Category Archives: Energy

Define: Calories

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A Calorie is Measured Unit of Energy 

Fat provides 9 units of energy while Protein and Carbohydrates each provide 4 units of energy. Keeping that in mind let’s take a gander at the USDA’s daily requirements for caloric intake: 2,000 calories per day. Alright, so if I want to follow a 2,000 calorie diet then what do I eat? I can eat 50 Twizzlers at 160 calories per 4 pieces to get my 2,000-calorie goal. This breaks down to 6.3 grams of Fat, 450 grams of Carbohydrates, and 12.5 grams of Protein. See where my extreme example is going here?

No two Calories or alike

The body does not digest or use calories in the same manner. Do you think the body uses the same energy to digest 100 calories of Carbohydrates than it does 100 calories of Fat? Of course not! Not only that, but there are so many different variations of Fats, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, and Minerals that must be considered when dissecting how the body uses 100 calories.

Calories in =/= Calories out

Your body burns about 50-70% of its daily calories generating energy, heat, and that thing we call life. 5-15% more are burned just for digestion. Ok, so let’s take that from the top and say your body burns 85% of its calories just to keep the lights on. That leaves only 15% left to exercise, be social, stress out, or to sit on the computer all day. Cutting calories to lose weight can actually make a person gain unwanted weight because the restriction deprives the body of necessary energy to maintain homeostasis. When the body is deficient in calories (energy), it will turns to muscle for energy (after all of its stored sugar is used up (this takes about 3-4 weeks, which is why low-carb diets “work” and then hit a big old wall). Remember that muscle weighs more than fat, and those who are losing weight on calorie-deficient diets are mainly losing muscle mass and their body is replacing that muscle with fat because fat storage is its go-to in survival mode. So, it’s very possible that all of these people that are dieting and losing weight are actually getting fatter (“fat” doesn’t always mean bigger). In order to run efficiently the body needs an excess caloric intake compared to what it is burning on a daily basis. Don’t ignore your body when it tells you to eat.

The result of eating a low-calorie diet is simple: Adaptation

The body will adapt to the lower volume of foods by slowing down its metabolism, (which sends the thyroid into S.O.S.), it will eat itself, and it will cut corners so it can get by. Often these corners come out as unintentional weight loss, unintentional weight gain, an emotional roller coaster, easily susceptible to stress, mental fogginess, digestive issues, dis-eases, disorders, low libido/sex drive, vitamin deficiencies, poor gum/dental health, dysbiosis, candida overgrowth/yeast infections, or a person might be a straight up asshole (I’m serious – ever get cranky the longer you go hungry?). By this point calories or food intake are rarely the problem – it’s a lack of responsibility for oneself and an inability to see the self-sabotage.

In conclusion

  • Count your nutrients, not your calories.
  • Eat a lot of calories.
  • Eat a lot of good calories – nutrient-dense calories.
  • Take responsibility for yourself and how you treat your body.
  • Be grateful for your life, provide it accordingly, and it will return the same.

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Don’t ever say that you can’t

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Can’t is temporary.

I’ve fallen victim to “can’t.” I’m sure we all have at some point. It’s hard to see the big picture when we limit ourselves to what was or what isn’t.

We must focus on what we can do as necessary steps towards what we truly desire. The man in the above video could not walk unassisted, he could not touch his feet, he could not fit into smaller clothes, he could not be happy with himself, he self-sabotaged with food and believed his limits were factual. His perspective shift didn’t happen over night, but he found a way to inspire and love himself through the inspiration and love of others. He focused on what he could do (or was capable of) in the present moment. He took small steps to better himself and to be happy with himself. He didn’t give himself a time limit. He didn’t place unrealistic expectations. I’m sure he experienced set backs and frustrations, but he focused on the big picture and not what he was temporarily experiencing.

Do not doubt yourself or others. Always give the benefit.

Believe and have faith in yourself. Believe and have faith in others.

We can truly do anything.

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The Secret to Life: How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy Now!

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The Secret to Life! How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy now!

