the Year? The answers, my friend, are in Neil Strauss’s entertaining book, The Game. However, after two years, Strauss comes to an important realization. His techniques were actually off-putting to the woman he ended up falling in love with. And they never prepared him for actually having a relationship. After a while, he ran out of one-liners and had to have a real conversation. Still, The Game is a great read that may help some AFCs come out of their shells. –Alex Roslin

Neal Strauss’ StyleLife Academy

Dating tips from Neil Strauss. Learn how to succeed with women directly from the author of THE GAME and world’s #1 voted Pick up Artist.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Relationships Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Get Fit Body Now – It’s Easier Than You Think

Getting Fit is easier than you think. It’s all about your ideal Body Composition System and it starts with Proper Nutrition and Exercise. If you’re just Starting Out, want to go to The Next Level, or if you’re too Busy to even Start, this site is for you.

High-Intensity MAX Workouts

“These High-Intensity Interval Workouts, Circuit Workouts and Strength Workouts Get You Lean & Ripped So Fast, Your Friends Will Beg You to Tell Them Your Secret…” By Shin Ohtake – Strength Coach, Fitness & Fat Loss Expert.

The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Highly recommended by my Personal Trainer as well as myself, a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as “the bible of bodybuilding.” Inside, Arnold covers the very latest advances in both weight training and bodybuilding competition, with new sections on diet and nutrition, sports psychology, the treatment and prevention of injuries, and methods of training, each illustrated with detailed photos of some of bodybuilding’s newest stars. Arnold shows you how to take control of your body and realize your own potential for greatness.

Sports Fitness Advisor for Athletes

Comprehensive site with scientifically backed fitness advice for a large variety of sports. Find out how to become the best athlete you can be or simply lose a few stubborn pounds and feel great about your body.

Quick Weight Loss Principles

Discover all the quick weight loss principles you need to get the body of your dreams fast! This site has been designed to provide you with a range of healthy, easy-to-use weight loss tips to help you safely achieve fast weight loss!

Fitness for Fifty Plus

Fitness for seniors is as important if not more important than for other age groups. If you’re an older adult (fifty years and up), you can turn back the clock on your health and fitness level. You have the potential to make your life easier and more fun.

Organic Meals Delivered

Imagine not having to worry about cooking and spending hours trying to cook healthy meals for yourself or family when you can have fresh organic meals delivered to your front door.

Weight Loss Diet Chart

Weight loss diet chart for men and women to help you stay focused on what needs to be eaten throughout the day. Also a collection of Healthy and Balanced Diet Plans.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Fitness Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Reverlri – Energetic Healing at your Doorstep

Explicitly ask for energetic help, healing or prayer on a new website called Reverlri. It recently opened just for that purpose and I highly recommend that you post your request there just like my friends posted such request when I had my accident.

Spring Clean Cleanse and Detox

My friend Cindy Papp, a power expert on complete body cleanse and detox, has a thorough Spring Clean Cleanse website with plenty of information about different types of detox cleansing for different purposes.

Natural Herbal Remedy Supplements

Comprehensive site about herbal supplements and alternative remedies as cures for many minor health problems. Slow down signs of aging and reduce the likelihood of disease by taking herbal remedies.

Benefits of Exercise and much more

Regular exercise burns up fat, and controls weight, and thereby making you feel light and energetic. Get to know exercise benefits at holistichealth-guide.com

Ear Infection Treatment

For an effective ear infection treatment, you can put two drops of garlic juice in your affected ear. Warm olive oil can also be used instead of garlic juice for ear infection treatment.

Overcome Binge Eating

Learn how to solve the real issues that cause binge eating from someone who overcame this disorder. You will find tips, guidelines, and support to help you overcome binge and emotional eating.

Cholesterol HDL LDL

This cholesterol HDL LDL website discusses the importance of increasing HDL and lowering LDL cholesterol. Discover the diet strategies on how to lower LDL and raise HDL levels.

Transform Your Health

Nutritionist & Author offering Internal Cleanse Programs, Whole-Food Nutritional Vitamins & Supplements, Healthy Weight Loss Programs, Natural Skin Care, Books, Articles and a free, online Health newsletter.

Public Health Library of Resources and Other Health Education Resources

Eastern University’s Library of Public Health Resources on community health, epidemiology, healthful living, hygiene, hygienics, preventive medicine, sanitation, and others.

Dental Health For Kids

Website designed by a group of researchers and dentists who are interested in promoting good dental health in children from Kindergarten to Grade 5 classrooms.

Health Zone – Live your life fully!

Check out this health and nutrition store with brands like Nutrilite®, eSpring® and iCook®. The products are high quality and come with a solid satisfaction guarantee. After my skiing mishap, the Nutrilite vitamins and supplements played a HUGE role in my full recovery.

Globally Well – Products that Fit Your Lifestyle

Complete store with a wide variety of high quality products that fit your lifestyle. I simply can’t live without some of the stuff: 5-stars laundry detergent, long-lasting antiperspirant deodorant, and really amazing all-purpose cleaners – no other brands match the results, believe me I tried. Check out the latest in Nutrition & Wellness, Beauty, Bath & Body, and For The Home products.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Links INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Health Links and Resources is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

The Most Documented Medicine Plant

Video about The Better Way to Health (3 minutes)
Video about Fruits vs. Superfruits (3 minutes)
Max – Super Potent Beverage (11 minutes)

I first heard about the TAHITIAN NONI® Juice from Ms. Sheron Hoot in the Summer 2010. She told me about her near-death experience and how her life was literally saved by this miracle plant. She is a walking example of great health and lifestyle.

When I tried Noni myself, at the time I was going through a mild cold. I had 4 ounces of Noni and within minutes I could feel the “health” (circulation and alkaline nutrients) traveling all over within my body. The next day I felt much better and without the stuffy nose!

For the next few days I was sipping on the Noni bioactive beverage throughout the day (4oz of Noni dissolved in a bottle of water). A few things I noticed were: increased energy, clearer night vision, better mood, complete deep night’s sleep, and overall supercharged well-being. After a dose of all natural Noni-based NatureBorn® vitamins I felt overall balanced and healthier.

This is not a fruit plant like Acai, Goji, etc. This is a Medicinal Bioactive Plant.

It’s a non-specific, raw, wholefood nutrition with 160 nutraceuticals and 10,000+ nutrients that helps your body heal itself. Nature is smarter than we are – your body knows what to do. Just take it and watch what happens!

On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing. The Bible, Ezekiel 47:12

After about a month on Noni, I noticed a definitive improvement in the strength and smoothness of my knee joints, and an increase in body strength, endurance and core strength (power workouts or intense balancing yoga poses are EASY). I lost a few pounds of extra weight and maintained it effortlessly without much exercise (just Yoga once a week and 25 minutes of elliptical twice a week). I am getting complements on my physique nearly every day which is pretty cool.

I am able to put in long hours of highly productive mental work without the brain burnout (like in the past) or a single cup of coffee (now that’s amazing!). My thinking and reasoning is clearer, I am much happier for no reason, my occasional bad nail habit is gone, and I experienced a few other well-being and health improvements all over.

Noni provides raw, organic, natural nutrition that the body can fully utilize for maximum benefits. It is a must with today’s low-nutrient food, sprayed with toxic chemicals and filled with preservatives, sugar and fat. With complete nutrition you feel better, think clearer, have more vibrancy and energy, and you don’t get sick. Key is, it’s easy to consume in today’s busy society.

I also tried the Noni face creams and Noni shampoo. With only one gentle application, the face creams vacuumed the pores clean like never before and left my skin revitalized and fresh-looking! The shampoo made my hair shiny and unbelievably easy to manage!

With 3 months of additional research and testing, Noni had my personal approval. It was easy to consume or use, relatively cheap to buy, and the results were real. By correcting imbalances in your body, it decreases likelihood of getting sick. Bottom line: It makes your body function better!

After 6 months, my knee joint pain was gone and I was unstoppable in my Muay Thai class (endurance, strength, flexibility and recovery). I will take Noni forever. It just makes sense to me … and so many others who gave the original Tahitian Noni® an honest try.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Noni on TV

The Tahitian Noni plant has been used by French Polynesians for over 2000 years as their main Medicine Plant, as well as for the last 5000 years in Ayurvedic Medicine. It has been subject to considerable scientific study by researchers throughout the world and used by millions of people with unbelievable results.

If you are going to watch just one video at this time, “Can Only Be One” is the high level overview of the Wellness industry domination and the War of Superfoods. Not all superfoods and not all NONI brands are equal – only Tahitian Noni® is bioactive.

Tahitian Noni® dominates the Noni market (as true Noni) and it has been featured in News & Media in 2010 on Oprah, Martha Stewart, NBC, ESPN, FOX, Good Morning America and Today Show.

It is one of the best kept secrets of Athletes, Professional Fighters, Performers, Stunt men and women, Business People and Executives. It gives them endurance, most optimized human abilities, mental clarity, and plenty of energy. They absolutely swear by it.

Joe Eigo, Stunt Performer and Entrepreneur, consumes 5-6oz. of Noni Extra or Original every day, as well as Wheat Grass Juice, Raw Cacao, and Natural Spring Water. The results speak for themselves in this crazy acrobat and kickboxing skills video. Joe says: “Your health is your wealth. Your food is your medicine and medicine is your food. Super foods, medicinal plants, herbs and consciousness expanding plants.”

The Noni bioactive beverage is all natural with no preservatives or no added sugars, and it is completely organic. It tastes like a combination of grape and blueberry flavour. The true Tahitian Noni®, unlike the 300+ phony Nonies, contains Bioactive Iridoids, is time and temperature stable, and has been researched and tested with 14 independent HUMAN clinical studies,

It is helping hundreds of people with conditions such as: high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, allergies, digestion, cancer, HIV, and arthritis – just to name a few. TAHITIAN NONI® Juice helps support the immune system, increases energy when consumed consistently over time, and provides superior antioxidants.

Tip: Make sure to shake the bottle before each use to mix all the nutrients that might have settled at the bottom.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

NatureBorn® Vitamins are an organic wholefood containing 5 servings of fruit and vegetables in an organic state. They’re full of things like sprouts, cale, seaweed, broccoli, all kinds of berries and more. They help lower cholesterol, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, maintain a healthy heart, and support the immune system.

The Noni vitamins have been formulated for optimal bioavailability, which means that they are much easier for the body to process than many synthetic or cheaper alternatives. Those other vitamins are purged from the body without any derived benefit. Click the NatureBorn® Product Information button and Mouse-Over the Supplement Facts table for more information.

GLOBAL PRODUCT LAUNCH – TOTAL BODY COMPOSITION – Jan 8, 2011

In the US, 70% of Americans are overweight or obese — more than 200 million people. Obesity among children has tripled in the last 30 years. Globally, 23% of adults are overweight, almost a billion people, and that number is expected to double by 2030 to nearly half of all adults.

FIT is NOT a weight loss system. It’s about achieving the ideal ratio of lean muscle to body fat. It’s about how you look and how you feel. Fit is about achieving your ideal body composition and feeling good everyday!

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Morinda has developed a program that helps build lean muscle, the most efficient fat-burning tissue. FIT is designed to optimize nutrient absorption, build lean muscle, flush fat, satisfy hunger and ensure proper nutrition.

Enjoy downloadable strength and aerobic exercise plans, healthy food guides and meal recipes, plus calorie-specific menus – all at no cost and no sign up required!

Take Action: Get FIT Body Now!

Real People Real Results: FIT Intro Video

Get Fit and Win Big Prizes: FIT Challenge

Achieve Optimal Body Composition: FIT Products

Things to Consider

Noni is wonderful and it really works, however it doesn’t work for everyone and it’s not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. As you can see in the “Conditions Helped by Tahitian Noni®” document above, the “% Helped” success rate is between 58% and 91%. Thus the average success rate of 78% implies that almost a quarter of participants did not experience a significant improvement and a total of 30% of people decided not to continue taking Noni. Tahitian Noni offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, so aside from the temporary time and money investment (and non-refundable shipping costs), nothing is lost in an attempt to gain a lot.

Another common complaint is the slightly cheesy or medicinal taste. Despite Tahitian Noni’s extensive research and pretty successful result of hiding that taste, it cannot be discounted that after all Tahitian Noni® is made from a medicinal plant. However, for some people it just won’t go – even after diluting it with recommended Grape or Blueberry juice. I found that the glass bottled version of Noni tastes better than the one in the Aluminum bottle, so you could try going that route.

I need to make it clear that Noni is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, nutritious diet, and comprehensive exercise. Noni did help me reduce the amount of exercise and quality of food, but only for a limited time. When times got super busy at work, but I continued drinking Noni, I could skip a gym for one week without major changes in body weight or sense of well-being. At other times, when I ran out of Noni, I would feel a “heavy” bloated and not-so-happy mood within as little as 3 days.

Finally there is the cost. When starting with Noni, it is recommended to consume 4-6 oz. of Noni per day. This translates to a $200 Quadbox lasting only about a month, or in other words $6 per day. This is double the price of a nice Latte (or equal to the price of two Lattes). The good news is that the dosage of 4-6 ounces should last up to 3 months for most people, and after that, should be decreased to 2 oz. daily for the ongoing maintenance phase, ie. about $2 per day.

Keep in mind that drinking Noni helps increase energy and mental alertness, and helps deal with stress in the majority of cases in the above study, thus reducing the need for common unhealthy habits. So basically it comes down to deciding where your money is going.

More on Noni Benefits*

The secret behind Noni’s ability to improve so many varied types of health problems is its Adaptogenic property. It restores metabolic balance in your body systems by safely targeting and correcting over or under performing organ functions as needed, without affecting the systems that are working properly.

You can listen in on the LIVE testimonial teleconference call every Sunday at 8PM EST, where more real people share their incredible Noni stories. The number to dial is 1.712.338.8000 PIN 4017#.

Noni is good for you:

• Reduce Stress Levels, give a sense of Well-Being
• Increase Energy Levels, Physical Endurance and Stamina
• Increase Mental Clarity
• Improve Libido and Endurance
• Improve Quality of life and overall Health
• Enhance Immune function
• Increase Joint Mobility and Flexibility
• Maintain Existing Healthy Cholesterol Levels
• Support Normal Blood Sugar Metabolism
• Cellular Anti-oxidant protection
• Improve Performance and Athlete Endurance
• DNA health
• Safe for Pregnant Women, Children and Pets of all sizes
• Works as an Adaptagen

About Adaptogenic property in greater detail:

The theory says that the bioactive iridoids (proxeronine – the main component of Noni), travel to specific parts of cells and is able to communicate on intracellular and intercellular levels with other proxeronine components.

They then combine with other natural biochemicals and building blocks in the body (eg. hormones, proteins, enzymes, serotonin, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants), and direct them to specific parts of cells which are sick, or via blood stream to other sick cells in other parts of the body. This is JUST ONE WAY it is believed that Noni Juice helps the body heal itself.

Tahitian Noni® is routinely tested for purity by two independent laboratories. It is free from 600 known contaminants and 300 known toxins. It is safe even when consumed in large amounts, and very few cases in thousands had negative allergic reactions – likely caused by allergy to grapes or blueberries. In those cases the product should be stopped for a few days and resumed at half the amount, or discontinued completely.

The best way to evaluate Tahitian Noni is to get a Quadbox or 4-pack of Noni (Original or Extra) each month for 3 months. The company offers a 90-day 100% money-back guarantee on first time Autoship 90-day trials, so you have nothing to lose and a lot of health and energy to gain.

You can get the Wholesale Price and Save Money on Noni when you sign up for an Autoship as a Referring Customer (you can get your own products for free, or cancel hassle-free any time). Feel free to browse through all the Noni Juice Products. Try any one and please let me know how it worked for you. I need your story!

When browsing products, please make sure to select your current country of residence in the footer of the page (the “Select Market” link).

Morinda (previously Tahitian Noni) Company

The Morinda Inc. company has earned many awards and recognition across the globe for its high business integrity and standards. It has five founders and two of them are food scientists. They developed a formula and a flavouring process to get the fruit from the tree to the bottle without loosing any of its beneficial properties.

The Noni juice is documented in 14 Human Clinical Studies, each costing the company $1 Million Dollars to publish. There are at least 55 more unpublished clinical studies for the total price tag of $200 Million in research. The Noni juice is listed in the Physician Desk Reference handbook (PDR’03), volumes of Medical Journals, and it is FDA compliant. Finally, it won an award from the United Nations and has been featured in thousands of magazine and newspaper articles (source: Griffin Hill).

Tahitian Noni has been used as a traditional folk medicinal plant for over 2,000 years in French Polynesia.

In 2010 the company offered $250,000 cash to any company or anyone who can prove they have found a health product more powerful. Currently the company is in its second wave of growth and registered a 32% increase in business during the recession. Watch this Unparalleled Growth video for more financial information.

Here is more of Morinda Excellence in Numbers (yes, big time bragging!) for you: More than 100 Million 1L bottles of Tahitian Noni Original have been sold with 20 bottles sold every minute. Morinda operates in 75 countries and holds 52 global patents on products, development and processing, and finally there are fewer than 10 companies in modern history who can claim to rival Morinda’s hypergrowth (source: Griffin Hill).

Wait, there is more! Morinda Company:

• Markets an exclusive, first-of-its-kind product
• Possesses a rich history that goes back over 2,000 years
• Is backed by verifiable research attesting to its benefits
• Is the dominant brand in its category
• Is the fastest growing company starting in the last 20 years
• Is financially rock-solid
• Is led by a team of highly educated, extremely experienced, and value based professionals
• Has a seamless marketing plan that crosses borders around the world
• Gives you the opportunity to financially benefit from the future growth of that company

The company proudly stands behind its products with a 100% 90-day money-back guarantee on first time orders in Canada and USA – no hassles, no problems – just send used packaging (check specific guarantee policy in your region). Company’s reason for being is pretty simple: The company exists to make people happier.

The Morinda offers a referral-based Business Opportunity that can help you with your monthly bills or take you to a higher level of income. TAHITIAN NONI® Juice is so good for you that when you genuinely share the news, the company gives you handy THANK YOU cheques.

TAHITIAN NONI® is a trademark of Morinda, Inc.
Content by Morinda Independent Product Consultant.
Copyright © Morinda, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Consumer Notice: You should assume that the author has a material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Tahitian Noni® Juice Benefits Review is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Before you do anything or if you don’t want to read, watch the four videos below that will explain everything. Then listen in on the calls (numbers below), read on here, email me, do your due diligence, and evaluate the products yourself.

Morinda Opportunity

In my 9+ years of computer business career, I’ve experienced reaching amazing heights as well as scary lows. In the last 3 years I’ve gone deep into many online and offline business ventures including a few in internet marketing (eProducts) and network marketing (mlm).

After a year in the Internet Marketing niche, I’ve become very highly attuned to hype, empty promises, and many types of scams. Only a handful of products were genuinely good and I was able to achieve the claimed results – see my Products section for the best picks.

I’ve gained a great understanding of what it takes for a business venture to be viable, stable, highly rewarding, enjoyable, and above all healthy. Morinda business gets my 2 thumbs up, especially now as the Wellness Industry is booming and approaching a trillion dollar mark.

Network Marketing / MLMs

This category is a science onto itself. Each sub-category (uni-level, forced matrix, binary, break-away) has its own advantages and disadvantages. The most powerful attributes of all these algorithms is that they have Effort, Integrity, Value, and Commitment, as their core variables. It is also the only paradigm of money creation that has created the most millionaires in the least amount of time.

- [)anish /|hmed, blind visionary, from "Ten Algorithms of Money Creation"

Floyd Holdman, Photographer and Morinda Millionaire, has met different people traveling all over the world and been in their homes. He says: "We may be different because of where we're born, and we may have different cultures and customs, but there's one common thread that connects us all. We all want to feel better. We all want to be fed and clothed, and we all want some kind of fulfillment in our lives. Morinda can meet all those needs."

Morinda's legitimate residual business opportunity offers a simple way to get to a $500 dollars per month income just from the part-time involvement in the Noni business. TAHITIAN NONI® Juice is so good for you that when you share the news, the company gives you THANK YOU cheques for your referrals.

Morinda can be the ladder that may allow people to climb out of their problems. And by helping them you will also be greatly benefited. You can help them with knowledge and assurance that you are offering them something real: scientifically established and proven products (it's the products that drive the system not the other way around), one of the most competitive compensation plans in the industry (Dynamic Compensation Plan with Fast Start Program), a proven track record of 14+ years, strong leadership, and the knowledge that Morinda is a company that offers goodness to all in its products and values. This is a company you can be proud of!

To succeed in this business you need to build the trust and confidence of others. The easiest way to accomplish that is to have a genuine desire to be helpful and use your own voice (skills and talents) to deliver it. It all starts with a personal product experience and telling your story (step 1), then becoming educated about how the products work so that you can effectively convey this information to new customers (step 2), and lastly, live true to the Morinda mission of helping everyone, everywhere, every day with Noni Bioactives (step 3).

GLOBAL PRODUCT LAUNCH - TOTAL BODY COMPOSITION - Jan 8, 2011

In the US, 70% of Americans are overweight or obese — more than 200 million people. Obesity among children has tripled in the last 30 years. Globally, 23% of adults are overweight, almost a billion people, and that number is expected to double by 2030 to nearly half of all adults.

Morinda has developed a program that helps you build muscle, lose fat, and achieve ideal body composition. It is designed to optimize nutrient absorption, build lean muscle, flush fat, satisfy hunger and ensure proper nutrition. The lean muscle is the most efficient fat-burning tissue.

Timing to Business is like Location to Real Estate. Your friends can hear about this from you, or you will hear about it from them. THIS IS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY with a proven company and over $200M in product research & development.

You decide whether you want to be at the beginning of something, middle, or end of something big. It’s a ground floor opportunity. Just like Real Estate Boom and Internet Boom, this is the Health Boom!

Get FIT Body Now! Biz 2.0

Real People Real Results: FIT Intro Video

Get Fit and Win Big Prizes: FIT Challenge

Achieve Optimal Body Composition: FIT Products

My beginnings? With my part-time involvement and learning the new business, in my first month, I earned $50, and $500 in the second. With the amount of work involved, I could have comfortably stayed at the $500 level as all my customers to date are satisfied with the product, but once you see that the whole process is to simple, you just want to climb to the next level.

If you are an inspired entrepreneurial go-getter, Morinda can help you reach the next level with plenty of support and minimum administration. It has produced over 200 Millionaires in total and at least 21 Millionaires since 2009. That averages out to one millionaire every month! Those that I met in person, in both business and private life, are the most fun and "good" people you can imagine. They help you every step of the way.

If you want to learn more and see how strong the Morinda is in the market place, I urge you to listen in on a Business Opportunity LIVE teleconference call everyday at 9PM EST at 1.712.338.8000 (10 minutes). There is also a toll-free 3-minute pre-recorded call at 1.888.848.0247 if you want to quickly preview it out right now.

Don't miss being a part of this powerful wave. If not now then when??? If not this then what??? It is relatively easy to get to the point where you can support your monthly bills just from the part-time involvement in the Noni business. That means you get to enjoy your regular paycheque in full! Then if you a little work harder, within a few months you can go for gold - a dream lifestyle.

Check out a few videos of the annual all-inclusive trips to exciting destinations like 2010 Bahamas (archive) and 2011 Thailand (preview or Day 1 Video).

Recently Morinda warmly received the newest member of the prestigious Club Marquesas, Norifumi Kanetsuna of Japan, who paid a visit to Morinda headquarters in Provo, Utah and spoke highly of Morinda company and the business:

Customers are not just joining to fulfill their needs, but are looking to change their lives.

There are predatory businesses out there that are all about the system. Their strategy is to have the system pulling the products along [...]. However, with Morinda, it is the products driving the system. And this is the most powerful model.

If you can reach [customers] in their heart, the system will automatically follow. There is a limit to what you can reach with a system alone. But, if you are reaching the heart of the customer through the product, there are no limits.
- Norifumi Kanetsuna

If you have any questions I will be more than thrilled to get you the answers. Please use the contact form and if you really mean business, the company, my millionaire mentors and myself will do everything to launch you to a fast start. You’re not in this by yourself, you have a dedicated team to help you. Plus you can use your own version of FIT or DEFY website for as little as $15.95/mo, which will assist you with rocket-launching your business.

Morinda formerly Tahitian Noni International

The Morinda company has earned many awards and recognition across the globe for its high business integrity and standards. It has five founders and two of them are food scientists. They developed a formula and a flavouring process to get the fruit from the tree to the bottle without loosing any of its beneficial properties. Noni has been used as a traditional folk medicinal plant for over 2,000 years in French Polynesia.

The Noni juice is documented in 14 Human Clinical Studies, each costing the company $1 Million Dollars to publish, and the company spent over $200 Million in research. The Noni juice is listed in the Physician Desk Reference handbook (PDR’03), volumes of Medical Journals, and features FDA compliant health statements. Finally, it won an award from the United Nations and has been featured in 1000′s of magazine and newspaper articles.

