Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

In addition to liking turkey, Thanksgiving means time with family along with great food and wine. Hey, that sounds like most holidays. But unlike others, Thanksgiving has the added benefit of turning into a 4-day extended weekend. And I always look forward to that down-time every year.

Last year I told you to Lose It On Thanksgiving!

This year I’m going to take a slightly different approach. By suggesting a few ways you can enjoy yourself during the holidays, and still keep your health & wellness on track.

There are “little things” that each of us can do to contribute to our healthy habits. Little things that add up to a lot, over time. Isn’t it amazing how the Compound Effect is always at work!

Here’s my list for staying ahead of the curve and beating the battle of the bulge at Thanksgiving:

1. Complete a workout early in the day. Or at least go for a power walk before the big meal.
2. Skip the appetizers, or just go for a few healthy ones.
3. Maintain portion control, throughout the day and for the long weekend. Ahh, just do it from now on.
4. Take a power nap.
5. Be thankful for all that you have by expressing gratitude toward everyone and for everything in your life.
6. Leverage a few of your days off for some intense workouts, more time with family, long walks (steps), and some “me time”.
7. Practice meditation with some of your “me time”.
8. Laugh and have fun! Wine is not necessary but it helps.
9. Think about your goals – evaluate where you stand with this year’s list, and what you plan to accomplish next year.
10. Check out this article if you’re looking for ways to enjoy Thanksgiving with less calories – “9 Thanksgiving Food Swaps to Save Calories”.

What would you add to this list?

I’ve included a link about the benefits of turkey, along with a resource to help you avoid overeating. It’s called the human hunger scale. You can check it out by clicking here.

And finally, I would like to express a heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving to all! Thank you for following me this year. Your support, shares, likes, and comments are greatly appreciated!

I hope you found value in this post.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I’d love for you to let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Is the content valuable and helpful? Did anything resonate? Will you take action? What else would you like to see in future posts? I welcome your feedback.

What’s your Win to be Thin?

If you know someone that can benefit from this content, please share it with them. And if you like what you see, you can SUBSCRIBE for automatic updates, LIKE US on Facebook, and spread the word about www.thin2win.net with your friends, family and social circles.

‘Cause nobody else will…

Let’s face it… unless you’re elderly and infirm, disabled, or a young child, you shouldn’t depend on anyone else (including our government) to take care of YOU.

And despite the fact that we need each other to succeed, or that we should unite to help one another, it’s ultimately up to each of us to take 100% responsibility and take care of ourselves.

This year’s presidential election motivated a lot of people to vote, and that’s a good thing. It also brought out some very strong opinions and emotions on each side.

But the election is over. And whether your candidate won or lost, it’s time to move on and get back to taking care of business – the business of YOU.

Why not channel that same enthusiasm and drive that you had in supporting and rooting for your candidate during the election into your own personal development?

There are 2 valuable lessons we can learn about our personal development from the airline industry.

1. Put your mask on first.
2. Full throttle for takeoff.

Let’s take a quick look at each:

Put your mask on first:

The airline safety demonstration before takeoff teaches us this one. Although it’s clear in this context, it’s not so obvious as we lead our busy lives.

There are ticking time bombs that are developing as a result of NOT taking care of ourselves first. Preventable conditions that slowly compound over time into diseases like:

1. Heart disease.
2. Obesity.
3. Diabetes.
4. Stroke.
5. Cancer.

In addition to the grief and disruption that occurs after losing someone whose life was cut short too early, there’s a staggering financial impact that is costing hundreds of billions annually. Actually trillions when you add it all up.

Check out these 2 articles:

• Heart Disease and Stroke Cost America Nearly $1 Billion a Day in Medical Costs
• Paying the Price for Those Extra Pounds

Prevention is key.

And here’s the bottom line… if you don’t take care of yourself, how can you expect to take care of those who depend on you? Like your family and your company.

Full throttle for takeoff:

I shared this in a post last year. We can relate this philosophy to our exercise intensity. And sticking to our plans when results plateau.

It’s titled “Take Your Health & Wellness To New Heights”. And you can link to it by clicking here.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I hope you found value.

