Tuesday, June 10, 2008


Decision


Accurate analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure, disclosed the fact that lack of decision was near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure. This is no mere statement of a theory – it is a fact.
Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically every man must conquer.
You will have an opportunity to test your capacity to reach quick and definite decisions when you finish reading this lesson, and are ready to begin putting into action the principles which it describes.
Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and of changing these decisions slowly, if, and when they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly, and of changing these decisions quickly and often.
The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs, are, generally, easily influenced by the “opinions” of others. They permit the newspapers and the “gossiping” neighbors to do their “thinking” for them. “Opinions” are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by “opinions” when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking, much less in that of transmuting your own desire into money.
If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no desire of your own.
Napoleon HillFrom Think and Grow Rich

Saturday, June 7, 2008

7 Ways to Eat Meat and Stay Healthy

Lots of heart-conscious consumers and waist watchers have recently rehabbed their steak knives, having found that -- hang onto your knife sharpener -- eating a little red meat doesn't necessarily put you on the fast track to Fat Central. It's not the meat itself; it's the aging, artery-clogging, cholesterol-soaring, saturated fat in meat that you want to minimize. Here's how:
1. Select the best. When you're shopping for meat, choose cuts labeled USDA Select Grade; they have less fat than Choice and Prime.
2. Go lean. Choose packages labeled "lean" or "extra lean" whenever possible. Lean means the meat has fewer than 8.5 grams of fat per 3-ounce serving; extra lean has fewer than 4 grams.
3. Stay on the grass. Try to buy meat labeled "grass fed" or "pasture raised." It may have 25% to 50% less fat, fewer calories, and more heart-healthy omega-3s than regular grain-fed meat. (It also suggests the animal was raised humanely.)
4. Slice away. Trim external fat before cooking, and use that well-sharpened knife to remove any fat that's still there once it's on your plate. Doing so can slash fat intake by as much as half.
5. Keep it separate. Broil, grill, or roast meat on grills or pans that drain away fat.
6. Towel off. To remove both grease and calories, blot meatballs and burgers with paper towels after cooking.
7. Know your limits. Minimize meat-centered meals. RealAge recommends no more than one serving of red meat a week. One serving, says the USDA, is the size of a deck of cards, or about 3 ounces. How big is the payoff when you lose the fat but keep the meat? How would you like to see fewer candles on your birthday cake next year? Eating a low-fat diet -- and eating healthful unsaturated fats when you do eat fat -- can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

5 Reasons to Relish Tomatoes

You know that rhyme every kid learns how to finish: "An apple a day . . ." Make that “A tomato a day” -- it may be even better at keeping problems away. Although tomatoes have gotten a bit of rotten press lately as their role in reducing the risk of prostate cancer has hit the "lack of evidence" skids, there's still abundant reason to overindulge. Tomatoes are stellar sources of vitamins A and C, folate, potassium, fiber, and all kinds of protective antioxidants. And organic tomatoes are even better -- when they're grown without chemicals, tomatoes contain much higher amounts of flavonoids, which have antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here are five healthy reasons to add tomatoes to breakfast omelets, lunch sandwiches, and dinner sauces and salads:

1. Lower your blood pressure. Try snacking on cherry tomatoes while driving your kid’s carpool or prepping for your Toastmasters speech. These fruits (yes, tomatoes are fruits, not veggies) may keep your blood pressure in check. In just 8 weeks, people with mild hypertension who got a daily "dose" of tomatoes saw their systolic blood pressures (the top number) drop a whopping 10 points on average, and their diastolic blood pressures (the bottom number) drop by 4 points.

2. Avoid colds and flu. When men who are deficient in carotenoids (like lycopene and beta carotene) drink tomato juice regularly, they bump up their ability to fend off bacteria and viruses. However, the immunity-boosting effects take a while to kick in. So if you start upping your T-juice intake today, you may stay a step ahead of sore throats and colds tomorrow.