In 2010 the company has offered $250,000 cash to any company or anyone who can prove they have found a health product more powerful. Currently the company is in its second wave of growth and registered a 32% increase in business during the recession. Watch this Unparalleled Growth video for more information.

Here is more of Morinda Excellence in Numbers (yes, big time bragging!) for you: More than 100 Million 1L bottles of Tahitian Noni® Original have been sold with 20 bottles sold every minute, Morinda operates in 75 countries and holds 52 global patents on products, development and processing, and there are fewer than 10 companies in modern history who can claim to rival Morinda’s hypergrowth (source: Griffin Hill Consulting).

$500 is the average monthly income of Morinda’s first leadership position (Jade). One of the industry’s highest, $100,000,000 is the quantity of incentives and recognition paid to Morinda IPC’s in addition to the recognized industry-best revenue sharing plan. Morinda Sales since inception 1996 are passing $4.5 Billion, out of which $2.2 Billion was paid out in commissions to IPC’s. Over 200 millionaires attribute their success completely to Morinda, and there are over 4000 individuals who were sent on all-expense-paid trips to Tahiti.

Wait, there is more! Morinda:

• Markets an exclusive, first-of-its-kind product
• Possesses a rich history that goes back over 2,000 years
• Is backed by verifiable research attesting to its benefits
• Is the dominant brand in its category
• Is the fastest growing company starting in the last 20 years (*Griffin Hill Consulting)
• Is financially rock-solid
• Is led by a team of highly educated, extremely experienced, and value based professionals
• Has a seamless marketing plan that crosses borders around the world
• Gave you the opportunity to financially benefit from the future growth of that company

The company proudly stands behind its products with a 100% 90-day money back guarantee. Its reason for being is simple: The company exists to make people happier.

Questions and Answers

If you have further questions, please contact me and I will get you the answers. Below are some questions you may have about network marketing business opportunities.

Why Did You Choose Morinda?

I’ve done my deep due diligence on the company and tested the products for a few months. After 7 years in IT business and then another 3 in researching many other business models, I’ve became absolutely convinced beyond any doubt that MLM model is the one. It is clean and solid with the pre-eminent purpose of selling massive quantities of quality products by word-of-mouth while paying network distributors what they are truly worth.

Many high profile athletes, business people, and celebrities are religiously using Noni to be the best at what they do. I too share such experience.

Finally based on my business experience, first offline computer business and then a lot of online Internet Marketing work (see my Wealth Products section), I’ve chosen a high quality Health product over consumer electronics, collectibles, or financial options. It made more sense to me.

I’m not suggesting that these can’t work for people who are passionate about those things, but I think that Health is something that everyone really needs right now. Extras such as plenty of support and coaching, research and documentation, endorsements and testimonials make this business worth your having a closer look.

Tell me more about why you think Morinda business is so good

It takes a well-documented, highly endorsed, quality product that really works, is in great demand, can effectively meet the demand, and above all features a product that you are passionate about and believe in.

If you experienced the Noni miracle yourself (just give it a try for 30-90 days risk-free) and you are a walking example of health and joy, people will ask YOU “what is the secret?” There is no need for sales pressure or sales tactics. You just share the news and the company rewards you for it.

Thus it also takes a well-documented company that stands behind its brand and product, provides a simple to follow duplicatable system, plenty of support and coaching, has very low start-up costs, and makes it really simple to cancel and get your investment money back within the first 90 days.

Every business is in sales in order to survive. Every business needs to pay for advertising in some form or another. Morinda picks, processes, researches, documents and bottles the fruit, then uses knowledgeable representatives and referral marketing for advertising.

Morinda gets my personal top score for Integrity & Ethics. It features: harmony among distributors, respected corporate leaders, level playing field, high ethical standards, balanced and rewarding compensation plan, quality products that are in-demand and competitively priced, potential for longevity, globally seamless marketing plan, no more than average attrition, breaks all sales records, and outpaces the majority of traditional corporations worldwide.

Minimum business administration (no inventory, shipping, payroll, office, call centre, marketing materials, etc.) is the icing on the cake.

It costs too much and I don’t have any money

It really sounds like you need a financial change. To get started, you can sell some of your stuff like your TV (a liability that eats your time) and invest it for your short and long-term health, your future, and the legacy for your children. Unlike many opportunities out there, this one can cost as little as $40 to get going! It’s a lot cheaper than a Coffee Shop franchise that’s for sure. Robert Kiyosaki calls Network Marketing The Perfect Business.

You can start your own business, but it almost always involves a lot of commitment (time, money, education, skills) and risk (timing, luck, marketing, contacts, etc.). Don’t even get me going about other options such as Lottery, Stocks, Currency Trading, Import/Export, etc – you need either a lot of money to play or a lot of luck.

For less than a coffee a day (that you won’t need anyway once using Noni), some simple duplicatable work, and plenty of rebates and easily-achievable bonuses, you can turn your situation around pretty quickly. There is a way you can get your own product for free each month – is that valuable? Can you really put a price on health? Simple maintenance is a lot cheaper than multiple medications and complicated repairs – I think.

Is this a Pyramid?

Here is a great 5-minute cartoon with a great answer: Pyramid Scheme Cartoon.

I highly recommend a brief reading on what exactly a pyramid scheme really is, and then taking your time to study the Morinda opportunity in detail. Just don’t waste too much time. With risk-free money-back offer, you can’t afford to sit around and read. Just go for it and take the first step – a way will be found that’s right for you.

Morinda has two divisions: 13% is Network Marketing and 87% is Direct Sales (Ordering) of a health product, where you can save money by paying wholesale prices. This is great for people who just want to help other people living healthy and don’t care about making any extra money.

But a Residual Income is really nice to have. Consider Elvis Presley who recorded his songs once and now makes money from the grave for every CD sold or mp3 download. With residual income business you get paid all night, weekends and holidays, while on vacation or when you get old.

Here is a great illustration of my experience with network marketing in real life that happened to me the other day: On the weekend I recommended a restaurant to 15 people at the conference. They ALL loved it; 1 person thanked me; another person told me she will bring her friends – that’s great and I felt good, but will the restaurant pay me commission for all this? Nope.

I Like My J.O.B. as it is

Personally, I am not a fan of a 9-5 j.o.b. at a large corporation with a boss at the top and me with an employee id number at the bottom, where you trade your time for money, and the moment that you stop – well you know. How long can you go without an income? With residual income business you get paid all night, weekends, holidays, while on vacation or when you get old.

You can also try to be in business all by yourself, but trust me from my experience – it’s a lot of extra work you really don’t need to do. With Network Marketing you can be a millionaire in 1-3 years if you really work the duplicatable system.

Over the last 2 years I learned over and over from many entrepreneurs that you need to find your niche, work on it until success (or until it’s proven otherwise), and then start something new – ie. don’t put all your eggs in one basket. However, many people continue working their primary niche, because it can be very rewarding (and no longer all about the money, money, money).

Again on a personal note, you should be passionate about the niche you choose, as only then will you be truly genuine and come across that way. Ultimately passion and personality are the key to success – I’ve learned that from successful millionaires. Whether it’s strangers or your friends, you simply want everyone to know about a way to healthy and joyous living.

Finally, look at the chips or soft drinks industry. It’s sooo bad for you and they make tons of money, much of it by word-of-mouth (or eye-on-mouths) marketing. Why not promote a Health product that’s actually good for you and more and more people seek everyday?

Final Word

My final note on trading your time for money is this: Time invested wisely gives you W.I.S.H. – Wealth, Self Improvement, Spiritual Growth and personal Happiness! Time invested poorly gives you F.A.D. – frustration, anxiety and debt! Your choice.

Make it Happen!

Kamil (Chris)

 
TAHITIAN NONI® is a trademark of Morinda, Inc.
Content by Morinda Independent Product Consultant.
Copyright © Morinda, Inc. Used with permission.  All rights reserved.
Consumer Notice: You should assume that the author has a material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Products INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Morinda (Tahitian Noni) Business Opportunity is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

How did I do it

I struggled to attain the ideal weight all my life, but once I focused on this goal, the results came quickly and consistently. I want this article to be the inspiration, motivation and a practical resource to help you achieve your weight goals and live a happier and healthier life.

There are many causes of weight gain including family history, emotional issues or stress, and of course unhealthy life style.

I went through the entire process in stages i.e. talked with my mother about childhood weight, evaluated my diet and habits, and started an exercise regime.

I started off by prepping my body for three months by doing extended medium intensity workouts, stretching and a whole lot of cardio. After that period, I went hardcore by working with a personal trainer for four months, five times a week for one hour sessions. But I gotta tell you, moving up the belt loops and seeing my body getting fitter was a priceless feeling.

If it sounds like a lot of work – it was. I learned a lot about myself, nutrition, and the weight loss process. The most important thing that I learned is that cleansing and proper nutrition are absolutely the most critical – I also learned that they are the most neglected.

In doing all this, I went from 225 lbs to 190 lbs, dropped from a 38 inch waist to 34, 25% body fat to 12%, and perhaps my biggest accomplishment was that I went from being chubby, weak and tired, to toned, strong and energetic. Right now I’m at the gym 3 to 4 times a week to maintain my fitness. I attend various classes or do medium intensity workouts.

After about a year, I decided to educate myself further and completed a Can-Fit-Pro Personal Training Specialist course. Everything on this site has been experienced personally and it is backed by the up-to-date fitness industry education.

I then found out about the Noni Bioactive Beverage and after 6 months of drinking it regularly my knee joints were repaired, my resting heart rate went from over 60 down to 45bpm, and I was unstoppable in my Muay Thai class (endurance, strength, flexibility and recovery).

Soon after I was blown away by the new product: FIT Body Composition System. The system precisely captures the process I went through myself, often having to go out of my way to improvise the nutrition support, eg. with ginseng, ginkgo, matcha, lecithin, detox herbs, and much more. Herbs and organic food really make a big difference in how your body responds – metabolism, energy and fat loss wise. Healthy supplements make this process so much easier.

GLOBAL PRODUCT LAUNCH – TOTAL BODY COMPOSITION – Jan 8, 2011

In the US, 70% of Americans are overweight or obese — more than 200 million people. Obesity among children has tripled in the last 30 years. Globally, 23% of adults are overweight, almost a billion people, and that number is expected to double by 2030 to nearly half of all adults.

FIT is NOT a weight loss system. It’s about achieving the ideal ratio of lean muscle to body fat. It’s about how you look and how you feel. Fit is about achieving your ideal body composition and feeling good everyday!

Click ↑ to Enlarge

TNI has developed a program that helps build lean muscle, the most efficient fat-burning tissue. FIT is designed to optimize nutrient absorption, build lean muscle, flush fat, satisfy hunger and ensure proper nutrition.

Enjoy downloadable strength and aerobic exercise plans, healthy food guides and meal recipes, plus calorie-specific menus – all at no cost and no sign up required!

Take Action: Get FIT Body Now!

Real People Real Results: FIT Intro Video

Get Fit and Win Big Prizes: FIT Challenge

Achieve Optimal Body Composition: FIT Products

The First Steps

The motivation for weight loss should not be a pair of jeans but an ideal, healthy life. Start off with a plan and educate yourself on the choices you should be making, why you should be making them, and how to make them on consistent basis. With a committed but healthy weight loss routine you can shed a maximum of 2 pounds per week.

Evaluate and monitor your physical health. Get a blood test done to check your cholesterol and other levels. Understand family history as it plays an important role in designing a successful diet plan.

Approximate body fat percentage ranges:

Based on all the facts above, I cut my sugar intake by slowly eliminating chocolate and candy bars. On occasion I sweeten my herbal tea or coffee with a teaspoon of honey, but if it is not available, I don’t crave sweetening it.

Before you start or as you get started, I strongly suggest a body detox or cleansing. You will drop an inch or two simply by getting rid of some really bad stuff accumulated inside of you. You will feel great and with a healthier metabolism, your body will be more capable of accepting and processing healthy nutrition.

Remember that any exercise is better than no exercise. Any low intensity activity that spans a few hours, such as planning a party or extended hiking, will help you get closer to your goal. Incorporate a workable balance of diet and exercise in your life to maximize the benefits. Try to consume fewer calories during the day and increase your daily physical activity – this is the holy grail of weight loss.

If you are eating a lot of sugar right now, you will also need to cut fruit and sugar completely from your diet for the first two to three weeks to get your blood sugar levels down. Same goes for smoking and alcohol – do everything you can to stop these unhealthy habits or get help.

Weight loss is 70% diet, 20% exercise, 5% mindset and 5% determination.

Get your eating in order and you’re ¾ way there! The rest becomes easy. Really!

Another important thing is to make sure you finish eating one to two hours prior to exercising since it takes that long for your body to actually digest the food. On the flip side, don’t workout when you are starving. Have a granola bar 10 minutes before the workout if you must, but don’t make it a habit.

Food: Separating the Good and the Bad

In order to reach my weight loss goals, I cut sugar from my diet. This includes all kinds of high-calorie foods such as cookies, cakes, ice cream and soft drinks. This change was an adjustment I had to make on many levels, but it was worth it. When shopping for food, I always check the nutrition information for the amount of sugar in the product and pick the one with none or the lowest amount.

Gradually eliminate the bad-carbohydrates (sugar and white breads) and fried foods since these are packed with calories no matter how small the serving size may be. Such foods include potato chips, French fries, donuts, fried chicken, onion rings, etc. I call this the “yellow or orange” food group. Watch out for the “low-carb” or “low-fat” food varieties, which pack many chemicals to keep the product tasting good. If it ain’t fresh or you can’t read it, it’s probably bad for you.

If you have to eat meat, stick to light varieties such as lean turkey, white chicken or lean beef. Keep it to minimum – once or twice per week, and avoid fatty cuts of pork, beef or lamb. Best yet, gradually shift to vegetarian diet. Once you feel more energetic and experience a clearer mind, you will be convinced. Rest assured, a pure vegetarian diet can deliver ALL the essential amino acids that are found in the meat-based protein.

When you avoid all the bad foods, entire aisles in the grocery store will become irrelevant to you and you will find yourself reaching for healthier choices. Avoid mainstream Fast Food places with deep-fried or microwaved food. Opt for grilled or cooked warm food, eat it cold, or go someplace else. Choose green tea over coffee, but if you must, opt for a single long espresso with 2% goat milk or soy and honey instead of a fancy specialty coffee.

I increased my daily intake of fresh and colourful salads, fibre and proteins such as casein, egg, soy, whey and hemp. Your focus should be on creating a balanced, colourful, light, fresh and organic diet for yourself. Go to Organic grocers, local health food stores, restaurants and salad bars like Marche. For munching while you work, consider ready-to-go salad mixes with lettuce or spinach as a base from large grocery stores such as Metro/Dominion’s.

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Go easy with those dinners too. It’s amazing how much I am saying no to desserts, candies, sugary juices, fatty meals, etc. And actually I love salads now! It’s amazing .. my mouth waters on seeing a good omelette with salad! Weird, but awesome!

Have a freshly squeezed veggie juice a few times a week. Go for organic carrot, beet, apple, parsley, celery, spinach, green pepper, cucumbers, and optionally ginger. Some juice bar places also add wheatgrass or E3Live! (blue-green algae), ginseng or ginkgo (energy), green tea matcha or lecithin (metabolism), echinacea or rose hip (immunity) – though probably not all at once! You will love the feeling of pure health in your veins and soon enough you will also love the taste. Also consider an anti-oxidant and all natural Noni Juice.

Use Tropical Traditions Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and olive oil since both are good for metabolism and weight loss. Consume good fats such as seafood (salmon, tuna, shrimp) and almond or peanut butter, but do so in moderation. The expression “too much of a good thing can backfire on you” perfectly applies in this scenario.

My eBooks titled Balanced Diets, Workout Foods and Vitamins and Healthy Low-carb Hi-protein Diet for Weight Loss will serve as an excellent guide for you to start. Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to download these weight loss and nutrition eBooks.

The Ideal Diet

I have learned that awareness is the key to maintaining a successful diet plan. There are five steps to creating an ideal diet:

1. Calorie intake: this includes knowing the number of calories you consume in a day and where they are coming from i.e. every single piece of food you eat in your day.
2. Determine how many calories you need in a day to attain and maintain your ideal weight (see links at the end of this article for help or see a professional nutritionist).
3. Compare your answers in step 1 and 2. You may be surprised by the difference in how many calories you “need” versus how many calories you actually consume. This number is an eye-opener for most of us who wonder where the extra pounds are coming from.
4. Create a plan to balance the two numbers and remind yourself of them EVERY TIME you reach for any food. You need to watch what you eat and enforce your daily limit. Remember that eating wholesome nutritious food keeps you satisfied a lot longer.
5. Add exercise to your plan. This should be done in any form you can. Light to moderate exercise is very helpful as long as you stick to it.

I recommend choosing low-GI (slow carbohydrates breakdown) foods such as fruit or vegetables (colourful foods), non-sugared breakfast cereals (such as PC Blue Menu Fibre First and/or Raisin & Almond), brown rice and whole-grain breads (brown foods), milk and plain yoghurt, etc. Avoid high-GI foods such as white rice, baked potatoes, corn flakes, and pretty much any food or beverage high in sugar.

A great alternative to breakfast or as an after-workout snack is an Acai Protein smoothie (Jugo Juice) with optional PowerZone booster or Flaxseed oil. The antioxidant Acai and pure whey or hemp (vegan) protein will make you feel light and energetic, while keeping hunger away for hours. See the 126 Easy Smoothie Recipes eBook for some great ideas available free with the newsletter signup.

Avoid smoothies purely based on fruit and sorbet as they are loaded with sugar and carbohydrates. Ask for nutritional information before making the buying decision. Get rid of any unhealthy food from your environment and stock up on healthy snacks. Have them available near you and reach for them as you need them. See my wellness links for more information about binge eating.

When you are hungry, you are simply short on nutrients. It’s not HOW MUCH you eat, but HOW WELL. It’s about quality, not quantity! You have to focus on maximizing nutritious food – fresh and organic as much as possible.

If you really really crave a snack, have a simple system in place that will help you deal with the cravings as they come. For example: first reach for a glass of cold water with lemon juice. If the craving persists, have a piece of fruit (apple, orange or blueberries), a healthy raw organic protein bar, 1 to 2 pieces of high quality dark chocolate, or a healthy smoothie.

UPDATE: Here are some great add-ons for home-made smoothies, for example: I start with the President’s Choice frozen berry-mix or blueberries, add a banana and mango juice, some soy, rice or goat milk, then I add Progressive VegeGreens Superfood powder, Hempola 100% Raw Hemp Protein & Fibre Powder, 1 spoon of each: Salba Whole Food, Sunfood’s Organic Raw Cacao powder, Lecithin grains for the mind, and Flaxseed Oil. Shop around for all of the above as prices vary as much as 150% from store to store.

Depending on the need or daily dosage, I would add Green Tea Matcha powder or Noni Juice. Because I’m not the best when it comes to eating 5 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every single day, I take an “organic garden” in a capsule: NatureBorn Vitamins. Currently I am shopping around to assemble my own PowerZone (Jugo Juice): Ginseng & Ginkgo, Echinacea & Rose Hip ‘Vitamin C’, and Lecithin. For the evening or late night snack I would use Casein Protein powder (Optimum or GNC).

To attain and maintain your weight loss goals, variety and balance are both required when it comes to food choice and physical activity. Diets fail because we create difficult short term goals for ourselves. The key to successful and permanent weight loss is to create a balanced plan that allows you to live your life normally. That means a systematized, easy-to-follow, gradually progressing, and as much fun as possible kind of plan.

Exercise: Understanding what works for you

The benefits of exercise are endless and any exercise is better than no exercise. By lowering your resting heart rate and normalizing your blood pressure, you attain a healthier body inside and out. Also, you reduce your risk of serious injury by improving your strength and flexibility. The eBook 122 Life Enriching Reasons to Exercise (available with the newsletter signup) provides a list of benefits that regular exercise will bring into your life.

Before you start any exercise plan, understand what your current fitness level is and what is your preferred target. Whether you work with a personal trainer or on your own, make a commitment to yourself and stick to it no matter what – tired or not, rain or shine! See my eBooks on weight loss and exercise for plenty of practical information.

To keep yourself motivated through this entire process, try wearing smaller more form-fitting clothes which serve as a constant reminder of your goals as well as how far you have come in your journey. Don’t worry about things such as excess skin as with a healthy weight loss, skin has the ability to gracefully adjust to the leaner body. Watch for my upcoming article on motivation for more great tips.

Another piece of advice that I would like to offer is not to weigh, measure or evaluate your self in front of the mirror everyday. You will hardly notice any changes, but if you leave about a week in between, you will see progress which will motivate you to stay committed.

Find a physical activity that you enjoy and do it every day for a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes. This can include brisk walking, riding a bike, going to various classes at your local gym, etc, but the most important thing is that you do it 6-7 times a week. Also the more compound the exercise (whole-body) the better as you burn more calories per movement.

Here is my daily fitness schedule and locations I kept in my phone for instant reference and choice when on-the-go:

Monday
9:00      Trainer, Dundas
18:30    Hot Yoga, Dundas
19:30    Hatha Yoga, Bloor

Tuesday
9:30     Stability Ball, Bloor
19:00   Swimming, North York

Wednesday
9:00      Trainer, Dundas
18:30    Hardcore Abs, Dundas
19:00    Kung Fu, Dundas
19:30    Hatha Yoga, Bloor

Thursday (DAY OFF)

Friday
9:00     Trainer, Dundas
17:30    Power Yoga, Dundas
18:30    Start Yoga, Bloor

Saturday
10:00    Strong Body, Dundas
10:30    Start Cycle, Bloor
10:30    Conditioning, Bloor
10:30    Muay Thai, Eglinton
11:30    Kickboxing, Eglinton
12:00    Hot Yoga, Dundas
13:00    Pilates, Dundas
13:00    Zen Yoga, Bloor
13:00    Yoga, Eglinton

Sunday
10:00    Start Yoga, Dundas
10:00    Kickboxing, Bloor
10:00    Body Sculpt, Eglinton
11:00    Pilates, Dundas
11:00    Hardcore Abs, Eglinton

Take the stairs instead of elevators, park your car further from the store, get off one stop early and walk the difference, walk or bike to work whenever you can, and always remember that it’s the little things that will add up towards your big goal.

Try to use light weights when you work at your desk or a hand-gripper tool when you watch TV. Find an exercise buddy so you can keep each other motivated and form a routine you can stick to.

Helpful Tips

Three grossly underestimated and very simple weight loss techniques include:

1. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of purified water per day (carry a bottle of water with you)
2. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day (ideally go to bed around 10 – 11pm)
3. Eat small portions of nutritious food frequently and regularly (never get starving hungry)

Start your day with a cardio exercise to give your metabolism a boost and keep it working throughout the day. Experts say that morning exercise is 300% more effective for weight loss than evening – exactly for that reason.

How do you START this great new habit? Try this handy morning ritual:

1. Shift your day schedule to wake up and go to sleep one hour earlier.
2. Immediately after waking up have a glass of warm water with lemon juice (half or full lemon) and 2-4oz of Noni Juice (careful not to use boiling water).
3. Take a quick 3-8 minute hot shower (finish with cold water) and get dressed.
4. Eat a small size apple, orange, kiwi, cherries or grapefruit, or drink half of one Fit Reset drink (great fat burner and energy booster).
5. Raise your Heart Rate with 20-30 minutes of exercise. A brisk 20 minute walk is the perfect way to start. You can walk down and up the stairs in your building, do some jumping jacks or push-ups – JUST DO IT! Take a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated.
6. Cool down for 5 minutes: sit with your eyes closed and breathe or meditate.
7. Have a healthy breakfast (Acai smoothie or a veggie omelette, etc.).
8. Spend 10-15 minutes reading or watching something inspirational in-line with your goals.
9. Have a great and very productive day!

Now say to yourself:

Now or never! I want to get fit and healthy, and I want to do it right so it lasts!

And this: “I am so happy and grateful now that I eat healthy, I feel great in my body, and I enjoy my life on a daily basis.”

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Do your best.
You can do it!

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Amazing power workout: 35min elliptical, quick stretch, 140lb leg extension, 130lb leg flexion, 120lb butt, 15′s for shoulders, 60′s machine chest/shoulder press, 6 full pull ups w/ legs straight. After had a vector bar, then walked to Extreme Fitness. Felt like I had a lot more power! Checked the specs, the bar has everything. En route back had a beet, apple, parsley, carrot large freshly squeezed juice, then 1.5 cups of protein at the office. Now heading for a nice and spicy Vietnamese soup.

After having read all this information, don’t just sit there feeling educated and motivated – do some thinking, do some math, get out there and JUST DO IT!

This is exactly what I said to myself to get the results and you can do the same. Make your fitness and health a number one priority for a few weeks. Commit to it and make some great new habits. After that it will become easy and automatic. You won’t even think of living any other way.

