Archive for the ‘Live to the Max’ Category
Thursday, July 7th 2011
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Looking great is nice. But…
Looking great and being internally healthy is the key to life.
Internally healthy can be categorized two ways:
1 – Physical/Biological/Physiological
2 – Mental/Emotional/Spiritual
My primary focus in talking about Metabolic Syndrome is: 1 – Physical/Biological/Physiological (Even though there is certainly a connection to #2. We will save that for another day.)
If you’re into living a healthy and fit lifestyle – then you surely have heard the term “Metabolic Syndrome”. The problem is – a strange confusion surrounds this major health issue and what it means to you, your body and your health…
Syndrome X is the medical ‘slang’ term for “Metabolic Syndrome” and all the medical conditions which are listed as part of its definition. It is associated with overweight/obese people in every country. In the USA – some studies estimate 25% of the population as having Metabolic Syndrome…
There are several major health organizations who have their own, slightly varied, list of criteria for what classifies a patient with Syndrome X.
For the most part they are all very similar and offer the same conclusions and recommendations.
BUT on a lager scale – there is a major point of confusion – and what I share below will help you make sense of this life killer…
Most people never stop to think if Metabolic Syndrome is something which causes all the medical conditions – OR – if the medical conditions are the result of something(s) – and the conditions are simply given this “group name/label” of Metabolic Syndrome/Syndrome X.
Here’s the summary on that. Please understand, this is my perspective, based on my academic studies, clinical hours, and one-on-one time with clients over the last 23 years…
Metabolic Syndrome is the result of poor lifestyle habits and choices. A result of self-neglect. A result of believing “doctors and medications” are supposed to keep me healthy and in-shape”.
To be more specific – you are most likely to give yourself Syndrome X:
- If you do not exercise properly, on a consistent basis.
- If your nutrition habits are based on empty calorie foods with weak nutrient profiles
- If you drink excessively
- If you are a smoker
- If you lack proper sleep
Those are the biggies – and many people can easily write “GUILTY”next to at least 3 or 4 of those. Hence the high rate of people who have given themselves Metabolic Syndrome.
So, what does it look like?
Here’s a photo for a simple example.
Metabolic Syndrome X
For more examples just observe people next time you’re in a public place. At least 25-30% of them will be obviously overweight and out of shape. That’s what it looks like on the surface…
Going below the surface:
A – Your hormonal functions are all out of sync and out of whack, most likely on “low” setting
B – Testosterone/estrogen (depending on gender), growth hormone, thyroid hormones all suffer
C – Blood lipid levels enter the dangerous zones
D – Blood pressure escalates into the disease ranges
E – Your sleep patterns are thrown off and the quality and depth of your sleep decline
F – Cholesterol levels and ratios are pushed into the “high risk” category
G – Elevated glucose and insulin levels (diabetes)
H – You become a walking time-bomb with a very limited quality-of-life. Period.
End result (while you are still alive):
1 – You have no energy
2 – You are moody
3 – Your sex drive and desire are in the dumps
4 – You are depressed
5 – You can’t keep up with your kids or your grand-kids
6 – You age so much faster
7 – You can’t do the things you used to do
8 – THE LIST GOES ON….
I highlight all this because, most of this, most of the time is AVOIDABLE. But – it’s up to you to take responsibility for your own body, your own health – your own total well-being. NOBODY can do this for you. NOBODY.
Your life is in your hands. You make of it what you wish.
I’m not sure where you are at right now in your life – as I write these posts for so many people…
You may have perfect control of your body, mind and health. Or, you may be trying but still struggling to find the right “solution”. Or, you may have already given up and let outside forces dictate the choices you make at your own will – with little hope to turn things around.
Stay tuned for a follow up to this post as I will provide some insight and direction no matter which stage you are at – even if you have lost hope and are already suffering from the Syndrome. I will be pulling together info and resources on actions steps, growth hormone effects, sleep improvement and libido enhancement – just to name a few.
