Emotional Eating

Are you an emotional eater? Why some of us eat the way we do and what can be done about it?

Emotional Eating
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Are You Eating Your Emotions?
By Barry Lovelace

Let’s face it, when it comes to being overweight, there are some people who are perfectly happy that way. There are many people who like to eat whatever they want and frankly like to be sedentary. I’m not going to use the word ‘lazy’ here because, hey, it’s their prerogative and they are making a choice. These people are often the ones that no one talks about, they are the people who really could care less about the extra weight they carry and the ones who give no attention to the thought of losing weight and to the pleas for fitness from people like me.

However, the majority of overweight people will tell you that they want to lose it. So that brings us to the big question; Why don’t they? We are living in a time where there is a wealth of health information that tells us constantly how unhealthy it is to carry extra weight. We know about the stress this puts on our heart and internal organs, we know that our risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and even certain cancers is increased. From a psychological standpoint, we know that being overweight makes us feel bad, it makes us self-conscience and uncomfortable and yet still people struggle, sometimes for their entire lives, and don’t get the weight off.

I believe that for many of these people the problem is emotional eating. When it comes to ‘coping’ with life’s ups and downs, some people drink alcohol, some people workout, some people meditate and lots of people eat.

If this is not you, you may have a hard time understanding this concept. But for those of you who struggle with emotional eating, you know what I’m talking about. Food comforts you, helps you to not feel the feelings you are trying to avoid.

From the time we are children, food is used to comfort us. Whether it be warm Sunday dinners with the family, a cookie to make you feel better if you were sad, etc. For so many people this is an almost automatic reaction. They will turn to food without even realizing that this is what they are doing until it is too late, it can be mindless.

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers in conquering this problem but it can be done. It takes work and it takes you being honest with yourself and admitting that this is what you are doing. Too often people lie to themselves and that will get you nowhere. Once you admit it, I think it’s a good idea to get support by talking about it to someone you trust, a friend or relative. Chances are you know people who struggle with emotional eating and don’t even know it because it is rarely discussed.

Once you have a confidante in place you will have someone you can call when the going gets tough. Also, it is important to come up with a new coping mechanism, it is not enough to just remove the old one, and you need a new one for lasting success. One good idea is going out for a walk or doing some other form of exercise. Another is setting a timer and promising yourself that you will not eat until it goes off, this will give you time to think through things and hopefully you will not eat when it goes off. I know many people who have success writing down what they are feeling when the emotional eating urge hits. You have to explore and find what is right for you.

I hope you will think about this, take action and start living.

Barry Lovelace is creator of Exercise4 Every Body circuit training DVD's. co-owner of FitQuest Fitness in Allentown, Pa.. a personal trainer, speaker and all around fitness enthusiast. Visit Barry's website: http://www.fitquestlv.com/ Email Barry at: barry@barrylovelace.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barry_Lovelace

Law of Success Part lll

By Sharif Kahn

Welcome to the conclusion of this special three part series
commemorating the 21st Century Edition of Napoleon Hill's
landmark work, "Law of Success," which reveals 17 Principles of
Success that can help take your career and life to the next
level. These are proven principles based on Hill's 25 years of
research personally studying the lives of over 500 of the
world's greatest achievers.

Law of Success Part I and Part II covered the first 11 of these
principles. (To read Part I and Part II, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/3d3loq). Law of Success Part III will now
conclude with the remaining 6 of these valuable, time-tested
principles which can help you succeed in all areas of your life.
Enjoy:

Principle # 12: Concentration

"Concentration is the act of focusing the mind on a given desire
until ways and means for its realization have been worked out and
successfully put into operation." - Napoleon Hill

In this age of mass communications, we are beginning to face a
global epidemic of mass distraction that is becoming dangerous -
and in some cases lethal. (The rising pedestrian and motor
vehicle driver deaths due to the host of electronic distractions
is just one sad example).

The Weapons of Mass Distraction available to us are just
overwhelming: email, cell phones, pagers, text messaging, video
games, GPS navigational systems, video games, DVD players, TV,
web cams, blackberries, faxes, ipods, and the explosion of social
networking sites, just to name a few. (When used intelligently
these tools can be powerful, but when used ineffectively, they
become what I call, "Weapons of Mass Distraction!"

For concentration to be effective, Hill maintains that it is
vitally important to keep your mind focused on ONE subject until
you've mastered it; to focus on ONE given problem until you've
solved that problem.

What I find helps is starting a task with a burst of energy and
enthusiasm which will provide the momentum to complete the task
successfully. Just watch Olympic sprinters at the start of a race
and you'll know what I mean.


Finally, in this age of sensory overload, some sensory
deprivation might be in order. Hill recommends that you set some
time everyday where you can enter a quiet place, close your eyes,
and put your fingers in your ears, blocking all light and sound,
and just repeat your chief aim and see yourself in full
possession of the object of your aim.

Just practicing this simple technique everyday will help you
concentrate on doing the important tasks that will eventually
lead to a quantum breakthrough in your life.

Principle # 13: Cooperation

"Cooperation is the foundation of all successful leadership." -
Napoleon Hill


According to Hill, there are two forms of cooperation: 1). The
cooperation between a group alliance Master Mind (which was
covered in my Law of Success Part I overview) to achieve a
desired end, and 2). The cooperation between the conscious and
subconscious minds to draw upon creative intelligence (a theme
that continues throughout this overview).

Power is developed through organized effort. And for any
organized effort to be successful, the harmonious cooperation of
people focused on a singular purpose is required.

Harmony is the key. And it would serve you well to study the main
personality types of people before forming a team so you can
bring together people who compliment each other rather than
compete with each other. ("What Type Am I" by Renee Baron is a
good first book to understanding personality types).

