It Pays to Be Healthy

It Pays to Be Healthy				defense systemo Optimized repair systemo
"The winners in life treat their body as if it were a				Improved insulin sensitivityo Builds the body's natural
magnificent spacecraft that gives them the finest				defense systemso Allows your best chance of
transportation and endurance for their lives."				protecting your health
~ Denis Waitley				FALLING IN LOVE WITH FOODS THAT ARE GOOD
According to Paul Zane Pilzer, leading economist,				FOR YOU
author, and expert on trends driven by baby				There are countless reasons why people do not
boomers, the wellness revolution is "the next trillion				choose pro-health food. Do any of these look familiar
dollar industry." More than eighty million people born				to you?o Not enough timeo Don't know how to
between 1946 and 1964 invest precious time,				prepareo Can't buy stuff like that where you liveo
energy, and resources to look and feel younger. The				Costs too mucho Your spouse and kids won't eat it
science of anti-aging has come into its own with				if you feed it to themo Does not taste good
advances in medicine and complimentary products,				When your intention to be well is high, whatever
services, and techniques designed and formulated to				argument you have made to defend your habits to
prevent disease and to promote longevity and				eat unhealthy food begins to drop away. You have
prolonged youthfulness.				done many things in life that are far more difficult
At the same time, we are witnessing an epidemic of				than adding fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to
degenerative diseases, many of which are				your meals and snacks. If you come back to "What
environmental, lifestyle and stress-induced. Annual				do you want to create?" then your choices (and your
deaths from these illnesses are in the millions. Certain				body) change shape over time. Bring consciousness
ailments, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and				to what you put into your mouth. Pay attention to
diabetes are estimated to be up to 85% avoidable.				your emotions when you reach for food. Relax and
Such authoritative institutions as the American				breathe while you eat. It is important for you to be
Diabetes Association, the Harvard School of Public				conscious of what you eat and how you feel when
Health, and the Center for Disease Control promote				you are eating. Feeling centered, grounded, and
diet, exercise, and nutrition to help prevent one of				relaxed around food will help you make choices that
the most epidemic culprits of all times: Type II				promote longevity, increased energy, and better
Diabetes. These sources suggest that with lifestyle				health. Especially in our culture in which so many
changes, diabetes is up to 58% preventable.				people are addicted to carbohydrates, the benefits
We can add quality and years to our lives by paying				to you to feel calm and in control around food and
attention to our bodies and taking care of ourselves.				eating are under-rated. Your life is worth living fully.
If your goal is to live a long and healthy life, you can				Making healthy choices is an extension of high self
follow the recommendations by such experts in the				esteem and your desire to be in control of yourself
field of longevity as Dr. Deepak Chopra. In Ageless				and make a difference for others. Choose freedom
Body, Timeless Mind, Chopra discusses the benefits				over enslavement to unhealthy substances. This
of maintaining a steady weight, remaining physically				actually promotes greater health because of the
active, and eating in moderation. John Maxwell, an				peace of mind this entails.
expert in leadership and a prolific author, worked				The most delicious food in the world is the food that
himself into a life-threatening heart attack through				is the best for you. For example, many brands of
stress and an unhealthy lifestyle. He now preaches				multi-grain pasta and bread are loaded with
that the smartest thing we can all do is to				health-promoting nutrients. They have a heartier
pro-actively maintain good health while we still have it.				texture than those made with refined and processed
Maxwell believes that one of the causes of poor				flour that contain empty calories. Whole foods like
health is being over-worked, which itself is a stressor.				these give you something to chew and because they
From his own close call, he learned and now teaches				contain no processed sugar and flour they won't
that it is prudent to make our health a priority early in				spike your blood sugar. This is called the low-glycemic
life so as to avoid having to take our hard-earned				approach to improved nutrition and better health. You
assets to try to buy back our health once we have				may discover that foods like this provide immediate
lost it. There is less emotional strain on your family				and lasting satisfaction. If you are more habituated to
when you take good care of yourself. It is cheaper,				eating processed foods, I think you will be pleasantly
more convenient, easier, less of a hassle, and a lot				surprised by the benefits to you for substituting
more fun to remain healthy than it is to try to				nutritious foods for the ones you normally select.
recover from being ill.				They naturally give you more sustained energy and
HEALTH, TIME, AND LONGEVITY				help you feel better. As someone in network
I chose a network marketing company that				marketing, perhaps you have set big goals for your
manufactures and distributes health-based products.				life and your business. Without the crash and burn
However, the benefit of making our health a priority				affect and the tiredness caused by eating junk food
extends to other network marketers who focus on				and highly processed food, the food I am
non-health-related products and services. Many people				recommending will support you better to achieve
in network marketing are dedicated to personal				whatever goals you have set for yourself.
