I'm now 20 days into my own version of Optimal Living. I'm starting to notice smaller changes now and I'm getting in the groove of things. Feeling really good. Here's a few things I'd like to share over the past 10 days.
1. PhilosophersNotes: I really love my daily practice of listening, meditating and journaling on a great summary of a super-awesome book each day. The wisdom that is packed in these 20 minute summaries is unbelievable.
Here is the list of Books I covered this week:
The Bhagavad Gita - Krishna
Body Mind Mastery - Dan Millman
The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks
Big Mind, Big Heart - Genpo Roche
The Book of Understanding - Osho
Conscious Living - Gay Hendricks
Constructive Living - David K. Reynolds
The Courage to Create - Rollo May
Creative Mind and Success - Earnest Holmes
The Dark Side of the Light Chasers - Debbie Ford
Here's a few of my favorite quotes I came across the past 10 days.
"Be open to learning. We choose how gently we get our lessons by how open we are to learning. Life teaches with a sledge hammer if we refuse to pay attention. It administers the same lesson with a feather tickle if we show a willingness to learn." - Gay Hendricks
"If you make a powerful, sincere commitment, a vow that you really want to live your life in the zone of genius, your journey will be blessed with uncommon good fortune at all the twists and turns of the road. Commitment has that power." - Gay Hendricks
"How much better to pursue a straight course and eventually reach that destination where the things that are pleasant and the things that are honorable finally become, for you, the same." - Seneca
"Being is so significant that it is irreplaceable, you're just yourself. Do something that comes out of you, not to assert but to express. Sing your song, and dance your dance. Rejoice in being whatever nature has chosen you to be." - Osho
"Follow your bliss and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be." - Joseph Campbell
"We cannot choose out external circumstances but we can always choose how we respond to them." - Epictetus
"Our behavior is controllable in a way that out feelings are not. There's a very special satisfaction for the artist of living who works within life's limits, to produce a fine self portrait. The more control we develop over our actions the more chance we have of producing a self we can be proud of." - David K. Reynolds
"Sow a thought and you reap an action. Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The very best thing you can do for the world is to make the most of yourself." - Wallace D. Wattles
"Every organism has one and only one central need in life, to fulfill its own potentialities." - Rollo May
"As irrigators lead water where they want, as archers make their arrows straight, as carpenters carve wood, the wise shape their lives." - Buddha
"The man with the big thought is always the man who does big things in life." - Earnest Holmes
"Great men are the ones who get a vision and then go to work to make it come true, never looking to one side, but with one-pointedness and calm determination stick to the thing until it is accomplished." - Earnest Holmes
"What a wonderful power, what a newness of life and power of expression is waiting for those who really believe." - Earnest Holmes
"Envy is ignorance, imitation is suicide." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"How you do anything is how you do everything." (?)
"Attend your own lectures." - Debbie Ford
"One should not wish to enjoy, where one does not give joy." - Frederick Nietzsche
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right." - Henry Ford
"Fear is excitement without the breath." - Fritz Pearls
"He who controls others may be powerful but he who has mastered himself is mightier still." - Lao Tzu
"Nothing remains, everything passes by, the only thing that always abides is your witnessing." - Osho
"When the potential becomes the actual, only then is a man fulfilled." - Osho
"We all need more backbone than wishbone." (?)
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God, your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We are born to manifest the glory of God within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson
"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career, I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan
:-)
2. Jump Attack: I thought Michael Jordan's quote was a perfect segue, since the Jump Attack program was developed by his very own Trainer, Tim Grover of Attack Athletics.
The super-soreness I had been experiencing early on has now subsided as my body is getting used to the intensity of the workouts. I still get slightly sore, but I am starting to feel great. I feel awesome upon completion of each workout. It is so empowering. I feel a little extra pep in my step and in my being. It is really, really hard work and you just cannot imitate that feeling of accomplishment as each workout is finished. I am loving it.
As for results, that part is still-to-come as I have yet to notice a significant extra lift in elevation. Soon enough.
