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Breaking bad habits in 2008

From the desk of David Arthur – Pharmacist

I want to wish all of you a very happy 2008. I know that I might be two weeks late in doing this but I feel so strongly that if we all focus on having the correct thought process, discipline this year, we can truly make this year rock.

I was at the coast this December and developed some daily habits which allowed me to come back   feeling rejuvenated and ready to start this year. I stopped my daily caffeine intake, went on daily power walks, ate healthy food and did a daily meditation. The secret however is how to maintain these good habits as I was only back for one week and the only things I could keep doing was the no coffee and the healthy eating. My exercise and daily meditations took a dive even though I knew that I would enjoy doing them.  What I kept on questioning was why would I not do something if it made me feel good. I realised that something was blocking my choices.

I would presume that you all at some point have experienced the same type of thing. It’s January and without fail our resolutions always involve  becoming healthier,  perhaps loose a little weight , go to gym, change the speed of your lives. We set out that first day back at work with all the best intentions and then something happens. You decide that I’m going to skip Gym today. Just today. This ‘’just today’’ turns into weeks and then months. You are now back in the old habit and cycle. You start getting back into the old patterns where one feels comfortable. In a way I often refer to this as your familiar land. For those that I consult with will often hear me speak about moving from familiar land into unfamiliar land and this is so important for developing ones sense of self. We should embrace unfamiliar territory as this is the land where we become ‘’somebodies’’. Now how can we make sure that we keep ourselves becoming ‘’somebodies’’

Why does this happen and what can be done about this?

I feel that within each and every one of us there is some type of addict and if we are not careful by not allowing this addict to be happy on a daily basis then we will end up self-sabotaging and denying ourselves the right to keep the good habits. So here are some simple steps to be taken on a daily basis to aid you in breaking this trend.

 

Some easy steps to be done daily to break these habits

1.       1. Do a brisk walk for 20 minutes per day.

This daily walk you need to do for a minimum of 90 days and it is not negotiable and you cannot break that contract to yourselves . The benefits of this kind of daily routine is to enable the addict in you to become happy. It allows you to clear your thoughts and creatively manage your daily tasks. I often get clients to where i-pods while walking so that ones senses are being focused on something else while walking. This exercise turns into a type of moving meditation. It is so good from a willpower point of you. One develops willpower by not breaking this contract with yourself.

2.        

3.       2. Cut out sugar.

4.       I want you all to see that sugar turns your lights off. In my practice I have found that if one sticks to low GI foods and eat regular meals with the appropriate snacks in between, you will be on your way to preventing age related chronic illnesses. Our western diets, fast foods, refined carbohydrates, lack of soil minerals and nutrients  all cause our insulin – sugar ratios in our bodies to be out of balance. The ramifications  of this can affect everything from inflammation to hormonal imbalances to high cholesterol heart disease, weight gain and fatigue

I like recommending a natural sugar substitute called sucralose. It comes in a powder form, even looks like sugar , has no after taste and can be used for baking, cooking and in our refreshments

 

3. Embrace responsibility.

I find this area of our lives to be very interesting as one can become quite vulnerable this time of the year as money is often tight, school fees need to be paid and interest rates etc rise. I often get clients to look at the true meaning of the word ‘’responsibility’’. It is our responsibility on earth to work, to play and to lead a balanced life. By simply changing ‘’responsibility’’ to an ‘’ability to respond appropriately ‘’ you are immediately changing the weight of the word and you then realise that it’s just an ability you need to develop. Top CEOs of companies have often sat with me in consultation and I have often asked them how do they do it and they all have given a very similar answer. They use the word ‘’ability’’. The ability to employ the right people. The ability to say yes or no at the appropriate time. Just think about it. If you learned the ability to do one thing at a time you would have more energy

 

4. Take the correct steps to a better health.

Remember knowledge is power and it’s your right to be healthy. You could never accomplish any goals in your life if you are not healthy. Make sure that you are taking the basic non-negotiable supplements and nutrients on a daily basis. Find the right physician to cater to your needs. Have regular and appropriate blood tests done and make sure that your hormones are at optimum levels in your body. As you all know we age because our hormones decline.

A good daily combination of supplements for every one to take must include

- Good vitamins, minerals and micronutrients eg –Life-Complete

- Good combination anti-oxidant eg – Life Anti-Oxidants mega potency

- Essential fatty acids ( omega 3’s) eg – life – omega 3’s

- Optimum Calcium, Magnesium and vitamin D3 supplement eg – Life Calcium D3 /Magnesium.

- Daily intake of invisible fibre – eg – Life – Invisible Fibre (this unique fibre product lowers the Glycaemic index of foods)

 

5. Have an annual anti-aging consultation.

This involves consulting with a doctor that works with the principals of keeping you well and that have an integrative approach to your aging process. These consultations usually involve full medicals with comprehensive blood work to check hormone levels in the body. It’s not appropriate to only measure one hormone at a time. Hormones work like a symphony and need to be measured all at the same time with one conductor. Imagine a symphony with more than one conductor or no conductor at all.

Please feel free to contact Life-Check on Tel: 011-463-0036  Fax : 011-463-9832 or visit our website www.lifecheck.co.za

Our responsible staff will make sure that you are guided in the right direction

Many thanks as always for you unbelievable support over the past few years. You all have allowed me to live my passion

Dave Arthur