Monday, June 29, 2009

Energy drinks: Not just for kids anymore?

The "energy drink" market has widely been considered a "young adult" market, and the drinks have been marketed to people 18-30 years old. This is because adults, age 35+, are very skeptical about the whole "energy drink" claims, and we think they all taste like crap. This could not be further from the truth, I have been drinking energy drinks for about 6 years now, and have tried nearly all of them, and found there are some great tasting energy drinks on the market!

What effect do Energy Drinks have on me.
I have read that the best way to have more energy is to workout, eat right, and get the right amount of sleep, and while this is entirely true, my "real life" gets in the way of all of that. I have days when I just can not "get going", and my responsibilities will not wait for met to get the cob webs out. I use energy drinks (sugar free, zero carbs, caffeine free brands) as my coffee in the morning. They really give me a jump start to do a workout, golf, or just a busy (typical) day. They are loaded with B-vitamins and adaptogenic herbs for natural long lasting energy. I always eat something small with my drinks, or eat something before. I sometimes even drink one with my breakfast. This helps the body start the "delivery process" to deliver the vitamins you need.
I hate coffee, and I have replaced my "sodas" for breakfast with a natural, healthy, drink!

Are there any "side effects".
For me the answer is no. I have experienced no side effects from drinking energy drinks(I drink up to 3 a day). The only side effects I have experienced are loads of energy, and my ability to deal with stress. There are some issues for people with certain sensitivities, but with a little research you can find healthy energy drinks. There are even brands for diabetics (no sugar, no carbs no caffeine)!

I am 40, I love them, and so will you!
The tag really say it all here. I am 40, and I use and love energy drinks and encourage you to give them a try too. . There are adult energy drinks out there for people just like us. If you have any questions about them just do a little research, try a few, or simply ask your kids about them. They are sure to know about them!

Energy drinks, in my opinion, are a great way to get that "boost" we all need from time to time. They are as safe as any soda,and now there are many flavors to choose from. I hope you maybe learned something, and I hope you give energy drinks a try!

PS
Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better.
Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills.
Don't wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom

Have a great day,
Mike

Monday, June 15, 2009

Why should I exercise!!

The 10 Best Reasons to Exercise

1. Clear skin. Regular physical activity promotes circulation and sends nutrients to your skin, making breakouts of acne less frequent. Plus, acne breakouts will clear up faster if you're regularly sending oxygen to your skin. Healthy skin is one of the best reasons to exercise.

2. Better sleep. As long as you don't exercise two hours before bed, you'll get better, deeper sleep if you exercise regularly. A good night's sleep is a great reason to exercise.

3. Less stress. The more you exercise, the better you'll cope with anxiety, stress and depression. You'll enjoy more naturally induced happy, positive feelings (endorphins). That alone is a great reason to exercise.

4. Delicious food. If you exercise regularly, you can indulge in your favorite gourmet chocolates without feeling guilty. Healthy weight loss will happen if you exercise regularly - and you can enjoy yourself at the same time!

5. More brain cells. Exercise drives more oxygen to feed your brain, making you think quickly and clearly. Learning new physical activities such as dance or jazzercise builds new connections between your brain cells and helps clear environmental toxins.

6. More confidence. Not only will you have more confidence in yourself if you exercise regularly, you'll be perceived as kinder, smarter and more confident. Feeling good about yourself is one of the best reasons to exercise.

7. Toned, defined muscles. The more you exercise, the stronger and healthier your muscles will become - and the better they'll serve you. It's not all about healthy weight loss: building healthy mass is also an exercise benefit. Feeling toned is a great reason to exercise.

8. Better sex. Physical activity sends more blood to all parts of your body, making you respond more quickly to sexual activity. You'll enjoy sex more not only because you're chasing healthy weight loss - you're also more confident about your body. Getting satisfied sexually is one of the best reasons to exercise.

9. Stronger immune system. Regular exercise helps combat free radicals, and you sweat out the toxins that trigger disease and infections. The health benefits of exercise include lower blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol levels, and a lower heart rate.

10. More energy. Physical activity is not only an effective weight loss method, it's also a great way to increase your energy levels. Having energy to enjoy life is probably the best reason to exercise!

These are just a few reasons to enjoy soame type of physical exercise. Start slow, pace yourself, and HAVE FUN!!!

You CAN only if YOU think you can!!!

Have a great day
Mike Gandy

A healthy lifestyle is easier that you may think.

The words "healthy lifestyle" used to bring up visions of granola, wheat grass, bad food and endless trips to and from the gym 5 days a week. I have discovered, however that living a healthy lifestyle does not have to be such a burden. The simple truth is that we all do not have the time to spend 20 mins driving to the gym, an hour workout, and then 20 mins driving back. That is almost impossible in most peoples daily lives. In order to live a healthy lifestyle you must be physically, mentally, and emotionally health. They are all very important, and one can not take precedent over another. To accomplish all 3, you must find what works for you. That means the exercise, food, the time commitment, must be something you CAN incorporate into your weekly schedule.
The changes in your lifestyle must be changed one at a time. I mean you shouldn't go from NEVER exercising, to working out 6 days a week. Gradually incorporate physical exercise into your daily routine. Start with a 10 minute walk, 3 days a week, with summer here the extra daylight makes taking a walk safer and much more enjoyable. As this becomes easier, maybe graduate to a 30 minute walk, but only after you have stuck yo your 10 minute routine for at least one month! We are looking for a lifestyle change, not a fad, or something we will be impossible to stick to.

If walking is not your style I suggest a home workout routine. There are several different products out there and I will be sharing the ones that have worked for me and my family. This last sentence probably brings up visions of hundreds of dollars on videos, that you don't know if you like or not. That is not true at all, there are several sources to get at home workout routines that are free. One source is the TV. If you have cable or satellite tv, you have access to several programs you can record and playback anytime you are ready. Search your guide to find healthy tv programing you can use. If you begin to like one particular trainer, search ebay and other sites for used dvd's.

The most important thing is to decide what you CAN do, and focus on that. Leave behind the reasons and things you can not do, and start there. The healthy and happy lifestyle you are looking for is not very hard to achieve, and future post I will share all the things that have worked for me. I will cover workouts, supplements, energy drinks, healthy cooking and much more, so be sure to subscribe and check back often!!

There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that is you!!!

Have a graeat day!!

Mike Gandy