Personal Development;Life Enhancement;Achievement
Health
Walking at 20 Below Zero
Jan 16th
“A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.“ ~A.A. Milne
I went walking today in downtown Des Moines at twenty below zero (with windchill). And you know what, it really wasn’t too bad. Not because I have an incredible resistance to cold, or the newest high-tech foul weather gear, but simply because the city planners of Des Moines built a beautiful walkway, they call it “The Skywalk”, that connects most of the big skycrapers together on the 2nd floor. It is an absolute hoot. Heated, carpeted, patrolled by security guards and covering a reputed 6 miles; it was a wonder.
I had been looking for a way to exercise aerobically. My health club usually has a waiting list for treadmills by 5am. The local malls are large and heated, but I like to be working by the time they open. I had been trying to convince myself that walking outside at 20 below would be no big deal with the right gear, but many parts of me were not convinced. So I kept asking the really fit people that I met what they did to stay that way this time of year and heard of the Skywalk.
I walked there and looked out and down at the cold and wind and laughed! Now I have a new resource that practically guarantees that I will make 2 of my top five goals for 2009: 1) to return to my optimal bodyweight and 2) to run the 7 mile Living History Farm Race in November of 2009. How about you? What would you need to find or discover or develop to practically guarantee that you achieve your 5 most important goals for this year? This is a great question – treat it with the respect it deserves. There is something, I don’t know what, and you many not know yet, but this something is out there and once you find it, or create it, or develop it; you are going to have practically guaranteed that you will achieve your top five goals for this year.
So. What would you need to find, or create, or develop, or learn or whatever, in order to guarantee that you will achieve your top five goals for this year? And who could you ask for advice that is already there? The answer -it’s out there – go find it.
Till next time…Jack
“Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” ~Edward Stanley
Fasting Begins
Jan 12th
“I recently had my annual physical examination, which I get once every seven years, and when the nurse weighed me, I was shocked to discover how much stronger the Earth’s gravitational pull has become since 1990.” ~Dave Barry
I started fasting today. For the next few weeks, I am going to be dieting very strictly. I am going to alternate fasting – drinking just water and eating no food of any kind with protein fasting – eating just protein without carbohydrates or fats. I am not doing this for religious reasons – I am doing it because I am fed up with being out of shape. Actually, I have a long ways to go just to get to out of shape! Currently, I am obese and I just can’t stand it anymore. This is a great mental place for me to be!
I don’t recommend fasting, water or protein, to anyone. You need to know what you are doing and you need supervision. I have both. I will document the results of this fast here on my blog. For the record, it is starting today, Monday January 12th and I intend to continue it through Sunday, February 22nd. Once a week or so I will check in and let you know how I am doing and how I am feeling.
What are my biggest motivators for this diet? 1) Being around to achieve my dreams. 2) Having the energy, the physical vitality to achieve and enjoy my dreams. 3) Playing with my daughters. 4) Running and playing tennis again. Remember my goals for 2009? This is my “Fun” goal:I will run in the USA’s largest cross-country race: The Living History Farms Seven Miler. This race starts at 9am, Saturday November 21st, 2009 and I intend to be ready!
My bodyweight as I start this diet? 332 pounds. Wow, that was hard to admit!
Till next time…Jack
“Research conducted by University of California, Berkeley suggests there are major health benefits to caloric restriction. Benefits include a reduced risk of cancer, the slowing of the aging process and the potential to increase maximum life span. Currently, the reduction of caloric intake is the only proven method of increasing the lifespan of an organism. Dr. Joel Fuhrman maintains that pure water fasting can not only “detoxify” cells and “rejuvenate” organs, but can actually cure such diseases and conditions as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colitis, psoriasis, lupus and some other autoimmune disorders when combined with a healthy diet. He believes that “Fasting is Nature’s Restorer.”"
