It's a choice and discipline!

I can’t believe it’s been almost a year and a half since my last blog and my passion for fitness and health is stronger than ever. Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to work with friends and family on their nutrition and fitness out of love rather than a business. It has not only been rewarding for them, but it continues to challenge me as an advocate and help me to gain perspective on the industry as a whole. The health and fitness culture is ever changing and it’s important not to get overwhelmed or get locked into a routine. I find the greatest challenge for most is making the choice to get healthy and to get disciplined about it. Everyone has access to a healthier lifestyle, however if you never choose it or get disciplined about it you’ll never experience a joyful, long healthy life while on this earth.

How many times have you heard people complain about their weight, their eating habits, or their laziness? Every time I hear this I think about their choices and unwillingness to conduct them self temperately. If they can be disciplined about their family responsibilities, job, finances or daily commitments, why is it so difficult for people to be disciplined about taking care of themselves? People aren’t willing to delay their gratification. People aren’t willing to suffer a little now to gain in the long run. 

Discipline is a friend and tool we’ve been given to help us do what we wouldn’t do without it so we can have what we say we want. We can act with advanced decision making. We can have an advanced plan, e.g. plan what we will eat, plan when we workout, plan when we go to bed. If there is no plan then we tend to do what we want in the heat of the moment. How will people have victory in this approach? They won’t. We’ve got one body so we’d better make the best of what we have if we want it to last us a long time. My hope and desire is for people to make a choice and start planning what they need to change (little by little) and do it with discipline. 

It has brought me great pleasure over the last year to be in the presence of people who have made the choice to live healthy and receive gratification through discipline.

I continuously fuel my passion for health and the love of others through my personal journey of transforming lives I touch. I'm excited to share this personal journey whether it be mind, body, soul or spirit. More to come!

The Truth about Anti-Oxidants

The so-called “anti-oxidants” (green tea, red wine, blueberries, chocolate) the media talks about all the time contain “polyphenols”. The link below is to a blog entry that examines the true effects of polyphenols. It finds that they are NOT really anti-oxidants in a direct way. On the contrary - they tend to irritate and inflame our membranes and cells.

If consumed in small amounts, however, polyphenols have a hormetic effect. Hormesis occurs when the body responds favorably to toxins and stressors. Exercise is an example. It stresses the body (and even destroys muscle) but in moderate amounts makes you stronger. Apparently, polyphenols have a similar effect. Consumed in small amounts, they apparently energize our cells to fend off oxidative stress. Consumed in large amounts, they may be harmful, as they are toxins.

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/02/polyphenols-hormesis-and-disease-part.html

The Truth About "good" and "bad" Cholesterol

You've probably heard about "good" and "bad" cholesterol. Supposedly having high HDL (the "good" cholesterol) protects you from coronary artery disease (CAD), and having high LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) puts you at greater risk of CAD.

A large study of patients admitted to the hospital with CAD challenges this conventional view.

The table above shows the incidence of coronary artery disease among LDL/HDL groups in the study. Lower LDL levels were associated with a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD), contradicting the conventional view. However, the study confirmed the conventional view that higher HDL is associated with lower incidence of CAD. Both correlations were strong, but the HDL correlation was particularly powerful.

Then the study compared LDL and total cholesterol levels in CAD patients with the rest of the population and found that the CAD patients on average had lower LDL and total cholesterol levels, again contradicting the conventional view.

The full study is here: http://astute.cardiosource.com/2007/vposters/pdf/275_Fonarow.pdf.

Congrats to CFC Relentless Boot Camp for Capturing Second Place as Austin's Top Boot Camp

Yes, I no longer coach for Crossfit Central Relentless (CFC) Boot Camp, but I sure am proud to associate my name with this organization. I worked for CFC over the past year and this award truly validates my choice to work for one of the top, results-oriented, fitness companies out there.
Austin Fit Magazine (AFM) covered 14 different categories, collected thousands of votes and have more than 40 different companies, people and places to highlight on one list.
The rules: You Voted, We Published. It’s certainly the most comprehensive and precise survey Austin Fitness Magazine has ever undertaken. It’s not based on a subjective set of data or what we believe are the correlative variables, but personal choices made by real people.It's comprised of some 70,000 people locally.

One of the 14 categories was "Best Boot Camp". CFC Relentless took 2nd place! It works! Try it for yourself below.

