10 Rules Of Permanent Weight Loss

Over the last 20 years, I have had the pleasure of working with a wide variety of people with many of them wanting to lose weight.  With all of the weight loss clients that I have worked with, one or more of the 10 Rules for Permanent Weight Loss were implemented to achieve long lasting results. If you can implement just one of the 10 strategies that you will learn in this report, you will greatly improve your chances of maintaining a healthy and ideal body weight.

10. Establish your principles:
It is important to approach weight loss with the correct mindset. Your mindset will help create your personal principles for achieving your goals. Your principles create the standard that governs your actions.  It determines the line that you can approach but will not cross. It will be your law. You will not go to jail if you break your personal law but it may take you a bit longer to achieve your weight loss goals. This can be just as brutal as going to jail for some as self imprisonment is often times the most difficult to escape.
Principles create confidence and peace of mind. It keeps you centered in your own universe and protects you against outside influences that try to throw you off balance. Once this standard is set, maintain integrity by staying within your standard.
So how do you set your standard? It’s very simple. To create a personal standard, simply make an agreement with yourself and then honor it. For example: I will eat breakfast 5 of 7 days a week. Or I will only have alcohol on the weekends. I recommend that you start small. As you become good at keeping smaller agreements you can then start to increase your personal demands.  For example: I will stay within 5 to 7 pounds of my ideal body weight.
This skill of making and honoring agreements is simply exercising Integrity. This is a very powerful activity and I encourage you to use this exercise to help you lose weight but also in others areas of your life.
Here are some examples of principles that you can use:
i. I will lose weight one pound at a time. Small and consistent steps are the key to long term success.
ii. I will follow the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of my lifestyle and nutrition efforts will be directed towards my weight loss and the remaining twenty percent will not.
iii. I will approach my weight loss goals with a long term view. There will be ups and downs but as long as I stay on the path I will achieve my goal of PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS.

9. Prioritize your effort:
Weight loss is very multi-dimensional as there are many reasons people gain weight. The chemical, physical, and mental aspects of weight loss must be considered.

Chemical: there many prescription medications that directly and indirectly cause weight gain i.e. birth control, anti depressants, anti-inflammatory drugs.  If you are currently on any medications, consult with your doctor about how they may affect your weight loss efforts.

Physical: you may not be getting enough exercise or may have a physical problem that prevents you from exercising effectively. If this is the case, I recommend that you schedule a corrective exercise consultation. The information that you’ll gain from this process will pay for itself now and in the future.
Mental: we all have a relationship with food. Our family, lifestyle and culture influence this relationship. Whatever relationship that you have with food as of now, make sure that it is in line with what you are trying to accomplish in terms of weight loss.  I am fully aware of the social pressures that are present today. The need to fit in is a powerful driving force behind our nutrition and lifestyle choices. However to accomplish your goal, you must maintain the integrity in your personal commitments (see rule #1).

Regardless of if the chemical, physical or mental aspects of your health, something has caused you not to be at your ideal weight. To achieve results the most important factors must be addresses first.  First things first! Determine which of the three facets of health and weight loss that you feel require the most attention and start there.

8. Strive for True vs. False Weight loss:
Focus on fat loss instead of weight loss. True weight loss is measured in terms of body composition. The exception is with people who are considered morbidly obese, which is being 100 pounds over what is considered ideal body weight for your height and frame. Those who are between 10 and 30 pounds heavy should focus on losing fat to achieve PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS.
Have your body composition measured and re-checked every 6 to 8 weeks. This is to determine if you are keeping a favorable fat to muscle ratio. Your eyes will probably tell you even before the body fat caliper will. If you are losing weight and your body shape is changing you are more than likely losing body fat.  If you have lost a significant amount of weight i.e. 5 to 10% of your body weight and your shape has changed very little I would definitely look at your weight loss program a bit closer.

