Tag: health and wellness

We’ve been on an “oldies” binge here at the Van Ness residence.

We don’t watch that much TV here. But lately, we’ve been watching some big time Star Trek.

It started when my son Miguel asked to watch the two new Star Trek movies which we have on DVD. We went to see them at the movies when they first came out…and loved them! So of course I grabbed the DVD of each movie as soon as they became available.

Yes, I know, DVDs are so “yesterday” with all the streaming and cloud content options we have these days. But you know what? I LIKE having the physical version of something. I like books, CDs, DVDs — especially for stuff I know I will view or read over and over again.

Like Star Trek!

Miguel moved from the new movies to one of the original series movies, “The Wrath of Khan”. Wow! Ricardo Montalban plays that “bad guy” role to the hilt, doesn’t he? I love how Kirk has to surrender to buy time…then he and the crew come up with a great trick to outwit Khan. I also love how Sulu comes in to help save the day.

OK sorry if you’re not a Trek fan! I’ll get to the point here.

As we watched the new Star Trek movies (plus Wrath of Khan) with my son, we realized we kept referencing the original Star Trek series from the 1960s. So we decided Miguel needs to start watching the original Star Trek, so he can see the key players when they were young, understand more of the back story, and just plain ol’ enjoy the adventures and the stories.

I’m happy to report, after watching just the first three episodes, Miguel is hooked! I think we have ourselves a new lifelong Trekkie.

As we have been watching these old shows – which were “old” when we watched them as re-runs on TV after school – we’ve also remembered some of the old commercials that used to run.

A few that come to mind – and have relevance to my recent discussion about how exercise can help keep us young and healthy, in body and mind – include:

-Remember the old 7-Eleven song they used to sing on their commercials? “Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven!” As one of the longest-lived convenience store chains in the world, I salute their longevity and brilliance.

However, from a health standpoint, I can’t think of anything that screams “impulse eating” than 7-Eleven.

Even though they have added some “healthy” items to their offerings, such as protein bars and drinks, fruit, and so forth, they still pretty much offer the type of stuff you buy on impulse – when your energy levels, mood and/or willpower might be low, and you succumb to the Snickers bar, 32 oz soda, or Giant hot dog from hell.

Yummy!

The issue here, of course, is how our impulses can so often pull us off course when we are trying to follow a healthy nutrition and exercise program.

-Here’s another one:

“Plop plop, fizz fizz, Oh what a relief it is!”

Name that product.

You got it, it’s Alka Seltzer.

Their product is about trying to fix something after it’s gone wrong. For example, after you’ve eaten the giant hot dog from 7-Eleven and maybe washed it down with a six-pack of your favorite cold adult beverage.

The issue highlighted here is how we often let things get so bad – as in getting out of shape, or manifesting other health problems due to our poor lifestyle – which could have been prevented.

But now we are forced into extreme measures, including taking medicines, going on draconian diets, or other interventions which are less than pleasant.

-One last one:

Remember the old Castrol commercials? For a long time, all their messaging centered around one basic idea:

“You can spend a few dollars now to change your car’s oil, or you could spend a few thousand dollars later to change your engine.”

This gets to the heart of prevention. I experienced this message firsthand as a child, when I “helped” my dad change the oil in our cars. (This was back in the day when you could do car repairs and maintenance without needing a supercomputer.) My dad  stressed the importance of proper maintenance, of taking good care of what you had, whether it was your car, your house and yard, or your toys.

Of course, we all know we need to take better care of ourselves.

Unfortunately, we usually pay attention to what needs fixing, or what has cropped up as an urgent problem, when it’s too late. The damage has already been done.

Prevention doesn’t sell.

But that doesn’t mean it’s too late!

It’s never too late…you’re never too out of shape…you’re never too old, or too busy, or too whatever….to begin today to get in great shape, and to reclaim the health and energy of both body and mind that you deserve.

I’ve been writing a lot about how regular exercise and maintaining at least a base level of fitness can help keep your body young and healthy.

But you’ve got to be smart about it!

If you’re going to success this time, and “finally” get in great shape, feel better, think better, be confident again… then you’ll need an approach that gets great results in an efficient way.

I share this approach – and more – in my new special report, “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness“.

This report is an easy-to-read, easy-to-apply distillation of my many years of learning, experimenting, failing and succeeding in the areas of enhancing fitness and health.

I cover – in a very concise and hard-hitting way – the most important elements  of a rational, efficient, and effective approach to getting fitter and feeling healthier than you ever imagined.

If you’re just starting out and getting back into shape, or perhaps beginning an exercise program for the first time, this report will point you in the right direction and show you exactly what to do to get maximum results.

If you’re already exercising and in pretty good shape, the information in this report will help you take your fitness program and results to the next level.

These strategies are universal. They are time-tested. They will work for you, no matter what your current level of fitness is today. And they will help you get results, fast.

To claim your copy today, click HERE. This will take you directly to the order page. Fill in your info and I’ll mail you your special report. (Yes, this is an actual printed report, not a download). I’ve had a limited run printed and am offering it for only $19.95 while copies last. And the shipping & handling is on me!