3. Nutrition: I have continued on with my plant based diet (Vegan) and have been feeling good. On top of eating a lot of Organic grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, I have been incorporating Nutritional Yeast into my arsenal, as it is packed with great nutrients my body wants and needs. I've also been taking a daily dose of Organic Flax Oil. My energy levels during workouts and basketball has seemed boundless. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you'll be weak and tired from a Vegan Diet. As long as it is well planned, you can thrive off only things that grow right from the Earth. Look at a horse for example, they eat grass and oats and are one giant muscle. Pretty cool.
4. Yoga: As I mentioned in my last update, I have still continued to struggle with getting in a daily routine of Yoga. I practice here and there but it is still not consistent. Flexibility is coming back however, due to my body adjusting to the intensity of the Jump Attack workouts, so it is becoming enjoyable again. I'll stay with it and try to get it down pat.
5. Sweets and Refined Foods: I have been sweets, sodas, and refined food free. I had a bit of a sweet tooth in the past, so this has been an empowering accomplishment as well. Most of all, I have been feeling great, so in the end it's not really a sacrifice because of all that I am gainning in health and spirit. The instant gratification is gone but the hard work and real rewards are what I'm after, so I don't really miss them at all.
Looking forward to more progress and positivity to report. See you in 10 more days...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The First 10 Days...
I've finished the first 10 days of my Optimal Living Program. Because I mentally prepared and really wanted to do this, it has been much easier a task than I had imagined initially. I am enthusiastic about the growth, development and progress to come, which has made the changes exciting rather than burdensome. I don't notice a whole lot of changes yet, being so early on in the "100 Days" but I am getting into the routine of the new positive habits I am developing.
Here are reflections from the first Ten Days:
1. Cheese. Being a Vegetarian over the past 4 years or so, I've relied heavily on Cheese as a good source of protein, and as a very satisfying/filling meal. This is the first time in my entire life I have gone any extended period without having cheese. I would guess that I had cheese virtually every day of my life. Choosing a Vegan diet and eliminating Cheese has been the biggest change. Not relying on cheese has forced me to expand my shopping, cooking and eating options, which I always enjoy doing. I made a really good Pasta the other day. Rigatoni Pasta, with Field Grain faux Apple/Sage Sausage, Portobella Mushroom, Red Onion, Carrot, Poblano Pepper, Mixed Greens, and covered in a BBQ Gravy I made. It was really good. Had I not been forced to expand my options I would have most likely eaten my most frequent meal from previous times, an Organic Whole Foods Tortilla, with a ton of Whole Foods Vegetarian Cheese, Tofurkey and Cholula. I used to eat one or two of those daily. It feels good to branch out and expand my options.
2. Jump Attack. I have been extremely sore from the Jump Attack Program, which incorporates, Weight Training, Plyometrics, and Flexibility exercises. It involves a lot of explosive movement and has me very, very stiff. The intense workouts are 2 days a week and about 2-3 hours a piece. They are grueling, and the day after I find it hard to even sit down. It is very early on, so I look forward to my body getting stronger and more used to the intensity of the workouts. I continue to play the game of Basketball that I love so much and the reason why I am doing this workout in the first place, although being so stiff and broken down, I have been slower than normal. Gotta break it down to build it up. My goal is a two-handed slam dunk by programs end, hopefully in a game. :-)
3. PhilosophersNotes. I have listened to one of Brian Johnson's PhilosophersNotes every day. I listen and meditate on one book summary each day, taking notes and journaling alongside. I bought a 100 page note Pad from Staples which is made out of Bagasse, an environmentally friendly Sugarcane waste. I am using one page, front and back, for thoughts, ideas and revelations on each one of the 100 PhilosophersNotes. I really look forward to this time to clear my head, focus on what is really important, and to find areas in my life that I can improve and develop further. The wisdom, knowledge and insight these notes have is just astonishing. Here are the notes I have gone over the first 10 days.