7. Create your Metabolism:
There are certain genetic factors that affect the way we process food. But there are many lifestyle factors that are within our control and they are;
1. Total Calorie intake
2. Meal Frequency
3. Macro-nutrient ratio i.e. Protein: Carbohydrate: Fat ratios.
4. Exercise

It is important to understand that all of the above factors are intimately connected to each other in regards to creating a healthy metabolism. We can control one or all of these variables to help create a metabolism that works for us instead of against us.
So what is the ideal metabolism? Is it being able to eat anything you want and not gain weight? Well not exactly. For weight loss and health purposes, an ideal metabolism is where we can effectively digest and utilize food without excessive conversion of calories to body fat. A healthy metabolism should also allow us to draw upon our body fat reserves when needed. The typical American diet has robbed us of the ability to use our own body fat for energy because of the excessive amounts of carbohydrates available to us. We are relying so heavily on sugar and other forms of sugar substitutes that our bodies see no need to use our own body fat for energy. It is this phenomenon called Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome that is causing a large number of health epidemics today, such as heart disease and Type II diabetes.
Food manufactures have spent billions of dollars to brainwash into believing their processed foods are healthy. As a result we as a society now have a misguided and unhealthy relationship with food. They have successfully made us believe that what’s in a box is good and what is not is bad. Just to give you a one cent tip worth a million dollars, avoid boxed foods as much as possible.

6. Metabolic Typing:
Metabolic Typing is one of the ways that Expert Fitness Solutions helps its clients. Dr. William Wolcott the author of the Metabolic Typing Diet said that One man’s fuel is another man’s poison. The science of nutrition is an ever-evolving topic and is still considered to be in its infancy in regards to its complete understanding. For this reason I will not promote any specific diet or nutritional strategy. We are all unique in the way we process and react to foods. The best way to achieve success with your eating plan is to become aware of how your body is reacting to the foods that you are eating. This will help you find your nutritional niche.

5. Food Allergies:
The subject of food allergies is a 10 tip report in itself. I know what you may be thinking, How can food allergies make you fat  Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this topic, allow me make a point of clarification. The type of allergic reaction that I am speaking of is not the deadly anaphylactic type but a reaction that basically makes the immune system work harder than it needs to. A better term for this is food intolerance. Due to the poor nutrition habits of many people today, food intolerances are very common and we are literally eating ourselves into allergies.
Here is one popular way that we acquire food intolerances. It involves alcohol consumption.  Alcohol is absorbed in the stomach and is also an irritant to the lining of the stomach. This causes the stomach to become inflamed and produce histamine (an immune triggered substance). We typically eat after we drink alcohol and here lies the problem. When you eat when your gut is inflamed your body starts to produce antibodies for the food that you are eating. The food that you eat will be recognized as a foreign substance so the body will make an antibody for the food that you eat after you drink alcohol.  Ok so you still may be asking how this causes weight gain. Here is how it works.
The gut irritation causes poor digestion. When this happens food gets trapped in your gut and causes further inflammation and irritation. So you are getting a double whammy. First is the gut inflammation and secondly you are not able to effectively eliminate what you are eating. If you don’t think that this is major problem, consider that antacid tables and laxatives are one of the highest selling over the counter medications today. In a nutshell, indigestion causes excessive water retention, constipation, and overall toxicity.  When there are excessive toxins in the bloodstream, the body will accumulate body fat to protect the internal organs from being poisoned. These are not signs and symptoms that are conducive for weight loss. Just know that if your liver is too busy fighting off extra toxins, it will be very hard to perform other jobs like make the proper hormones for weight loss.
4. Proper Hydration:
The human body is about 70% water.  If we took all the water out of us we’d fit in a jar. Water has many direct and indirect roles in weight loss and here are just a few.

Digestion and Assimilation: For every gram of carbohydrate that we eat, 3 grams of water is needed to absorb it. Protein’s water requirement is very similar. If you are dehydrated, you will not be able to properly utilize your nutrients. Why is this important? See tip #5 on gut irritation and poor digestion.

Fluid Balance: When the body is in a state of dehydration, the brain releases a hormone called ADH a.k.a. (anti-diuretic hormone). This hormone prevents the body from getting rid of water thus causing WATER RETENTION. So the act of drinking water will help the body maintain a normal fluid balance.
Here are some guidelines to help you maintain proper hydration:
a. Drink ½ of your body weight in ounces of water.
b. Drink the highest quality water possible. The water should preferably be mineral water. Dr. Royal Lee, states that if the water we drink does not have a mineral content, our body will release or expend minerals to properly utilize the water. This intern will create mineral and electrolyte imbalances. Any mineral deficiencies will cause uncontrollable food cravings.
c. Avoid drinking water contained in the opaque (smokey) water jugs as they leak toxins into the water.
d. Drink a glass or 2 of water upon awakening in the morning and/or about 15 minutes before you eat. This helps with digestion.