One thing in the "Law of Success" that really struck me as very
powerful was an important observation that Napoleon Hill made:
"A great leader is one who understands how to create a
"motivating objective" that will be accepted with enthusiasm by
every member of [the] group...Most people will work harder for
the attainment of an ideal than they will for money."

What is your company's or team's "motivating objective" or
ideal? Figure that one out and the wings of cooperation will
carry you and your team members to new heights!

Principle # 14: Profiting by Failure

"If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure
rate." -Thomas Watson, Sr. Founder of IBM

Profiting from failure is an overdone topic in the field of
personal development so I won't spend too much time on this
principle. It's overdone for the very reason that there's much
truth in the idea of people reaching higher levels of success by
persevering and learning from failure instead of quitting. It's
no accident that John D. Rockefeller felt that perseverance is
the single most important quality to achieving success.

I've observed over the years that success comes to leaders in
almost direct proportion to the amount of adversity and failures
they've overcome and learned from in life.

That old cliché, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try
again' applies here. Of course, I'm not saying you necessarily
keep on doing the same thing expecting the same results (another
definition for insanity).

Seek counselors and mentors that you can trust to help evaluate
the effectiveness of your plans. Explore the reasons that are
limiting your success by asking them how they see you limiting
yourself.

If your first plan to achieving your chief aim in life does not
succeed, than change it! And keep on changing it until you've
reached your target, just as an airplane makes thousands of
adjustments and flight corrections before reaching its
destination.


Principle # 15: Tolerance

"Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open."
- Lord Thomas Dewar

If we adopt a closed mind we stop acquiring knowledge. And
natural law states that we are either growing or dying.

I don't like the word 'tolerance.' I much rather prefer
embracing new ideas and having an insatiable curiosity for
learning other people's customs, belief systems, and unique
perspectives. I look at it as an adventure!

Finding ways to harness cultural differences within teams and
organizations will be the new currency in an increasingly
globalized economy.

Principle # 16: The Golden Rule

Napoleon Hill recognized that the frivolous use of power from the
knowledge that is being shared with you will only backfire and be
destructive to self and others. Selfish pursuit of your chief aim
without regard for others will eventually come back to haunt
you.

We reap what we sow. What goes around comes around. Therefore,
the Golden Rule is: do unto others as you'd have done unto you.
Before doing anything, ask yourself if it will benefit or hurt
the person involved.

It's easy to be self-centered. To transcend self, think more of
what the other person wants and feels before acting.

See the good in others. Catch people doing things right instead
of always looking for the wrong. Kindness and justice toward
others goes a long way in establishing successful business and
personal relationships. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Trust
men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they
will show themselves great."


Hill takes us deeper with the Golden Rule philosophy when he
said, "think of others as you'd wish them to think of you."
Live this philosophy and your life will be enriched in many
unforeseen ways.

Principle # 17: The Universal Law of Cosmic Habitforce

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act,
but a habit." - Aristotle

The Universal Law of Cosmic Habitforce is that intangible, unseen
force which is made tangible and visible in nature.

Just observe nature and you will experience Cosmic Habitforce in
action.


When you fix in your mind a purpose consciousness focused on your
chief aim in life through repetition of thoughts and deeds,
Cosmic Habitforce will take over and carry it to its logical
conclusion, just as an acorn seed will always produce an oak tree
through proper care and nurturing.

It takes constant vigilance, determination, and willpower to
maintain that purpose consciousness, but eventually Cosmic
Habitforce will always bear fruit and your life will be richly
rewarded.

In closing, I'd like to point out that at the beginning of every
chapter in Napoleon Hill's "Law of Success" are the words:
"You can do it if you believe you can!"

It's that simple. I'm not saying it's easy, but it really is
that simple. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "If I believe I cannot do
something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe
I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have
it in the beginning."

Believe in yourself! Believe you can do it and move forward this
day with faith and confidence. Many blessings to you along your
journey.

I hope that you've benefited from reading this series and I'd
like to encourage you to share these important principles with
your friends, family, and associates. I'd also like to highly
recommend getting a copy of Napoleon Hill's "Law of Success:
21st Century Edition" to add to your personal library. It's a
life-changing book, and I mean that as no exaggeration. To get
your copy, visit: http://tinyurl.com/2a2cuk

Sharif Khan ( http://sharifkhan.blogspot.com/) is a
copywriter, inspirational keynote speaker, and author of
the leadership bestseller, "Psychology of the Hero Soul"
(http://herosoul.com/). He also publishes his monthly
HERO SOUL ezine offering valuable tips, lessons, and advice
on success, leadership development, and personal growth. To
contact Sharif Khan about his professional business
writing services, call 416-417-1259.

Law of Success Part ll

By Sharif Khan

Welcome to the second part of this special three part series commemorating the 21st Century Edition of Napoleon Hill's landmark work, “Law of Success,” in which he reveals 17 Principles of Success based on his 25 years of research studying the lives of over 500 of the world’s greatest achievers. (To read the first part, visit: http://tinyurl.com/3d3loq).

In this special three part series, I’m highlighting these 17 Principles of Success both as a refresher for those who are already familiar with Hill’s work, and as an introductory guide to the essential qualities of achievement for those who have not yet had the chance to study this great personage who started the personal development revolution. Enjoy:

Principle # 6: Imagination

“Imagination is the workshop of the human mind and creative power of the soul,” writes Hill. “First comes thought; then organization of that thought into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.”

According to Hill, there are two types of imagination: synthetic imagination and creative imagination. Synthetic imagination involves rearranging old ideas into new combinations that produce new solutions. Stimulating creative imagination involves a repetition of highly emotionalized thoughts that can be combined with visualization, meditation, and prayer focused on a chief aim or solving a difficult problem, and then surrendering the thoughts to infinite intelligence to come up with new ideas, combinations, and plans.