Now it’s time for YOU to take action…

What’s your Win to be Thin? Leave a comment below.

Click here to subscribe. You’ll receive an email with a link to each new post. And if you know someone that can benefit from this content, please share it with them.

It would be a huge understatement to say this year’s presidential race was an utter disgrace!

Regardless of who wins, life will actually go on.

And your choice matters! It’s an honor and a privilege to vote. And important for each of us to exercise that right.

So get out and vote!

However, “individually” we CAN’T control the outcome .

But this blog isn’t about politics. It’s about more important things like your health & wellness, longevity, and personal development.

So let’s move on… to something we CAN control.

Health & wellness is not a new concept. Most people know about the positive impact that eating right, combined with getting regular exercise and adequate sleep will have on their health.

But knowing versus doing something about it can result in two completely different outcomes.

Let’s face it, there’s a vast amount of information available; perhaps too much. The Internet is everywhere. And there are countless professionals eager to help.

So why then is such a HUGE percentage of the population overweight and out of shape (pun intended, respectfully)?

With all this information at our fingertips, I have to ask:

1. Why aren’t more people slimming down and getting healthy?
2. Why are obesity rates still on the rise?
3. Shouldn’t heart disease and diabetes statistics be declining?
4. And how has such a preventable situation become so pandemic?

There are many reasons why we do (or don’t do) things.

Let’s face it, some people are just more motivated, productive, and successful than others.

Yet regardless of whether we’re driven or lazy, we can all agree that we weren’t born with these traits. We learned them. Like habits.

Have you ever said to yourself?

• “I’m not interested (in eating better)”
• “I’m too busy (to exercise)”
• “I’ll start (going to the gym) next month”
• Or even worse, “Why bother? (I have so much weight to lose)”

So we can create a list of excuses for why we’re not treating our health & wellness more seriously. And many do. Or for not doing what we know we need to do.

But how’s that gonna help?

We are all goal-seeking beings. We strive to make things better for ourselves and others.

But it’s also human nature to take the path of least resistance or easy route sometimes. To ignore what’s necessary for immediate gratification, or efficiency.

I believe there are underlying reasons that are sabotaging and demoralizing our attempts to improve.

I want to uncover YOUR reasons. By helping you identify why you “choose” to not do what you intend to do, planned to do, or committed to do. And maybe even signed up to do.

Hey, we’ve all been there at some point. But if we can understand our unique limiting factor, then we have a chance to help ourselves.

So here’s my theory based on personal experience.

It ALL begins with the choices we make. (Yes, unfortunately we all live under a different set of rules than our political leaders). But I digress…

As a result of these choices, we develop patterns in the form of routines and habits.

And oftentimes our choices and habits can be affected by outside influences. Has “life” or a busy schedule ever gotten in your way?

How about a desire to please, or to not say NO? As in someone else’s agenda. Maybe a client, your boss, spouse, kids, or family & friends…

Any of these “outside influences” can affect our:

• Attitude
• Drive
• Interest
• Motivation
• Enthusiasm
• Confidence
• Outlook
• Inner dialog
• Emotions

There’s a natural flow that works either FOR or AGAINST us. And it can occur consciously or unconsciously.

As time passes, patterns begin to emerge. Which breeds an element of familiarity and consistency?

We can look at it 2 different ways:

1. As if this was a habit you were consciously trying to develop;

vs.

2. Something you started doing unconsciously and were therefore unaware of.

The next phase after familiarity and consistency is where momentum begins to build. And momentum can be very powerful.

Momentum is also unbiased. There’s no guarantee that it’s working for or against us.

Have you ever developed a bad habit? I know, me too.

As a way to help you visualize this perspective and make it easy to remember, I’ve created an acronym – C – H – A – D – D.

It’s time to devote more focus on the present, which will help to get your CHADD’s in sync.

Your what?

Your Choices, Habits, Actions, Decisions & Disciplines.

C – Think about it, everything including change begins with a choice. You consciously “choose” to do something, or not do it. Every day we make plenty of choices about what we want to do. Or want to change, improve, and not do (or eliminate).

