How To Get Through Tough Economic Times And Market Conditions

The past week has been crazy. The current state of the economy is looking pretty bleek. What are we to do?

With the given market condition there must be something we can do quickly to fix this?

There's gotta be something...anything.

Well, I'm not a big numbers and finance guy. I don't pay attention to the stock ticker on TV. I don't get email updates regarding my portfolio. And I certainly don't freak out when the media makes a big hoopla about market changes. But at the same time, I don't stick my head in the sand and ignore it either.

Why am I talking to you about the current state of our economy and the market?

No, I'm not going to be giving out top secret investment advice. But it is a great analogy to your health and fitness.

Earlier this week I was giving a nutrition consultation t0 a client. She owns a business in the home building and development industry. She should be fearing the end of times right now. Recession even, gulp, depression should be on her mind, right?

Wrong.

It's not at all! In fact, business is booming. She's busier today then she was a year ago! Her point to me was this; "The sky is NOT falling." We are where we were 10 years ago. For example, if you buy a house today, you have to be able to afford it. Doesn't sound like the sky is falling in that situation does it? As much as anyone in the housing industry wants a magic bullet, it doesn't exist.

And so it goes with your health and fitness.

What is the market condition of your health and fitness?

Are you a little overweight and out of shape? Are you UNcomfortable in your body? Has there been a downturn in your market?

Take a good honest look at YOUR market.

And I'll say it again. There is no magic bullet to pull you out of the hard times.

So what do you do?

Back to Basics

You go back to the basics.

Start with your diet. You must clean up your diet. Stop eating out so much. Cut out the refined carbs and sugars. Start eating more fruits and vegetables. Eat lean meats. Supplement properly to fill any voids in your diet. And most definitely start eating breakfast!

But don't stop there. That's only half the battle. Now get your butt in gear. You've got to use it to lose it. Exercise 3 to 5 times per week. Both weight resistance and cardiovascular forms should be done.

Going Back to Basics is and always will be the answer. There is NO magic bullet. There is NO quick fix. Continue to search as you may, you will never find it.

Get started now and turn YOUR (health and fitness) market condition around. You have the power. All you have to do is make the choice. Start by choosing a complimentary fitness and nutrition consultation by clicking here. There's no obligation and no cost to you. It's my way of helping you through these rough (health and fitness) market conditions.

To your health,

Tim

I just finished a nutrition consultation with one of our clients. As we were talking she asked if I had seen a new commercial on TV about high fructose corn syrup. A little confused, I told her no. You can click on the link below to see it. But I'll warn you, it's bogus. Hopefully it won't make you as mad as I was when I saw it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVsgXPt564Q&feature=related

The guy's pleasant looking girlfriend sets him straight about a popsicle loaded with high fructose corn syrup. "It's made from corn", "has the same amount of calories as sugar and honey", and "fine in moderation".

This is a flat out lie! And it is totally deceiving to YOU - the consumer.

Lies and deception. Can't we leave that for the politicians?

Ok, yes, high fructose corn syrup has the same amount of calories and as it's name says, it's made from corn. But according to the Corn Refiners Association website, the party responsible for this commercial, it's also highly processed in order to reach it's state.

But what about it's affect in the body? What about the incidence of diabetes and obesity rising in relation to high fructose corn syrup usage? Does the nice, soft spoken girlfriend say anything about that to her boyfriend?

Of course not! Because that wouldn't make you feel warm and fuzzy about buying and consuming highly processed foods and drinks. And if you don't feel ok about consuming those products then those that put this bogus commercial on air won't make their big, hefty profits.

If you read the frontpage article in the current Richly Rewarding Newsletter, "Regular AND Diet Soda Drinkers Beware", you know just how bad high fructose corn syrup is. (If you aren't a subscriber you can subscribe here for f.r.e.e or email me your mailing address with 'RRL' in the subject line and I'll mail you a copy of the current issue.

The simple fact is the body metabolizes high fructose corn syrup to body fat at alarming speeds. Glucose, aka table sugar, can be used for energy OR storage. High fructose corn syrup bypasses energy usage and goes straight to fat storage.