Artists, inventors, and entrepreneurs frequently use some combination of both types of imagination. For example, many writers will often intentionally stop writing in the middle of a heated sentence or uncompleted paragraph at a particularly challenging point in the plot and “sleep on it.” During the rest of the night their subconscious mind, through the powers of creative intelligence, will work on the solution, and upon awakening, the writer will write beautifully to complete the idea.

Entrepreneurs will often brainstorm and write down all the ideas, challenges, and available solutions and resources concerning a challenging problem and then “forget about it.” They might go on vacation for an extended period of time. On returning, or even while they’re on vacation, new ideas spring up that help solve the problem.

To further develop your imagination, study yourself; find out the inner motivations that drive you to carry out certain tasks to completion while avoiding other tasks. Study other people and human behavior around you. If you want to know what the other person will do (whether a customer, boss, employee, partner, or competitor), use your imagination to put yourself in their shoes. What would you do if you were that person? By being able to look from another’s perspective, you not only help build your imagination muscles, you also help build bridges.

Principle # 7: Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek root “entheos” which literally means God within. Enthusiasm is the vital force that impels action. Great leaders inspire others to action from their own enthusiasm which is highly contagious.

“It’s not so much what you say as it is the tone and manner in which you say it that makes a lasting impression,” writes Hill.

I recall a time when a “recruiter” had called and left a message for me requesting an interview. I checked out the company’s website and liked what I had to see. I was ready to come in for an interview, but when I returned the recruiter’s call and spoke to her, the tone of her voice clearly indicated that she wasn’t happy with her job and that I was just a number to make her appointment quota.

While the conversation was polite and professional, her tone and manner of speaking said she didn’t care. Needless to say, I did not come in for an interview, and it wouldn’t be a far stretch to guess that that recruiting company was losing business by the truckload on account of that one person – probably hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.

It’s surprising (or maybe not so surprising given the poor customer service survey results across North America) that companies are willing to go on losing millions by treating their frontline workers who have first line of contact with customers as an “expense” instead of as an investment.

The companies that will turn out to be champions in this information economy are the ones that treat their customer service and sales staff as VPs of Customer Relations. These organizations will have a HUGE competitive advantage by investing just a fraction of the money (money that would normally be lost to poor service) towards paying above industry average rates to retain quality customer service professionals, investing in their professional development, teaching basic human relations skills, and helping to create a better work environment.

Principle # 8: Self-Control

Hill keenly points out that self control directs your enthusiasm. A wise business tenet is to keep cool when others are hot. As Hill says, “Those who control themselves usually boss the job.”

I can’t recall how many business deals I’ve lost because I contacted a potential client in a moment of anger or frustration (either due to the business on hand or something entirely different). It’s amazing how much more business one can drum up by simply counting to ten, taking a couple of deep breaths, and thinking of something pleasant for a few seconds before making or taking that important call!

If you’ve tried these types of techniques without much success and are still angry with someone, at least try ‘writing it out of your system’ before approaching this person. Write a steaming hot letter to this person venting about what you feel is inappropriate behavior or some problem or injustice you feel you might have encountered.

After you’ve read the letter to yourself, tear it up and throw it away! Now you can approach this person and make your case with a level head without blaming or getting overly emotional. Maybe it was a simple misunderstanding.

I’m not saying this method will always work. Sometimes you do have to confront someone and express your anger – but those moments are rare when it’s productive. Using this one technique alone can save you from countless relationship disasters and bad business deals, and might even help get you that promotion over the next person who blows his top!).

Never retaliate against those who offend you. Be a leader by being a person of poise and self-control.

Principle # 9: The Habit of Doing More Than Paid For

“Giving people a little more than what they expect is a good way to get back more than you’d expect” - Robert Half

We get back in life what we give. By getting into the habit of always doing more than you’re paid for, you will meet with opportunities for expansion, advancement, and promotion at every turn of the corner. (You might not get these opportunities immediately with your current employer; but eventually competitors will take notice and will gladly provide you with plenty of opportunity if your employer is not willing to do so).

Napoleon Hill offers countless real-life examples of ordinary people reaching extraordinary heights of achievement and success using this one principle alone in his magnum opus: “Law of Success: The 21st-Century Edition.”

Principle # 10: A Pleasing Personality

Hill states that a pleasing personality is a person that attracts. It’s all about your character and how you carry yourself. Are you dressed for success as it relates to your field? Do you speak with self-confidence?

Do you offer a firm handshake and a warm smile, or a limp, ‘dead fish’ handshake with a rigid, forced smile?

Do you offer an appropriate level of eye-contact given the cultural context or do you have shifty eyes that makes people feel uncomfortable? Are you flexible in mind, body, and spirit? Do you express genuine interest in others?

The best way to develop a pleasing personality is to show a keen interest in other people. If that recruiter had expressed even the slightest interest in what I did as a person, I would have overlooked the initial awkwardness of the call and come in for an interview. Her lack of a pleasing personality cost her and her company a number of lost contracts.

It’s so much more FUN and PROFITABLE to have a pleasing personality!

Principle # 11: Accurate Thinking

“The facts, just the facts, ma’am” – Sgt. Friday in Dragnet

Don’t believe everything you read in the news. Much of it is planted by powerful lobbyists and corporations with hidden agendas. Get into the habit of basing your decisions on factual information and avoiding gossip, rumors, and conjecture.

Even common day practices that are widely accepted can be based on wrong assumptions. In the Middle Ages, bloodletting was a common practice that was believed to help cure a variety of illnesses. It was a common belief among doctors that bad blood caused disease and so they bled patients for every imaginable ailment under the sun. This crude and ineffective medical ritual continued for 2,500 years until it was discovered that germs, not bad blood, were responsible for disease.