H – After a while with focus, concentration and determination, our conscious (and unconscious) choices begin to take shape in the form of a habit.

A – And our habits only begin to take root after the repeated actions we take. Action is an integral component in every step of this process.

D – The cumulative net effect of our new habit is the result of all of our decisions to this point, including the choices we’ve made and actions we’ve taken.

D – And finally the finished product becomes our beautiful, new, healthy discipline.

So let’s look at a relevant example.

If you are over-weight and haven’t exercised in a while, you may find it difficult to get started. That’s understandable. My objective is to help you start exercising. And once you do, keep you accountable so you find a way to keep it going.

Exercise is vital for your health & well-being. One of the worst things you could do would be to get discouraged and continue to do nothing. As in remaining sedentary and not exercising.

If that’s how you’re thinking, your primary goal should be to find a way to get moving.

It’s NEVER too late to start. But before you do, make sure to get your doctor’s approval. Then set a very attainable goal that you can easily achieve and feel great about doing.

Accomplish it, then do it again the next day; accomplish it, then do it again… and eventually over time, momentum will come to your aid. Then you can make your goal a bit more challenging.

10,000 steps a day may be too unthinkable right now. So set a goal to go on a 2,000-step walk, 3 times this week (or whatever you can do at this point based on your fitness level). Do that for a few weeks and then start increasing your step count gradually.

Not sure how to track your steps? There’s an app for that.

Then once you’ve developed the walking habit, you can graduate to other exercise, like strength training and other forms of cardio.

If you can afford it, you would benefit greatly by hiring a personal fitness trainer. They can help you get results by recommending specific exercises based on your fitness level and goals.

And they’ll keep you accountable.

But don’t worry – I won’t leave you hanging.

In the future, I’ll punch through and go deeper into each component of the C – H – A – D – D philosophy. And unpack examples to give you greater insight to make better CHOICES.

For now I’d suggest taking an inventory of your thoughts, along with some of the choices you’ve made over the past few days. You can also practice being more present and aware of the choices you’re about to make. And perhaps even plan a healthy choice or two into your day. Like an apple, water instead of soda, or more steps.

I hope you found value in this week’s post.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I’d love for you to let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Is the content valuable and helpful? Did anything resonate? Will you take action? What else would you like to see in future posts? I welcome your feedback.

What’s your Win to be Thin?

If you know someone that can benefit from this content, please share it with them. And if you like what you see, you can SUBSCRIBE for automatic updates, LIKE US on Facebook, and spread the word about www.thin2win.net with your friends, family and social circles.

I have a question for you… Do you exercise?

If the answer is NO, then please continue reading. This is for YOU.

If it’s a YES, congratulations! But there’s no need to continue reading this post.

Unless… your exercise routine has ever been disrupted by occasional bouts of pain or injury.

If it has, then I would encourage you to read on as you may learn something.

If you’re still here, thanks for staying. This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on The Health Triad.

Last week we discussed nutrition, which I believe is the first “point” on the Triad.

Good nutrition is essential and sets the tone for everything else in our lives.

But nutrition alone is not enough. It just can’t stand on its own.

Just like a tripod can’t support itself with 1 or 2 legs, nutrition requires additional support to maximize its effectiveness.

So this week we’ll discuss the 2^nd leg – exercise.

I want this to resonate with anyone who is sedentary. Anyone who does not exercise at this time. Yet realizes they need to.

Why?

Because just like nutrition, exercise is extremely important to your health & wellness.

Let me begin with a quick personal story that inspired this post.

I have recently gained a new respect for exercise. Specifically, the opportunity to be able to exercise. Something I used to take for granted.

This new respect occurred over the past year thanks to an injury and some unrelated aches and pains that rear their ugly head from time to time.

The bottom line is that it’s caused a disruption to my regular exercise regimen. And a loss of momentum.

But there’s an upside. There’s always one if you look for it.

I’ve learned to get creative and find alternative ways to keep getting exercise and burning calories; even though it sometimes has to be in a less-intense way.

It’s also helped me see things from a different perspective. And allowed me to find empathy, instead of the lack of understanding I’ve had to this point about why people don’t exercise.

