Mindfulness: Can Help Decrease Stress, Prevent Weight Gain and Fatigue

Stressed? Over Weight? Fatigued?

FIRST: Stress, Weight and Fatigue can be tackled with adjustment to your eating habits. How often you eat and what you eat are key. MonaVie RVLution provides you with nutritionally sound products for meal replacement and an online presence for recipes, tips on fitness, etc.

SECOND: Stress, Weight and Fatigue can ALSO be tackled with your "mind" . . . being intentional throughout your day. Not functioning on auto-pilot and multi tasking yourself into chaos rather regaining and maintaining your sense of balance daily.

Autopilot can exact a price. Example: you want to lose weight and yet you sit in front of the TV and absent mindedly eat a whole bag of chips. Or you get on an exercise machine and watch TV or read a book to pass the time and end up not even breaking a sweat.

Sudden Changes can exact a price. Example: loss of a job or relationship. Or change in finances up or down. Changes of family structure, such as kids move back in. The stress and frustration of it all is starting to disrupt your life and affect your health.

Holiday Seasons can exact a price. You let shopping for the holidays prevent you from experiencing the joy and connectedness that can accompany the season.

Full catastrophic living is caused by a mind left to its own devices of wandering through all sorts of thoughts, including expressing anger, self pity or depression  . . . and even worrying about what you may have for dinner. Most of this type of thought has to do with the past or the future and none about the moment NOW. This is a habit that can be easy to change and easy NOT to change. This kind of habit is changed with taking on a little practice called "Mindfulness" . . .  intentionally living.

Mindfulness or Intentionally Living becomes significant in helping decrease stress, prevent weight gain, fatigue and overwhelming feelings that can lead to larger health issues.

Incorporate the following:
1. At home or at work, every time the phone rings, take one or two deep breaths BEFORE you answer.
2. Studies show multi tasking is inefficient and harmful to our health. Start doing this: when eating a meal, do only that. No TV and no Reading. Just you and the food in front of you, enjoying with gratitude.
3. Waiting in line? Take that opportunity to focus on breathing or appreciating the details of your surroundings.
4. Use your "non-dominant" hand for simple tasks like holding a fork or brushing your teeth. I'm a swimmer, and I will change lanes, or start at a different end of pool, or even start change the side I breathe from. This requires me to intentionally make those adjustments.

When considering your health, Mindfulness invites you to separate yourself from whatever condition you may be experiencing and to accept yourself as a whole person, one just happens to be dealing with being overweight, or dealing with high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, etc. Want your quality of life to become better? Then practice being in the NOW and be Mindful of your whole day, everyday.

BALANCE by Day and REST by Night w MonaVie Functional Beverages

FEELING STRESSED? A 2010 national stress survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), Stress in America, revealed that “stress is not only taking a toll on our personal and physical health, but it is also affecting the emotional and physical well-being of children and our families.” 

The most common sources of stress identified in the APA survey were:
Money (76 percent)
Family responsibilities (73 percent)
Work (70 percent)
The economy (65 percent)

The APA survey also indicated that people with more stress tended to have only “fair” or “poor” overall health, while those with lower stress tended to have “very good” or “excellent” health.

One Nation Under Stress:
- Percentage of people who regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress – 75 percent.
- Percentage of people who regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress – 73 percent.
- Percentage of people who feel their stress has increased over the last five years – 48 percent.  
- Percentage of people who reported lying awake at night due to stress – 48 percent.

“The demand for functional beverages that offer relaxation and/or stress relief is high in the U.S.,” suggests Mintel’s research published in Functional Beverages (U.S., May 2010),where 48 percent and 36 percent of all functional drinks buyers aged 18+ indicated an interest in functional drinks that help relieve stress and elevate mood, respectively. * American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress, April 2012.

Perhaps the most striking finding from the Stress in America survey was that Americans are having a harder time coping with their stress levels. To help people manage their stress, MonaVie created two exciting products: MonaVie Balance™ and MonaVie Rest™.

MonaVie Balance is an AM/PM supplement that helps your body adapt to stress while creating a sense of well-being.

MonaVie Rest is a delicious blend of 16 fruits, fennel, lemon balm, chamomile, and inositol, which helps promote a naturally calm, relaxed state. - See more at: http://www.monavie.com/en/products/control-stress#sthash.Yq8oPglk.dpuf

Inflammtion In The Body. The Answer: MonaVie Juices

Fruits and Vegetables are nature's way of keeping inflammation subdued in the body. The consumption of daily fruits and vegetables in America is the lowest anywhere. 3% of American's get enough . . .  the other 97% do not. This percentage is a true reflection of the overall poor health American's have. In today's America each person needs to consume 9-12 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Children under the age of 12 need to consume 5-7 servings. This can get expensive and daunting to achieve on a daily basis. MonaVie juices makes is very easy and its affordable. Just one ounce of MonaVie juice provides the equivalent of 3.25 servings of fruits and vegetables. Each ounce of juice is the perfect way to supplement the body with fruits and vegetables, combating inflammation. MonaVie juices provides all of the necessary color spectrum of fruits and vegetables and it's bottled for you with natural additives to give pain support, joint support, immune support and heart support. Go to www.mymonavie.com/ast100 and sign up for a free preferred customer account and put yourself and your family on the path to much better health.

