Endless Chocolates? Test Me!!!

How much conscious control do we really have? Could you imagine a bowl of your favorite soup that kept replenishing itself? How about an endless supply of your favorite chocolates... Right at your finger tips!

I am a firm believer in setting good examples for our children, especially when it comes to food.  But my calling to healthier food choices and habits did not come without some major influences.  My daughter Kirsten (now seven) has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  Change in food choices and eating habits was a necessity!

In my world, measuring food quantities with great accuracy is important, but how many of us are using "best judgement" when it comes to portion sizes? Check out the studies conducted by Dr. Brian Wansink, author of the book "Mindless Eating".  Some of his insightful experiments remind me of the old "Candid Camera" show.  

 

There is no escaping it.  Food is everywhere!  It's in our kitchens, in our favorite TV programs, in everything we read... It's in our thoughts and at almost every event we attend, including church (how I miss sticking around for pot luck dinners).

For the benefit of our children, we must set a good example.  They are watching everything we do, and our bad habits will be their bad habits to build upon. If we are cheating with a hidden stash of chocolates, you can bet they have noticed us reaching for them, chewing on them or they can smell them on our breath.  If we are stopping for our favorite flavored coffee drink every day, they are probably on to us and craving a chocolate shake.  If we are going heavy on the burgers and fries, while cutting back on vegetables, you can bet they are upset at the healthy amount of broccoli on their plate.

My daughter Kirsten (7 years old) is not allowed to have many 

sweets or unhealthy snacks because she has Prader-Willi Syndrome 

and weight control is, and will always be, a major struggle. Yet she 

sees everyone else indulging. How do you explain that to a seven year 

old who looks forward to church, just so she can take part in communion. 

Every potential morsel of food... A distracting focus.

Be sure to check out the video above and you can find more of Dr. Wansink's videos on YouTube at the "MindlessEating" channel. These videos are not only entertaining, but a good source of inspiration as well. 

If you are looking to make a change in you're eating habits and/or are concerned about your families nutrition, please visit my website listed below.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Be "SMART" About It In "2011"

Today is the first day... Of the rest of your year!  It's also the beginning of those "2011" New Years resolutions.  Maybe you don't start working on those until you have fully awakened and have had a good lunch.  Or, after "New Year's Day" perhaps.  Of course, It would be a shame to waste the holiday weekend suffering.  Oops, I forgot about Monday... How can anyone expect to be successful starting something new on a Monday???

Shaklee "A million trees, a million dreams"

New Year's resolutions, or setting goals, are great for planting seeds for success in the new year, but if you don't take action, they are just dreams.  It is so easy to make or find excuses to avoid following through on your goals, and before you know it, many months have gone by, the seeds are still in the package, and you are then waiting for 2012 to start fresh with your goals... As if a specific start date is required.

Just do it!  Now!  Take the time to evaluate, estimate and create excitement! But be "SMART" about it. Is your goal a "SMART" goal?

• Specific - Have you set a specific and realistic outcome/goal.
• Measurable - What changes, and what does success mean? 
• Attainable - Are your goals realistic and do you have what it takes to achieve them?
• Relevant - Are your goals meaningful and beneficial?
• Time Bound - How will you stay focused and know your on track?

Once you have identified and evaluated your goal, write it down, share it and create a plan to track, achieve and celebrate success.  Don't just celebrate the achievement of your goal, track your progress and celebrate every step toward success! With every step you take, you are getting closer to success and gaining confidence & strength. 

Now consider this... How will you stay on track?  

• A chart to update regularly? 
• A sign on your bathroom mirror as a morning reminder or inspiration?
• A picture on your desk for encouragement?
• A preset daily alarm in your cell phone or daily electronic reminders?
• How about a collage of pictures that represent your dreams (new car, house, vacation, ect.)?
• Will you share it with others who will help or hold you accountable?

For most, achieving their goals will require making changes and there in lies the biggest obstacle.  Overcoming the fear and or struggles associated with change requires a mindset for success.  This mindset exists within in all of us, otherwise we would not be alive today.  Anything is possible, but that is not to say that anything is easy. 

Victory is within your reach, if you plan your battle and stay focused on the goal. A big part of remaining focused and positive is feeling good.  With every successful step we feel more confident and excited, but when something slows us down, we can easily fall into the same old rut which is our contort zone.  A healthy lifestyle is the key to unlocking our inner strength and empowering each of us to achieve our dreams. 