3. Exercise: Form follows function.
There is a universal law that is represented by the acronym S.A.I.D., which stands for Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands. The body will respond precisely to the type and magnitude of demand placed upon it, therefore exercise can be view like a drug.  Not enough medicine produces no results. Too much creates unhealthy stress on the system. The wrong drug can kill you. With that said knowing the best type of exercise for your current needs is critical. As a general rule the focus needs to be on strength exercise to achieve long-term weight loss. Why? See rule #7.

2. Planned Layoffs:

Over training can be just as counterproductive as being sedentary given the right circumstances. Exercise is a form of stress on the body. Too much stress causes abnormal chemical responses in the body such as excessive cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone and is produced by the adrenal glands. It is counterproductive to building muscle because it causes protein break down in the body. It can cause some other undesirable effects like sugar cravings and mood swings. This definitely will not help if you are trying to lose weight or improve your health. Some other signs of over training are:

• Soreness that lasts longer than five days.
• Inability to sleep soundly
• Fatigue during the day.
• Loss of appetite

With this in mind, it is important that you do not exercise excessively in order to substitute for poor nutrition. The reality is that a one hour exercise class will not undo the effects of the nutrition that is flowing through your bloodstream 24 hours a day.  If you are not eating properly exercising may be doing you more harm than good. This same rule applies to those who do not allow adequate rest between training sessions. The body does not progress during exercise. It is only when it is allowed to fully recover from an exercise session that the body will become stronger and fit. The bottom line is to stimulate not annihilate.

1. More Food in your Food. “Concentrated Nutrition for Appetite Control
Food quality is the single most important variable in achieving permanent weight loss. You are what you eat.  If you are going to make your body out of coffee, muffins and salads made of iceberg lettuce, your body will be in a constant state of hungry. There is a little mechanism in your brain that controls your appetite called the appestat. The purpose of the appestat is to determine if all of your nutritional requirements are being met. Unfortunately the prevalence of processed foods deprived of nutrition has sent most of our appetite systems  into complete chaos. This is why obesity has become an epidemic in America today. Ironically, those who suffer from obesity are probably the most under nourished.  This is because their appestat tells them to keep eating because the food in their diet lacks nutritional value.  Therefore too many calories are consumed in an effort to get the proper daily nutrients. The best way to control your appetite is to EAT ORGANIC WHOLE FOOD. Organic food has the highest concentration of nutrients per calorie.

Chakra Heal Your Way To Financial Success

It was a great run but we knew it had to end. The recent decline in real estate and the volatility of the stock market is eliciting bona fide “root chakra” stress.
The word chakra is a Sanskrit word that means wheel.  Liz Simpson in her book Chakra Healing says, “These spinning vortices of energy are a part of the subtle energy system which forms the ancient Indian approach to healing our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves”.
You may be asking “What do chakras have to do with you losing your shirt on Wall Street or real estate”? Keep reading for the answer.
At the least common denominator, everything in the universe is energy. The chakra system allows one to use energy to their advantage and help them heal and evolve in any area of their lives (this includes finances). Liz Simpson also said that “Each of the seven chakras deal with different parts of a bigger picture and directs us to those areas where we may be functioning out of balance.

There is a strong connection between the chakras and our physical body. The human body is a dynamic energy channel and all parts are associated with the 7 main chakras. The root chakra is located right in the “nether region” between anus and genitals. Structures associated with the root chakra are bones (specifically the pelvis, legs and feet). Common physical problems associated with root chakra imbalance are lower back pain and “sciatica” (pain that radiates down the leg). If you look at the structure of the sciatic nerve you will notice that it looks very similar to the “roots” of a tree”. Symbolically and emotionally, the root chakra is associated with safety and security and anything that could be a threat to it such as a sudden drop in income or any of threat to one’s livelihood.
A very important organ connected with the root chakra is the adrenal glands. These are the “flight or fight” organs in the body and play a major role maintaining normal body metabolism. Typical signs of adrenal stress are; poor sleep quality, Inability or difficulty losing weight, not having enough energy unless stimulants such as coffee and sugar are consumed. Root chakra stress in any form places a stress on the adrenals. Chronic adrenal stress leads to adrenal fatigue. One of the most common symptoms and or complaints associated with adrenal stress is chronic fatigue.