Today, we have our own version of bloodletting that is far more devious than in the Middle Ages. Take for example invasive medical practices such as coronary stenting and angioplasty. Freakonomics author, Steven D. Levitt, sites a recent NY Times article which, according to Levitt, “tells of the compelling study which found that coronary stenting is typically no more effective than heart drugs, even though it is far more invasive — and, to be sure, profitable for the medical personnel involved.” (According to the NY Times article, “angioplasty and stenting generally cost between $25,000 and $50,000”).

I think we need a new name for 21st Century bloodletting. If you’ve read this far, perhaps you can convince Mr. Webster to add the term moneyletting to the dictionary.

If someone makes a sweeping statement that raises doubts, you can ask this person the question that Napoleon Hill likes asking: “How do you know?”

We haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of accurate thinking. But to get to the heart of Hill’s main idea, accurate thinking is about separating the important facts from the unimportant ones.

The important facts being any fact you can use in the attainment of your chief aim. I’m not saying that the unimportant facts can’t also help enrich your life. But by focusing most of your time on the important facts as it relates to your chief aim will help get you there further and faster…

I hope you enjoyed Part II of this “Law of Success” series. (You can visit my blog for Law of Success Part III).

In the meantime, share these principles with your peers, forward this newsletter, discuss the concepts and teach other people what you’ve learned. There’s no better way to learn than by teaching others.

If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend getting a copy of Napoleon Hill’s classic bestseller: “Law of Success: The 21st-Century Edition.” It really is a great read and I rank it in my personal top 10 list.

To get your copy visit: http://tinyurl.com/2a2cuk

About the Author: Sharif Khan (http://www.sharifkhan.blogspot.com) is a freelance writer, inspirational keynote speaker, and author of the leadership bestseller, “Psychology of the Hero Soul.” He also publishes his monthly HERO SOUL ezine on successful living. To contact Sharif, call 416-417-1259.

Source: www.isnare.com

Macrobiotics: Balance

Macrobiotics is not just about food but it is a lifestyle and a way of life.

I wanted to start incorporating some other topics that have to do with balance of the mind as well as balance in the body as in macrobiotics.

A great book called Pshycology of the Hero Soul by Sharif Kahn gave me a new perspective on balance, leadership and personal acheivements.

Sharif has written some articles in which I would say, scream balance, in his explanation of Nepolean Hills: Law of Sucess.

Here is the first article and hopefully you will also check out Psychology of the Hero Soul.

Eat well and stay balanced in life!

Law of Sucess Part l
Law of Success Part ll
Law of Success Part lll

Law of Sucess Part l

I’ve spent the last couple months immersing myself in the teachings of Napoleon Hill and would like to share with you a summary of the main principles learned from his landmark work, “Law of Success: The 21st-Century Edition.”

Most of you know who Napoleon Hill is. But for the benefit of those who don’t, Mr. Hill is quite arguably the author of the world’s first practical philosophy of human achievement. Commissioned back in 1908 by the great steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie, Hill spent over 25 years researching the lives of over 500 of the most successful people on the planet.

The amazing thing is that most of Hill’s work was not from second-hand research but first-hand knowledge from personal contact with some of the greatest powerbrokers of the day including Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, Charles M. Schwab, Elbert Hubbard, George Eastman, and US Presidents Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.

While “Think and Grow Rich” is certainly Hill’s most popular book based on the results of his exhaustive research, “Law of Success” (which was first published in a set of eight volumes) is Hill’s most comprehensive work of achievement; a veritable tome of success literature, I’d call it the world’s first and foremost “success encyclopedia.”

The only modern day equivalents that readily come to mind is Anthony Robbin’s “Unlimited Power” in the field of applied psychology, Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” on principle-centered leadership, and the success strategies employed in Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles.”

Nevertheless, I would rank Napoleon Hill’s “Law of Success: The 21st-Century Edition” as the foundational book for developing a practical success philosophy that anyone can readily apply. The fully revised and updated 21st-Century Edition comes in at 1035 pages containing Hill’s deep analysis of the 17 proven principles of success, many personal examples and stories from his own life experiences, and new commentary from the editors providing modern parallels with contemporary events and the latest management theories.

In this special three part series, you’ll be provided with a brief summary of each of Napoleon Hill’s 17 Principles from his classic bestseller, “Law of Success: The 21st-Century Edition.” Master these principles and you will master your destiny!

Principle # 1: The Master Mind

The Master Mind is simply a friendly alliance of two or more minds harmoniously working together in full cooperation towards the achievement of a singular purpose. It’s more than just a brain-trust of accumulated knowledge used for creative problem solving; the Master Mind is a field of accumulated energy created from the combined group’s spirit which can accomplish far more than any individual member could possibly hope to achieve independently.

Hill recommends forming a round table of ideally six to twelve like-minded individuals who will support your chief aim, who are in complete harmony with each other, and who are willing to meet with you regularly to help you accomplish that aim. You must offer each group member something in return that will reward their participation in your Master Mind.

Whether you choose to develop a formal alliance or not, the Master Mind principle will still have a powerful influence over your life – for better or worse. It is said you are the average sum total of the people you spend the most time with which will either help or hinder you. Choose your friends and associates carefully.

Principle # 2: A Definite Chief Aim

Without a definite purpose backed by a definite plan one is as lost and hopeless as a rudderless ship in the middle of the Atlantic. Good intentions and hard work are not enough. You need a Purpose, a Plan, and Perseverance backed with a burning desire to achieve your definite chief aim in life.

