Inspirational and Self Help Blog with a Save the World Complex...
“Eventually, there comes a point in every life where you can no longer ignore the enormous and expanding gap between the life you could be living and the life you’ve settled for…. Every day of your life that you’re not actively engaged in staying fit, eating well, and strengthening your body the gap grows.” – Shawn Phillips, Strength for Life (page 10)
You can read my review of Strength for Life here.
“Eventually, there comes a point in every life where you can no longer ignore the enormous and expanding gap between the life you could be living and the life you’ve settled for…. Every day of your life that you’re not actively engaged in staying fit, eating well, and strengthening your body the gap grows.” – Strength for Life, by Shawn Phillips, page 10
I recently finished reading Strength for Life and, quite frankly, I’m filled with two emotions:
I knew the author, Shawn Phillips, and I would hit it off right from the start. You see, while I’m a typical girly girl, I’m also a huge sports fan. My favorite teams are the UK Wildcats, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Denver Broncos. At the end of chapter 1, Shawn quoted my all-time favorite QB, John Elway, and referred to him as “a friend.”
So, I settled back with the book to see what an author with impeccable taste had to say.
Do you realize how out of control obesity is in America? According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 and older are obese and 65 percent are either overweight or obese. 65 percent!
Even more disturbing, to me, is the following statistic: In the kid’s group, one out of five ages 12 to 19 is now considered obese. That absolutely breaks my heart.
Not only does being overweight keep you from living the life you should be living, it’ll end your life much sooner than it should end. It’s not just about being able to keep up on the playground or tennis court, it’s not just about how those Levi’s look, and it’s not just about leaving the trauma room with your head high as opposed to buried in your hands – it’s about being around for your loved ones as long as you possibly can!
I’m certain I’ve pointed out before how difficult it can be to write a book review. Especially when it’s for a book that you’re dying for your readers to read. On one hand, I want to tell you all that I learned from the book. For someone with the gift for gab like me, it’s particularly hard NOT to give everything away. The problem with that, of course, is that you’d have no reason to buy the book. Not a very fair thing to do to an author who put their heart and soul into the publication.
Let me try to Bullet Point the reasons you should read Strength For Life as soon as you possibly can (bullet points usually keep my gift… that would be the gift of gab… within reason):
Shawn Phillips is one of the most motivating and inspiring authors I’ve ever read (and you know me, I read – therefore I am). Even when the book is CLOSED and you’re making your food choices in the store or the kitchen, you feel like Shawn is there with you – saying, “I think there’s a better solution…here, let’s try this instead,” “Look at the ingredients – corn syrup, you know what that means..,” or “Are you completely out of your mind?! Put that back.”
You also feel like he’s there when you’re walking or exercising – coaching you and WILLING for you to make it. He’d actually make a wonderful trainer on a show like The Biggest Loser because, while he’s filled with information, he has an even more important trait: He honestly cares about the health, fitness, well-being, and happiness of his readers. You can tell it in his words. I read so much that authors can’t even begin to fool me – I know sincerity when I see it.
I strongly urge you to buy this book as soon as possible – the sooner, the better, because the minute you start reading is the minute you turn your life around. As a bonus, if you’re a parent like me, you begin setting a golden example to your children. They’ll even get on board with you! A few days ago, I asked my oldest daughter what sounded good for lunch. Instead of the typical Fries and a Burger answer, she said “a grilled chicken salad.” I couldn’t make it for her fast enough!
I hope that TODAY you’ll think about “the gap” that began this post. I hope you’ll get a good, clear picture of the life you could be living – the one you’d spell out for a genie. Then I hope you’ll realize that the first step you should take (to make your wishes come true) is to get a copy of Strength for Life as soon as you possibly can.
Nah, sooner.
As the greatest quarterback to ever play (I believe his name was John Elway) once said, “If you’re going to set a goal, aim high!”
Make each moment count double,
~ Joi
Sounds trite, but there it is – the pure, plain, simple truth.
I love books a great, great deal. They’re mentally stimulating – whether they’re a great mystery by Christie, an inspirational book by Max Lucado, a “Complete Idiot’s Guide to..” (love those!), or a self help book everyone… or no one.. is talking about.
I recently finished reading Sitting Kills, Moving Heals
From the Back Cover:
Your Chair is slowly killing you. But exercise alone isn’t the answer. Easy, everyday, all-day movement will keep you healthy for life.
Medical studies show that too much sitting will shorten your life, even if you exercise. No matter how much exercise we get, most of us spend hours each day immobile in our chairs, and we’re fatter, sicker, and more tired than ever before. Why isn’t exercise enough? What’s missing?
GRAVITY!
Dr. Joan Vernikos, former Director of NASA’s Life Sciences Division, applies her groundbreaking NASA research on Gravity Deprivation Syndrome to everyday health here on Earth.
Your body needs to move in gravity to stay healthy. In the near zero gravity of space, astronauts’ muscles and bones atrophy, as if they were rapidly aging. Sitting all day at a desk, in long commutes, or in front of the TV is just like zero G – if you don’t move in gravity, you’ll suffer the same rapid aging as astronauts.
Astronauts are quickly restored to full health by returning to active life on Earth – and so can you. Vernikos shows that the key to lifelong health is more than just traditional gym exercise, but a natural lifestyle of constant, natural movement that resists the force of gravity.
Vernikos’ easy-to-follow, commonsense plan shows how simple, everyday, fun activities like walking, gardening, dancing, golf, and more will keep you healthy, strong, and independent your whole life long.