Play Away The Jiggles - A Lifestyle for Moms and Dads!! :-D

The "Play Away Your Jiggles" article I wrote for First for Women is on new stands now, Here's the 2 page article & it's about the 5 best playground exercises to burn fat & tone up! Go get your copy (available at all new stands) & start having even more fun with your exercise. For more info check out http://www.firstforwomen.com  Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald

MonaVie is the Company That Makes You "Feel" Good.

From the Lab by Dr Shawn Talbott . . . A series of Movies focusing on the MonaVie product line. A great way to keep up with what is current and what is coming!!

Answer these questions:
1. Feeling Stiff and Sore?
2. Feeling Tired and Worn Out?
3. Feeling You Are Gaining Weight?
4. Feeling Stressed Out?
5. Feeling Depressed?

Click below and watch this video.  It will be the best 24 minutes you've spent today.


http://youtu.be/2QUdwYleX8E

Skinny Sleep

Poor quality sleep can inhibit healthy weight. If you want skinny sleep, then manage your stress well AND get plenty of restorative sleep.

Pre and Post Workout!! MonaVie Active!!

100 min swim here I come . . . MonaVie Active, "do your thang"!! Want a better workout and recovery? . . . Get on MonaVie Active. Its built for the athlete in you!

Playground Time!! . . . Sliding Your Way to a Trimmer Tummy

It's time to slide to a slimmer & tighter tummy! Here's playground exercise #3 from the First for Women Article -

Tip 3 - Slide into a Flatter Belly – the next time you sit down at the top of a slide, place your legs together while bending them slightly. Before takeoff, lift your feet off of the slide about 5 inches while engaging your core, keeping your weight firmly on your “sit bones” in your... tush. Place your hands gently on the sides of the slide or if feeling daring, straight out in front of you for balance. This sneaky slide move will target your entire core & lead you to tight, flat belly!

And Turbo charge the exercise with some interval training....simply do 30 second bursts of running up the slide stairs, then slide down and repeat as fast as possible for 30-60 secs, then rest for 30-60 secs and repeat for 15 minutes. Awesome way to get some creative interval training in! Mark MacDonald

28 Day Jump Start to Your Permanent Weight Loss by Mark MacDonald

Get Those Sexy Arms on the Monkey Bars!!! Its Playground Time!!

Here's the second playground exercise from the First for Women article I wrote... Time to get your arms tight & toned!

Tip 2 - Firming Your Upper Arms on the Monkey Bars – lifting your kids to reach those monkey bars engages your whole body (core, legs, back, chest, and arms) – make sure to engage your core, too (drawing your navel into your spine) to prevent injuries. To target and tone your back, grab the monkey bar with a neutral grip (palms facing each other), engage your core and then slowly lift your whole body up as far as you can go while squeezing your shoulder blades together. Slowly lower back down. For a beach-ready tummy, repeat the neutral grip and let your body hang from the monkey bar with knees bent and legs together. Slowly raise your knees to your chest without swinging your body, hold and then slowly lower knees back down. Work your way up to 10 repetitions for both exercises.

Tomorrow I'll share how to Slide to a flatter belly....Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald

Your Good Health is Your Best Investment.

A Health News Flash: Mark played tennis last week with a long time New York Life/Investment Agent. He tells Mark, "From everything I've been studying and seeing from every angle over the years, the BEST investment is in your good health. You need your good health to work longer if necessary. And investing in your good health can help avoid the one sickness that drains the money invested." The solution is simple and don't mistakeningly think you have "all of the time in the world". You don't. 1.) start drinking MonaVie Juices to protect those red blood cells. Easy. 2.) if you are over weight, lose it permanently by using MonaVie RVL products and eating to stabilize blood sugar. 3.) if you are at a proper weight, eat for keeping your blood sugar stable and include MonaVie RVL products for that. 4.) Daily Fitness. Get with a Trainer or with a friend who already works out. 5.) Control Stress. Use MonaVie Vigor for support. 5.) Get enough sleep and restoration. 7.) Your budget should include money for management of your good health BEFORE entertainment.

Causes of Obesity . . . Obesity is Curable.

Obesity is curable . . . What obesity causes in your body may not be. How much is your good health worth? To your family? Your Work? Your Finance? Be Your Best Healthcare Plan!! 

Swing Your Way to Trimmer Thighs . . . and Hang w The Kids.

 

Swinging Your Way to Trimmer Thighs – most of your muscle is located in your lower body, so, targeting hamstrings and quadriceps during swinging is a fun way to sculpt lean, sexy legs and boost your entire body’s calorie burn. Try squeezing your quads while you swing forward (concentrating the burn at the very top) and then squeezing your hamstrings on the way back to really target those muscles. To accelerate your calorie burn and strengthen your core, pull your navel into your spine and hold gently.  

Free Radical Daily Battle!! MonaVie's Mark Macdonald Interviewed by Andrea Jackson

Chronic Low Lying Stress from the Lab of Dr Shawn Talbott

MonaVie MX vs Local Farmers Market Product . . . WOW!!