"The Thrive Diet" by Brendan Brazier
"The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent" by Esther and Jerry Hicks
"Analects of Confucius"
"The First 30 Days" by Ariane De Bonvoisin
"As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen
"Do You" by Russell Simmons
"Ask and it is Given" by Esther and Jerry Hicks
"Authentic Happiness" by Martin Seligman
"Awareness" by Anthony De Melo
"The Power of TED" by David Emerald
Here's a couple favorite quotes I picked up over the past 10 days via those authors above on PhilosophersNotes.
"Eating well can eliminate 40% of overall stress." - Brendan Brazier
"The World needs demonstration more than it needs instruction." - Wallace D. Wattles
"The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities." - James Allen
"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. Your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil." - James Allen
"80% of success is showing up." - James Allen
"I dream my painting and paint my dream." - Vincent Van Gogh
"Repetition is the mother of genius." - (?)
"Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow man, both living and dead. And how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received." - Albert Einstein
"You cannot see outside of you, what you fail to see inside" - Anthony De Melo
"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character" - Anthony De Melo
"We see people and things as WE are, not as THEY are." - Anthony De Melo
4. Yoga. This is an area I need to improve on. I took the first week memorizing Sun Salutations and other poses/forms of Yoga. I have two young boys, a 2 and 1 year old, and they have kept me from being consistent with my practice. I have not been able to get up earlier than they have to get Yoga in, and once they are up they need diapers changed, breakfast, attention, etc. Also with the Jump Attack program and how stiff I have been, it has been hard to make Yoga enjoyable. Then there is work after all that. I will stay after it and figure out a way to make it work.
5. Sweets. I have stayed clear of all sweets, sodas, etc. They sure look good, but I know they don't do me any good so I stay clear.
See you in 10 more days with more progress to report and more goodness to share.
:-)
Here are reflections from the first Ten Days:
1. Cheese. Being a Vegetarian over the past 4 years or so, I've relied heavily on Cheese as a good source of protein, and as a very satisfying/filling meal. This is the first time in my entire life I have gone any extended period without having cheese. I would guess that I had cheese virtually every day of my life. Choosing a Vegan diet and eliminating Cheese has been the biggest change. Not relying on cheese has forced me to expand my shopping, cooking and eating options, which I always enjoy doing. I made a really good Pasta the other day. Rigatoni Pasta, with Field Grain faux Apple/Sage Sausage, Portobella Mushroom, Red Onion, Carrot, Poblano Pepper, Mixed Greens, and covered in a BBQ Gravy I made. It was really good. Had I not been forced to expand my options I would have most likely eaten my most frequent meal from previous times, an Organic Whole Foods Tortilla, with a ton of Whole Foods Vegetarian Cheese, Tofurkey and Cholula. I used to eat one or two of those daily. It feels good to branch out and expand my options.
2. Jump Attack. I have been extremely sore from the Jump Attack Program, which incorporates, Weight Training, Plyometrics, and Flexibility exercises. It involves a lot of explosive movement and has me very, very stiff. The intense workouts are 2 days a week and about 2-3 hours a piece. They are grueling, and the day after I find it hard to even sit down. It is very early on, so I look forward to my body getting stronger and more used to the intensity of the workouts. I continue to play the game of Basketball that I love so much and the reason why I am doing this workout in the first place, although being so stiff and broken down, I have been slower than normal. Gotta break it down to build it up. My goal is a two-handed slam dunk by programs end, hopefully in a game. :-)
3. PhilosophersNotes. I have listened to one of Brian Johnson's PhilosophersNotes every day. I listen and meditate on one book summary each day, taking notes and journaling alongside. I bought a 100 page note Pad from Staples which is made out of Bagasse, an environmentally friendly Sugarcane waste. I am using one page, front and back, for thoughts, ideas and revelations on each one of the 100 PhilosophersNotes. I really look forward to this time to clear my head, focus on what is really important, and to find areas in my life that I can improve and develop further. The wisdom, knowledge and insight these notes have is just astonishing. Here are the notes I have gone over the first 10 days.