Sitting Kills, Moving Heals is a fascinating read from page one. Learning about the effects of gravity and “Gravity Deprivation Syndrome” literally made me stand up and pace as I read a great portion of the book! I love the encouragement to move – for adults and children, alike. As the author points out, children mimic what they see adults do. If children see active adults, they’ll tend to be more active, themselves. However, if they see inactive adults who rely too heavily on television, computers, and other forms of technology – they’ll probably mimic the inactivity as well.
Exercise is not a substitute for activities that come naturally throughout the day, 365 days a year, for the rest of your life. – Page 52
Among Other Things, the Book Includes:
Basically, you’ll gain a whole new way of looking at your health and life. This is honestly a book unlike any other and I’m 100 percent certain it” effect your life and health positively.
See Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Everyday Movement Will Prevent Pain, Illness, and Early Death – and Exercise Alone Won’t
~ Joi
One of the scariest diseases of all is diabetes. If, like me, you’ve seen it up close and personal in a family member, you know that diabetes doesn’t play well with others. Can it be lived with? Absolutely. Can you still have a full, beautiful, and wonderful life? Of course! But it’s no picnic and those of us who don’t have prediabetes or diabetes today would be fools if we didn’t do ALL we can to make sure we don’t have it tomorrow.
According to South Beach Diet, our weight, level of activity, and food are HUGE contributing factors that decide our risk of getting diabetes. The good news, of course, is that we can obviously control these things.
Below are the foods recommended by the South Beach Diet – foods that’ll help you keep diabetes off of your radar. I’ve thrown in my own two cents (in italics, to separate me from the experts) with tips for preparing, enjoying, and actually eating (!!!) these foods.
See all South Beach Diet Tips.
Adding More Activity to Your Day
One of the best tips I ever heard concerning activity and exercise basically is this: Your body doesn’t know whether you’re in the gym or in your living room. Just move! If you’re cleaning house or raking the yard, your body’s getting exercise and that’s what’s important. It’s as simple as adding more movements and steps into your daily routine. March in place while watching television, walk the long way to everything you need in stores, park further from the door, adopt a dog (or two) from an animal shelter and fall in love with the joy of taking dogs for walks each day.
My daughter Emily and I were having lunch not long ago at Applebee’s in Owensboro. We’re both becoming more and more health conscious and try not to consume more than our day’s share or allotted calories. To that end, not long ago, I downloaded the Fast Food Calorie Counter App and use it religiously. This app has the foods listed for 106 different restaurants (including every fast food chain you can think of). It’s fast and easy to use and can help you make smarter decisions.
USUALLY (you know how those usuallys go), I consult my app before I even leave the house – so I have a game plan before I even touch the menu. However, this time we didn’t even decide where we were eating until we were practically in the parking lot! As we sat at the table, we’d both just about made up our minds when I decided to “double check” our choices – choices that seemed innocent enough. Can you say, “Nearly a day’s entire allottment of calories in one meal?!?!”
We wanted no part of that, so we entirely switched gears and made MUCH smarter and healthier choices. Emily, right then and there, asked me what app I’d just used and downloaded it to her iPhone on the spot.
Most people simply have no idea the number of calories they’re consuming. We tend to take in a whole lot more calories than we realize, especially when eating out. If you don’t have a device for using apps, do the next best thing – either buy a book that lists calories in restaurant foods or get into the habit of visiting a restaurant’s website before you even leave the house. You’ll be absolutely amazed by the number of calories in the food you’ve been eating! They add up ridiculously and are contributing to the growing problem we face with obesity and diabetes.
Below are a few shockers:
Applebee’s Reuben Sandwich – 1,150 calories
Applebee’s California Turkey Club – 920 calories
Applebee’s side of onion rings – 530 calories
Applebee’s side of French Fries – 400 calories
Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Rollup – 1,140 calories
Applebee’s Chicken Fajita Rollup – 560 calories
Applebee’s Chicken Parmesan – 1400 calories
Applebee’s Crispy Orange Chicken – 1510 calories
Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken – 1140 calories
Applebee’s Provolone-Stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine – 1530 calories
If you add the side of fries to the sandwich or rollup, you’ll see how an innocent looking lunch becomes a nightmare!
Some better choices at Applebee’s:
Applebee’s Weight Watchers Cajun Lime Tilapia – 350 calories
Applebee’s Spicy Pineapple Glazed Shrimp and Spinach – 310 calories
Applebee’s Black Bean Soup – 190 calories
Steak & Grilled Shrimp Combo – 530 calories
Applebee’s Chicken Caesar Salad – 300 calories
Applebee’s has an OUTSTANDING “Under 550 Calories’ Menu that I use just about every time. Each item on this menu is exceptional – and as filling as any of the other meals boasting much higher calories. It isn’t applicable at Applebee’s, but if you’re eating at a restaurant that keeps a steady stream of bread coming to your table, be sure to calculate each roll or bread stick into your meal. As a country, we’re simply eating way too many calories.
Something I’m trying to get better at is avoiding appetizers – we’re talking hundreds (often upon hundreds) of extra, unnecessary calories. Most appetizers aren’t good for you in any way whatsoever. It’d be much wiser to simply order a side salad if you’re starving and anticipate a wait. I have no idea why, but appetizers are SUCH a weakness for me – even more so than desserts.
Here’s the link to the wonderful calorie counter app for fast food. I wouldn’t dream of leaving home without it!