In addition, if you order today, I’ll also include one of my most popular special reports, “The Five Most Critical Mistakes People Make When Beginning an Exercise Program – and How to Avoid Them”. You’ll receive this one in printed form too.

Superior health and vigor are within your grasp – no matter what your age or current condition! Let me show you how.

Order “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness” today!

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2014

Exercise is truly the fountain of youth for your body.

But with all the choices and recommendations out there, exactly
what type of exercise should you focus on to help you stay the
youngest, the longest?

You’ll hear different answers to this from different sources. But
it’s become clear that one area of training in particular wins
the “fountain of youth” prize, hands down.

Ironically, this is the one area that has not been emphasized
that much in the past.

I’m talking about strength and resistance training.

That’s right, lifting weights, performing bodyweight exercises,
and even good old fashioned dynamic tension / resistance exercises,
are the type of training that can really keep your body young.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not discounting the importance of
maintaining good aerobic fitness. And doing some stretching and
flexibility exercises is important too.

But strength training is often ignored, or de-emphasized,
especially as people get older.

I’m lucky because I had several influences in my training, from
early on, who drilled into me the importance of strength training.
So I always made it a priority in my training.

First, my track coach in college – known affectionately as
“The Whale” – had us do 5 sets of 5 repetitions in heavy, basic
exercises, every other day (with Saturdays and Sundays off).

We’re talking deadlifts, squats and bench. That’s all we did.
Because he said that’s all we needed to do when it came to
lifting.

We did other exercises too, such as some clean and presses (a
more dynamic way of lifting), plyometrics, skill training,
and so forth.

But The Whale was a huge believer in the beneficial effects of
just a few basic, multi-joint exercises which worked multiple
areas of the body at one time – the way your body is supposed
to work.

He knew whereof he spoke. At that time he was well into his
40s, maybe even 50, and was a Master level champion in the
hammer throw and shot put.

Plus he had a great body!!

Even my football player friends said he could probably kick their
arses.

A few years later, after I re-engaged in my martial arts training,
I read a book by Hee Il Cho, a famous Tae Kwon Do master who is
well known for his awesome kicks, jump kicks and breaking stunts.

In this book, Master Cho covered various aspects of training and
conditioning. He was one of the first martial arts masters to
advocate the importance of weight training as a supplement to
martial arts training. In fact, he said “Weight training is truly
the fountain of youth”.

So here was another master, well into his 40s, at the top of his
game and with a great physique.

Hmmm…I was detecting a trend here.

Now let’s fast forward to 2013. Earlier last year, I was browsing
in this used bookstore near us and found the book, “Biomarkers:
The 10 Determinates of Aging You Can Control” by William J. Evans
PhD and Irwin Rosenberg M.D. This book was published in 1991.

I remembered the title, but had never read the book. I was still
a young filly in 1991 and didn’t have time for a book about aging.

Anyways, as I read through the book, I was astounded to find…
yet another emphasis on strength training. This time by two
doctors!

In a nutshell, muscle and strength are the key controllable
factors associated with aging – and conversely, with staying
young.

For example, the good doctors summarized well-regarded, landmark
studies which showed that people past middle age could gain a huge
amount of muscle, as well as increase their strength by more than
200%, through a simple regimen of strength training.

As you can tell from the title of their book, Doctors Rosenberg
and Evans isolated the elements of vitality and better health
(for young and old alike) which can be altered by changes in
lifestyle. Here is how they prioritized them:

1. Muscle Mass
2. Strength
3. Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
4. Boday Fat Percentage
5. Aerobic Capacity
6. Blood Sugar Tolerance
7. Cholesterol
8. Blood Pressure
9. Bone Density
10. Ability to Regulate Internal Temperature

Key point here: ALL of these “biomarkers” can be improved, to
impressive levels, through strength training.

So it turns out that Hee Il Cho and The Whale were right all
along!!

Despite these findings – and even more research and studies and
empirical evidence that have been completed since 1991 –
most people remain unaware of the importance of strength
training in their overall health and fitness regimen.

What’s almost as bad – and this really drives me nuts! – is
that, even when health professionals or the media DO talk about
strength training, they usually advocate wimpy types of programs
that don’t come anywhere close to providing the benefits you
could enjoy.

For those of us who are over 40, these are exactly the benefits
and results we NEED, especially as we get older!!

As I’ve said before, if you follow the conventional wisdom
conveyed by the powers that be – which is then repeated and
trumpeted in the media, like some bad game of telephone – you
will miss out on all the wonderful benefits you could be
enjoying.

I feel even more strongly about this today than I did 10 or 20
years ago.

Even though I emphasize the importance of breathing and energy
exercises and practices, I still want you to be informed about
other aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

And I know you want to be smart about how you exercise. You want
a program that will work for you and get results.

However, you’re also busy, running hard, and maybe stressed. You
may not have the time or interest to troll through all the
different sources of information and advice, to come up with the
best possible approach to exercising.

