You are here: Home / Archives for Thriving Health Principles / Assistance

Change or Die

November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you were told today that you must change some key aspect of your life or you will die, would you?

The answer seems obvious, doesn’t it? Of course you would. Surprisingly though it doesn’t always happen. In fact it only does about 10% of the time without effective support.

I have been reminded recently of very important work done on this topic. Researchers studied people who had significant cardiovascular bypass surgery and were told they have to make a change in their lifestyles or DIE. Only 10% actually made the changes they needed on their own without receiving additional support. Only 10%. In essence 90% chose to die.

Some in our Thriving Health community face this very dilemma. The message might be coming from your doctor or a friend, or it might be one that you inherently just know to be true. Most in our community might feel that their situation is not that serious and you might be right. In wanting to lose weight, look better, and feel better or in acting to prevent a lifestyle disease your life might not be on the line, at least not yet, but why are you not yet experiencing the results you want.

Perhaps we can rephrase my initial statement to say change or suffer, with suffer being the endless frustration of lack of sustained results. Attempting to make the needed changes to realize your desired results without effective support probably only works for about 10% of you too. In essence 90% choose frustration and suffering on some level.

In that same research a second group studied had a fundamentally different support group (meaning they actually had effective support in their effort to change and not die). Their ability to positively change was at a rate of success of about 91%. Nearly a mirror image to those who did not receive support. That’s the ultimate power of effective support (Thriving Health Principle 4: Assistance).

We all have the innate power to consciously create the results we want in our lives. That power is amplified with the right support. That type of support is out there waiting to help.

 

Where can you find it?

  • Your inner circle of family and friends.
  • A like minded group of people who share your vision and dream of living an Ideal Life in Thriving Health and want to actually do something about it.
  • Professional support such as a health coach or trainer.

 

Begin to build effective support into your life and you will consciously create the sustained results you desire.

Release weight, achieve thriving health and begin living your Ideal Life TODAY!  

 

Yours in health,

 

Brent

 

Be an advocate of our Thriving Health Revolution. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you feel would enjoy the content. I appreciate your support in growing our Thriving Health community!

Filed Under: Assistance Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Power of Mantras

September 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Mantras help make it stick. There’s a little voice in your head that stands between achieving the results you want and once again being unable to make your lifestyle changes stick. If you really want it to finally work this time then you must begin to hear that little voice.

 

This is at the heart of the Thriving Health Principle of Assistance. Building internal support is all about becoming your own best friend. If you’re struggling with your weight or your health that little voice has likely been very negative. You’ve been more of your own worst enemy.

 

Creating powerful mantras will change that. Sports psychologist Stephen Walker says “repeating choice words whenever you need to focus helps direct your mind away from negative thoughts and towards a positive experience.” They will inspire you to stay the course.

 

When I was training for a half marathon and experiencing a recurring leg injury my self talk was one of worry, fear, and certainty I would suffer an injury during the race. I used the mantra “release relax strong fast” rhythmically at key points while running when I felt pain and tightness coming on, and the limiting language that came with it, and it worked. I shifted inside. I began to noticeably relax as opposed to tighten up and become stressed. I finished my race strong and injury free feeling great.

 

Works in sports, works for lifestyle too. When doubts and distractions enter your mind and come through as negative self talk it can derail your attempts to make healthy eating choices, to start exercise or to keep on going, or to get the sleep and rest your body needs. It can also certainly add stress to your world. All of which can lead you down the path of another failed attempt.

 

The first step is to begin to hear that voice loud and clear. Often it goes by unnoticed. What is it saying to you?

 

Literally there are thousands of ways your voice tries to trip you up. Choose key language you want to shift or key goals you want to reinforce then create your mantra(s) with words that are short, positive, instructive and full of action.

 

Here are a few to consider. Be creative, build your own.

 

“Love my colors” – when frozen pizza is calling out to you instead of the fresh veggies you had planned for.

 

“I am healthy” – when you second guess your progress or someone makes a negative comment about you.

 

“Take it all in” – When fatigue or discomfort build up during outdoor exercise in a beautiful setting.

 

Memorize these. Every time that negative voice appears, STOP. Say your mantra out loud or to yourself. Feel the shift inside. Continue with your day taking the positive steps aligned with you mantra. If it influences a decision in the moment regarding food or activity great. If it simply re-inspires a way of being great. Make your shift positive. Do this over and over and it will stick. As it sticks your actions will stick. Of course as actions stick results will come.

 

Release weight, achieve thriving health and begin living your Ideal Life TODAY!  

