Spring Cleansing

What a weekend it has been. A great event, time with family, delicious grilled food, wonderful weather, and some yard work, too. Back to the grind tomorrow, but it's time to transition now as it is almost officially summer (although it's been hot enough to be August already). I've been eating well as most of you have been, both abundantly and nutritiously. But as now pools have opened and it will also be time to hit the beach whenever possible, people including myself would like to feel lighter, jump-start weight loss, and reduce bloating. The other day my friend Michelle brought up something about a cleanse. Good concept, and it is nothing new, of course. But what kind of cleansing? A total cleanse where you take in zero to little nutrients? A chemical cleanse that rattles your colon to get everything out effectively yet perhaps uncomfortably?

Starting tomorrow, I am going to begin a 3-day, low-calorie/high-nutrient Shakeology cleanse utilizing Shakeology, the breakthrough meal-replacement shake that has over 70+ nutritious food ingredients packed with antioxidants, phytonutrients, digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and love! It's my "recovery week" so it's a perfect opportunity to go lo-cal before jumping back into intense training. I'll blog about my experience in 3 days but here's how my schedule will look:

wake 5:15am, 1 cup of green tea
6:00am - breakfast - greenberry shakeology with water and ice only
7:50am - snack- banana
10:30am - lunch - chocolate shakeology with water and ice only, 1 cup of green tea
between 2 and 3pm - snack - chocolate shakeology with water and ice only
4:30 pm - mild exercise (Ho' Ala ke kino)
5:30/6pm - dinner - 1 piece (4 oz) grilled fish with mixed greens salad, 2 tbsp oil/vinegar

Obviously, this is extreme calorie restriction, however it is nutrient dense and is sure to leave me lighter and cleaner, and should have me feelin' great going into Friday. I'll let you know, and I also wanted to post this Teamwork article straight from the coach archives. Very good stuff. The real deal on Shakeology:

Shakeology^®: A Shake Too Good to
Be True?

By Dr. Mark Cheng, PhD

This is an article from a professional who teaches for one the most respected kettlebell training communities in the country. It was written by Dr. Mark Cheng in response to some of his students and peers who were questioning his vocal support of Shakeology. Dr. Cheng gave us permission to reprint it here.

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Lately, I've made mention about my use of the nutritional product Shakeology, and some folks have been questioning if I've abandoned the RKC ranks and gone "P90X" on them. So let me set the record straight . . . definitively . . . once and for all.

I heard about Shakeology before there WAS a Shakeology, directly from the mouth of its inventor—Isabelle Brousseau. The wife of Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler, Ms. Brousseau is a singularly talented coach and highly educated researcher. She's spent years studying the advanced principles of elite human performance from authorities around the world, and I was honored to have the chance to share Pavel Tsatsouline's Hardstyle RKC kettlebell training method privately with her. As an adept student, she was on the fast track to preparing for her RKC instructor certification when she decided to take time off upon learning she was expecting her first child.

During the times I spent training her, Isabelle and I spoke about Chinese herbal medicine, and she mentioned she was researching ways of combining all-natural foods with the highest possible nutrient values into a meal-replacement shake designed for athletes and people-on-the-go. When she mentioned wanting to put in high quality ayurvedic herbs, Chinese herbs, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, prebiotics, and a host of other vitamins and minerals, my initial reaction was, "Yeah, right!"

My doubts were not unfounded. Having spent years studying (and consuming) Chinese herbal medicines, I had a familiarity with a good deal of what Brousseau was talking about. The ingredients she'd mentioned sounded like a wish list that only insiders would know of and only the filthy rich and well-connected could afford. On top of that, the taste of such a mixture, I surmised, would probably make even the least sensitive tasters wretch with disgust. To make a mixture that would contain the type of ingredients she mentioned, be stable enough to ship and store, and not taste like the bottom skim of a Los Angeles sewer was a pipe dream as far as I was concerned. So I filed the conversation away in my mental round file. A couple of years later, when I met with Carl to discuss a project idea, I saw the finished product on his shelf. Eager to see how far from the initial ideal the finished product had to compromise, I was in for a shock.

Not only did Shakeology have EXACTLY the type of ingredients that Isabelle had mentioned during our training sessions, but it had MORE!

Some notables:

• Astragalus: widely used in Chinese medicine as an immune system regulator
• MSM: one of the most popular supplements for joint health
• Chia: the Mayan super-seed with more calcium than whole milk, more omega-3 and -6 than salmon, and more protein than kidney beans
• THREE different proprietary blends and some vitamins and minerals that actually exceeded the U.S. RDA.
  

This stuff looked like it was fit for a king for sure. So I was curious to put it to the final 2 tests: taste and performance. I wanted to know if it smelled or tasted anything like what I thought it would and was curious if it'd make a difference for my high-velocity, high-output, high-mileage lifestyle.
A little background: I'm a caffeine junkie by virtue of workaholism. Ever since discovering the "joy" of all-nighter homework sessions in high school, I became keenly aware of the value of being able to work harder and sacrifice sleep. So when the NoDoz, Vivarin, and Mountain Dew lifestyle needed an adult turn after I'd graduated and started writing, teaching, treating patients, travelling, training, and trying to spend time with my family, I dove hip deep into energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and caffeinated energy bars like Pit Bull. When I speak well about a nutritional product, it's for one reason: it helps me get my work done while keeping me healthy. Another bit of background: I'm a glutton. I love food, especially food that tastes good. I never met a filet mignon that I didn't like, and never met one that I didn't like better wrapped in bacon, with a side of bacon-wrapped scallops, and mashed potatoes—topped with bacon. If it doesn't taste good, I don't care how good it is for me. I'll STILL probably not like it well enough to be disciplined about taking it.

The Greenberry Shakeology bag that Carl gave me turned my ball of preconceived notions and stood it on its ear. From the moment I opened the bag, the scent was wonderful, like a dessert that you're eager to tear into. So I dumped some ice and water into the blender and dropped a scoop of the bright green powder in with it. I didn't add juice or other fruits because I wanted to know exactly how this tasted by itself, unadulterated. The next sound I heard after taking my first sip was, "Yum!" It passed the taste test.
Next was the travel test. I wanted to see how it kept me going while traveling, so instead of my usual chain-drinking habit of Monster or Red Bull, I tried a shake or two during the day, usually with one in the morning. I brought Shakeology with me to New York, New Mexico, and most recently to Australia to see how I'd do with it, and the results were remarkable. I had sustained, stable energy, but without the jitters, aggression, and hard drops afterwards. When I travel, I travel to teach, and I have to be up, energetic, strong, and focused. My days here in LA revolve around teaching, training, treating patients, and trying to steal moments with my family. So if something doesn't give me the energy to do what I need, I can't waste my precious time or hard-earned money with it.
Shakeology has proven itself to be able to give me all of that on multiple occasions, both while traveling and here in Los Angeles. You can draw your own conclusions about any product you want, but I'm sharing my experiences with Shakeology here openly. And if you think I'm endorsing it only for financial gain, you couldn't be more wrong. I signed up as a "Coach" so I could buy the product for myself! If you want to try it, you know where to find it, and get ready to be surprised how little such high-quality nutrition costs!