growth and the development of leadership skills. If				Just as you do not have to become Mr. Universe to
you are committed to self-improvement, by				be in better shape, you do not need to overhaul
extension you would address goals, issues, and				your entire diet to improve your health. One of the
concerns around your health and your body. Being				biggest reasons why people do not make
the best you can be and living a life that is about				modifications in their diet is because they believe that
influencing others to improve their lives suggests that				it won't make a difference. This is erroneous thinking.
you find time to eat well, exercise regularly, and				You have to start somewhere. Focus on the
de-stress. It is more difficult to live a life of making a				incremental benefits as you allow for even greater
difference if your energy is chronically low, or if you				ones. If you find one new pro-health substitute in
hate the way you look and feel. It makes sense that				your meal planning per month, at the end of one
you would make taking care of yourself a priority.				year, you will have radically improved your diet.
In our business, we preach the benefits of "work/life				Something deceptively simple like switching from
balance." This means that you have a favorable ratio				white to brown rice or corn tortillas to sprouted grain
of time for your business, time for your family, time				tortillas helps.
for fun and recreation, and time to take care of				What about those of you who are not currently
yourself. Time is a "biggie" for many people. The				engaged in a healthy diet and exercise program?
belief that there is not enough time is insidious and				There is hope for you as well. Let's say that Point A
will show up over and over during the day.				is where you are now. Point B is where you are
Furthermore, it can take its toll on people who never				headed if you continue on the same pathway. Are
get around to doing good things for their bodies. The				your habits and lifestyle leading you to a long and
perception that there is a shortage of time manifests				healthy life?
for many individuals as their putting caring for				If point B is not where you want to end up, you can
themselves at the bottom of the list. It never gets				make some modifications that are modest and
done.				achievable in their scope, but potentially significant in
Be careful what you affirm. Deepak Chopra has				their benefit. Let's say for dessert after dinner you
shown medical evidence that when we believe that				replace ice cream with fruit. Add a thirty minute walk
there is not enough time we run the potential risk of				a few times per week. If your body cannot handle
having our lives be shortened. There are even				thirty, start with ten and build up gradually. Let's
disease-promoting biochemical processes in our bodies				throw in a daily regimen of high quality supplements.
that speed up when we think we are going to run				You have now lowered your sugar intake, upped
out of time. Be mindful of any thoughts and emotions				your consumption of fiber and antioxidant, gotten the
on the topic of time, especially fearful ones. If you				glucose from your blood to your muscles (where it
find yourself chanting during the day "There is not				will be stored as energy rather than fat), and added
enough time" you may be unwittingly creating undue				a layer of protection to your cells-all with a modicum
stress and tension, which we all know is not good for				of behavior modification.
you. There is actually a condition called "hurry				These simple disciplines, repeated over time can now
sickness". It is the bane of people who are unable to				produce dramatic results. A few degrees in a
manage their time and always fear that they are				different direction and a few modest adjustments
running out of it. The result is a release of				extended over time will draw you to a completely
stress-related hormones, which themselves are				new destination. When it comes to your health,
related to a host of lifestyle induced diseases				never underestimate the benefit of simple changes
including hypertension and metabolic syndrome, which				along the way. Every improvement you make counts.
is a group of clinically measurable pre-diabetic				MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE
indicators.				Do you find time each day to live actively in your
Learning to relax around how much time you have				body, or do you find yourself making more excuses
will give you more of it. For starters, without those				than you do exercise dates with yourself? Do any of
stress-related hormones, you just might be healthier,				these common justifications for not getting exercise
which can translate to living a longer life. Your				look familiar to you?o I don't have a buddy.o I don't
perception of sufficiency around time will alter your				have the time.o I don't belong to a gym.o My body
experience of it, thus creating a positive feedback				hurts.o I look terrible and I don't want people to see
loop. This is among many reasons why yoga is called				me.o I don't have the right clothes.o The weather is
the fountain of youth and why I continue to practice				wrong.o I don't like to sweat.o I don't have the right
it and recommend it. Yoga promotes relaxation				equipment.
mentally and physically. By adjusting your perceptions				Like making better food and nutrition choices, finding
and learning to relax, you can create "more than				a way to incorporate movement into your day will
enough time" just as you created "not enough time".				pay you dividends for a very long time. In my
Your life may depend on your making this shift. The				experience working with people who needed a boost
new chant gradually becomes "There is plenty of				over their resistance to exercise, once they get
time." It will help you feel much better.				hooked on the good feelings that come with moving
TAKE YOUR BODY WITH YOU				their bodies, it became more difficult to not go for
It takes energy and stamina to stay focused and				that walk than it was to do it. People who get
productive. A fortified immune system is required to				inspired by the joys of physical activity often grow
protect you during stressful times. The more well				to crave it. Whereas before there appeared to be no
days you have and the fewer sick days you have				time, once a decision and a commitment were made,
means more time you have to get the job done and				suddenly there is time every day to at least go for a
to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You want to be as				twenty minute walk. In fact, for those of us who
healthy and energetic as possible. It takes a lot of				enjoy the benefits of exercise and movement, a day
time and considerable mental and physical energy to				without it feels incomplete. Someone once asked me
manage being sick.				how I feel when I don't exercise. I said, "I don't
Conversely, when you are feeling great, you are				know. I never wanted to find out."
