The Fountain of Youth

For many years we have searched for it. Men have lost their lives over it. Women have paid high prices to find it. We have traveled the world to the farthest reaches to seek it out. Since ancient times it has been sought after. But, I know where the fountain of youth is! And I'm going to share it with you! You ready? The fountain of youth is in your mind. It has always been there. It's the voice that tells you to conquer. It's the "fight" response that we sometimes ignore and instead choose to listen to the "flight" response because it's easier. It's the burning desire to have more, be better, keep pushing forward. Because when your mind is right, there is nothing that you can't do!!!

We are the fattest country in the world. There are more obese people living in the USA than any other place on the planet. I am from Louisiana and we are SECOND in the Nation in obesity. Why? Because many of us don't have our minds right. There are some cases where people have medical conditions that contribute to them being overweight and in those cases I say seek medical advice. But for the majority our health issues are BECAUSE we are overweight and under-active. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I would love to get in shape but I have high blood pressure, high choloesteral and I take meds for that. And I have bad knees and a bad back and I can't do any exercises". All of those problems are usually because the person talking is extremely overweight. So, since I am all about making the world a better place, let me share with you what I have learned in my 20+ years in the fitness industry. Before you read further, please note I don't proclaim to be an expert and before you start any physicial program you should consult your physician. But you can't/won't do any of that until you get your mind right. Nobody made you fat, McDonald's and Burger King didn't do it, YOU did it. That is the first thing you need to do--own your weight and health issues. Because until you accept that YOU did this to YOU, then YOU will never accept that YOU CAN un-do this to you. So, if your'e mind isn't right, read no further. Save this blog for a time when you are ready to accept, learn, apply, and move forward, and go lay back down on the couch with the remote. But if you think you are ready, please read on.

Things that I have learned in the fitness industry:
1. You MUST set goals. And they MUST be specific, written and posted where you will see them regularly. Setting a goal of losing weight does not get it. Because you could lose one pound and say "There, I met my goal. I'm done." Generally a person can lose an average of two pounds per week--that's 8 - 10 pounds per month. Of course you can lose more but I'm going to tell you how to do it the healthy way without pills and extreme diets.
2. The secret to losing weight is to create a caloric deficit. You must burn up more calories than you consume. Bottom line and yes, it's really that simple. But you have to know how much goes in and how much you are burning up. Keep a food journal. Write down everything you eat during the day and the amount of calories you are consuming. There are several websites you can go to that will tell you how many calories foods contain--google 'em. Then you should invest in a monitor that you wear when you exercise that will show you how many calories you have burned during exercise. I recommend the bodybugg. You log in your food to the website and it calculates your calories. It also monitors how many calories you have burned during the day as well as how many steps you have taken. The goal there being to take more steps every day....the more you move the more you burn. The bugg is rather pricey but there are plenty of other monitors you can order online or purchase at Academy etc.
3. Eat every 2 - 3 hours!! WHAT!!!!???? Yup.In order to keep your metabolism up your body needs to be fed every 2 - 3 hours. BUT, it must be fed correctly. You are about to become an athlete with a lean, strong body, so you must start eating like an athlete. In order to lose weight you should consume more protiens than carbs. DO NOT deprive your body of carbs, it needs it. But DO limit your intake and the time of you day you eat them. Carbs are best consumed during the day and not at the evening meal. It gives your body a chance to turn it to the sugar it needs to function as well as time to burn it off before you go to bed.
4. NEVER skip breakfast. They have been telling us this since the beginning of time but it is so true. The reason it's called breakfast is because you are breaking the fast of not eating for 8 hours. Guess what happens when you wake up and hit the ground running and the first bite of food that goes in your mouth is noon? Your body has already gone into starvation mode and your metabolism has slowed in order not to consume the stores it has. A slow metabolism means fewer calories being consumed and that is totally going against what you are trying to achieve. So don't sabotage your efforts by skipping breakfast.
5. Ladies, don't be afraid to do resistance training using heavy weights. You WILL NOT bulk up, you don't have enough testosterone in your body to create muscles like a man. Gentlemen, you DO have the testosterone to bulk up so, add the weights. Personally, I recommend weight training 3 days a week skipping a day in between, male or female. The reason that it is recommended you skip a day in between is because when you are lifting and pushing those muscles to failure you are tearing those muscles. Jillian Michaels doesn't call her program "Shred it" for nothing. In order to build that muscle back up, you have to let it heal a day before you tear it up again. If you don't, you will not see results, other than just being sore all the time and leaving yourself prone to injury. We have also learned that resistance training creates a cardio effect with an after-burn that lasts as long or longer than straight cardio.
6. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio. This is a MUST for burning calories. Pick the activity you want to do; running, Zumba, Aerobics, Belly Dance, Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, Plyometrics, Basketball, Tennis, skating,cycling, it doesn't matter. Pick something that burns calories and I'm talking until you are dripping wet with sweat. Make it something you enjoy doing and do it at least 3 times a week. It is important to note that this activity needs to be what I call a soul mate workout. Try them until you find your soul mate. I'm not saying find something easy, make it challenging but something that fits YOU. I love music so, I run with my ipod stuck in my ears or I do Turbo Jam or Turbo Fire. It doesn't matter, my point is if you don't love it, your not going to do it.
7. Schedule your workout time. Put it on the calendar as if it were an appointment that you can't miss and DONT!! This is YOUR time so schedule it when you will have the least amount of interruptions. I am NOT a morning person but 4:30 AM is when I have the least amount of interruptions. Get my point? It may not be a convenient time or an easy time but this is work people and sacrifices must be made, so figure it out and do it.
8. Gym or home workout? Doesn't matter. Again, whatever fits your lifestyle. If it's easier to get to the gym to get away from the interruptions, join a gym. Paying the membership and possibly hiring a personal trainer may be enough incentive to make you get dressed and go!!! If you can't stand the gym atmosphere, or it's just a logistical nightmare, invest in some weights, resistance bands and a 90 day program that you can do at home.
9. There is no such thing as a diet!!! Stop it with the "d" word!! If you want to change the way you look and feel you have to change your lifestyle. This is a lifestyle change. That means that for the rest of your life, you must perform in this manner. When you achieve a goal, stop, take a deep breath, celebrate, and set a higher goal---forever. Lather, rinse, repeat!!! A diet is temporary, a lifestyle change is permanent.

