This is gonna hurt...

You’ve slipped…..and now you’re hanging there –holding tight to a tiny sapling growing out of the craggy rock.

It’s a long way down….and it seems like an even longer way up to where you want to be.

You’re afraid and you’re tired and you don’t want to be here….but here you are.

Now what?

And as you hang there -holding on and afraid to move, two rats show up -a black rat and a white rat -and the rats begin gnawing at the tiny sapling you cling to.  It seems that if you don’t make a decision -and soon -a decision will be made for you and it’s not going to be good.

In fact, you’re going to end up right back where you started -only in much, much worse shape than when you began.

What am I talking about?

It’s an analogy for your life -your health -your career -your choices.

If you’re discontent, unhappy, unhealthy, not where you want to be ….then I’m talking to you.

Life is a struggle -a climb.
It’s our nature to want to improve. We want a better life, more money, more free time, more alone time, better relationships, better health, a better golf swing, better arms, a skinny waist, better hair, whatever…

You are the climber in the story -clinging to whatever you hold dear: your habits, your addictions, your beliefs, your comfort-zone, your group of friends ….whatever it is that you’re afraid to let go of -whatever it is that you are afraid to change. And you know what?

You have to let go!
Because if you don’t let go….you will never move beyond where you are…and you’re not completely happy where you are….are you?

And the rats?

The rats are indecision: -choices.

Willard here is not your friend!

The rats are “This” and “That”

“I should try This.  But what if That would be better?”

“I heard that That works. But I think I’m going to start doing This!”

“This just doesn’t seem to work for me.”

“Oh, I could never do That!”

“I wonder if So and So ever does That?”

“This is the one for me!”

“That looks good. I think I’ll try That -but wait…what’s This?”

And there you hang…undecided and unsure -while the Rats make all the choices for you.

If left up to the Rats –you’re going to fall -and it’s not going to be pretty.

The Rats are going to decide, if you don’t take the initiative and do something for yourself.

So, what’s it going to be?

This?

That?

Some Other thing?

It’s time to decide.

What do YOU want out of life?

Let go! -And get moving!

The mountain isn’t going anywhere….Are you?

Photo Credit: italintheheart @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/italintheheart/

Gosh, I wish I knew…

I wish I knew what the newly passed National Health Care Reform Bill had in store for you.

In truth, I don’t even know what the newly passed legislation has in store for me or for my family!

I do know that there are now inclusions for folks with ‘existing conditions’ that were previously unavailable.  And, I also understand that children are now covered under their parent’s plans until the age of 26.

The previous health care model was not as forgiving or as understanding in this regard.

I suppose this is good news for many people -well at least a big ole’ bunch of college students anyway.

Of course, as of the writing of this post, President Barack Obama has yet to sign the new legislation into law.  However, it is widely anticipated that the President’s signatory approval is simply a pending formality.

If it truly is a ‘Done Deal,’ there is no telling what this new legislation will do for our country and its 150 million under-insured and non-insured citizens -let alone what it may not do or even the social calamity it may cause.

There is also no way of knowing how this government sponsored initiative might ultimately impact the citizens of this great nation.

We just don’t know…

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chi-liu/

However, no matter what the new Health Care Reform Bill does -or does not do…

Here’s what we really DO know!

We have long known that we are all ultimately responsible for our own Health.

We have also long known that and only we can make the Life altering Changes needed to improve our Health and Wellness!

We may not be able to turn back the recently passed Health Care Reform Bill, but here’s what we can do to greatly limit our need for health care and health intervention in the first place:

First-
Stay Healthy:

There is no better substitute for a healthy life than a healthy lifestyle.  Keep your immune system healthy and able to withstand all of the unhealthy toxins your environment throws at you. Eating well to support your efforts will ensure you live a long and healthy life.

Get in the habit of purchasing fresh, whole foods and limiting your intake of soy, breads, grains, pastas and dairy products. All of these foodstuffs are notorious antigens and allergens for a great percentage of our population.