MAKE NOTE: There is hope… But for now, if you want more details on Metabolic Syndrome I have linked directly to a great page on Wikipedia.org featuring a deeply detailed entry on all aspects of Metabolic Syndrome/Syndrome X. If you are interested – here is the link:
Metabolic Syndrome on Wikipedia.org
If you know anyone who will benefit from today’s post – PLEASE feel free to share it. Many people can use this right now. And I appreciate you helping me get the word of health and fitness out there… And if you have any comments or thoughts – please post in the ‘comment’ section below…
“LIVE to the MAX…”
Your trainer forever – your trainer for life,
– Joey Atlas
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These are the Tactics which Separate the
Successful from the Unsuccessful…
Popularity: 11% [?]
Friday, June 24th 2011
For the last 3 years or so – I’ve been sleeping on a very basic futon. As part of the major life transition I went through – it was simply part of the program…
This futon is actually pretty good for an occasional 20 minute nap, but making it my place of rest was a challenge. It eventually became my enemy… So…
A few weeks ago – I realized it was time for change…
I wasn’t sleeping well. I was having odd aches and pains, not feeling well-rested the next day, and just not at the top of my game the way I know I should be…
I knew it was the lack of deep, restful sleep on a proper bed… This had to be reversed.
And I knew there was only one way for me to do this…. It’s called “Tempurpedic”!!
If you have one yourself – you know what I mean – But if you don’t, I will tell you, for me, there is no better way to get a deep, restful sleep as compared to this incredible technology.
I super-sized it, of course – so I have this “ocean” of sleeping space on the MOST comfortable surface I’ve ever sprawled out on.
I couldn’t wait to crawl under the covers the first night, to feel the support, the cradling of my muscles-joints-bones and my soul, the “healing” power of this unique mattress. I awoke feeling like a new man.
- Certain aches and pains were GONE the next morning…
- My energy levels and alertness are humming…
- My workouts are even more fantastic…
- I even look “better rested”…
- My dreams are even better!!
Sleep Well - Live Well
Last night was night #2 – and tonight will be night #3… I look forward to every evening of sleep; ….now another one of life’s simple, yet powerful gifts…
The futon has a new role now. It has become the couch in my family room 
So, “what’s my point in all this”, you may be asking yourself…
SLEEP is essential to a high quality of life. I mean, deep, restful, restorative sleep. If your sleep is less than ideal – it could be causing so many other issues for you – in all areas of your life, both internally and externally.
One of the most important processes which happens while we sleep is: hormone regulation
The better you sleep the better the hormonal processes. Period.
And as we all know – the hormones are responsible for just about anything connected to your metabolism, energy, skin texture, physical performance, immune-function, libido, etc…
For a deeper academic look; here is an article from Medscape.org
The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Hormones and Metabolism
Proper sleep enables you to ‘LIVE to the MAX’
Poor sleep is a slow, steady and cumulative sacrifice which ages you quickly and prevents you from excelling in other areas of your life.
Stay tuned for more on the “sleep-hormone-quality of life” connection… More to come.
Have any questions or thoughts about today’s post? Feel free to use the comment section below.
Your trainer,
— Joey Atlas
M.S., Exercise Physiology
Popularity: 7% [?]
Monday, March 14th 2011
I’ll turn 41 years young on Wednesday…
Joey and Dom: Summer in NY
And my brother, Dom, will be 38 on Friday. Cool, huh?
Yeah, as you can see he was gifted with the hair gene and I was blessed with the movie-star smile
When I was a kid – 41 sounded “old”… But now I know the truth – my truth… 41 is young.
