Nothing Is Perfect
Nothing Is Perfect
Puppies for Sale
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies For Sale.” Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked. The store owner replied, “Anywhere from [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Puppies for Sale", url: "http://www.theperfectsense.com/puppies-for-sale/2008/" });Practice What Your Preach
Stress. It's everywhere, it seems, at times. Waiting for you at your workstation, lurking behind that pile of bills, taunting you for not working out, reminding you that life is filled with challenges, issues, problems. These days my life has been filled with more stress than the norm. Working too many hours, physical pain (I have a chronic shoulder problem that will eventually need surgery to remedy), relationship challenges (nothing major, just the everyday give-and-take of fifteen years of marriage), job issues, to name a few. I have been so stressed out, as they say, that I decided I had to do something about it. So I made a video.Now, I make videos all the time. My website, livelife365.com, is a vlog, or video blog, which all about vids. And since my videos are based on programs or events or issues that I have lived through, I understand the genesis of each and every one of them. In other words: I practice what I preach. Except now I am battling this stress mess and in dire need of some advice. Well, Mike?
Check out one of my recent "how-to" vids titled: "How to...Manage Stress." Then check out a dozen others, but do that only after you have watched the one about managing stress enough times to, well, manage your stress.
Okay, I will. Be right back.
(that sound you hear is Mike munching on healthy, non-buttered, popcorn while enjoying a very wellmade video about stress management)
Wow, that was good. I like the part about how exercise helps to reduce stress. Also how stress is a part of our lives, and we can never really get rid of it. We just need to work on managing it.
Great. What else?
Relaxing with a nice cup of green tea, trying not to think about things. Enjoying a good book, taking your mind away from your problems.
All good advice. Anything else?
Yes, as a matter of fact. Get out and work on a hobby, like gardening or a musical instrument. Wow, I'm feeling better already.
That it?
Nope. Meditation. Yoga. Sitting outside, catching some sun. Listening to a water fountain, or the ocean. Relax, think good thoughts, get away from it all.
Man, sounds wonderful. So, how do you--
Hey, I'm not done yet. Talk to a friend or family member on the phone. Laugh. Think positive thoughts. Hang around positive, funny, happy people.
Dare I ask...anything else?
Glad you asked. Eat right, take a nice walk, lose weight, feel better, and manage your stress.
And...?
Get a good night's sleep. Always. Six, seven, eight hours. Whatever you need. It's different for every one.
I don't know about you, but I'm starting to feel more relaxed.
See? It works. You just have to do it. Work on it, every day, every way.
Just like livelife365.com, that what you're saying?
Exactly. Think about it.
And I hope this helps.
peace,
Mike
Check out the video: "How to...Manage Stress" at livelife365.com and at the bottom of this blog.
7 benefits of exercise I can believe in
In the Health Behaviors series:
When I was at school, I was a skinny nerd. (I’m still a skinny nerd, actually, though I’m working on the “skinny” bit, and at my age “nerd” mostly means “gets paid more”.)
I did play a sport - field hockey - mainly for the sake of not disappointing my dad, who loved sport and made a nice extra income as a part-time sportswriter. But I was one of the worst players in what was one of the less talented teams in the “C” grade competition. I hated the compulsory “fun” runs the school made us do - I never did get an answer to my question on why they had to be compulsory if they were fun. In short, exercise didn’t grab me.
So, for everyone who had a similar background, and who looks on the sweat-soaked and testosterone-pumped exercise industry with a jaundiced eye, I present seven benefits of exercise I can believe in.
1. Memory and concentration. This is a huge one. What scientists are discovering - and you can read more about this in John Medina’s fascinating book Brain Rules, which I’m reading currently - is that exercise actually brings about the creation of new neurons in your brain, and causes blood vessels to penetrate further and more effectively into the brain, carrying glucose and oxygen in and toxins out.
As Medina. points out, our not-really-all-that-distant ancestors used to move round a lot - 10 or 20km a day, probably - in the interests of eating and not being eaten. This was before all this new-fangled agriculture caused us to settle down in one place, and long before industrialization caused us to stand or sit in front of a machine all day making minimal, repetitive movements. We got to move around, we saw new things all the time, and our bodies were continually exercised. These are the conditions our brain is adapted for, and it works better when we give them to it.
There’s a correlation between exercise and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s in later life, and cognitive function, concentration, memory, creativity and intelligence are all measurably improved by exercise.
2. Stress management. Our stress response sets us up to fight or run away and floods our bodies with the chemicals we need to do that. The problem is, the mechanism is designed to be used to escape from physically dangerous situations in a short timescale, but in our modern lives it’s also triggered by situations which don’t lend themselves to physical action and which may endure for days, weeks, months or even years - employment worries, relationship worries, financial worries, traffic, politics and our own self-talk. It’s like trying to pound in screws with a pipe wrench.
Exercise uses up those stress chemicals and purges them out of our system, resets it to what should be its normal state.
3. Improved mood. Both depression and anxiety are helped by exercise. In fact, exercise is more effective than some antidepressant drugs, according to psychology professor James Maddux of George Mason University, who calls it “maybe the best non-pharmacological antidepressant we have”.
Now, much as I like my local pharmacist, I’m all about the non-pharmacological interventions.
4. Reduced addiction risk. According to the same article I just linked to, physical exercise is apparently a helpful factor in breaking away from addictions. (One of my clients who came to me to stop smoking took it up as a teenager when an injury prevented her from playing sport; I don’t know if this is part of the same phenomenon.) Note to self: Recommend exercise to clients who want to stop smoking.