So there you have it...you can't afford NOT to give your body the nutrition it deserves! Anyone ready for a little "Spring Cleansing"? Click the title to this blog to go to my official shakeology page or visit www.shakeologylife.com. Thanks for reading everyone!

Until Lambs Become Lions

This Sunday, we took an opportunity, thanks to my mother-in-law, to see the new Robin Hood movie with Russel Crowe. It looked cool in the preview, but I wasn't sure what to expect. I did know that sitting in an air-conditioned theater was a great choice on a 90 degree afternoon! Anyways, we went to church, ran some errands, and headed to the theater. We got comfy and then proceeded to watch an awesome version of a traditional tale. I won't get into the details, but there was a saying that was one of the main elements of Robin Longstride's (Robin Hood's) past:

"Rise and Rise Again Until Lambs Become Lions"

At first I thought about this for a while, then just enjoyed the movie. It came back again, and finally someone asked Robin Hood what it meant. He said, "never give up." Makes sense. Lambs will never become lions, because that is impossible. So don't give up, waiting for something impossible to happen. Instead, persevere and make it happen! Don't let anyone or anything get in the way of your goals and dreams. You are the only one that will stop yourself from making things happen, so don't wait. Rise and rise again. Go check out this flick. It's a good one! Thanks for reading everyone!

In Memory of Capt. Mark Nickles

I lined up in my corral for the Soldier Field 10 Mile Run today around 7am. I was pumped. I had warmed up, loaded carbs yesterday, got a decent amount of sleep, and was ready. I've been training for this. And today there was a lot of emotion and something deeper than muscle and oxygen running my legs. Since this is a Memorial Day race, there was a tribute to all of our fallen soldiers and a message of support to those fighting for the very freedom that allows us to be able to run the streets and have functions such as this one. If you don't know, my older brother, Mark was a Captain in the Marine Corps. He was a fighter pilot, and though he did not see war, his jet went down in the Yellow Sea (or so that is the story) a day before my 16th birthday. I am not saddened or angry or reluctant to share this because I am so proud of my brother.

You see, in a way, he is the reason I was able to race today. Whenever I think I can't do something, whenever I think there are impossible obstacles in front of me, I revel in the idea that Mark one day had an aspiration to become a pilot, and he achieved that goal. A handful of American soldiers who even qualify physically are able to commit to sticking with the program, passing whatever tests they need to, and prove their skill. Mark did this. If he can do that, there is no way I can make any excuse to do the things necessary to maintain my health and take care of my family. I crossed the finish line today as a tribute to him, with my arms spread eagle displaying the sharpie script of "In Memory of Capt. Mark Nickles" across my wingspan. Here's to you bro, and to all of the men and women who have served and who are proudly serving now. Thanks for reading everyone, and have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Check this link for the official results page. I'm on page 9, and finished with an official time of 1:13:01! A new personal record!

http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=234623&rsID=93681

Early Day

Today I need to go into work early, so I'm also writing this blog a bit early. Which led me to a thought process during the week and especially yesterday. "How do I adjust my routine in order to get it all done and still be comfortable?" Some of you might be on a consistent routine like I am, while others are constantly shuffling around with different and chaotic schedules. The latter I feel for but regardless, it's all about planning in advance. I'll share what I did and what I do that helps me.

First, I stuck to the script on getting my lunch together yesterday. This way, it's ready to go, regardless of what time I leave. No excuses to buy lunch, and even though we make great food at work, I can cut costs when bringing my food and have more control over the nutrition as well. Next, I adjusted my sleep a bit. Rather than stay up til 11 or 11:30 (which is still a bit too late for my tastes, but allows me to get office work done), I instead got to bed by 10:15 or so. I usually get up around 5:15, but today I got up at 4:15. However, I usually have breakfast between 5:30 and 6 am, then blog and do some office work before leaving around 7am. I shuffled a bit here by grabbing a cup of tea, and I'm getting my office work in first so I can have breakfast around the same time and make my wife's Shakeology on schedule as well.

Talk about scheduling...my adjustments are nothing compared to hers. She gets up around 4/4:15 to get a workout in before showering, "shakeologying", and heading to work for a 12 hour nursing shift. And she has still found ways to get in her snacks and meals through the hustle. So if she can do it, I can do it, and you can also do it. Please post comments on how you adjust for your "early days" or other scheduling as we need to lean on each other for ongoing support! Thanks for reading everyone and Happy Friday!

An added announcement: I will be running in the Fleet Feet Sports Soldier Field 10-miler tomorrow morning, and my start time is 7:15am! Wish me luck and if you're an early bird or can adjust...I'd love to see you after I finish! You can sit in the stands and watch me finish (my goal is around 8:30am or so) on the jumbotron! Thanks to everyone for all of your support!

Letter To The Doctor

Doc… wanted to get back to you about some nutrition info that might help. First, you def need to know what’s going on. Like with your patients: you do an exam/assessment to find out what’s going on, right? In the same way, you should log your meals and snacks so you can see where you’re at in various food groups, etc, and a great and free tool to do this is something I use at:

www.myfitnesspal.com

you can set up an account and there is a huge database of foods. You will be able to track your calories and see the breakdown. Do this and get with me and I can help you adjust and not necessarily eliminate all the stuff you like…just make most of it better!

Also, there is a meal replacement I would highly recommend. It is much different than a traditional one, as you will see by the video. First, watch this video about it, then watch the testimonials from fellow medical professionals such as yourself. I have some samples you can have if you are interested. I have one shake a day along with jasmine, my mom, and many other people I have coached. It has substantially increased my digestion, regularity, mental focus, and I am getting nutrition from actual foods and not vitamins, which you know is important. Check it out:

If you haven’t done so already, go to my site at www.premierhealthsource.com and you can join my team as a free or club member. Either way, you will have access to a lot of tools, tips, support, and you’ll be on my team officially! You can set up a profile and start tracking your fitness and nutrition, schedule workouts, and a whole lot more! Check out the nutrition tips including Michi’s Ladder, which is a great reference tool to replace unhealthier foods with better choices!