Heads up!!: Returned from our local farmers market . . . a family is selling veggie OR fruit blend in 64 oz bottles to be consumed at 8 oz at a time. The veggie juice has 4 greens and the fruit juice has 4 fruits, none exotic. The only additive is flax seed. $16 bucks a jug. That's 8 servings at $2 a serving, 4 veggie or fruits, no knowledge of veggie or fruit servings. If you want a jug of fruit AND a jug of veggie that's $32. NO GUARANTEE of health benefit!! No delivery. No clue of processing methods . . . except for an interesting bucket they poured out of  . . . hmmmmm?

OR . . . . the "no brainer" choice: 

MonaVie Mx: 19 fruits AND 11 veggies (several exotic), additives are wellmune, plant glucosamine, acavie, and esterfied fatty acids. Strengthens your immune system and positive benefits for inflammatory pain. Bottles are 26 oz, 2 oz serving for adults 1 oz serving for children, $35 per bottle = $2.70 per adult serving, $1.35 per child serving. Just 2 oz. of MonaVie Mx provides the equiv of 6.5 servings of fruits/veggies. Full disclosure of processing, shipped to your Door, guaranteed health benefit, state of the art technology available in a non-invasive scan to measure health benefits.

Come on. . . .  :-D

Are You In Sickness or In Health? . . . Get Scanned

You and your family should be scanned by The View scanner by MonaVie. It's non-invasive, using light spectroscopy to measure your antioxidant levels thru your skin, which are important in protecting your red blood cells from damage, which can later turn into disease in the body. MonaVie juices are guaranteed to raise those antioxidant levels into the healthy ranges and keep them there. Contact us at 505-550-2478 for your free quick scan today. :-)

Family and Friends Depend on Your Good Health

Last Sunday we attended a small town church service. The pastor is a fired up retired military dude. His message was excellent and moving. He preached on John 15:13. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends". One part of his msg stood out, "in the military we trained daily and kept fit so that we could count on each other" . . . what I heard was, "train daily and keep fit so that your family and friends can count on you." Here's the Q, "can your family and friends count on your good health? . . .

Fat Burning Cardio Comes AFTER High Intensity Cardio or Strength Training

Remember to always do your fat burning cardio AFTER high intensity cardio or strength training.....it's the best way to optimize results & your body's fuel pathways. Here's a snapshot of how to diversify your exercise so your maximize your training. There are two different schedules, one for losing weight/fat & one for gaining weight/muscle. Full details in chapter 6 of Body Confidence. My suggestion for you this weekend is to get super clear on your exercise plan & make sure you're activating all of your muscle. Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

Weight Loss Secret: It's All About Blood Sugar

"We're taught that losing weight simply comes down to burning more calories than we take in. Nutritionist Mark Macdonald says it's time to think differently. He describes the importance of blood sugar when it comes to weight loss and how that determines if muscle or fat gets burned". Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

Click on the Title Above: Weight Loss Secret: Its All About Blood Sugar

Maximizing Cardio. Turning Your Body Into A Fat Burning Machine.

Optimizing your exercise is never about doing more...it's always about maximizing what you're doing. Stable blood sugar triggers the release of stored fat & your cardio + strength training burns that fat up. Key point to remember with your cardio is that approximately 50% of your body is red muscle & 50% of your body is white muscle. Diversifying your exercise is how you turn your body into a fat burning machine. Here's a great graphic that shows exactly how to maximize your cardio & if time is tight here's a quick 10 minute workout Dr. OZ and I did together that activates both your red & white muscle...
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/10-minute-workout-mark-mcdonald
Chapter 6 in Body Confidence covers exactly how to take your exercise to the next level, doing workouts you love. Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

 

 

MonaVie Neutralizes Free Radicals, Controlling Damage of Oxidate Stress.

The importance of keeping the cells in your body healthy is significant and the question is “How do my cells become unhealthy?” Below is a picture of the damage free radicals cause in the body.

 

Cells are under constant attack by FREE RADICALS. Free radicals are aggressive, reactive substances (scavengers) that are naturally formed in our bodies when we breathe in oxygen or burn food for energy. Free radicals also come from outside sources including excessive exercise, stress, pollution and poor diet. Free radicals contribute to the aging process, which is natural. But excessive amounts can cause tissue damage and even lead to certain diseases. These molecules or atoms are deficient of an electron, rendering them unstable. What happens next? The electron imbalance causes the free radical to steal an electron from another healthy molecule. This creates an unhealthy chain reaction. The once-healthy molecule turns into another free radical, which also goes in search of an electron, and the cycle continues.

The effects of excessive free radical damage can be widespread; free radicals attack and oxidize the cell’s membranes (lipids and proteins). Free radicals also damage the mitochondria, the cell’s main energy source. And, the oxidation caused by these free radicals disbands key enzymes and hormones, hindering the bodies’ natural ability to grow, fix themselves and cope with the everyday stresses of life. Last, DNA may also be attacked by as many as 100,000 free radicals daily. Free radicals may play a role in many disorders (see graphic).

The only way to neutralize free radicals in the body is to have enough antioxidants. MonaVie makes this easy and affordable. Just two ounces of any of the MonaVie juices per day gives your body the equivalent antioxidant protection of 6.5 servings of fruits and veggies.