3. Save your skin. Who knew this thin-skinned fruit would make a terrific natural sunscreen? But people who include lycopene-rich tomato paste in their diets for at least 10 weeks get much less intense sunburns when they're exposed to UV light -- another reason to enjoy all those tomato-sauced dishes that are staples of Mediterranean diets.

4. Control cholesterol. A tomato a day may keep artery and heart problems at bay. Four weeks of daily tomato munching can increase good HDL cholesterol by 15% while lowering artery-clogging LDL cholesterol.

5. Fight aging. Tomatoes are rich in two spectacular antiaging free-radical squelchers: lycopene and beta carotene. In some cells, these antioxidants reduce free-radical damage to DNA by 42%. Both youth-protecting nutrients are enhanced when tomatoes are heated or eaten with a little fat, like olive oil. These two yummy recipes fit the bill: Grilled Pizza with Pesto, Tomatoes and Feta and Fresh Pomodoro Pasta, White Beans and Olives (both are from our friends at EatingWell).

All of these tomato-triggered benefits can reduce your RealAge, but blood pressure is a particular biggie. Keep it low (115/76 or less) and you can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Insight of The Day

"Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous - not just to some people in some circumstances - but to everyone all the time."

Thomas J. Watson1874-1956, Founder of IBM


"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."

Robert Louis Stevenson1850-1895, Essayist, Poet and Novelist

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

5 Way to Staying Young- Dr. Oz


5 ways to Staying Young with Dr. Oz Anti-Aging Checklist on ‘Oprah’ TV show


[Best Syndication] On today’s ‘Oprah’ TV show we received quite a lot of information from Dr. Oz about ways that you can reverse aging. Through diet and exercise and lifestyle habits you can easily put into place an anti-aging plan.
Oprah is 54 years old and she said it has hit her like a bulldozer. You have to work harder just to stay in shape. In January Bob Greene has started this year’s ‘Best Life Diet.’
The Anti-Aging Ultimate Checklist is summarized as follows:

1. Food
2. Exercise
3. Meditate
4. Sleep and Sex
5. Vitamins

The popular series health books that have been co-authored by Dr. Memhet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen have been bestsellers. More discussion about anti-aging and reversing your age is discussed in their book, “You: Staying Young the Owners Manual for extending your Warranty.”
What foods should be in your refrigerator?

1. Antioxidants help to prevent damage during the process of oxidation. Dr. Oz uses the example of an apple turning brown when the air hits it but if you put on lemon juice it will prevent the oxidation from occurring. Dr. Oz showed us foods that are rich with antioxidants which are blueberries which he said are also referred to brainberries. Dark colored foods help to carry antioxidants. Five fistfuls of antioxidant rich foods a day. Colorful foods often are full of antioxidants.

2. Broccoli is beneficial in more than one way. Dr. Oz explains that this vegetable can help lower cancer risk. Oprah said that broccoli can also help the thyroid as well.

3. Dr. Oz continued to explain that tomatoes when they are heated up with a little oil will help to deliver the lycopene, which is another antioxidant.

4. Acai is a fruit that comes from the Rainforest in South America. It is loaded with antioxidants.

5. Green or White Tea was recommended by Dr. Oz . He suggested that you drink 4 cups of green or white tea each day. Polyphenols and catechins are found in the teas that are believed to contribute to health benefits. Green tea is very young and it that hasn’t been dried much, while white tea is not dried at all which is hopefully going to improve the antixodiant health benefits.

6. Red Wine was recommended by Dr. Oz and suggested that 1 glass or serving was enough to help with getting resveratrol which helps in preventing your cells from aging. Dark grape juice will also have some resveratrol. Light colored grapes don’t offer the same kind of benefits.
Dr. Roizen co-author with Dr. Oz has created a test that he gave all of the audience members. The test is also available for free on their website at: http://www.realage.com/reg/regvar/st1.aspx?mod=LONGFORM