This started off as an email to my neighbor who is an accomplished Triathlete and Pediatrician, but actually I decided to post it as a blog because it’s so important, and people have the most trouble grasping the idea of monitoring and re-learning, really, how to eat properly for health as well as athletic performance. Thanks for reading everyone, and I got some more nutrition stuff coming your way soon!

What's Next?

"So what's next?" my brother Chris asked me after informing him that I passed my NASM Certified Personal Trainer exam. Wow. Well...a lot, I guess! First I'm going to take a few days to not study anything, but I do plan to jump back into my Rosetta Stone Spanish training that I was doing once a week before the exam prep. But in the immediate future besides more education, I have the Soldier Field 10-mile run, which is this Saturday, and I'm so pumped for it! Also, I have already drafted a resume and applied at one gym for a CPT position, and now that it's official, I plan to apply at other locations, too.

My goal here is to work part-time in the afternoons at a gym where I can hone my personal training skills and begin to help people reach all of their health goals. My vision is to enrich what I have been doing as a Beachbody Coach by integrating personal training. Also, I can now focus more on the monthly workshop I have committed to with Natural Chiropractic Healing and also dedicate more time developing "Berry Fit", an outreach ministry movement I am working on with Berry United Methodist Church. And yes, I plan do collect more cool gear by doing more fitness events, and I really plan to elevate my income so that we can be comfortable again, pay off some lingering debts, and enjoy life to the fullest. I guess I'll be keepin' busy this summer! What's next for you?

A special thanks to my family, friends, facebook friends, twitter followers, Beachbody buddies, and to all of you who lean on me for support, share your comments and ideas, and to my co-workers past and present. Praise the Lord because through Him I am accomplishing so much, and I appreciate life. Thanks for reading everyone!

Assess Your Risk

During my education and exam preparation, I have definitely learned a great deal more about fitness and health as it relates to personal training. One thing is this: besides looking unattractive, getting in the way, and using it as a loved one's pillow, your belly fat may be hurting you more than you know. There is an assessment called Waist-to-Hip Ratio, and it is exactly what it sounds like.

First, measure your waist. Without drawing in your stomach, measure around the smallest part. (For guys this is normally where our belt is. For women, this may be above your belly button. Next, measure your hips. This is the largest part around your butt and hips. Now, divide your waist measurement by your hips measurement and see what you get.

Here's the risk part: "There is a correlation between chronic diseases and fat stored in the midsection." That is a textbook fact straight from the NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training. So, for women, your ratio should be under .80, and for men, under .95. When your ratio is above this, you "may be at risk for a number of diseases."

For example:
Adult Female, waist=36" hips=38" w/h ratio= .95 AT RISK
Adult Female, waist=24" hips=32" w/h ratio= .75 SAFE
Adult Male, waist=43" hips=44" w/h ratio=  .98 AT RISK
Adult Male, waist=31" hips=34" w/h ratio= .91 SAFE

Now, this is not the only factor, but try this assessment first. If you are above your corresponding male/female ratio, please contact me, and I will help you find a solution to get you out of harms way. You need to live healthier...don't risk your life for your belly! Thanks for reading everyone!

Get Up On It

Hey everyone! Great news! Two new programs are coming soon from Beachbody, and I have links to the preview pages below. Body Gospel, which is a full fitness and nutrition program with a key element...God! This is a Christian home fitness program coming out in June! Click on the link below to find out more, and sign up to be notified when this awesome program first comes out!

Body Gospel Info Page

Also, Turbofire, the extreme cardio conditioning program led by Chalene Johnson is also coming out soon. This is super charged HIIT training (High Intensity Interval Training) designed to get you in serious athletic condition. Click on the link below to find out more, and sign up to be notified when this comes out too!

Turbofire Info Page

Finally, there is a new, complete presentation regarding the state of our country as it relates to the economy, health, the job market, and how Beachbody is changing the game. Please take some time to watch this and seriously give a thought to joining me as a member, customer, and/or coach. You owe it to yourself to find out more.



As always, click on the title to this blog or visit www.premierhealthsource.com to check out my official coach page and/or click on a program on the left to find out more about it, and join my team today! You can do this! Thanks for reading everyone! Have a great week!

Milestone Week

"Congratulations, you've just completed 366 workouts." I just read that as I sat down to write this blog. I am referring to WOWY, or "Work Out With You", the online virtual gym where I and thousands of other people across the country who are Team Beachbody members log and schedule our workouts. I just actually got back from a nice trip to the park with my wife and dog where I got in some Yoga and stretching on a beautiful Sunday morning. I had planned to jog to the park and do some Yoga since it was so nice, but my wife asked if I could wait for her and Lola and we could all go. I thought about it for a moment then quickly agreed. I realized that my family is the whole reason I began caring about my personal health to begin with, and there is nothing more important and rewarding than being healthy with my family and spending time with them. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in activities we are in the practice or habit of doing, but another thing Zig has taught me is to not confuse activity with accomplishment. Activity is necessary and important, but only if there is a reason behind it. And when that is realized, and you can enjoy the experiences you set out to enjoy, such as spending time with your family, relish those moments and cherish them as victories.

Referring back to the title of this blog, there are a lot of things constantly in the works with me, and this week is huge. It is a coincidence that I have officially logged over a full year's worth of workouts in the online gym, and that's not including rest days, so it's been more. But if I stacked all of these workouts logged in a row, I would end on the same day of the year, which is a big accomplishment. Also, I am missing church today, which was not planned, but I have things in the works there as well. Soon we are planning to launch "Berry Fit" an outreach and movement that will combine fitness, fellowship, families, and fundraising with the goals of enriching the lives of the church members and the community through health, fitness, and nutrition education, contests, workouts, workshops, etc., and I can't wait to get that off the ground. I just received a message from a huge supporter, church member, and friend, Paul, who is actively working with me to help get it going. Thanks, Paul. Tuesday I will take and pass my NASM Personal Trainer Certification exam which will allow me to become a Certified Personal Trainer, bringing me more credibility and raising my level of professionalism as a Beachbody Coach. To finish it all off, This Saturday I will run in my second official organized race, the Fleet Feet Sports 10-mile Run at Soldier Field, which will be awesome. It's gonna be a busy week, and I encourage you all to set short and long range goals for yourselves, as it is necessary and important for your growth as a well-rounded individual, and I promise you will learn a lot about yourself and exceed even your own expectations by doing so. Thanks to everyone for all of your support and the biggest thanks I can receive is being a part of your success, so KEEP PRESSING PLAY!! Thanks for reading everyone!

