Happy Memorial Day!! Kiss Your Veteran!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! 
KISS YOUR VETERAN! 

Here's a couple tips for keeping your cool during this "high eating" holiday!

• 1. Prepare - when shopping, add more items to the cart that are low calorie, high nutrient, like more veggies, green leafies, fruits, etc.
• 2. Get creative - a great griller could be fruit, veggies, and lean meats on a kabob stick. Get fancy with the spices if you want, and enjoy!
• 3. Share your game plan - guaranteed you will be with family members that are battling weight, or have health concerns. BE WILLING TO BE RESPECTFULLY INTRUSIVE. Invite them to eat healthier this weekend, instead of the typical gorging that can ensue. Don't have this holiday be the last for any of your family. We're not promised tomorrow.
  

• 4. Eat throughout the day - most of the time, there is no morning eating (sleeping in for the holiday) and then eating for hours, and no portion control. Start your day out (even if you sleep in) with a HEALTHY BREAKFAST! Protein, complex carbs, and lots of water. If you started on an Herbalife Nutrition Program, click here for GREAT recipes to play with this weekend: http://products.herbalife.com/subcat_shakes#. Then, keep up the eating every couple of hours, so by the time the MAIN MEAL rolls around, you're not STARK-RAVING hungry, and blowing out your calories. Put your entrees on the salad plate, and your salad on the dinner plate. If after the main meal you're still hungry, put in more water, more complex carbs, etc. RULE OF THUMB: If you cannot work out after eating, you've eaten too much, AND the wrong things. 

HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, AND MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND ALL WHO SERVE HERE, AND AROUND THE WORLD.

"If You Fail to Plan...."

Success is not an accident.

I can remember for years that as I moved from one project to the next in life, whether job opportunities, financial decisions, or my health, all required some form of planning AND execution. Many of the conversations I am having with clients recently sounds strangely familiar. There is no game plan.

You have heard the saying "Success is a Planned Event"? SO SO SO TRUE! 

Here are some ideas for planning for your health success:

1. Don't do it alone! You already got yourself here, which for many people, "here" = unhealthy, 20-30lbs over their optimal weight, winded at the top of the stairs, and to top it off, horrible eating habits. 

2. Get A Running Buddy - maybe not for running literally, but for encouragement and support. Most likely you have an environment of unhealthy people around you. Step into a new environment that requires a higher expectation when it comes to eating, physical activity, etc. Yes, that could be why you join a gym, a weight loss challenge, or a coaching group. New concepts to you? Email me, and I'll explain how they work.

2. Create Planning Time: put a date in your calendar where weekly you assess what is coming up, so as not to be caught off guard. Most of your appointments didn't "appear" on your calendar. You deliberately put them there. What most often gets left out is the "meal planning, cutting veggies, making shakes, freezing foods" time. If you haven't got your health, then you're not going into your life with your best foot forward.

3. Hire a Planner: PICK ME!! Personal Wellness Coaches are like your financial planner: our only focus is your health, when you have a million other things you have made a higher priority. My first priority is your health, your weight, and your goal of creating a healthy, active lifestyle. Interested in a coaching session? Call me (313-418-9790).

And finally,

4. TELL PEOPLE - most successful people will tell you that why they accomplished their great feats was due to rehearsing to themselves and everyone around them, the goal they would soon achieve. SO, GET THE WORD OUT!!

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!"

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Questions & Answers

I thought I would let you in on an email conversation I had with a client. She asked a great question I think applies to all working class. Enjoy!
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Coach CC:

Do you have some suggestions for us to help support our weight loss even when we are at an all day event for three days? And how can we handle the stress of all the preparations for this upcoming event?

Okay, here are a couple of recommendations for the All Day Event:
PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE!!

• Make your shakes, enough in the morning for 2 meals, and take the 2nd to have at lunch.
• Get some chewing gum, so when you have the snacking urge, you have something to occupy your mouth.
• Keep trail mix or protein bars close at hand, so when the chewing gum doesn't do it, and you really ARE hungry, you can manage.
• Lots of water (or ice, to minimize bathroom runs...:o)
• Be regimented about your dinner. Keep it fiber-full, light (to keep from getting lethargic!) and nutritious!

As for handling the stress of preparation:

1. Remember - ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, AND IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG IT USUALLY WORKS ITSELF OUT. You've got to keep everything in perspective. Life will always appear as if it is the most important thing, and needs your IMMEDIATE attention! You are one person, and cannot do all the work yourself, although you are given LOTS to do.
2. If possible, play music that keeps you up beat, and keeps you from taking yourself TOO seriously!! DANCE OFTEN TO THE MUSIC
3. Create a saying that reminds you of your goal, and what you are committed to in your work performance, and in your health. I.E. " I am fantastic at what I do, and so many people wouldn't be coming to me if that WASN'T THE TRUTH! I will deliver excellent work, without stressing out, and compromising my own health. When I am healthy and complete, my work is healthy & complete". Something like that :)
4. Actual food consumption: TAKE EXTRA CARE TO PREPARE. When you see train wrecks coming, you BRACE FOR IMPACT!! Remember, even when life is not hectic (which is when?...:) it can take work to make sure to stay on task. You will need that much more intentionality to stay on task when the heat gets turned up!

Thanks for asking such GREAT questions! So many deal with this, so you are not alone!

:)