Why MonaVie RVL is Best in Market!!

MonaVie Wellmune. Built for Babies, Performance Athletes and Everyone Else In Between.

Did you know that nine human clinical studies with marathoners, cyclists and others enduring high physical and lifestyle stress demonstrate how Wellmune can strengthen immune defenses before, during and after exercise?

Four Levels of Health

Once you know your starting point (speed of metabolism), your next step is to set your goals for your body fat percentage & antioxidant score. Stabilizing your blood sugar by eating in 3’s will get your hormones balanced & body fat % diale...d in...this ignites permanent weight loss & drop in inches. I look at this as your “external health” because you can visually see & feel the progress. Your “internal health” is your antioxidant score, this gives you a view of your cellular health, which directly affects metabolism, inflammation, stiffness & soreness, etc... many things you may feel, but cannot see.

Increasing your intake of fruits & veggies (loaded in antioxidants) and/or supplementing with quality liquid antioxidants to fill the gaps is the easiest way to have an optimal antioxidant score. I have attached two images, one is body fat % levels based on your goals. Basically everyone should be at least a moderate level of health regarding body fat % (page 49 in Body Confidence). The image of the VIEW scanner is how you test your antioxidant level, if your score is red, orange or yellow you have low antioxidant levels & a high free radical load (not the best). Your goal is to be green, blue or purple (ideally blue or purple), this means you have high antioxidant levels to optimally protect your cells against free radicals.

What’s interesting is many athletes have an excellent body fat %, yet a low antioxidant score...this is a recipe for disaster and is what can attribute to tendentious, pulled muscles, slow recovery, etc... My point being, just because you might “look the part” does not mean you are rockin your health.
My suggestion is get your body fat % & antioxidant score, then you will become clear on the two best non invasive forms of measurements that provide the greatest reading of your “internal & external” health. Then you simply implement the right strategies & get both your body fat % & antioxidant score tested every month to ensure you are achieving your goals. Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

 

 

Your Specific Metabolism . . . Get Recharged!!

A key in setting realistic health goals is knowing your starting point. We all have different genetics & typically fall into 3 different types of metabolisms (...or somewhere in-between one of the 3). An ectomorph is that person who can eat anything & not gain weight. An ectomorphs metabolism is like a road bike. A mesomorph is that person who can gain fat and build muscle (depending on their choices). A mesomorph metabolisms is like a mountain bike. An endomorph is that person who seems to look at food & gain weight. An endomorphs metabolism is like a beach cruiser. The reality is this...your genetics & your past history of diet & exercise directly affects the speed of your metabolism. The great news is whether you are a road bike, mountain bike or beach cruiser...all 3 bikes can make it from LA to NY...some bikes will just get their faster, just like you achieving your health goals. The biggest mistake people make is setting unrealistic health goals...get clear on your starting point, implement the right strategies and whatever your speed of metabolism you can & will achieve your goals & permanently reprogram your metabolism. Here's a visual that shows the 3 body types well (also in page 33 of Body Confidence). Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

 

When Blood Sugar Is Stable. . . Fat is Burned.

Every pound of fat stores approx. 3500 cals...Stable blood sugar triggers your body to release stored fat. That fat is primarily burned in your muscle, so the ...more active your muscle (your body's engine) the faster your metabolism... which equals greater fat burning. Here's one of my favorite visuals of this (also found on page 22 in Body Confidence). Lets keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

 

Simplifying Your Meals . . . Eating in 3's

Here's an excellent visual showing how simple eating in 3's can be...I suggest putting this image on your fridge & writing down your favorite proteins, fats & carbs on a piece of paper...then simply choose 1 at each meal to keep your blood ...sugar balanced. Also right down your favorite meal replacements & make sure they have the right balance of protein, fat & carbs. Meal replacements are excellent to fill those tight meal gaps in the early morning, mid morning & late afternoon. Lets all keep making our health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

 

 

Antioxidants . . . Your Cell's Body Guards.

We've all heard you need to have fruits & veggies in your diet...the challenge is many of us never actually know why. It's time we all learn why we need fruits... & veggies. Eating in 3's (stable blood sugar) gives your body the energy to live. That energy source is called ATP and works just like gas in a car. Now once ATP is made in your cell, a byproduct of that is a free radical. Free radicals are rogue molecules that attack & damage healthy cells. Lack of sleep, high stress, skipping meals, overeating, pollution, etc... cause more free radicals to be produced in your body. Think of cutting open an apple, letting is sit for 10 minutes and watch it turn brown, that is oxidation, and when you have too many free radicals in your body, you are oxidizing inside just like that apple. Fruits & veggies have antioxidants & antioxidants neutralize free radicals and protect your cells. So in essence, antioxidants are your cells body guards, which minimizes inflammation, stiffness & soreness & basically gets your cells optimally working. So today is all about knowing why you need your fruits & veggies and tomorrow I will post exactly how to work more antioxidants into your body. Here are some pics of different fruits & veggies, do your best to eat one at each meal today & share your favorite fruits & veggies on this post. Lets keep making our health happen! Mark McDonald, Body Confidence

 