You also don’t have all the time in the world to exercise. So
you need an approach that gets results with the least possible
investment of time.

For this reason, I wrote a special report called, “Ten Universal
Strategies for Optimal Fitness“.

This report is an easy-to-read, easy-to-apply distillation of
my many years of learning, experimenting, failing and succeeding
in the areas of health and fitness — both from my own training
and competitive career, as well as working with others.

I cover – in a very concise and hard-hitting way – the most
important elements of a rational, efficient, and effective
approach to getting fitter and feeling healthier than you
ever imagined.

If you’re just starting out and getting back into shape, or
perhaps beginning an exercise program for the first time, this
report will point you in the right direction and show you
exactly what to do to get maximum results.

If you’re already exercising and in pretty good shape, the
information in this report will help you take your fitness
program and results to the next level.

Just to be clear, my focus is from the point of view of us
“over 40” warriors. However, I know from my own experience
that there’s a lot you youngins can learn from your elders.

For example, I’ll be eternally grateful that I listened to
the Whale and Master Cho.

The strategies I share with you in the report are universal.
They are time-tested. They will work for you, no matter what
your current level of fitness is today.

And they will help you get results, fast.

Here’s just some of what is included in this report:

-Four key principles which are the heart of a rational and
effective fitness or training program. You don’t have to devote
hours and hours each day and week to get into kick-butt shape
and achieve a robust level of health. Following these principles
enables you to improve quickly and consistently over time.

-Six super strategies that tell you exactly what to do to build
up your stamina and vital capacity, strength, flexibility, and
confidence.You can leverage these strategies regardless of your
current level of fitness…and you’ll begin to feel and see
results within 7 to 14 days.

-How to prepare for and adapt your training to those times when
other factors – such as work or family obligations – may intrude
upon your program. You KNOW those times will happen, they always
do…and they can derail your best intentions.

But you don’t have to miss a beat. You CAN stay on course. I’ll
tell you how.

-How to adapt this approach to the activities and/or sports
that you may already participate in, or would like to take up
again.

– I’ll also share several of my favorite and most effective
breathing and energy exercises, which help build up lung power
and internal energy. You can do them in just a few minutes each
morning to get a great start on your day…or before or after
your workout to enhance energy levels and performance.

-You’ll also discover how you can incorporate breathing into
your strength and aerobics training – it’s a natural, intuitive
and awesomely effective way to wake up your body, brain and
internal energies.

To get your own copy of my new special report, simply click on
this link: “”Ten Universal
Strategies for Optimal Fitness“.

This will take you directly to the order page. Fill in your
info and I’ll mail you your special report. (Yes, this is an
actual printed report, not a download). I’ve had a limited
run printed and am offering it for only $19.95 while copies
last. And the shipping & handling is on me!

In addition, if you order today, I’ll also include one of
my most popular special reports, “The Five Most Critical
Mistakes People Make When Beginning an Exercise Program – and
How to Avoid Them”. You’ll receive this one in printed form too.

Superior health and vigor are within your grasp – no matter
what your age or current condition! Let me show you how.

Order “”Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness” today!

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Superior health and vigor are within your grasp – no matter
what your age or current condition! Let me show you how in my
newest special report, “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal
Fitness”. The strategies I share with you are universal.
They are time-tested. They will work for you, no matter what
your current level of fitness is today.

This is an actual report that I will mail to you (not
a download). I’ve had a limited run printed and I’m currently
offering it for only $19.95 while copies last. Plus I cover
your shipping and handling. AND I’ll include a copy of one of
my most popular special reports.

Claim your copy of “Ten Universal Strategues for Optimal Fitness”
today by clicking here.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2014

If you’re like me, as you get older you start thinking more
about quality of life issues.

You want to thrive, feel good and be healthy today….AND you
want to maintain enough strength and fitness to help keep your
independence and ensure better quality of life as you get older.

Exercise is truly the fountain of youth for your body.

However, if you follow the conventional wisdom conveyed by the
powers that be, you will miss out on the wonderful benefits you
could be enjoying.

You’re surely aware by now of the benefits of regular exercise.
You read about it all the time in the papers and online. You see
it on TV news shows.

As the good Doctor Barr said, “If exercise was a drug, it would
be the biggest wonder drug to ever hit the market. People would
be clamoring for it.”

It’s been proven again and again: regular exercise and maintaining
at least a base level of fitness can help keep your body young
and healthy.

You know this….but do you act on it?

If you’re like many adults, probably not.

The conventional wisdom, as in the latest recommendations from
the authorities, is simply to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise,
at least three days per week.

This doesn’t seem too bad, does it? Basically, this means taking
a 30 minute walk at lunchtime a few days a week, plus a walk
on the weekend. Not too hard! Not asking too much.

However, you should be aware of something important.

In coming up with these guidelines, the powers that be actually
“dumbed down” their recommendations. They basically came in at
the lowest amount of recommended exercise they could get away
with.

Why?