To realize your Chief Aim, Hill suggests writing out your WWWH and reviewing it daily: “know what you want, when you want it, why you want it, and how you intend to get it.” Also include what you plan to give in return for reaching your dream.

By reviewing your manifesto daily, with intense feeling, you will begin attracting the people and circumstances in your life to make your wildest dreams come true.

Principle # 3: Self-Confidence

To be self-confidant you must know. Know yourself and know your business. Know your strengths and weaknesses, your greatest fears and deepest desires. Those who do not know live in constant fear and anxiety. A leader must know.

Keep a log of all your accomplishments and all the praise you receive and review it frequently. Use autosuggestion or self-talk to tell yourself daily about how you are growing as a leader in your field.

Fill your mind with positive, inspiring thoughts. Surround yourself with people who will empower you. Have faith in others and see the good in people because how you view others is a reflection of yourself.

Principle # 4: The Habit of Saving

Pay yourself first by developing the habit of consistently saving a portion of your income. Hill and many others suggest saving at least 10% of your earnings. (Tip: if you’ve accumulated high-interest debts such as credit card debt, it’s a good policy to allocate 80% of your savings to paying down the debt in order to avoid that debt from growing faster than the rate of return you’re getting on your savings).

Those who have will be given more. Having even a modest savings account will increase your self-confidence and will attract many opportunities that would normally not come your way without that extra cushion.

Successful people will be more willing to back your idea or promote you within their enterprise if they see that you yourself have developed the self-discipline of saving.

Hill recounts several instances in his book where people who had built up a little savings account were able to invest in new business opportunities, attract financing for their ideas, or enter into partnerships that would later result into untold millions.

Principle # 5: Initiative and Leadership

“Do the thing and you shall have the power.” – Emerson

According to Hill, leadership is “doing the right thing without being told.” Leadership is ultimately about taking initiative and getting things done. Bottom line: leaders get paid for results.

By always providing additional service without any expectation for pay, you will build your initiative muscles.

Leadership requires self-sacrifice. Leaders are givers. Inspire and help others and you will be rewarded in direct proportion to your efforts. As American self-help icon, Zig Ziglar, likes to say, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

I hope you enjoyed Part I of this “Law of Success” series. For Law of Success Part II, you can visit: http://tinyurl.com/yqxca9

In the meantime, share these principles with your peers, discuss the concepts and teach other people what you’ve learned. There’s no better way to learn than by teaching others.

To get your copy of Napoleon Hill’s “Law of Success: The 21st Century Edition” visit: http://tinyurl.com/2a2cuk

Sharif Khan (http://sharifkhan.blogspot.com) is a freelance writer, inspirational keynote speaker, and author of the leadership bestseller, “Psychology of the Hero Soul.” (http://herosoul.com). He also publishes his monthly HERO SOUL ezine offering valuable tips and advice on success, leadership development, and personal growth. To contact Sharif, call 416-417-1259.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharif_Khan

What is a Macrobiotic Diet

What is a macrobiotic diet? It is a diet designed with a view to improve our health and well-being because it is believed that what we eat has a great impact on our lives. Following a macrobiotic diet means eating food that is not processed and thus conventional methods of cooking are used. Eating a simple and a well balanced diet is what a macrobiotic diet is all about. In the 1920s, George Ohsawa, the founder of modern day macrobiotics asserted that he was cured of a grave illness by modifying his diet. What macrobiotics means is ‘the great life’ and it means living in harmony with all of nature that surrounds you.

Macrobiotics is very akin to the Yin and Yang theory of the Chinese. Yin and yang work in different directions. A balance between the two is to be maintained for good health and this is the essence of a macrobiotic diet. While yin is passive, sweet and cold, yang is more aggressive, saline and hot. Perfect health means a perfect balance between the two.

Foods vary in their tastes and properties. So grains and vegetables are important in a macrobiotic diet because they are classified as neutral foods, not having very strong yin or yang. Light foods are good for maintaining a balance between yin and yang, foods that are heavy are preferably avoided in a macrobiotic diet. A macrobiotic diet consists of organically grown grains and vegetables. Foods in their natural form are the best. Unpolished rice, oats and other kinds of millets are considered to be the basis of a balanced diet. Though whole grain is the preferred choice, small quantities of products made from refined flour is allowed.

One third of the macrobiotic diet consists of fresh and organically grown vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, collards, onion, pumpkin, kale, etc. Vegetables should not be over cooked as they lose their flavor. They must be parboiled, steamed or fried lightly in unrefined corn or sesame oil. Sea vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals should also comprise a small portion of a macrobiotic diet. Beans like lentils and chickpeas should also be included. Soya in the form of tofu and soya used as a paste in soups and broths with beans and vegetables are good additions.

Seafood, dry fruits and pulses should also form a part of a good macrobiotic diet and should be consumed weekly. Malt extracted from barley and rice syrup are good examples of sweeteners as is plum or brown rice vinegar. Food flavorings used should be pure and natural like sea salt and Tamari soy sauce.

Drinking water or any other beverage in a macrobiotic diet is recommended only when one gets thirsty. Teas that are strong and have caffeine must be avoided whereas teas prepared from roasted grain and green teas are acceptable. Water used for drinking and the preparation of food must be filtered and clean.

Poultry and milk, cheese or clarified buttered must all be avoided as they have very prominent yang properties. On the other hand citrus and other fruit juices, spicy food and caffeine in any form must be avoided as they have very prominent yin properties. Processed foods must not be consumed as they have preservatives and unnatural flavors. You must remember that a macrobiotic diet is not just a diet – it is a way of life.

By: Rachel Gillespe -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com


Rachel Gillespe is a staff writer at Diet Gazette and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Women's Digest.