If you are looking to start creating a healthier lifestyle for you and your family, Shaklee has products that can help. From natural supplements like daily vitamins for you or your children, fish oil, cholesterol reduction and probiotics, to green cleaning products for a healthy home, laundry and kitchen.     

*And, If you are considering weight loss, as many do for their new year's goal, Shaklee can help you with that as well. The Cinch® Starter Kit has everything you need to get started.

Shaklee's "Cinch® Starter Kit

    

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Eleven Year Old Hamburger!!!

I talked with a woman last night at a Shaklee product fair who brought with her a hamburger that she had purchased from McDonalds... Eleven years ago!  She was using it in a heart health demonstration.

She got the idea from someone she had met many years ago and she found it hard to believe that a hamburger would not rot, mold, smell nasty or attract bugs. She had to see for herself.  Since the day she purchased the plain hamburger, she has kept the hamburger in the kitchen out of the reach of the dog. After a while it dried out and had to be moved into a bowl to keep from losing pieces in demonstrations. Still in the original wrapper, the bun was broken, hard & dry and had a very small hint of mold on one spot possibly from handling.  The hamburger itself was hard, dry and looked almost like the plastic hamburger you find in toy sets.

I am not going to speculate on exactly what that means, but I am sure many individuals have their own opinion. I have heard of these claims of old hamburgers before and seen other examples, but I too am skeptical.  And why is it that everyone picks on McDonalds?

Seeing is believing!

I have decided to conduct my own experiment.  I talked to my oldest children last night about working with me on this. We have decided to purchase three plain hamburgers from the top three fast food restaurants and grill up one of our own.  We will take pictures daily and post them to my other Blog with a brief report.  At the first sign of trouble... Foul odors or bugs, the burger is gone!

I suspect that moistness has something to do with the future of these burgers & buns and obviously I expect to find that the fast food hamburgers will out last my own creation.  We already suspect that some are prepared, packaged and shipped to restaurants for rewarming and serving.  And of course they have to taste good, so who knows what is going into them to give them that custom flavor.

How about nutrition?  I haven't a clue, but we plan to do some research as a part of this project.

Unfortunately, many of us are not getting the proper nutrition because of our hurried lifestyles. What is amazing to me is that many don't realize the energy potential from a strong foundation of natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They choose instead to rely on coffee or energy drinks for that needed boost.

If you would like more information about natural nutritional, weight management, beauty and healthy home products from the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., please vistit my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com

Building Blocks for a Healthy Future

I wrote an essay recently for a contest about a life changing moment that has been the cornerstone of my success throughout my life.  I have referred to that experience most often in business as "preventive maintenance".  It is a lesson of sacrifice and change to be better prepared for and possibly avoid the worse.  For me in that life changing period of time, it wasn't about sacrifices made willingly, but it did force change into my life.  That life changing moment came in the climax of what was believed to be an unlikely opportunity for combat action.

• In the early 80's I was learning to fight in the military.  I wasn't enjoying it because of the repetition, long hours and circumstances or beliefs, but I was changing. In 1983 I had to use that training in real combat and I am here today because of it. 

• During my 23 year career in the dairy industry, I focused on preventive maintenance in everything.  Not just equipment, but in training of employees, ect, which resulted in an opportunity to open four of what became the most successful distribution centers in the Company. 

• This year I had to take a harder look at and work with my 6 year old special needs daughter on her diet, and I sacrificed my own love of food for my daughters health, so I could share her diet as a good example.  As a result, I am healthier than I have been in a long, long time and as with everything, after the original struggles, maintenance gets easier to manage.

As we fight so hard to make necessary changes, those little victories each day are creating a strong foundation for good habits and our good habits are the  building blocks for a healthy future.  What was in the past to be a torturous effort to change, becomes a good habit that in many cases could save your life.  "Preventive Maintenance" is especially important when it comes to healthier choices in our diet.  Through poor diet, your body may have become accustomed to working harder than it needs to and as a result could be causing irreparable damage.  Making healthy changes may not be easy as your body adapts to the changes, but you may notice some big differences in time.