Enjoy Off Plan Food Too

Many of you asked about "cheat meals" from last weeks theme of stable blood sugar. I never like the word "cheat" makes it sound like you are doing something wrong.... I like calling our little treats or unbalanced meals "off plan". On Dr. Oz I shared how to simply have 3 oz of protein before some chocolate cake, cookies, ice cream, etc.. This helps slow down the blood sugar spike and helps minimize those "treats" from storing fat. You can see that clip on www.venicenutrition.com/media. And if you want to have a full "off plan" meal, read pages 124-126 in Body Confidence, gives you 4 steps to really master your "off plan" experience. The reality is this, food tastes great and if I'm eating 42 meals a week (6 per day) 1 off plan meal that week is so minor.... We all fall off plan, your true success is how quickly you get back on plan. Lets all keep making our health happen and please share your favorite off plan meals on this post, mine is Pizza! Tomorrow I'm posting about the power of antioxidants, so stay tuned!
 

Worry vs Concern . . . Control Stress. Don't Let Stress Control You.

Worry Vs Concern . . . Concern embodies actually being able to do something about it. Worry does not embody being able to do anything about it. Concern has to do with what you have influence and affect over. Worry has to do with what you DO NOT have influence or affect over. When concerned you can control stress. When worried the stress controls YOU. Click here and listen to one of theee best msgs on Worry and Stress by Todd Cook. http://www.sagebrush.cc/currentseries

Where's My High Quality Carbs - Stablizing Blood Sugar

Let's wrap up blood sugar week in style by talking about most of our favorite food - Carbohydrates! 3 questions you need to ask yourself at every meal, 1) Where's my protein?, 2) Where's my fat?, 3) Where's my carbs? All carbs, high qualit...y like oatmeal or lower quality like skittles (which my son Hunter loves) get broken down to glucose. You body's energy source is ATP and it primarily comes from Glucose. So carbs are necessary for your body, as with everything in life it's about getting the right amount of carbs per meal. Too many carbs in a meal spikes your blood sugar and triggers an overrelease of Insulin, which is a hormone that lowers your blood sugar & when over released causes fat storage. When you don't get enough carbs, your blood sugar drops to low, you over release glucagon, which is the hormone that rises your blood sugar. The over release of glucagon causes you to crave sugar & triggers your body to burn muscle (which slows down your metabolism). Carbs are all grains (rice, oatmeal, quinoa, bread, etc..) fruits and vegetables. Focus on getting about 35% of your cals per meal from carbs, which is 22-25 grams for females & 30-35 grams for males per meal & you can find your specific carb recommendations in my book, Body Confidence. Here are some great pics of examples of carbs. There you have it, PFC every 3 is how you stabilize your blood sugar, reprogram your metabolism & turn your body into a fat burning muscle building machine! Please share your favorite carbs on this post, as well as your favorite blood sugar stabilizing meals. Lets all keep making our health happen!

 

Fat Is Your Friend!! Stablize Blood Sugar!!

Blood sugar week continues...todays topic, Fat is your friend! Second question you ask yourself each meal, after you choose your protein, is "where is my fat?" ...We've all heard...eating fat makes you fat. That is completely false. Fat is essential for your body & it's a crucial part of eating in 3's to stabilize your blood sugar. The main benefit of fat for stable blood sugar is it slows down the release of HCL (your stomach acid) which in turns slows down digestion to an optimal pace. This is key in keeping your body satisfied every 3 hours. In addition, the only thing your body is great at storing is fat, & the one main key to triggering the release of your body fat is by eating fat. Remember your body is a refuel as it goes machine, it needs to be fed a balance of PFC (protein, fat & carbs) every 3 hours. Recommended fat for most women - 7-8 grams per meal, for most men - 12 grams per meal, for your exact fat parameters you can dive into chapter 5 in Body Confidence. Here are some great examples of fats and remember the quality of fat you choose all depends on your health goal. First step is to eat in 3's then as you lean out, you can begin shifting to higher quality fats. Share your favorite fats on this post. Lets keep making our health happen and share the powerful message of blood sugar stabilization. Hugs! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence

 

Change or . . . Stay Sick and Tired. Pick One.

You have to care more about your situations than anyone else does.  It is only then that you will take full responsibility and change your course. Feeling sick and tired is not normal and not what God has intended for your life. Don't allow your lazy side to keep you hostage to feeling sick and tired.

Would You Like A Glass of Water or Coke?

WATER
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 30%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

And now for the properties of COKE

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

For Your Info
1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water or coke?

Where is My Complete Protein?

Today's blood sugar topic is Complete Protein. The first question you need to ask yourself at every meal is "Where is my Complete Protein?" Complete protein, is protein that has all of the essential amino acids your body needs. Complete protein directly affects your blood sugar hormone Glucagon (which rises your blood sugar). Protein is so special because it has nitrogen, which helps your body build muscle. Your muscle is directly connected to the speed of your metabolism, so Men & Women, muscle is friend. Basically any protein that comes from an animal (like chicken, beef, turkey, fish, etc..), or a by product of an animal (like whey, yogurt, milk, cheese, eggs, etc..) is a complete protein. Some examples of plant based complete proteins for vegetarians are hemp, soy, quinoa, etc..). Hemp is a much stronger plant based protein source then soy. The key if you are vegan or vegetarian is to make sure you get enough complete protein each meal. Whether you eat animal protein, are a vegetarian or vegan, the key to everything is to get the right amount of complete protein per meal from the proteins you eat. This is key in stabilizing your blood sugar. Here's a pic of some proteins. Please share this message with your friends and post your favorite proteins. Together we are educating the world about the power of Protein! Tomorrow I'll be posting about Fats. Keep making your health happen! Mark MacDonald, Body Confidence, MonaVie

 

Yo Yo Dieting . . . Its a Bad Cycle.