Here it is! The answer everyone is looking for: How to Get Healthy and Stay Healthy in three easy steps!

Sound too good to be true? It’s not!

No hype.
No bull.
No marketing campaign.
No diet or detox miracle.
You don’t have to take any pills.
You don’t have to take any drugs.
You don’t have to starve yourself for weeks.
You don’t have to go from one diet craze to the next.
You don’t have to drink protein shake after protein shake.
You don’t have to weigh your food or weigh yourself every day.
You don’t have to run miles upon miles and do sit up after sit up.

Want to know how the heck you can get healthy starting right now?

L. F. B.

  • Love yourself.
  • Forgive yourself.
  • Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

Why do we become sick in the first place?
Why do we become sad?
Why do we eat too much?
Why do we not eat enough?
Why do we go from diet to diet?
Why do we go from exercise to exercise?
Why do we burn the wick at both ends?
Why do we believe that a fit body means a healthy body?
Why, now more than ever, is the United States becoming so unhealthy despite all of the diets, studies, and supplements available that apparently promote health?
Why, no matter what we do, can we not seem to get healthy?

  • Health comes when we take responsibility for our lives, our choices, and how we experience life.
  • Health comes when we are aware of why we may be unhealthy.
  • Health comes when we understand what it means to be healthy by questioning everything and listening to hour body.
  • Health comes when we have respect for ourselves, our body, and the food that we choose to become part of our body – our life.
  • Health comes when we balance our life’s wants and needs.
  • Health comes when we let down our ego and open up our heart.
  • Health comes when we provide a healthy external environment to reflect our internal environment.
  • Health comes when we do not place unrealistic expectations upon ourselves, others, or our experiences.
  • Health comes when we forgive our past so we can be present in the now and work towards hour future.
  • Health comes when we stop self-sabotaging.
  • Health comes when we are not ashamed of who we are on the outside because we accept ourselves on the inside.
  • Health comes when we accept who we are, and how we came to be.
  • Health comes when we do not compare ourselves to others.
  • Health comes when we understand that we are doing our very best in every moment and that no moment is ever wrong nor a mistake.
  • Health comes when you Love yourself.
  • Health comes when you Forgive yourself.
  • Health comes when you Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

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How Vitamins Were Born

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During the Second World War 49-51% of men failed their physical entrance exam into the Armed Services. Both the English and the American governments undertook an investigation to understand why these who-looked-to-be-healthy teenage to young adult men could not perform such routine physical activities.

The United States hired the Mayo Clinic to conduct their investigation. One area that the Clinic looked was the diet of the failed men. At the time the food and grain industry were booming – food processing, bleaching, hydrogenating, bottling, and canning were all making names for themselves due to the war’s demands. However, that very same processing was also stripping the food of its vital nutrients… i.e. vitamins. The investigation actually encouraged some of the first vitamins to ever be identified, specifically B Vitamins. In controlled tests, when those vitamins were isolated and placed back into the soldier’s diet in food-grade pill form there was a significant improvement in their work ability, in their increased work load, and also in their mental clarity.

The US Government attempted to pass a law requiring food manufactures to fortify foods with vitamins (aka vita-lity). In rebuttal, the American Medical Association threatened to sue to Government for practicing medicine without a license, stating that the Government wasn’t qualified to tell people that nutrient-void food can cause dis-ease. After some back and forth the two entities settled on a law that only fortified two foods: Milk and Bread – that law still stands today. However, the vitamins used to fortify these two diet staples are not actually real – they’re laboratory-made, artificial, and synthetic versions of the vitamins found in nature (or that can be found in food BEFORE it’s processed, stripped, or bleached).

The major problem with using Synthetic Vitamins is that the body cannot properly digest, absorb, or utilize their properties as they’re intended. Dead Foods such as Synthetic Vitamins actually cause the body work harder to figure out what the heck it can do with the things, thus expending more energy, time, and effort to do a simple task of digesting.

Any food/drink that is Fortified With or has ingredients Added To will do more harm than good – they’re artificial and yield damaged food molecules. 

