In today’s world too many people are worried about how they compare with the ‘Joneses.’ They compare their houses, their cars, their kids, their jobs, their vacations, their bodies and everything in between. Do people do this as some kind of life score card? Is it really that important to have a bigger house, a faster car, or take fancier vacations than your friends & neighbors?

Is it really going to matter in the end?

If you have food, clothing and shelter it should really be enough. But I know that’s not a popular thing to say. And I know that’s not what most people are going to stive for, myself included. If that were the case we’d all live in 800 square foot shelters, maybe smaller. Because that’s more than sufficient space to have the basic necessities.

The point of this article is to hopefully bring people back to reality. It may outrage some people too, but I don’t really care.

The American Dream

People came to America in droves to acquire FREEDOM and the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But those things have to be defined by the individual and they shouldn’t be attained by the taking away from or destruction of someone else.

What Do YOU Want?

After researching and studying, I’ve come to the conclusion that people really only want three things in life.

• To be fit
• To be rich
• To have fun

Fitness

Too many people let others define these three things for them. Let’s tackle fitness first. How many women(I’m not picking on you) ever really think they look good or are satisfied with their bodies? How can they be when they are comparing themselves to fitness models, body builders and air-brushed fake fashion models plastered on the front of magazines everywhere they look.

Do you know why fitness models, body builders and fashion models look the way they do? Because that’s who they are and what they do. That’s their livelihood. And yes, some have some air-brushing done to hide their ‘flaws’(everyone has flaws). It’s time to be realistic and satisfied with what you can and are willing to accomplish. If you’re working full-time and raising a family, fitness model body results are going to be rather challenging, although it is possible. So decide what your goal is and start working towards it. Commit to exercising 3-5 days a week. Eat healthy, exercise and live an active lifestyle. If you do all that, you’ll have the health and body you desire.

Rich

This is a big one. What is rich? Is it being a millionaire?.. a billionaire? Or is it just being able to not have to worry about having enough money to enjoy life more. What if you easily had all the money you needed to pay the bills and take a nice vacation or maybe two, every year? Would that be rich enough for you?

Just think if you earned enough money, that you never had to worry about money again. Maybe you make a lot of money now, but you hate your job. What if you found a way to earn the same amount but you could do it from home, or on a computer from anywhere in the world. Being rich is really about being satisfied to. Loving, or at least liking what you do to earn an income that supports the lifestyle you desire.

Maybe you want two homes, one on the beach and one in the mountains. Go for it. Just don’t do it to prove your better than someone else, do it because it’s what you want. There’s nothing wrong with creating wealth when it’s done for the right reason(s). You can’t help many people if you’re poor & destitute.

Fun

This is completely up to you. Some people think that because they’re wealthy they have to start attending the opera, or join a yacht club.

Bullshit.

It’s your money and your life. Do what you enjoy and have fun doing. Sure, you have to accommodate your loved ones once in awhile, or humor your friends, but don’t try to become part of something just because it gives you more status.

Life’s a lot more fun if you’re healthy & fit too. It’s hard to snow ski, water ski, hike, bike, ride a motorcyle, travel, or whatever it is you like if you’re fat, sick and/or out of shape. That’s why these three ingredients go so well together in creating the ultimate lifestyle. And the chances are good that you’ll inspire and motivate others to take charge of their lives if you do what it takes to become fit, rich and fun.

Is That All You Got

It happened one day in the gym(where else, right?) Arnold and Franco were doing squats but Franco just wasn’t feeling it that day. His motivation, his drive just wasn’t there.

Do you ever have those days?

Anyway, they loaded up the bar with well over 400lbs. Franco had squated this amount of weight several times before for several reps. But since his mind wasn’t in the game, he squated it once and when he went for his second rep, he crashed. That means when he went down with the weight, he stayed down. The weight & bar caught the rack to protect him but he wasn’t standing back up with that on his shoulders. That’s all he could do, one rep.