It fires me up to see the public being lied to and deceived. And more importantly, the outcome being harmful.

Any legitimate health expert would suggest to you to reduce your usage of high fructose corn syrup. The Corn Refiners Association touts it's natural label given by the FDA yet fails to mention that most of the products that use it as a sweetener are highly processed with additives, dyes, and other artificial junk.

When watching TV don't buy into this bogus notion of high fructose corn syrup being the same as sugar and ok in moderation. It's not.

If you have any questions regarding high fructose corn syrup please email them to me. Depending how alarming this is to you, I'll send a follow up email or include it in a future newsletter.

To your health,

Tim

Ever been to these 2 hot spots?

Did you have a great Labor Day weekend? Sure hope so!

Man — can you believe how fast summer zipped by? Seems like only yesterday, I was celebrating the start of pool season. Now, I’m regretting not getting there enough.

So here we are, planning parties to watch the first games of the regular football season in less than a week. I've even seen Halloween candy on display! Amazing.

In all of my time as a fitness professional there seems to be two ‘hot spots’ throughout every year: January and September.

Why? Well, because these two months signal watershed events in people’s lives.
In January, we’ve just endured the holidays. We ate too much, drank too much, gained weight and fell into worse shape than we were in.

In September, we’d just survived the summer. We ate too much, drank too much, gained weight and fell into worse shape than we were in.

So on these two dates, we feel guilty, weaker, fatter — and more than a little panicked that our lives deviated from the mean — than at any other time of the year.

And so, beginning bright and early on January 2 and September 2 as our heads begin to clear, we observe our semi-annual penitence: A time for agonizing reappraisals of our priorities. A time for resolutions. A time to reapply our proboscises to the proverbial grindstone.

You know what? Nothing has changed. Because human nature never changes.

So maybe you’re thinking of making one of the following resolutions today:

• To lose the weight you didn’t lose after January 2nd.

• To get into shape…once and for all.

• To stop eating the junk you know that is bad for you but you continue to do so because it’s convenient and tastes good.

• Set a good example for your kids to follow.


But that’s just the “what.” Now, it’s time for the tough part: “HOW?”

See, this is where most resolutions fall apart. We all know what we should do and beyond that, what we need to do to turn our dreams into reality. It’s crafting an action plan — and then sticking to it — that flummoxes us.

I’ll admit that some of my own resolutions fall short of success. But I do know you need three things:

1. A clear vision of what you want your life to be like on January 2, 2009 …

2. A detailed daily or even hourly action plan that ensures that you do everything required to get there, and …

3. Someone to keep you accountable along the way.

Of course, reams have been written by self-help gurus about #1 and #2 above.

Item #1 is simply positive thinking … keeping your vision before you … and making it as tangible as possible in your mind.

And we’ve all heard that the tactical part, item #2 above is crucial because the Devil really is in the details.

But you know what? Giving ourselves excuses for our failure to carry through — justifying our lack of discipline — is the killer.

So we all need a nag.

Someone who knows us as well as we know ourselves … who can see through our excuses … and who doesn’t mind (better yet, delights in) providing the swift kick in the keester we need to get back on track.

And we also need help from people who aren’t quite as close as family and friends. Ideally strangers.

Here at Fitness Together we are far more effective for delivering results than any other solution out there.

Why? Because three times a week, our clients have to answer to their coach. “OK — so let’s see how you’re doing.” And the accountability begins.

And every time, the report your coach would give you blows away every rationalization, every excuse, every little indulgence you might have had.

In that one moment, rationalization is exposed for what it is: Nonsense. Pure and simple.

So priority #1 is to find people who’ll nail you when you screw up.

Next, someone who’s job it is to notice when you do things right. Praise and reward are needed too.

That could be your plan — if you want it.

What are your goals for the next 122 days? Where do you want to be on January 2, 2009?

What do you need to do to get there?

Who’s going to help keep you honest as you work towards your goal?

Share your ideas with me. I’d like to hear.

Good luck!

To your health,

Tim