I hope that in sharing my journey with you I was able to help you or at least motivate you to make a change since our health directly affects the quality of our life. Don’t forget to sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to download free health and fitness eBooks.

I wish you good luck in reaching your goals. Promise yourself that you will do everything you can to reach your goals no matter what it takes.

Do it for yourself and do it now!

More Great Resources

Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to download free fitness & workout eBooks. Also check: Personal Health, Stress Relief, Fitness Workouts and Exercise Motivation.

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to most adult men and women. Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories that your body needs to burn to support functioning of your vital organs. It is the minimum number of calories you must consume if you “didn’t do” anything and spent the whole day in bed.

Fit Body Composition System website is a great resource for fitness and nutrition. Healthy Body Calculator will help you design a nutrition plan that’s right for you. If you need a mass group support, check out 50 Million Pound Challenge.

Shin Ohtake has a great free eBook and newsletter on fat loss, metabolism, and fitness. On his website he presents the 6 WORST things you can do if you want to ignite your body’s own fat-burning furnace and get lean.

The Sports Fitness Advisor is a very helpful resource for athletes. It provides a variety of training plans and sessions for athletes. It also offers extensive information on the different elements of fitness and nutrition.

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Weight Loss Success is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Change the World semi-blog is all about the Global Transformation that is happening right now. I am receiving inspirational emails nearly everyday and on this page I am posting my best picks. Check back often for the latest and greatest.

Awakening the Dreamer – Changing the Dream

Held at a Grail Springs Retreat near Bancroft Ontario – a very energetically positive space, this symposium was not only inspiring and educational, but it brought together those most passionate about Changing the World.

The Mission: Bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Planet Earth.

My Key notes from the June 27, 2010 Symposium:

• Problem: we are separate (from everyone else) – root assumption.
• Solution: Eagle (N. America) and Condor (S. America) must fly together. We must balance the mind (technology, science, advancement) with the heart (compassion, care, nature).
• Action 1: further reduce pollution and waste and support nature’s regeneration.
• Action 2: educate and spread the message using your skills and talents.
• Action 3: co-operate and co-create solutions using your passions and resources.

The problem in the world today is that people are trying to solve it on every level (political, financial, military) except the one the problem is actually on. The problem is about our cultural story – what we deeply believe, who we really are, what/who is God, and the dream humanity is dreaming. It is about new ideas for living life – a new path of evolution – a new dream.

Sustainable production focuses on all of the following 3 aspects: people, planet and profits. The question is how to convince large companies to WANT to have a greater corporate responsibility in caring for people and the planet, and not just profits.

Blessed unrest is a concept that Function leads Form. Decide what you want to do or who you want to be, and the HOW will come to you. Use the blessed unrest (challenge in life) to gain strength to do something about it. Everything can be solved by looking at it from the spiritual perspective. Problems exist to give us contrast and to push us to evolve and grow.

The secret to being happy is giving. In order to give we must first have. First give joy to yourself by living your passion and do so with integrity. What you love to do is not a trick of the Universe. It’s your birthright to choose in favour of your passion. At the end, the only thing that really matters is how much love you gave during your life. Every action counts. Give little things: give time, a visit, let someone in line, give a complement, give give give. The resulting feeling is internal joy.

[ Awakening the Dreamer | Four Years, Go - video | Grail Springs Retreat events ]

11 Movies for Understanding and Empowerment

Danish Ahmed posted a blog entry representing his life in 11 movie trailers.
Here are my Best Picks together with Key Messages (in my opinion):

The Shadow Effect (2 minute trailer)

• “You can’t fight darkness with darkness, but you can switch on the light.” – Deepak Chopra
• “It’s not just to love the good, it’s to love the dark as well.”
• “Are you ready to be strong when you were weak before?
  Step out of the smallness of your darkest thoughts, into the brilliance of your biggest dream.”
• “There is gold to be mined in every experience.” – The Shadow Effect
  

College Conspiracy (1 hour feature)

• Education: – Take Online Courses in What You Need
• Jobs: Creation Your Own, ie. “Don’t Compete – Create!” – unknown
• Shopping: Buy Stuff Cheaper Online at Amazon
• Food: Grow your Own and Eat Less (Quality not Quantity)
• Survival Currency: Buy with Gold

Quest for Success (5 minute trailer)

• “Success is not the basis of happiness. But happiness is the basis of success.”
• “Seeking Happiness is what bring Success, not the other way around.”
• “Passion for the Possible is where the Journey begins.”
• “Learn to trust yourself – completely! Express yourself 100%.” – Jack Canfield
  

Paid It Forward (10 minute trailer)

• A Vision for an Ideal World – It’s Possible!
• Help 3 People Without Expecting Anything in Return
• Tell Those 3 People to Help 3 Other People
• Thus Trend for the Future: Network Marketing

Conversations with God (10 minutes of the Best Moments) [ Book by Neale Donald Walsch ]

“You CAN’T have anything you want! Your request is one of lack, so your request is producing that experience: the wanting in your reality. By wanting, your are condemning yourself.” – God

1. If you want something, don’t just sit there, take proper action steps to get it (ideally good and creative action, usually based on inspired guidance or message from God/Universe).
2. You need to have or learn skills to perform that action, and/or connect with others who can help you (ie. use people skills and find mutual benefits for best results).
3. The more spiritually enlightened/aligned with the Universe/God you are, the more you can get with less physical action (must have the skill to feel subtle energies and see ques from the Universe, then trust and act on them).
4. In fact it then becomes all about decreasing the resistance – really meaning and deeply believing (monk-like skills).
5. The larger value you give (from the perspective of the receiver), the larger value you get back (from your own perspective) – basically, help others!
6. When your aligned wants are in sync with the wants of the Universe then your wants also drive the Universal creation for the highest good of all, and it’s all easy and fun for you to do.

“God wants for you what You want for you – to be happy. True masters make a Life, not just make a living. Go ahead, do what you truly love. Do nothing else! You have so little time. Doing the else is not living – it is a dying.” – God

“Do not feel abandoned. For I am always with you. I will not leave you. I cannot leave you. For you are my creation and my product. My purpose.. and myself! Call on me therefore. Whenever you are separate from the peace that I am, I will be there!” – God

[ All 11 Movie Trailers ]

Danish Ahmed’s 6-C Action Steps for Humanity – Solutions

Comprehensive howto with many quality links if you want to make a difference:

• Step #1: Consciousness
• Step #2: Community
• Step #3: Commerce
• Step #4: Co-Creation
• Step #5: Collaboration
• Step #6: Celebration

[ 6-C Action Steps for Humanity ]

A message of Hope and Healing from the Ocean

A message of unconditional love from the Ocean after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “Expand your perspective. Find your essence in the core of your being. Boost your ability to heal.”

[ The Ocean speaks... ]

Living Your Life Passion

Inspirational and Practical website to push you to action. Here are some interesting blog entries:

• How to use Daily Affirmations
• How to discover what you really want (self-discipline)
• How to ask for what you want
• and more…

[ Life Passion Coaching ]

Become a highly-paid Expert

Just like myself, Brendon had a life changing accident after which his life made a 180 degree turnaround. While he was lying in the car wreck and realized that he actually survived, he asked himself these 3 questions:

• Did I live?
• Did I love?
• Did I matter?

He decided to communicate his message and give away tons and tons of very valuable and practical content on how to become a highly-paid expert in your field, starting absolutely from scratch.

He teaches how to become a successful author, speaker, coach and entrepreneur. If you’ve been planning to follow this route yourself, these videos will change your life! He released 7 1-hour videos with pure gold information and zero selling.

Whether you’re just starting out or you need a boost to go to the next level, Brendon’s insanely valuable videos might just have the answer you’re looking for. Have a look.

I took plenty of quality notes from the videos and I am sharing them all for the highest good of all. Sign up for the Practical Wellness newsletter to download them for free.

[ Experts Academy | High Performance Academy | Behind the Scenes (Studio) ]

Danish Ahmed’s Where entertainment meets reality

Watch Short Cool Clips from:

• Total Recall (1990)
• Demolition Man (1993)
• A Bug’s Life (1998)
• Brave New World (1998)
• The Matrix (1999)
• THX 1138 (1971)
• Equilibrium (2002)
• The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

[ Where Entertainment Meets Reality... ]

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Change the World INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Change the World Semi-Blog is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

This entire website is free and increasingly contains a lot of valuable information and tools. There are so many more techniques and pieces of wisdom that I will be posting as soon as possible. However, just like you are eager to live a better life right now, I am also eager to help or motivate as many people as possible right now!

I know from experience that empowerment, support, wisdom and motivation from a fellow human being is the biggest key to solving current problems or making a lasting change. I realize (as I have experienced it myself) that in order to break free from current patterns and make a lasting change, it’s extremely helpful and beneficial to have a coach who’s been in the trenches.

The tools and knowledge are very important, but it’s human nature to procrastinate and make excuses (time or money) when it comes to actually making it happen. Realize that your biggest enemy is your mind. Once you widen your perspective and “just go for it in spite of fear,” you will experience an amazing shift and take it from there yourself.

I am here for you! For a limited time, I give you direct access to my experience and information within my brain. I would like you to take advantage of this private and confidential 1-on-1 consultation offer. Whether you need a quick boost, helpful support or a complete guidance, I will give you my absolute best to get you the answers you seek, whatever it takes.

Ask away!

I am completely at your service on any topic that you can find on this website and within the Wellness Circle. Please ask away if you seek support or information about any of the following:

• Empowerment and Motivation
• Effectiveness and Goal Achievement
• How to start [Your Passion] business
• How to market your business online
• Improvement and Optimization
• Decluttering and Organization
• Personal Health and Well-being
• Fitness and Nutrition
• Relationships and Emotions
• Spiritual Journey and Energy

Check out some of the great comments that I received from different people in the course of helpful and friendly interactions.

You’re God-sent! Im so happy you’re supporting me. – friend, BD

You are so positive and upbeat every time we talk on the phone. – friend, CL

I always feel better after we meet. (this morning when I got up I was feeling a little down) – friend, HI

I feel a lot better after talking to you. – friend, UL

I had to let you know that your last email opened my eyes about something. (Thank you so much!) – friend, DQ

Thank you for being in my life and also open my mind and challenge me too. – friend, UZ

Thanks for the great conversation yesterday. You really made me think about somethings …………. – friend, TX

You’re so insightful and it is super awesome to hear your viewpoints. – friend, BL

Pick My Brain Packages

Quick Boost – One quick email exchange (consultation)

This package is for you if you just need a quick boost to get going or need a clarification before you proceed. Think of it as a quick message to your friend.

• Number of emails: 1 exchange (you to me, I to you)
• Maximum length: 4 paragraphs (225 words)
• My response time: 48-72 hours
• Package cost: CAD $2 (or $0 with newsletter signup)

Helpful Support – Three regular email exchanges

The most practical option if you want to get the answers you are looking for. The maximum length of 1 page per email allows you to more accurately describe yourself and your situation. The second round allows you to clarify the facts or ask additional questions.

• Number of emails: 3 exchanges (you to me, I to you, x3)
• Maximum length: 1 page (450 words) per email
• My response time: 24-72 hours per email
• Package cost: CAD $20

Complete Guidance – 30-day email package

The most comprehensive option if you really mean business and would appreciate helpful and ongoing support.

• Number of emails: unlimited email exchanges within 30 days
• Maximum length: First email: 2 pages (900 words); then 1 page (450 words) per email
• My response time: 24-48 hours per email
• Package cost: CAD $250

Private Consultation – 60-minute Call via Skype

Next best thing to in-person coaching, this one-on-one personal conversation time is about discussing and solving your deepest and most troublesome issues.

• Number of calls: 1 call
• Maximum length: 1 hour
• My response time: Please contact me to arrange mutually best time
• Special pricing: CAD $197 $97

Note: Please confirm availability before you make the payment using the contact form. In all fairness, when you pay, I would like to give you best of this service. Thank you.

In-person Coaching – 30-day or 2-weekend package

There is NOTHING more effective than personal one on one coaching. This package is for you if you want the changes to happen fast with the help of 1-on-1 support, personalized strategies and tips, and coaching (locally in Toronto; you arrange your own travel and stay).

• Number of 1-on-1 hours: 2 weekends (4x 7hrs) or 1 month (20x 1.5hrs)
• Number of emails: unlimited email exchanges within 30 days
• My response time: within 24 hours per email
• Package cost: CAD $2,800

Your Email Package

1 quick email $2.00 3 regular emails $20.00 30-day package $250.00 1 hour skype call $97.00 CAD In-person coaching $2,800.00

IMPORTANT! Make sure to click on the RETURN TO MERCHANT button upon payment.
(all prices include taxes as applicable)

Questions and Answers

How do you protect my privacy and confidentiality?

I take your privacy and confidentiality VERY seriously. I am taking all reasonable measures to safe-guard your data. More specifically, while we are communicating, your information is stored in a password-protected and encrypted folder on a password-protected server. When our communication finishes, I delete all the files that relate to our communication. In addition, please read this website’s Privacy Policy for more information.

I have a very simple question. How do you treat those?

Just in case and to reassure you, to me every question is equally important. If you are asking, it simply means that you don’t know the answer. You can try prepending it with a super-brief introduction or context. Finally, it’s your money, so use it any way you like. Note that your questions are safe with me – see the confidentiality and privacy statement above.

What if I am not satisfied with your answers?

When you buy a package and ask a question, your email goes to the top of my priority list as you are now a customer. I will immediately read your email and get my deep mind thinking about the best possible answer for you. I may also consult with my expert connections to provide you with additional angles or pieces of advice. I will then send you a high quality reply. If you feel that my reply isn’t useful in any way, it is my promise to you that I will give you your full and immediate refund without any hassle or questions. All you need to do is send me an email to ac.ssenllewlacitcarpnull@sdnufer and provide me with the original Transaction ID and your name.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Products INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Pick My Brain Consultation is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

All the recommendations are based on these key principles:
• Ease of Use • Speed to Market • High Value • Genuine Results • Ethics and Integrity

	PWG Internet Business eBooks [free] High-quality, brief and to the point e-books about making money online. Over $500 dollars in value, yours free! Online Millionaire Teaches How to Make Money Online Now and In the Future – practical notes 14-Day Info-Product Creation & Firesale howto Getting Started with Online Business – Get It Now! 5 Most Critical and Costly Business Mistakes How to Become a Highly-Paid Expert – notes How to Profit from the Internet in 24 hours or less Outsourcing for $2/hour & Psychology of Selling Plus Copywriting, Auctioning, Pricing and more [ FREE with Practical Wellness Newsletter sign up ]
	Behind the scenes of a $100 Million Dollar Business Watch a Free video to learn how this guy grew his Information Product business to the point where it has sold over $100 Million worth of products and services online – starting out at his computer in his bedroom… He walks you through an exercise to target and identify the knowledge YOU have that you can turn into an “Information Product” to sell online (and if you own an Info business already, it will give you a new mindset that will really take your success to the next level). There’s also a free PDF download of the exercise for you to print out. This is a super-high value honest view into an online money-making machine that will blow your mind. [ Guru Blueprint - HOT! ]
	Millionaire Mind Intensive – Get Hardwired for Success Would you like to receive a $795 surprise gift from T. Harv Eker that has helped over 1.2 million people in 104 different countries to finally find out The ROOT cause of financial success, mediocrity, or failure – the very blueprint that determines our financial success practically from birth? Come in with your financial thermostat set for low or moderate levels of success. Walk out with your thermostat reset for extremely high levels of success at this life changing event. This event WILL change your life! TIP: Includes today’s strategies for creating “passive” income. (Most of the old ways don’t work anymore!) [ MMI Special | No.1 Failure Reason | FEW BIG IDEAS ]
	Super Fast Results – Cutting Edge Internet Marketing Whether you’re only starting or are an experienced online marketer, this site contains only what works. Super Fast Results helps you choose a niche, domain, hosting and affiliates. Once done, you can use the proprietary Super Fast Websites module to have a professionally looking simple website within minutes. Super Fast Results Forum contains tons of ideas to drive traffic to your website, build a mailing list, and of course make money. Grab a free report on Internet Business from Home, or if you’d like personalized attention, try Super Fast Affiliate 8-Week Course. [ Super Fast Results | Free Report | Super Fast Affiliate ]
	Traffic Grab – Drive more than $1M/year thru your Cart The systematic traffic grabbing process that James Shramko’s team used to drive more than one million dollars a year through his shopping cart. Customers of Traffic Grab will get access to a members area with more than 20 videos spanning 8 hours of high quality training. Also included are PDF’s MP3 and MP4 versions. Click below link for Free Sneak Preview which in itself contains over 2 hours of Super High Quality Useful content. This is the best value traffic product ever released for a sub $100 price. Take advantage of it! [ Traffic Grab Videos ]
	Simpleology 24-hour Info-Product Creation Kit Tap into a $448 billion dollar industry in the next 24 hours by generating a product from thin air and possibly making your first *sale* in 24 hours. The number of regular folks who are releasing their knowledge in the form of their own e-books is growing at an exponential rate. Earn tens to hundreds of dollars per day to supplement your income. This kit contains guides and templates to help you create and launch your own information product in as little as 24 hours. That’s without email list, products, partners or connections. [ Product Creation Kit ]
	Simpleology 7-Day Business Turnaround Kit If your business is in trouble and you need to do something fast, this might be the solution for you. You’re about to learn things that will change the way you view the world forever. Aside from the included 7-day immediate action checklist, you will also gain clarity and re-ignite motivation, get your business under control, inject vital capital with little or no cost, and take various drastic marketing measures. The kit comes with a solid money back satisfaction guarantee. Also check out Personalized Business Coaching. [ Business Turnaround Kit | Business Coaching ]
	Also check out: Business and Money Resources and Business Ideas and Empowerement

Consumer Notice: You should assume that PWG has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. Commissions earned are used to pay staff, develop new products, and provide outstanding customer service. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Products INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Business and Wealth Products is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

All the recommendations are based on these key principles:
• Ease of Use • Speed to Market • High Value • Genuine Results • Ethics and Integrity

	Double Your Dating – How To Be Successful with Women This is one of the best programs, newsletters and e-books on understanding women (I read at least 8). David DeAngelo spent years on figuring out what works and learning success with women. Hundreds of men who benefited from the course claim that the dating tips presented in the coaching program are the best they ever read. It teaches how to approach women, eliminate fear and why most women like the guys when they do. His fan base is enormous and it even includes women, who praise his wisdom for making men more interesting and confident. The free newsletter and the e-boook contain huge amounts of practical information that could double your dating as fast as overnight. It is very easy to read, but do set aside one day, because you will read the whole thing in one sitting! [ Free Dating Advice Newsletter ]
	Catch Him & Keep Him – Finding and Keeping Him Hooked Highly acclaimed newsletter and e-book full of practically applicable explanations on having a good relationship with men. The author, an expert in psychology, communication and behaviour, has interviewed a lot of men and women in many genuine dating situations. You will learn about common mistakes that women make without even knowing it, how to attract quality men and how to develop lasting attraction. This e-Book is a must-have “man manual” for women who want to have a long-lasting successful relationship. [ Free Instant Access with Sign Up ]
	Have the Relationship You Want – A Few Simple Words Sign up for free membership and learn the proven tools that Rori Raye used to turn her own falling-apart relationship into a glorious, decades-long marriage. All it will take is a few simple shifts in your words and body language to connect to a man where it counts… through his heart. You could change everything with just a few simple words. [ Free Instant Access with Sign Up ]
	TIP: Sign up for all 3 newsletters to get a super clear understanding of relationships from both perspectives.

Consumer Notice: You should assume that PWG has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. Commissions earned are used to pay staff, develop new products, and provide outstanding customer service. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Products INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Relationships and Dating Products is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

All the recommendations are based on these key principles:
• Ease of Use • Speed to Market • High Value • Genuine Results • Ethics and Integrity

	Health, Fitness and Nutrition eBooks [free] High quality few-page e-Books about getting fit and healthy for life. Over $350 dollars in value, yours free! How I got Lean and Toned for Good – Gold Tips How to Get Ripped Abs and Body in 4-6 Weeks Relaxed Full-body Workout that Delivers Results Balanced Diets, Workout Foods and Vitamins Healthy Low-carb Hi-protein Diet for Weight Loss A Success Story: 356lbs To 226lbs In 8 Months Quick Body Detox – Expert’s Advice (1 page) Sample Diet Plan for 9 Weeks (weight loss) 122 Life Enriching Reasons to Excercise 126 Easy Smoothie Recipes for Athletes [ FREE with Practical Wellness Newsletter sign up ]
	Tahitian Noni Juice - Everyone needs Noni everyday! Noni Juice is all natural with no preservatives or no added sugars, and it is completely organic. It is helping hundreds of people with conditions such as: high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, allergies, digestion, cancer, HIV, and arthritis – just to name a few. NatureBorn Vitamins are based on all-natural plant ingredients and anti-oxidant blend. They help lower cholesterol, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, maintain a healthy heart, and support the immune system. [ Tahitian Noni Juice | Benefits | Wellness Business ]
	Defy Age Intervention & FIT Body Composition System TNI DEFY® is the Best Anti-Aging and Personal Skin Care Cream that combats Age Spots, Wrinkles, Dark Eye Circles, Saggy Skin, Dry Skin, Dull Tone, Rough Texture, and even Acne. DEFY is organic, natural, paraben-free, vegan friendly, non-irritating and delivers immediate results. Getting FIT Body is easier than you think. TNI FIT® is NOT a weight loss system. FIT is about achieving an ideal body composition. It’s about how you feel! FIT takes a healthy, natural and wholistic approach and the best part is, it works even you’re very busy. [ TNI Defy Aging Now | Get FIT Body Now ]
	Green Products - Nutrition, Beauty, Lifestyle, Home Complete store with a wide variety of environmentally friendly and excellent products that fit your lifestyle. I simply can’t live without some of the stuff: effective laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets, long-lasting anti-perspirant deodorant, dish washing liquid and scrub buds, and powerful all-purpose cleaners – no other brands match the results, believe me I tried. Check out the Nutrition & Wellness, Bath & Body, Beauty and For Home products – all with the convenience of at home delivery. [ Globally Well Lifestyle ]

Consumer Notice: You should assume that PWG has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. Commissions earned are used to pay staff, develop new products, and provide outstanding customer service. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Products INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Health and Fitness Products is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

All the recommendations are based on these key principles:
• Ease of Use • Speed to Market • High Value • Genuine Results • Ethics and Integrity

	The Journal software by David Michael Keep a Daily Journal of your progress and an Organized Notebook of your thoughts and reflections. The value of the notes is immense when you decide to write a book or share your knowledge and passion with the world. Also great for writing articles, short stories, novels, and more. The Journal is secure, portable and flexible. Regular price is $89US, but with the Buy Now link below, you get it for $49US with Bonus Extra Templates. Or download a fully functioning 45-day trial right now (Windows version only). [ More Info | Buy Now | Free Trial ]
	The Magic (The Secret) by Rhonda Byrne When I first saw the book and skimmed through it, it sounded like I am pretty much already there and I wouldn’t learn much from the content. But when I decided to follow it diligently, I could sense a powerful energy shift inside and around me. On Day 5 what started happening was really profound. Strangers started smiling at me for no reason, merchants were offering me free stuff or discounts, unexpected cheques showed up in my mailbox, all my clients called me on the same day and made purchases. Holy Moses, like Jack Canfield said in the original “The Secret”: This stuff is really working!! [ Buy The Magic on Amazon ]
	Kindle Fire – Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display Latest and greatest Kindle Fire for your personal development on-the-go. Choose from 19 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books. Kindle Fire features: Ultra-fast web browsing with powerful dual-core processor Vibrant color touchscreen with extra-wide viewing angle Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content Amazon Prime Members enjoy unlimited, instant streaming on thousands of popular movies and TV shows Amazon Prime Members choose from thousands of books to borrow for free [ Get Kindle Fire on Amazon ]
	Simpleology 101 Course by Mark Joyner v.2.0 [free] Simple and to the point presentation on getting on the path to success (in any field). You will clear your mind of distractions, see your goals clearly, and then realize it with razor sharp focus. This course covers what’s taken me over a year to discover the hard way, in a nice 20-lesson package. You will learn The Scientific Formula for Success, The 3 Sources of Power, and The 2 Most Important Decisions in Your Life – all FREE of charge. I want you to know that Simpleology 101 has my highest recommendation. [ Free Account and Access ]
	Be Fearless! Starter Kit by Guy Finley [free] Featuring the extraordinary ideas of best-selling author and renowned success expert Guy Finley. It includes a phenomenal 60-min MP3 audio program, 5 Simple Steps to Make Yourself Fearless, exclusive access to over 75 MP3 downloads in Guy Finley’s Wisdom Library, the immensely practical 30 Keys to Change Your Destiny ebook, plus a stirring song track from the sacred music CD, Door of My Heart.A $120 combined value. [ Free Welcome Kit | All Products | Be Fearless ]
	Global Information Network: Your Wish is Your Command The Global Information Network was founded by 30 members of various “secret societies” likes The Bilderberg Group, Council on Foreign Relations, The Freemasons, Yale University’s Skull & Bones, The Illuminati, and The Trilateral Commission. This organization is different as you don’t even need a credit card to have access to dozens of hours of powerful personal development training and business education. The FREE collection of Audio Recordings and Movies is absolutely priceless. Click on the “Affiliate Program” button on the left menu for the free access. [ GIN Invitation ]

Consumer Notice: You should assume that PWG has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. Commissions earned are used to pay staff, develop new products, and provide outstanding customer service. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Wellness Products INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Life Transformation Essentials is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Tahitian Noni – Wellness Business

I chose this business for many reasons. The biggest one is that I experienced a miracle healing myself and could relate to the miracle healing story of Ms. Sheron Hoot. Another good reason is Sheron Hoot’s life transformation story: After her toxic reaction to 6 maladjusted inoculations required for her business trip to Africa, her life was literally saved and her health completely restored by half a bottle of Noni Juice. With such a miracle and the resulting passion for Tahitian Noni, she went from Zero to One Million Dollars in less than 3 years. If Health, Fitness and Beauty are your passion and you like talking to people, this could be Your golden ticket.