Because they suspected – probably correctly – that if they
put together a real plan that would get real results, they
would scare people away. Most people would read it or hear it
and think, “That will be too hard for me”, or “That will take
up too much time”.

So they contoured their recommendations for the lowest common
denominator of adults in our society.

Generally speaking, following a plan geared toward the lowest
common denominator doesn’t get you very good results.

Here’s an analogy (I have this conversation now and then with
my friends and colleagues):

Think about all the silly, sometimes pointless rules and policies
in force at many corporations and government agencies regarding
employee behavior, absences, and so forth.

At some companies, the employee “handbook” is as thick as a
community phone book. Policies and rules abound, covering (or
attempting to cover) any and every contingency or possible
issue.

Are all these policies and rules really needed? I mean c’mon,
as adults, can’t we pretty much police ourselves…use common
sense and some common courtesy….get along and get our work
done?

Well, apparently not. Because, unfortunately, there is that
percentage of people who will always push the limits, take
advantage, not get their work done, sue the company for BS
stuff…well, you get the picture. You’ve probably seen this
for yourself where you work.

Basically, the company or agency has to write policies geared
toward the lowest common denominator. Which may not be the
optimal policies for the good workers, the dedicated workers.

I don’t want the lowest common denominator for you, my friend.

Because I know, by dint of reading this blog o’ mine, that YOU
want MORE from life.

You want to be smart about how you exercise. You want a program
that works for you and that gets the best possible results.

However, you’re also busy, running hard, and maybe stressed. You
don’t have all the time in the world to exercise. So you need
a program, an approach, that gets results with the least possible
investment of time.

If this is you, then I have something you’ll be very interested
in.

I have written a special report called, “Ten Universal Strategies
for Optimal Fitness”.

This report is an easy-to-read, easy-to-apply distillation of
my many years of learning, experimenting, failing and succeeding
in the areas of enhancing fitness and health.

I cover – in a very concise and hard-hitting way – the most
important elements of a rational, efficient, and effective
approach to getting fitter and feeling healthier than you
ever imagined.

If you’re just starting out and getting back into shape, or
perhaps beginning an exercise program for the first time, this
report will point you in the right direction and show you
exactly what to do to get maximum results.

If you’re already exercising and in pretty good shape, the
information in this report will help you take your fitness
program and results to the next level.

These strategies are universal. They are time-tested. They will
work for you, no matter what your current level of fitness is
today. And they will help you get results, fast.

Here’s just some of what is included in this report:

-Four key principles which are the heart of a rational and
effective fitness or training program. You don’t have to devote
hours and hours each day and week to get into kick-butt shape
and achieve a robust level of health. Following these principles
enables you to improve quickly and consistently over time.

-How to prepare for and adapt your training to those times when
other factors – such as work or family obligations – may intrude
upon your program. You KNOW those times will happen, they always
do…and they can derail your best intentions.

But you don’t have to miss a beat. You CAN stay on course. I’ll
tell you how.

-Six super strategies that tell you exactly what to do to build
up your stamina and vital capacity, strength, flexibility, and
confidence.You can leverage these strategies regardless of your
current level of fitness…and you’ll begin to feel and see
results within 7 to 14 days.

-How to adapt this approach to the activities and/or sports
that you may already participate in, or would like to take up
again.

– I’ll also share several of my favorite and most effective
breathing and energy exercises, which help build up lung power
and internal energy. You can do them in just a few minutes each
morning to get a great start on your day…or before or after
your workout to enhance energy levels and performance.

-You’ll also discover how you can use breathing paired with
specific movements as a natural, intuitive and awesomely
effective way to wake up your body, brain and internal energies.

To get your own copy of my new special report, simply click on
this link: “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness“.

This will take you directly to the order page. Fill in your
info and I’ll mail you your special report. (Yes, this is an
actual printed report, not a download). I’ve had a limited
run printed and am offering it for only $19.95 while copies
last. And the shipping & handling is on me!

In addition, if you order today, I’ll also include one of
my most popular special reports, “The Five Most Critical
Mistakes People Make When Beginning an Exercise Program – and
How to Avoid Them”. You’ll receive this one in printed form too.

Superior health and vigor are within your grasp – no matter
what your age or current condition! Let me show you how.

Order “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness” today!

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Superior health and vigor are within your grasp – no matter
what your age or current condition! Let me show you how in my
newest special report, “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal
Fitness”. This is an actual report that I will mail to you (not
a download).

I’ve had a limited run printed and I’m currently offering it for
only $19.95 while copies last. And I’m covering the shipping and
handling. Plus I’ll also send you one of my most popular special
reports. Get your copy today! Click here.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2014

Would you like to know about a wonder drug that can help protect
your brain and body against the ravages of aging and illness?

Furthermore, what would you say if I told you this “drug” is
free, or virtually free?

AND – what would you think if I told you that YOU hold the ability
to activate this drug in YOUR hands, right now!

Well, this wonder drug isn’t anything new. It’s been recommended
and promoted for centuries, actually millenia….at least as far
back as the ancient Greeks.