They had a 60 year old lady that Dr. Roizen said that she is closer to 48 years old. She looked really young. She has kept up with yoga for over 22 years. She does belly dancing too. She has a passion of reading and writing regularly.
Another lady was 63 years old and Dr. Roizen said that she is barely 50 years old based on her real age score. She looks great, but had a little bit of grey hair and wrinkles. Dr. Roizen said that she meditates for a long time, she sleeps well, and eats a balanced diet. Her passion in life is riding horses regularly. Dr. Roizen said that having a passion in life is worth 8 years of your anti-aging goals.
Another woman is 44 years old, but rates at almost 60 years old with the real age test. She is a smoker that does not exercise and has a lot of stress both at home and at work. She doesn’t deal well with the stress. She has smoked for over 30 years. They offered to pass her the blueberries, because she said to pass the blueberries. She gets the blueberries and said jokingly that she is not going to share this with the other audience members.

Spices full of anti-aging secrets.
Cinnamon can decrease blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels, especially in those that have type 2 diabetes.
Ginger can decrease your blood pressure, alleviate arthritis pain by reducing inflammation, and reduce your risk of cancer
Tumeric can also help arthritis sufferers. Tumeric can be found in Curry. Curry has been shown to relieve arthritis pain, and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Paprika and Cayenne Pepper has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure and to also improve circulation.
Rosemary is very important for learning. Dr. Oz showed Oprah rosemary and explained that it makes you smarter because it helps you focus.
Spices that are dried have almost the same effect as the fresh ones said Dr. Oz.
Fiber is important. Dr. Oz showed a bowl of steel cut oatmeal because you get more fiber that way. Instead of using hot water use apple juice said an audience member, it tastes really good prepared that way. Dr. Oz said to stay away from white flour. He showed artichoke pasta that has extra fiber.
Dr. Oz said that it has to say 100 percent whole grain to really be worth eating. He recommends eating beans for a good source of fiber.
A lady in the audience asked Dr. Oz about when she changed her diet and had to go bathroom at the most in-opportune time. She wants to know how to incorporate more fiber into her diet without the side effects of having to go bathroom all the time. Dr. Oz said that you have to work build up your dietary foundation of fiber intake a little bit at a time. If you use Beano it can help prevent gas from eating beans. Not mentioned on the show but equally important, adequate water intake can also be helpful when eating more dietary fiber.
Dr. Oz found chia seeds are full of fiber that come from South America. He gave Oprah a cupcake made with Chia. It adds more fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids. Oprah said that she takes the Flax seeds whole. Dr. Oz said that you have to grind up the flax seed to get the benefits of the Omega 3 fatty acids. You grind it up to get the healthy fats out of the foods. You can also get Omega 3 in walnuts. Fish has Omega 3 from spiralina algae. Dr. Oz made guacamole with spiralina algae. Oprah tasted it and it looked black in color, not that appealing. She said it wasn’t that bad.
Olive oil you need 1 – 2 tablespoon every day. Dr. Oz said that you should put the food in the olive and then put it in the pan. If you heat the oil to much it will cause the healthy oil to be damaged.
Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen said that the next part of the anti-aging battle is exercise. Another audience member asked Dr. Oz why she keeps gaining weight despite her exercising and eating healthy. Dr. Oz said to consider your waist as her health assessment and not necessarily the scale. She could have gained weight from exercising and muscle increase. He had her come onto the stage, and said that she probably is not pushing herself enough. He showed us how to calculate a heart rate formula to work within for cardiovascular exercise. The formula is take 220 and subtract your age. Take this result and multiply it by .80. This gives you your target heart rate. Her ideal heart rate is 140 beats per minute. She had her target heart rate goal be reached too fast and Dr. Oz thinks that she needs to work more on her fitness.
Dr. Oz showed exercises that can help build muscle mass. He demonstrated the front lunge. Don’t let your knee pass over your toe. The next is to do leg lifts by laying your back on the floor and lifting your legs off the ground to strengthen your core stomach area. Next he showed how to do pull ups. You can by a bar at home to install so you will have one easily accessible. He had a hard time originally doing pull-ups originally but he has worked up to around 20 of them after working at it. Dr. Oz did 21 pull-ups on the show.
Get the heart rate up to your target at least 3 times a week and do strength training 30 minutes weekly. You should always consult with your doctor before beginning any kind of exercise program as a pre-cautionary measure.
Dr. Oz said that you need to be flexible. You should be able to touch the floor. He showed various yoga poses; the plank, the up dog, the downward facing dog, salutation, and warrior pose. He also recommends tree pose for improving balance. He said to say yummmm and meditate during the yoga poses. Dr. Oz said to do it in your bathroom so that nobody will find you their. Prayer is mediation. You need a few moments to yourself.
Lack of sleep is aging us, said Dr. Oz. You need to get sleep to rejuvenate ourselves. Lack of sleep will strip years off of your age. When the sun went down before modern civilization we naturally slipped into sleep. He recommends recreating this by having a routine that quiets us down instead of stimulating us right before bedtime. He said if you don’t floss your teeth you could reduce your lifespan by 5 years.
Dr. Oz said that you need sex with your partner 2 to 3 times a week. Women benefits by getting a boost in oxytocin, and men get more testosterone. Dr. Oz joked to sleep naked and to install mirrors.
Oprah wanted to know more about vitamins. Dr. Oz discussed vitamin D. The biggest deficiency is with vitamin D. Take 1000 IU he suggests. Over half of all Americans are deficient in Vitamin D. This vitamin has been associated with preventing cancer, reducing heart problems, changing the outcomes risk factors for multiple sclerosis, and also risk factors associated with deficiencies in juvenile diabetes. Because of the sunscreen that is used in our society, even people in the south are getting less vitamin D from the sun.