Success Series

This week, I officially finished my entire textbook and study guide activities for my upcoming NASM Personal Trainer certification exam. I scheduled my test for this coming Tuesday, so PLANNING (not hoping) that everything goes well, I will be a Certified Personal Trainer when I cross the 50-yard-line at Soldier Field to finish up the Fleet Feet Sports 10-mile Run on Saturday, May 29!! So exciting! Anyway, I just took the practice test, and am almost there. I failed by a few points, and admittedly, after a series of wrong answers I felt like not finishing the test and going to study. However, I pushed through because it is important to finish. Now I plan to review the test and especially review the questions that I answered incorrectly to understand the concepts and to pass the practice test when I take it again. (Ok so you know I'm going to relate this elsewhere, right? lol)

Yesterday, my friend and a wonderful human being, Jason Mitchell, posted a note on my wall apologizing for "letting me down" for not finishing the 10-miler with me next week. Jason has been my inspiration for getting into running and for signing up for this 10-miler to begin with. He has been struggling with weight loss and trying to stick to the program, and I know it has been hard for him. First of all, he has not let me down, and it is important for you all to remember not to let yourselves down. Further, the only failure that exists is the failure to try. Learn from my above example. If you experience a short-term failure or a series of failed attempts, it is important to keep going. Examine what you have done wrong and understand the concepts and why, then simply make your adjustments and finish "taking the test"! When you are driving on a straight road, don't you still have to make steering adjustments constantly to stay in your lane? This is the same. There will be curves. There will be hills. There will be gravel, and there will be pavement. Monitor your progress, and keep learning.

Here's something for you to do to keep your vision in sight. Establish your long-term goal and write it down if you haven't already. Determine your reason why, then ask why again and get to the root of your desire. Write that down. Now take your long-term goal and break it down into short-term goals, and just focus on the first one for now.

For example:
Long-term goal: I want to lose 20 lbs. in 6 months.
Why? So I can look better
Why do you want to look better? So I have more self-esteem and am not embarrassed about my appearance.
First short-term goal: work out for 30 minutes 5 days a week for the next 2 weeks.
Today's goal: 30 minute cardio workout from 10am-10:30am.

When you reach that goal, move on to the next level, and so-forth. This way, you will break up your overall success into a series of successes, and lean on me and your support system for help and guidance along the way. You can do it. We will do it! Thanks for reading everyone, and have a great weekend!

Uncompromising Customer Service

Yesterday as I was finishing my NASM Textbook (yay!) I had some activities to do for the last chapter in my study guide. The last chapter was about professional development, which is why I am getting this certification in the first place, so it was a great way to end the curriculum. Anyway, there was a question that asked, "What does uncompromising customer service mean to you?" Wow. What a great question for everyone, huh? Well, I'll share my thoughts. To me, uncompromising customer service is an ideal to strive for. It is more than just selling a product or even providing a service. It is more than handing someone a towel or grabbing someone a fork. It's much more than any job description can ask for. I believe uncompromising customer service can be achieved (or can be almost achieved) by always imagining yourself as the customer/client. Imagine what your needs are or would be and what would exceed your expectations as this customer. Then, provide and give 100% of yourself to providing what they want. You have to live, eat, sleep, and breathe to help others. And this can be for your job, your family, friends, etc. Enrich your life by helping others, and you will achieve greatness in the process.

Zig Ziglar says this, "If you can help enough people get what they want, you can have everything you want." That really puts it perfectly, and can be applied to all situations. What does uncompromising customer service mean to you? Think of ways in your job and in your life that would help you achieve this, and I encourage you to write them down and examine what you are doing. If you don't believe in what you are doing, then find something you believe in, and dedicate yourself to it. Only then will you even care about helping others, and only then can you begin to become uncompromising. Please post some thoughts, and have a great Friday everyone! Thanks for reading!

When Things Get Messy

I am getting more and more proficient in my job as an expo person at the restaurant where I work. More and more, the management has been allowing me to develop my style and jumping in when it gets a bit too crazy for comfort. I enjoy the pace and the challenge that come along with the multitasking and importance of this position, and overall I feel confident in my consistent level of performance and improvement. That said, things can get "messy". I was working with my new manager yesterday, and she's great, but we hadn't worked together and we ended up confusing each other a bit. Tickets were left with food in the window and we were kind of stepping on each other's toes a bit, but eventually, we worked through it. We really started cooking as she was passing out "to-gos" and I was working the window while my awesome friend Patrice was getting the food out to the diners and taking care of that end. I called for our Roasted Potato Soup which is very popular and delicious, and our BOH man brought it up. Seemed fine. My manager than realized when ladeling a scoop that there was an icy mass in the soup, indicating that the guy had brought up the wrong one, and it was still cold!! This made for a haphazard period of time where we had to compromise by microwaving individual portions of soup, and where the window and computer screen filled up and got jumbled, which is an experience I can only explain as the feeling when playing Tetris when you are near the top of the screen and all the blocks stack up crazily and it's pretty much "game over".

I explain this event because often times in our lives we may feel that things are a bit confusing at first, right? But you know that as long as you stick with it and figure a plan and execute, you are fine for the most part. But just remember, things will get messy. You will have "ice in your soup" from time to time. You will feel like your Tetris screen is stacking up and there is little you can do to avoid the "game over" feeling. Maybe so. But this is life, and until it is truly "game over", you can't "try again" with a new screen. We must learn to rearrange the blocks as best we can and learn as we go, and eventually we will be able to line the blocks up and work our way back down the screen. Follow me? (If you have never played Tetris then you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about so I'm sorry! lol!) You can do it. We can do it. Stick with it people and when things get messy, lean on your support system, breathe, and be confident in your abilities. Thanks for reading everyone!

Counting Can Be Fun

Yesterday, a friend and Team Beachbody team member of mine, Jenny, said that she had been counting calories recently and that it was no fun. She "loves eating" and big dinners, etc. Sound like you? It sounds like me, too! I love eating even more now than when I was obese. It's because I eat the most nutritious foods that make my body feel great and that allow me to perform athletically at a high level. Yes, sometimes I do want to eat more than what I should, and from time to time, I do. But when you are used to eating so much more than you are used to, when you are used to eating high-calorie, high-fat, low-nutrition type foods, you get used to this activity like an addiction. Breaking these habits with a structure and format may not be fun initially. But it is fun, however, to look in the mirror and see your abs. It's fun to have to buy new clothes (or wear clothes you've been storing for a few years) because your current ones are too big! It's fun to cut new holes in your belt because you are past the last hole. And it's definitely fun when others respond and tell you how good you look. So keep this in mind if you are in Jenny's boat.