What exactly is this “stuff”? Here’s a hint:

“If exercise was a drug, it would be the biggest wonder drug to
ever hit the market. People would be clamoring for it.”

-Dr. Irwin Barr, Kaiser Permanente

You’re surely aware by now of the benefits of regular exercise.
This is nothing new.

But if you’re like me, as you get older you start thinking more
about quality of life issues as you age.

You want to thrive, feel good and be healthy today….AND you
want to maintain enough strength and fitness to help keep your
independence and ensure better quality of life as you get older.

This may be prompted by seeing family members or friends of your
family go through aging-related declines in their physical
strength and capabilities, their endurance, and – scariest of
all – in their cognitive abilities.

We are going through this now with both sets of parents, to
varying degrees. While our main concern is for them, of course,
we can’t help but think about how best to avoid this outcome
for ourselves in the future, as we move into our 60s, 70s and
80s.

I’ll talk more about exercise and fitness in helping keep your
body young and healthy in a future message. Today, I’d like to
discuss how important exercise is for the health and maintenance
of your brain.

There’s a great book available by Dr. John J. Ratey titled
“SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain”
(published by Little, Brown 2008).

Ratey is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Harvard
School of Medicine who has taken a special interest in the
effects that regular exercise and fitness have on the brain.

He says that exercise is the single most powerful tool we have
to optimize our brain function.

There are several ways that exercise acts on the brain to
enhance cognitive functioning. One of the most interesting is
the action of nerve growth factors within the brain. The
scientists, including Ratey, call these growth factors
“Miracle-Gro for your brain”.

I won’t go through all the scientific jargon. Instead, I’ll
boil this down to how I explained this to my son, who has ADHD
and related issues (more about that later).

In the past, conventional wisdom assumed that our brains can
develop for awhile into early adulthood; then they pretty much
become fixed in terms of size, number of neurons, connections
between neurons, etc.

In other words, as we age, our brain “plasticity” or ability to
change or grow decreases or even disappears.

Then you’re basically on that sliding slope down to forgetfulness,
decreased cognitive function, maybe even senility. yikes!!

Well, enter the modern era of brain study and imaging.

It turns out that the old assumptions about inevitable cognitive
decline, inability to learn new things as an adult (like a new
language or the latest video game), senility in advanced age,
etc. is not necessarily our destiny.

In fact, it turns out that the brain maintains its plasticity,
even as we age. The brain is flexible. Everything we do, think,
or feel shapes our brain. It’s adaptable and can be molded by
inputs.

So, just as you can build muscles by performing resistance
exercises….so can you build your brain. The more you use it,
the stronger it becomes.

AND – the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.

Anyways, back to that Miracle-Gro stuff.

Exercise releases certain types of proteins known as growth
factors, some of which are specific to the brain. These factors
nourish brain cells like fertilizer and increase the number
of connections between brain cells.

Increased connections basically prime your brain to take in
more information, process it better, remember it better, and
put it into context.

In other words, exercising regularly nourishes and enhances
your brain, which means you can learn faster, better process
and retain information, and create connections between facts
and ideas to help you be more creative.

For many people, this promise of enhanced brain function and
preventing cognitive decline as we age may be even more
powerful as a motivator than any physical benefits of exercise.

We often talk about this when we discuss getting older. No one
I know wants to get old and senile. Everyone would prefer being
with it and aware and cognizant of what is going on, all the
way to the end.

Better our bodies give out first before our minds.

I say this with full awareness of and empathy for those readers
who are caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimers. I
helped care for my grandmother who (finally) succumbed to
Parkinsons and dementia, along with other health issues.

It was extremely difficult to see her in that state, and for
so long.

On the other hand, those occasional glimmers of lucidity, of
recognizing a daughter or grandson, of laughing or reminiscing
about a fond memory, let us know our mother / grandmother was
still in there. And her life still had value.

Nevertheless, seeing this up close certainly has served as
motivation for me to continue to improve upon my own health and
fitness habits, in the hopes of avoiding a similar experience
myself as well as putting my family members through it.

And it motivates me to share with and encourage you too!

Now, to the other end of the age spectrum……

I mentioned that my son Miguel has ADHD. I can say unequivocally
that whether or not he gets in exercise and play each day –
especially outdoor play – makes a big difference in his outlook
and his behavior.

He and I often exercise together, especially on the weekends when
we have more time. We’ll hit the bags or do some sparring; do
pushups and situps and maybe some light weights.

We walk the dogs nearly every day and often go for longer hikes
in the hills near our house. Our entire family started bike riding
together this past summer. And we play various sports like soccer
and baseball together in our back yard.

Now I’m thinking that maybe I should wake Miguel up a bit earlier
each morning and work out before school.

Here’s why:

It turns out that Dr. Ratey was inspired to research and write
his “Spark” book by a study that was done on school-age kids in a
suburban Chicago school district.