There’s an old saying – sounds something like this:
“It’s a shame that youth is wasted on the young…”
I can’t really agree with that, because I’m doing what I need to do to stay young and in effect – I’m maintaining that “youth” – even at the 41 – an age where most people feel like “life is over and it’s all downhill from here…”
Truth is – I’m just coming onto my prime – and I hope this will inspire you to adopt the same mindset and approach to your life – starting today…
This blueprint isn’t complete – so maybe you can add your suggestions in the ‘comments’ section below.. And it is somewhat random too as I let my mind jump around a bit as I cranked this out…
Some ways to describe what you get out of this – or how others may define these strategies and tactics:
Aging In Reverse, Slow the Aging Process, Reverse Aging, etc…
So Here We Go:
1 – I workout consistently
2 – I even on the road (vacation, biz, visiting family-friends, etc…)
3 – I DON’T WATCH TV – there is SO MUCH more to do with my time.
4 – I have workout options in my home
5 – I learned how to get awesome workouts on playground
6 – I maintain my youthful sense of humor
7 – I don’t talk about aging that way most people do (this actually throws some people off/ wakes them up)
8 – I drink 4-6 cups of various teas each day (black, oolong, green, jasmine green, etc…)
9 – I actively play with my kids. We run wild on the beach, wrestle, throw each other in the water, throw frisbees, footballs, kick the soccer ball, race each other, etc…
10 – We ride bikes
11 – We hike in the state parks
12 – We walk on the beach
13 – We walk our neighborhood
14 – I joke around with my brother and sister just like we did 30 years ago (do things which make me laugh – a LOT)
15 – Most of my meals consist of veggies, fruits, various beans, nuts, some complex carbs, – and some fish – and on occasion some poultry, or grass-fed beef
16 – I sure do have my chocolate, pizza and wine too…
17 – I take a high quality, free radical antioxidant supplement every day – made from whole foods and packs a powerful ORAC value:
Joey’s Anti-Aging Secret Weapon
18 – I consider doing things which get my heart racing. Not the actual activity – but simply the thought of possibly doing it. This can be very subtle and with good-natured intentions. Intriguing, eh?
19 – I don’t get pulled into typical “aging conversations” – but when I do I bring an unconventional perspective to it
20 – I’m always aware – the aging process of the masses is based on poor lifestyle habits, wrapped in excuses and further supported by powerful stereotypes… A phenomenon I’ve chosen not too participate in.
21 – I connect with people who enhance my energy levels and bring a good “feeling” to my sixth sense…
22 – I help others – even when their situation may be deeply challenging and would cause most others to turn away…
23 – I take a daily multi-vitamin/mineral combo made from whole-food sources:
Joey’s Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Combo
See womens version here: Hot Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Combo for Women
24 – I’m always working on realizing my potential in all areas of my life.
That’s it … FOR NOW.. I’m realizing there will be a PART 2 to this post as I have a bunch of other “strategies” coming to mind which must be shared as well.
Stay tuned and please post any questions, comments or your own “anti-aging strategies and tactics” below…
Thanks for reading – You are why I write these posts…
Your trainer forever – your trainer life,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 30% [?]
Monday, January 24th 2011
At 44 years old – She decided “enough was enough”….
It was time to take control of her body, her mind and her life.
It was time for her to ‘LIVE to the MAX’…
No more unhealthy fad diets, no more magic pills, no more short-term quick-fixes…
This time it was all or nothing. A shift in mindset and a simple lifestyle adjustment were in order. As you can see from SummerGirl’s Before & After photo below – her success is undeniable.
Now – at the young age of 46, she is pure proof of what can be achieved with a simple and straightforward approach to proper nutrition and consistent exercise…
Click the triangle play button to hear how she did it – and how she’s stays committed:
Powerful Proof: 46 Years Young
Feel free to visit Gwen’s blog where she shares more before and after photos, tips, recipes and other bits of helpful info you can use today: http://summergirl711.blogspot.com/
You can also catch up with her on Facebook here =>> SummerGirl on Facebook
Have any thoughts, comments or questions about the interview? Please share them below…
Also – here’s a reminder… In keeping with my big “Transformation” theme, don’t forget to check out these great B&A stories being shared by my fitness colleague, Bill Phillips.