Yo Yo Dieting places your whole body into a Tizzy . . . Esplained below. I know alot for of you have hit the gyms lately, however all of that hardwork will be for ALL for not if you do not grip your nutrition. Period!! :-D

Dollar Menu Eating . . . . Oops!!

Your health is about counting nutrients . . . not just calories. And not only can dollar menus be calorie rich . . . they can be nutrient poor.

 

Tomorrow vs Today

“When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no I'll start tomorrow. Tomorrow is disease.” — with Kelli Bonomo.

Eating in 3's Does 3 Powerful Things

Today is all about Eating in 3's which does 3 powerful things
1. Stabilizes your blood sugar (balances your hormones)
2. Triggers the release of your stored body fat
3. Permanently reprogram's your metabolism.
What ever your health goal.......Eating in 3's is always your first step to taking your body to the next level and living with True Body Confidence. Here's a graphic that shows you exactly how to Eat in 3's. Keep Making your health happen!See More

Great Marriages Produce Great Parents

An iFact Article on Marriage

... Marriage is great—but it rocked everything I knew. I quickly realized my basic goal in life, prior to getting married, was to simply remain undisturbed.

This “disruption” came suddenly and was disguised as a 5-foot-nothing Swedish-Filipino woman. When I decided I’d rather not live without her, I proceeded to ask her to marry me—that is, to officially invite someone who wasn’t me to be in my personal space for the rest of my life.

This decision introduced my most significant experiences and most challenging experiences—none of which I would trade for the world.

However, I wish I’d had a bit more insight on the front end of our marriage to help me navigate it all.

According to most research, more than 50 percent of people who say “I do” will not be sleeping in the same bed eight years from now. And though Scripture alludes to the fact that adultery and abuse may be reasons individuals might end a marriage, I’d be willing to bet that most challenges experienced in marriage are the result of unawareness. Most people—myself included—jump into marriage with suitcases full of misconceptions and bad theology, entirely unaware of the unique beauty and paradoxical intentions of marriage.

Although happiness is often a very real byproduct of a healthy relationship, marriage has a far more significant purpose in sight.

 The following are three thoughts on marriage that friends and mentors have shared with me. I remind myself of them often in hopes of keeping this anomaly called marriage both enjoyable and healthy.

1. Marriage is not about living happily ever after.

Here’s the truth: I get annoyed at my wife. But this is more a reflection of me than her.

I’m intensely certain that nothing in life has ever made me more angryfrustrated or annoyed than my wife. Inevitably, just when I think I’ve given all I can possibly give, she somehow finds a way to ask for more.

The worst part of it all is that her demands aren’t unreasonable. One day she expects me to stay emotionally engaged. The next, she's looking for me to validate the way that she feels. The list goes on—but never ventures far from things she perfectly well deserves as a wife.

Unfortunately for her, deserving or not, her needs often compete with my self-focus. I know it shouldn’t be this way, but I am selfish and stubborn and, overall, human.

I once read a book that alluded to the idea that marriage is the fire of life—that somehow it’s designed to refine all our dysfunction and spur us into progressive wholeness. In this light, contrary to popular opinion, the goal of marriage is not happiness. And although happiness is often a very real byproduct of a healthy relationship, marriage has a far more significant purpose in sight. It is designed to pull dysfunction to the surface of our lives, set it on fire and help us grow.

When we’re willing to see it this way, then the points of friction in our marriages quickly become gifts that consistently invite us into a more whole and fulfilling experience of life.

2. The more you give to marriage, the more it gives back.

Over the past year, a few friends and I have had an open conversation about the highs and lows of marriage—specifically how to make the most of the high times and avoid the low ones. Along the way, we happened upon a derailing hypothesis that goes something like this: If one makes their husband or wife priority number one, all other areas of life benefit.

When we return marriage to its rightful place in our priorities, it can quickly turn into the greatest asset to every other layer of our lives.

It’s a disorienting claim. Disorienting, because it protests my deeper persuasion that success as an entrepreneur, or any professional, requires that career takes the throne of my priorities and remain there for, at the very least, a couple of years.

However, seeing that my recent pattern of caring about work over marriage had produced little more than paying bills and a miserable wife, I figured giving the philosophy a test drive couldn’t hurt.

 For 31 days, I intentionally put my wife first over everything else, and then I tracked how it worked. I created a metric for these purposes, to mark our relationship as priority, and then my effectiveness in all other areas of my life on the same scale, including career productivity and general quality of life.

To my surprise, a month later, I had a chart of data and a handful of ironic experiences to prove that the more you give to marriage, the more it gives back.