Was That Truly ALL He Good Muster?

Arnold noticed something Franco didn’t. When Franco was focused on the exercise he was attempting, a group of kids had walked into the gym. And any kid that knew anything about weights was mesmerized by the site of Franco & Arnold. These guys were like super-stars to these kids. When Franco realized they were watching he was a little embarrassed and Arnold saw this. So being the good friend Arnold was, he used it to motivate Franco. Arnold asked him, “Franco, you’re not going to let those kids see you get buried by that amount of weight, are you?”

That’s all it took.

Franco stepped back under that massive load of weight, put the bar acrossed his shoulders, backed up and squated that SAME amount of weight for ten repetitions.

TEN!

How did he do this you ask? He did it because he had a bigger reason to do it now then he did before. He did it because he had a shift in his mindset. Now he knew and believed he could do it more than just one measley rep.

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

If those kids wouldn’t have walked in Franco probably would’ve given up and quit for the day. It’s obvious he could do more than he thought he could or wanted to do that day. He proved that. The same thing applies to us. Everyone of us has one thing we’ve probably all tried to do… lose weight. But if you go to the mall it’s pretty obvious most people quit.

Are they happy?

By the looks of them, I’d say no. What do you want to do or accomplish that you’ve just given up on? Or been inconsistent with? We all have bad days or tough times but if you’re going to be successful you have to stick with it even when you don’t want to. Do what Franco did, step away and regroup. Get refocused. Remember why you started what you started. Think about what’s going to happen if you quit.

Anybody can quit… and most people do.

But who cares about quitters. Nobody ever says, “remember the difference so-and-so(the quitter) made.”

It’s Not Going To Be Easy

Even though Franco and Arnold had massive bulging muscles on every inch of their bodies and veins protruding everywhere, looking like they’re on the verge of bursting at any time, doesn’t mean that pressing the amount of weight they did was easy. Plus their was several other things they had to do that I’m sure they didn’t always want to. Eat healthy pretty much all the time. Workout more hours per day than not.(They obviously liked what they did.) Giving up free time with friends to lift weights, etc. But they did it anyway because it’s what helped them achieve their goals. Arnold won Mr. Olympia seven times. Franco won it twice, and he was only 5 feet 5 inches tall.

Decide

If you haven’t decided you’re going to be successful at something, whether it’s bodybuilding, weight-loss or business success, it doesn’t matter if you think you can or can’t accomplish goals… yet. But as soon as you decide to take something on, your belief is going to increase. Sure, you’ll be a little nervous, that’s normal. But you’re also going to be proud of yourself for deciding to step outside the box. And when you hit your first goal, no matter how small it may seem, you’re going to get more belief.

You may be happy with your life just as it is, that’s great. And if that’s the case, you’re definitely in the majority of the population. But if you’re like most people, you can’t wait another second to start thinking about what you want out of life and putting a plan together to make it happen.

If you know you want to do something to make your life better, but you’re not sure what that something is, what you’re going to do or how you’re going to do it, check this out. It may or may not be for you, but you won’t know until you take a look.

Life’s short, start living by design, your design.

I thought that was a pretty good quote and I think most people would agree with me. But I also think most people will do nothing about it because they’re too scared to think, little lone step, outside the box. Too many people have given up on their dreams and settled for a life of quiet desperation.

It’s a sad thing.

They think if someone is successful or has something they don’t, they’re lucky. Or they’re a suck up. They knock and make fun of someone that works harder than they do. And if someone has and is willing to pursue their dreams, look out. They better be prepared for an all-out assault of criticisms and put downs. These people are called…

…Monday Morning Quarterbacks

They have ALL the answers, and NO money! You have to know at least one of these people. They’re the ones always pointing fingers and making fun of the winners… and making excuses for their pathetic existence.

If you still have a dream, a goal, or like the quote above says, if you’re still here your mission is not over. And if you’re like most people you’ll be doing something Monday morning that’s not getting you any closer to your destination.