Just click on it…
Marty & Valerie B&A Videos
Bill Phillips; Best-Selling Author
And one last note – Tomorrow night, Belinda Benn (in photo below) and I will be recording an in-depth interview of her Mid-Life Transformation – and since you are a valued subscriber of mine – You get access to the interview 100% FREE. It’s one you WILL NOT want to miss… Trust me on that. It will be ready for you by the weekend.
Here is the preview post – just in case you missed it:
Bel’s Mid-Life Transformation: The Secrets Will Be Revealed
Bel - 11 Years Ago
Please share this page with anyone you know who can benefit from all the helpful info I’m sharing with you. I appreciate you spreading the word and helping make this world a “fitter” place…
Your trainer forever – your trainer for life,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 19% [?]
Thursday, January 20th 2011
The motto of ‘LIVE to the MAX’ applies to all aspects of your life – even your unique ideas…
For most people who follow me – it may appear that most of my time is spent writing, long distance coaching, blogging, creating videos, sharing helpful information with you – regarding the big picture of fitness and quality of life…
Truth is that’s only a small part of what I do…
The things you don’t see – those things I do “in private” are also very cool too – and they may surprise you.
Joey Atlas Edison???
I have an “inventive” mind. So, I’m always coming up with ideas. Some I can’t share at this moment – because they are being presented to other companies in confidentiality. But I’ll share one or two…
You already know how much I love working-out on playgrounds when I travel – or if I just want to take a day away from The Atlas Gym Unit. Well, I know there is a TON of potential still waiting to be realized in “playground fitness”.
About a year & a half ago – A neat lady in Canada found my ULBHTM dvds and purchased a set from one of my sites. We did a ‘QuickStart’ coaching session and she shared some important info which allowed me to help her more efficiently.
One of the things she shared with me was her line of work. In short – she is the lead sales rep for a globally distributed, indoor playground system. I mentioned my idea for bringing the element of structured fitness into a playground system – such as hers – and before I knew it I was invited to Toronto to meet with her and her team.
It was an awesome trip in many ways – but the best part was presenting my big idea to the group and having them absolutely LOVE it. They wanted what I had in my mind to become part of their global playground product line!
The GET-FIT Zone Is Alive!!
There was a lot of red-tape and people to get this whole thing cleared through – but 1.5 years later – IT’S DONE! … The GET-FIT Zone indoor play system is cleared for global sales. The first few have already sold in Canada – and this year – many more will be installed in various locations around the world.
Take a look at it here:
http://www.spicontainedplay.com/GetFit/what-is-get-fit-zone.htm
GET-FIT Zone Instruction Card #1
This is an example of one of the units: “Pull-Up Rings”
http://www.spicontainedplay.com/GetFit/pull-up-rings.htm
GET-FIT Zone Inst. Card Bottom
That project has serendipitously led to another potential “playground player”. A company, which produces incredible outdoor play-systems, from Europe – found out about my work on the GET-FIT zone line – and amazingly, they have a USA office – literally just 15 minutes up the road from me.
The USA president for the company was pleasantly surprised with my ideas for their product line – and we already have a 2nd meeting set for next week. YES – very cool, indeed!
OK – so that’s the ‘playground’ side of things…
“What else is there?” you say…
1) I coach and consult with other business owners who like the way I use the internet to automate and build my business. They don’t know what to do or where to start – or if what they are already doing is helping or hurting. They ask me for help – and, if my schedule allows I help them leverage the web to have a more profitable business.
2) I coach and consult with families and small companies on how to set up an in-home or in-office fitness program – and what to do once it’s set up.
3) I read… a LOT (very mixed – but 95% non-fiction)
4) Spend time with my kids (usually at the beach depending on season/weather)
5) Cook – I love cooking – and eating, of course (…can’ forget the wine)
6) Trail-hiking/mountain biking
7) I don’t watch TV – don’t care for it at all
Prototyping (some of my ideas are small enough to actually build, so a trip to Home Depot and a look in my garage – I can usually create something workable for presentation purposes.)
Alright – I think that’s enough for today, eh? Got questions, comments, thoughts? Just post ‘em below – I’d love to hear from you…
Your trainer,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 12% [?]