Take control of your health today.  A healthy diet is a great start and if you are looking for natural nutrition supplements or healthy home products that are good for the environment, I can help with products from the #1 Natural Nutrition Company in the U.S.  
Please check out my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com




Note: My essay was chosen as a winning entry for a weekly prize and is in the running for the grand prize.  The contest is being conducted by APX Alarm on Facebook.  For a look at the essay  about my experience in combat, click the link below.
Back to School Weekly Essay Contest Winner: Terry Guinn

Vitamin D for Weight Loss... Not!

It has been an exciting week full of inspiration.  For those that know me well, know that I love to attend active meetings and events. I walked out of a big event for Shaklee Independent Distributors on Tuesday with new knowledge and a lot of inspiration. One such inspiration has to do with flu season that is knocking at our door and a new product that Shaklee has introduced, their new VITA-D3.

When I get excited, I have to take a step back and gather my thoughts, otherwise this blog would be filled with ramblings and useless information.  I have always been a little on the skeptical and distrusting side... "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is", so when armed with a new idea, concept or resource that is "good for me" I research it.

We all know the importance of Vitamin D in our diets or through exposure to sunlight, but there seems to be a growing deficiency of vitamin D as the Australian Prescriber and others suggest.  You read about warnings against excessive exposure to sunlight, air pollution blocking sunlight, people spending less and less time outside at critical times of nourishing sunlight and of course there is our ever growing toxic food supply. Important note: The Australian Prescriber article stated best the risks of Vitamin D toxicity for those who take ridiculous amounts... "Stated best" because I got a chuckle out of the risks that made me wonder when someone will explore the potential for weight loss, or perhaps thats how they discovered the risks.  "Vitamin D intoxication causes hypercalcaemia and can present with symptoms of anorexia, nausea, constipation and depression."

Aside from the unhealthy weight loss potential... I discovered some very interesting information about Vitamin D, in that it has a lot of great potential that many may not be aware of and there are those that would suggest that it could even replace influenza immunization.  One such resource is The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and it also links to other references & articles. If you are a fan of Natural News they also have an article referencing the AJCN above, as well as many other sources and thoughts. Benefits, aside from the norm and the potential for fighting the flu bug, may include suppression of asthma in children.

Obviously we can find lots of resources & information on the internet and in books at the Library.  We can form our own opinions, even before research, and find a lot of information to back those opinions. That being said, for your families health, always do your own research to make educated decisions to fit your specific family needs.  If I can help you with information on natural nutrition supplements or healthy home products, please visit my website at http://www.ahealthieryoutoo.com

Even if you have no interest in my business and its products, I would love to hear from you.  I am having  a lot of fun on my journey of discovery... For my daughter Kirsten who has Prader-Willi Syndrome and for myself.  You can comment below or contact me through my website. If you enjoy my Blog posts, I would greatly appreciate it if you would officially "Follow" me.

Unhealthy Battles that Rage Within Us

As I continue on my journey to better health for myself and my family, I continue to find new reasons and sources for improved health.

Is it just me or is there some information being hidden from the masses?  I'm talking about the unhealthy battles that rage within of us, that many may not be aware of. 

I bounce around a lot on the internet from blog to blog, source to source and I also attend events, meetings and training opportunities. When I hear or find something interesting, I research it.  Tonight at a Shaklee Independent Distributor event I listened to Shaklee's Dr. Jamie McManus, who is also author of  Your Personal Guide to Wellness, discuss Shaklee's anti aging tonic as well as several other natural nutritional supplements.  She was throwing out discouraging statistics about the world's failing health and some of the things contributing to that decline, one of which was the "inflammatory response" to eating and the cellular damage it can cause. WOW!!! I have never heard of that one and I thought to myself... my goodness were all doomed.   

As always, I jot a note to myself and as soon as I can... I go to the almighty internet for answers.  

What I found when searching "inflammatory response" was a lot of information about fatty acids, receptors, inflammatory cells, antigens, pro-inflammatory foods and many more words that require explanation or definitions to fully understand.  

Simply put: Inflammatory responses are your bodies defense against invaders such as bacteria or other  injurious agents, including physical injury. Unhealthy fats, such as trans fats and saturated fats used in some food processing, or chemicals such as nitrites in processed meats, are among the list of invaders that can trigger that response. These inflammatory responses can last for hours after each meal and if they continue because of a poor diet, can cause cellular damage that can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and a host of other problems.  

Think of it this way... If two opposing armies meet for a short battle on your lawn, the grass will likely be only matted in some areas and will recover fairly quickly.  But if they keep coming back, your lawn will get scared, worn and most likely the surrounding area will suffer damage as well, including permanent damage, like the loss of that mighty oak that provided you shade on your front porch.

