Posts Tagged ‘Exercising’

This text message I received from Paul today after I posted my first blog early this morning:

“Oh ya, thanks for making me puke in my mouth when I saw that semi-nude pic on your blog.  I’m still nauseated now just thinking about it.  Jeezus it burns my eyes!”

Here is a picture of Paul in 6 months if he didn't BEG me to do this challenge with him.

The gloves are officially off.  Paul, the worst part of my day was looking at your pics on your blog and realizing that I’m only around 6-7% less body fat than THAT.  If that’s not an inspiration to change, I don’t really know what is.

All kidding aside, we both commented on how liberating it is to just make your privates public on those pics and come face to face and share your own imperfections.  I’ve had lots of messages from you guys saying that you’re going to make some changes within your own lives too.  Hey, that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside, because it’s my mission to help others heal on different levels and become more self-aware, and self-actualized.  If I’m on this journey, and I can see a little further than a few, it’s because I’ve stood on the shoulders of giants, and want to help point the way.  This journey requires that I get a few “giants” on my team.

If you want to achieve anything great, it’s wise that you understand that you won’t get there nearly as fast if you did it alone.

My first “giant” I’ve hired is Shane Heins of Gymnos Evolution.  His mission is to help transform lives with a specific, unique form of exercises called “TACFIT” and “Circular Strength Training”.  My morning started at 5:30am when I woke up.  Uuuugh.  It was dark out, it was cold, but as I drove from my apartment towards downtown Vancouver, I noticed how peaceful and serene it was.  We met under the Cambie Street Bridge at 6:15 and began the most unique workout I’ve ever had.

I’ve done so many different workouts, with weights, without weights, yoga, pilates, P90X, etc… but I’ve never been pushed to move in these unorthodox ways before.  It was like learning a new dance.  I’ll report more about it as I learn what the heck he’s doing with me, but all I know is that this evening, every joint in my body is sore in the sense that it’s been pushed beyond it’s usual limit– in a good way.  But the exercise isn’t going to be my greatest challenge—I’m not a stranger to regular exercise at all.  There’s something way deeper here.

A Journey to Clear my own “Crap” surrounding my Carb Addiction

This Challenge has also made me become a more present, alert self-observer.  I listen to the cravings of my body from a 3^rd person-perspective, which is the only thing that has been helping me overcome them.  After our workout, I took my photographer buddy Tobin Smith out for breakfast.  I sat there, eating my fruit, bacon and eggs (no toast), watching Tobin down a stack of the most delicious looking pancakes I’ve ever seen.  Slathered with butter, drenched with syrup, he offered me a bite, and it took every single last bit of power out of me not to take one.

My lunch today: Spinach, romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, raw beets, red pepper, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, balsamic vinegar. To wash it all down? A spinach/banana/blueberry smoothie.

An interesting thing happens when you step out of your cravings and become and observer to them.  You realize that you are not your cravings.  They don’t have any power over you than the power you give them.  Most of us are so uncomfortable being uncomfortable, we go for the first thing we can reach for to fill the emptiness.  For some, it’s gambling.  For others, it’s a relationship.  For most, it’s coffee, alcohol, and carbohydrates.  Why?  Because these addictions are the quickest way to get the reward centers in our brain firing to cover up the emptiness and suffering.  Once we temporarily get our “fix”… it’s only a matter of time before we’re suffering again, and we spend our entire day/ life following this mostly unconscious pattern.  Does this sound familiar?

I made the decision to become conscious and aware of my suffering.  Then I realized that I’m not the one with the cravings.  Only when we are unconscious of them do our addictions run us to the point we can’t stop them.  When we have food addictions, our ego can become so unaware that it defends it’s right to be addicted.

“I deserve to eat this, I just worked out like crazy this morning, I’ll work out harder tomorrow, I’ll start tomorrow, I’ve already cheated today—I’ll just keep going” is what the ego says to justify succumbing to the craving.  I caught myself several times falling into that trap.  This challenge has been extremely enlightening for me.  When I awaken to the presence of the moment and become aware of my self and my body, I realize that I can overcome my cravings not by trying to make them go away, but by simply becoming aware of them.  I can feel them right now as I type, but again… that’s not me.  Who I actually am is the observer of the cravings, therefore I can be more powerful than them.  Interesting how you can use your greatest flaws as an access point for the magnificent present.  Some of you will know exactly what I’m talking about… others won’t have a freakin’ clue.