Learning and maintaining proper eating habits is one of the hardest if not the overall hardest aspects of health. But we must learn to eat appropriately. It's not all about eating what you don't like. It is about making the foods you like better. I've been making a killer banana nut bread for the past few weeks. Is it healthy? You bet it is! I use whole wheat flour, whole rye flower, and flax meal instead of boring old all-purpose flour, for starters. Then I sweeten it with agave nectar instead of refined sugar. I use 99% egg white product, a low-fat but tasty vegetable oil based spread instead of butter, and otherwise some of the natural ingredients such as cinnamon, vanilla, bananas, pecans, and walnuts. You see, I make banana bread. A better banana bread. And when I eat a piece, I'm not adding it to my daily calories. I would eat a portion with a cup of yogurt as my breakfast, for example, replacing calories in my day. If you want a cookie, replace the carbohydrate and fat calories somewhere in your day with those if you want to instead of eating it in addition, and you should be fine. It's the simple concept of consuming less calories than you are burning to lose weight, or consuming and burning about the same to maintain.

As I have mentioned before, if you want to look like an athlete, you must eat like an athlete and train like an athlete. If you want to look like an obese person that sits on the couch all day, then your activities will also reflect that lifestyle. But it's about health, so the former is more desirable for many reasons, wouldn't you agree? I am here for support, everyone, so please feel free to comment with questions below or contact me directly if you needs some tips, motivation, or guidance, especially in the eating department! Thanks for reading!

Learn From Your Elders

This morning on the news, there was mention of how elderly people have lower stress levels than people in their 20's. They went on to speculate that it is the philosophy to focus on living life to the fullest instead of dwelling on the failures of the past that leads to this new found pleasure with life. This seems as no surprise to me, but I wanted to share it with those of you who do stress about past failures and are worried about what it has meant in your life. Listen, if we keep worrying about what we didn't accomplish or what we have done that we regret, we will miss the opportunities that are being presented to us every day. Let's not realize this philosophy as elderly citizens, but rather take on this approach to life philosophy now and work on living each day for what it is--a new day.

Appreciate your life as it is precious and so much can and will change all the time. It is getting through the difficulties, staying positive, and seizing the opportunities as best possible that will make it happen for all of us. So let's learn from the elderly and approach life with a new zeal and appreciation for the air we breathe, the sun when it is shining, and even the rain when it pours. Tell your family members you love and appreciate them, and cherish the moments you spend together because good memories are better than missed opportunities, and creating those memories is what will bring you joy and peace in your life. Thanks for reading everyone!

Walk Through The Door

Yesterday I had a conversation with my brother-in-law, Victor, regarding some of my frustrations. Some people come to me and will take a huge first step by saying, "I need help...what do I do?" They either want to trim down, lose weight, or just live healthier. I explain that I have a process of going about finding a solution that works for them, but first that I would have them sign up for a free or club member profile with Team Beachbody with me as their coach. They do that. Then I send them some questions that help me determine some options for them based on their unique goals, reasons for wanting to reach those goals, obstacles, and even a self-rating survey so I can see how they feel about themselves. They do this.

To this point I am excited to help them, and they seem excited to get started on the path to good health. Then I make some recommendations for nutritional guidance and solutions as well as a few relevant home fitness programs that seem to fit their objectives. Then they somehow discontinue all contact with me and it is as if they had never even wanted to talk to me in the first place. So here's the frustration part, but a part I am just learning to deal with. I could ask why, but I choose to stick with the philosophy of "Don't sign up for this 'why is this' class!" as Jim Rone put it so well. As Victor and I were talking, he used some Matrix philosophy where Morpheus says,

"I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it."

This is exactly the sentiment that I feel. I know that when a person makes a clear decision and chooses to "walk through the door", there is a whole new learning process that will occur. By following a proven program to success, you/they too will undoubtedly become successful. But I cannot walk through for you/them. You/they must walk through the door. If you haven't taken a step towards your goal but you know what you need to do, isn't it time you walked through the door to begin to realize that success? Think about it, and if your goal pertains to health/fitness, give me a call and I'll help you find the right door to walk through. Thanks for reading everyone! Have a great week!

Get Out There And Jump

Yesterday evening, Jasmine and I got the chance to visit with friends at a local bar for a few drinks. Michelle had just gone skydiving for the first time yesterday and had been anticipating the jump during this past week. She told us that yesterday the anticipation was so powerful that it caused her to be so nervous that she threw up. Crazy stuff. But through the fear, the anxiety, the anticipation of something totally radical and new, she still pushed through and did it! Now that she's done it, she can't wait to share that experience again with us, and we plan to do this as well! Had she listened to one of her mind's pleas to avoid doing this, had she pulled out of the plan due to her fear of something unknown and uncomfortable, she wouldn't have jumped. And had she not jumped, she wouldn't have been able to experience the exhilaration that comes with this extreme event. What an awesome story and experience!

Aside from skydiving, think about these principles in your life. Obviously, if you keep doing the same things, you can only expect the same results. You may be afraid of change. You may even be afraid of success and what that might mean. You will change inside if you change something outside. It won't be easy, but it's worth the effort. "A boat that never leaves the harbor doesn't get banged up." That was a quote from Robin Sharma, and it is a good one. He goes on to explain that boats aren't made for being in the harbor. They are meant for the sea.

We are similar in that we are meant to get out there and live life, and in doing so, will get banged up, we will have hardships, and we will have ups and downs. But it is important that we get out there. It is important that we have these experiences and strive for success, whatever that may mean to you. So it's okay to be afraid. It's alright to be apprehensive and anxious. But just remember to get out there and jump! Thanks Michelle for the inspiration for this blog, and thanks for reading everyone!

Green Lights And One-Ways

This morning I got off to a bit of a later start than I wanted to, but I started my run a little after 7. Today was my longest run logged so far, 13.12 miles: a half-marathon. I will be doing this same distance on June 13th, and before that a 10-miler at Soldier Field, so as part of my training, I've been distance-running on Saturdays after a week of INSANITY training. As I've been learning the ins and outs of street-running, I've been trying to optimize my time by avoiding red lights and stopping for cars at intersections. Also, using the Nike+ system, I warm up and stretch at home, then begin my run and follow the green lights at intersections to avoid stopping. I run away from my home until I am half-way and then work my way back. Today I ran most of the time on one-way side streets to avoid traffic and to see the traffic coming my way. Worked out pretty well. So those are some of my tips for street running, and I am looking forward to runs coming up. Please post your running tips if you got em, and don't forget to warm up and stretch before you run or train and cool down and stretch afterward to prevent injury, decrease soreness, and optimize performance. Thanks for reading everyone! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Shakeology Revisited: Ask the Doctor!