Monica Brant-Peckham has agreed to be AFM's “guinea pig”. Every month AFM will feature a new trainer and a different set of workouts for our readers, in the process trying to Kick Mo’s Butt!

Here is the CFC Relentless Workout she endured:
Round 1
30 American swings
30 air squats
run 400 meters

Round 2
20 American swings
20 air squats
run 400 meters

Round 3
10 American swings
10 air squats
run 400 meters

Round 4
12 overhead sit-ups
12 seated chest passes with partner
50 overhead throws with partner

Round 5 (3X)
12 push-ups
6/6 one-arm thrusters
6 burpees
6 sit-ups with kettlebell
20 lunges with weight

Round 6 (8x)
Tabatta sprints (20 sec. run/10 sec. rest)

Round 7 (2x)
60 sec. planks alternating hands and elbows every 15 sec.

Round 8
20 bicycles
20 scissor kicks
20 flutter kicks
20 toe touches

BTW: Crossfit Central won for Best Training Studio in Austin! (indoor workouts)

Neanderthals may have feasted on meat and two veg diet

Another good study that helps us to know more about the Paleolithic nutrition.

ttp://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/27/neanderthals-cooked-diet-us-research

Excerpts:

Scientists have upgraded their opinion of Neanderthal cuisine after spotting traces of cooked food on the fossilized teeth of our long-extinct cousins.

The researchers found remnants of date palms, seeds and legumes – which include peas and beans – on the teeth of three Neanderthals uncovered in caves in Iraq and Belgium.

…

"In early human groups, women typically collected plants and turned them into food while men hunted. To us, and it is just a suggestion, this brings up the possibility that there was some sexual division of labour in the Neanderthals and that is something most people did not think existed."

Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?

Another great TED presentation. William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game.

Click Here:

http://www.ted.com/talks/william_li.html

On another note:
The role of insulin and other related hormones may be key to understanding many of the modern diseases of civilization. It's fundamental to Kurt Harris' (www.paleonu.com)dietary recommendations. His basic hypotheses
are:

1. Various substances in the standard American diet (fructose, lectins, and
possibly omega-6 fatty acids) throw metabolisms out of whack (due to effects
on hormones).
2. Ketones are underrated as a source of energy for the human body, do not
have the same negative effects on hormone balances, and may in fact be the
body's preferred energy source.
3. Ketones are an important source of energy for the brain, and many brain
disorders/diseases (the link to epilepsy is already well established) may be
due to excessive reliance on glucose to the exclusion of ketones.
4. Cancer cells thrive on glucose but do not do well with ketones as an
energy source.

Completed! Acupuncture Facial Rejunvenation

Yes, these are my final pictures resulting from my acupuncture facial treatments. The picture to the left is the before photo and the picture on the right is my final day of treatments. You can clearly see the improvements in the eye area (line softening), chin and cheek area, and even a slight lifting of the jowls.
You won't believe the number of people who have recognized a change in my skin. Yes, even male friends! Most people can't believe how smooth my skin is. One girlfriend commented my skin looked "as smooth as baby's skin". I'm even proud to say that one of my very dear friends who is a top executive in the beauty business saw me before my last treatment and said, "I really had doubts about this process, but WOW, you look amazing and I can definitely see the difference".
If you have not been following my blog I embarked upon a 5 week journey of an incredibly cool technique (Facial Acupuncture) that lessens and/or removes wrinkles, sun damage, skin discoloration and under eye sagging.
I've gone twice a week to my one hour acupuncture facial session that can be reviewed at Week 1 and Week 3 blogs. You'll read how much I benefited from these treatments, above and beyond the facial benefits which include better digestion and enhanced circulation in and around my psoas (had an injury). There were moments of discomfort when some shallow needles were applied, but I have to say my last treatment was complete BLISS! My legs felt so heavy like the sensation of gravity pulling my body to the earth. I know, it sounds very surreal, but until you try acupuncture or some form of meditation it's hard to grasp the power of your mind and body. I was so relaxed I fell asleep. There wasn't a week I didn't get off the padded table feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated at the same time.
After this five week series I will not have to go back for at least a year. Yes, it lasts a year! When you look at the benefits and duration of effects I can't see why I would ever choose the alternative. If you live in Austin, TX I encourage you to do a consult with Phyllis at PK Wellness. Phyllis will help you to understand the process, the benefits and share others outcomes. If you don't live in Austin you can Google or Yelp to find a certified acupuncturist that specializes in facial rejuvenation.