You just have to come up with a reason for yourself.  $500 is enough for me.  Do YOU have a “why” that’s big enough to make you healthy?  If you don’t, the day will come when you will be FORCED to have a why… and you can pray it won’t be too late.  As always, looking forward to your comments, retweets, share’s and recommends.  Let’s start a health revolution.  As I learn more about myself each day, I realize what someone has to go through to break the habit of being themselves. It’s quite challenging, and it’s quite liberating.

When was the last time you thought “wouldn’t it be great if I made more, if I just got my degree, if I just got that job, if I could only find a relationship,” and then you got it… only to realize that it wasn’t as glamorous as you thought it was going to be?

This is the entire story:  Even when you get THERE, there will be other factors, consequences, frustrations, challenges, drawbacks you might not have thought about.  That’s why the expression exists.  Because, as Anaxagoras said in 500BC “Nature never experiences one-sided events.”   Nothing is one-sided.  When my intentions came to pass and I experienced the “other” side, I used to think “oh, it’s not what I thought it was– I’m still not happy,”  and then I graduated to something else to desire and my never-ending pursuit of happiness continued.

When we put our dreams into perspective, we would be wise to foresee the downsides of making our dreams a reality.  You may think this is “negative thinking”, but deep down inside, you know there is truth to it.  Think of what your dreams would cost you—what area of your life needs to suffer to make your dreams a reality—and go for it anyway, if it’s TRULY a high priority for you.

Nobody ever accomplished anything magnificent without it costing something.  Remember, if it doesn’t cost you, it’s not valuable.

So you want to be wealthy?  Make it a priority and decide where you would pay the price to be wealthy.  Is your financial health worth the pain of saving?  For most people it’s not—that’s why they live paycheck to paycheck.  The cost of building wealth and saving money is much too high for a great number of people.

So you want to be healthy and vibrant?  Is your health worth the pain of exercising, eating right, making healthier choices (should I eat the watermelon, or the chocolate-chip banana bread my wife just baked for me?)  Is it worth the money for organic foods, the gym pass, the Chiropractic care, The colonics, the massages?  For most people, it’s not worth it—that’s why so few are healthy and chronic illness is on the rise.  The cost of living a healthy lifestyle is much too high for a great number of people.

So you want to be enthusiastic, hopeful, and fulfilled in your life?  Is your mental and emotional fulfillment worth the time and expense it takes to learn life-skills to deal with adversity and stress, to attend seminars that ask some difficult questions that might challenge your beliefs about who you are?  For most people, it’s not worth it—they just can’t seem to make the time to learn and study these tools– that’s why there are so many depressed and anxious people on medications, who aren’t aware of their purpose, who are deteriorating emotionally, who are victims to their environment rather than co-creators of their world.  The cost of emotional magnificence is much too high for a great number of people.

So you want a dream relationship?  Is having a fulfilling relationship worth the effort it takes to nurture, to spend time with your loved one, to plan “date nights”, to learn the priorities and “love language” of your partner, to study and learn communication and consultation skills?  Is it worth the pain of being truthful and authentic with yourself, with your shadow and sharing it with your partner so they understand the real you?  For most, it’s not worth it—that’s why there are so many unfulfilling relationships.  The cost of relationship magnificence is much too high for a great number of people.

If you want it bad enough, you will think about it and see and feel yourself as though you were in the present-time ownership of your dream. There are only a certain number of hours in a day, but you will manifest what’s a high priority for you—whether it’s health, money, or relationship/career fulfillment…. But be careful what you wish for, because you will get it, and it will still present it’s challenges.

Watch this video.  I just came across it from Esther Hicks, who believes that the prophet Abraham speaks through her.  I still think she’s a bit nutty, but again, her explanation here has wisdom, humor, and depth.  And her answer to the question the guy asks about why he’s not rich yet is so bang on.  I would add something to “Abraham’s” answer:

-Acknowledge that the reason why you haven’t made a lot of money yet is because it’s not a priority—you are not prepared to pay the price of becoming wealthy. (Believe me when I say there is a price to pay for it—this is not a limiting belief).

- Change your beliefs and values—and your life changes.

Would you agree or disagree?

Just an FYI—if you want to discover your values and learn how to take control of your emotions and your life—or you are already in the know but want to kick it up a notch or 3, check out my upcoming Stress and Life Skills events and join us if you are in the Greater Vancouver or Maple Ridge Area.  I get a kick out of teaching people how to get what they want and deal with the consequences of actually getting it.