Monday Morning Blues

Monday morning is probably, if not, the most dreaded morning of the week. It’s the beginning of at least a minimum 40 hour torture session. Most people spend a minimum of 40 hours a week doing something they hate with people they don’t like.

Why?

Because they think they have to. They think that what they’re doing is the only way to make ends meet. And it may be for the time being, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams. You don’t have to settle for the crumbs your boss is giving you. After all , he decided he didn’t like the crumbs. And that’s why he’s the boss now.

Life is too short to be stuck doing something you hate that doesn’t provide the life you desire. I’m not saying you need a mansion and 20 cars(unless that’s what you want). I’m saying you need to spend life doing something you like that provides a good lifestyle for you. Just think if you could work from home or anywhere you want and just made the same amount you make at your job. But you DON’T have to go there to make it. Wouldn’t that be awesome? And what if what you were doing helped other people improve their lives at the same time.

That’s a win-win!

If you’re happy doing what you’re doing, that’s great. But if you’re not and you’ve bought into your Monday Morning Quarterback’s mentality, you need to change that right now. Opportunity is all around you, you just need to know where to look. And you need to get your information from the right people. Not someone that knows nothing about what you’re asking them about.

Make a decision today to start pursuing your dreams. It’s never to late.

Can you imagine coming home and seeing a foreclosure sign in your yard? And as you walk up to your front door, with your head hanging in shame, the sheriff taps you on the shoulder to serve you papers. Informing you that you have until midnight to get out of your house… to get everything out of your house. You knew this day was coming but you just didn’t know when. And you still have no idea how you’re going to face your family… the people that rely on you to provide for them.

You Don’t Want This To Happen To You

No one thinks this is going to happen to them. It’s a nightmare and one of the worst things that I think a person could face. But I just read something from an associate of mine who looked out his window and witnessed just that. His neighbor was being evicted from his home and all of his furnishings were out in the yard. They were locked out of their own home. It was completely humiliating for him and he couldn’t figure out where he went wrong.

This was a white collar neighborhood after all. He did what he was told. He went to college, got a good job and this is the reward. His company didn’t need him anymore so they eliminated him from the payroll.

“Thanks for all your hard work and commitment, there’s the door. Good luck. Security will see you out.”

I can’t imagine.

You Have To Step Outside The Box

You see, my associate is one of those guys that stepped outside the box. He found a legitimate business that he could work from home. And he did this part-time while he was working his J.O.B. until he was able to go full-time from home.

All the big shots told him it wouldn’t work, to get a “real job,”… something with security. Now the tables have turned. The neighbors and friends lucky enough to still have a job, well, most of them dread it. And the ones that lost their job, you can imagine what they’re going through.

Have You Heard Of Noah’s Ark?

Now don’t think I’ve gone crazy, I’ve been crazy for a long time(joke). I don’t think God’s going to flood the world again, they’re already talking about water shortages.

But seriously, we’re living in different times.

The world is changing.

The economies are changing.

The way business and income is earned is changing.

If you’re buying into the message from the government and Main Stream Media that everything is rainbows and unicorns, that everything is going to be just fine, you’re in for a big surprise. Not all jobs will be lost, but a lot will. It’s ALWAYS good to have a backup plan or multiple streams of income. Maybe you’re sick of your job and ready to be your own boss.

Whatever your reason, you should start investigating your options. But don’t buy into anything that says all the work is done for you. There’s nothing that leads to success where all you have to do is “push a button.” NOTHING!

You need to find someone that’s successful, that’s been there and done it, and is willing to teach you exactly how they did it.

Someone like David Wood and David Sharpe. Check this out. It may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Some call it attraction. Some “the spark.” However you refer to it, chemistry is one of the elements of a successful relationship. It’s often hard to find in the beginning and can be difficult to maintain over time. But it is essential.