Amway Business – Globally Well

If eco-friendly home products are your passion, you can build an enormous business by replacing household products you’re using anyway with Green Amway products, and then finding people to do the same – just replacing their household items with Amway products. The best way to go about that is to start part-time, use the products yourself, become passionate about them, be an enthusiastic role model, keep it simple and consistent, and persist until it flies. Word is that right now Amway is very very popular in Asian countries, so if you have contacts there (hint hint)…

Barefoot Executive – Fill Your Stadium

Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to direct sales, to information marketing and coaching she has ‘been there and done that’ professionally and personally. An ‘overnight mom’ to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She’s now built several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming extreme debt, losing 110 lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4, aging from toddler to teen!

Work at Home Moms (or Anyone)

If you are a stay-at-home mom and are thinking about starting your own internet business from home, this website-building system will walk you through the whole process from the beginning to the nitty-gritty of building a substantial income. The look and feel themes aren’t the greatest, but it’s a great start – you can always change it later. However, there is PLENTY of quality support from a very friendly group of people who call themselves SBI’ers. Click here to read a few WAHM Case Studies and sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide Newsletter to get a free WAHM Masters Course.

Beauty and Fashion Freelancing Career

Michelle Phan has a popular YouTube Channel (75+ million views) on make-up and beauty. She made an inspiring and practical video showing how to get started with a career as a makeup artist (or stylist, painter, etc). Michelle collects her fees right on the spot using The Square and her iPhone (or you can accept credit cards with a free PayPal Business account – incorporation not required). Her #1 most important tip: Be Confident!

Susan Boyle: I Dreamed A Dream and Will Smith Wisdom: You HAVE to Believe It

With 72+ million views, watch Susan Boyle’s fairy tale in the making. From audience’s full-on judgmental laughter on her appearance and ambitious dreams to all-out cheering by the end of the song. This video is sure to give you chills! Susan’s dream continues today… see her current website and the dream come true. To drive the point home, Will Smith shares his wisdom about success and the importance of having extraordinary dreams.

You HAVE to believe it! There is no reason to have the plan B, because it distracts you from plan A. [...] Then just decide what’s it gonna be and focus with all of your fiber (Not Afraid To Die On a Treadmill) and protect your dream. [...] You want something, go get it. Period.
- Will Smith

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Resources For Women INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Business Ideas and Empowerment is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

The Woman’s Survival Guide to Sexual Health

Everything you want to know about your sexual health and none of the embarrassment! You will find all the answers to your questions, from birth control, STIs, kegels, orgasms, the g-spot and so much more!

Women’s Health Issues

Women’s health issues are devoted to promoting women’s health and quality of life through knowledge and understanding. We want you to stay healthy and to provide you with the most reliable information, as well as a wide variety of possibilities and strategies to enhance health.

Other Wellness Resources

More useful wellness links and resources to further assist you with your total health and life transformation. Read about herbal supplements, weight loss, sports and fitness, fitness for seniors, stress relief, binge eating, and more.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Resources For Women INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Women’s Health is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Love Your Boyfriend

Love Your Boyfriend is an online guide for women: love and relationship advice, romantic tips and ideas and a resource for understanding men.

Catch Him & Keep Him

Highly acclaimed free newsletter and e-book full of practically applicable explanations on having a good relationship with men. This e-Book is a must-have “man manual” for women who want to have a long-lasting successful relationship.

Have the Relationship You Want

Sign up for free membership and learn the proven tools that Rori Raye used to turn her own falling-apart relationship into a glorious, decades-long marriage.

Wedding Ideas

Find Wedding Ideas and wedding planning info for your perfect wedding. Read articles, join the wedding ideas newsletter, shop at online wedding stores and more.

All About Motherhood

Want to get the most out of motherhood? Being a mom is hard! Find info, help and inspiration here. I want to help you to be happy in your role, to deal effectively with the every day stresses and strains and to really take back control of your life and make of it what you want it to be.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Resources For Women INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Relationships and Family is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Tni Defy Aging – Love Looking and Feeling Young

Look 10 Years Younger in 5 Days for as little as $10 dollars or Your Money Back. Combat Age Spots, Wrinkles, Dark Eye Circles, Saggy Skin and Acne with the Best Anti-Aging Skin Care. Visibly reverse the root cause of aging – all skin types.

Beauty Zone – Express Yourself in Colour!

Check out this skin care and beauty store with prestige brands like Artistry®. My mother and her friends love it, and I’ve been using many personal and home care products for years.

Tahitian Noni Juice for Total Health

All natural and completely safe bioactive phytochemicals will do incredible things to your skin and hair. With Noni-based complete weight management, you will be amazed at the difference. Try the Noni bioactive beverage and anti-oxidant cardio & immunity vitamins for super health. Completely safe and in fact highly recommended for pregnant women. Read about all Noni benefits here.

Globally Well – Products that Fit Your Lifestyle

Complete store with a wide variety of high quality products that fit your lifestyle. I simply can’t live without some of the stuff: 5-stars laundry detergent, long-lasting anti-perspirant deodorant, body wash, and really amazing specialized and all-purpose eco-friendly cleaners – no other brands match the results, believe me I tried. Check out the latest in Nutrition & Wellness, Beauty, Bath & Body, and For The Home products.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Resources For Women INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Beauty and Wellness is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

The Ten Spot in Toronto

The Ten Spot beauty bar is the city’s ultimate anti-spa experience – manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials + doin’ Gent’s is their specialty. Grab your gang or come solo and let them blow you away with their sleek style and savvy service. Screw ‘relaxation’. This beauty and grooming boutique is all about a funky and fun experience.

California Sun Spa in Toronto

California Sun Spa offers: microdermabrasion, endermologie, laser hair removal, laser vein removal, facials, vascular drainage, tanning, Yonka, Guinot, Cellex-C, Physician’s Choice beauty care products.

Divine Skin Therapy Wellness Spa in Toronto

Divine Skin Therapy Wellness Spa Centre focuses on health and beauty from within. Organic products, detoxification, and oxygen treatments are used to help avoid invasive procedures for anti-aging. Peruse our Services Menu of therapeutic massage, spa body treatments, skin care and spa packages.

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Resources For Women INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Relax and Rejuvenate is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Don’t be a tough guy (or girl) and ignore the pain. Have ANY DISCOMFORT checked as soon as possible. Don’t allow your ego to ignore the problem! Fix it NOW before it’s too late!

Get your health in order

Treatments and Remedies (index):

• Top Health and Performance
• Cell Phone Radiation Effects
• Chiropractor and Total Health
• Common Cold Remedies
• Skin, Freckles and Moles
• Eyes, Ears, Vocal Chords and Teeth
• Mucus and Milk (cow, goat, soy, rice)
• Feet and Arch support
• Knees and Joint Health
• TMJ treatment (clicking jaw)
• Cholesterol (HDL and LDL)
• Colon Cleanse and Diet
• Candida Cleanse and Diet
• Body Detox Ion Cleansing
• Important X-Ray Warning
• HealthBoards Message Boards

Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to receive quality wellness news. Also check: Healing Energy, Nutrition, Weight Loss Success, and Fitness Workouts articles.

True health is harmony between the individual (body, mind, heart and soul) and his or her environment.
- unknown

I put up my best hopes and intentions and became my own doctor. I started a healthy diet, multi-vitamins, gently increased exercise intensity, assumed positive mindset and did self-hypnosis. I figured that either one of the fixes will work, or the accumulation of many small things will add up to a grand result (Kaizen). And that’s exactly what happened.

My objective was to get to the root of each problem and fix it long term – not masking it with drugs. I started with a physical exam: checked my chemistry, blood and urin. Then I started researching and fixing whatever was broken.

When recovering from my accident I did a lot of sleeping, physiotherapy, Shiatsu massage, acupuncture (neck, feet and knees), Chinese medicine, and DoubleX® multi-vitamin. I followed all that with chiropractic adjustments to help the body with the healing process.

Top Health and Performance

• Become your own doctor, do your own research, assume responsibility
• Talk to doctors from the angle of super health and top performance
• Check your spine for any problems and see a chiropractor to fix them if any
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water and 1-3 cups of green tea throughout the day
• Drink 2-4oz of Noni Juice everyday – it’s good for everyone and everything (Dr. Oz)
• Have a shot of E3Live! or Wheatgrass juice and Acai berries smoothie few times a week
• Consume mostly raw vegetables (few exceptions) and eat healthy (green, lean, alkaline)
• Replace white rice/bread/sugar with brown and whole wheat equivalents
• Significantly limit dairy, meat, salt, simple sugars, coffee, alcohol and bad fats
• Exercise 3 to 5 times per week, walk and take stairs as much as possible
• Breathe through your nose and into your lower abs as often as you can (no smoking!)
• Limit cellphone use, use cable hands-free, disable Wi-Fi, avoid RF and  EMF
• Spend time in nature, smell the flowers, listen to streams in forests
• Find your purpose – a worthwhile reason to get up joyful every morning
• Use self-hypnosis to heal yourself and push yourself to greatness

You will feel good, light, sharp, clear, and full of energy within days. You will effortlessly lose excess weight in a matter of weeks without dieting (ie. eating just the right size meals regularly throughout the day). You will look and feel healthy. Your body will start to heal immediately and you will see the top health progress after a few weeks. After a couple of months you will feel exploding with energy and jumping for joy! more on superhealth

Get pH Balance strips (little orange paper strips available at Health Stores) and measure your body’s alkaline/acidity level (touch the orange paper to saliva on your tongue for a few seconds). With my top performance diet (lots of blueberries and green tea) I am in a healthy range (around 7.0). Acidic level (below 5.5) is a perfect environment for illness.

Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. At one point I started getting a sugar-ill feeling. It stayed with me for a few hours at a time. I kept being hungry all day and my teeth became super sensitive to sugar for no reason. Finally I figured that it was a nudge to watch my sugar intake when I relaxed my strict healthy diet regime after about a year. As soon as I limited my sugar and sweets, everything was fine within a day!

[ Back to TOP ]

Cell Phones Radiation

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Cellphone radiation might be a great controversy, but to me it’s as obvious as night and day. Conversations longer than 10 minutes with cellphone at my ear cause a feeling of energetic entanglement in my head. I use cable hands-free mic & earphone (not bluetooth) and try to keep the cellphone away from my body (eg. on the table). There are enough studies on the internet about carrying cellphones on the belt and resulting in testicular cancer or leukemia years down the road.

I understand cellphones are necessary for doing business or other important conversations, but try to limit their use, eg. go offline on the weekends, put cell phone away at home or the office, etc. Disable Wi-Fi at home or at the very least lower the antenna power setting to minimum, so that you drop 1 bar of signal strength at the farthest point from the wireless modem/router.

Watch for and stay away from other strong RF or EMF sources like big engines, electrical boxes, power lines, etc. It really boggles my mind the insanity behind the municipal governments having people driving those large, slow-moving, very noisy street cleaning vehicles – the EMF levels from those things are extremely high!

[ Back to TOP ]

Chiropractor and Total Health

Note: Please read this important x-ray warning.

I spoke to 3 different chiropractors about my skiing mishap, my uneven body weight distribution (right side was heavier by a few pounds as revealed at a Total Health expo), and about top performance health and long life.

I experienced three different levels of chiropractic adjustments, from very strong and physical, through gentle, to purely emotional and spiritual. With the last one, I’ve seen people crying and laughing at the same time as deeply set emotions were released.

For me (big guy), with a few crashes and accidents in my history, I felt that the strongest physical adjustment was the best. My first adjustment released a series of cracks in my neck like firing a machine gun. Right away I felt a huge relief and within a few hours an amazing joy came over me. Something was really blocking those nerves in my neck.

The spinal cord, which is enclosed in the spine, carries all impulses from the brain to the entire body, so it is crucial that the spine allows the central nervous system to operate flawlessly. Every organ in the body is affected by blockages (sublaxations) in the spine.

Click on the following images for greater clarity:

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Click ↑ to Enlarge

If you live in Toronto, below are the three clinics I visited a few times each (ie. shopping around). You can use my name as a referrer to receive discounts on the initial visit.

• Dr. Anthony Van Hoof (former Dr. Brian Wolfs) – personally I’ve had the best results with this chiropractor. Receive 80% off the initial consultation, examination and x-rays with the referral; 100 Guestville Avenue, Toronto, 416.763.0034; www.mountdennischiropractic.com
• Dr. Elizabeth Viglasky – very gentle adjustments – my mother prefers this chiropractor. Receive free initial consultation, examination, x-rays and adjustment with referral; Healing Source, 2425 Bloor Street West #410, Toronto, 416.604.4184
• Dr. Anthony Posa – I’ve experienced amazing energetic healing with this chiropractor. Receive free initial consultation and examination with the referral information; 2801 Keele Street #202, Toronto, 416.638.2225 www.networkcarecenter.com

Below are a couple of useful links if you would like to read up more about chiropractic treatments:

About Chiropractic Wellness

Spine Sublaxation Degeneration

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Went to see Dr. Brian Wolfs chiropractor first thing in the morning and got xray of my spine done. So according to Dr. Wolfs my spine is fine. My off-balance problem is not static (nothing is visibly wrong). It is dynamic. Gotta research that. The problem that he saw was no natural curve in my neck. He made a neck adjustment. It clicked on the left side like a machine gun. On the right there was a single click or two [note it's the spine movement that really counts, not the cracking]. It felt pretty good after! Good energy flow.

[Few hour later] Driving back from cooking class I really feel and see the difference now. Some major blockage was opened. Vision super crystal clear, voice low & deep (with resonance), words clearly articulated, feeling light, good, and full of Chi energy. Wow! Later did research on my case. Lateral twist of the spine is common and usually causes uneven hips and shoulders. Cause of it is head not being in the right place (uneven head level, not sitting right). Main treatment is in the C1-C2 area, and the rest will fix itself overtime. C1-C2 sublaxations may cause fatigue and low energy – hmm interesting. To heal, need to fix 3x/week for a few weeks to train the muscles to stay that way and not come back to the old (broken) state. Good sleep and good dreams. Self-woke at 7:50am and didn’t need coffee in the morning!!!!

Went to see Dr. Elizabeth at Bloor and Jane. She did some tests on me and found a few things: tight right hip, problems in fore-elbows/forearms, shoulders, some heart area spine problems, and poor neck flexibility. She did the scale test and the difference was around 12lbs. She says it went down [from the expo time] because I already had an adjustment. She told me I can grab xrays from the other doctor. She did discuss the whole spine with me and showed me some other minor-ish problems. She also did a whole spine adjustment. Felt good after, but not the same as after Dr. Wolfs. [My mother felt healthier and more energetic within few weeks].

[Couple of months later...] So I noticed that my lower back pain is gone! Few things: vibrating and hot chair cushion for a few hours, shiatsu, chiropractic adjustments, posture and proper sitting, and last but not least, back exercises at the gym! Interesting.

I asked Dr. Wolfs to have a look at my mid-back which hurts when riding my bike. Shiatsu therapist noticed something there, but she couldn’t help. Dr. Wolfs noticed it too and said it’s a rib. He cleared the sublaxation (it clicked like mad), and I felt a huge relief right away. The problem was gone just like that!

At Dr. Wolfs I mentioned this weekend’s episode with shoulder, neck, and side of a head. He felt my shoulder and felt the knot – technically a shiatsu material. He made an adjustment, which clicked like crazy. I felt a huge relief, and about an hour later, I felt a healthy tingling, like the healing energy or nutrients were rushing there to fix everything. It felt like a leg that was “asleep” and now the blood is rushing in there, kinda nice tingly feeling. Really cool.

Told Dr. Wolfs that I feel so good these days it’s crazy! He says that’s what happens when you unblock the nervous system. Your family’s and personal health care is top priority to Dr. Wolfs. I think that’s fantastic.

Back pain tips from the pre-chiropractor days:

• Apply heat gel pads to your back when it hurts – it really works.
• Get vibrating and electric heat lumbar support for your home/office chair.
• Exercise back at the gym (eg. back hyper extension; start slow and safely!).
• Exercise for the forward-head syndrome: Back to the wall, thin pillow (2in) mid back, move head horizontally backwards to touch the wall. Human brain weighs 3 pounds

UPDATE: I have been with Dr. Wolfs for over year and a half now. My spine curve near the neck has improved a lot (from 4 to 13 degrees in 1 year). Nowadays I get one adjustment per week on Mondays to perform my best that week. I still find it really incredible how it boosts my energy and clarity every time.

[ Back to TOP ]

Common Cold Remedies

I used to get a common cold every few months on consistent basis. Since I started applying all the diet and exercise changes, and getting chiropractic adjustments, the common cold virus was catching me less and less often. Of course things like personal hygiene, careful interaction with unknown people or places, and frequent hand-washing are a given!

Currently I don’t get sick at all, but it does happen that I feel a virus attacking me. The beginning is very subtle, but it’s very important to act IMMEDIATELY. I know it’s happening when I feel a little bit weaker, my throat is a bit itchy, and I have a very minor congestion.

The best way to fight cold is with heat (staying warm) and internal fire (hot spicy food). I can get rid of cold symptoms within 24-48 hours and be 99% healthy by day 3-4.

“Operation fix” as I call it, consists of the following 1-3 times per day for a few days:

• Noni Juice, VegeGreens Superfood powder with orange juice, NatureBorn Vitamins
• Large MaxVeggie juice and 2oz. shot of E3Live! or Wheatgrass (at Jugo Juice)
• Super spicy Chicken Soup like Vietnamese Pho Ga or spicy Thai cuisine
• Tabasco, horseradish, pepper, Japanse wasabi, Indian curry, Mexican sauces
• Lots of garlic, onions, spinach, carrots, beets, parsley, and green salad or pita
• Herbs: hot water inhalation with chamomile, mint, linden/lime, or eucalyptus
• Fruit: ruby red grapefruit, apples, raspberries, lemons, oranges, kiwis
• Hot Green Tea with Mint Oil, Propolis, lemon juice and a few raspberries
• Vitamin C (2000mg maximum per day) and/or DoubleX® multi-vitamin
• 1-5 minutes of sun exposure at a tanning salon (Vitamin D and the Sun light)
• Steam Room at the gym (with addition of Eucalyptus oil) – deep breathing
• When breathing, visualize good air going in (nose) and virus going out (mouth)
• Hot yoga at the gym, and possibly light cardio (elliptical or bike)
• Go to sleep early and get plenty of rest (nap throughout the day as needed)
• Dress warm (day and night to sweat it out – sleep with fleece, scarf, hat, sweat pants and socks on)
• Chiropractic adjustment (C4-5 & T3) and Paraliminal® Perfect Health self-hypnosis
• Relaxing meditation at home with focus on deep breathing (into lower abs)
• Mentally feel healthy (intention) – affirm to self that body just needs a little break
• If the Cold feels strong, take Advil Cold & Sinus® or ColdFX®
• If your nose is congested, get Nasonex® spray (tilt head back when spraying)
• If you don’t get better within a week, consider a light & quick antibiotic
• When feeling “almost” well (no sore throat, no runny nose) – restart cardio exercise

You can get most of the products at quality supermarkets, health stores and pharmacies. Continue the operation minimum for 2 days or as long as required. Usually you’ll feel a lot better in the morning.

The super spicy Vietnamese Chicken Soup clears my mucus, sinus, stomach heavyness, breathing, sleepiness, and overall sluggishness. Basically it restores my power Chi (energy) in the chest and nicely heats up the insides! The best thing once in a while!

Super short (1-5 minutes) tanning sessions are like a blessing for me, especially during cold winters. I somewhat meditate while under the light and feel an amazing tingling energy all over my body, like the Vitamin D and the strong light were working miracles. Note: consider wearing sunscreen when tanning.

[ Back to TOP ]

Skin, Freckles and Moles

Book an appointment with your local dermatologist to check all your freckles and moles. If you are concerned about changes in a specific mole, see your dermatologist asap. The ABCDE signs to watch out for are:

Click ↑ to Enlarge

• Asymmetry – one side is different from the other
• Border – irregular, ragged or imprecise
• Colour – variation with brown, black, red, grey or white areas or spots
• Diameter – anything larger than 6mm
• Evolution – change in colour, size, shape or symptom (itching, tenderness)

If you have a white with reddish hue sensitive skin, you must wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater all year long. The Canadian Dermatology Association’s recognized sunscreens include: Aveeno, Banana Boat, Coppertone, Dove, Hawaiian Tropic, La Roche, Life Brand, Neutrogena, Olay, Ombrelle, President’s Choice, RoC, ROSASOL, and Vichy.

[ Back to TOP ]

Eyes, Ears, Vocal Chords, and Teeth

Book an eye exam with your local optometrist to check your vision and overall health of your eyes. If you are doing a lot of computer work at night, consider turning off the main lights and working only with an incandescent desk lamp just to the side of your monitor(s). Natural daylight is still the best as long as the overall contrast of the outdoor and indoor light and monitor brightness is balanced (ie. not straining eyes). Also every 5-10 minutes look somewhere long-distance for a moment (eg. out the window) – this helps eyes stay relaxed.

Book a hearing test with your local audiologist to check your hearing sensitivity at different frequencies. If you are having trouble hearing or understanding people in noisy situations this could be the reason. If your hearing is great, other reasons can include limited vocabulary or personal lexicon (inventory of words and phrases) in the language in which you are having trouble. If your ears hurt, you may need to use an antibiotic for ears such as Sandoz Opticort or Noni Juice (applied directly into ears), which healed my ear infection in 2 days!

Check your vocal chords with your local laryngologist (Ear Nose Throat doctor) if you’re having trouble speaking, singing, or have constant problem with sinuses or mucus. You may have to do a CAT scan of sinuses (see this important x-ray warning). The problem goes away if you take care of your vocal chords (drink lots of water and no throat clearing for starters), eat healthy, stop consumption of cow milk, and do chiropractic adjustments.

Check your teeth and gums with your local dentist. You should brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes minimum twice daily or after every meal (gently, top and bottom separately, moving away from the gums, and if using electric toothbrush – not applying pressure), floss and use mouthwash (check with your dentist for details on techniques). Also do a teeth cleaning procedure every 3-6 months depending on your diet and daily cleaning habits. If you have sensitive teeth, the Sensodyne toothpaste works pretty well as long as you keep using it. If you’re having x-rays of your teeth done, please see this important x-ray warning.

[ Back to TOP ]

Mucus and Milk (cow, goat, soy, rice)

I discussed mucus in my throat problem with Laryngologist (Ear Nose Throat doctor). He checked my vocal chords which were fine, and booked me for a cat scan of sinuses (please see this important x-ray warning). He confirmed my findings about the negative effects of Cow Milk and enzymes it contains.

Laryngologist told me he sees three long-term solutions:

1. Do nothing (my final answer after trying Nexium®)
2. Try a medication (Nexium® or Avamys®)
3. Have an operation to adjust nasal passage (I don’t think so!)

Currently I am consuming a maximum of 1 litre of goat milk per week, and if it’s not available I opt for just a bit of soy milk (ie. with coffee) or lactose-free milk. Soy milk isn’t the best beverage when it comes to men’s libido and not so great for anybody in general, but I let you read up on that.

After about a month after I switched to goat milk, the major changes were better and I had a clearer voice and a lot less mucus. After about a year, I decided to switch away from daily completely, which resulted in further reduction of mucus. Instead of the goat milk, I now drink Fortified Rice Beverage or Almond Milk.

I found that a Super Spicy and healthy Vietnamese Chicken Soup (Pho Ga) nicely clears mucus in my throat, sinus congestion, stomach bloating, breathing, sleepiness, and overall sluggishness. It basically restores my power Chi in the chest.