Macrobiotic Diet - Creamy Polenta

This dish I suggested to my mother to feed my 82 year old, 97 pound grandmother who had lung cancer last year.

She skipped chemo and had a small portion of her lung removed but has has trouble keeping her weight up.

As some of you know cancer survivors who have undergone treatment can be picky eaters that is if they have an appetite at all.

Creamy Polenta (or as Jordans mom calls it "Corn Meal Mush" is a very filling side dish or something I would even take to a pot luck. It's very simple and gets rave reviews!

Here is the recipe and alternate ingredients in case you don't want to go fully macro.

Creamy Polenta

1 cup uncooked polenta or 1 package of cooked polenta
1 cup water, soy milk or regular milk of choice
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
Pinch of salt (optional)

In a saucepan cook polenta according to package directions or slowly add liquid ingredients until you you get a creamy consistency. Reduce heat and sprinkle in Parmesan cheese. Let cook for 5 minutes on low heat. Remove from heat and let stand another 5 minutes.

Serve and add more Parmesan on top if desired.

*Look for tubes of cooked polenta in the ethnic section of your super market near the Italian staples.

*If you are non dairy use your favorite Parmesan substitute, but only a small amount of Parmesan is best for this recipe.

Enjoy!

Change the World With Food

How can you change the world simply by the way you eat?

One bite at a time!

Americans are probably the most wasteful people on the planet. We have closets stuffed with items we don't or will never use. Two or three gas guzzling cars parked in over flowing garages in huge houses purchaced to hold all our junk!

There are even wasteful TV shows that highlight these poor souls who are over run by material and useless items!

Where does food come into play here?

By learning how to eat.

Learning how to eat and cooking are two totally different things. In Macrobiotics it is suggested that you chew your food at least 30 times. I'm not so militant in that respect, but they do have a point and that is easier for digestion and enjoying the food.

The book that seriously changed my mind about eating is The Seven Secrets of Slim People by Vikki Hanson and Shawn Goodman which instructs you how to eat in a normal and more natural manner. After reading Seven Secrets I started to watch and notice how other people ate and wondered how they knew "the secrets" and I didn't!

Americans have been raised and are accustom to "want it now-get it now" and food has no limitations. When we are denied some of our conveniences some of us tend to abuse food.

Food is easy to obtain so eating out of boredom can become an easy habit. Don't tell me you never eat out of boredom. I think everyone does it once in awhile but some people abuse it and are out of control.

After reading Seven Secrets I noticed that I was one of those people who just loved food and I would eat whenever I felt like it and not when I was hungry.

By no means am I overweight but I certainly felt sluggish most of the time eating whenever I felt like it. It also becomes an expensive habit.

Secret 3# Eat only when you are physically hungry

What a concept!

Do you catch yourself eating just because there is food available?

There is ancronym for happiness which is HALT: never let yourself get Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired.

If you plan this right, you can get physically hungry and not starve yourself or get cranky. Plan your eating schedule and recognize when you are most likely to be hungry. Either have food pre made or on hand (like a sack lunch, grocery list or satisfying food in your frige) , or know what your healthy options are in the restaurants that are around you.

After I adapted to this step my sluggish feelings from over eating went away simply because I waited until my stomache told me to eat and not my boredom.

Which brings us to another eating secret:

Secret #4 Stop eating when your satisfied, not full

Another amazing concept!

One of the suggestions to follow this secret after every bite you should put your fork down and not pick it up until your mouth is empty!

Try this. It was not hard at first when I realized that this was an efficient way of eating. Sometimes I slip and I just remind myself on the next bite to put the fork down!

When you are more aware about the way you eat and are enjoying your food, you will be able to better gague if you are satisfied or not and not over-stuffed.

Getting back to how you can change the world by the way you eat.

*Read The Seven Secrets of Slim People and change the way you eat.

*Eat only when you are hungry so you don't over-consume.

When we over-consume food, think about it...we risk our health which raises health care costs. (think of the side effects of obesity; diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis) There is also more production bringing more and more food to your plate. You may pay for it, but you are engaging in over producing more than you really need.

*Put down the fork between bites and eat only until you are satisfied.

When you order food do you go for the super sized model? Do you eat it all?

If you are more aware of the way you eat, tuning in to when you are satisfied and not full you know how much food you need to function and will not over order or over-consume only to throw a fair portion away.

Again if you eat the entire super sized meal, and yes super sized meals can be found in nice restaurants, that is a less than healthy option.

In conclusion:

Lower your demand for food by not over-eating.

Be aware of how much and how you eat to lower your risk for health issues, contributing less to health care costs.

Recognize how much food you eat so you don't order more than you intend to eat and end up wasting or throwing away extra food.

Change the world and change the way you eat!

The Zen Macrobiotic Diet - For Health and Happiness

The Zen Macrobiotic diet originated over a century ago and today enjoys a worldwide following due its principles of harmonious living with nature through a balanced whole foods diet, and an active lifestyle and respect for the environment.

Lets look at why the Zen Macrobiotic diet has such a reputation for being one of the healthiest diets in the world.

Origins of the Zen Macrobiotic diet

Dr. Ishizuka ( the originator of the Zen Macrobiotic diet ) suffered both kidney and skin disease, so to restore his health conducted extensive research which was compiled into two books-Chemical Theory of Longevity, published in 1896, and Diet For Health, published in 1898.

His great successor Yukikazu Sakurazawa integrated the theory with elements of eastern and western philosophy and gave the diet the name we know it by today.

Zen Macrobiotic Diet theory

The Macrobiotic philosophy is based on the oriental principles that everything in creation is made up of two antagonistic but complementary forces—yin (passive, silent, cold and dark) and yang (active, hot and heavy).