Looking forward to your comments…

This amazing discovery can be enjoyed out of the comforts of your own

The results of this study should get you excited enough to get out and start moving!home or neighborhood. It's so amazingly simple, and so under-utilized. This "Cure" is so profoundly effective that there is no other remedy or therapy that can rival it. Here's what it can do:

• Prevents up to 91% of cases of obesity and type 2 diabetes (obesity and diabetes costs $519 MILLION DOLLARS per DAY in the U.S)
• Prevents up to 50% of all cases of Heart Disease (Heart disease kills 950,000 people per year, and accounts for 41% of all deaths, and costs 501 MILLION DOLLARS per DAY in the U.S)
• Reduces the risk of stroke by 25-30%
• Prevents up to 50% of all stroke deaths
• Reduces Congestive Heart Disease deaths by 63%
• Reduces hospital readmission for heart failure patients by 71%
• Normalizes blood pressure
• Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure
• Restores and maintains heart and blood vessel health
• Restores and maintains normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• Reduces risk of breast cancer by up to 60%
• Reduces pancreatic cancer in overweight people by 50%
• Reduces lung cancer in smokers by up to 72%
• Reduces melanoma cases by up to 72%
• Prevents up to 50% of colon cancer
• Reduces risk of and improves rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
• Prevents osteoporosis (just the fractures from osteoporosis costs $38 million per DAY in the U.S)
• Increases strength, flexibility, balance
• Decreases gall bladder removal by 20%
• Decreases gallstone formation
• Improves digestion and decreases indigestion
• Improves bowel function and elimination
• Increases immune system function
• Increases macrophage (anti-tumor) activity and anti -oxidant levels
• Decreases all cause mortality by 67% in general population
• Decreases all cause mortality by 50% in 61-81 year-olds
• Prevents up to 47% of cognitive impairment
• Prevents up to 62% Alzheimer’s and 52% of dementia
• Provides better physical function in older adults
• Decreases chance of ever being in a nursing home
• Decreases rate of aging
• Enhances learning capacity up to 12 times
• Increases Serotonin levels (“feel-good” hormone) many are taking prescription pills to enhance
• Decreases Depression by 20% (including relapses)
• Decreases stress and stress hormones (that break down the body)
• Increases Growth and Healing Hormones
• Decreases Risk of weight gain and obesity

You might be asking what can do all these things, and where the heck can I get it?

(Ref: Booth et. al.  Waging war on physical inactivity.  Using modern molecular ammunition against an ancient enemy.  Journal of Applied Physiology 93:3-30.)

This amazing “Cure” is Physical Activity and Exercise. Most of the studies that were referenced in this Journal article were referring to studies looking at WALKING FOR 30 MINUTES, 5 DAYS PER WEEK!

The saddest part of what I see every single day in my office is when

Who would have thought this miracle cure is so simple?

people are coming to me with all sorts of chronic conditions, and I see on their case histories illnesses and disorders created because they don’t get out and exercise.  They’re fat, on all sorts of prescription pills, diabetic, and don’t get any exercise, and always seem to be needing to go to the doctor.   I’m not even talking about going to the gym either.  I’m talking about a simple walk each day.  It’s getting increasingly difficult for me to be politically correct and keep my mouth shut with certain people.  I started blogging as my own therapy for dealing with those types of patients, so I don’t p__ off too many people and drive them away from my office.  It isn’t working.  People are still looking for that Miracle cure/quick fix for their mind and body disorders created because they don’t eat, move and think well.

Good for the Brain, too?

Pleasure Centers of the brain that are stimulated during exercise and movement of the spine (also stimulated during chiropractic adjustment)

We all know why exercise is good for the heart and lungs.  But why does it affect your mood, your brain, and mental health?  Because in your Spine and Nervous system, there are receptors involved in movement and pleasure pathways, and they are connected to your brain.  When movement in your spine is stimulated, the brain receives stimulation which acts as nutrients that are needed to function in a normal healthy manner.  Without this “nutrient”, an optimum state of health is not  possible.  That’s also patients feel a sudden mood change when receiving chiropractic care.  Chiropractic adjustments help to restore that connection between brain and body and to stimulate those pathways (through mechano-receptors).

I want to make a correction:  Walking is not a “cure” for any medical condition.  We’re so immersed in an allopathic, treatment-based medical society that we get ourselves sick and dis-eased, then we look for answers on the outside.  What I’m trying to tell you is that we get sick in the first place because we haven’t done what’s necessary for our cells to express health and wellness.  ”Medical conditions” (what really does that mean anyway?) occur because of a deficiency in movement.

Healing can be defined as any movement towards balance and homeostasis– and this movement can begin with a simple half hour walk per day.  It costs you nothing, and it will save your life.  That’s why you won’t hear about it on any advertisement.

Show me a pill that can do all that.