Any Vitamin found in a store that’s not Pharmaceutical Grade will tend to be Synthetic and can also be laced with unwanted fillers: aluminum, lead, corn, soy, sweeteners, and other toxic chemicals. 

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Osho’s 10 Commandments

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“You have asked for my Ten Commandments. It’s a difficult matter, because I am gainst any kind of commandment. Yet, just for the fun of it, I write:”

  1. Never obey anyone’s command unless it is coming from within you also.
  2. There is no God other than life itself.
  3. Truth is within you, do not search for it elsewhere.
  4. Love is a prayer.
  5. To become a nothingness is the door to truth. Nothingness itself is the means, the goal and attainment.
  6. Life is now and here.
  7. Live wakefully.
  8. Do not swim – float.
  9. Die each moment so that you can be new each moment.
  10. Do not search. That which is, is. Stop and see.

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It’ll Come With Practice

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I was in a text conversation with a good friend of mine earlier this week. She had recently moved to the West Coast to pursue her career and is now faced with reality of applying to jobs, “selling herself” through her resume/cover letter, and is also dealing with the anxiety of internal/external expectations and personal judgements. After a few perspective exchanges we came across the concept of practice…

Just like it took you years of practice and understanding through “doing” to get to this point, finding a job that’s right for you may take that same concept of practice and understanding. Do your best, be true to yourself, and have confidence that what you give will return the same.
Thank you :) Yeah, living in the present has been a major challenge for me, but continuing to… bring myself back [to the present] every time I start to panic has proven to be helpful. Sounds like a such a simple practice, but I guess a lot of things are easier said than done.
It’ll come WITH practice :)

At that point, she sent the following video…

I had never seen this video, so it was a pleasant surprise for two reasons…

1) It’s so genuine and uplifting
2) The boy must be no more than 5-6 years old and “gets it”

Everybody,

I know you can believe in yourself.
If you believe in yourself, you will know how to ride a bike.
If you don’t [know], you just keep practicing.
You will get the hang of it and I know it.
If you keep practicing you will get the hang of it, and then you will get better and better at it if you do it.

This boy learned how to ride a bike by

  • Setting a goal – Dreams, desires, the end of a chapter
  • Creating a path towards that goal – Consistent practice
  • Understanding that little things go a long way – Subtle efforts bring big results
  • Believing in self that he will succeed – Self-empowerment, Self-Confidence
  • Not placing boundaries for success – Time, expectations, judgments, & ego do not let a moment “be” at it is intended (he’s 5, he doesn’t have time for all of that self-destructive crap)

All we can ask of ourselves is to be at our best within the present moment. With each passing experience we have the opportunity to learn, to understand, and to use our past experiences to our present advantage. We can all learn from him by applying these simple life concepts to our built-up-to-be-not-so-simple life.

Video Clip: The Cure is U – Can thoughts create disease?

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A clip from “The Cure is U” – Can Thoughts Create Disease?

Where the does chemistry of the blood come from? The brain is the chemist – it releases the chemistry into the blood through our thoughts. What determines which of the chemicals that are released by the brain? Your thoughts, your beliefs, and your perceptions – your mind interpreting the world. My perception of someone I love causes me to release chemicals [that encourage] pleasure, bonding, relationships, growth hormone – hormones that when they get into the blood enhance a body’s health and maintenance of the body and growth of the body. When you open your eyes and you’re in love, you are feeding the best nutrition and information to the cells as possible. If I were to take the chemistry of negative thoughts, which are stress hormones (cortisol) and inflammatory agents, and add those to my culture dish my cells would ultimately die out in that cultured environment. It’s the chemistry of the body the regulates the behavior and genetics of the cell, and the chemistry of the body is controlled by the brain releasing all these different modulators of our health.