This blog is long enough so I'm going to wind it up. I know some of this sounds pretty "in your face" and I mean it to be. I see so much potential in others and it makes me so mad/sad when I hear them make excuses. I want so much for YOU and I will be in your corner because you will need support and like-minded friends. This change is not easy and most of us don't like change. But this change IS the fountain of youth. You will have more energy, more enthusiasm for life, better health, and you will be able to participate in more activities with your kids. You will be more loving and understanding of the people around you. You will find your circle of friends to be more positive because positive people attract positive people.

I will follow up with another one discussing plateaus, clothing, shoes, support groups, and anything else you want me to talk about. Please leave me comments, opinions, and any questions or suggestions you have for the follow up blog.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way Through My Life

I have felt many “callings” during my life. The older I get the more “callings” I experience. I really think I have an adult version of A.D.D. because I move from one project/ passion,/calling to another with lightening speed-thus accounting for some sleepless nights because I can’t turn my brain off. At any rate, my latest calling is to teach teens how to have more confidence and self esteem and learn how to deal with peer pressure and hopefully teach them how they can change the way their peers think as well. Wouldn’t it be nice to break the cycle where teens feel so pressured or bullied that they have to commit suicide? Wouldn’t it be nice be break the cycle where teens feel they have no other options but to give in to peer pressure and race a car while under the influence risking their lives and the lives of others? Wouldn’t it be nice to break the cycle where teens feel their life is hopeless because they have been picked on in school because of the way their body looks? Wouldn’t it be nice to break the cycle where teens feel they are unworthy of being treated with respect and succumb or settle for whatever or whoever comes along? YES! YES! YES!!! So, that is my latest calling, to help teens by giving them the tools to deal with all of these issues and more. Where does one start that will give one the biggest audience of teens? Schools, right? I sent a letter over a month ago to our local school board asking permission to approach the schools about doing a presentation to the student body and any class, or club that would be interested. I referred them to my website for information (www.lifestylebylisa.com) on all of the topics I could do presentations on. Long story short, they told me NO. Wanna know why? Because I was a “for profit” organization—even though I told them I would do the presentations for FREE!!! But my website states to “contact me for rates” so they considered me “for profit” and they couldn’t give a “for profit” organization permission to come into the schools. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????? Would they seriously prevent our children from hearing this message for THAT reason? Well, apparently so. Needless to say, I am so frustrated and just a lil bit angry right now at all of the bureaucratic BS that I am about ready to throw my hands up and say “Forget this. Must not have heard correctly when I heard this latest calling!”