In a herbal medicine book I read that a spicy chicken soup or spicy meals once a day for a few weeks can get help break up the mucus (rarefaction) and allow the body to better release and dissolve it from the throat.

Once there is relief, the body can take over and heal itself by destroying throat bacteria and restoring lining in the throat that transports the mucus out. This natural remedy really worked for me. It is also good for dealing with Asthma.

Few resources for your further consideration:

• Mucus Cleansing Foods
• Cow milk vs. Goat milk
• Milk sucks
• Dairy unfit for humans (around half-way down)

[ Back to TOP ]

Feet and Arch Support

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Book an appointment with your local chiropodist (Ontario) or podiatrist (surgical) to check your feet and ankles. Do it asap, as things can get worse very quickly. Flat feet can affect knees, hips and spine, which cause pain and general posture misalignment putting your mobility in the future at risk.

If you need Orthotics (custom insoles worn in shoes) for your arch support, my research revealed that the best method for making them is non-weight bearing cast method. Insist that this method is used or try the next podiatrist on the list.

A few tips from my chiropodist – do the exercises daily for arch pain and flat feet:

• Rest feet on ice (frozen pop, water bottle, or small bag of peas)
• Exercise feet (do the ABC… in the air with a foot)
• Stretch feet (back/bottom: heal suspension from stairs; top: lock foot against something and pull body forward )
• Manual manipulation (stretching feet with hands)
• New shoes (ask for a pronation shoe – a shoe for flat feet, eg. New Balance)
• Epsom Salt Bath (soak and stretch feet in the tub)
• Get custom foot orthotics (from chiropodists, podiatrists or chiropractors)

[ Back to TOP ]

Knees and Joint Health

Click ↑ to Enlarge

I used to get a strange deep dull pain in my knees when sitting in a drafty or cool area. The condition worsened over the years happening more and more frequently and sometimes I would not be able to sleep or concentrate on work because of it. A few years ago I found that heat in the form of the Hot-Cold-Gel-Packs worn often (I used Rexall brand with a long and wide Velcro strap) delivered a great deal of relief.

This is especially important during Winter season. I purchased quality Long Johns at The Bay, plus a fashionable cashmere scarf and cool Esprit hat. Did they work fantastic! I did not experience being cold this Winter at all! Although not recommended, I slept with the braces on a few times and the knees felt amazing in the morning. My doctor said to wear them only during the day, and at night let the circulation do the work. Warming the knees up with the hot gel packs in the evening and then sleeping in sweat pants did the trick.

I also did acupuncture on my knees with Dr. Yu (Tian Long Acupuncture). It wasn’t the most pleasant experience, but the results were noticeable. The chronic “cold” pain disappeared. Dr. Yu said that I had a “deep cold” in my knees. From that point on, I keep them nice and warm. When biking in the Fall or Spring I wear soft elastic knee braces to protect my knees from wind and to add a bit of stability.

To add to the great offensive of joint pain relief, I’ve made great changes to my diet (Top Health). I used Nutrilite Glucosamine Plus supplement with shellfish exoskeleton, shark cartilage and Chondroitin(!) for about a year, and then Tahitian Noni Healthy Joints Extract with Noni Fruit, Glucosamine HCL, Turmeric, and Citric Acid.

I also drank 4-6oz of Noni Juice Extra everyday, which aided the overall healing, and had 2-3 chiropractic knee adjustments per month. I could feel my knees healing with a pleasant feeling.

The doctor told me to avoid locking the knee joints when standing as that is another way to quickly loose cartilage. He advised me to stand with my knees just slightly bent – in an athletic stance. It all worked well and when I went for walks, my knees felt so light and “flowy”.

My final knee test, just to make sure absolutely everything was alright, was an MRI. I went to my doc, requested referral, and then to a hospital, radiology department. I was very polite and asked if I could have it done soon. The line was a few months long, but I said that I can come any time, even at night, and so I got an appointment within a week at 3am. Week later I got the MRI results. Everything in there was fine. The knees were just a little stressed. I was to take care and go easy on them.

So I took it easy on the knees for a couple of more months, and then started progressing the difficulty of the workouts. I let my trainer know to keep in mind my weak knees, but after a few leg workouts, the muscles just above the knee cap got stronger and the clicking greatly subsided. He focused on the Hip Adduction and Hip Abdution machines, plus Leg Extension and Leg Curl with a limited range of motion. Today I do Muay Thai kicks and squats with 220 pounds on my shoulders and the knees are strong like a bull.

My Shiatsu massage therapist recommended that I can heal myself (eyes, knees, metabolism, anything) with self-massage, intention and healing energy like Reiki. I have to do it everyday, and after some time, the results will show. I did it daily for about 3 weeks and the knees did feel better. I still self-massage the knees now for maintenance. To top it all off, I tried a Salt Spa (location currently closed). Besides easier breathing, I felt nice tingling in my arms and legs – especially in my knees.

After further research on numerous solutions and fixes on jaw and knees, I found that the body can heal itself as long as there isn’t any urgent physical damage. It is very important to minimize the symptoms, the root cause and pain through gentleness, care, supplements and stimulation (shiatsu and self-massage).

Root causes of a sore knee in many cases are a dry skin over the knee and a flat foot which causes misalignment and affects knees, hips and spine. I recently found a great natural way to minimize the pain and promote healing. The Ginseng-based Arthritis Pain Relief Cream moisturizes the skin (to stop drying up of the inside of the knee) and relieves the pain, which in turn makes any healing method much more effective. Good night sleep is very important, too.

As an effective and less expensive alternative, what I am currently using topically on my knees twice a day is Skin Supplement Original Lotion. The cream has given me great pain relief in the form of much needed moistutre or lubrication of the joint. Sometimes when I couldn’t fall asleep because of the discomfort I felt in the knees, as soon as I applied the cream I was out within minutes!

Fitness Tip: Don’t run! Especially if you’re overweight. It’s bad for your knees and back. Do fast pace walks, bike riding, swimming or use elliptical machines for 20+ minutes at a time.

[ Back to TOP ]

TMJ treatment (clicking jaw)

Click ↑ to Enlarge

For the jaw TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) problem I found that the biggest relief came from a Chiropractor, who adjusted my very top vertebrae (C1 cervical). In addition to that I try not to eat tough chewy food (steak, energy bars), not to open my mouth very wide (avoiding big sandwiches), and not clicking the jaw on purpose. My dentist recommended a night guard for teeth.

Just like with the knee, as long as you are careful not to overstretch the jaw and attacking the problems with multiple solutions, body will slowly return to a healthy state. Thou it may look silly, you have to cut your apples in 4 pieces, control your yawns, and skip eating large sandwiches.

Few resources for your further consideration:

• Jaw clicking (natural)
• Jaw clicking (dental)
• Jaw clicking (medical)
• The TMJ Association

[ Back to TOP ]

Cholesterol (HDL and LDL)

My physical exam blood test results were just barely within norms. I had to drop LDL (bad cholesterol) big time and increase HDL (good cholesterol) slightly. See your physician to book a blood test and get your exact numbers.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

To easily transition into the Top Health eating habits, I did a colon cleanse and candida cleanse, which forced me to go out of my way to hunt down healthy food and habits. After that ordeal, it was a lot easier to maintain the healthy diet. In fact, the unhealthy food made me feel ill (ie. like putting cheap gas into a high-end car).

Soluble fibre is the key for bad cholesterol loss. I found that President’s Choice Blue Menu Fibre First cereal is the perfect addition to the wholesome breakfast in the morning. Occasional fibre supplement sprinkled on top of a dish or salad also helps. The fibre cereal is also a life saver when I get hungry late at night as it has no sugar and fibre digests for a long time. I have it with water and then I fall asleep pretty quick.

UPDATE: NatureBorn Vitamins, which are based on all-natural plant ingredients and anti-oxidant blend can help stabilize cholesterol in as little as 30 days. Tahitian Noni Fibre Products are a great natural way to meet your minimum daily fiber requirement.

Few interesting points about Cholesterol management:

• Eat healthy, quit smoking, lose weight, exercise and have a chat with your doctor
• Exercise 3-5 times per week for minimum 20 minutes and preferably in the morning
• Duration (not intensity or frequency) is the best, eg. long walks or sports games
• Have 1 glass of red wine (low GI index) few times per week. *Drink Responsibly!*

Few resources for your further consideration:

• How to lower LDL cholesterol
• How to raise HDL cholesterol
• Exercise and Cholesterol
• Alcohol and Cholesterol

Benefits of the most common Fruit and Vegetables:

[ Back to TOP ]

Colon Cleansing and Diet

I did the colon cleanse first to get things moving (pun intended). In terms of diet difficulty, it was medium level. The benefits included overall better mood and energy, feeling cleaner and healthier on the inside, effortless weight loss, and a regular bowel movement.

I used the Renew Life® CleanseSMART^TM natural herbal bowel cleanse and body detox (available at GNC stores), plus fibre supplement and digestive enzymes. It all worked quite nicely for me. I had 2-3 big and easy bowel movements per day and I quickly discovered that more than half a cup of light coffee per day was killing me, which was great!

My friend Cindy, a complete body cleanse expert, has a thorough Spring Clean Cleanse website with plenty of information about different types of detox cleansing for different purposes. Sign up for the PWG Newsletter to grab a free 1-page summary on a quick and painless detox cleanse.

Additional tips:

Eat a diet high in fibre and fluid. Fresh vegetable and fruit juices are good (especially carrot, apple, and cabbage). Aloe vera juice is really good also. Don’t eat seeds, popcorn, and nuts. And absolutely avoid red meat, alcohol, caffeine, refined carbohydrates, and dairy products. Drink plenty of water but NOT alcohol.

Take a psyllium-seed supplement. Do abs exercises and yoga to help tone the organs and encourage passage of waste through the colon.

Garlic and horseradish are natural herbs for cleaning the colon of worms and other parasites. Preparation: take 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic/horseradish two times a day, or horseradish sauce by the teaspoon twice a day.

Other natural cleansing agents are: cayenne pepper, Italian chopped peppers which can be sprinkled on foods to aid in cleansing the intestines as well while maintaining a high intake of Vitamins A and C. A favorite recipe is: mix 1/8th tspn of cayenne pepper, the juice of one lemon, one minced clove of garlic, and one gram of vitamin C. Sip slowly.

Flaxseed can be eaten raw or cooked, and 1 tspn daily can prevent constipation in adults. Flaxseed oil is also one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, helpful in reducing cholesterol and reducing arthritis pain.

Fibre sources:

• Black beans
• Oatmeal
• Lentils
• Apples

Works cited: The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Mark Bricklin and Vitamin Bible by Earl Mindell

[ Back to TOP ]

Candida Cleanse and Diet

Although my negative lab test results (talk to your doctor to book the test) showed I didn’t need candida cleansing, the candida cleanse diet was just what I needed to force myself to eat healthy. Plus I am sure it actually did clean up whatever was lurking down there as the candida symptoms disappeared after a couple of months.

According to my research and personal experience the warning signs of candida albican in the body are:

• Low energy and feeling exhausted
• Feeling hazy and not thinking clearly (“foggy thinking”)
• Craving sugar, bloated abdomen, stomachache
• Some white patches or coating on tongue

I used the Renew Life® CandiGONE^TM anti-fungal and anti-bacterial herbal cleanse with CandiZYME^TM and FloraSMART^TM (all available at GNC stores). I did the candida cleansing twice (ie. 2 cycles in a row) as I loved the results and wanted to REALLY clean things up.

The candida diet was rough with many restrictions, but I felt overall better and I was down another belt loop on my waist! The diet consisted of fibre (beans), protein (powder, chicken), whole wheat (rice), greens (salads), and absolutely no sugar.

I was also eating a lot of garlic dishes, drinking veggie juice, taking multi-vitamins, eating a lot of fibre (especially for breakfast), and having Spirulina and Wheatgrass shots. The fibre filled me up, it lasted longer, and thus I was eating less. Perfect! Though my hair looked less than healthy, but it was better when I got back to fruit.

After a while I invested in a Hamilton Beach Juice Extractor and started making my own veggie juice. It takes about half an hour to wash, “resize”, and process vegetables and then clean the machine, but I make enough for 3-4 days, so it’s a resonable cost in terms of time.

EAT LOTS: Salmon, beans, vegetables, chicken

AVOID: Aged cheeses, additives & preservatives, alcohol, caffeine and other stimulants, chocolate, fruits, glutenous foods, mushrooms, nuts, sugars, honeys and syrups, spices, curries & hot foods, vinegar

Few resources for your further consideration:

• About candida cleansing
• Enzymes and candida
• Enzymes for candida
• Foods to eat
• Recipes

[ Back to TOP ]

Body Detox Ion Cleansing

I did the Ion cleansing after the colon and candida cleansings, which were taxing on my liver and gallbladder (filtering). Thus, it was the perfect time to cleanse those organs with ion cleansing. The water in the tub reflected toxins in joints, gallbladder, liver, and also lymphatic system as I was getting over a cold, plus very minimal traces of candida.

I tried Ion Cleansing at Divine Skin Therapy in Toronto. I did a total of 10 sessions and did feel overall lighter and internally cleaner after each one.

[ Back to TOP ]

Important X-Ray Warning

Go easy on the X-Rays, CAT scans and MRI’s with nuclear contrast agents. Disclose to any doctor (Chiropractor, Denstist, Laryngologist, etc.), who wants to do X-Rays, if and when you had X-Rays done last (wait few months between nuking yourself).

The radiation and toxicity overdose made me feel somewhat sluggish and uneasy even thou there were no changes in my Top Health diet and exercise. What eventually helped me was the ion cleansing body detox, couple of shiatsu massages, and veggie and fibre overdose.

When you’re done repairing your health

Just imagine getting up in the morning feeling great and ready to go. It’s worth it! Trust me

Also check out the Health Forum for more treatments and discussions: HealthBoards Message Boards, and another great website with plenty of treatments: Home Remedied For You.

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Total Personal Health Care and Wellness is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

Consider the size of the mountain in front of you. Sometimes it appears tiny, other times it is huge. The size of the mountain is always the same. It is only your perception that changes. Life is about the ability to deal with challenges skillfully – not about avoiding them altogether.
- unknown

Overcome stress and create positive emotions

Relief and Help techniques (index):

When something like that happened to me, I eventually realized that there is no magic key and I needed to keep working on myself: learn my lessons and create something of value or be of service to others, ie. pay even greater price in terms of time, energy, and money.

All those realizations took me away from the bad thoughts, which I had to acknowledge and accept to move past them. This is a very important step, step #1.

If you don’t feel happy by default most of the times (or at least content and at ease), despite how bad you think it is (being broke or sick), you’ve got some work to do.

After you’ve spent some time on personal development and seemingly nothing has changed in your life, yet you actually feel happy, grateful for life opportunities (no matter how small) and admire the beauty of the world, you are on the right track.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.
- unknown

At this point you have a solid action plan (creating and delivering value), and you trust and believe that anything that happens, happens for a good reason (soon or eventually – in the big scheme of things).

See, the way to live life without stress is to feel certain about the future – to have faith in goodness and fairness of God/Universe. You have to do your best to design and create your own future (ie. be proactive rather than reactive) and be an overall good person. When you provide genuinely good value, things will align to support you. I know this for sure based on solid evidence in my life.

[ Back to TOP ]

Stress Relief in 7 steps

Step 1

The first step to overcoming stress is to actually realize and acknowledge that you are stressed. Then make a strong decision to change that. You can say a positive affirmation to yourself, such as:

I know I am going through challenging times right now, but I am strong, intelligent and persistent; I can and I will get through this. I will make my life amazing and beautiful.

The Fifth Element movie offers a great quote by Mr. Kim (Thai chef on the float):

But grandfather say, “It never rain everyday”. This is good news, guaranteed. Hey, I bet your lunch!
- Mr. Kim (Good philosophy: See good in bad.)

This movie about Validation will help. It can even change your life – just smile.

Step 2

Step two is to take a day to do something nice for yourself, have few moments of bliss, and relax as much as possible. Try to make the “something” healthy and empowering – go for a long walk in the park, go for a swim or a long drive. Reflect on your body for a moment, feel what hurts and how, what is the emotion, what is missing. Then give it to yourself to your best ability. You may want to write all this down.

The idea here is to get your mind ready for thinking clearly and constructively, so you can act with enthusiasm, creativity and positive action.

Step 3

Step number three is take your time and get absolutely clear on what you REALLY WANT. Be careful not to slip into the area of what you don’t want – focus on what you DO WANT. What is the best-case scenario, the ideal situation – think like anything is possible! Dream and Imagine where you want to get and who you want to be. Dream Big!

See my Why Should I Change? article for inspiration and howto, and the Preparation Work article for helpful guidance. I also found self-hypnosis Paraliminals® Anxiety-Free and Belief to be very calming and clarifying.

Step 4

Step four is to eliminate uncertainty right now. Research whether someone has already dealt with a similar dilemma and documented it on the web or in a book. Study all related options, solutions, biographies, success stories and if possible seek an expert who can guide you through it. Clarify what your first step should be.

Sometimes you can remove uncertainty by making a simple phone call or having an open and honest conversation with someone. Quick tip: talk in the “I-language”: “I feel hurt when…”, “I feel neglected when…”, or “I feel misunderstood when…” Or ask a successful person: “If you were in my situation, how would you proceed?” and co-create a reasonable solution that will work for you.

Step 5

Optional step five is to think about your worst-case scenario, make a contingency plan, really prepare for it the best you can (eg. have backup and required tools), and be absolutely mentally ready to execute that plan. Then realize that your worst-case scenario didn’t happen yet, so you can let go of worrying about it; however, now you are fully prepared to handle it.

When I was ready to file for bankruptcy, aside from doing thorough research and organizing all my paperwork, I mentally let go of all my current possessions and various benefits. This helped me overcome the fear of loss – at the end material possessions don’t matter as much as we give them value.

Step 6

Step number six is to contrive a long-term solution, plan, or purpose (step 2 & 3) so that this uncertainty doesn’t happen again. It is very important to be ready to follow it, even if it means sacrificing certain things (social meet-ups with unhealthy foods and unhealthy habits, etc).

Also prepare your work environment for action (declutter and dust-off surfaces, organize your desk, get healthy food and snacks, put on your favourite/relaxing/action music). Clean work area is a very powerful destressing cure.

Step 7

Start! Follow the plan no matter what. Just do it, even for 2 minutes! This tiny progress will magically shift your mind into a productive state and you will be on your way. Lay that first brick. JUST START!

Whenever you slip back into stress, repeat all steps as necessary.

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.
– Zig Ziglar

One of my friends made this important observation:

After the amount of stress I’ve been through the past few weeks, I still carry the lesson of letting go. You can’t take any of the stress with you. While you’re IN IT, it seems like you’ll never make it, but then when it’s OVER, it’s nothing but a story to tell…

* just make sure to make the story inspirational, or forever hold your peace.

[ Back to TOP ]

Reduce Stress and Relax

To reduce stress choose relaxing techniques below, or design your own feel-good day; but be careful, too much of a good thing can backfire – lean to the side of relaxation.

• Recharge with a Shiatsu massage, Hatha yoga, long shower, or a walk in the park
• Go for a workout: first elliptical, then legs and benchpress; or do a group fitness class
• Intend to feel good, breathe deep, straighten your posture, feel the joy
• Talk to someone supportive and positive, have a light chat about fun things
• Have a quality dinner (eg. salmon, sushi), vegetable salad (with avocado) and green tea
• Rid your body of toxins with a body cleansing detox, either Herbal or FIT Cleanse Pack
• Go to IKEA, get some candles, walk around the demo rooms, pretend you’re in your own gigantic kitchen cooking a nutritious dinner for your family
• Take a drive through a nice neighbourhood, feel like you live here, feel good
• Have some fresh fruit (eg. strawberries, kiwi, apple) or a healthy smoothie
• Groom yourself, wash your hair, put on your best clothes, go out, smile
• Watch a funny TV sitcom or your favourite movie; note: avoid drama and news
• At home light the candles, light an incense, put on some nice music, just relax

After all this you will hopefully feel nice and light, yet crystal clear. Go to sleep early, have a good quality sleep, get up right away when you wake up, have a healthy breakfast, and … get going with the plan. The time to make it happen is now! It’s now or never!

UPDATE:

Click ↑ to Enlarge

In addition to stress coping and resolution actions outlined in this article, it may be necessary to stimulate the body’s ability to produce and maintain proper levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. This would induce a better overall mood (ie. make us friendly and approachable) and boost our creativity skills, which in turn would help us take a positive constructive action towards a solution.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

All the examples above are a very strong evidence of chemical imbalance in the brain as the latest research suggests. The WebMD.com site shows a brain with a decreased brain activity due to depression (for any reason or due to substance abuse). Whereas Bonkers Institute for Nearly Genuine Research shows a brain of a lottery winner (not a genuine website, but that would likely work!).

According to Fred M. Bogan, D.C. we can actually stimulate production of neurotransmitters on demand with certain nutrient building blocks. These are primarily the amino acids L-Tryptophan and Tyrosine, together with L-Lysine, vitamin C, B6, folate, calcium and quality multivitamin. Every case is different, but these can come from a high quality wholefood nutrition that contains 150+ nutraceuticals (including amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals) and other 10,000+ nutrients.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Just 1 full day of sipping on 4oz. of Tahitian Noni® Bioactive Beverage (Glass Bottle Original) dissolved in 1L of water together with a serving of Natureborn Multivitamins returned my more positive outlook on life and clearer thinking. This allowed me to seize the moment, get some sleep and get back to the gym. After 3 days my brain started generating a few great ideas on fixing the problems.

The peace of mind was priceless.

[ Back to TOP ]

“Plow thru, Plow thru”

Every time you’re “in the zone” making amazing progress and a challenge comes up that tries to stop you, just say to yourself the words “Plow thru, Plow thru” and keep at it strong like a bull! Be patient, decide to feel better and keep going – you’re on the right track. If you really give it all you got, you will come out a happy and successful person.

Men listen up! Grow a pair, override stress, get to work, and claim what’s yours! Don’t put up with any BS. Don’t worry about every single “what-if.” Failure (ehrm, challenge) is always an option, but success is sweet and satisfying. Research possible options, gain the knowledge, have backup, then take the risk! Trust, believe, and act! Plow thru and adjust if necessary. Nothing great was ever accomplished by being timid or ultra safe. Be like Rocky in Eye of the Tiger!

If you catch yourself procrastinating, first look inside you and try to find out what exactly is the problem, what do you need? Are you overwhelmed? Are you thirsty? Are you hungry? Is your mind exhausted? Find what you really need and try to take care of it (see the next paragraph below). Start with a glass of clean water and see how the feeling changes.

The above in more detail: Let the feeling sit for about an hour, analyze it (where in the body is it, what does it look like, analyze it logically and emotionally). Then “puke”/spit/exhale it out. Then when it feels gone, assume a shaman pose and recharge with fresh air and light (breathe deep and soak up the sun). Have a good night sleep. Nicely done!

One day en route to office I tried to see where the pain was. It was on my head, like a hat, but made of sludge and slowly moving downwards onto my forehead and around my head. Clearly I fried my brain.

I went for a long walk in the park, then a Yoga class, and then had a solid good night sleep. Next morning I self-woke early (7am) and got ready for work, feeling good and very motivated.

Divide your big task into smaller parts (make small to-do lists, divide and conquer), and just start, just do it! Even if you do only 1-2 hours of useful work in a day, it will make you feel better and motivate you do further work. Send some emails, apply for things, post your professional profiles online – let those things work for you as you sleep. Getting a positive response next day gives you an amazing boost. Also sign up for 2 or 3 useful newsletters (health, wealth, other) as these provide a good boost as well.

Another day I woke up really mentally exhausted – I was slow, mellow, and didn’t feel like talking to anyone (as in producing any vocal sound!). I forced myself to the gym for a quick workout. My mantra “let’s make it count!” simply didn’t work this time, so I had to force my body with: “just do it!” and totally ignore what the brain said.

Mid-workout I actually had to take a 5 min nap on a flat bench: I had to do what I had to do. When I was done and leaving, I was wasted, but felt really good all over. I can’t stress enough how important an exercise is even when in the middle of the most busy time.

Nutrition: High-productivity mode can make you hungry really quickly and often, even every 2-3 hours despite regular meals every time. The crucial thing is a QUALITY food, eg. fruit, fibre cereal and eggs for breakfast, salmon sandwich for lunch, Vietnamese chicken soup for dinner, brain supplements like Brazilian nuts, blueberries, ginseng and ginkgo, Tahitian Noni® Beverage, E3Live! BrainOn Green Algae with Phenalmin, and of course plenty of water.

Reading all the help books and websites may give you a lot of knowledge, but the very nature of those readings can be very overwhelming. I found that making an intention before reading (what do I want to learn?), setting a soft deadline to finish reading, having a good night sleep (for the new information to soak in), and then applying the knowledge in practice the next day is the way to go.