This morning my mind is still buzzing from our home fitness workshop yesterday. I already have some great ideas for the next one, which will be on Thursday, June 10th. We have decided to hold a home fitness workshop every 2nd Thursday of each month, to reach more people and to continue to interact and grow as a team. So just now I was looking around in my Beachbody Coach office, and found a compelling new video that confirms what I already know: Shakeology is the greatest way to get the best nutrition of your life! I replace a meal with it per day, and it helps me pack in nutrients and other benefits through the whole foods that it contains. I learned from my dad's testimonial that it actually helps keep his blood sugar in check, and as a diabetic himself, that is huge news. But I want to also share this video with real testimony from real doctors who speak about Shakeology, why it is beneficial, and why there is nothing like it around. See for yourself why medical professionals are behind this one-of-a-kind nutritional meal replacement. Click on the title to this blog to check out my official Shakeology site to learn more about the details of the product and the fitness program that comes with it, and feel free to contact me and join my team today!

You owe it to yourself to watch this video, then understand: "How can I afford not to try this?" I'm not asking you to buy this, I'm just asking you to try it. Not only will you be so happy you did, you have a full 30-day, "bottom-of-the-bag" guarantee. If you don't agree it's the greatest and easiest way to get more nutrition than you could even dream up, call Beachbody, and they'll work on getting your money back. But I'm confident that you will see this as a true investment in your health and future. Thanks for reading everyone!

What Did You Learn?

Earlier this evening, we held our first official Home Fitness Workshop with Dr. Andrea Noey and Barbara Noey, a mom and daughter team from Natural Chiropractic Healing, where they help their patients live healthier through natural therapy methods including Chiropractic and Colonic therapy as well as health education and teaching about good nutrition. So our goals were simple today. Get a few people to the workshop, share my story and about beachbody, and help some people define what their goals and reasons for wanting to get healthy are, and hopefully make a few new friends.

Well, I believe the mission was accomplished, but I definitely learned some things. As in fitness, nutrition, business, and life, "we must do before we can become", as Zig Ziglar puts it. To me, I learned by doing the workshop. Now, I must follow up with my new prospective team members, and help them begin their stories. And I am so thankful to Natural Chiropractic for having me there to do this. They enjoyed it and thought it was relevant and helpful for themselves as well as their employees and clients and we have decided to do this every month! So I now need to analyze what I have learned regarding our presentation so that I can optimize it for the next time, and it will be improved every time! Again, I wouldn't be able to take a new step without the first, and that is simply what education and the process of learning is.

In the same manner, I will say that in any endeavor including beginning a new fitness program, you need to be willing to take that first step. Do what you need to on day 1, then you will be better equipped and ready for day 2. I'm gettin' ready now, and thanks again to everyone on my team and to you who read my blogs! You are truly my reason for pushing forward and constantly learning new things. Thanks for reading everyone!

Back To The Basics

Like many of you, I once struggled to understand how I could be increasing my energy level while not seeing much change in the mirror or scale. It definitely becomes an issue of nutrition, and I still see it every day and get asked all types of questions. "Is this healthy?" "What times should I eat?" "Salad is good, right?" ...the list goes on but you get the idea. I gladly respond to these questions with simple and complex answers, depending on the person I am talking to. But when it all comes down to it, we must understand the basics.

Currently as you may or may not know, I am studying intensely for the NASM Personal Trainer Exam. I have been outfitted with various study materials, but my main curriculum comes from the provided text, "NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training". I am officially one-third of the way through, and am getting into the major training concepts. This morning I have been into the chapter about cardio training, and there was a special call-out in the text, and I want to share that with you here:

"...The only way (outside of surgery) one will lose weight or body fat is if one consumes less calories (food and drink) than one expends (activity). If an individual is exercising, but not losing weight, he or she is somehow, some way consuming more calories than he or she is expending."

Seems simple, and it really is. It is the Law of Thermodynamics, and it is important to come to the self-realization that every little bite adds up in the long run. There are different times advantageous to eat, etc, but the important thing to show yourself is what exactly your intake looks like by tracking your caloric intake and analyzing it, especially with your calories burned, which you can approximate via heart monitor when you are working out, and there are also many calculators available which will help you find out what your base metabolic rate is (which is what you burn in a day doing absolutely nothing). Click on the title to this link to visit my coach site and sign up for a free account at least. You will be on my team and have access to many tools including these calculators. Also, check out myfitnesspal.com where you can enter in your meals and find out where you are at so you can start burning more than you are taking in and get that body you want in time for summer! Thanks for reading everyone!

Hitting The Target

As I have been preparing for our fitness workshop this Thursday, my intentions are to create interest about health and fitness, namely Beachbody, but also I want for certain realizations to occur in the minds of the participants. The main activity we are doing happens to be a goal-setting activity, complete with a worksheet. I am a strong believer in setting goals and following steps to achieve those goals, but that doesn't mean I don't still need help staying on track or even setting the goals themselves. That said, I will present the activity by giving a short example like the one Zig Ziglar uses, but not the same. I love Zig's because it boldly puts the reality in your face.

In his example, Zig mentions a famous archer by the name of Howard Hill. He explains that Hill was so accurate that he once hit a bullseye from a long distance, and then split the arrow with his second shot, among other noteworthy animal kills. Then he says that he is no good at shooting a bow-and-arrow, but that he was willing to bet he could beat Howard Hill in a contest. This immediately drew my attention and it should have drawn yours, too. If you blindfolded Howard Hill, then spun him around a few times so he didn't know where he was going first, then, Zig explains, he would definitely be able to beat Hill in a contest. Wouldn't you agree? Couldn't you beat Hill, too, given this situation? This brings us to the ultimate question: "How can you hit a target you can't see?" And what's even more profound is this question: "How can you aim for a target you don't have?"

Deep stuff, huh? This is what separates you from success. In health and fitness, business, family life, etc, we must identify our goals, write them down to record them, and commit to formulating a plan and executing that plan in order to hit our goals. If we are just going through the motions, we are "wandering generalities" as Zig likes to say. Instead, we must change and be "meaningful specifics". So just having an idea to do something is not enough. Try it folks. Write down a goal, write down your reasons for your goal, name some obstacles, and I even say to analyze where you are at now. You can only form a line with two points. In the same way as charting a route to a destination, you must have your starting point and your goal, then work to plan through or around your obstacles, and look to your support system to help you through. But don't quit, and you will surely hit the target that you now have. Thanks for reading everyone!