Second-
Get Physical:

The more our bodies are challenged -the better our bodies respond.
It is no secret that the human body is an amazingly responsive and receptive machine.  The harder and the longer we push our bodies -the more our bodies tend to respond.   Don’t kill yourself -but please do get outside your comfort zone and push yourself towards a goal. Push hard and then take the time to properly recover.

Your body will only be strong and lean when it is tried, tested and forced to be strong and lean!

Third-

Be Consistent:

Find the physical activities that you enjoy!
This is SO important! If you enjoy it -you’ll most likely do it -and do it often enough to really make a significant impact.

Without intrinsic motivation -encouragement that comes from within -we just will not succeed.
Think long and hard about what it is that you would like to do for FUN!! -It doesn’t have to be an activity that you excel at -It doesn’t have to be an activity that you are particularly Good at….You only need to enjoy it!

If you enjoy it…you will stick with it…and you will continue to stick with it -your body will adapt and that is exactly what you need!

Consistency is the key!

So ……I may not know how to handle the newly passed Health Care Reform legislation….but I certainly DO know what it takes to be healthy, stay healthy and reduce your over-all health-care costs!

Take the above recommendations to heart….and see how well you can improve your health and wellness.

If you need help -if you need some guidance -I am only a click away!
Call on me to help you through any and all of your Health Care dilemmas.

To your Good Health!

Paul D'Arcy NSCA, CPT, Poliquin certified BioSignature Practitioner

While examining large cross sections of the population, researchers found that persons with higher circulating levels of vitamin D were 40% less likely to contract various forms of cancer (1).

According to EPIC coordinator Dr. Elio Riboli of Imperial College, London: “There is consistent scientific evidence that low circulating vitamin D concentration is a marker of increased risk for developing cancer.”

(1) SOURCE: British Medical Journal Online First, Jan 22, 2010

In addition to our dietary intake of vitamin D rich foods, such as Herring, Sardine, Catfish and Mackerel  -vitamin D is also synthesized in our skin as a result of our natural exposure to sunlight.

However, with our modern industrial, primarily indoor and sheltered lifestyles -and because very few of us rely upon fish as a staple in our daily diets …most of us are sadly deficient in this essential nutrient.

“Okay, so I’m deficient.  What can I expect to experience when I supplement with vitamin D?”

Well, my personal experience echoes the experience of my clients: Supplementing with vitamin D gives one a sense of increased energy, an improved mood and an overall feeling of well-being.  It’s not unlike spending a relaxing day in the sun, to be honest.

And that’s just the subjective experience.

Clinically, we know that adequate vitamin D levels improve immune system function, balance blood pressure, resist Alzheimer’s disease, prevent late-life dementia and help prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D also helps abate Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

So how much vitamin D do I need?

Coach Charles Poliquin suggests, that you should shoot for vitamin D levels between 80 and 100 ng/mL.

In order to accomplish this, you could supplement with 5,000 IU of quality vitamin D3 every day.  At this rate it’s likely that levels will be at least in the normal range within about three months.  However, you should expect to supplement for another couple of months to reach the high normal range.

Another approach, and the approach that Coach Poliquin and the most knowledgeable nutrition clinicians prefer, is to supplement twice per week with about 30,000 to 100,000 IU of D3. Based on research and clinical evidence, this method seems to accelerate the increase of D3 in blood levels at the fastest and most efficient rate.

The real ‘take-home’ message here is -unless you are eating your fill of fatty-D3 rich fish such as Herring, Sardine, Catfish and Mackerel -and getting at least 8 hours of bright, warm sunshine upon your skin on a daily basis….You really ought to consider improving your moods, your energy, your health and your immune system by supplementing your diet with twice weekly infusions of a quality vitamin D-3 nutritional supplement.

Your health is one of the few things you control….

Don’t leave it to chance.
Let me help you be your best.

Click Here to get started.

To Your Good Health!

Paul D'Arcy NSCA, CPT, Poliquin certified BioSignature Practitioner

There is also a growing body of research suggesting that only 5-10% of cancers in humans are caused by genetic defects. This would seem to indicate that the vast majority of cancers are caused by environmental situations, nutritional  and behavioral patterns.