[ Back to TOP ]

Daily Stress Survival Ideas

• Clean up, calm down, keep a positive outlook (trust, believe, pray)
• Fix worries (computer backup, insurance) and automate as much as possible
• Have vision and goals, make to-do lists, take daily action moving forward
• Do what feels good, but have a game plan, know situation is only temporary
• Surround yourself with positive and empowering people
• Avoid getting hooked into arguments with negative people
• Take nothing personally, take it as feedback, agree to disagree
• Be open to other people’s thoughts and ideas (especially successful people’s)
• Sleep and wake early, breathe deep, eat healthy, drink lots of water, exercise

When you’re super down, Chi is low, and you have crappy posture, what do you do? Well, start with grooming (haircut, shave, face moisturizer, a bit of sun, all to get the glow back), then gym (cardio, quick chest, quick legs, shoulders, back, some stretching), then follow all that with a nice spicy chicken soup.

Posture is back, power is back, internal joy is back, mind sharpness is back. Back to the projects.

Below are a few random notes straight out of my Journal:

One night I was sad and restless and I couldn’t fall asleep, I self-hypnotically repeated a positive affirmation: “I feel awesome! I feel fantastic!” At first it felt like a lie, but within 15 minutes my mood changed to real joy.

And then my thoughts went on autopilot recalling all nice things that happened to me recently, nice things I did for others, and nice things that were about to happen. Amazing! I slept like a baby that night.

In the Paraliminal® Coaching Belief Side B, Paul talks about Learned/Educated Helplessness. His advice to turn it around is: first change physiology (posture, power pose, smile), then change frustration into curiosity (questioning, exploring, testing, believing that a solution exists). I listened to each coaching 3 times and Paraliminal 2 times over a couple of days. I was catching new information every time.

Whenever you’re slipping into helplessness, you have to do something! Anything! Change your environment, watch racing movies, sing-along to your favourite song, do accents, go for a walk, treat yourself (as healthy as possible!). Although only temporary, anything helps that puts you back on your project (note: you must have that project!).

My happy place is quiet, sunny and positive, with classical piano music and incense in the background. Also I tend to go for a walk to a nice neighbourhood grocery store (25 min walk one way), where I have a fresh chicken salad wrap, single espresso, and acai smoothie. What an energy shift! Go to a local library, coffee shop, or a garden and work from there.

I found an interesting article about business sharks:

For sunny days they must maximize the energy and celebrate it with something nice for self. For rainy days they must find their own way to make the best out of it and a find own ritual to raise the energy.

Otherwise damage control is required. One way to do that is through honesty. Just say that you had a crappy day and you wanna make it right by taking the person to lunch. Then don’t talk about that day, deliver a pleasant quality time.

Allow yourself to be depressed, but only in privacy… It’s a very human reaction to hard work, and you must go through it, sooner or later.

Remember that you are not an average guy, you want to be a millionaire, so you will not experience average emotions. Don’t fight depression, don’t escape it and don’t hide it, it’s normal, so take it to the full, but in privacy.

Once recovered, forget it and start clean.

- Millionaire Mindset

Solution ideas to a couple of bad habits:

Nail biting – short-term: grip strengthening device, long-term: overall fix and peace of mind

Being disorganized and procrastinating – Simpleology 101 course – Free Access with signup

Always plan ahead – even with just a simple “what-if”. Also always think before doing anything (big or small). Have backup if possible, eg. have a temporary “recycling bin” when cleaning clutter.

Say no to things you really don’t want to do. If you already have made a commitment you cannot take back, offer to do something else that’s equivalent in value instead.

Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself“ is really a great boost for me and for Mr. Donald Trump. Grab a copy and listen to it over and over.

Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted – One moment
Would you capture it, or just let it slip?
Yo, His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy [...]
He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won’t come out
He’s chokin, how everybody’s jokin now
The clock’s run out, time’s up, over bloah
Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity
Oh, there goes rabbit, he choked
He’s so mad, but he won’t give up that
No, he won’t have it , he knows his whole back city ropes
It don’t matter, he’s dope
He knows that, but he’s broke
He’s so stacked that he knows
When he goes back to his mobile home, that’s when it’s
Back to the lab again yo
This whole rap s**t
Better go capture this moment and hope it don’t pass him

[Chorus:]

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo,
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime

- Eminem

Bottom line:

If everything is great (air, food, energy, love, balance, brain rested) amazing work can get done. There is focus, ideas, action, personal power. But after some time, there comes a point that body needs to rest again (balance).

This is the time to sleep or go for a bike ride or walk in the park (it’s free!). Ideally one should take a break before the burn-out hits. Take 10 minute breaks every hour of work and a longer 30-60min break after 3 hours of work. Note that quality food at regular intervals is a must!

[ Back to TOP ]

Financial Stress Relief

For financial stress relief start with gratitude, think about what you have: home, food, access to library, access to internet. Also you have your mind “and as long you have your mind, you can put things back together” – The Secret’s Miracle Man. Another massive transformation inspiring story is one of Neale Donald Walsch presented in a movie and book under the same title Conversations With God.

With money I experienced the power of Law of Attraction first hand! I needed to learn to be grateful and work on feeling my own self-worth. I had to learn my lessons and clean up debts to make room for new money energy, which slowly but surely started to trickle in. Here is another great site with concise quality information to Learn Financial Planning.

Look into Social Assistance and Low-rent Housing, do a deep search on Google, study your options (various benefits, self-employment training, etc.), make an inquiry call (not everything can be found online), talk openly with case workers, get the paper work in order and submit it. Even if chances are low or wait is long, you will open some doors.

When looking for work, don’t just sit in front of the computer all day and spam mailboxes with your resumes. Do a little bit of research on the internet on who else on this planet is doing similar project to yours, search for blogs, forums, websites, physical meetings and events.

Talk to your friends, ask them if they know of any opportunities or to do you a favour and have their ears open. Submit your resume to recruiting agencies and ask them to help you revise your resume – it’s a win-win request. In my experience recruiters and friends are the best (and wisest) way to finding employment. Find preferred employers and try calling them yourself. Have your HELPFUL elevator pitch ready and … SOUND and FEEL POSITIVE!

Get out there, meet people, interact, make connections, offer your value, take positive action, and see what happens. Clear your mind of clutter, be focused and super productive. The Free Simpleology 101 Course (The Simple Science of Getting What You Want) will get you on your way within a day or two. I highly recommend you sign up for the free account and watch the course videos today (it will only take you a couple of hours).

Note: Don’t be needy or desperate; be enthusiastic and come from an angle of confidence and value. Ask them how can YOU be of service to them, find out what problems they are having and demonstrate that you know how to solve them effectively. Easy way to do that is to make friendly connections for the purpose of exchanging knowledge and creating ideas.

In the meantime, if you need money fast, consider options such as selling your stuff on eBay, Kijiji, Craigslist, advertising your talent and skills in a local newspaper or on fiverr (I got 6 gigs within 1 week of signing up (as a test) by offering great value: website user experience and technical review). Strongly consider getting a part-time job that’s well below your qualifications or compensation expectations (calling the employer personally is a huge improver of your chances).

A little bit of income can go a long way as it allows your left brain (survival mode) to relax and the right brain (creativity mode) to engage. I did what I had to do and worked for $10/hour for a while. I was really thankful for that opportunity and soon moved up to better paying gigs. Always ask around if anyone has heard of any opportunities and ask for a personal referral.

Much of my making money online research and the recommendations in this article are in the free eBook that I created. You can grab the book from my Business Products page. Have a quick read and give it 24-48 hours for your mind to start thinking up great ideas. Review all other business ideas on the same page and get started turning your situation around.

If you prefer to start fast with an automated done-for-you Internet business-in-a-box, have a look at the Get Fit Body Now Biz 2.0. There is a video there and an opt-in box, which takes you to a page with an overview video and further details. By the way – I made it… the whole system. If this is the right time for you, this is the right opportunity! Rest assured that I will stick around for a long while and support you personally.

Whether you want just a $2000-4000 monthly income or you want to go even further, see the millionaire mindset articles to get on the right track: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

You can have a look at the 101 Ways to Make Money highly ranked website with some other ideas. Keep in mind however that most of the ideas take a minimum of about a month go get going and do not come with a guarantee that they will work. There are some websites out there offering “Free Money”, but they pay just cents to a few dollars for a lot of your time, so it’s not really a good deal.

Remember! There is no such thing as Get Rich Quick! Everything requires work, skill, time, or energy in some form or another (eg. to make money on facebook you have to take time to develop a brand, persona, and following, not to mention the technical know-how).

If you already own a business that isn’t doing too well, but you really want it to work out and prosper, summon all the energy you possibly can and Act! Get a Simpleology 7-Day Business Turn Around Kit packed with practical immediate cash ideas, money management techniques, solid business advice, tax tips, and drastic measures marketing action plan. You can also look into Government Grants, for which you need to have a solid business plan that’s inline with Government’s goals (collect taxes from employed people or businesses, and grow city’s/country’s economy).

You can consider starting another business, with your knowledge and experience to date being a great asset. If you feel you need to study up a little and do it even better, consider Simpleology Business Coaching Program I found it to be a very empowering and eye-opening resource. It teaches about ways to continuous cash flow, deep human needs, raising capital, spreading the word, and much more.

Tip: If you have some time on your side, sign up for the free Simpleology 101 account and watch for deals and offers – sometimes you can get valuable courses for cheap or even free – this applies to almost any online product.

If you choose not to continue your business and have other plans or goals, close it down. If you are heavily in debt, consider the financial bail-out options, including doing-it yourself or bankruptcy (search for Gov’t authorized Trustees to avoid consultation or other rip-off costs).

If it’s your first one and you don’t have too many assets, it is a reasonably simple process. However, try to avoid it if you can – it should be your last resort as it makes your life a bit difficult for a few years. Weigh it with your current situation and make a decision.

Best of luck and power to you!

[ Back to TOP ]

Money and Dating

As far as asking women on dates is concerned, my limiting belief was that asking women out while I REALLY couldn’t afford a $20 dollar lunch is pointless. I decided to challenge that belief and even thou it was hard at first (energetically expensive), I was eventually able to correct that belief.

From a $3 dollar coffee date there could be a lot of MUTUAL empowerement (from quality contacts and opportunities and power ambition and admiration, through making each others’ lives easier with more fun and joy, to relaxation and pleasure), though to be honest, no one really wants or deserves a partner with issues. Thus I was back on the path of fixing myself from the inside. Once that was done, dating was easy, even on a very limited budget.

Through honesty about the current situation (thou not at first – a small investment is necessary to convey other-than-financial value-add and life improving benefits), ambition and enthusiasm can get you an amazing good-hearted partner: successful business women, models, actresses, IronMan athletes, or just the sweetest and smartest regular girls. The mentor that helped me the greatest in approaching women and getting physical was David DeAngelo (* through his free newsletters).

Be clear on what do you want. If you don’t want drama, you’re going to get it. If you want beauty, warmth, ambition, or whatever else – guest what – you shall receive it. Also be honest with yourself and your partner. If all you can give is 1 or 2 days per week, tell her or him that. It’s all about managing expectations before resentment sets in. In this day and age this kind of arrangement is actually more frequently sought than you think (by both sides).

And remember, have your sad moments only in private. You must feel enough internal ease and joy to interact with people for the purpose of fun and entertainment. Kinda like Jessie J’s Price Tag song “It’s not about the money, money, money…” these are nice words and it works sometimes, but at the end of the day “no money, no funny.” So work on changing your situation as much as you can when away from her, that is unless she’s helping you.

Opportunities are everywhere (grocery, coffee shop). Are you ready to accept them once they show up and offer your amazing self in return? Or is it back to the drawing board for you? It’s ok – patience

Why should you bother? It’s easier to tackle life as a team – two brains are always better than one. At the very least you can be each other’s ray of sunlight – this is priceless. So do your part – seek ways to make your partner feel special or loved (but do it in a cool and fun way, not sobby and poetic, unless you’re both into that, then it’s all good )

Look at the main character from they Jerry Maguire movie. He found a good girl when he was down and humble, not when he was high and arrogant. Although dating added to the drama in his life as he was busy enough getting back on the horse, overall a bit of love actually gave him a boost.

You have to offer high quality self in return, ie. work on your habits, self-esteem, calmness, business knowledge, relationships, energy, etc.

I think all the social tips are useless if they try to make you something you’re not. Choosing joy, smiling at strangers, enjoying your own quirks is the true happiness – and that’s what attracts the nicest women out there.

How about you take yourself on a date, whether you are a man or a woman, ie. Dating Yourself. It’s really cool, as you can do what you like, you don’t worry about entertaining anyone, and if you have enough fun, you can actually meet people or that special someone!

[ Back to TOP ]

Emotional Stress Relief

The Being Centered: Positively Contagious! book really helped me clear up my past emotional hurts and issues that kept bugging me now and then. The disconnecting of emotional 1 tonne weight from the memories was really simple and effective. Huge difference. Huge!

Take your time and consider the 22-level Emotional Guidance System below (described in detail in the Ask and It Is Given book). I strongly suggest that you read and use this book. Together with the Being Centered book it might be all the emotional stress relief you need.

0. Peace
1. Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/Love/Appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration, Irritation, Impatience
11. Overwhelment
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred, Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity, Guilt, Unworthiness
22. Fear, Grief, Depression, Despair, Powerlessness

Anger, in some very “low” cases, is actually pain-relieving and better-feeling. From there you move higher and higher on the scale, as you’re back in control (not powerlessness).

If you realize that you chose an angry thought deliberately, you regain a sense of power. Now do not remain in that place, but move up the scale, eg. thru frustration. Only you know by the way you feel, whether the response was appropriate.

But no matter where you are, always “do your best to make the best of it.” More relief, more relief, until you arrive at the very-good feeling place.

Having someone who really believes and encourages you is very important. I was told by 3 people that they see me turning out a happy and successful man. I am so very thankful to those friends for their support and encouragement. Click here to see all my unsolicited positive comments and feedback.

If you are told you have to be “realistic”, although true to some extent, it’s not constructive. I think it’s better not to get into that discussion. It’s a lot better to actually do something constructive like learn something, or research who else on this planet is on the same path as you are. Then contact them, offer your value, hope for the best, take positive action, and see what happens.

Above all you must avoid getting hooked into drama and complaining, which tends to lead to escalation. Engage your shields, repeat mantras (“I am calm, I am calm”), breathe, straighten your posture, and remove yourself from the area as soon as politely possible.

If that’s not an option, first listen to understand and don’t say anything, then after few minutes, when there is a longer silence or request for your input, just say: “ok… so what’s your solution?”

Negative people need to go through their own healing by themselves. If you really care about a person, you might give them tiny hints about the books you recently read or about this website, or better yet, silently serve as an example of your own transformation. Don’t try to change them, let go, save your energy, focus it on yourself and what’s important to you.

Once I asked my friend who works at a mental disorders hospital, how does she stay centered and positive when dealing with extreme cases. She said that it’s very important not to judge, to be open to their point of view and listen closely to understand – become them for a moment. When they don’t feel any resistance or pushing, they in turn switch into the open listening mode. She is then able to better explain things to them.

Once the conversation is civil, calm, and empowering, you can cover a lot of ground, eg. trust, ways of showing caring, love vs. pleasure, time for self vs. time together, privacy, partnership, collaboration, business, etc.

Remember, with people slow is fast, and fast is slow. Spending some time to openly discuss things will save you a lot of time in the long run. Learn more about effectiveness from Stephen Covey’s highly acclaimed The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Book or DVD.

If you aren’t happy in your current relationship, first try to have an open and honest communication with your partner (remember to use “I-language”). Try to understand the partner’s ways of showing caring, his or her intentions for doing things and the underlying goal. If you can come to some sort of reasonable win-win agreement – GREAT!!

If there is no way to reach any sort of agreement or even to communicate in the first place, leave, forget and move on. Don’t waste your energy trying to change him or her. You can’t make a tree out of a zebra. I believe that long-term relationships should be (ideally) enriching, empowering, full of love, and above all, pleasant and fun most of the time.

[ Back to TOP ]

Annoyances and Lost Sleep

One day someone with two large dogs moved in across the street. Every day in the early morning hours (5-8am) the dogs would bark loudly for 10-20 minutes at a time.

Instead of yelling or complaining like other neighbours, I wrote a nice letter directly to the tenant and superintendent. When that didn’t work I did a quick research and took constructive action by filling a report with local police, animal control, and the city (noise pollution by-law).

A well written complaint is the key. It shows you’re serious, educated about the options, and it provides the perfect paper trail. That worked and the neighbour learned to control the dogs. No more dogs barking in the morning – I had a great night sleep.

Some other sleep quality destroyers:

• hunger: have a high quality snack (1/4 portion of fibre cereal, 1tsp of peanut butter)
• bed sheets not washed in a while, especially in the summer: wash them asap!
• can’t fall asleep: analyze/reflect on the problem and write down your thoughts

Take care of all the little annoyances around your house or office, ideally all in one shot. Grease things up, tighten bolts, sharpen kitchen knives, change those loud computer fans, get desk and closet space organizing products, sort that stack of papers, you get the idea.

I found that what really agitates and hurts my brain, especially while I am working, is a construction season near my house. The constantly high revving big trucks, pneumatic hammers, some police and fire truck sirens, and we have a recipe for poor productivity. I need a reasonable silence. Changing environment is a must in this case.

[ Back to TOP ]

Health, Nutrition, Exercise

See my Personal Health Care, Healing Energy and Weight Loss Success articles on how to boost and maintain your energy. Main ideas: Go to the root of a problem, don’t mask it with drugs. Sleep & wake early, breathe deep (bottom of lungs, lower abs), eat well (good food, small portions, often), drink lots of water, exercise.

[ Also check the UPDATE on brain chemical imbalance in the Reduce Stress and Relax section ]

One time I lost being grounded and strong after I ate microwaved orange food (fried fish and fried chicken) – it killed me! Having salads and fresh healthy food, especially when in high performance mode is crucial!

Stock up on healthy food at home (green, lean, alkaline) or go out to Lebanese sandwich places. You have to maintain your body like it were a million dollar race horse! In a way it is, because it’s the only one you got!

One simple mind trick I use when choosing or having a meal is to make sure your dish contains all the major colours, preferably as rich (saturated) as possible. As a general example consider green-red (veggies, salads), yellow (cheese, eggs), orange (carrot, cheese), purple (onion), brown (wholewheat bread, pasta or potatoes), black (beans), white (rice or almond milk) – of course not all at once, but  you get the idea. This also applies to fruit with plenty of colourful choices!

At my local supermarket I buy Jamieson® Slim Down Snack Bars or Life Brand® Sportzone energy bars. These really come handy when it comes to a quick snack when getting hungry. When buying snack energy bars, always watch saturated/trans fat and sugar/carb content. If there is no information about sugar content, be very suspicious, most of the time sugar is through the roof.

High-productivity mode can make you hungry really quickly and often, even every 2-3 hours despite regular meals every time. The crucial thing is quality food, eg. fruit, fibre cereal and eggs for breakfast, salmon sandwich for lunch, Vietnamese chicken soup for dinner, brain supplements (Brazilian nuts, blueberries, ginseng and ginkgo), and plenty of water.

One day I woke up really mentally exhausted – I was slow and mellow. I forced myself to the gym for a quick workout. My mantra “let’s make it count!” simply didn’t work this time, so I had to force my body with: “just do it!” and totally ignore what the brain said. It’s really important to just get it done when deep inside you know it’s good for you.

You can do basic exercises such as wide grip assisted pull-up, push ups, bosu core twist with weight or squats, mid back, flat bench dumbbells, dumbbell press, triceps press, etc.

If you are low on the Emotional Guidance System scale, you can elevate to anger by listening to heavy metal music while giving it all you got on a treadmill or elliptical machine. It’s a 2 in 1 deal: elevate your emotions and get a workout in – isn’t that great?

When I went to take a shower the next night, in the mirror I saw my upper body muscles all bubbled up from yesterday’s workout. The mojo was back and I slept feeling so much better. Legs workout especially causes the biggest boost in “happy chemicals” production, including… testosterone.

Crappy sleep and frequent peeing (every few minutes) while being stressed could be due to being cold. Wearing socks, sweat pants and fleece to bed helps. ALWAYS STAY WARM and COMFORTABLE (at home, at night, outside, always!).

[ Back to TOP ]

Appearance and Image Boost

When you’re super down, Chi is low, and you have crappy posture, what do you do? Well, start with grooming (haircut, shave, face moisturizer, a bit of sun, all to get the glow back), then gym (cardio, quick chest, quick legs, shoulders, back, some stretching), then follow all that with a nice spicy chicken soup. Posture is back, power is back, internal joy is back, mind sharpness is back. People are checking you out. Nicely done!

Dress well every day! It can be business casual or whatever the high end of your style is. Get a pair of nice dress shoes. Shoes are super important as they make or break your image.

Change your physiology: straighten your posture, thrust your chest forward, smile. Then change frustration into curiosity: questioning, exploring, testing, and believing that a solution exists. Look busy and incisive, feel confident, feel wealthy, and feel good. Check out fashion magazines at a local bookstore for ideas or do google image search.

Remember you must never be depressed in public, especially with people you care about. Keep an upbeat, enthusiastic and confident image consistently. If you must, have your sad or angry moments in private. No one deserves to be on the receiving end of your moods.

[ Back to TOP ]

Spiritual Growth Journey

I once had an interesting thought that people who reach an enlightenment stage (usually in their late 20′s or later), usually do so after a few years of perfecting themselves in one area of life, usually for their own benefit.

The lessons from that journey are very useful to others who excel in other areas, but need/want to improve this one particular skill. Since the former person took it to the extreme, 90% of the “what-ifs” are already addressed. The value of such a journey is high to others, and if it is published, the spiritual purpose is fulfilled [for the highest good of all].

When in your journey you feel stuck at a certain level and can’t seem to make any progress, know that the Universe is not blocking you to frustrate you. Universe wants you to reach the next level, but it knows that you aren’t ready yet.

You still need to resolve some blockages and learn some very important lesson right where you are. Look inside you or around you for energy and power draining leaks. It could be your limiting belief, some unhealthy habit, the environment where you work, the people you spend your time with, or even some object around you that holds bad energy.

One more thought about the Law of Attraction: Denying thoughts may work for you, but acknowledging a thought at its roots, thinking how to fix it, and then taking active steps to actually fix it scores major brownie points with the Universe.

During a spiritual growth journey unexpected help is very common. Question is, are you ready to see it and accept it once it shows up? Technically your mind should be in an allowing or receiving mode (peace and joy) for reality to match it. The 7 Steps Stress Relief process attempts to get you closer to that mindset.

UPDATE: You can also explicitly ask for energetic help, healing or prayer on a new website that recently opened just for that purpose. It is called Reverlri – Law of Attraction at your Doorstep. I highly recommend that you post your request there.

Another common occurrence during the enlightenment journey is a state of depression. This can happen upon recognizing and experiencing the vanity of the world around you (see the stress FAQ for details). The depression occurs because of the desire to give high-level value, but struggling with the afore mentioned vanity, ie. being uncertain how to proceed.

I eventually realized that I ended up where I started, but with more understanding of what is my happiness and joy in this world, and where I belong. At that point I was also my better self and more capable of delivering that value. My wisdom to you is in the words of my very spiritually connected friend:

What you’re seeking is already known to you. You just have to realize it.
- friend HI

In Erin’s blog post on Getting Out of Hell, Erin talks about pretty serious cases, but she also mentions a simple case where we condemn ourselves to live a crappy life and refuse love from other people. She says that a way to get out of it, is to just change the mindset. You can read the entire article by clicking here.

My only additional comment is that sometimes one needs to be more firm with the daemons. If after asking them nicely they refuse to leave, one has to intensify the language, but without resorting to anger (remember: evil begets evil).

Think about how you would handle a real-world person who repeatedly trespasses on your property. You’d use a firm and confident language, but you wouldn’t start yelling.

You should also call on the light, your God, and your protective Angels for help. Ideally you should have a spiritually experienced person with you when attempting the above solution. Or at the very least do it in your Church.

When I let go of my daemon in a cheerful way, right away my 3rd eye reopened, I saw amazing lights, I felt so much better, and my voice returned more vibrant and stronger. It’s really that simple.

Here is another solution I came up with that had a huge impact on my life.

I started by imagining a big, yellow and glowing smiley face in my heart. This translated upwards towards my mouth and eyes. I felt really joyful, happy and loving.

Then in my mind I went through all the people I wanted to share the big smile and love with. Everyone got a little bit, both my friends and challengers. Then I was smiling and talking to myself in the mirror. After a while it became obvious that I don’t fully love myself.

I couldn’t look myself in the eye. I told myself that this can’t be true, that I do love myself; however, I could sense a hint of doubt. Why would this be? This went on for good ten minutes. I realized that it is the hurting of the Inner Child that scarcely experienced love when growing up.

