"To have Christian hope means to know about evil and yet go to meet the future with confidence."- Pope Benedict XVI
I attended the funeral of my best friend's mother this past weekend. The loss of loved ones can often leave us feeling lost. The world can seem dark and our lives can feel pointless. Death tends to cause us to look for meaning and purpose. Hope is the answer. Hope is knowing the future will be better than the present. So to have hope we mush have future goals, a belief those goals are possible, and have a path to attain them. Without hope, we may become depressed and hopeless. Fr. Mike Schmitz says , "Hope is almost always connected to action." He says hope is not simply optimism, although optimism can be a good thing, it is almost always useless when needed the most. Too many of us spend our days wishing for a better future, and wishing is just another form of hopelessness. To have hope is to have meaning and action is required. He tells a story of a former military man captured during Vietnam, Since he was of high ranking he was tortured more and and was in the POW camp for 8 years. When asked how he survived when so many other succumbed, he replied. "Oh that's easy." The optimists said, "We will be out by Christmas" then, "we will be out by Easter", then "Thanksgiving". And when the time came and went, they died of a broken heart. He and the others fought "to live". They acted and had a clear fundamental purpose and belief. What do you hope for? Do you want a better job? Want to lose some weight, run a marathon, or have more time with family? Do you want to sleep more, have more money, have less stuff, find a partner to love, or create a better relationship with a family member? I do not wish you luck in your future endevour. My hope, (this is my action) is you will choose action, not wishful thinking to make tomorrow a better day! "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." —Marcus Aurelius "Feel the Rush"
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Float Therapy, Cryotherapy and Red Light Therapy are no longer just for those with elite status. The average person, is now experimenting with therapies of all kinds.
According to Joe Rogan, Float Therapy "Sensory Deprivation Chamber" will show you issues in your life that you don’t like, things that are bothering you and things you need to change. John Lennon credited the use of the floatation tank in helping him kick a heroin habit in 1979. Carl Lewis used float sessions for visualization techniques in preparation for the 1988 Olympic Games. Jeff Bridges, Kristen Wiig, Elle Macpherson, and Tim Ferriss are also Float Therapy enthusiasts. Float Therapy: is enjoyed in a small (completely dark) cabin filled with about a foot of "body temperature" water containing 25% epson salt. Recommended sessions are 90 minutes. Individuals experience complete sensory deprivation, usually wear earplugs and wear a swim suit or birthday suit. If your are really handy ,you can build your own at home float tank. Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kanqf0olmUA. ( no I have not tried this at home) Benefits: Release tension in neck shoulders and relieve headaches Improve sleep Reduce blood pressure Reduce stress Speed up muscle recovery Meditation practice Cryotherapy, "cold therapy" is a technique used to expose the body to extremely low temperatures, -200 to -300F, for 2-3 minutes. The individual will stand in an enclosed cylinder, exposing their head at the top. Wearing as little clothing as possible is recommended. Note, many studies do state ice baths are just as beneficial as a form of "cold therapy", but do take more time and cause more discomfort. Benefits: Boost metabolism-your body uses energy to raise core temperature Happiness-endorphins are released, cortisol is lowered, peace and rejuvenation is a biproduct Pain management: reduced inflammation allows for short term pain relief Enhance immunity-increase cell longevity, decrease levels of inflammation Increase focus: oxygen levels create a "sharp, precise, agile" mind Red Light Therapy, the science of "photo bio-modulation". Light is energy and our body is energy. Red infrared light penetrates the body and has many healing effects. Light energy is converted to cellular energy. This forms new capillaries, increases production of collagen, ATP and creates healthy cellular function. As little as 8 minutes has significant benefits and can be done at home. Joovv, an at home device is highly recommended. https://joovv.com Benefits: Repairs sun-acne- skin problems Enhances muscle recovery Fades scars wrinkles stretch marks Reduces join inflammation Speeds wound healing Helps with Infertility Testosterone production increased Could you try these therapies? For most of us I would say "yes" you could. The risks are minimal. Would you try any of these therapies? If you are adventurous and want to maximize your health then you probably will. Should you personally chance wasting your precious time, hard earned