Again you ask, “How can this information help me make more of the green stuff?” Finally we get to the point at hand.
The Sure Fire Investment
In these times of economic uncertainty, investing in one’s health and wellness will always pay major dividends in the future. The universal law of attraction says that to get what we want in life, we must first be in alignment with our goal. The higher your level of health and vitality, the greater likelihood that you will become an “energy channel” to receive all that you want.

As we become out of balance with the stress of everyday life, we create blockages that literally block our ability to bring into reality what we want. When we lack vitality our energy channels are blocked on all levels (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual).
Whether it be the teachings of Napoleon Hill or through Hindu healing philosophy, these principles hold true in helping you achieve optimal health, vitality and personal success in whatever form you choose. To have more we must first become more and living a Holistic Lifestyle will help you along this journey.

The 6 Foundational Principles of Holistic Living
1.    Thoughts:
In the popular documentary “The Secret”, Bob Proctor stated that the laws of the universe dictate that we become what we think about the most. It is from your thoughts that everything in your life is created. This holds true for positive or negative events. When you can fully wrap your head around this concept, you will control your life like a puppet on a string.

2.    Breathe:
Life begins with breath. Proper breathing sets the rhythm for all other body functions. Daily breathing exercise will make you efficient at bringing energy into your body.
3.    Hydration:
Adequate hydration is the foundation of good metabolic functions. The body is predominantly made of protein and water therefore the body is very sensitive to dehydration.
4.    Food:
Eating according to one’s metabolic type will allow the body to achieve optimal levels of health and vitality. Metabolic Typing has proven effective in weight loss and improving chronic health challenges.
5. Exercise:
Life is movement and a corrective exercise program will teach you how to be a master of your physical body.
6.    Sleep:
Sleep is vital to maintaining normal biological rhythms, which can affect weight loss, pain management and even hormone levels. The closer our body ‘s natural rhythms are to that of the earth and nature, the better we can fully express ourselves as healthy and evolved human beings.

What is your dream? Whatever it is, these six principles are your ticket to achieving them. Embrace the Holistic Lifestyle philosophy and use it to take charge of your destiny. ###

Physical Excellence From The Ground Up

Among the Fitness gadgets and fad diets, inactivity, obesity and chronic illness are still on the rise.  The exercise equipment and diet companies have made billions by taking advantage of knowing that most people will try anything once. If the latest infomercial “do-dad” doesn’t work then it’s just one more piece of junk to add to the collection.
The reality is that there are no quick fixes to achieving optimal health and vitality. It violates the laws of nature. Can a seed skip steps in evolving into a beautiful redwood tree? Neither is the case in creating a healthy, strong and resilient body.

The Seeds of Physical Excellence…

1. Posture is the foundation for total health and fitness.  A body that is properly aligned will look, feel and function better.
2. Flexibility exercise is needed to maintain proper length and tone to your muscles and connective tissues and also to prevent injury.  You cannot exercise if you are injured.
3. Proper body mechanics. The quality of human movement plays a very important role in the maintenance of optimal health and fitness. Ideal body mechanics during exercise and daily living maintains the health of the joints, muscles and connective tissues.
4. Strength is dependent on flexibility. A muscle that is short and tight will not have optimal strength and the likelihood of injury increases. Strength also allows one to perform more physical work if the need be.
5. Conditioning: Not to be confused with cardio, physical conditioning is the ability to perform one’s desire task effectively and repeatedly. Conditioning is the ability to apply strength and power a given amount of time.
6. Nutrition is what ties all of the fitness components together. A proper diet according to one’s Metabolic Type is paramount to all of your fitness efforts.
7. Ideal weight and body composition. Weight loss is a concern for many people however body composition is often overlooked when determining one’s ideal weight. Pay special attention to monitoring body composition so that it can be determined if weight loss is from fat or muscle.
8. Stress Management prevents physical and mental burnout. The body will not function optimally in a state of chronic stress and or fatigue.