Eventually I acted out, myself to myself, Tom Cruise in love as I recently saw it on youtube (unfortunately some youtube fans classified it as “crazy”, making finding the original video harder). Since this love was the purest and the truest kind of love, it really worked for me. The healing right then and there was a miracle.

Yet another way I was once able to boost my energy was by doing a Shaman Pose healing. First I let my hurt feeling sit for a while, then I logically and emotionally analyzed where in the body it was and what did it look like. Then I “puked”, spit, and exhaled it out.

Then I grounded myself by drumming and stomping hard in a garden. Objective was to get my legs to feel strong and heavy on the ground. I used a big drum I bought at Ten Thousand Villages store.

This worked like a charm. I felt strong, manly, and super calm – eg. strong and silent type. Suit, white shirt, black tie with thick stripes, full windsor knot, the empowering garden and nature all had a lot to do with the boost as well.

For day to day energy intensifiers see the Healing Energy and Personal Health Care articles. Aside from the described Shiatsu massage, Hatha Yoga, Reiki and superhealth tips, there are a few additional things you can do:

• Always be grateful for and bless your food before consumption
• Manage your energy strictly by practicing Yoga Discipline
• On good energy days maximize productivity and celebrate being
• On low energy days make it the best you can and find your ritual to raise the energy

Here is some wisdom about family and love that Ric Elias came up with just seconds before an airplane he was on with his family was about to crash into the Hudson river.

1. Don’t postpone important things in life (while striving for your goals).
2. Don’t strive to be right. Choose to be happy.
3. Be a great parent / partner / friend.

[ Back to TOP ]

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION: It’s ALL vanity anyway. What is the point?

Short answer: Because life is supposed to be fun. The meaning of life is… life! It’s the experiences, overcoming challenges and enjoying the rewards that follow, it’s growth and becoming wiser, and then giving back your wisdom to make the world a touch better.

It’s like asking “What’s the point of surfing the wave?” It’s the joy, the experience, the learning, the improvement, the creativity. Sure you need to do a little bit of work, but if you use your in-born talents and skills and thus effortlessly provide great value to society, everything becomes really easy! See my Why Should I Change? article for clarity.

Long answer: This discussion is out of scope for this article. I will let you read up on it by yourself. You can start by considering Existentialism and The Meaning of Life.

QUESTION: All information is already out there. How can I contribute?

First of all, not ALL information and not from EVERY angle. Your upbringing, unique talents and skills, and your unique experience all contribute to a unique point of view and perspective.

Second, there are new inventions and discoveries popping up every day.

Thirdly, it is nice to have “all the information out there” nicely organized in one place.

QUESTION: I had a tough childhood/life. Am I not meant to be happy?

There was a true story about a woman, who had the worst luck you can imagine. Year after year things wouldn’t go her way. But she turned it around and told her story how she was able to survive it (a hero story). Someone in real-life got interested in her tale and opened new doors for her. It is important to present your uniqueness in an open and honest way. All people from the Secret had a similar lift – it’s often about great opportunities and being able to see and act on them. One thing for sure – nothing will happen if you don’t do anything (or get out there).

QUESTION: But it will take way too long! Why bother?

It will take what it will take. Start slow and gradually shift your focus onto things you love to do and away from the things you don’t. If you start now, within a few months you will be months ahead.

If you don’t do anything, you will be where you are now asking exactly the same question. Life is actually very long. One positive affirmation that I use to keep on track is:

I have time to do everything that needs to be done and it will be done when the time is right. Possibly sooner.
- KK

[ Back to TOP ]

Additional Resources

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Additional tips on stress management: set of articles by Hunter Phoenix.

Saving yourself after hitting rock bottom: spiritual article by Erin Pavlina.

CureTogether.com has a chart that shows effectiveness of various depression treatments. Meditation, talk therapy, sleep, and exercise are the most popular and effective treatments. #1 most effective cure for depression – EXERCISE.

However, it is likely, depending on how deep in depression you are, that you need a jumpstart with chemical production first before you feel like working out, you have to do some relaxing first and having 2 ounces of Noni.

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word – there are likely more people who need to read this article.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Stress Relief and Depression Help is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

However, in addition to the regular scientific ways, I am fascinated by the healing energy treatments as a way to enhance the self-healing power of the body. I have personally experienced the healing power of various pressure point and energetic therapies.

Help your body heal itself

Treatments and Therapies (index):

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Click ↑ to Enlarge

• Chi Energy
• Energy Chiropractor
• Acupuncture
• Chinese Medicine
• Shiatsu Massage
• Hatha Yoga
• Reiki
• Qi Gong
• Herbs and Gemstones
• Self-Hypnosis
• Biofeedback

Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide newsletter to receive quality wellness news.

When recovering from my accident I utilized a lot of Shiatsu massages, Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. I followed all that with chiropractic adjustments to put things back the right way. Many consider my speedy recovery to be a miracle.

Chi Energy

Chi (also Qi, Ki, Gi, Khi) can best be translated as life energy flow in the body – it sustains living beings. Disrupted, blocked or unbalanced Chi Energy movement through the body’s meridians (or channels) is believed to manifest itself as symptoms of various illnesses. On a gentler level, it can be linked to low energy and low confidence, ie. no zest for life.

By improving one thing from the list below, you will affect other areas. By improving all the areas and becoming a master of your Chi Energy, you can control your life flow and do unimaginable things. What things? Amazing things. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Try it for 30 days to experience a small sample for yourself.

• Quality 7-8 hour sleep, early bed time and early rising time (eg. 10pm-6am)
• Limited electromagnetic-radiation: no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth phone earpiece, etc.
• Wholesome and colourful nutrition, 6 regular meals per day, quality water
• Natural fiber clothing, frequent exercise, positive music, aromas, good deeds
• Positive emotions, attitude, thoughts and patterns, sense of purpose in life
• Taking chances, adventure, embracing and learning from life challenges
• Straight and tall posture, controlled deep breathing and relaxation
• Attention details and listening to people, being interested in what they’re saying
• Master your Chi through mind stillness; meditate every day for 15-60 minutes
• More info: www.solidresource.com/~brain/energia.html

Some of my early experiences with Chi Energy:

Nikuri at Otani Shiatsu Clinic told me that I can heal myself (eyes, knees, metabolism, anything) with self-massage and touch (just like young children touch the place they just hit – they know they can heal themselves). You have to do it everyday, and after some time, the results will show. It really does work.

Today I felt super great and high on amazing energy thanks to Reiki, countryside drive, giving back, love, good food, and physical activity.

If everything is great (air, food, energy, love, balance, brain rested) amazing work can get done. There is focus, ideas, action, personal power. But after some time, there comes a point that the body needs to rest again (balance). This is the time to sleep or go for a walk or bike ride (depending on quality of recent sleep or exercise). Also quality food at regular intervals is absolutely necessary. Plus maximum of three straight hours of work at a time, then take a break doing what is needed.

Warning: Be careful with group energy healing sessions. It might help you, but chances are you will receive other people’s energy (good and bad). Research and ask a trusted knowledgeable friend or trusted expert before attending such sessions. One good idea if you’re not sure is to put your body into an imaginary box, not allow any energy in or out, and use your own internal energy to revitalize your entire body.

[ Back to TOP ]

Energy Chiropractor

While visiting the Psychological & Emotional Healing of Dr. Anthony Posa, I’ve seen people crying and laughing at the same time as deeply set emotions were released free. Depending on the care that is chosen, you will begin your personalized journey of healing, refreshment and revitalization.

The spinal cord, which is enclosed in the spine, carries all impulses from the brain to the entire body, so it is crucial that the spine allows the central nervous system to operate flawlessly. Every organ in the body is affected by blockages (sublaxations) in the spine.

These also include emotional blockages caused by stress, anxiety, depression and low self-image. Click on the following images for greater clarity of the organs involved:

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Click ↑ to Enlarge

I visited this chiropractor first (out of 3). He helped me to further restore my Chi Energy and the internal healing power (light, warmth and energy) after my accident.

If you live in Toronto, below is the contact information of the clinic I visited. You can use my name as a referrer to receive discounts on the initial visit.

• Dr. Anthony Posa – I’ve experienced amazing energetic healing with this chiropractor.Receive free initial consultation and examination with the referral information;2801 Keele Street #202, Toronto, 416.638.2225, www.networkcarecenter.com

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

Arrived at the Chiropractor office. Scented candles, smell of sage or sweet grass, gentle classical music, plants, warm colours of walls and carpet – very positive space.

Talk with Dr. Posa was “awesome” – I am almost overusing that word, but it’s all good. Basically he took a correction on how to treat me: “not to fix, but to maximize peak performance,” like Anthony Robbins. I like the sound of that.

He did some quick tests and his diagnosis was reasonable. I got a blockage in my neck (from last year’s accident), and a couple of blockages near heart and hip (both emotional). Those spots actually tie into my organs to do with digestion, and the hip with the knees.

He did some light work on me – asked me to channel breath to lower back, then to relax and feel good (I felt like a light being), then to “double” that feeling (bigger light being), then to add passion to it (happy nature place and joy), then even more passion (I actually felt like smiling at this point). He says that at 2-3x per week for 4-6 months I can not only be fixed, but have the constant, natural, and automatic high like Tony. Let’s do it!

During the next session, I felt a nice heat-relax wave from fingers to toes. I also experienced some nice overlapping light spots of energy when my eyes were closed. Soon after (30+ min) I felt very mellow, relaxed, and overall good. Later I noticed that my neck is no longer stuck or stretchy. The full fluid motion is back. Dr. Posa rules!

En route to Dr. Posa tried to sing and tell myself that I am awesome, fantastic and great. Was doing some humming and voice resonating. The voice was shallow and cracky, and I felt kinda low – definitively no boost. Dr. Posa felt something was wrong. I felt my body was cold, tense, and is a state of blackness. He focused on helping me with that. In the last few minutes of the session, I started feeling the warmth, the light, colours, and general boost in the chest and heart. I am so thankful for this help. Whatever Dr. Posa did, it worked.

Beautiful day! Went to Dr. Posa, I asked whether he can increase the intensity a bit. I could feel that he did (also I was more ready and receptive to it today). I felt the heat and energies traveling to knees, hip, and neck. Dr. Posa asked me to look into my heart for wisdom, just to take a peek. I tried my best. After the session, while driving, I felt bigger and stronger (bigger chest and calmer vision). Felt even more at peace. Very good.

Went to Dr. Posa, he said I seem tired, which I felt tired, but in good spirits. He did some magic and restored the Chi Energy. He also restored something more. He cleared the doubt about my girlfriend. I want this to workout, but I had all the doubting thoughts before the session. Nicely done.

Did a double session with Dr. Posa to close the treatment. First half was cleansing and a slight recharge. I used the breathing techniques Anna taught me. Second was a full recharge and affirmation that all will be well. Dr. Posa says to keep affirming to myself that things will work out this week (I didn’t tell him anything). Also in meditation I asked for the next step. I was told to follow my intuition and do what I planned to do. Ok, let’s change my life.

[ Back to TOP ]

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture promotes health and alleviates pain and suffering by achieving effective blood circulation and normalizing the flow of the life energy (“Chi”) in the body. By stimulating the body’s network of meridian lines through which Chi flows, acupuncture accelerates the self-healing capability of the body and boosts the immune system.

My skiing accident caused my Chi Energy to be completely disrupted (I felt very weak) and my neck muscles were completely seized. I couldn’t move my head either sideways or up and down. In addition to physiotherapy, I also had acupuncture sessions (4 per week) and take-home custom-prepared Chinese Medicine (it was awful, but it worked). After each session my neck movement range was greater and my thinking speed and personal power was improving.

I also used acupuncture to heal my chronically hurting knees. After just a few sessions, I no longer felt the cold related or the severe pains in the knees, my arches were no longer hurting, and my daily lower back pains were completely gone. I could now walk around much longer distances and with my posture perfectly straight. I felt overall healthier and more confident.

After about 15 sessions, all the pains were completely gone. I even noticed an improvement in the arches of my feet. They were less flat! That was an unthinkable transformation after having flat feet for years!

I still visit Tian Long Acupuncture & Health Centre whenever I need. When I fell on my back, Dr. Yu’s acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treatment vanished the bruising and the pain after only 2 sessions. I speak very highly of Dr. Yu’s practice and recommend it to everyone who needs significant magic or just a little fix. I am back on the slopes skiing and in parks riding my bike.

See a comprehensive list of conditions that acupuncture treatments can alleviate.

[ Back to TOP ]

Shiatsu Massage

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Shiatsu is a unique, non-invasive therapy designed to stimulate the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. Literally translated, the Japanese word shiatsu means “finger pressure.” Shiatsu therapy involves the systematic application of manual pressure to the body in order to assess and treat a variety of conditions.

Shiatsu treatments have a regulatory influence on the autonomic nervous system, thereby improving organ function and reducing muscle tension. Shiatsu is not supposed to be painful. The true Japanese Shiatsu is like a mother’s loving touch.

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Shiatsu stimulates body systems to work at their optimal level and make you overall healthy. The body systems that Shiatsu affects and can cleanse include: skeletal, muscular, nervous, integumentary, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive.

Shiatsu combined with yoga offers a great way to release work-related stress and allow for top creativity and mental or physical performance. Shiatsu is one of the best kept secrets of top athletes, singers, performers and executives – until now that is.

A weekly or biweekly Shiatsu is meant to restore the balance and keep creativity and sanity. Life is a constant juggle of left and right brain resources. Career causes stress, Shiatsu and nature restores well-being. We pursue the career to make money to live, but we stress ourselves out. Then we spend the money on vacations and relaxation to restore the balance.

Shiatsu deep tissue massage is also ideal a day after an intensive workout (power or cardio) to loosen the tight and tense muscles and prevent forming of knots. It also relaxes you, improves mood, and improves the flow of Chi in the body – the healing life force.

Because I am so passionate about Shiatsu, I decided to take a basic-level Shiatsu course. I’ve already updated this Shiatsu section with the new information that I have learned. I’ve also given a few practice Shiatsu massages with astonishing results! Because I was in my zone (like I uncovered a hidden skill from my past life), I knew exactly where and how to apply just the right amount of pressure.

My friends came back with an amazing list of experiences following the treatments:

• Deep relaxation and rejuvenation (dozing off during treatment)
• Balanced Chakras and boosted personal power (2 different people)
• Detoxed and flushed lymphatic system (immunity)
• Released tension from trouble spots (forearms and lower back)
• Waking up the next day feeling great and refreshed

Benefit for women: Shiatsu helps to alleviate menstrual cramping and discomfort by calming the nervous system, relaxing muscle spasms in the uterus and promoting the smooth release of blood.

Shiatsu Academy of Tokyo in Toronto offers Chair, Table or Floor treatments up to 70 minutes at a discounted rate. The treatments are performed by excellent-grade graduate students who need to earn practice hours for their diploma.

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

One day I got up feeling like I needed something, a boost, a fix, a shift, something. I took a bath, but it didn’t help. It was a beautiful and sunny day, which did help a bit. I tried just deciding to feel different, but I was too far down the joy scale. After trying a few more things I finally concluded that I needed to cleanse and detox my body. I decided a Shiatsu session would take care of that nicely, a side-benefit of a deep tissue pressure.

At the Otani Shiatsu Clinic I asked for a cleansing session. Shortly after and another hot bath (recommended after Shiatsu), I felt so much lighter, cleaner and smoother internally – like I just had an oil changed to a high-end synthetic. Posture was back, power voice was back, and strong eye contact was back. Definitively felt better and more grounded (legs felt more solid and heavier on the ground), and the crappy feeling dissolved from the inside.

Quality varies between places and practitioners, so ask a friend for a recommendation or do your own research. Some health insurance plans cover Shiatsu massage if the practitioner is registered (RMT) – check with your insurance provider.

As I practiced my skills even more, it became clear that in addition to the scientific benefits of Shiatsu, I am actually channeling the universal Life Force energy capable of healing body organs and balancing Chakras (if appropriate). I am offering the “Shreiki” sessions on a limited basis.

[ Back to TOP ]

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a relaxed, slow-paced and meditative type of yoga, yet still physical and challenging. It involves simple breathing exercises, whole body stretching, static strength poses, and above all it is very relaxing. It improves range of motion, lowers risk of injury and boosts performance in any sport.

It is the perfect way to relax, recharge and ground after a long day at work. It is healthy and productive as you get your strength and flexibility workout done at the same time. Classes and instructors vary, so try different a few different ones and pick the one which works best for you, ie. puts you in a heavenly state.

Every time I attend Helen’s Hatha Yoga class (1-2 times per week) I feel a huge positive shift. The class has the perfect pace, the perfect flow, the perfect transitions, the perfect stretch, and just the right difficulty level. It smooths and soothes my muscles (especially lower back) and increases my mental and physical performance. It is the perfect energy boost and provides me with a great maintenance of the body, mind and spirit.

Few random tips from personal experience:

Hot Hatha Yoga has the extra bonus of heat, which makes stretching easier and you also break some serious sweat. For me Heat Yoga is very bearable, but it’s not for everyone. Trick is not to eat heavy before the class and sip on water every few minutes during the class (but don’t drink too much).

Slow and calm yoga is good and relaxing, but one must practice the overall balance (ying-yang) and do some energetic and explosive exercise as well (eg. circuit training or fast active sports). Alternatively you can try “Dance Hot Yoga” if you’re feeling like some Dance music and major sweating.

Hint: When doing the tree pose, one must focus on one spot ahead of you in order to stay balanced and maintain the pose. One must be fully alert and present, yet relaxed.

If you are over fifty consider Qi Gong (Chi Kung) or Tai Chi as alternatives to Hatha Yoga.

[ Back to TOP ]

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese healing and relaxation therapy administered through a very gentle touch (or touch-less). Practitioner places hands along energy centers and pathways on the head, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, legs and feet. Reiki balances the body’s energy on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels, thus speeds up the self-healing processes of the body.

A few notes straight out of my Journal:

My first Reiki session was incredibly healing. The light, the heat, the relaxation, the peace, the calmness. When [the practitioner, my very good friend] was done I said: “so that’s what heaven feels like!” I felt so good after: stronger, more confident, more whole, very grounded and centered, posture and solid walk were back.

She told me I have 2 areas of concern: knees and throat. I gotta use the knee heaters more. For throat I need a singer’s advice how to take care of it. She also told me that I love open space and distance, and I am fascinated by fire. Yep! Plus showed me Dalai Lama’s take on self-worth. I have it and just must really realize it.

If you want to read more about Reiki, this Reiki FAQ will give you detailed insights.

[ Back to TOP ]

Qi Gong

Qi Gong is like Chinese Yoga and comes in many forms and varieties. Some are meant to align breath, well-being, and keep you young; others focus on meditation, spiritual balance and Chakras; still others help develop human or paranormal potential like moving objects from a distance, walking on glass or fire, or even a power to heal.

Wuji Yuan Qi Gong enables the practitioner to return to the Natural State – a state in the “flow” with the Universe. In that state you are able to take life pressure and challenges much better, you seem to be always at the right place at the right time, you are happy and content, and people find it “easy” to be around you.

When I tried Wuji Yuan Qi Gong, within a few minutes my head cleared, mind tension dissipated, and I felt nicely grounded and at ease. Shortly after, I started feeling a pleasant sense of well-being and peace.

After the second session my throat felt clearer and my voice was deeper and stronger. I also felt a great sense of empowerment, wisdom, and clarity on current business problems.

My experience after the third session included once more being cleansed of stress and negativity, my hands being filled with Chi energy, and having my Chakras rebalanced (feeling calm and clear like a lake on a clear and sunny day).

The most profound aspect of of the Wuji Yuan Qi Gong is the fact that all the Chi is self-generated (as opposed to transferred from the Master), so it is a completely safe, most compatible within the body, and eventually can be learned to do on your own.

[ Back to TOP ]

Herbs, Gemstones and Colours

Throughout my journey I’ve been introduced to another form of healing energy that has had a profound impact in my life. I’ve experienced first hand the amazing healing power of herbs, stones, crystals and colour.

Herbs in the dry, incense or candle form have very powerful energy shifting capabilities, both within ourselves and the environment. I use them all the time to shift energy in my workplace to be more productive or at home to relax and enjoy being. The energy shift that the right herbs and smell can induce is very powerful.

I rely on the Indian Ayuverdic herbal healing wisdom of my friend, whose life-long passion and experience has made her an expert in herbs, essential oils and gemstones. The Ayurverdic tradition teaches that the health of the body and mind is dependent upon a number of factors: our thoughts, dreams and attitude towards work, our environment, neighbours, pleasant and unpleasant words, smells and colours, as well as influence of gemstones and crystals. Mystical Herbs website explores some of the uses of her herbs like passion and love, serenity, prosperity, cleansing, road openers and more.

Crystals and Gemstones have very stimulating and healing effects and have been used therapeutically for thousands of years. Whether you believe in those effects or not, stones release specific energies in the body and mind.

I have been applying crystals and gemstones (eg. necklaces, on the body, or in pants pockets) for many years. I used amethyst, white quartz and citrine as a starting point to transform my energy, store the positive energy and magnify it, then convert it to good fortune and determination. Check out this website for the meaning and effects of gemstones.

Finally the colour has a particularly important role. All the colours around us find a perfect correspondence within each of us, and have deep inner meaning. Colour of the walls in your home, your clothes or the colour of your jewelery has a healing effect on your body, soul and upon the totality of human organism.

Below are some of the colours, their meaning and therapeutic use:

• Red: activity, energy, joy, love – supports will power and circulatory and metabolic systems
• Orange: vitality, ambition, fertility – adds balance, calmness and flow of energy
• Yellow: optimism, success, generosity – stimulates all organs, increases energy levels
• Green: friendship, openness, peace, self-renewal – detoxifies and regenerates
• Blue: faithfulness, responsibility, respect – calms, improves circulation, combats anxiety
• Violet: insight, transformation, peace – respiration and digestion, inspires from grief
• Black: pride, elegance, security – dissolves energy blockages, relieves pain, protection
• White: purity, truth, perfection – helps with weaknesses, provides energy, self-realization

[ Back to TOP ]

Self-hypnosis and Brain Waves

Click ↑ to Enlarge

Over the two years of my transformation I listened to many different self-hypnosis and meditation recordings. I feel that only two technologies had a profound effect on my mind and life. I even use them today to refresh or revitalize the mind in specific areas as needed:

• Learning Strategies Paraliminal® Recordings
• Brain Sync® Brain Wave Therapy

It usually takes about 24-48 hours for the mind to absorb and act on the recordings.

A few random notes straight out of my Journal:

Woke up with a little Cold virus. Loaded myself with all the vitamins, plus grapefruit, spinach salad, greens+, cold advil, the nose spray, and Paraliminals Perfect Health.

Over past few days I listened to Getting Around To It, Memory Supercharger and Prosperity Paraliminals, plus the The Secret to Attracting Wealth brain wave. My mind is buzzing today with only 1 espresso after the veggie pita (I was buzzing before the food too, so espresso was unnecessary). I am getting things done effortlessly, one after another – no effort or internal pressure. That’s what I like.

My mind operates better thanks to all the learning, cleansing, ginseng, practice, Instantaneous Personal Magnetism and Talking To Win Paraliminals. The metaphysics of the last conversation with a woman looks like this: I am able to remember and refer to what was said in the past. Then as the line happens, I am thinking that I need a witty response. And since I am calm and slow, the pause doesn’t seem too out of place. Then the right thing to say just pops in into my out buffer and I start to say it while it is still loading into the buffer, as I trust that the whole thing will make sense and will be funny. The default mindset of joy helps too.

Workout, sleep and Paraliminals (Prosperity and Top Performance) at the office really worked its magic.

Feeling pretty good today: lean, stomach flat, bright feeling. It’s due to combination of Perfect Health Paraliminals, breathing, good sleep, quick meditation, blessed fruit, bike ride, sending blessings, and morning meditation.

Went to Dominion’s, grabbed chicken soup, tuscan bean and beet salads, and some fruit. There was a blond and tall business woman. I raised my eyes to meet hers Daniel Craig style. Amazing! Just like wanted with Personal Magnetism Paraliminals 2 days ago.

At Mr. Sub some new guy overcharged me. I remained calm and (almost) handled it perfectly: “I think you overcharged me, extra veggies are included with this combo.” This is definitively an improvement. I think the Anxiety-Free and Belief Paraliminals had a lot to do with it.

Overall I was happy with the conversation. Listened very well, asked good questions, gave good answers, had a strong voice, was enthusiastic and positive, and a touch personal. Can’t see doing it better at this point. It was perfect. Listening to Sales Leap Coaching, Sales Leap and Top Performance Paraliminals yesterday and today had a huge part to do with it.

[ Back to TOP ]

Quantum Biofeedback

Biofeedback taps into body’s vital functions that are normally unconscious, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, and provides information on anomalies (if any). It also gives useful data regarding lack or excess of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other information depending on what the practitioner is specifically looking for.