 

Yours in health,

 

Brent

Filed Under: Assistance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

But I Could Never Do That

June 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment


A few weeks ago I mentioned that my wife Gail and I were going to enter the City Chase; a scaled down within your city version of the TV show The Amazing Race.

Ready To Chase!

I also invited you all to enter and participate with us or in your own city. I wonder if you had an instant thought such as “but I could never do that”. Was it followed immediately by a feeling of panic, fear, resentment, shame, sadness, or some related emotion as you imagined the possibility of such an event?

If you’ve been struggling in releasing weight, in achieving Thriving Health, or in putting your SELF last and your enjoyment on hold for all kinds of reasons then having this experience is probably all too common.

We both had some of these feelings before the event and during it too. Unfortunately this language and these feelings left unchecked can derail a whole lot of fun while benefiting your healthy lifestyle too.

We love watching the Amazing Race and have often imagined chasing all over the world doing all kinds of wild and crazy things. We thought this local version would be a fun way to experience some of that vision. We’d do it together, bond through the experience and have memories to talk about for years to come.

My best bootcamp impression.

It's Fuhr, no Dubnyk, no wait, It's Gail!

Then…

Are we too old? Are we fit enough? How hard will it be? Who will watch our daughter? We shouldn’t ask someone to take her for a whole day. What if we fight? That show tends to bring out the worst in some people.

I’m sure Gail had some others of her own.

Each question. Each feeling; an excuse and nothing more.

We reconnected with why we really wanted to do it and the fun we’d have then addressed each fear to plan how to address it then move forward.

Strategizing Our Transit Plan

Our goal was to finish, not win (this time). We could walk, not run. Even better we could be smart and effectively use transit and strategize our route. Fitness would not be a factor. Our daughter would have a blast all day with her cousins and her aunt loved the opportunity to care for her. Done! Fighting, well we each asked for the type of support we wanted from the other and committed to say if things were not happening that way.

During the event we could simply say NO if it was too strenuous or too weird. We could rest. We could ask for support of organizers or other teams. We did all those and we chose to stretch a bit and enjoy without worrying what anyone thought. It added to the experience.

Martial Arts Experts. Right!

Now maybe the City Chase is not your thing. No problem. Whether it’s a 5K, 10K, triathlon, corporate challenge event with work, zumba class, yoga, crossfit, or bootcamp or something else it’s all the same.

Most everyone has the potential to do most everything. If not right now then in the future with some preparation. It starts with catching yourself saying “but I could never do that” and stopping for a moment to really address why you think that.

Slow and steady made easy means you can choose your pace, your approach, the support you need before or during, progressions in the moment or towards an event in the future or whatever leads you into fun and healthy action.  The more you do the more you will …..

Release weight, achieve thriving health and begin living your Ideal Life TODAY!

Yours in health,

Brent

Filed Under: Assistance

5 Tips For Getting Support

May 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You may have the greatest intentions to exercise regularly, do a 5K, take a zumba class, or even participate in the upcoming City Chase as I mentioned Gail and I are doing very soon. Then when it came to actually doing it all kinds of external factors threw up barriers to prevent it from happening.  You needed support.

We all need support to some degree to succeed in anything we do.  Your lifestyle is no different.

“The greatest predictor of success and happiness in times of challenge is your social support network.” Shawn Achor

Here are 5 tips to get the external support you need to take the ACTION of actually living an active healthy lifestyle.

  • Ask someone who can deliver it.
  • Be specific about what support looks like (for you) and the mechanics involved.
  • Ask without expectation, no obligation, and free of choice.
  • If you ask you must be willing to give.
  • Keep asking until you get it (perhaps to more than one person).

So what kind of support will you need to take that next step to act?

Someone to participate with you?

Someone to take care of your kids or a pet while you participate?

Someone who helps free your time to act?

Someone who becomes your cheerleader – at an event or at home?

Someone who mirrors the healthy eating habits you want to embrace?

Maybe it’s all of those things, or others.  That’s fine.  For each person or type of support you need go through the five tips until you have your support team in place.

It may sound like a lot of work to do so but I think you’ll find there are plenty of people in your world that will rally around your desire to lead an active healthy lifestyle if you’d simply ASK in a clear and concise manner.

Begin to build your dream team of support today.  Each and every time you take action with your lifestyle your team will become stronger and stronger in your favor.  They’ll see you building inner support by the actions you take and be willing to help you even more.

Support will grow and you will find it much easier to …..

Release weight, achieve thriving health and begin living your Ideal Life TODAY!

Yours in health,

Brent

Filed Under: Assistance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts
Powered by WishList Member - Membership Site Software