5. Energy. I’ve spent a lot of my life fatigued. There could be many reasons for this, but poor diet and lack of exercise are two of the strong contenders. Now that I’m dealing with both of those, I find I do have more energy. So when I read that a study has found that low-intensity exercise reduces fatigue symptoms by 65 percent, I’m not too surprised. (That’s low intensity, notice. Not even medium.)
Genetics plays a part, but only about 25-30%. A recent study of a very long-lived man found that he and his long-lived younger relatives didn’t have any unusual genetic advantage; they had just eaten well, stayed relaxed, and kept physically active.
7. Physical health. Yes, I deliberately left this until last, because usually people just think, “Oh, exercise, good for your body.” And it is, very good, but as I’ve shown, it’s good for a lot of other things as well. When you’re a skinny teenage nerd who’s alienated from his body (and actually in reasonable health so far, all things considered), the physical benefits of exercise are not a convincing sales story. At my present, bordering on middle, age they are beginning to be, though, and there are many of them.
Exercise is good for the muscles, bones and major organs, for the blood system, lymphatic system and nervous system. In fact, I can’t think of any part or system of the body that exercise doesn’t benefit. The increased blood circulation and increased oxygenation detoxifies the body, and all the parts and systems seem to respond to the challenge of exercise by improving their function.
And exercise doesn’t need to be intensive to start the benefits coming, as I’ll talk about more soon. Until then, contemplate the benefits of exercise, and see if you’re moved to try a little.
Technorati Tags: exercise, exercise benefits, health, lifestyle
Cool, a bike giveaway!
The Lipton Fuji Crosstown 2.0 bike is the bike to giveaway today! Thanks to Metropolitan Mama, MizFit, and The Great Fitness Experiment for also hosting this contest and in case you’ve entered all these contests (me)- you’ve got one more chance here!! In addition to the Fuji Crosstown Bike the winner will also receive a $75 check for professional assembly! WOW! How cool is that? In addition, the winner will also receive 5 coupons for Free 1.5 Liter Bottles of Lipton White Iced Tea.
How youthful are you? Do you have some special talent or a trick that ONLY you can do? Video tape yourself and enter to win for more prizes! The categories include “Moves and Grooves”, “Tricks and Feats”, and “Free for all”. The grand prize is $25,000. Second and Third places will receive $5,000 each. Go to Areyouyoungenough to enter the contest. DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MAY 11TH.
Lipton has got some great new products out right now. They are made from white tea buds and we’ve been drinking them for the last week and my husband has really enjoyed the teas. He is a big diet soda drinker and he actually preferred to drink the teas rather than soda. Probably better for your teeth on the tea…
WIN YOUR FUJI CROSS TOWN 2.0 BIKE HERE
Simply post a comment here on WHAT KEEPS YOU YOUNG to win. The winner will be chosen at random on May 16th at 9PM PST. Winner must provide a US Mailing Address to win.
Disclaimer: The Pepsi/Lipton Partnership will provide a check for $75.00 to be used for professional assembly of all Lipton Fuji bicycles awarded. Neither Pepsi Co. nor Unilever is liable for injuries, damages or accidents that may result from receipt, assembly or use of this bicycle.
Minnesota Bans Mercury in Cosmetics
Science behind the Biggest Loser Diet
I found an interesting post by Rebecca Scritchfield, about the science behind the “biggest loser” diet. She actually had the opportunity to learn from the registered dietitian and physican at conference.
They both explained the reasons why people lose so much weight, and it’s good to learn that it’s all about good nutrition habits and exercise. You can read Rebecca’s article here
Weekend trip afoot
I'm going off on a little road trip to the Seattle area next weekend and getting things ready and packed for it distracted me most of yesterday. No workout... forgot to eat my 4th meal and ended by having hubby bring me a Jack In The Box fajita pita and salad late last night when he got off his evening shift. And inhaled them both!
I rather suspect this week is not going to be entirely stellar in terms of workouts and possibly not ideal for eating either, but I will do my best to keep mostly on track. A little break on workouts probably won't hurt my body. And I do need to do some serious housecleaning before I leave, which should burn some calories. I'm already planning on how to keep my eating within reasonable bounds, while still enjoying my trip!
Blog posts may be sparse this week. Just sayin'.
The official weigh-ins tomorrow and next Monday may not be pretty. I can accept that. Any bad looking numbers are going to be primarily, if not completely water weight, so nothing that I plan to worry over!
Today's eating is going well so far. Made a nice smoothie early this morning, then followed that a few hours later with a small stir fry of salmon, asparagus and toasted cashews with a little red curry sauce. And yeah, I know... fish before lunch sounds weird, but trust me, I loved every bite!
PN Tuna Burgers are made and sitting in the fridge ready for tonight. We'll have them with asparagus and tomato soup.
Happy Mother's Day to all who are celebrating!
Happy Mother’s Day! What Do You Love/Like Best?
April from Club FYM posted this on her blog and I thought it would be a PERFECT way for everyone of my readers to have to really stop and think about the things that they LIKE/LOVE about themselves instead of the things they DON’T LIKE/LOVE!
I truly believe in the power of positive thinking. Just in the past couple weeks, I have really made an effort to look for the positive things in my life and move forward with them as my inspiration and boy has it had an amazing impact on how things are happening now in my life.
Here is my list of 5 things I love about myself:
1. I love that I enjoy working out and it never is a struggle for me.
2. I like that I can wear my hair up or down, straight or curly!
3. I like that I am a good friend and a great listener!
4. I love that I am a wonderful teacher to children and a wonderful trainer to my clients!
5. I love that I am able to educate and help others better their lives with proper nutrition and exercise!
So now its YOUR turn readers! What are 5 things you like/love about YOURSELF!