Or why they exercise at such a low intensity.

I can’t wait for the pain to subside so I can kick up the intensity again. But it’s just a matter of time. And in the meantime, I’m focusing on other forms of exercise and working other body parts that I’ve neglected when I was “in the zone”.

Walking has become my new “go to” exercise and calorie burn replacement when I’m unable to strength train due to recurring pain. It’s amazing how many calories you can burn on a 40 to 60-minute intense power walk. And the benefits continue beyond the burn.

So what’s the main point that I’d like you to take away here?

Exercise has been proven, over-and-over, to be essential and necessary for our overall health & wellness, and longevity. If you are sedentary, find one thing you can do to start moving. And do it!

Walking is the easiest in my opinion. And it’s something you’re familiar with. Unlike perhaps exercise machines or weights.

So let’s start there.

After getting your doctor’s approval to begin a walking exercise program, set a goal based on your situation (your age, weight, fitness level, medical condition, etc.).

If you’ve haven’t exercised in a while, I would start slow. There’s no need to set an aggressive target. At this stage, you need to:

• Start moving, consistently.
• Accumulate some positive experiences you can feel good about.
• Begin building momentum so results can eventually follow.

So keep it simple and just start walking. That may only be 5 or 10 minutes the first couple of days. It doesn’t matter.

You’re going to take this one day at a time. And you’re not going to compare yourself to anyone else. This is about YOU!

Now it’s time to STOP reading and START walking.

Enjoy and have fun!

And stay tuned for next week’s post. It’s straight from the heart…

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I hope you found value.

Now it’s time for YOU to take action…

What’s your Win to be Thin? Leave a comment below.

Click here to subscribe. You’ll receive an email with a link to each new post. And if you know someone that can benefit from this content, please share it with them.

Want to take your nutrition to new heights?

Last week, I referred to a common theme that’s woven into most of the content of this blog.

I often talk about the importance of good quality nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. These are the 3 elements that I believe to be the main components of a healthy lifestyle.

For simplicity and efficiency, I refer to this as The Health Triad.

And I firmly believe that if you master these 3 elements, you will get into the best shape of your life and you’ll never have to worry about your weight, ever again.

This week I’d like to expand on the first element of the Triad.

I’ve chosen a simple question & answer (Q&A) format to help you understand the importance of this topic. I’ve also selected some of my more popular posts, which I’ve linked to so I could keep this one brief and manageable.

But before we dive into the Q&A, I’d like to clear up any confusion around the term diet.

When I use the word “DIET”, I am referring to everything you eat, and drink. The foods you consume every day to nourish and fuel your mind and body. And NOT some restrictive, calorie-cutting regimen that leaves you hungry or craving for more after every meal.

For more details, click here for a recent post titled “Are You Nutritionally Challenged?”.

Ok, let’s move on to the featured segment.

Q1. What is eating clean?

A1. Eating clean to me means eating foods in their natural state. Or as close to it as possible. This includes fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, lean meat, eggs, nuts & seeds, and whole grains. Less additives like heavy sauces, high calorie creams or other fat-laden toppings.

For example: grilled chicken with steamed broccoli, a baked potato and a salad with olive oil & vinegar (or lemon juice). Looking at it from a more general “macronutrient” perspective, it’s lean protein, fibrous or complex carbs, and healthy fats.

Eating clean means eliminating (or significantly cutting back on) added sugars. It’s avoiding processed foods crap, and all the nasty preservatives that are synthetically infused into already unhealthy stuff, just to extend shelf life. Basically, if it comes in a vending machine, or a package with ingredients you can’t pronounce and don’t know the meaning of, just say no and avoid it.

Q2. What are macronutrients?

A2. Macronutrients are essential to our body. They are the main components of our nutrition and must be obtained through our diet. Macronutrients perform vital functions and supply our bodies with energy (aka calories). The 3 types of macronutrients our bodies need include protein, carbohydrates, and fat. For more details, click here for the post “The 6^th Habit Is Here”.

