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.

Spotlight: DreamzstoryTV

DreamzstoryTV, a Youtube channel that gives fitness, workout, and nutrition advice, has risen substantially in popularity among the gaming community. An avid League of Legends player himself, Dreamz offers a unique personality that oozes of fun, humor, and passion that gamers and non-gamers alike can appreciate. Rather than the standard fitness or nutrition guru on Youtube, the young man from France has the ability to be seen as "one of them" to his viewers. He was once overweight and led a sedentary lifestyle but sought to change how he looked and felt.

According to Dreamz, this is his transformation:

Picture from his Reddit Page

His mantra is all about dedication; "every effort counts" whether it is a decision to take the stairs instead of the elevator or eat low-fat cottage cheese instead of junk food. His enthusiasm and motivation are refreshing and it is great to see someone giving back to their community. We need more people like Dreamz to show us that games are fun and all, but it is more important to keep our bodies healthy. Dreamz seems to be a success story, and his channel is no different. We can all work towards our goals and write our own story.

In his own words: "Eat Nerds Get Shredded".

For more about Dreamz, visit his Facebook page

                                                Youtube Channel

                                                Twitter 

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.

Controversial: Preschooler's Lunch Deemed Inadequate, Supplemented With Chicken Nuggets

A very interesting story came up today, reported first by the CarolinaJournal. A North Carolina preschooler was told by an inspector to eat chicken nuggets with her homemade meal. The child ended up eating only the nuggets.

You need to eat these too! Says food monitor

Not good enough...

"The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home." The meal consisted of the following: turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice. As you can see, there's one serving of meat (turkey), 1 serving of milk (cheese), 1 serving of grain, and 2 servings of fruit (banana and apple juice). Unless the portions were really tiny, the meal fits the bill. Nevertheless, the child was given chicken nuggets and a $1.25 bill. I'm still very sketchy about chicken nuggets after doing this blog post. Chances are, the school's nuggets aren't that good either.
Since the incident, the mother has complained to North Carolina Representative G.L. Pridgen of Robeson County.
Are these lunch regulations necessary? Do they provide important oversight to help ensure kids are eating healthy, balanced meals? Or do they impede on parents' liberties and send children the wrong message?