Basically they had the kids exercise before school – they called it
“Zero Hour PE” – with an emphasis on exercise to enhance fitness
(not team sports or games like in a typical PE class).

They found that the kids got fitter. No surprise there.

More exciting, however, they also found that working out before
school gave the kids a big boost in reading ability and the rest
of their subjects.

By working out in the morning, the kids were sent off to classes in
a “state of heightened awareness” and prepared to learn.

For kids like Miguel who battle that extra challenge of having
to work even harder to focus and maintain impulse control,
exercising in the morning could be another tool in our tool
belt.

For us adults who fight a similar battle to stay focused on
what’s important in a world of distractions…as well as those of
us who fight the “battle of the bulge” or have other health issues,
getting in even a little activity in the morning could make a
huge difference.

I’ve long advocated and practiced doing some breathing and
energy exercises first thing in the morning, before you get going
on the rest of your day.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just a few deep breaths and
stretches will do wonders. It’s a great routine which can do your
body – and brain – a lot of good.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Breathing paired with specific movements is a natural,
intuitive and awesomely effective way to wake up your body, brain
and internal energies. You can easily and consistently tap into
the power, motivation and abilities you already have through
breathing and exercise.

Discover how to tap into your own source of energy with the Secret
Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The Dynamic
Energy Routine, available at
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html. You’ll
feel sharp and energized for hours after!

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2014

Happy New Year!

I trust you are off to a good start to 2014. If not, here are a few thoughts to help you get on course.

I won’t go into resolutions, goals, ready-set-go, get psyched, etc., etc., You’ve probably already seen plenty of these types of articles, blog posts, or Facebook entries in the past several weeks.

Rather, I’d like to refocus you and me on a simple step to help you get on track as you start your year. By the way, this also helps you stay on track, or get back on track if you go off-road, as you progress through the year.

First off, I believe strongly in thinking through, considering, emotionalizing, and then writing down your goals for the coming year.

Take your time to do this. If you’re doing it right, you’ll write and re-write multiple drafts until you get to a focused set of goals that mean something to you, and that you would really really like to achieve this year.

Once you’ve done this, it’s also good practice to review your goals on a regular basis. Some people advocate daily review. Weekly review is good too. You can even test writing out your goals every day into a notebook.

Reviewing, rewriting, thinking about, and emotionalizing your goals is an easy to do, easy to follow practice. Start this now, today, and do it for 21 days. See how you like it.

If this is helping you stay focused, helping you get motivated, then keep it and make it a habit.

Once you’ve got some sense of where you want to go, you’ll find you are naturally more focused, more motivated, more energized to do what you need to do to move toward your goals.

However, if you’re like most people, you’ll find that initial motivation can wane over time. Life gets in the way. You get busy with the current “urgent but unimportant” stuff that can just suck the life out of you.

What can you do to help maintain your self-motivation throughout the year?

One thing I’ve discovered is the importance of taking it day by day. Not a new concept; however, I think it’s one we could all leverage much better than we typically do.

Thinking about what you have to do over the course of the year – all the work, all the effort, all the hours, all the things that need to fall into place – can be intimidating and de-motivating.

On the other hand, if you focus only on what you need to do today to move toward your goals, you’ll find it much less intimidating.

Ted Leonsis, part of the initial management team at AOL, who later went on to become owner of my beloved Washington Capitals, has a great way of looking at life.

He believes that, both for your work life and your personal life, taking it day by day is a very powerful practice.

As he says, “Good days lead to good weeks. Good weeks lead to good months. And good months lead to good years.”

Here are some ideas to help you make the most of each day:

– Map out each day (or the next day at the end of today) before you begin.

A simple but effective approach is to write down the six most important items you need to get done, in order of importance. Start working on the most important item first thing in the morning, or as close to first thing in the morning as you can.

You may only get one or two items done today. But guess what – that’s OK! You’ve done the one or two most important things you needed or wanted to do today. It’s been a good day!

Now, rewrite your list to reflect the six most important items for tomorrow. You’ve got tomorrow planned. Relax and enjoy your evening.

–Focus on a superior beginning and a superior end. This leads to a superior middle.

Start your day off right. Do some deep breathing exercises first thing after you wake up. Stretch your body – really stretch, like a cat stretches whenever it wakes up from sleep or a nap.

Think good thoughts. Think gratefully for the blessings in your life. Know that you are more than equal to the situation and to the upcoming events or challenges of the day.

Do the same thing at the end of your day. As you get into bed, stretch your body a little. Breathe deeply and calmly. Follow your breath to help you relax.

Getting into bed with a relaxed body and mind helps you sleep better. It’s also an optimal time for programming your mind. Program positive thoughts. Program in a request for a solution to a problem or challenge. Think again about all that you are grateful for.

Beginning the day and ending the day in a positive way helps to “bookend” your day and make the middle of your day more positive and productive as well.

– If you are at a lack for motivation today, or finding yourself getting distracted with unimportant things, take a moment to refocus.

What is one thing – even if it’s small – you can do today that will help you move forward toward one of your goals?

