The Power of Focus

Unsuccessful people don't understand or appreciate the concept of "time." They don't approach things with a mindset that there will be a starting point and a finish line.

Let's be honest... We all struggle with focus. Life's "demands" pop up and push out the things we know are great for our well-being.

When it comes to our health, many of us in this country really struggle to make this a priority and to focus on getting good results (statistically, the number is about 68% who are, unfortunately, either overweight or obese). We tend to take the "long" approach to good health. In fact, someone once told me they did not want to be on my health plan because they were afraid they would lose weight too quickly. Wait.... what?! Yes, you read that correctly... that's what she said.

Folks... if someone tells you losing weight quickly is a bad thing, run the other way. That would be like saying I'd like to earn a million dollars, but I'd like to do it as slowly as possible.

Of course, if I'm being fair, the issue with quick results is that people often don't know how to handle it. If it's money, they don't know how to handle a million bucks so they spend it and its gone. With quick weight loss, they often have not established the habits to keep it off long-term, so the weight comes back. This, of course, highlights the huge importance of having a health coach and being on a great nutrition plan... but I shamelessly digress. :) Back to the point of this post!

I was in a training recently when the trainer was giving a list of reasons why people were often unsuccessful at what they were trying to accomplish. One reason was because unsuccessful people don't understand or appreciate the concept of time. They don't approach things with a mindset that there will be a starting point and a finish line.

For example, in sales, let's pretend I know I need to make 500 cold calls to be successful in something. But let's also pretend I really don't like making cold calls (which is not really pretending, because I don't like doing that...). I can choose to drag out the 500 calls over 6 months, or I can finish the job and do it in 2 weeks. It's my choice. But the sooner I get it done, the sooner I'll reap the rewards of my labor.

It's no different with losing weight. A successful person gets the job over with. Focus. Get the weight off and reach the finish line... as quickly as possible. You can deal with the issue of "keeping the weight off" after you have lost the weight. But don't worry about something that is not even an issue yet. Why drag it out? Why take 9-12 months to do something you could finish in 2-3 months?

Focus. Have a timetable. Take control of your life. You can do it!

People eat less junk food when less is provided

I converted my vending company to a healthy focused vending because I believe that when people are standing in front of a vending machine and the only choices are healthy, healthy, and healthy, the odds are very high that they will choose healthy!

An article I stumbled across supports that! The article was speaking about students in schools, and follows the logic that if you remove junk food from schools, kids will eat less junk food. Yup, that makes sense and I'm building a company around it.

Check out the article here! Article link.

While you're at it, check out my refreshed website at www.CharlotteHealthyVending.com. If you know of someone who would like to see healthy vending at work, school, or church, please encourage them to give us a call!

A Great Protein Snack!

Someone asked me once, "What is a great protein snack?"

They did not like my answer. One of the best protein snacks out there is low fat cottage cheese! Personally, I'm not a huge fan. Neither was the person who asked me. But when we are trying to reach our weight goal, we do what it takes. After all, for many it was the choices of great taste that led to our health issues, so there may need to be some choices of "not so great" taste to get us back where we belong.

But does it have to be all that bad? I found a little trick that keeps things healthy but vastly improves the taste. Try this out!

Get a small bowl of frozen fruit - preferably berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Defrost them in the microwave, then heat them a little past defrost they are lukewarm, or perhaps even hot (sort of like the temperature of a hot pie!).

Now mix the heated berries with the cold low fat cottage cheese. Be sure to get the juices mixed real well. Game changer! Don't get me wrong, it won't taste like a pie, but you get the sugar taste of the fruit, plus the fiber and nutrition, mixed with one of the best protein snacks available.

Not sure if this picture will tempt you or turn you away, but here was my morning protein snack today to aid my healthy living! Enjoy!

US failing to meet health goals

The Charlotte Observer printed an article in today's paper entitled "U.S. failing to meet health goals." These were goals the US set up 10 years ago to help fight poor health in America.

One of those goals was obesity. 10 years ago, the percentage of obesity in this country was about 25%. The goal of the US was to lower it to 15%. Instead, today its over 30%.

I can't help but think that the problem is not the goal. The problem is the methods employed to reach those goals. While there is greater awareness of nutrition and health than ever before, and more healthy living companies popping up every day, the nation's health still continues to spiral downward.

People must take responsibility for their own health and be willing to implement the steps necessary to get healthy. They need to recognize that they probably can't do it completely on their own (or they probably would have done it already). They need good nutrition, they need a health coach, they need accountability.

To those who have taken those steps and are moving in the right direction, congratulations! To those still holding out, thinking good health will come whenever you are ready, I encourage you to think through how its been working for you to go it alone.

Read the article from the Observer.