Notably, on the days my wife genuinely felt valued, I observed her advocating for me to invest deeply in to my work. She no longer saw our relationship and my career pursuits as competitors for my attention, and as she partnered with me in my career, I have experienced the benefits of having the closest person in my life champion me.

Of course, marriage requires sacrifice. And sometimes it will feel as if it takes and takes. However, when we return marriage to its rightful place in our priorities, it can quickly turn from something we have to maintain and sacrifice for into the greatest asset to every other layer of our lives.

3. Marriage can change the world.

John Medina, the author of Brain Rules and a Christian biologist, is often approached by men looking for the silver bullet of fathering. In one way or another, they all come around to asking, “What’s the most important thing I can do as a father?”

Medina's answer alludes to a surprising truth.

In my previously mentioned experiment, I measured the effect that making my marriage priority number one had on different areas of my life. One of those areas was my 16-month-old son’s behavior.

What I found in simply charting my observations was that the majority of the time, my child’s behavior was directly affected by the level of intention I invested in my marriage.

 

 

 Re-enter John Medina, the Christian biologist. After years of biological research and several books on parenting conclusions, what is his answer to the question, “What’s the most important thing I can do as a father”?

“Go home and love your wife.”

Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam, the authors of Babywise, say it this way: “A healthy marriage creates an infused stability within the family and a haven of security for a child in their development process.” They go on to sum up their years of research by saying, “In the end, great marriages produce great parents.”

The point is that marriage has a higher goal than to make two people happy or even whole. Yes, the investment we make into our marriage pays dividends for us. But, concluded by Medina and his colleagues, the same investment also has significant implications for our family, our community and eventually our culture.

So men, women, the next time you find yourself dreaming about living significantly or succeeding in your career or being a better parent than yours were to you, do the world a favor: Go home and love your wife. Go home and and love your husband.
  

Consistency Is Related to Success

Consistency comes when you decide to act.  You decide to act when you care enough about what it is you need to take action upon. Consistency requires you to "stop stopping" and it requires a set of blinders so as to ignore distractions. Consistency is tough business, therefore dont waste it on the stuff that doesn't count or is unimportant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add Music to Your Fitness~!!

In my world swimming is a daily task. I don't attach feelings or attitude to it. I just swim 100+ laps and check it off the list. However, even I find myself looking for ways to "pull" more out of my swim. Yesterday, I started swiming with an MP3, called a SwimP3 . . . and WOW!! Knocked 3 minutes off my time. Get Your RVLute on with Great Music!!

What's In Your Juice? . . .

MonaVie Mx Juice is blend of 19 fruits and 11 Veggies. Drink 2-4 oz per day and get the equivalent healthy of 6.5 to 13 servings of fruits and veggies in your day FOR PENNIES a day.

AÇAVIE®(Proprietary Açai Complex) :Scientific research validates the incredible antioxidant power of açai. MonaVie has taken it even further, creating a groundbreaking complex: AçaVie, the purest, most potent form of açai available. Consisting of açai and juçara freeze-dried powder and puree as well as Enlivenox® (an açai concentrate that boasts 10 times more polyphenols than traditional açai), AçaVie utilizes a patent-protected process to lock in vital nutrients.

ACEROLA: is known for having high concentrations of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant.

APPLE: They are rich in antioxidant polyphenols.

BANANA: They are a good source of vitamins A, C, and B6. Bananas are also rich in fiber and potassium.

BEET:water-soluble betalain pigments, called betacyanins and betaxanthins (bioavailable phytonutrient antioxidants).

BLUEBERRY:have a diverse range of micronutrients with notably high levels of manganese and vitamins C and K. They also contain dietary fiber and powerful phytonutrients.

CAMU CAMU:These fruits are about the size of lemons and contain a significant amount of vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant.

CAROTENOIDS (Proprietary Blend) :The most studied dietary carotenoids are β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein. Of these, β-carotene has been researched the most with the main benefits being attributed to its pro-vitamin A and antioxidant activities.

CARROT :They contain vitamins (carrots are a major source of vitamin A), minerals, phenolic compounds, and other antioxidant nutrients

CHERRY:A perennial tree fruit, cherries have a tart, juicy pulp and contribute anthocyanins to the diet.

CRANBERRY :is packed with nutrients, including potent antioxidant flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds.

CUPUAÇU :The pulp is white and soft, and has a sour and highly flavored taste.

GLUCOSAMINE: MonaVie utilizes a vegetarian (plant-derived) form of glucosamine to help promote joint health, including mobility, flexibility, and range of motion.

GRAPE:They contain antioxidants such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and resveratrol.

JABUTICABA:is known for its antioxidant polyphenol properties and powerful nutritional value.

KIWI:is a rich source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as potassium. It is also a good source of flavonoid

MAQUI:The maqui berry contains powerful polyphenols, which help protect against the damaging effects of free radicals (implicated in accelerating the signs of aging).

PEAR:The white to cream-colored flesh of pears was once referred to as the "gift of the gods."

POMEGRANATE:They are a good source of vitamins B5 and C, potassium, and antioxidant polyphenols, which have potent free-radical scavenging properties.

PRUNE:feature essential vitamins and minerals. They are also rich in phytonutrients and dietary fiber.