Consequently, they categorized all foodstuffs as 'yin' and 'yang', or combinations of them both. They believe that the ideal diet is one that can help balance these two forces in the body.

According to Mr. Ohsawa's yin and yang guidelines for the Zen Macrobiotic diet:

• Cereals must always be every meal's basis. The most ideal is whole, brown rice.

• Vegetables can supplement cereals, but in lesser quantities and less frequently. Eggplant and tomatoes must be avoided, as they are extremely yin.

• Fresh fish can be used occasionally. Animal and dairy products and fruits are to be used in minute amounts.

• All fluids should be taken as infrequently as possible, since they are very yin, especially tea, coffee, colas and sweetened juices. Tea made from fresh herbs, and spring water are thought to be the most balanced and acceptable beverages. Mr. Ohsawa gave a special recipe for such a tea.

Ohsawa himself defined macrobiotics as a dietetic medicine-philosophy, while his successors simply call it “a sensible way of eating”. Actually, then, there is no macrobiotic diet per se, just general principles.

General principles of the Zen Macrobiotic diet

Diets based on cereal grains with minority proportions of vegetables, legumes, and seaweeds are considered ideal.

The Zen Macrobiotic diet is predominantly, but not absolutely, vegetarian.

The Zen Macrobiotic diet makes general dietary recommendations, particularly that 40 to 60 percent of caloric intake should come from whole grains, including rice, millet, barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn and buckwheat.

Additionally to the type of food eaten, the Zen Macrobiotic Diet advises:

• Do not eat processed, sugared, dyed, canned, bottled, or other adulterated food.

• Eat no foods produced have been treated with pesticides, chemical fertilizers or preservatives.

• Eat no foods imported from a long distance.

• Eat no vegetables or fruits out of season.

• Refrain from eating extreme yin vegetables, such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant.

• Use no spices, chemical seasonings or processed table salt.

• Drink no coffee or black tea.

• Refrain from flesh and dairy foods except for occasional fish and game birds.

• No refined flour products, yeasted foods or foods containing baking soda.

• Chew one’s food thoroughly (at least 30 times – preferably more).

• Cook all food with a gas fire. Electricity is said to create chaotic energy patterns, and microwaves.

The Zen Macrobiotic Diet’s 5 guiding principles for healthy living are:

1. Foods are the foundation of health and happiness.

2. Sodium and potassium (as in salt) are the primary antagonistic and complementary elements in food. They most strongly determine its character-or "yin / yang" quality of each food.

3. Grain is proper and nature staple food of man.

4. Food should be unrefined, whole, and natural.

5. Food should be grown locally and eaten in season.

The Zen Macrobiotic diet has millions of devotes throughout the world due to its healthiness and the feeling of well being that followers of the diet enjoy.

More on the Zen Macrobiotic Diet & other healthy eating tips

For more information on the Zen Macrobiotic diet and other healthy eating tips, free information, e-zines and newsletters visit:

http://net-planet.org/health.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sacha_Tarkovsky

Macrobiotic Diet in Seattle

How hard is that?!

There are many coffee shops per block especially in Capitol Hill. Unfortunately the Macrobiotic craze has not caught on even in some of the more vegan neighborhoods.

Looks like I'll have to start hanging out in Fremont but I have a feeling the only place I'm going to be eating in that area is the PCC. That's not a bad thing but I only eat there on the run and am not likely going to be on the run in Fremont.

How do you eat vegan or macro in a coffee shop in Seattle?

Tea: Tons of herbal teas in almost all coffee shops in the area.

If you live on the east side you can visit Koot's in Lincoln Square by the mall in Downtown Bellevue. It's the Japanse tea version of a Starbucks. They have some great treats that are healthy too!

Kuan Yin Teahouse has been around as long as I can remember. It's a nice cozy place to hide out in on a date night before a movie at the Guild 45 instead of the Starbucks or Tully's.

Decaf: I know if you are fully macro you are not supposed to drink coffee. A little decaf once in a while will do you no harm. I've started to drink Inka which is instant grain coffee. If you don't need that kick in the morning and just like that warm fuzzy to start your day you will probably love Inka. Sneak in your own and pour it in your decaf at the coffee shop! Yum! Instant and sugar free mocha!

Whole Wheat: For me it absolutely, positively has to be 100% Whole Wheat...

and at times I have to settle.

Bagels are death if they of the white bread variety. Even if they are piled with nuts and stuff it's all that refined sugar they sneak in there and the processed flour.

At best try a bran muffin. The great thing about Seattle is we have so many wonderful independent bakeries (even Starbucks orders from them and indeed I do miss Top Pot's Chocolate Old Fashioned Doughnuts) and this being the liberal, built by hippies kind of town you are sure to find a coffeehouse that has Morning Glory Muffins (featured at Macrina Bakery) or a more traditional rye bagel or whole wheat.

Below is a list of coffeeshops and bakeries that offer vegan or close to macrobiotic menus and pastries. Most of the coffee houses and markets order from the two bakeries listed.

God. If your listening. Please be a saint and tell Top Pot to make a sugar free, fat free, Chocolate Old Fashioned!

The Globe Cafe - Capitol Hill (reviews)
Mr. Spots Chai House -Ballard
The Flying Apron - U District (vegan bakery)
Macrina Bakery & Cafe - Belltown (hands down my favorite especially when I lived in Belltown!)
Caffe Ladro - Independent with many locations in the greater Seattle area
Kuan Yin Tea House - Wallingford
Sunlight Cafe - Roosevelt (Across the street is Whole Foods)
Koots Green Tea - Downtown Seattle next to the new...
Whole Foods - Downtown Seattle on Westlake Avenue in the Pan Pacific Hotel
PCC Natural Markets - Green Lake and other locations

Add another vegan or macrobiotic like coffeeshop or bakery in the comments!