money or risk a potential unknown side effect? Only you can answer that question. I have personally tried all of the above. (shocking I know). Word of caution, if you are claustrophobic or afraid of water then do not add stress to your life...do not float. Be completely dry to avoid frost bite during cryotherapy. Wear goggles and do not look directly at the light during red light therapy. Last, but not least I left Hydro Colon Therapy out because I have not personally tried it and I felt like I "might" be going down a deep rabbit hole! Feel the Rush Uber 101. Three of my sisters met me in Scottsdale Arizona Monday and we had the pleasure of getting an education from every Uber driver during our stay. I guess it was free because they only charge for the ride, not the chatter. Here's a list of things I learned from Uber drivers: 1. My first driver informed me he teaches at a Community College and I should think about applying at a college too. He said the reason K-12 teachers complain so much is because teaching is like being in a prison and those teachers have a tight schedule. He continued with how many classrooms are unhealthy, with little or no natural lighting, and he even gave me resume tips. I wanted to get the "help wanted" add out immediately. Added to my list. 2. My sisters flew into the Mesa airport, they had to take a Taxi to our room since Uber does not pick up there. Their cost was over $100.00. Later on, they had a driver who took them to Trader Joes and said it should only cost around $50 for a Uber ride back to the airport. I suggested to my sisters they should set up their ride in advance for the trip back. Lastly, their next driver (after hearing they paid $100 previously) informed them he would take them for just $70. And when we informed him the other driver said it was $50...... silence. Except for yelling at my sister "don't slam the door " when she exited the car. Do not trust every driver. Added to my list. 3. My favorite driver of all. He is in the biohacking community and knows Dave Asprey, Founder and CEO of Bulletproof . We were talking about how we forgot to take our charcoal pills and he immediately chimed in, suggesting only the highest quality bentonite clay. We had a nice chat about charcoal. He also told us to try Colon Hydrotherapy. We asked if it was similar to the Bullet Proof coffee enema (since none of us had hear of it before)and he said yes, however, with the Colon Hydrotherapy you can lose up to 10 pounds in a day! If you have a wedding or an event coming up it will clear all the waste out and you will feel amazing. Nice to know right? Added to my list. 4. Time to hike to Thompson Peak. This driver told us he has lived here for 15 years yet had never heard of it. He suggested Camel Back mountain (been there done that). We continued to search for Thompson Peak and ended up at Thompson Park with baseball games... close enough? Luckily, he continued to drive and search. My sister saw a sign for a trail head and pointed it out to him. But you know men, they don't always hear when women speak. Finally, he found it and dropped us off, glad to be rid of us. Men get lost too. Added to my list. 5. After failing to make it to the top of Thompson Peak (lack of time, not ability!) and getting lost on the way down, we were anxiously awaiting our driver. "Uh oh, a woman driver....should we cancel?" She picked us up without so much as a hello. The first words from her were, "Should I turn here?" "What? You're the driver, how should we know?" We didn't actually say that.... she seemed to struggle, driving and looking at her map at the same time. Then, to our surprise, with the light clearly yellow, and it seemed 200 yards or more she sped up and then it was clearly red. My sister "gasped", my other sister "geeshed" my other sister "missed it all" and I saw a big truck beside my window and saw my life flash before my eyes. We made it, but my heart was in my throat. "I wasn't buckled" I said. My sister replied, "It would not have made a difference with the big truck." Was that supposed to make me feel better? We gave her a 2 star rating. Look at driver's rating!! Added to my list. We also learned about "sugar babies" (not the candy) and "sugar daddies", one driver even drove them to Vegas and back to get married. We learned how to download an app to ride the bikes in Old Town. Also, happy to learn, if you rate a driver under 4 stars you will never get them again. I personally have a 5 star rating and some drivers only pick up 5 star people. If rates are high, wait 10 minutes and they will drop (unless parents are footing the bill) then don't wait. Remember Uber does not have a contract with Mesa airport so use Lyft. Finally, one of the last pieces of advice we learned from a driver was, if you want to have a long marriage, listen more than you speak (sounds like a quiet home)! Feel the Rush What do Aristotle, Albert Einstein, Bill Clinton, Ronald Regan, John F Kennedy, and Winston Churchill all have in common?