Health & Fitness is a journey not a destination. If you use these seeds as your guide, your journey towards physical excellence will be one of positive self-discovery and personal evolution. ##

Transform Your Body With Kettlebells

Coming Soon!

Online Coaching..The Next Evolution In Personal Training

Coming Soon!

Physical Excellence and Your Mind.. Make The Connection

Coaching clients for over 20 years, I have realized that the goal of physical excellence and body transformation is a shared goal, it seems that the path to achieving it is often quite different. Without exception, these separate paths are determined by their present mental state. I have found that clients who enjoy and embrace the process of becoming more fit have a more pleasurable journey towards feeling and looking better. However I have also discovered that clients who are only concerned with an end result have a more difficult time with their fitness journey.  They will encounter more obstacles along the way and the reason for this can be summed up in two words, core values. In other words their actions do not match with their deepest personal belief systems.
Achieving a great body is not a destination but rather a process that gradually manifests itself during your life. To view it any other way can potentially lead to misinterpretation of what you are be actually be striving for. A zero resistance way to see your fitness endeavors is to think of everything that you want to accomplish as a long highway composed of never ending experiences that you encounter along the way.
To make your fitness journey work in your favor, become aware of your perception of yourself as it relates to fitness.  In other words your mind and body must be on the same page. This sounds very elementary but the reality is that it is often overlooked.  Think about for a minute!  When you first started to exercise, what was your initial goal? Now take it a step further and ask yourself what was your mental perception of that goal? What did it feel like? Can feel exactly what it would be like when you had accomplished or encountered this experience? Did you set mental accomplishments for yourself that coincided with those of your present physical condition?  If you did not, I will assume that your journey towards physical excellence is being met or has met some stressful resistance. If you do not make a mental picture of what you want to do i.e. your goal, how will you ever be content with any progress that you have made.  One law of the universe states that you can never have what you deny. Enjoy the “pit stops” along your journey and you’ll build the mental emotional strength to keep going.
To make your fitness journey as enlightening as possible, decide what is it that you wish to experience.  This can happen only when your mind and body are in harmony.  Often times the physical aspect of fitness is emphasized which is normal considering that our society places great importance on the superficial.  With this thought in mind you ask yourself; will your FITNESS goal be enough?  Will your mind be in harmony with your new level of physical prowess?  This is a very important concept to ponder for a moment.  If your mind is not in place with our physical self upon achieving your objectives you may not acknowledge your accomplishments but rather than dwell on what could be or should have been.
Being happy with your present accomplishments is paramount to making your fitness journey enlightening and successful. The key to doing this is to absorb all of your experiences and learn from them be they positive or negative.
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Have You Been CHEKed?

What Is Corrective Exercise?

CHEK (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kidra (guiding soul) and is a system developed by international strength coach and rehabilitation specialist Paul Chek. It is an integrative system that is rooted on the belief that the human body functions best and is most healthy when it is in ideal alignment. Corrective Exercise is different from other systems in that it involves several distinct yet integrated protocols. They are as follows.

I. Ideal Postural Alignment
Information dating back to 1934 explains how poor posture can contribute to a multitude of health conditions ranging from headaches to arthritis. Ideal posture is the position in which the body functions best with the least amount of mechanical stress.

II. Motor Learning
The nervous system is the driving force behind the muscular system. An inefficient nervous system will render well developed muscles useless. Corrective exercise improves the communication between these two important systems.

III. Primal Pattern Development (TM)
The quality of movement is equally important as the quantity being performed. Research shows that it takes 300-500 repetitions to develop a motor pattern. Conversely it takes about 3000-5000 repetitions to erase a motor pattern. Therefore it is important that movements be done correctly to avoid mechanical flaws that could result in injury or poor performance.

IV. Advanced Core Conditioning
The proper function of the abdominal wall goes far beyond merely doing crunches and sit-ups. In fact these two exercises are the least important and often time the most dangerous. Corrective exercise will improve or restore proper function to the diaphragm and abdominal wall. This is very beneficial to those who have chronic back pain, are recovering from any form of abdominal surgery such as c-section, hernia repair, abdominoplasty, or any laproscopic or open abdominal procedure.