Calcium with magnesium is important. Calcium supplements will constipate you, but the magnesium will help prevent that.
DHA omega 3 fish oil supplements he recommended.
Dr. Oz discussed multi-vitamins. He said to cut the vitamins in half with one being taken in the morning and one in the evening. Menstruating and pre-menopausal women will need some iron supplements. Pre-menopausal women take no more than 5000 IU of vitamin A. Men and post-menopausal women should take no more than 2500 IU of Vitamin A and they need no iron supplements. The multi-vitamin Dr. Oz recommends will be listed on Oprah.com.

Here is the checklist printout link for Dr. Oz anti-aging checklist sheet:
http://www.oprah.com/download/pdfs/health/oz/oz_antiaging_checklist.pdf

Dr. Oz said to take 2 baby Aspirin a day for those over the age of 40 to take this daily regimen. There is a chance of intestinal discomfort. Might Heart disease, cancer, wrinkles. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug.
Does it matter which multi-vitamin you should take. On the Oprah website they recommend the amounts that would be helpful.
The popular series health books that have been co-authored by Dr. Memhet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen have been bestsellers. More discussion about anti-aging and reversing your age is discussed in their book, “You: Staying Young the Owners Manual for extending your Warranty.”

By Nicole WilsonBest Syndication News Writer

Dr. Oz Advice


Forget the fad diets. Stop counting carbs. Dr. Mehmet Oz has teamed up with Dr. Michael Roizen to develop a diet plan that they say really works.
Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen have already helped millions live longer, look younger and become smarter patients. Now, they want to teach you how to lose weight and waist once and for all. The goal is to shrink your waist down to the ideal size—32 and a half inches for women and 35 inches for men—and make eating so easy, you never realize you’re dieting!
In the book YOU: On a Diet, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen explain why the body stores blubber and how cutting just 100 calories a day can help you lose a pound per month!
Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen studied people who lost weight and kept it off. They noticed that dieters who cut 400 calories a day ended up yo-yo dieting and regaining weight. Fasting shuts down your metabolism, Dr. Oz says, so when you bow to temptation and devour a candy bar, most of the calories are quickly deposited as fat.
Cutting 100 calories a day—the equivalent of a Granny Smith apple—is a dieting strategy that most people can sustain for a lifetime, he says.