My Phone Number has Changed
Jun 1st
Hi everyone. Just a quick update. I closed out my last Colorado phone number last week and activated a new phone account in this region. My phone number, for at least awhile, is: (515) 360-4711
All the best and bye for now…Jack
So What is Holding You Back from Achieving Your Dreams?
Feb 25th
“God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.” ~Author Unknown
I was thinking today about change. My work mostly involves helping people to change some, or sometimes many, aspects of their lives. It is often easier for me to help someone else to change than it is for me to help myself to change. That may not be completely accurate – let me say this instead: “It is always easier to help someone else to change than it is to help myself to change. Even with all that I know, and the many thousands of successful coaching sessions that I have conducted, I consistently have difficulty in making major changes for myself and by myself. That is why I am such a big believer in coaching. I think virtually all the people that I know have the same issue – it is usually far easier to help someone else than it is to help yourself.
I was also thinking about the easiest way to change and I believe that the answer there is focus. If you focus your energy on just one thing, changing for the better just one thing at a time, I think you are virtually assured of success (as long as you have a coach to help you). What should that one thing be? I know for me there are many things that it would serve me to change about myself. Here is how I choose: What is the one thing that I could change it, about myself or my emotional responses, or my habits, or my income, or anything else, that would make the biggest difference in my life?
For me, for 2008, the answer is my health. I needed to change my health more than anything else and I knew that this would make the biggest difference. So I have focused on it. I have a coach working with me on it and I am not investing significant energy in changing other aspects of myself until this is complete. The results? So far this year, in just under 2 months I have lost 4o lbs. of bodyfat. For me, that is exciting. I can see and feel the difference and it has happened because I have focused my energy, my intention around this change and I have a coach working with me to make sure that I stay on track.
So, what is the change that would make the biggest difference for you?
Till next time…Jack
“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” ~W. Edwards Deming
Fasting Update
Jan 21st
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” ~Jim Rohn
My health was pitiful last year. I was plagued by bout after bout of gout. Sometimes this was localized in my feet and I could not walk. Sometimes the gout had spread into my knee joints and even some of my finger joints. I could do very little of the things that I most love: tennis, walking in the mountains with my friends and family, even camping was out of my reach last year. I had been on all kinds of medicine, sometimes it worked, many times it did not, and it was always very bad for my health. Gout will never kill you; it will make you miserable, but you will never die from it. The medicine for gout though…that stuff can kill you!
I had just plain had it by the start of this year. It was time to do whatever was required to get past gout. More >
This is the Second Week in 2008! How are your dreams coming along?
Jan 7th
“The greatest masterpieces were once only pigments on a palette.” ~Henry S. Hoskins
So how are you doing? Are you on track for making this your best year ever? Are you on track for making your dreams come true? I don’t know about you, but some of my dreams have been waiting far too long and this is going to be the year that they become part of my everyday reality!
To help you on your path, I wanted to give you my weekly planning sheet this entry. This sheet is the result of many years of testing and is simple as I currently know how to make it, while making sure that it is comprehensive. Use it, use it every week and it rapidly helps to transform your life. Here it comes…enjoy! More >
Day 2 on “The Way Back”
Jan 4th
“Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.” ~Author Unknown
Threshold. I passed it last year and that is very exciting! (and just a little bit scary!) I have talked about the power of being fed-up; being at the place mentally, where you just won’t stand it anymore the way it is. This is a place of great power and I have talked about it in my seminars.
For me, I have had it with my weight. I weigh far too much and I have for far too long! Yes, it is true that I put on most of the weight very quickly after I stopped smoking. Yes, I am sure there were some metabolic changes and some mental compensations with food. I don’t care! I am fed up and I will do whatever it takes to get back my thin athletic body! Threshold! I love it!
I am making this goal public to gain the power of making a commitment in front of people that I respect…and I greatly respect all of my readers. Stay tuned for lots of changes. For now, some scary photos…these will someday be my “before” photos.
Till next time…Jack
“One should eat to live, not live to eat.” ~Cicero