Figure it out and do something on it today – right now, if possible, before the day gets away from you.

Remember, a good day today will mean a good week this week.

And a good week this week will lead to a good January – which means you are off to a great start in 2014!

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. I’d love to help you get off to a super start this year! Go to the Best Breathing Exercises website for information and inspiration. Also, here are a couple of specific recommendations:

-If you’re looking for an effective, easy way to enhance your energy, lung power and focus, the combination of deep breathing and dynamic exercises in “The Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume 2: The Dynamic Energy Routine”, is a powerhouse. Go to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html to learn more.

-If you wish to “finally” lose the weight and shape up fast, get a copy of the “Fire Up Your Metabolism Program”. In it, you’ll discover an excellent workout centered around breathing, dynamic tension, and movements that work the large muscles of the body. Visit http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/metabolism.html for more information.

Each of these programs takes only 15 minutes to do, but are a great way to start out your day strong and energized.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2014

Traditional goal setting advice is a bunch of BS.

You might as well skip all the online articles and social media blurbs you will soon see on “setting goals for 2014”, “reach your dreams in 2014”, “finally achieve [insert goal here] in 2014”, and so forth.

You may be surprised hearing this from me.

If you’ve been reading these missives for any length of time, you know I am a proponent of setting goals. I firmly believe that a solid, well-though out set of goals can provide the focal point around which you organize your attention, your energy and your activity to achieve your objectives.

But there are a few critical mistakes in most of the goal setting advice out there, and in the way most people go about it.

First of all, many people approach goals from a “resolution” mindset. They make one or several resolutions on New Year’s Day for the coming year. They may even write their resolutions down. They gear up, get enthusiastic, and go at it for a few weeks, or maybe even a few months. Then they….

Sort of drop their resolution. They don’t completely forget it. They know they set it. They still want the end result. But they stop taking specific action toward their goal.

(This is one of the inside “secrets” of the fitness center industry. They make tons of money from people signing up for memberships, or even specific types of fitness classes or programs, in December and January. By mid to late February, however, most of these once enthusiastic and motivated folks have dropped out – either completely, or they are visiting the gym infrequently.  Yet they continue to pay the membership fee.)

The other common mistake is setting only outcome goals – what you want to achieve or your desired end result.

The common flaw in these approaches: a lack of focus on process.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve is the starting point. And it’s absolutely critical! Most people set vague goals, or have vague notions of what they would like to have in their lives. But they don’t take the time to think through the specific outcome they want.

If you can get to a reasonable set of specific goals you really want to achieve, you are doing better than 90 percent of the folks out there (the 90 percent who even bother to set goals, that is, which is an amazingly small percentage of the overall population).

However, focusing only on outcome is a recipe for under achievement.

How can I say this?

Because I made this same mistake myself – for years!

Each year, I would happily, enthusiastically and expectantly think through and set goals for myself for the coming year. I’d write and rewrite until I had devolved my initial list down into a core set of goals and objectives for the year. Some were bigger, some were smaller, but they all had meaning for me.

Then, I would review my goals frequently, even rewrite them to help keep them front and center in my mind.

Truthfully, I had some good results with this method. I would never hit all my goals, but I would hit some of them. I would get rid of a few, reframe a few. I would hit a few. I guess I did better than I would have if I had not set any goals.

But I always felt like I was under-achieving, that I could be doing so much more.

The pleasure of hitting certain goals would be outweighed by the frustration of not hitting more goals, or not achieving the one or two that mattered most. The year would get away from me, and I would be sitting there in November or December and wonder what happened – where did the year go?

So one day, I sat down and analyzed my approach. And I realized that I had been missing a key piece.

I was focusing all my attention on “outcome” goals. And I was completely ignoring “process” goals.

What’s the difference? And why are process goals so important?

An outcome goal is the main outcome or objective you want to accomplish. For example, “I want to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks”, or “I want to have $50,000 in investments over the next five years”.

A key characteristic of an outcome goal is that you can’t directly control the accomplishment of the goal. It’s the end result of a series of other things you have to do.

Process goals, also known as behavior goals, represent the steps you have to take to accomplish your outcome. For example, if your outcome goal is, “I want to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks”, your related process or behavior goals could include “I will exercise 5 days per week for the next 10 weeks”, or “I will reduce my caloric intake by 50 calories per day for the next 10 weeks”.

A key characteristic of a behavior goal is that you can directly control the goal, as it’s an action you can choose to take – or not take – every day.

This brings us to the fundamental problem with setting only outcome goals.

Outcome goals represent outcomes that are beyond one’s daily control. You can’t control all the variables that can influence whether or not you hit a specific outcome goal by a specific point in time. Even with highly personal things like losing weight, getting in better shape, or building an investment portfolio, things outside your control can influence your outcome.

This doesn’t mean you get a pass. It doesn’t mean you should just ditch goal-setting altogether.

It does mean you can control the ACTIONS you take that lead to a leaner body or a bigger bank account. Therefore, you should focus on the behavior goals that will help you reach your outcome goals.