V. Integrative Health Concepts
Corrective Exercise addresses all systems of the body and how they interact with each other. Comprehensive structural evaluations allow for a complete perspective of a person’s health status. It also helps to determine if outside medical assistance will be needed. This creates an integrative or team approach to helping clients and patients achieve success.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM CORRECTIVE EXERCISE?
· Chronic pain patients
· Athletes and industrial workers
· Law enforcement and military
· Post-partum mothers
· Children and teenagers
· Anyone who seeks to improve their overall health and appearance.

Are You Ready For Excellence?

What is your dream?

Achieve it by learning the six foundational principles of physical excellence:
1. Thoughts:
In the popular documentary “The Secret”, Bob Proctor stated that the laws of the universe dictate that we become what we think about the most. It is from your thoughts that everything in your life is created. This holds true for positive or negative events. When you can fully wrap your head around this concept, you will control your life like a puppet on a string.
2. Breathe:
Life begins with breath. Proper breathing sets the rhythm for all other body functions. Daily breathing exercise will make you efficient at bringing energy into your body.

3. Hydration:
Adequate hydration is the foundation of good metabolic functions. The body is predominantly made of protein and water therefore the body is very sensitive to dehydration.
4. Food:

Eating according to one’s metabolic type will allow the body to achieve optimal levels of health and vitality. Metabolic Typing has proven effective in weight loss and improving chronic health challenges.

5. Exercise:

Life is movement and a corrective exercise program will teach you how to be a master of your physical body.
6. Sleep:
Sleep is absolutely vital to maintain normal biological rhythms, which can affect weight loss, pain management and even hormone levels.
These six principles are your ticket to the body and life of your dreams. Use them to take charge of your destiny.

Do You “Workout” or Do You Train?

The “bigger is better philosophy that swept America in the 80’s and 90’s is giving way to a “The new way of thinking when it comes to working out.  A way of thinking that contains more substance than flash”. Steve Blechman Editor-in-chief of  Fitness Rx magazine, is quoted as saying this I couldn’t agree with him more (October 1999 issue of Muscular development).

Today’s standards not only require you to look good but to perform optimally as well. Blechman also went on to say that adding muscle for the sake of bulk is not the wave of the future. The ability to perform skilled athletic movements is more practical than just adding bulk. It is no coincidence that some of the greatest athletes in the world also have some of the best-built physiques. Their aesthetically pleasing figures are the consequence of years of exposure, to balanced purposeful physical activity. If they would have limited themselves to the use of exercise machines or fixed modes of physical activity, their high level of performance may never have been possible. So what better way to achieve an elite-level body than by emulating their training philosophies. This is the essence of training versus workout out.

In today’s modern world, technology has provided us many ways that we can exercise increase fitness and improve our bodies.  There are strength machines, aerobic equipment, the numerous exercise gadgets that range from health riders, , ab rollers, ab doers, ab dollies, ab cruncher, ab stimulator and the many other devices present in the market today. We can also choose methods of exercise such as the pilates method, step aerobics, spinning classes, kickboxing, super-cardio, body sculpting, the list is endless.  The intent of all of these machines, gadgets and methods are to improve one’s health and physical fitness levels and to exercise your body.  But I am here to tell you that Exercise Doesn’t Work, and here is the reason. All of these techniques are meant to exercise the body but WHAT IF YOUR BODY DOESN’T WORK? What do you when your body does not work? Confused? Keep reading..
More people today live sedentary lifestyles that contribute to a wide range of chronic physical dysfunction in the body. Sedentary lifestyle brings with it obesity, overweight as well as muscle weakness that prevent safe execution of exercise. Millions of people are starting exercise programs when their bodies are not working properly.  As a result there is more than 2.8 billion dollars a year is being spent on medical costs related to exercise and weight training injuries according to the US product and safety commission. I question the reason for this. My theory is that first people are starting exercise programs when their bodies just do not work and secondly people are not being taught how to use their bodies properly.

Machines and other modes of exercise the body, but who’s to say that any machine or particular exercise is suitable for everyone. There is nothing that takes into consideration the critical factors such as posture, muscle balance, movement skill and current level of physical conditioning. The reason why most mainstream “workouts” don’t work is that the majority of people have bodies that are not functioning properly on some level.