5 Ingredients in Foods to avoid

The first step to getting on the path to better eating is to take stock of your pantry! Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen say there are five ingredients that should be banned from your diet forever.
The first ingredient to avoid is hydrogenated oil, which often masquerades as partially hydrogenated oil. Dr. Roizen says we should also eliminate sugar and high fructose corn syrup from our foods. “We eat 63 pounds of [high fructose corn syrup] a year, which puts 33 pounds on the typical American,” he says.
Enriched flour is the fourth ingredient to avoid. “[Enriched] means they took all the good stuff out and put a little back,” Dr. Roizen says. In 1960, Americans didn’t use enriched flour, but today we consume 63 pounds a year, he says.
The fifth offenders are white foods—including bleached flour. The only white items you should have in your fridge are egg whites, cauliflower and fish, Dr. Roizen says.
Your favorite snack foods won’t advertise their artificial ingredients—Oprah’s medical experts say you have to read the small print for yourself!
Supermarket Secrets: How to shop smarter at the food store
After you’ve read the ingredients on the label, check out how much saturated fat and sugar is in your food. Dr. Roizen says you want to buy foods that contain less than four grams of saturated fat and less than four grams of sugar per serving.
Keep in mind—polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are good for you and help fight depression.
Can’t seem to find any food that fits the bill? Dr. Oz says you should head over to the produce aisle and stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Packaged goods usually contain harmful, artificial ingredients because they’re designed to stay on the shelf for years, he says.
The supermarket shelves are filled with foods that seem healthy…but don’t be fooled. Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen say that 50 percent of the sugar we eat comes from “fat free” foods like salad dressings and soft drinks. In fact, young women get about half their daily calories from salad dressing! Dr. Oz says to substitute olive oil and vinegar for a healthier alternative.
Curb craving with salty, crunchy snacks
It’s 3 p.m. and you’re craving something sweet…and something salty. Before you put your quarters into the closest vending machine, consider some healthy alternatives to potato chips and candy bars.
When Dr. Oz wants to crush a craving, he relies on his emergency snacks, which he carries everywhere! “Emergency foods you want tend to be foods that are a little crunchy with some sweetness to them,” he says.
Apples, carrots and nuts are great snacks to consider. A glass of vegetable juice also takes the edge off, he says. One snack you may not have thought of are breath strips! “I like [breath strips] because, a lot of times, we have a craving center in our brain that says put something in me,” he says. “It doesn’t tell you what.”
Dr. Oz says a glass of water, a good night’s sleep or sex might also satisfy your craving center.
Another way to fight fat is to spice it up! Adding red pepper flakes or cinnamon to your food can reduce your appetite. Starting with a smaller plate also helps you eat 33 percent less, Dr. Oz says.
Breakfast is also a key component to Dr. Oz’s diet plan. “People who eat breakfast every day are thinner,” he says. “Jump start your metabolism with breakfast—don’t miss it!”
Dr. Roizen says people should try to automate their breakfast and lunch. “Why we get so fat is we have so many choices…we want one of everything,” he says.
For breakfast, Dr. Roizen says you should have the same thing or the same small variety of things every day. Steel-cut oatmeal, whole grain cereals and egg-white omelets are great options. Then, do the same thing at lunch. Find a lunch that’s satisfying and stick with it. Then, come dinner time, you can enjoy a variety of options!

Healthy Breakfast option on the go
When soggy cereal and steel-cut oatmeal loses its appeal, whip up one of Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen’s favorite breakfast treats!
The Quick Magical Breakfast Blaster2 servings, 136 calories per serving
1 scoop (1/3 cup) Soy protein (like Nature’s Plus Spiru-Tein)1/2 tablespoon flaxseed oil1/4 cup frozen blueberries1/2 large ripe banana (or other fruits of your choice)1/2 tablespoon apple juice concentrate or honey1 teaspoon Psyillium seed husks
Peel banana; break into chunks. Put all ingredients in a blender. Add 12 ounces of water and ice, as well as powdered vitamins. Cover, blend until fairly smooth.

source: Oprah.com