Tag performance

When You Can’t Catch Up

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Every day I have the best intentions. I have my schedule mapped out and tear into it like a beast. But all too frequently, one or more hiccups in the timeline mess up my perfect plans to get a plethora of things done. That being said, I move like a dynamo and get more done than the average person does, mainly because I don’t lead a normal life, and am extremely ambitious. But just when I think I am about to catch up in one area of my life, I get dumped on in another area. I suppose it’s just how life goes, but sometimes it is so maddening to see my to-do list for the day unravel despite all my efforts. It certainly doesn’t appeal to my sense of order and control.

RunningLate

I know many of you who are reading this can relate. Opportunities are blessed things, but when you can barely come up for air and you can’t attend to the most basic things like buying groceries, doing laundry, or catching enough sleep, you are teetering way off balance and need to pay attention. By no means am I suggesting that you abandon your responsibilities in favor of wanton playtime, but no one should be that busy all the time. The body and mind cannot endure such constant stress and will rebel eventually, usually through physical illness, depression or anxiety.

I have been travelling through my days at a frenetic pace lately, and can tell the stress has exerted a toll on me. So last Saturday, after I had completed my workouts and run a few errands, I just said, “SCREW IT”, and headed over to a local movie theater by myself to see “Grand Budapest Hotel”, despite the fact that I had work waiting for me at home. I happily turned off my phone and nestled into the fantasy world of the film for close to two hours. I felt no guilt whatsoever, and was completely refreshed by my little getaway.

Another thing I have just begun doing lately is sifting through all the contacts and opportunities before me, setting boundaries, and learning to say NO when appropriate. This has been huge for me, since I usually do everything in my power to please and take care of people. Though I am pretty good about putting the oxygen mask on my own face, I will often opt to make someone else more comfortable at my own expense. I have noticed that if my movement and freedom are compromised, I become extremely frustrated, yet I also understand that I often bring that upon myself. The most compelling thing about this situation is that it is one that I see over and over again with other people. It’s almost like a cosmic movement, a tendency towards losing control, taking on more than what is reasonable, and draining the body and spirit of resources instead of replenishing and supporting those resources.

My take-home message is to:

1. take a break every now and then to recharge your batteries
2. learn to say no when appropriate
3. honor yourself

The sooner you learn to achieve balance, the happier and more productive you will be.

Assault Gear

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http://assault-gear.com/

Assault Gear
Check out this great fitness apparel line! Not only do they have great stuff, they are going to expand their line as the company grows. I love the people who run this high energy company and am honored to be a member of Team Assault! This is definitely a company to watch, because the enthusiasm, integrity, drive and talent behind it will propel it into massive success. Go Assault Gear!

Craving Protein

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eating meatEver since I can remember, I have been a protein craver. As a child, I looked forward to consuming beef, lamb, chicken, tuna, eggs and turkey. While other children were begging for sweets, I would happily gnaw on a lamb shoulder bone at dinner, never thinking that dessert was something I was supposed to want after I had filled my belly with meat. I regarded chocolate as something other kids liked, but never went nuts trying to get to it. The sweet treats I preferred were always fruity and sugary, like fruit gems and Sweet Tarts, yet I never really craved those items either.

It’s funny to me how people just assume that women are carb cravers. Not this woman! As an adult, my protein cravings are stronger than ever. When I say that protein food sources are the foundation of my daily diet, I mean it. Given the choice between pasta, sweets or meat, I will pretty much always go for the meat. A common scenario is for me to suddenly crave chicken breast or egg whites while I am doing work on my computer at night. This can hit me like a ton of bricks in as little as 30 minutes after I have eaten my last meal. My body also responds very well to a high protein intake so I make sure to eat a considerable amount for my size (currently between 150 to 200 grams per day).

Even before I began competing, I was never the type of person who would go on a donut run or make huge bowls of pasta. However, the one carbohydrate source which was a staple in my diet was glutinous white rice, but it was always accompanied by a solid protein source. The primary reasons why I kept this in my diet were 1. my Japanese heritage almost required an adherence to daily consumption of white rice, and 2. it stretched my food budget. Once I began competing, sticky white rice was banished from my kitchen. I literally did a sweep through every cupboard in my kitchen and threw out every single white and processed food I owned, then never looked back.

I have seen patients, clients and friends who had previously craved carbs who, when bumping up their protein intake and cutting out sugars and processed foods, suddenly began to appreciate and crave protein. Without getting into the physiology behind such a dramatic shift, suffice it to say that protein rich diets can indeed do a body good.

Protein Intake and The Fountain Of Youth

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protein sourcesPeople are more intent these days than ever before on maintaining youthfulness and optimal health, especially if those benefits can be obtained naturally and safely. It turns out that one of the best ways to naturally boost the body’s ability to combat aging is to consume adequate protein. When protein is consumed, a steady stream of glucose is released via glucagon without spiking insulin levels in the body. Conversely, a diet low in protein but high in carbohydrates results in high levels of insulin, which over the course of time can result in widespread inflammation, diabetes, and obesity.

Whey protein in particular is a remarkable protein source for people of all ages, but is especially beneficial in older people. It is highly absorbable, contains all 18 amino acids, immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, and all the building blocks for a powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione deficiency is linked to Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, asthma and cancer, and because of this, it is considered a key substance in combating the process of aging. Natural glutathione production in the body declines with age, but with whey protein on board, the amino acids necessary for glutathione production are supplied to the body and optimal levels can be attained as a result.

Though athletes and competitors are aware of the health and muscle building benefits of whey protein, I am astonished by how it is not utilized nearly enough by the average person. All too often I see patients who regularly skip meals and eat fast foods and other processed foods, and who assume that whey protein is only for athletes. If you are an average person who wants to change poor eating habits and optimize cellular function, then you need to boost protein intake and add whey as one of your protein sources. You are doing yourself a disservice if you insist on eating junk carbs like simple sugars and processed foods, skipping meals, and consuming insufficient protein, especially if you are over the age of 35 and trying to fend off disease and aging.