more apt to be productive and enthusiastic about life				Exercise is another component of living your best life.
in general and your work in particular. Having radiant				This entails moving, breathing, and getting your heart
energy increases your attractor factor and will draw				rate up. If you are like me and you have a lot of
people to you. Some of the most important people				energy to burn, you may find that breaking a sweat
you will ever meet and work with will find you				will bring relief and will enhance the feel-good benefits
because of your glowing good health.				of being active. If you suffer from low energy, you
I have told two little stories so many times that I				may discover that you acquire more of it when you
have come to believe both of them.o I am younger				move and breathe. Being physically dynamic creates
and healthier now than I was ten years ago.o My				natural mood-elevating hormones and reduces stress.
health is so good that it will rub off on you.				Because some of the hormones that are
Being healthy does not necessarily mean having a				stress-related have potentially serious side-effects,
heart of a twenty-year old. Nor does looking good				here you have a winning combination-exercise to
require that you win a beauty pageant. And last,				improve your health and release toxins that were
being fit doesn't mean you are going to place first in				caused by stress. The enjoyment factor and the
the Ironman. Putting these qualities in perspective can				health benefits can transform your day and brighten
help you steer yourself to making choices that				your outlook. A moving, stretching, breathing, and
improve how you look and how you feel on a daily				strengthening break will help you become more
basis. The benefits will reward you now and for the				cheerful, more relaxed, and more optimistic. By
rest of your life. Feeling better physically can catapult				creating a slower resting heart rate-which is the
you into higher performance, higher earning, and				result of exercising and getting in better shape-you
being able to help more people. If your goal is to build				become calmer and more centered as you face
a thriving and profitable business, you will definitely				challenges and take on bigger projects. Make time to
want to maximize your energy to support you in				rest, recharge, and re-energize. You are worth it. You
achieving that.				deserve to feel terrific. Once you get hooked on
YOU ARE WHO YOU CREATE				how you feel from something as simple as walking
In all areas of health and wellness, focusing on the				around your block a few times, you will discover that
body you want to create can energize you more				you look forward to moving your body and the
than any deprivation diet or New Year's resolution.				relaxation that follows.
When you are clear why you want to live-and when				YOUR BODY AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
you have attached this purpose to the people you				Over lunch one day, a friend named Katy told me
love and the lives you want to change-you are				that her biggest fear is becoming like her mother,
propelled forward. Asking yourself what you want to				whose health was always poor. She, the mother,
create holds more positive energy than telling				was dependent, needy, and a burden to her two
yourself what you cannot eat, or forcing yourself to				daughters. Katy said that she wants nothing more
do exercises that you hate. Stay positive. Have fun.				than to not become like her mother. In a confidential
Enjoy the creative process as you choose wellness				manner, she told me how much sleep she loses
every day.				worrying about her own health and fearing that she
Here is an example of someone who got clear on				will die early. Katy is very overweight which she
the value to him and his family in choosing to be				knows puts her at risk for cardiovascular disease and
healthy. Mario is someone I met through my				diabetes, two conditions her mother has.
networking organization. His own father died in his				Katy is as an example of someone whose life is
fifty's and never met his grandchildren, Mario's				impacted by a misalignment with her body. She is
children. Wisely, Mario linked his own food and				accomplished professionally and holds a prominent
exercise choices with his most compelling reason to				position as a professor at a local university. Her work
live a long life, which is to see his grandchildren grown.				in education is recognized nationwide. By many
He lost the weight around his middle because he				standards, she is a high achiever. Amazingly, Katy has
learned that central obesity was one of the				done all of this while simultaneously living in dread of
strongest predictors of diabetes and cardiovascular				her impending mortality and physical dependency. She
disease. He began to exercise daily and adopted				is doing good work on the outside, but unfortunately
pro-health eating habits. He discovered the body that				feels miserable on the inside. In her own words, she
he wanted to create and attached a higher purpose				is always stressed.