But a funny thing happened. Actually several funny things happened. First funny thing: Two days ago I received an email from a friend with a link to a program that is being done in other parts of the country. It is EXACTLY what I want to do when I grow up with my little program. This program was featured on MTV and was called “If You Knew Me”. You can youtube it or I have an episode posted on my facebook wall. It made my calling seem even louder after I watched this. Second funny thing: Today, after I got the phone call from the school board office, my 23 year old daughter sent me a message out of the blue that said “Hey Mom, has anyone told you lately how awesome you are? I love you” Well, after I wiped the tears away I realized it felt as if someone were hugging me and comforting me as if I were the child!!! Third funny thing: Then a client came in our office and started talking about Mother Teresa (again, totally out of the blue and unsolicited). She was telling me about a book she had read about Mother Teresa’s life and how God told her that he needed her help in taking care of the sick and poor. She knew without a doubt that this was her calling. So, she left the safe, secure world of the convent and entered the world of the poor. But it took her two years before she was able to establish a following. Fourth funny thing: Then I read an article about the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. He has been retired from football for 12 years and is training to compete in his second Strikeforce MMA fight---at the age of 48. When asked what he would do if knocked down by a younger, stronger, more nimble opponent in the ring he answered "I do this 'Walker shake,' " he said. "You got to get knocked down many times, shake it off. Life is about ups and downs, and you got to keep standing up."

All of this happened to me in ONE day (with the exception of the first email from a friend): The link to the page that showed my goal for the future. The words of encouragement from my daughter and the strange feeling of being wrapped in someone’s arms as if I were a child in need of comforting. The story of Mother Teresa (not that I am by any stretch of the imagination comparing ME to Mother Teresa, only the trials of bringing your passion to life) leaving the safety and security of the convent for a world unknown, telling me that I have to get uncomfortable in order to make a difference and that the road less traveled is never easy. And Herschel telling me that I gotta keep standing up when I get knocked down. I am still in awe of all of these signals. It proves that there are signs all around us if we learn to recognize them, apply them to what is going on in our lives and not be so blinded by the current circumstances that we don’t reap the benefits from the signs.

I may be a little hard headed sometimes but given the signs have I seen today I have decided to continue with my calling. I may not be able to go into the schools but I will approach Churches, Community Centers, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Private Schools. I will still reach children and there will still be lives to touch. And perhaps that’s the road I was supposed to take anyway. It will take a little longer and might be a little more difficult but I’ll just keep standing up and walking and talking with the belief that the lives I touch are the ones that needed it the most. WOW!!! What a day!!!

What I've Learned

I've learned that:
We don't have to change our friends, if we understnad that friends change.

Something that you do in an instant, can give you heartache for life.

You should always leave your loved ones with loving words, it may be the last time you see them.

We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel about it.

Gone is gone. It doesn't matter if a person suffered a long illness or died suddenly, they are gone nonetheless - forever.

Either you control your attitude, or it controls you.

Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you are down will be the one who helps you get up.

Sometimes when I am angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

The simplest things in life can make me smile...if I will only take the time to notice the simple things in life.

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all that they have.

Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences youv'e had and what you learned from them and less to do with how many years you have lived.

It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others, sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

Just because two people argue doesnt mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't agure doesn't mean they do love each other.

I can't control or change what others think.

There is a difference in controlling and changing what others think and influencing them.

You shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret, it may change your life forever.

Sometimes the people that you love most in life are taken from you much too soon. I suppose this one has been the hardest of lessons.

You can't make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved and the rest is up to them.

It takes years to build up trust and just mere seconds to destroy it.

It's not what you have in life, but who you are on the inside and who you have in your life that counts.

You can keep going, long after you think you can't.

There are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.

Even when you feel you have no more to give a friend cries out and you find the strength to help.

Our backgrounds and circumstances may have influenced our lives but we are responsible for who we become.

I am still learning and probably (hopefully) always will be and that is when I feel most alive.