When we feel stressed, when we are frightened, when we live our lives in perpetual and chronic fear – that is a very different kind of signal. It’s not right or wrong, or good or bad because all of these signals serve us in one way or another. Chronic perpetual stress, chronic perpetual fear shuts down the ability to create the healing our bodies because we are in what’s called “fight or flight” and that kind of experiences signals our heart to tell our brain to the create hormones – cortisol, for example, and high levels of adrenaline – that prepare us for the “fight or flight” that we are receiving.

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Video Clip: The Cure is U – How Can Forgiveness Heal A Disease?

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The words that truly landed for me…

The reason forgiveness matters so much is because when the heart is open to focus on your innocence rather than your guilt, to focus on who you are today rather than the mistakes you made yesterday – not just giving a person the benefit of the doubt but give them a break. When the heart is softer that way then it’s an act of self interest in a way because that kind of emotional generosity doesn’t just serve the other person – it serves us. At the same time the critical attitudes, the judgmental attitudes, the “no, I will not forgive you,” doesn’t hurt you – it hurts me.

Forgiveness requires nothing in return. There are no conditions. It gets rid of old baggage and clears up unfinished business.

You want to give yourself a gift? Forgive.

Forgiveness is the highest form of letting go resentment and ego. Like love, forgiveness benefits the giver and the receiver. As Plato once said, “Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

So the idea of forgiving ourselves and loving ourselves – that kind of gentleness towards ourselves is extremely important because whatever it is that we’ve been doing that’s dysfunctional, or that is mistaken, self-sabotaging, self-destructive, or even destructive or sabotaging towards someone else – if after I’ve done it I’m involved in a never-ending hatred of self that will actually tempt me to do it more. You know, the ego mind – the fear-based ego – is both that which sets us up to do the wrong thing and then punishes us savagely for having done it. So, gentleness towards self and others is literally a spiritual strength.

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Exercise, Hormones, and then some

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This is what a work out looks from a hormone’s point of view. The above chart (that I so eloquently put together with the help of my friends, the stick people) shows the two main hormones that are released during physical activity: Cortisol (a stress hormone) and Testosterone (a steroid hormone). In a time of stress (because that’s what exercise essentially is), the body releases Cortisol to handle the new energy demands, and at the same time (since the body is so efficient), it releases Testosterone so the physical activity can become easier (through time, and from strength and repetition).

Let’s take a closer look at the time of the physical activity and the hormone levels. Riiight around the 30-45 minute mark Testosterone hits a wall and drops dramatically while Cortisol keeps making its way to the sky if the workout continues. The key is to maximize that Testosterone boost by minimizing your time under stress. 

Keep physical activity to a maximum of 45 minutes. If you can get it done in a much shorter time, then please, please, please do that. When it comes to exercise, LESS IS MORE. Reap the benefits of the hormone boost by keeping your work outs short, to the point, and then sit your butt down, eat some good clean food, and sleep like a baby. It is so very easy to overtrain the body, especially for all of you runners out there long-distancing your way to stress heaven. But, even the Meatheads can take weights to a new level by going from one station to the next to the next because they have the “extra energy.”

Always leave the gym (or an exercise) with energy. Leave some in the tank so your body can actually function like a normal human body and not one that resembles a 90 year old man walking down a flight of stairs.

Keep in mind your other stress levels when exercising. Life is full of stress and the last thing you need is more stress, i.e. a hard, grueling work out. There’s work stress, school stress, family stress, relationship stress, financial stress, diet stress, water stress, sleep stress, toxin stress, and need I say more? There’s a time and a place for exercise, and there is also the right prescription of exercise to fit your needs (not wants!).

Eat enough calories. Your body uses 85% of your daily caloric intake just to keep the lights on! If you’re cutting calories, then you’ll be storing fat and burning muscle because that’s how the body survives in a calorie-deficient-SOS-survival mode. You may be losing weight, but remember that muscle weights more than fat.

Rest harder than you exercised. Sleeping is extremely crucial for an exercise program (*cough* stress program *cough*) to “work.” It is the only time your body can rest, recover, and rebuild using the day’s food supply. Take enough rest days and get enough sleep. Not enough Z’s will make any daily activity effort a waste of T.

 

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23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

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