PUMPKIN:contain other important nutrients such as iron and vitamin B1. When eaten with dietary fat, they aid in the absorption of carotenoids.

PURPLE CARROT:contains vitamins (it is a major source of vitamin A), minerals, phenolic compounds, and other antioxidant nutrients.

PURPLE CORN :It is rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins, which are attributed with many biological activities.

PURPLE SWEET POTATO:contain carotenoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and calcium.

RASPBERRY:High in flavonoids, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and manganese, raspberries are also a good source of vitamin K and magnesium.

RED CABBAGE: it features vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and potassium.

RED PEPPER:is an excellent source of vital micronutrients such as vitamins C and E

REISHI MUSHROOM:"the mushroom of immortality." Featuring bioactive compounds, the reishi mushroom provides powerful antioxidant benefits

RHUBARB :rhizome and root were used for medicinal purposes.

SWEET POTATO :contain carotenoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and calcium.

STRAWBERRY:contain antioxidants and other beneficial phytonutrients.

TOMATO :tomatoes contain several vitamins and minerals, including vitamins E, A, C, and K; folate; potassium; and manganese

WELLMUNE:Wellmune has been shown to support the immune system's innate ability to fight a wide range of challenges

In Sickness or In Health . . . Choose!

Your weight shows your "outside" score. The MonaVie View scanner shows your "inside" score. Both scores are important for your overall health and wellness. Get weighed . . . Get Scanned. Then take course correction . . . its that easy.

Laugh, Apologize, and Let Go

Take your share of the responsibility and practice select amnesia. Part of a healthy life includes your approaches to responsibility in the wrong things that happen and how much you remember of the wrong things that happen to you. Stored up negativity in the mind can transform into physical ailments such as stomach pain, headaches, heart pain and even disease. Now Im not saying to stop dealing with life.  What I am saying is make sure you are being reasonable and solutions oriented about life's dealings.  Adopt healthy approaches and outlets to adversity, such as prayer, a godly mentor and fitness. 

Eat Like Crap . . . Feel Like Crap. Its Simple.

Feel like crap? . . . your nutrition is most likely the culprit. :-D And if you have a legit ailment, then for crap sake . . . don't make it worse with bad nutrition!! Be Your Own Best Healthcare Plan.

I Took My Health Back . . . You Can Too!!

***Before and After Pictures***

***At this point I had been back to swimming for 7 months at 2 miles per day and still no weight loss. I had a nutrition problem and my metabolism was held hostage because of it. I started with MonaVie's RVL and eating to stablize blood sugar Nov 8, 2010 . . . I still enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years cuisine!! I continued to swim for my exercise. By January 2 I was down 24 lbs!!

***Weight Loss Goal met May 12, 2011, 50 LBS down, putting me at the top of healthy weight range for my height!! By August 2011 I am down an official 62 lbs. and 62 lbs of weight loss on my 5'2" frame has been life changing indeed.

*** Its been almost 2.5 years since I lost my first 50 lbs. And no "re" gaining the weight here!! Why? Because I reprogramed my body's response to food FOREVER!! And you can too! Recap: Start weight 190 . . . end weight 128 and still holding with no struggles due to eating with blood sugar stablization in mind, RVL products and fitness. My blood pressure is down 20 points to a healthy 107/60 and my overall health is the best its ever been. Even as a fit athlete in my younger days I didn't feel as good as I do at the age of 46.

***For other Success stories and mine as well, go to www.monaviervl.com!! Don't delay!! Trade the dollars you are spending currently on food to be at an unhealthy weight and put those same dollars into RVL and get to your healthy weight and gain your health back. Its time to Be Your Own Best Healthcare Plan.

MonaVie Downloadable Tools!! Videos and Flip Chart

Click below for 5 great MonaVie videos and the MonaVie Flip Chart!!

http://www.monavie.com/digitallibrary

MonaVie View Scanner Video and Opportunity Video

Click here to watch the View Video and the Opportunity Video. On MonaVie.com Splash Page.

http://www.monavie.com

Vset: the Solution to Stress, Phys and Mental Energy and Better Sleep

Exclusive from MonaVie: Targets Stress ~ Increases Physical and Mental Energy ~ Better Sleep

 

Get A View Scanner is in Albuquerque!! LifeScore Scans Available!!

Results of folks scanned with my View Scanner in the last 24 hrs: 2 reds, 4 oranges, 2 yellows, 1 green and NO BLUES and NO PURPLES!!  The scans are cheap . . . the knowledge is priceless . . .  the solution is easy.

Corwin Can Swim . . . You Can TOO!!

Pinging Your Excuse Gland: This handsome smiling wheel chair bound champion swims with me. Ok Ok . . . not this exact kid . . . but dang close and exact same smile. His name is Corwin. Corwin comes into the pool in a wheel chair.  He prefers to line up next to the water and jump in from his chair . . . however the guards (while laughing) make him use the chair lift. Corwin gets himself from his chair into the lift and lowers himself into the water, swims 30 laps without use of his legs, and hoists himself out of the water back into his chair and rolls away.  I tell him, "someday I want to swim as well as you." He laughs and says, "someday you will . . . wanna race me?" Then I melted.