Lawn Love

Growing up, I always marveled at how people (specifically men) can get so obsessed with lawn care. I mean, it's grass, right? Our lawn was okay, but some people went to great lengths to ensure that there were no weeds, the edges where the lawn met the sidewalk were carved out like a barber's lining, and it got fertilized so the lawn was thick and almost a crayola-worthy color of deep green.

Yesterday, I had a task to cut our grass here (which is much smaller than the lawn I had growing up), but I knew there would be much more to it, and I accepted the challenge. First, there is an area between the sidewalk and curb that gets little direct sunlight at all, and I knew to get to it I would have to rake a few layers of leaves and seeds that has been collecting there for some time. In my mind I knew that there was only dirt underneath it all, and boy was I right. The rest of our lawn was pretty sad too. Some dandelions and uneven long and short grasses growing, not to mention the areas that had some plants were in desperate need of new mulch. So I raked, mowed, and raked some more. I put the refuse in a brown bag and continued to put two bags of mulch my neighbor had bought in one of the areas that needed it. Hmm. I guess that was a start, but I had a plan, so I made a visit to the Home Depot and got the supplies I needed to finish the job. When I got home, I raked up the dirt patch between the sidewalk and road, raked in some seeding soil, raked in that green fluffy lawn patch stuff, finished mulching the other areas, and watered down. I then fertilized the lawn (that had grass) with some turf builder which should get rid of the weeds and thicken the lawn. Needless to say I should have taken some before pictures because it looks tremendously better! With some lawn love that green fluffy stuff will transform into grass, and our lawn (and neighbors) will be happy we're not the weakest link!

I understand the pride of caring for your own lawn. There is a certain dignity in it and to me it displays the organization and care we are taking with our daily lives as well. If I can help to maintain a proper lawn and our home looks welcoming, shouldn't then I expect my daily tasks and responsibilities to fall in line with this, too? Think about it. Show your lawn some love, and it will show you love back! Thanks for reading, everyone!

Happy Mother's Day

Every year we have this Hallmark Holiday, which is actually the least we can do to appreciate our moms! I think that it is a great holiday, and an excuse to find the time to spend or do something nice for your mom. An extra conversation even is such a gift. I had the opportunity to spend yesterday with my family, and I believe in my mom's mind it is always such a cherished occasion to have her husband and both of her boys in one place at one time. It took me a long time to realize that to a committed and loving mother who has invested so much love, patience, knowledge, caring, understanding, etc, in her children, there is no need for material gifts. It is a nice gesture and I do give my mom gifts, but I realize that the greatest gift besides returned love and affection is time. Time is such a precious gift for all of us, and we must make sure we are using that time to the fullest because it is definitely limited. So don't spend any more time reading today; go spend some time with your moms! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there; it is because of you that we are here, and I appreciate all of you! Thanks for reading everyone!

Congrats Chris!

Today my "little" brother Chris graduated from Northern Illinois University. I have to tell you it has been a long time coming for him, and today he deserves all the accolades. There is something to be said about his perseverance through so much adversity over the greater part of the last decade. Chris started out his post-high school education at College of Dupage. An admirable and smart thing to do, and he made his way through many of his prerequisites and general education classes before getting to NIU. While at NIU, besides experiencing some financial setbacks and having to work his way back to pay a debt to the college before continuing and eventually finishing up his education, has also been through a marriage, divorce, moving out, moving back in with our parents, and more (and not in that order either).

However, as with his story, it is not important that we are knocked down. The important thing rather is that we do, in fact, get back up and fight through whatever obstacles are in front of us and strive to reach our goals. While sitting in the audience with our family, I myself felt so proud of my brother and what he has done, and I can't fathom the amount of pride felt by my Mom and Dad. I kind of had some flashback-type feelings, remembering when we were children acting up, playing baseball, going through school grades one-by-one, injuries and accidents, etc. My brother and I are so blessed to say that my parents didn't miss much, and because of it we are where we are, and my brother was walking across the stage accepting his degree because of it, too. But today is Chris's day, and will be remembered not as the finish line, but as the sound of the starting gun for the race that is his run towards his goals and successes to come. Congrats, Chris! Cheers! Salud! Prost! Nostrovia! Keep your head high and look to the stars! Thanks for reading everyone!

Announcements

Today's blog is an announcement regarding the power calls. There will be no power call tomorrow, and scheduled Power Calls will be postponed. There is a lot going on, and by that I mean a lot of good things! I am studying intensely for my NASM Personal Trainer Certification, and to that I am investing most of my time right now. I will do a call from time to time and if I do, it may or may not be announced in a blog, Facebook, etc, but contact me if you'd like me to contact you directly to let you know when the next one will be.

Also, next week, Thursday May 13th, there will be a home fitness workshop at Natural Chiropractic Healing in Crest Hill, IL. (See flyer below). Please join us as we will be having samplings of Shakeology, a goal setting activity, and previews of some home fitness solutions, and some giveaways, too!

Thanks to my readers for checking in, and I appreciate you reading. Please encourage others to read if you feel inclined to do so, and let me know if you have any specific questions you'd like me to address, or maybe you'd like to write and be a guest blogger one day?? Let me know! Thanks again to everyone for continued support and encouragement! Thanks for reading!

CTA University

As I continually have been taking on more and more tasks and responsibilities, I am finding it has been very hard to fit everything in. As many or all of you will probably agree, there are not enough hours in the day to get everything you want to get done accomplished, or so it seems. While I was eating lunch today, a co-worker who was also on break began discussing how his weekends usually go. He explained that on the weekends, which we all inherently believe are meant for rest from work (lol), he is busy shopping, doing laundry, and running all types of errands, etc.

This seems to be the case for many or all of us. When the workweek is over, it is then time for our other mandatory vocation: life. For me, every day seems like this. If I can get out a bit early from work, I have more time to focus on my coaching business, making meals, and other errands around my home, not to mention my daily workout, blog, etc. Recently, I received my NASM study materials for my Personal Trainer certification. I have been tackling a chapter a day, and much of that can be attributed to the fact that I have utilized my commute to work and back home on the train to get this done. My goal is to read a chapter, watch the video from that chapter, and complete the activities from my study guide each day. I am finishing as much as I can on the train to minimize the time I have to spend on those activities, and it has helped. What also helps is that I have been able to download all of the videos in a format meant for my iphone, so I can watch the videos on the train, too! I have 2 months to take the test, but I plan to do it in one!