to having it. For the first time Mario did not have to				What is it about this highly accomplished individual
deprive himself of foods that he knows are not good				that on one level is out in the world making a
for him and that he used to eat. By getting in touch				difference, and on another is terribly unhappy about
with the feelings and desires to enjoy his				her health and her body? Katy has done an
grandchildren throughout their lives, Mario's appetite				impressive amount of work in her field, but she is
for pro-health food kicked in naturally.				sorely lacking from having done work on herself,
Mario said this was effortless compared to times in				particularly around her body. She is in her early 50's,
the past when he tried to lose weight while focusing				suffers from osteoarthritis, recently had her hip
on what he could not eat and feeling bad about				replaced surgically and in her own words, struggles
himself and his body while attempting to make				every day. Although she is smart and educated, and
changes. He shifted his entire focus and enjoyed the				although she knows the consequences of her
creative process for the first time in his life. A				choices, she refuses to make any changes that
surprising side benefit to Mario was that he got				benefit her body or her health.
hooked on feeling relaxed and energetic in his body				I have tremendous compassion for anyone who is
and wanted to perpetuate that experience.				out of sync with her health and her body. Many
If you wish to change your point of focus, a good				years ago I myself was locked in a belief that
starting point is your selection of meals and snacks				supported my being ill. It looked from the outside
and what you eat to sustain yourself. Think of this				that I was doing good work. But the struggle inside
as the octane level of the fuel on which your body				was very real and quite painful. Because I had not
runs. Eating nutritious-dense food that is high in fiber,				chosen to be well yet, life was much more difficult
complex carbohydrates, and artery-friendly fats will				then than it is now. I recognize unfinished business in
improve your health. Dr. Ray Strand, M.D., is a				others because this was my experience. My life
practicing physician, author, and expert in wellness				changed dramatically when I realized that health was
and nutrition. According to Dr. Strand, avoiding				a choice. Is failing health inevitable, or might you
processed foods, refined sugar, and saturated fat				challenge that belief for your own benefit? Imagine
helps prevent a variety of illnesses such as cancer,				that your health can improve year by year. Be the
diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.				best you can be in this body. As I did on my own
Good nutrition means adding an additional layer of				journey, you will need to stare down any limiting
supplementation on top of your meal choices. This				beliefs you have about your health and your body as
provides your body with extra protection to promote				well as address certain changes you need to make. I
wellness and longevity. An immune system that				do not mean to make this sound easy because for
operates optimally is one that has received the				me this was sustained personal work that took place
proper ratio and quantities of vitamins, minerals, and				over time. But it was among the most amazing and
other micronutrients. A diet rich in antioxidants				significant transformational experiences of my life.
(through diet and supplementation) gives your cells				Many of us have learned the value of creating strong
what they need to function optimally. Since our cells				and healthy bodies. We take our bodies with us on
are the smallest living building blocks in our bodies,				life's journey. When I remind myself what my
they determine the way our bodies function on all				purpose is-to improve the health of others, to create
levels.				financial freedom, to leave a legacy for my children,
When you have consumed whole foods and				and to help others achieve freedom-my choices are
supplements that provide a broad spectrum of				crystal clear. You too can put time and effort into
health-promoting nutrients, there is far less damage				your daily practice, through food choices, exercise,
when you enjoy a treat occasionally. When you are				and supplementation. Once you discover the most
fortified you are not at risk so you can afford to be				compelling reason for you to do this, you may
imperfect. It is freeing to know you can enjoy little				encounter less resistance and experience less of a
pleasures without compromising your overall wellness.				struggle. This might be easier than you think.
We love dark chocolate in my family. When taken in				Whether you are moving mountains or just climbing
moderation and when we sustain ourselves on				them, anything you can do to increase your vitality
pro-health meals and snacks, a little sweet treat can				will support you throughout your day. If time
be easily tolerated without undesirable consequences.				management is the challenge, putting things on your
According to Dr. Strand these are the benefits to				calendar will increase the chance that you actually get
you for the following:				to them. If you are super busy and work from a
Healthy Dieto Weight losso Improved sensitivity to				calendar or to-do list, schedule time for a walk or the
insulino Decreased risk of heart diseaseo Decreased				yoga or dance class so you see it on your list. With
risk of most cancerso Decreased risk of diabeteso				practice, the thought that you are too busy to
Decreased risk of Alzheimer's dementiao Decreased				exercise is a cue to go move, breathe, and work
risk of macular degenerationo Decreased risk of				your muscles. You can buy yourself more time after
degenerative arthritiso Enhanced immune system				a great work-out. You will come back to work
Exerciseo Weight losso Lower blood pressureo				refreshed and energized.
Stronger boneso Decreased risk of osteoporosiso				Getting hooked on feeling good is an excellent way
Improved insulin sensitivityo Decreased risk of heart				to perpetuate new habits. Give yourself a gift and
diseaseo Decreased risk of diabeteso Enhanced				give yourself a break. Be well. The world will be a
immune systemo Increased strength and				better place for you and those you love when you
coordinationo Overall increased sense of well-being				take good care of yourself.
Nutritional Supplementationo Optimized antioxidant

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It Pays to Be Healthy

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