They all took naps. Love them or hate them, most of us need them. Sara Mednicks, author of, "Take a Nap! Change Your Life", says naps make you "smarter, healthier, and more productive". I say, "I'll take two please!" Napping is in our DNA. Romans were the first to develop the "siesta", the 6th hour of the Roman day. Romans divided their day into parts, prayer, meal and rest. Although only the rich could afford this luxury. It wasn't until the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the light bulb that napping disappeared. (Thanks Thomas Edison!) Before the Industrial Revolution 10 hours of sleep was normal. We are the only animals in the animal kingdom that sleep in one phase. All the other animals know naps are essential for survival. Warning! You may have been told all we need are food and water to survive....but please add sleep. There are many benefits to sleep. Lack of sleep can cause irritability, anger, depression and mental exhaustion. Sleep improves alertness, decision making, youthfulness, mood, memory, appetite control, and improves your sex life. Those should be enough reasons to at least experiment with napping. Who has time to nap you ask? Well, if you have twenty minutes in your day to spare, you have time. Lunch is the perfect time for a siesta, or the moment you get home from work is the perfect time to close the eyes. Yes, your mind is busy. Your mind may argue with you on your first attempts to nap, which could sound something like this: Ignorant self: "I feel lazy if I nap." Intelligent self: "I am more productive when I nap." Ignorant self: "I am too busy to nap." Intelligent self: "All the more reason I need a nap." Ignorant self: "Twenty minutes is not enough to make a difference." Intelligent self: " Twenty minutes is restorative." Will naps interfere with your night sleep? Experts say, do not nap within 3 hours of bedtime and you are safe! I say, "Wow, I must be intelligent, I have been napping for decades!" Then I realized... it had nothing to do with intelligence. "I was tired." So celebrate the unofficial "National Nap Day" just don't forget to tell your boss! Feel the Rush Diets are like the weather in Nebraska, if you don't like it, just wait, it will change. If you don't like the Keto, Mediterranean, Vegan or the Fasting diet, just wait, here's another one. Dr. Shawn Baker, a 52 year old orthopedic surgeon and multi-sport world record holder masters athlete, is boasting the benefits of following the carnivore diet.
For the last year, he has not eaten vegetables or fruit. Zero carbohydrates! As a surgeon, he soon realized that many surgeries could and should be avoided. He began asking his patients to change their diet to reduce inflammation and avoid surgery. Although most people did not want the "simple" fix, they wanted the "easy" fix surgery. The benefits are very impressive. The all meat diet claims to reduce body fat along with improving cognition, focus and mental clarity. Also, consuming steaks reduces food cravings, improves satiety, stabilizes blood sugar and decreases triglycerides. Not convinced yet? Meat eaters also have less digestive issues, less gas, bloating and heartburn. Baker tells people to not rely on lab numbers to tell them how they feel. He says cholesterol levels can drop 100 points within a week. That is like taking the temperature one day in January and using it as your guide for the year. He suggests asking yourself the following questions. How is your energy? Are you getting leaner? Are you getting stronger? How is your Labido? Are you getting quality sleep? Do you have aches and pains? He claims meat has helped him achieve optimal health in all those ares after the other diets failed him. Is the "carnivore diet" for everyone? Please tell me you answered "No"! There is not a one size fits all in the diet world. The one thing we all agree on in the diet industry is eliminate processed food. Listen to your body. Educate yourself or allow a nutrition coach to educate you and guide you to optimal health. Only one thing left to say...."Where's the Beef?" Feel the Rush Is life fair? Maybe you were born with natural talents others did not possess? Maybe you grew up without enough money? Maybe you struggled in school? Maybe you are a genius? Maybe, or maybe not? We were not born equal and life is not fair. But there is one thing we all have, no one has more or less. No one can steal it from you, you can't save it up or borrow against it. You guessed it. Time. We all have 24 hours a day. "Democracy at it's best."