"The Thrive Diet" by Brendan Brazier
"The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent" by Esther and Jerry Hicks
"Analects of Confucius"
"The First 30 Days" by Ariane De Bonvoisin
"As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen
"Do You" by Russell Simmons
"Ask and it is Given" by Esther and Jerry Hicks
"Authentic Happiness" by Martin Seligman
"Awareness" by Anthony De Melo
"The Power of TED" by David Emerald
Here's a couple favorite quotes I picked up over the past 10 days via those authors above on PhilosophersNotes.
"Eating well can eliminate 40% of overall stress." - Brendan Brazier
"The World needs demonstration more than it needs instruction." - Wallace D. Wattles
"The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities." - James Allen
"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. Your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil." - James Allen
"80% of success is showing up." - James Allen
"I dream my painting and paint my dream." - Vincent Van Gogh
"Repetition is the mother of genius." - (?)
"Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow man, both living and dead. And how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received." - Albert Einstein
"You cannot see outside of you, what you fail to see inside" - Anthony De Melo
"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character" - Anthony De Melo
"We see people and things as WE are, not as THEY are." - Anthony De Melo
4. Yoga. This is an area I need to improve on. I took the first week memorizing Sun Salutations and other poses/forms of Yoga. I have two young boys, a 2 and 1 year old, and they have kept me from being consistent with my practice. I have not been able to get up earlier than they have to get Yoga in, and once they are up they need diapers changed, breakfast, attention, etc. Also with the Jump Attack program and how stiff I have been, it has been hard to make Yoga enjoyable. Then there is work after all that. I will stay after it and figure out a way to make it work.
5. Sweets. I have stayed clear of all sweets, sodas, etc. They sure look good, but I know they don't do me any good so I stay clear.
See you in 10 more days with more progress to report and more goodness to share.
:-)
Friday, January 1, 2010
100 Days - Ground Rules
100 Days of Optimal Living aka "Living Up" began today.
I weighed in at 198lbs with 17.1% Body Fat. I will be sharing info, lessons, quotes, reflections, epiphanies, and recipes etc, as I learn along the way. I'll report every 10 days. At the end of the 100 day period I will chart, compare and evaluate my progress. Here we go!
Here are the details of my 100 day program.
Commitments/Requirements:
1. I will follow a strict Vegan Diet.
2. Engage in daily Yoga
3. Listen to one PhilosophersNotes daily.
4. Complete the "Jump Attack" training program
5. Engage in Meditation/Intention/Focus/Visualization daily.
6. I will abstain from all refined sugars, sweets, sodas, alcohol, etc
Basically, if it's not good for me, I'm not gonna do it.
I want to see where doing this for 100 days will lead me.
I want to see what I can do if I really set my mind to something, while I am blessed with this life now.
Maybe I can inspire someone else along the way too.
I'm excited and ready for the challenge.
I'm ready to begin "Living Up"
I weighed in at 198lbs with 17.1% Body Fat. I will be sharing info, lessons, quotes, reflections, epiphanies, and recipes etc, as I learn along the way. I'll report every 10 days. At the end of the 100 day period I will chart, compare and evaluate my progress. Here we go!
Here are the details of my 100 day program.
Commitments/Requirements:
1. I will follow a strict Vegan Diet.
2. Engage in daily Yoga
3. Listen to one PhilosophersNotes daily.
4. Complete the "Jump Attack" training program
5. Engage in Meditation/Intention/Focus/Visualization daily.
6. I will abstain from all refined sugars, sweets, sodas, alcohol, etc
Basically, if it's not good for me, I'm not gonna do it.
I want to see where doing this for 100 days will lead me.
I want to see what I can do if I really set my mind to something, while I am blessed with this life now.
Maybe I can inspire someone else along the way too.
I'm excited and ready for the challenge.
I'm ready to begin "Living Up"
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