Cooking School: BBQ Tempeh

This dish is in the deli case at my local PCC Market. I had just been introduced to tempeh and when I saw it BBQ'ed and thought I had to try it.

Now it's one of my favorite things to eat!

Aside from the BBQ sauce, its quite macrobiotic. You can also use this recipe for a nice BBQ burger too.

Here is the recipe for BBQ Tempeh (see benefits of Tempeh and the recipe from PCC below) and I've also included a macrobiotic recipe for Miso BBQ Sauce.

BBQ Tempeh
1 8-ounce package tempeh
Favorite barbecue sauce (See Miso BBQ Sauce below)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 large onion, sliced thin
1 large green pepper, sliced thin
1 large red pepper, sliced thin
2 tablespoons olive oil

Cut tempeh into strips, one inch wide by two inches long. Put in bowl and cover with barbecue sauce. Marinade for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Meanwhile, sauté the garlic, onion and peppers in olive oil until soft. Set aside. Drain excess barbecue sauce from tempeh, reserving for use later, if desired.

Gently toss tempeh and sautéed garlic, onions and peppers. Put mixture in low casserole or baking pan and bake uncovered at 325° F for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, adding reserved barbecue sauce if it needs moistening.

Serve with hot rice, millet or pasta.

Miso BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon liquid smoke (Optional)
1 tablespoon Miso (Mellow or Yellow Miso)
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon honey -or-
2 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced

Mix all ingredients and marinade food for 1/2 hour at room tempreture or 2 hours refrigerated.

The Benefits and Uses of Tempeh

Raw Food Diet

Not exactly Macrobiotic but a good article about the pro's and con's of a raw food diet versus regular cooking.

Eating Raw: The Advantages and Disadvantages
According to Various Experts
Reprinted with Permission from the SixWise.com Security & Wellness e-Newsletter


A raw food movement is sweeping across the United States, advocating a diet of anywhere from 70 percent to 100 percent raw foods.

Raw foodists claim that switching to a predominantly raw food diet will give you more energy, slow down aging, improve your skin, boost your mood, and fight a host of chronic diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn's disease and even cancer.

Raw foodists say that eating raw foods gives them more energy while boosting mood, slowing aging and fighting chronic diseases.

A true raw food diet consists of only raw foods, traditionally vegan ones like vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. However, some raw foodists also eat raw dairy products, raw eggs and even raw meat.

"When you cook something, you destroy the enzymes," said Karyn Calabrese, a well-known raw foodist in the Chicago-area in an NBC5 article. "You need enzymes for every metabolic purpose in your body. When you lose enzymes, that's when you die."

Enzymes begin to be destroyed at temperatures above 110-115 degrees, so raw foodists are allowed to use a dehydrator, which alters food slightly by blowing hot air on it.

Raw foods, advocates say, are also higher in vitamins and nutrients, which are also destroyed by cooking.

As evidence of raw foods' growing popularity, all-raw restaurants are popping up across the country, drawing raw foodists and locals alike. Far from the bland, cold and hard meals you might expect from raw foods, diners describe raw food offerings as "vibrant," "flavorful," and "refreshing."

"I'm 58 years old. I don't know what illness is. I have more energy then I know what to do with. I truly believe it is the life style I lead," said Calabrese, who owns a raw food restaurant in Chicago.

Is Raw Food Really Better Than Cooked Food?

As adamant as raw foodists are about the benefits of eating raw, proponents of old-fashioned cooked foods are just as outspoken.

"The claim that somehow raw foods give you better energy, are more healthful, improve your immune system and all of that is simply not substantiated," said Dennis Miller, a professor of food and nutrition at Cornell University, in a USA Today article. "And moreover, it's not biologically plausible."

He points out that certain foods, like beans, actually become more nutritious after cooking. Cooked tomatoes are also known to contain particularly healthy compounds like lycopene -- more so than raw tomatoes -- that help fight prostate cancer.

There's also the question of digestion. According to Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet, "Many people's digestive systems are simply too weak to digest raw vegetables in spite of all their natural enzymes."

She recommends "cooking your vegetables by baking, simmering, sautéing or lightly steaming them to make them more digestible" while simultaneously eating more fermented, or cultured, foods. The good bacteria in fermented foods, Gates says, will help you to create a healthy inner ecosystem and digest foods more efficiently.

Some say that boiling, stir-frying, steaming, baking or fermenting vegetables actually makes them easier to digest, and their nutrients more easily absorbed by your body.

Meanwhile, researchers at Rutgers University and Taiwan found that iron is more easily absorbed by the body from 37 of 48 vegetables they tested when they're boiled, stir-fried, steamed or grilled.

"We've been promoting a more vegetarian type of diet for decades, and I still want people to move in that direction," Dr. Robert Kushner, medical director of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Wellness Institute in USA Today. "But to put up artificial barriers and silly rules that say you can't cook fruits and vegetables is pushing the envelope a little too far ... You can become deficient in a variety of nutrients, like vitamin B-12, calcium, iron and protein. And you can become sick."

The general consensus among conventional nutritionists continues to be that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is always nutritious ... but it's not necessary to restrict yourself to only raw foods to be healthy.

As for the general public, very few have crossed the line to 100 percent raw ... but the interest, or at least the curiosity, of many has been peaked.

If you would like to try out some delicious raw food recipes for yourself, Alive in 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes, is highly recommended. Even those who are new to the raw food movement will enjoy the simple recipes (most can be prepared in five minutes!) for lasagna, spaghetti marinara, stuffed mushrooms, broccoli in cheese sauce, apple pie and more. They're healthy and delicious, whether you're a raw foodist or not!