We all have 24 hours to create health, money, pleasure, and to care for our immortal soul. With that said, there are many courses on how to create a budget, how to live on x dollars, but instead maybe we need to learn how to budget the 24 hours that will never change. An exercise from Todd Henry's "Die Empty" goes something like this. Imagine you will have a guest following you around for a full day, taking notes furiously, recording your schedule and actions from the moment you wake until the moment you go to sleep. Then this person compiles the notes, draws conclusions and this will stand as a record of your life. Would you act differently if you knew your actions and attitude were a permanent record? Many of us would get up a little earlier, eat healthier, take a little more time for family, pay attention to the task at hand and generally live the day with more purpose. "How does your imagined behavior compare with how you are actually living your life today?" With all the political correctness in our society today and people feeling as if they are either "giving" too much or are "not given" enough by our great country. Ask yourself, "How do you spend your precious 24 hours we are all given?" Oh, tip of the day, rule #6, "Don't take yourself to seriously." You may be wondering about rules #1-5.....they don't exist! "Feel the Rush" Then: With Lent around the corner many of you will be fasting as part of your faith. The practice of fasting is not new as some of the latest diets suggest. Many religious cultures have been fasting since the beginning of time! Fasting from food, water and sometimes sex. Fasting was thought to be a purification of toxins from the body and stripped away the outer layer of self, to get to a simple and pure state. Spiritually it removed the focus from the material world and was accompanied with prayer. It was also a form of humility. And a reminder of one of the "seven deadly sins", gluttony, the excessive consumption, taking more than needed and leaving less for others.
Now: Fasting is the "new black". What are the benefits? Intermittent fasting gives the digestive system a break and creates a calorie deficit which equals weight loss. Mental clarity is gained through a 24 hour fast. A three day fast may help reset the immune system, delay aging and help prevent and treat disease. It may also cause "dizziness, weakness and nausea, not to mention bouts of hunger"! Now & Then If you decide to fast, know your why. If it is a law of your church then embrace it, grow spiritually, grow in humility and cleanse yourself from the toxins of our world. If you are fasting for fitness, be informed. Fasting is not for everyone. Do your research or better yet, ask a nutrition expert! Fasting now is the same as is was then, kind of like a remake of your favorite song. Lady Gaga's remake of Poker Face is hands down better than the original. Madonna's remake of American Pie....? Well, let's just say remakes are not always better! "Feel the Rush" A powerful statement, by a powerful man. Can you handle the truth? The truth is.......
"You can't have it all." I attended a certification for IN3 Nutrition Coaching last weekend in Austin Texas. Jason Phillips and his team coach high level athletes in the CrossFit and MMA world. They also coach "average" people like you and me. (No offense intended if you are above average!) Many athletes (and regular folk) want it all! They want to perform at the highest level, have a six pack and feel amazing, all while raising a family, working full time and volunteering at the local soup kitchen.(ok, maybe not the soup kitchen) Bill Gates slept in his office 5 nights a week and was single well into his 30's. Brad Pitt can't leave his home without being bombarded with cameras, causing depression. Steve Jobs was a dead beat dad to his first daughter. Clearly they made extreme sacrifices to achieve extreme results. They didn't have it all. Mat Fraser ,winner of the 2017 CrossFit Games did not have the best abs or the lowest body fat. His goal was performance. He sacrificed aesthetics for performance. NFL players eat and train to perform, not to be cover models. MMA fighter Mizuto Hirota almost fainted after weigh in and did not even make the cut, weighing in 4 pounds above the featherweight limit. Fighters take extreme measures to lose those last ounces of water before the weigh in. Endurance athletes sacrifice time to train, and wreak havoc on their hormones and body for their sport. The reality is "achieving great things requires great sacrifice." What are you willing to sacrifice? If you want extreme results, it will take extreme measures. No you can't have it all, but you can have what is important to you. I want to compete in Spartan races and gain strength to perform. In the past I wanted it all. I wanted to run my fasted mile, and race a 100 miler all while keeping enough strength to compete in Spartan races. Intellectually I knew better, but knowledge does not always equal action. Performance? Aesthetics? Longevity? We (coaches) can help you achieve your goals, just not all of them at the same time! What do you want? What are you willing to sacrifice to get it? Handle the truth. Feel the Rush! I asked myself that very question. My answer was, "hate to lose". I decided I may need to rethink my idea of competition. Just last week I decided only two hours before a local 5k to sign up. I know I am not in my "best shape" right now, and I "hate to lose". "Show me a good loser and I will show you a loser".-Vince Lombardi.
