Change Your Thinking to Change Your Results

Many people today realize that the thoughts they hold have an impact on their results when it comes to professional goals or business results. They don’t seem to be as clear when it relates to their health or bodies in general. It disturbs me to hear people say that they “hate” their bodies or to have them run through the inventory of body parts they would change if they could.

Many overweight women struggle with finding something good to say about their bodies. A new approach might be to take the focus off of the body and onto behaviors. One of the key shifts I had when I successfully lost weight was to begin asking myself, "What would a thin person do in this situation?" Shifting my thoughts to those of a thin person led to changing my behaviors to those of a thin person, and those changes ultimately affected my weight.

Remember in The Secret how Rhonda Byrne said she can now eat anything she wants and still weigh 116? I think an important point that isn’t stated as clearly as it might be is that she no longer wants to eat the kind or quantity of food that would cause her to gain weight. She thinks like a thin person, buys clothes to fit a thin person, and eats the way a thin person does, savoring her food. Her behaviors are aligned with her thoughts, and thinness is the result. Next time you’re at a choice point, ask yourself what a thin person, an athlete, or someone you consider successful would do and emulate that behavior.

Supplementing Your Healthy Lifestyle

I am often approached by clients and readers with questions about supplements. With so much misinformation out there and the fact that the FDA does not regulate supplements, I’m glad they ask. I do take supplements, as recommended by my physicians. These include calcium, vitamin D, fish oil, iron (with vitamin C to aid absorption), and glucosamine. I encourage you to inform your doctor of any supplement you take, as there can be adverse reactions, side-effects, or conflicts with prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

Tufts University agrees with my suggestion to check with your health care provider and offers these other tips regarding the use of supplements:

• Be skeptical of claims on product websites that sound over the top, such as those in all CAPITAL LETTERS or with multiple exclamation points. If studies are cited, see if they have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. You can check for the study in the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database .
• Investigate the experts quoted. Are they independent researchers or physicians who are qualified to speak in the field being addressed – or are they paid for their endorsement?
• Use good judgment. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.
• Don’t assume that the product can’t hurt you, even if it doesn’t help you. The FDA warns that “dietary supplement manufacturers may not necessarily include warnings about potential adverse effects on the labels of their products.” Remember that claims that a product is “herbal” and “natural” do not guarantee its safety.

From the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter Volume 10G

Does Money Buy Happiness?

Yes, but not as much as you might think. This seems strange, since money gives people choices, allowing them to buy higher quality food; engage professionals to assist them, such as personal trainers or gardeners; and spend more time with family and friends. So why are happiness scores only a little higher for wealthy people and countries compared to poor ones? According to the Journal of Consumer Psychology, it’s because people don’t spend their money on things that significantly enhance happiness.

Here are the authors’ suggestions for spending money that will increase your sense of happiness:

1. Spend your money to do or experience things, such as on vacations, classes, or concerts, rather than to get more stuff. Memories and learning stay with us, but possessions require care and break, and the pleasure of acquiring them wears off.
2. Spend your money on others. Giving strengthens relationships and stimulates areas of the brain related to receiving rewards.
3. Indulge in many small pleasures rather than one large one, especially if you’re on a budget. As pointed out previously, the enjoyment of the large purchase wears off quickly, but the good feelings from little treasures can be extended over time.
4. Plan as much in advance as possible, so you have the joy of anticipation. Looking forward to an event is very pleasurable, even if the activity itself isn’t all you’d hoped for.
5. Consider how much the item you’re purchasing will affect your daily life and how it has affected others. Aim for things you will enjoy often, to enhance happiness. If you’re unsure how beneficial something will be, consult others; their experiences are typically a good predictor of how you’ll feel.

Source: University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter, September 2011

Let’s Live to 100!

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the United States currently has the greatest number of centenarians in the world, estimated at 70,490 on September 1, 2010. That’s a lot of people, so why not you and me, too? While I know genetics play a role, life style and thought processes have an even bigger impact on life expectancy. This is why I do what I do and have the mission of helping you look, feel, and be your very best – for as long as possible.

There are several things you can do beginning today to increase your odds of becoming a centenarian and live well as you go. Strive for a plant-based diet as much as possible, emphasizing complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats from fruits and vegetables. To stay energized and mentally sharp, include legumes (beans), nuts, seeds, and whole grains (look for the word “whole” before wheat in the ingredient list). Stick to the limit when drinking: two drinks/day for men and one for women, and don’t start if you don’t already drink. Exercise as close to everyday as you can and be joyful as you do! Movement is critical to your physical and mental health.

Perhaps the most beneficial thing you can do is to engage in right thinking. Praise often, forgive easily, and find something to be passionate about. Dr. James Rouse reported in the August 2011 issue of Science of Mind magazine that in a study of 1,200 centenarians, 92% worked over 60 years of their life. They had a reason to get out of bed each morning. Find yours and you’ll be on your way to 100!