I strive to obtain 50% of my daily caloric intake from carbohydrates, 30% from lean protein, and 20% from healthy fats. I have found through personal experience that this ratio works well for me. And I get 100% of my macronutrients through whole foods, with the exception of a very occasional post-workout protein shake.

You should aim for a macronutrient balance with every meal and snack you consume. This means that all 3 are present and close to the ratio you’re trying to achieve.

Q3. How do calories add up so fast?

A3. It all depends on what you are eating. And how you are preparing it (or how it’s being prepared for you if you eat out). To learn about “calorie math”, click here for the post “The 6^th Habit Is Here”, and go to calorie basic # 5.

Q4. I’ve read and heard a lot of bad things about carbohydrates (carbs). Should I completely avoid carbs? Or is there such a thing as good and bad carbs?

A4. First off, your body can not survive without carbohydrates. They are the natural sugars, starches and fibers found in fruits, vegetables and grains. They are your body’s main source of energy.

BTW, the carbs you should consume the most of don’t come in boxes and bags that live on grocery shelves.

There are 2 different type of carbohydrates – simple and complex. And some carbs are definitely nutritionally better than others, so quality matters (as it does with most things, including the proteins and fats you consume). Simple carbs are digested and absorbed more quickly than complex carbs.

For a great article titled “What Are Carbohydrates?”, click here.

Q5. How important is water? I prefer soda and iced tea. Is that ok?

A5. Water is extremely important. Women should aim for at least 2 to 3 liters per day. And men should aim for at least 3 to 4 liters per day. I would strongly recommend re-thinking the soda and iced tea type of beverages because they are SO HIGH in sugar with virtually no nutritional value. Soda, sweet iced teas, and other fruit juices are definitely NOT a substitute for water.

But if you see a lemonade stand in your neighborhood, stop and support the kids for their entrepreneurial efforts. Just don’t ask for Ice-T.

Q6. I’m pressed for time in the morning. Is coffee and a bagel a good start to the day?

A6. Not exactly. There’s nothing wrong with coffee, just ease up on the sugar and high calorie additives in that latte. And there are much healthier options than a bagel for breakfast. Also, a bagel a day is not going to assist in your weight-loss initiative (like an apple does).

Your body has been fasting, hopefully for at least 8 hours (possibly longer). So you need to “break that fast” with a nutrient-dense, macronutrient-balanced meal. Something that will fuel your mind and body, and prepare you for the day ahead.

It’s been said that breakfast is your most important meal of the day. So make it a priority.

I hope this Q&A provided value and new information that you can take action on.

Let’s wrap up with some:

Check out these 2 apps on your smartphone. They offer a wealth of information and allow you to easily track your results.

• My Fitness Pal
• Apple Health (for iPhone)

Recent posts on nutrition:

• Apple A Day
• Have It Your Way
• How Many of These Do You Eat?
• Clean Up Your Act!
• Foods To Avoid – So Just Say NO!

Recent posts on calories:

• The 6^th Habit Is Here
• Fear is a Liar!
• Are You Nutritionally Challenged?
• What’s Your Achilles Heel?

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I hope you found value.

Now it’s time for YOU to take action…

What’s your Win to be Thin? Leave a comment below.

Click here to subscribe. You’ll receive an email with a link to each new post. And if you know someone that can benefit from this content, please share it with them.

“Am I ready for summer? Huh?”

“Didn’t summer just end?” you ask. YEP

Did I mess up and post this at the wrong time of year? NOPE

Stay with me and this week’s message will become crystal clear.

Although the summer of 2016 recently ended, I’m asking about the summer of 2017 (or 2018).

So let me explain…

For many people, getting in shape is contemplated twice a year.

The first time is usually in January when there’s a focus on the new year ahead. This is where goals and resolutions are typically made. Where we proclaim that we’re going to:

• Lose weight
• Get in shape
• Start exercising…

The second time is usually in the spring when the weather starts to improve. This is where thoughts like “Oh crap, I’ve got to get into a bathing suit in a month.” Or “Oh jeeze, how am I going to fit into that (suit or dress) for Niki & Chris’ wedding in July?”