After weighing the pros and cons, I realized the thought of losing was dictating my decision about whether to race. Yes I did race and was the 2nd woman overall. My age grade time would have won the race, I was a winner! CrossFit Open sign ups are happening right now. My first thought was, only winners compete. "If you ain't first , your last. You know, you know what I'm talking about." Ricky Bobby. But, what rules your desire to compete? "Love to win" or "hate to lose"? Losing is temporary, does it beat you down or fire you up? I decided my love of winning dominates. Yes, I signed up for the CrossFit Open. The road to Winnersville is painful, bumpy and long. "Life is a process, winning is a process, losing is a prerequisite." I did it again! I signed up for another race, the "Spartan Super" in San Jose, California. This course is 8-10 miles covered with 24-29 obstacles, at "Mount Diablo", the mythical place where the world began.
I am constantly inviting people to join me on my Spartan adventures. Just last week I ended my text to my niece with, "Maybe one day you can come do a Spartan race with us". But why should anyone say yes? I never really had an intelligent answer to the "why" until now. To my surprise, I found a list of "10 things" to do to get ready for a Spartan race, and.......they just happen to be synonymous with "getting ready for life"! #1. "Train weird." Training includes crawling, jumping, lifting, running, climbing... you get the picture. This type of training will keep you youthful, flexible, strong and allow you to actually be "functional" in life, AKA, "work". #2. "Get comfortable being uncomfortable." Do I really need to explain this? #3. "Wear the right clothes." I do need to explain this! Guys and gals, "workout clothes" are not "church clothes" and "club clothes" are not "workout clothes"! #4. "Don't expect a snack." Life owes you nothing, earn it! #5. "Lots of running." Ok, I cannot tell a lie, this one is a stretch, but run or walk ,we all need lots of movement. #6. "Avoid the gym." The great outdoors are the place to be. Your body weight is yours to carry and move forever. "All good things are wild and free."- Henry David Thoreau #7 "Perfect your burpees." We have all seen the people, (or worse yet) have been the person who can no longer get up off the floor if for some odd reason we managed our way to the floor. Enough said. #8 "Prepare for battle." Life! #9, "Recruit friends and family." The family that plays,(prays) together, stays together. Believe me, you will be playing, (praying). #10. "Sign up. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all" -Helen Keller Feel the Rush- Hoorah! |
AuthorToday is the first day of the rest of your life. What do you want your life to look like? The amazing thing is the choice is yours. I have spent many years of my life being passive, allowing things to happen to me. How many of us are spectators in our own lives? I know I was for years. I watched my energy decrease. I was tired, bloated, and had brain fog. Most days I woke up only to look forward to my next nap.Then I began an active quest for energy, peace and joy! I can honestly say it was a long journey, which I am still on. I am no longer looking for the magic pill! Magic hacks....yes! At 51 I feel more energetic than I have in years. If I were to give everyone the top 3 things to allow you to live your life with energy, peace and joy... Archives
July 2022
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