Keeping New Year's Resolutions

It's already halfway into the first month of the new year 2013, but I bet you half of those who keep New Year's Resolutions (maybe even you?) have struggled to either get them going or have quit already. A lot of the time, people make broad and drastic goals like "lose weight" or "DIY renovation". Sometimes, making a resolution that is already a plan for failure. It can be daunting or seemingly too difficult for you to get started on a new life goal, and that is completely normal. What I suggest is to create smaller and more manageable tasks and implement checkpoints. For example, instead of just planning on losing weight for the year, how about breaking it down into months or even weeks. Not only is this less scary, but you'll also be seeing your progress more often. That will be a great boost of confidence and hopefully keep you on track. If, after a month, you see yourself doing well, reward yourself with a cheat meal, a movie, a night out, or another way you want to pamper yourself (as long as you don't go overboard!).

My Three Major Do's/Don'ts

     1. Do: Make a list of overall goals AND short-interval, specific, manageable goals.   

         Don't: Make a vague list of what you want done.                    

                                                                                                                                                           

Ask yourself these questions: What do you really want to get done? How can you get them done, one step at a time? Why do I want to do this? It's easier to say lose 1-2lbs a month than lose X amount of weight in 2013. This way you can gain focus and clarity. You will probably get MORE done, see better results, and feel more confident.

      2. Do: Stay Positive. Keep trying, even if you don't succeed at first.                                                                                             
          Don't: Face difficulty and give up right away.    
                                                                      
We've all heard this age-old line, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again". Sometimes you won't get what you want in life; that's a fact. But you will never know for sure if you could have done something unless you try your best and put 100% effort. Every effort counts into what you do. You earn your fill. Chances are you'll be able to do what you want, and find out things about you that you never even knew. Just believe in yourself and reach out to help if you need it. One of my favorite quotes from Dreamz is "what is the short-time pleasure of eating a sweet compared to a life of healthiness?"

      3. Do: Embrace change AND learn from the past                                                                                                                         
          Don't: Resist change and dwell on the past.

Is it easier to just "relax" and let things be the way they have always been? Of course. It's much harder to make changes in your life as opposed to clutching onto the same old routines. If you are unhappy, unsatisfied, or just plain angry about things, do something about it in a positive manner. Don't like how your relationship is right now? Talk about it, try to find solutions. If there are none, then move on with your head held high. You can't always wait for things to work out on their own. Be proactive instead of reactive.

To quote one of my favorite songs "You'll Never Walk Alone", "when you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark, at the end of the storm, there is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark". The past has shaped us and made us who we are but it doesn't have to stop us from achieving what we want. Live in the present and write your own future.

I want to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year. 2013 can be a great year for us, but only if we want to make it happen. You CAN do it. Thanks for reading and live life to the fullest!
What are your goals for 2013?  Leave them in the comments below.

Paleo Summit Online Event Presentations

Hi everyone, I am back from my break/hiatus. Sorry I've been so busy! But I have been catching the Paleo Summit videos on health, fitness, and nutrition. They've been awesome.

When my friend Sean Croxton at Undergroundwellness announced that he was hosting an 8-day online health summit, I really had no idea what to expect.

But after viewing the presentations of the past several days, I must say that Sean has certainly outdone himself.

Reading through the comments posted in the virtual presentation rooms, many attendees are calling The Paleo Summit the best online health conference ever put together.

Paleo Summit Presentation Coming Soon!

Hey guys! Between February 26th to March 4th, you can tune in to the Paleo Summit to see free videos on all things Paleo. (A reference to the Paleolithic period, a prehistoric time of hunter-gatherer societies.) Many believe that a return to certain Paleolithic ways (eating and exercise methods) can vastly improve our well-being. Over 20 experts, including Mark Sisson and Paul Chek, will be discussing this issue over the 8 day span.
 The event is free; just sign up with your email. You might just learn some very surprising things.

Faking Before and After Photos of Fitness Testimonials REVEALED

I'm sure most of us take what fitness/diet advertisements say with a grain of salt. But, you may have looked at the before and after photos of such commercials and thought to yourself, "Man. He/she looks amazing now! Did they really follow this program or what?" Youtube user furiouspete123 sheds some light on what may actually transpire behind-the-scenes for those who are depicted in the remarkable shots in ads.
With Pete's theory, the photo shoot actually begins with the after-photo. The person (actor/actress you might say!) does some intense exercises to accentuate their muscles and blood vessels. Next, he or she gets a quick zap in the tanning bed. Then, after a couple of extra exercises, oil is applied to make his or her body extra shiny. Some good lighting, and (if desired) photo editing, and voila! you've got yourself a great after-photo.
The job isn't done yet. For the before-photo, Pete gorges himself with junk food, soda ("diet pop works better because it has more carbonation") and chocolate milk. He then snaps the photo, just under 5 hours from his after-photo. Pete looks astonishingly different; the transformation is a success. A look at the two photos and we can see that they are certainly misleading. On one side, a sullen and completely out-of-shape man; on the other, a handsome buff.

Hopefully, we'll all be a little more skeptical. Although it's likely that some testimonials are genuine, some are not. It's always best to get more information on the product and the people behind the product. Keep the three C's in mind:

1. Credibility-is the company trustworthy? do they have good ratings?
2. Claims- what do they say their product will do?can they back it up with objective and relative evidence?
3. Common Sense- think about it: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't (true).