Maybe you have some commute time as well to get some stuff done?? If you drive, try making your business calls while driving and be sure to have a route and list planned when you run your errands so you don't miss anything. To me, it always sucks when I have forgotten to pick something important up and I have to return to a store and sacrifice more valuable time. Another idea is if you need to read something, take it in the bathroom with you when you are "doing your duty". Sounds funny, but instead of reading the sports section you could be reading "Extraordinary Leadership" or a textbook or something that will help you improve yourself. Too tired at night and it's taking too long to get stuff done? Instead of finishing that task, just give in and go to bed. If anything, wake up extra early and you'll be able to finish up in half the time, and you'll be coherent, too! Those are just a few tips that might help you utilize the little time you have. And if you are having trouble fitting in a workout...check out 10 Minute Trainer...no excuses! Everyone has 10 minutes to get a workout in! Click on the title of this blog to link to my coach site and shop for it to check it out. It's a complete program that will get you fit in no time! Thanks for reading everyone!

Don't Be Discouraged

Recently, one of the coaches on my team let me know she hadn't reached her fitness goal, and didn't win her contest. Also, I have a feeling she may have returned a home fitness program due to discouragement. I have no doubt she will bounce back as long as she stays positive, and I haven't given up on her by any means. Also, I'm sure all of us can attest to times in life when we can easily get discouraged in a situation. What have you done to lift yourself back up? What have you done to encourage others to lift themselves back up and keep going? These are important things. A person doesn't become successful without failure. Actually it is quite the contrary. We learn more through failure than success, so although we are focused on success, we must view failed attempts as setbacks and not failures at all. I read that Thomas Edison made thousands of potential lightbulbs before finally producing a successful bulb, and I think he is quoted with saying, (and this may be paraphrased a bit),  

"After every failed attempt I was not discouraged because I knew that I was that much closer to success."

It doesn't matter how accurate the wording is there, but you get the point. We must keep this mindset when attempting to reach our goals. It is the learning process that will help you grow as an individual, and when we continue to grow as people, we are then capable of great success. So keep your heads up everyone, and stay positive. Help the people you care about as well by encouraging them and letting them know you are there for them. That support is so important, and it's also great to have people who care about you to celebrate your success with you! Thanks for reading, everyone!

Award Winning Service

Today was a great day to work. We were better than well-staffed as we awaited the visit from our President and other big bosses. We were extra on top of things today in preparation, and I am new, but I was confident. My training to this point has gone well, and I have been taught to do everything the right way anyway, so there was nothing in our normal service that I felt was questionable. When they arrived, I felt very comforted by the fact that there was a clean, composed gentleman with a huge smile that was the President of our company, and he made sure to shake everyone's hand and greet us like we were guests in his home.

But I don't really want to focus on that in today's blog. I want to talk about the main event from today, in my mind. My co-worker and friend Patrice was given an award for her outstanding commitment to serving her guests, and it was well-deserved. My managers had nominated her for this award, apparently her 5th one. Now why did she receive this award? Quite simply, she treats customers like they are guests in her home. Not only that, if you visited our restaurant and she helped you out, you would swear this was her home and she believed you were her child! Patrice is a living example of how to be a great success, and it reminds me of some points and philosophies of Zig Ziglar. Here's one in particular:

"You must be before you can do." -Zig Ziglar

Patrice does well because in her heart, she genuinely cares about the well-being of others, and it shows in the level of hospitality that she delivers. So here's to Patrice! Congratulations, "Big Sis" on your award, and I love working with you! Thanks for caring! If you are in the loop and want to be taken care of properly and have a great lunch, come by the Corner Bakery on Washington and Wells...and ask for Patrice! Thanks for reading everyone!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and views expressed above are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Corner Bakery, other employees, or any of its affiliates.

Back To School

I got back from work today and retrieved my much anticipated new package. (Thanks Marc for being there for the UPS guy!) I decided recently that I would re-invest some of my tax return in education. As you may or may not know, I am a Beachbody Coach and I have been helping people get healthier and growing my organization of coaches. To up the ante, I am now studying for the NASM Personal Trainer Certification so that I am more of a credible fitness professional, and, in turn, will be able to be a better coach to others. So I got my materials in which include a textbook, some dvds, and a study guide. In looking through the stuff, I felt like I was in college again, checking out my syllabus, glancing over materials, etc.

The dilemma, as you all can attest, is the issue of time and shuffling yet another routine into an already hectic schedule. People, it is not an issue of wanting to. When we commit to something, we MUST figure out a way to do it, and like fitness, cooking, taking care of your kids, etc, education is no different. So I will allot time in my schedule (without sacrificing anything important like fitness, blogs, etc), and I will get it done.

If you are struggling with fitting anything important into your schedule, breathe it out, and schedule the time to do it. Once you commit to this time, you will get it done along with everything else, and you will learn a lot about your mind and what you are capable of once you put your mind to it. For those of you who have figured some ways of getting it all done out, please share your success stories and methods with us by commenting below. Thanks for reading everyone!

Courtship After Marriage

Today after church, I realized I hadn't called my mom to wish her and my dad a happy anniversary! Yesterday, May 1st, was their 34th wedding anniversary! Congrats Mom and Dad!! My mom said she knew I was thinking of them and she then told me that her and my dad dressed up and went to Hollywood Blvd for a date. Hollywood Blvd is a dinner/movie type of place where you can have drinks and a meal while watching a movie. My mom said she and my dad had a wonderful time and enjoyed themselves. She described my dad's attire as "dashing", and this really made me smile.

34 years. A lot has happened since '76, ya know! And to think that my mom and dad not only love each other, but are in love with each other is truly awesome! I know I do this a lot, but I will once again refer to Zig Ziglar. He talks a lot about courtship after marriage, and I live that sentiment as well. I have been with my wife for 10 years now, and we've been married for 3. I told Jasmine the other day that I am still so much in love with her, and she told me the same. Since it has been nicer outside recently, on her days off, she and Lola (our dog) come and meet me halfway between the train station and home and greet me as if I'd been gone on a business trip for 2 weeks. So much love, so much excitement is still in the air. So much love. I appreciate it, and I feel so empowered by the sense of this love that it drives every decision to be made as the right and appropriate one. I have a purpose, and I look forward to tomorrow. I hope that everyone can experience this sense of love and comprehensive courtship in their marriage/relationship because it really makes life a whole lot more worthwhile. And thanks, Mom and Dad and those of you who keep your marriage strong after so many years, for living that example! Your children surely do appreciate you for it, and we love you so much! Please tell your loved ones you love them today, and keep the love going and growing! Thanks for reading everyone!

Digging Deeper

Today's blog is a recorded Power Call showcasing some thoughts for the morning. I went on a 10-mile run, and I was thinking about what makes me get up and relish the opportunities to get out and be active and healthy, and that's really the heart of this call. Thanks for listening!