To better understand these processes and how they can affect your future, please do as I do... Use the many, many resources on the internet to get a better understanding of the processes & struggles going on within each of us.  Environment, nutrition, proper diet and exercise are the keys to a healthier future.  If you would like information on natural nutritional supplements or healthy home products from the #1 Natural Nutrition Company in the U.S., please visit my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com

With a Real Job, You Don't Have to Weight!

Unemployment... A great start to a weight loss program! Although I wouldn’t recommend quitting your job as a first step to your diet, it does give you more time to focus on a healthy diet and more time to exercise (until the money runs out).

Are you working long hours and putting on weight because your eating a lot of restaurant food, drinking flavored coffees or soda and struggling to find time for a good exercise program? Chances are that those long hours are a result in some part of a poor diet and a lack of proper exercise. I should know because I was there. About five months ago I lost my job after twenty three years, that after spending about five months of the last seven months traveling and eating out quite often.

Since beginning unemployment, I have discovered a healthier lifestyle that has not only helped me lose some weight, but has also contributed to the health & well being of my family. It has not been easy to make changes in our home and I have not changed things so drastically that my wife and kids have mutinied. We are slowly turning this ship around.

The need to turn things around was a necessity due to the special needs of our six year old who has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). The problems associated with this syndrome, including weight gain, were beginning to rear their ugly heads over the past year or so and the most prevalent problem associated with PWS is an insatiable appetite complicated by a low sensitivity to pain. My daughter at six knows the importance of eating healthy, but driven by hunger in the absence of healthy choices and controls in place is at risk of extreme obesity.

That being said, I am happy to say that because of our new found routines and healthier food choices, we have both lost a little weight and she has cut 50 points off her cholesterol level.

How did we do it? One change includes lots of fruits and vegetables. Almost every dinner meal is 50 to 75% vegetable. A steamed broccoli, cauliflower, green bean, carrot, turnip and snow peas mix is our favorite (the leftovers, including the vegitable water/juices mix, go into a healthy soup for another meal). Cantaloupe and/or fruit smoothies are our evening snack/desert of choice.

I inadvertently discovered these plans of action/tips/recipes in my search for employment as a result of creating an opportunity with a local doctor/friend. A result of this learning opportunity was the discovery of three simple e-books on goal setting, smoothies and weight loss, as well as a more involved program on habit busting. All things that can be found on the internet for someone ambitious enough and willing to try some trial & error research. If your curious, check out the free goal setting book at www.paylessforproducts.com where all of these are also available.

Please read responsibly. I am not a doctor and I have no special qualifications related to the information that I provide in my blogs. I am however a devoted father who is concerned about the health, welfare and future of his family.

Weight Loss Videos and So Much More!

Weight loss videos are everywhere! I happen to be doing some research this weekend in preparation for a communications workshop that I am conducting at a local college and it occurred to me that many of you may not realize that there is not only a wealth of information on the internet in general, but there are thousands and thousands of informational video’s on Youtube and other media sites. It’s where I look for tips, tricks, how to’s and inspiration.

There are video’s on anything you can imagine, including weight loss, exercise, diet do’s and don’ts and the list goes on and Youtube has a way of leading you from one subject to another if you let them, so it is best to remain focused. I came across many great video’s from “psychetruth”, one in particular gave me some food for thought and ideas to research. The “psychetruth” video was titled “The Truth About Diets and Weight Loss”. Although a lot of what Dr. Vincent Bellonzi had to say was nothing new to me, he mentioned some tips & suggestions that might be helpful, especially for my daughter who has PWS.

Then it hit me again... Like a two ton truck it hit me!

I am always looking for tips and ideas , but not just from doctors telling me to watch what I eat or what my child is eating. What does that mean exactly? I want to know what food to serve and in what proportions, but I can’t afford a dietitian or weight loss program with prepared meals. I want suggestions from people with the same struggles that I, my daughter or my family are going through. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more information from families on a regular basis about how they cope with life’s struggles? Meal suggestions, recipes and daily activities. How about family “best practices” in a weekly or daily blog.

I might be on to something here. Time to start rallying the troops to see if this battle has support.

Please read responsibly. I am not a doctor and I have no special qualifications related to the information that I provide in my blogs. I am however a devoted father who is concerned about the health, welfare and future of his family.