Don’t fall into the common trap of making a vague, “fleeting” resolution on New Year’s Eve about losing weight this year. Or equally as important, don’t wait until April to get your ass in shape for Memorial Day.

These are unhealthy amateur moves (that don’t work!). So DON’T do them!

This is about your life.

Extreme diets or taking a cleanse in an attempt to drop 30 pounds by next month is ridiculous! But it happens every day unfortunately.

NEWSFLASH: It doesn’t help! That “quick-fix” crap is garbage. It’s an insult to your intelligence. And it’s killing you.

Sure, you might drop a quick 30. But now what?

Instead of falling into the quick-fix, immediate gratification trap, learn how to build your lifestyle around healthy habits that will have a long-term positive impact on your body, your quality of life, and your longevity.

Then you won’t have to worry about “getting in shape” because you’ll already be in great shape as a result of the healthy choices, habits, and disciplines you maintain.

So what does this healthy lifestyle look like?

It’s very simple. If you follow me or this blog, then you already know. For the benefit of new subscribers, let’s review.

I often write and talk about 3 main components of a healthy lifestyle. Let’s refer to these as The Health Triad.

Master these 3 things and you will never have to worry about your weight, ever again!

And you will feel better, look better, and live longer.

Looks too easy, right? To my friends and followers that struggle with weight issues, I know it’s not easy for you. But in all due respect, it’s not that hard either (once you know what to do).

Notice there’s no mention of diet or pills. “Why is that?” you ask.

Here’s why. If you focus on (consistently) improving your habits in these 3 areas, and give yourself time, you’ll be AMAZED at how much you can accomplish.

Learning what to do is easy. Sticking to it after the initial excitement or motivation wears off is more difficult. Consistency is key. And momentum is your friend. Remember The Compound Effect?

But how can you learn what to do? Especially with all of the marketing and advertising about the latest weight-loss program. It’s not only confusing, it’s distracting.

I get it. You’re looking for a solution and will do anything to find one.

I’m telling you that you don’t need a special diet. Although the billion-dollar “weight-loss” industry would disagree, and lead you to believe otherwise. By trying to convince you to spend hundreds of dollars every month on their specially-prepared meals.

Their sole focus is to help you achieve some short-term results (e.g. 10 pounds in your first week, 40 pounds in 30 days…), so they can promote it. And so you’ll continue buying their stuff every month.

You’ve seen the ads. You’ve heard the commercials. If their stuff worked, wouldn’t more people be thinner. But that’s not happening.

It’s time to

You don’t need them!

If you learn the basics of the Health Triad and focus on them every day, you’ll discover that it’s all about the choices you make, which influence the habits you build, that shape the disciplines you develop. And when you get it right, you will lose weight and you will get into the best shape of your life.

But here’s the problem. It’s hard in the beginning. It takes work. It also requires focus, discipline, effort, and time.

When results plateau, it becomes discouraging.

And too many people are into quick-fix. They want the results without the effort. And they want it now. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

Here’s what I found works:

• Learning how to eat clean with quality and nutritionally dense whole foods. This means good quality carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats with every meal. (Please don’t buy into the ‘carbs are the enemy’ myth.)
• Making sure to exercise with intensity 3 to 5 days per week so you’re burning a lot of calories, building lean muscle, and strengthening your heart. (Yea, sorry but you’ve got to move, lift, and sweat.)
• Getting 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep every night to restore, repair, and recharge. (Your body needs adequate rest.)

So, although summer is technically over, NOW is the time to start building the habits that will make a difference on your future. And determine whether it’s a healthy, long-term one; or not.

And hey, you may even look pretty good in a tee shirt or bathing suit a year from now. Wouldn’t that be cool…

Make the decision and start taking action today.

I hope you found value in this post.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I’d love for you to let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Is the content valuable and helpful? Did anything resonate? Will you take action? What else would you like to see in future posts? I welcome your feedback.

What’s your Win to be Thin?

If you know someone that can benefit from this content, please share it with them. And if you like what you see, you can SUBSCRIBE for automatic updates, LIKE US on Facebook, and spread the word about www.thin2win.net with your friends, family and social circles.