Whoa…

So what does that really mean?

Well, the good news is that this means that we can really fight cancer…on a very personal level.

We can beat cancer, we can save ourselves, our friends and our family members from the ravaging effects of that nauseously devastating, absolutely incapacitating, depressing and deadly disease of cellular corruption -(cancer) …90 to 95% of the time.

How empowering  is that, huh?

So, how do we do that?

Well, the first thing we do is avoid all the  behaviors that we know darn well increase our cancer risk:

• Avoid tobacco and tobacco products
• Avoid second-hand smoke
• Avoid alcohol in excess (daily alcohol consumption has been found to increase cancer risk by over 40%)
• Avoid processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meats etc..) and foods containing nitrates
• Avoid trans-fats and hydrogenated oils (chips, fries and fried foods)
• Avoid sugars and simple starches (cancer cells thrive is glucose-rich environments and depend on simple sugars to grow and to spread)
• Avoid excessive sun exposure (use sunscreen) and exposure to tanning beds (in 2009, the World Health Organization elevated tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category)

Next, we fortify our bodies with valuable antioxidants,  fiber,  lingans,  monoterpenes  and phytochemicals that boost our immune system -fight off disease -strengthen our cells and fight free-radicals which are known to cause cancer.

And just how do we fortify our bodies with these magical, disease fighting compounds?

Cancer Fighting Goodness

Why, by consuming copious amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables -of course! Fresh fruits and vegetables contain all of these wonderful compounds as well as plenty of water, essential minerals, nutrients and valuable fiber.

How much fruit and how many vegetables?

It’s really kind of tough to overeat fruits and especially vegetables -they are so full of goodness that they tend to fill us up pretty quickly.  However, do your best to eat servings of each at every meal. And, it is certainly a good idea to balance your consumption of both -don’t favor one over the other.

A good rule of thumb suggests that children need 4 – 6 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day, while adults should enjoy at least 6-8 servings  -even more for athletes and physically active individuals.

Here’s a simple strategy to remember. – It’s called the 4-P’s of cancer prevention:

1. Plants -eat more plant based foods -Like fruits and vegetables
2. Physical activity -as little as 30 minutes of brisk activity a day can greatly improve your health, shrink your waistline and reduce your risk of cancer by as much as 40%
3. Portion control -eating smaller portions throughout the day instead of a few large meals has been shown to reduce stress, balance blood glucose and help curb appetite and cravings for sweets.
4. Practical -none of these habits are going to come easily or become part of your routine unless they can be maintained. Work on the 4-P’s consistently -and over time, you will find that your life and your health have improved, while your risk of cancer has greatly decreased.

New habits are never easy to implement -but you can do it -you know you can.

Start simply and stay with it.

Decrease your odds of developing cancer -and win the battle before you have to ever fight it.

-To your Good Health!

Get Stronger - Live Longer

Researchers from the University of South Carolina have found that total body strength correlates to longer life and better health.

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and insulin resistance are all far less likely to develop in strong, healthy bodies.

Eat Well: Fortify your body with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and seeds.

Train Hard: Engage in strength training three to four days a week. Train your cardiovascular system with interval training at least twice a week.

Follow these simple tips to live a longer, healthier and happier life.

To your Good Health!

~Makes me sad.

You know folks….

-You can avoid it -cancer…

You can do things -change your diet -change your behaviors -change your lifestyle…

You can keep that gene from expressing itself within you…

You can save yourself from cancer.

You can….

You control how your life plays out….

Cancer may be in your “cards” -it may be within your genetic expression…..but that doesn’t mean it has to happen….

You don’t have to experience cancer…..or the life altering -completely devastating effects of that disease.

Take good care of  yourself….Prevent that nauseous, debilitating, devastating  disease.

Eat right.

Fortify yourself.

Protect yourself.

You are ultimately in control.

Save yourself….Save your family -protect them from the grief of endless days and nights at the hospital -an early funeral…..

Protect yourself…..

To your Good Health….

……..ask me

-just ask……………      please?