A note straight out of my Journal:

I went to the Quantum clinic for a quantum biofeedback and aqua-detox session. Interesting results: need to repair digestive system – a common lead from many diagnoses. I need to get some more fatty acids and B-complex. Once that’s done, thyroid will fix itself energetically. Also gotta fix joints (detox and nutrition). Otherwise all good: Vitamins, Minerals, Water-intake, organ function, energy, emotion, spiritual, Chakras balanced. Definitively feel lighter and cleaner throughout the day.

I did another session 1 year later having much more understanding of what exactly I would like fixed. Quantum biofeedback is like working with your brain’s bios-level firmware – the underlying workings of your body machine. This time I fixed a couple of energetic balancing problems in my spine, nudged my “communication perfectionist” inconvenience, got my soul life reading and a couple of diet tips (need more vitamin K and E – more greens). While balancing and re-harmonizing my Chakras, I experienced “energy comets” flying fast diagonally thru my body calibrating and adjusting things. After the session I felt overall great, strong, adjusted, balanced and “royal”

Within a few days my communication became effortless and easy-going. I felt much calmer, patient and understanding. The communication adjustment fine-tuned my listening, patience, compassion, non-judgment and empowerment areas. It feels really natural to have absolutely zero feelings of annoyance, anxiety or anger. I take nothing personally and I am not affected emotionally. I LOVE IT! I feel much better in the calm James Bond role.

Check out this great Holistic Health Guide website with plenty of practical solutions for almost anything. If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information above is based on personal experiences, true results, and real stories. However, please consult your physician before following any advice on this website. For more details read this Important Disclaimer. 11:11

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Physical Wellness INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Healing Energy and Alternative Medicine is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

First you need to reflect on your starting position. Below I am providing you with a few ideas and examples to help you get going. In your version, try to use as exact names and descriptions as possible.

While thinking and reflecting, keep in mind that this is all about you, your dreams, your deepest desires, your happiness and your life – not anybody else’s. You have to be happy yourself first before you can help others be happy.

Just like on the airplane during an emergency; you are instructed to put on your own mask first and then help other people. So be honest – no one has to see your work.

People

I recommend that you not disclose your self-improvement journey to people unless you really trust them – at least not at first. Let them experience the new you for themselves. Remain peaceful and humble, and treat all remarks as feedback while you are in the progress of changing.

When the time is right, you will automatically handle those situations more effectively, ie. with confidence and wisdom. Many of the negative or exploiting people will stop bothering you or simply drop off from your life. Others will begin to respect you.

Your Own List

Use the list below as a GUIDE and create your very own list by printing a preparation work PDF or in MS Word document (sign up for the free Practical Wellness Guide newsletter at the top-right part of this site to download ready-to-use MS Word template).

Take your time in creating it (even a few days). Think about it as you go through your day and make notes. Refer to it once in a while when you need a boost of motivation, you feel stuck, or need to refresh your life vision. Keep updating and revising it often as you go through your life steps.

The Next Step

After you’re done with this exercise, you will most likely have a clear idea where you need to start. Your next step could be to clean up your house, office, computer, environment and take care of little annoyances (squeaky doors, phone ringer too loud, etc.).

Follow this with basic money cleaning, mind cleaning and social cleaning (see corresponding practical wellness sections for more information). Or if you feel you’re ready or need to make a change asap, you can go to the specific sections immediately.

Track Your Progress

I strongly recommend that you get David Michael’s software: The Journal. It will assist you in keeping a Daily Journal and Organized Notebook. You can easily reflect on  your life lessons and your conclusions, see the changes in yourself, judge your progress, and set the next goal.

The included Steve Pavlina Templates will “help you gain clarity, solve problems, and discover valuable insights.” These include exercises such as: Asses Your Life, Asses Your Relationships, Define Your Values, Clarify a Problem, and more. Click here to grab a fully functional 45-day free Windows trial version.

Let’s get started!

Ask yourself the following questions:

Gratitude – What am I grateful for?

• Home or apartment, food, support of loving parents, care of great friends, etc.
• Body, soul, health, intelligence, common sense, ability to learn, ability to think, etc.
• Skills, talents, job, business, good clients, car, computer, internet access, etc.
• Mentors and teachers, challenging people and friends – all helping me improve, etc.

Appreciation is a key that will unlock the doorway to the new world.
- unknown

ME – What do I love about myself?

• Body: blue eyes, smile, wide shoulders, flexible, etc.
• Mind: intuitive, logical, creative, intelligent, sharp, etc.
• Personality: upbeat, warm, inspiring, responsible, etc.
• Social: tolerant, warm, open, sincere, good listener, etc.
• Career: punctual, well-organized, great accomplishments, etc.
• Biggest likes: positive and kind, sense of humour, persistent, etc.

Also note things that you would like to improve. For example be more of an extrovert, calm and cheerful, fit and healthy, open and expressive, personal image and presence, etc.

Inspiration – What inspires me?

Take your time in shopping around on the internet by searching images with google. Compile all your findings in one file (eg. MS Word document) or print them out and pin them where you will be able to see them everyday. This will be your VISION BOARD. See Life Transformation Essentials for a free Simpleology 101 course that will help you achieve what you want.

• Vision: your Vision Board to start The Secret process
• Best Me: calm, charming, wise, articulate, fit, healthy, etc.
• Home: home or condo, location, amenities, décor, assistance, etc.
• Places: Caribbean vacations, Southern Italy, Swiss Alps, etc.
• Things: nice clothes, nice car, nice sound system, etc.
• People: mentors, role models, friends, positive people, etc.
• Partner: type, character, attitude, values, skills, appearance, etc.
• Fun: hobby, sports, concerts, dancing, camping, exploring, etc.
• Work: busy financial district of any city, professional clothes, etc.
• Purpose: helping others reach their goals, seeing progress, etc.

If you’re going to be thinking, you may as well think big.
- Donald Trump

Energy – What nurtures me?

• Food: healthy and high quality food, occasional healthy desserts, etc.
• Joy: laughing, smiling, feeling good, sharing joy with friends, etc.
• Music: foreign music, classical/opera, house and dance, pop, etc.
• Work: praise, reward, accepted idea or solution, bonus, etc.
• People: loyal friends, kisses and hugs of female friends, etc.
• Things: driving, walking, exercise, photography, singing, comedy, etc.
• Nature: camping, fire, sun, lakes, mountains, horizon, animals, etc.
• Intimacy: giving others pleasure, receiving pleasure from others, etc.

Also note things that drain and tire you – avoid or fix as soon as possible. These could be being hungry or eating too much, interacting with negative or complaining people, working too many hours and days at once, not talking to that girl, being pressured, etc.

Strength – What makes me strong?

• Body/Mind: exercise, accomplishing a goal, learning from mistakes, etc.
• Soul: personal development, relaxing, breathing deep, nature, etc.
• People: like-minded friends, successful collegues, difficult people, etc.

Also note things that make you weak, small and bashful – avoid or fix as soon as possible. These could be lack of exercise, poor posture, not knowing about something, being stressed, being ridiculed, poor self worth and self image, etc.

Resources – What helps me?

• Time: fast computer, transportation, tools and software, outsourcing, etc.
• Money: getting paid on time, negotiating deals, investing, selling, etc.
• Image: casual, specialized or professional, grooming, charisma, fun, etc.
• Efficiency: morning or night person, sharp mind, to-do list, tools, etc.
• Various: your 5 or 6 senses, persuasion skills, things you can borrow, etc.

Also note things that set you back – avoid or fix as soon as possible. These could be checking email every 5 minutes, living on facebook, small distractions and chitchat, too many favours, too many lattes, taking a cab when late too often, not dressing for the job, slouching, negative face expression, going caveman, etc.

Values – What is important to me?

*these change frequently as you progress through life, update often (every 1-3 months)

• Self: self-improvement, self-esteem, organized life, exciting life, etc.
• Body: personal image, great fitness and shape, top performance health, etc.
• Heart: emotional stability, minimum drama, quality relationships, partner, etc.
• Money: stable income, residual income, own home, own business, etc.
• Giving: supporting a cause, charity, volunteering, good deeds, etc.

Talents – What is naturally easy for me?

• Life: organized living, self-improvement, trying new things, adapting easily, etc.
• Money: understanding finances and value, saving money, risk-taking, etc.
• Computer: programming, information hunting, graphic design, music editing, etc.
• Education: math, science, history, arts, computer science, music, etc.
• Learning: learning new things, languages, skills, habits, professions, etc.
• Personal: creative, determined, action-oriented, passionate, curious, kind, etc.
• Giving: supporting a cause, charity, volunteering, doing good deeds, etc.
• Various: select sports, driving, shoulder massage, understanding animals, etc.

Expertise – What is my value to others?

You can use the Talents list above as the guide to compile your Expertise/Experience list. For example: computer service and repair person, light technician, business accountant, marketing ethics evaluator, driver, personal trainer, instructor, good listener, etc.

Also while you at it, you may as well write your informal 10-second elevator pitch about yourself (either personal or professional). It doesn’t have to be perfect; the idea is to write out your value in one concise and clear paragraph. You can improve it later as you go along.

Contacts – Whom do I know professionally?

List your quality professional friends, co-workers, bosses, business partners, and networking acquaintances. Write their names, 2-3 positive things about them, how you can help them (by providing value), and how they can they help you (what do they have or do that can help you). You can also list positive people who challenge you and help you grow, or who could serve as great role models for you.

Friends – Who supports me?

List your good friends who support you in any way. Write their names, 2 to 3 positive things about them, why are you thankful to have them in your life, and how they support you. You can also list positive friends who challenge you and help you grow, or who could serve as great role models for you.

What are my Definite Goals and the Next Step?

Reverse engineer your life with 9 goal lists below. Try to populate them with your very own ideas for action. Don’t worry about making them perfect, just write something down. You can always revise them as needed later (or in the computer lingo: there can always be version 2.0). This will become your general guide for action.

Begin with the end in mind.
- unknown

If you keep to your schedule, you deserve to reward yourself with something you like.

If you are off, but made a GENUINE attempt, reward yourself for the great effort, adjust the steps, and revise the timing.

If you procrastinated, revise the schedule and get on it NOW… do ANYTHING that will bring you closer towards your goals… for example: get a dose of self-discipline stat!

• Ultimate life
• 2-5 years
• This year
• 3-6 months
• This month
• This week
• Tomorrow
• Today
• Now

Read and update the current lists daily, ideally before you go to sleep and when you get up. Revise and update all other lists as they come due or otherwise need a touch up.

All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.
- Walt Disney

Read your Inspiration list and visualize your ultimate life as vividly as you can and as often as you can. For example, in the morning after you wake up and every night before sleep. Say positive affirmations to yourself based on all the lists you did today.

Really realize all the things you are grateful for, your resources, values, talents, contacts and friends. Realize that you are already fantastic and have so much you can start with. Then all you have to do is get up and just do it! Seek salvation in your own action, not from others.

Now read the above two paragraphs aloud 3 more times! This is really important!

Below are some good ideas and examples. Be as specific as you can be:
When exactly? What exactly? How much? How many? What kind? How often? Where?
Sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide Newsletter to get a free complete Summary.

• Clean the house, clean up your desk, overhaul your computer, fix annoyances
• Regain financial control, consolidate debts, automate payments, downgrade services
• Regain control over your time, make a schedule, make to-do lists, learn to say ‘no’
• Eat healthy, sleep properly, exercise, lose weight, get fit, improve appearance
• Minimize drama, find your role model, gather the tools & readings, boost your energy
• Work on communication or public speaking, experience life in higher gear
• Go out more often (how often?), meet new people (what kind?), look for love
• Follow your passion and your purpose, give back to community (how exactly?)
• Move to a nice condo in a nice city (be specific), have 1-5 rental properties
• Have 1-10 residual income streams, a dream career, live in comfort, enjoy your hobby
• Find the meaning of life, connect with like-minded people, co-create with them.

AWESOME WORK! Go ahead and take a break. You deserve it
Later visit the section you feel you need to work on next:

• Physical Wellness and Body – Home, Diet, Health, Fitness, Image, Money, Safety
• Mental Wellness and Mind – Goals, Effectiveness, Communication, Business, Career
• Emotional Wellness and Heart – Love, Happiness, Passion, Identity, Social skills
• Spiritual Wellness and Soul – Energy, Purpose, Self-discovery, Enlightenment
• Wholistic Balance – Balancing personality, Balancing your day, Total Wellness

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Start Here INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Preparation Work and The Next Step is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide

One common reason is the desire to change things, because you are less than thrilled about the way things are. You may want to change or improve your health and fitness, your social life, your career or business, your financial situation, or find your own meaning in life.

Another good reason could be to become your best self (improve self image and self worth) and shape life circumstances to design a better future.

In doing so, you will become able to deal with challenges in a better way, be in control of creating your own life, and develop your name into your own “brand of one.” In many situations, the deep-seated cause of personal problems is an inferior self image.

Maybe you are seeking wisdom and understanding of self, humanity, the world, and the Universe. That is, to consciously grow and enjoy the adventure of your current life experience. Then later give back your skills and wisdom to the world.

So don’t just be yourself – be the best yourself, and take control of your life. Intentionally decide what you want and work on attaining it. Design your own future. Don’t let anyone shape the circumstances of your tomorrow.

Become more, so that you can Do more, so that you can Have more.
- unknown

Those who sit in the circle of their own creation are the ones who are truly peaceful and happy.
- unknown

Deep deep inside most of us want peace of mind and happiness – or in other words, we want to live in a state of love:

• to love the way we live
• to love the way we feel
• to love doing what we love
• to be loved, valued and respected by others
• to be lovable, valuable and respectful to others
• to share our happiness with people we love
• to lovingly contribute our value to humanity

Motivation

First you have to overcome the mind/body resistance and show that you really want the change. From personal experience I know that it’s not easy to change diet, habits, or beliefs. However, once you prove that you mean it, you’ll receive quality support from the inside as well as from those around you.

Plus all the benefits (being lean, having energy, feeling rich, etc.) will motivate you to keep going. The whole change becomes easy and a part of the new you. At that point it’s impossible to go back to the old ways.

Achieving a 100% result consists of 99% deep intent & real action and only 1% method – you will always find a way.
- unknown

Every process starts with 1 step, 1 friend, 1 pound, 1 dollar – patience and persistence will get you where you want to be. If you’re on a budget or have little time in your day, it’s still absolutely doable, it will just take a bit longer.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
- Walt Disney

The world is changing. I am sure you’ve heard it somewhere or experienced it yourself. Now is the right time to make changes to transition smoothly into the new era of Generation WE. It’s not too late. You can do it!

Focus on one goal at a time, preferably one that will challenge and push you. Learn the theory, go out and practice, analyze findings and improve. Let the progress be your motivation. Keep going and keep at it. After a while things will start to get easier.

Mike Litman (motivational speaker) said it well:

“Successful people share one thing in common: persistence at recognizing what brings them joy. This is what makes you unique. This is what you do better then 99% of people out there. This is where your unlimited wealth of knowledge and joy resides. It comes natural to you, you’re wired to do it. You have to recognize it, live it, and make a living using it.”

Be bold, have fun, take a risk, make a change, leave a legacy. Don’t miss out on the adventure of life. You are a unique and amazing human being, pre-wired at birth with a unique talent that’s highly valuable to humanity.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

Do Your Homework

You need to do a bit of homework to keep yourself on track and motivated, and to be more sensitive to opportunities and strange synchronicities that will be occurring around you.

Think about things you currently love about yourself and your life. Consider major areas of your life and be grateful and appreciative that you already have a great head start! Gratitude is the basis of all good things. Watch The Secret a couple of times and pay special attention to the concepts of gratitude, mindset and taking action.

Next think about what Resources you currently have. That means basics such as food and shelter (even if it means living with your parents), income or trust of a credit card company, your friends who love you and support you (even if it’s only 1 of them), and your contacts that can open doors for you (again, even if it’s only 1 person).

Then consider your ideal life. If money, time, or know-how was no object, what kind of life would you like to have:

• Who would you like to be?
• What would you like to do?
• Where would you like to live?
• What home would you like to have?
• What tools or things would you like to have?
• What kind of friends or companions would you like?
• What kind of family life would you like to have?

You have to be as specific as you can be: exact image of yourself, exact places, exact products, exact interactions, exact feelings. Write all this down. Click the Prep and Next Step navigation button for some examples when you’re ready to start.

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.
- Dr. Napoleon Hill

Ask For Feedback

If you have trustworthy and honest friends or family, you can ask them directly to describe you (for example give you 3 adjectives about you) or to simply tell you where you need to improve. Don’t argue, don’t comment, don’t say anything except a single “Thank you.”

I think it’s best if you ask them by email, so they have time to think about. You can also add a little disclaimer that you’re seeking an honest feedback and whatever they say will be of great value to you as you choose to work on self-improvement. Tailor the words to the type of relationship you have with them.

Think and reflect on their answers. Take your time, even a day or two. This is how others see you. If you don’t like it, you will have to change the way you present yourself to reflect the “real” you.

Keep in mind that the work to change the outside starts with the work on the inside, that is habits, responses, attitude and behaviour. Logically explaining to them how they are wrong will not work. You must genuinely and consistently come across the way you want through your everyday actions.

If you come to the conclusion that they are onto something, you have to make a decision to improve in that area. It has to be YOUR CONSCIOUS DECISION to improve for the process to work.

Clean Start

First you have to cleanup the foundation to make room for the new knowledge and habits. Start with the physical cleaning: house, vehicle, office, computer, body and health. It is important to clean all this up as worrying about the mess will be interfering with you when you are doing mind, heart, and spirit cleaning.

After physical cleaning you can move on to social environment, deep emotional issues, improving inferior areas, and developing new habits that will help you be your greatest.

Here’s a partial summary of a good start:

- have a plan, keep daily/monthly/annual to-do list, be effective daily, keep focused
- keep positive outlook on life, exercise, spend time in nature, meet with friends a bit
- surround yourself with positive people, avoid getting into arguments with negative people
- organize your finances (control, budget, consolidate, automate payments)
- sign up for the Practical Wellness Guide Newsletter to get a free complete Summary

Take a leap of faith, trust that the next step will be shown to you as you are ready to take it. Within a few weeks or months you will find yourself totally excited about being on the new path. The path where your body, mind, heart and spirit is completely happy and satisfied.

If you’re short on time, you can skip directly to what you feel you must do. As you are going along, the new next step will be shown to you automatically. You will find only those pieces of advice useful, which you are ready to hear at the moment. Sometimes you need to come back to certain lessons a few months later, to see them from a different angle and discover new wisdom.

All you have to do is know where you’re going. The answers will come to you of their own accord.
- Earl Nightingale

Replace Limiting Beliefs

I started with fixing all my limiting beliefs and getting a solid foundation to build on. To change your life, you need to break current limiting patterns.

Perception + Behaviour + Structure => Change quality of life

If your habits and beliefs didn’t get you the life you want to date, you have to go outside of your own reality and have a look around. You can’t fix or improve what you don’t even know about. One great way to get around this problem (if you dare) is to say to yourself (and mean it) this statement:

I intend to be shown the edges of my limiting beliefs, and what lies beyond them.

Within a day or two you will start to experience situations where you will either see something that is new to you, or effortlessly experience something that you previously thought was impossible or very hard, or you’ll be put on the spot and have to deal with some challenges.

The big idea here is to replace the Limiting Beliefs with Empowering ones. If to date you are not too happy with how your life is going, clearly you have to change the way you think about or do certain things (short and long term). This exercise is meant to introduce you to new options and new thinking in order to take new actions and end up with new results.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
- Albert Einstein

Gain the Knowledge

In the book Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self on page 92, you can find these true words:

Making the best of ourselves is the reason we were born, but it requires patience and perseverance. It is time to embrace your vision of your best self – and your highest level of self esteem. You deserve to experience ultimate self-confidence and self-respect, and to see yourself as the person you want to be.

Decide what you want to improve in your life. Is it health, fitness, appearance, education, effectiveness, self esteem, career, business, social skills, relationships, or how to give back to humanity? Ideally this is whatever you’re passionate about. Keep in mind that is has to be YOUR passion, not someone else’s.

Pick your mentor who’s a master at the skill you want to learn and with whom you feel comfortable. You don’t have to know him or her personally, as long as there is a way you can learn the teachings. The absolutely crucial and important first step is to make a conscious decision that you really want to make the change. The second step is to learn, apply and practice.

Choose a learning method that’s best for you (reading books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, searching internet, learning by doing, or all of the above). Then decide what exactly you want to accomplish and how much you want to learn (50%, 80%, 90%, or 100% and become a master yourself). Just remember the software programming 90-90 rule, which applies to learning almost anything new in life:

It takes 90% of the time to do 90%, and another 90% to do the last 10%.

If you’re not sure how much you want to pursue the mastery, just start and you will find out soon enough. In my case I went for about 70-85% mastery of most skills. Basically good enough and then I moved on to the next master. In some cases where I really enjoyed the skill, I went for 85-100%.

Solid self-discipline and educated persistence are extremely important to great life.

Remember that no amount of reading will prepare you for the real thing. It is important to know the rules and tips, but at some point you have to get on that bull, tennis court, night club, whatever. Start small at first, take baby steps, and keep moving forward. Be patient. Do everything diligently and completely. Watch your world changing before your eyes.

Improve Across the Board

If you see your situation being similar to mine, you can follow my path until you can break off and follow your own. Or if you don’t see similarities, you may be better off going directly to the topic you feel is relevant: how to be a better man, better person, healthier person, happier person, etc.

Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.
- Jim Rohn

Remember that you can only learn what you are ready to learn. It will do you no good to study how to be the life of a party, shoot jokes, and play games, if you feel depressed and angry all the time. This might be a somewhat extreme example, but it’s a very important point to understand. You have to fix the root of the problem, and then achieving everything that depended on it becomes much easier.

One thing I can tell you for certain is that if you want to make dramatic positive changes in your life, you’ll do it easier, quicker, and with much better long-term results by mastering your own mind rather than looking for a ‘magic pill.’
- Danish Ahmed, Visionary

You have to be in the right state of mind to:
1. Allow yourself to receive a lesson
2. Accept the lesson
3. Commit the lesson to your habitual response (ie. feel naturally comfortable using it)

You have to pay the price – it’s usually time. You need time to work on yourself, get something done or learn a skill. Money will speed up the process by paying experts to teach you instead of taking the time to figure things out by yourself. It takes about 100 hours to learn and adopt a new habit.

Multitask 2 or 3 lessons at once (if you’re able) to speed up the process. Make your own one page summaries, highlight in books, make additional pictures with a pencil, practice on the spot, reread your notes the next day.

Follow Your Passion

I think these quotations say it best:

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
- Shakespeare

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
- Albert Einstein

Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just Do It! You can blog or journal about your progress and keep a record of your thoughts and reflections. Note what worked, what didn’t and what was the result. This way you can get useful comments and feedback as you go along. The value of the notes is immense when you decide to write a book or share your knowledge and passion through your own website.

Ask For Help

Do appreciate the value of mentors and experts. They can make a huge difference from working things out by yourself. Not only are they great time saver, but they will also show you the best way to proceed, give you valuable tips, correct techniques, and a different point of view, as well as tell you what pitfalls to avoid. They will push you to your 110%. There is only so much you can do by yourself, be it working out, investing, or healing psychologically or spiritually.

Also, whatever your faith or religion is, don’t be too proud to ask God/Universe/Higher Intelligence/Nature for help.

Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened onto you.
- Matt 7:7 www.joywell.org/Sermons/be-given.html

Every night say to yourself:

“Universe, please bring me the people I need to go to the next level. Bring me the situation I need. And do it in a way that I know it occurred from this exercise.”

In prayers we talk to God/Universe/Nature, in meditation God/Universe/Nature talks to us:

Inner silence is the place of silent knowledge where you know everything, and you can see that there are multiple choices.
- Heloisa da Silva Porto

Dreams are made if people only try. I believe in miracles… I have to…
because somewhere the hurting must stop.
- Stanley Terry Fox

Bottom Line

The self-improvement industry can only help you if you really want to be helped. It is a simple but not easy process. Be careful, it is also addictive – don’t complain I didn’t warn you

You must have a dream, desire, and discipline – the last one is especially important. Like everything, it takes time. For some it can take as little as a few days, for others up to 2 years or even more. On average you can see major changes in your life in less than a year.

The beginning is the most important part of the work.
- Plato

Then one day, the eureka moment will just hit you:
EVERYTHING becomes clear! Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit purpose surfaces and all of the parts are congruent and in agreement with each other.

I WISH YOU A REWARDING JOURNEY AND ALL THE SUCCESS YOU DESIRE!

Click here when you are ready to make it happen.

If you’ve found this article helpful, please post your comments below and spread the word. I want to hear your feedback. All the best!

[ Practical Wellness HOME | Start Here INDEX | Back to TOP ]

Why Should I Change and Where Do I Start? is a post from: Practical Wellness Guide