To make exercise work for the masses, there must be a system in place that will determine TRUE physical readiness. This means evolving beyond the realm of “biceps and triceps” and into the mindset of physiological stress from a hormonal, nutritional, emotional, and musculoskeletal.  This is the key step that most people forget to take when selecting an exercise program and is why traditional exercise does not work.

What does work is corrective exercise. Corrective exercise is not a method, exercise class, or quick fix. It is a philosophy that is based on the fact that the body functions best when it is in ideal posture and when all of the body’s basic movement patterns are working properly. The goal of any exercise program should be to improve posture, movement function and mechanics in the body. Unless there is an understanding of how your body is functioning before starting an exercise program, it will be very difficult to select exercises that will restore or improve function.

We are all dynamic in that when we exercise, there is more involved than just muscles. We have nerves, hormones, and internal organs that are also effected by the type of exercise that we do. Even our emotions are effected by exercise. Corrective exercise is about understanding the interactive nature of the body, a holistic approach if you will. Knowing how you will respond to exercise before starting a program puts you in a great position to achieve positive results. In my personal experience, I have evaluated and treated many clients that had been exercising for 5, 10, and even 20 years not knowing that their bodies were not working properly.  After a comprehensive assessment and consultation, they can see and even feel the difference between traditional exercise and corrective exercise.  Once I take them through specific tests that physically show them the difference between their current movement patterns and what ideal movement is, they realize that for most people traditional exercise does not work.  Then I explain that in order to make exercise work for them, they have to first understand their body. This is the philosophy of corrective exercise. Corrective exercise allows you to know your body better and address its needs with specific exercises. This is the type of exercise that works. If you are truly interested in knowing how your body functions and what exercises are best for you, I highly recommend considering a corrective exercise program.  C.H.E.K. practitioners have special training on how to assess the body through a comprehensive structure evaluation which includes a posture, orthopedic and movement analysis, thus creating a successful exercise program. ##

The Power Of Balance..

How many plates can you spin at once? Your job or business, significant other, hobbies and buddies can be a source of overwhelm if not managed efficiently. With that said, this metaphorical plate spinning is the key to the vault of happiness and personal fulfillment.
As human beings we are Holons, which comes from the Greek word holos, meaning “whole”. We are simultaneously a whole and a part. I’d like to share three ideas that will attempt to explain how embracing the holon philosophy can open up new doors of possibility and fulfillment in your life.

#1: Health, Vitality and your Mind:

Albert Einstein said “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it”. I will take this idea a step further and say that you cannot change the mind that created the problem unless the chemical environment in the brain has changed. Dr. Candace Pert in her book Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine explained how thoughts, ideas, beliefs and actions are all expressed as chemical cocktails in the brain.  Happiness, anger, fear and joy are all feelings or specific brain signals. Now here’s the million-dollar question. Where are your ideas are coming from? What are you feeding your body and in tern feeding the chemicals that feed your brain? What fuel are you consuming that is allowing your thoughts to exist?

If your thoughts are serving you, then do more of that. If they are not, then it’s time for a change in fuel source. How do you know if your thoughts are serving or helping you? To sum it up in one word, its STRESS. Think of stress as the signal that your mind is giving your body that they are not on the same page. When we are overwhelmed, it is an indication that the mind is causing you to produce a result that you are not happy with. To stay out of overwhelm is for your mind to be in line with your holon nature, your core beliefs, and your body.
The fastest and most practical way to change your brain chemistry is to take a look at your diet. The closer you are to eating for your metabolic type, the fewer obstacles you will have on your journey towards physical excellence.

#2 Wisdom:
Wisdom is knowledge combined with experience. Take your new thoughts and immediately apply them to some area of your life on whatever level that resonates with you.

#3 Self Expression
You have been given a magnificent vehicle in your human body. You have limbs so you can maximize your human experience. Your body was made to GO not stop. Take the energy of wisdom and convert it into emotion. Emotion is energy in motion. It’s wisdom in action.

The act of thinking creates electromagnetic fields or thought bodies. If you contemplate on what you are reading here, you are taking the first step in applying it to your life.  Consider these three ideas as you go about your daily life. Use them to keep the plates of your plates of life spinning in the direction of your choosing. ##

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