And you can control your MINDSET which helps keep you excited and motivated about your goals – both your outcome and your behavior goals.

Here’s how I incorporated this information into my own approach to goal setting.

First, I continued to think through, write out, and prioritize my outcome goals for the coming year. Then I wrote down one to three behavior goals for each major outcome goal. These were the behaviors or actions I had to take on a frequent – daily, weekly, sometimes monthly – basis to stay on track to achieve that goal.

Then, as I reviewed my goals on a daily or weekly basis, I made sure to devote just as much time, mental energy, and emotion to my behavior goals as to my outcome goals.

This did two things for me that made a huge difference:

First, it automatically made me focus on the daily and weekly things I needed to do to reach my goals.

This made me a lot more effective. Moving from a full year focus to a focus on just today is a very powerful tool for achievement. When you think about everything you need to get done over the course of 6 months or 12 months, you can pysche yourself out – the list seems so daunting, the achievement feels so hard.

If, however, you focus just on today, and you make a list of the few key behaviors and activities you want to complete today that will move you toward your goals, you get a better sense of control.

In other words, this type of focus automatically helps you to break down your big goals into bite-sized chunks. This means each day you do a little something that moves you forward. Therefore, each day you make progress. Even if it’s small progress, it’s still progress – and any progress, any task or activity checked off your “to-do” list, feels GOOD!

Second, this made me reduce the number of outcome goals I set to a smaller, more focused, more achievable set of goals.

When you include behavior goals in your goal setting, you soon realize that a large number of outcome goals, with from one to three behavior goals for each, results in…. a huge number of goals you are trying to achieve!

And the larger the number, the less chance you will be capable of devoting focused energy and action to each one….hence, the greater the likelihood that your efforts will be dispersed and you won’t achieve much of anything.

So be reasonable in the number of outcome goals you set for yourself. Choose one to two goals in each major area of your life: health and fitness, family, spiritual and self-improvement, business or career, financial, community. Make sure each goal really resonates with you, really means something – even if it seems like a small goal.

Even a “small” but meaningful goal, once achieved, can have a profound effect on you!

Plus if very goal is a whopper, you run the risk (again) of psyching yourself out and being cowed by your goals, instead of inspired by them.

I urge you to consider this approach and give it a try as you set your sights on 2014. I think you’ll find it helps you quite a bit, as the results you produce become more consistent and come at a faster rate than ever before.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”

http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2013

Many men and women go to the human scrap heap. They have not known just how to pump the human bellows – the lungs; get energy out of every ounce of fuel, keep their arteries and veins clean, kidneys and liver from being poisoned.”

That’s a quote from an old book on breathing.

Even in the “old days”, when the importance of breathing for good health was more widely accepted and promoted, the doctor who wrote this book felt compelled to do so. He was concerned about the diseases and conditions he observed in his patients, as well as the people around him.

Today, it seems like we are even more removed from the natural healing and invigorating results of proper breathing.

I think a lot of this has to do with the advent of modern medicine, and all the wonderful medications and drugs that have been developed.

Coming down with a cold? First action for many people is to take medicine to help tamp down the symptoms.

Got a headache? Take two aspirin, or extra strength this or that.

I’m very grateful for the wonder drugs and medicines that help relieve our illnesses, whether acute or chronic. They have reduced much suffering and helped alleviate much pain and discomfort.

But they have also caused us to forget about our own natural resources, instincts and intuitions…and to move away from more natural methods of handling illness and pain.

They tend to make us focus on the symptoms, and treat those, rather than determine the root cause of the symptoms, and take care of that.

If you have headaches on a regular basis, taking aspirin or Tylenol may help you get through your day. But you better be concerned about what is causing those headaches, and what you can do to prevent them.

Even as new and more advanced medicines flood the market, we are getting sicker, fatter, more fatigued and more depressed.

What the heck is up with that. What did the oldtimers know, and do, that we don’t?

One thing they knew about was the importance of deep breathing. In many of the health prescriptions and programs of the late 1800s and early 1900s, you will find plenty of exercises coordinated to breathing.

A few of the exercises in the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The Dynamic Energy Routine, are based on these oldtime exercises. Others are adapted from martial arts and qi gong (chi kung).

In other words, when you do the exercises in the course, you are benefitting from a wealth of ancient, proven knowledge and practice that can help your asthma.

It’s true: you can live longer and live better by knowing how to breathe properly…and using your breathing to improve your stamina and health.

Proper breathing is almost an art unto itself. But it’s not hard to learn or do.

It just takes a little time, focus and patience. But it’s time well invested.

It keeps you moving. It keeps you healthy. It keeps you young.

You Can Do It!

”

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Get a crash course in proper breathing and breath control, and build lung power, stamina and energy, with the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The Dynamic Energy Routine. The entire routine only takes about 12 minutes – but it will rocket launch your energy levels and enhance your health and wellbeing from the inside out. Plus it’s a wonderful way to start each day! For more information, or to acquire your own copy today, click here.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2013