Exercise And Diet
Okay I admit I designed the last chapter to have a chapter title longer than the chapter itself. The reason is simply to cause you to pause and remember that although there is a publishing empire based around dieting and fitness, the keys are that simple!
Given it is so simple, what keeps most people from being a healthy weight and exercising 3-4 times a week?
Simple: time and priority.
Time
Time is a huge part of what this book is about. As you cut out of your life the time- wasting activities and start building your career and other activities around your lifestyle, you will find you have the time for the important activities in life.
Priority
Prioritizing all of the many activities of modern day life is also a focus of this book. As you set goals and think about what really is important in life, you will naturally find your priorities stay at the top of your list and the irrelevancies drop off.
To give yourself additional leverage, here are the benefits of a lifestyle that includes adequate exercise and a healthy diet:
Benefits of Exercise:
1. Helps to manage your weight.
2. Promotes better sleep.
3. Combats some serious illnesses, for example heart disease.
4. Reduces depression and anxiety.
5. Reduces blood pressure.
6. Increases bone density which is critical in later life.
7. Tones muscle.
8. Enhances stamina in the workplace and in sport performance.
9. Improves your mood.
10. Increases self esteem.
11. Reduces stress.In the industrialized world literally tens of millions of people suffer from illnesses and disabilities that can be eliminated through regular exercise.
Benefits of a Healthy Diet:
1. Strengthens your immune system.
2. Prevents and treats disease.
3. Leads to higher energy levels.
4. Helps to manage your weight.
5. Promotes better sleep.
6. Promotes a longer life.
7. Improves your skin, hair, teeth, nails i.e. your looks!
8. Reduces mood swings and increases a feeling of wellbeing.
9. Increases the ability to focus and concentrate.Your body can only be as healthy as the fuel you give it to run on. Use the internet or visit a nutritionist for specific advice on diet and nutrition.
Exercising regularly and eating healthily are an investment in your lifestyle and a gift you can give yourself. We are blessed with the ability to exercise and eat healthily – it is a crime to avoid it.
Be disciplined, make time and make it a priority. You will never regret it.
A Note About Caffeine
I used to be a Connoisseur of Coffee. I had an $8,000 Italian espresso machine in my office (just for me). I used the freshest beans and made terrific coffee. I had two double shots of coffee every day, and enjoyed every aspect of it. Now I don’t drink coffee and here is why:
My day started with me needing my coffee hit to “get me going”. It worked great until about 1pm when I began to fade, so I had my afternoon coffee to “get me going” again. About 6pm I started to fade again but I couldn’t have another coffee because then I wouldn’t be able to get to sleep. My evenings were characterized by low energy and sometimes even a lie-down. By 9pm I was shutting down and no use to anyone. I generally slept okay, but not deeply. I found I needed nine hours in bed to get enough rest.
After doing some research on caffeine I realized this up and down cycle was caused by my caffeine intake. My “ups” were chemically induced! Amazingly drinking coffee was actually causing me less overall energy and stimulation! I stopped drinking coffee to trial it for a month. Admittedly for the first three days I felt very weird, but after that I started to feel fine. After a month I had a lot more energy throughout the day. I was also sleeping more deeply (caffeine builds up in your body and takes a long time to work its way out) and therefore I didn’t need as many hours in bed.
I know that for many people coffee it a critical part of getting through each day and a big part of socializing but you must realize it is coming at a huge cost. If you drink coffee regularly and suffer from any of the following, I strongly suggest you give up all caffeine for a month as a trial:
• Feeling drowsy in the morning (before coffee);
• Feeling drowsy a few hours after having a coffee;
• Feeling sleepy in the late afternoon or early evening;
• Poor sleep patterns, not sleeping deeply or waking up tired;
• Not having the energy you had as a teenager (before your caffeine habit).Trial it for a month, you have got nothing to lose. I went from Espresso-man to Water-man, and I will never go back. The cost is too high.
Remember, most soda drinks contain large amount of caffeine. It’s not just coffee.
Coffee has become an acceptable social drug. It’s legal, not physically addictive, and its “cool”. Unfortunately, it is taking energy and strength out of your day – every day.