I receive many questions from female readers asking me what they should do when they meet a guy who seems really nice, but they just don’t feel that “thing” for him. My answer is always the same: Keep him as a friend but don’t get romantically involved with him. Sound cruel? Shouldn’t we give people a chance even if we aren’t that attracted to them? No way! Physical attraction is mandatory. And it must be present in the beginning for your relationship to have a chance in the future. That initial chemistry is essential to surviving the road ahead.

Even if a relationship starts out with two people who are incredibly attracted to each other, the “spark” will diminish to some degree. The initial high will wear off and day-to-day life will set in. It just happens. But you’ve got to make sure the fire doesn’t burn out completely.

So how do you keep the chemistry alive, especially in a long-term relationship? In order to maintain the chemistry, there are three things you need to do.

* Maintain the mystery – Much of this is up to the women. When it comes to our daily routines, a man never needs to see you putting on deodorant, waxing your upper lip, or squeezing a zit. Don’t follow him into the bathroom or keep the door open when either one of you is on the toilet. I know of one woman whose husband of over forty years has never even seen her brushing her teeth. This may sound extreme but I think you get my point. There are certain activities that should be done in private and certain things you don’t need to discuss with your guy. There is indeed such a thing as being “too close.”

* Maintain your own lives – I’m always skeptical when I hear people say, “My relationship is perfect. We share everything.” Here’s the truth: If you want to keep things passionate, you have to have things that are “yours” as well as things that are “ours.” This is what creates excitement. In contrast, too much “togetherness” equals boredom. Or, as the famous saying goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

It’s important to continue with the hobbies and activities you enjoyed before you became a couple. Everyone should have one thing they are passionate about apart from their relationship and career. Maybe it’s Pilates. Maybe it’s charity work. Maybe it’s skeet shooting. Whatever it is, it should be something that you love doing and that you do without your beloved. (Side note, ladies: Shopping doesn’t count!) This is what makes us “well-rounded” and “balanced.” And keep in mind that it is your “alone time” that will inspire both of you to want to spend romantic “together time!”

* Maintain the romance – Once you are both living under the same roof, it can be difficult to truly continue “dating.” But it is important that you do. It’s a great idea to have a built-in “date night;” one night a week where you get a sitter (or alternate babysitting duties with a girlfriend) and leave the kids at home.

Vacations – or if finances are tight “stay-cations” – are also a great idea. And I’m not talking about the family road trip to Disneyworld. Make it your goal that twice a year you ship any kids off to grandma’s and get away – just the two of you. It doesn’t have to be a trip that sets you back five figures. A short jaunt or a weekend where you lock yourselves in the house will do just fine. The important part is to spend some time together without the distractions of work, schedules, family, and your cell phones.

If you work to maintain the mystery, your independence, and the romance, you’ll always have a feeling of newness in your relationship. And that newness and excitement is exactly what you need to maintain chemistry over time.

Jenn Clark is a writer, love coach, and all around “sex-pert” when it comes to dating and relationships. She is a columnist for AVID Magazine, a featured writer for a variety of websites, and the author of the upcoming book, “How to Be a Goddess (A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming the Woman Men Dream About…). You can find both her and her popular blog on the Facebook page “Jenn X: 30Something & Single.”

Is The Reward Worth The Risk?

A few weeks ago I found myself suspended 180 feet above the ground. I was just hanging there from two, what appeared to be very small cables, with my daughter on one side of me and her friend on the other. The crazy thing is I put myself in this position on purpose and I paid good, hard earned, cold cash to do so.

Why?

Because I wanted the adrenaline rush that comes from free falling 180 feet. I knew it would be an adrenalin pumping ride, but initially when my daughter asked me if I would do the rip-cord with her and her friend, I didn’t know if I had the guts to do it. In my younger days I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. If I could do something that involved speed or that would get my adrenaline pumping, I was ‘all in.’ One thing that settled my nerves a little was that the safety record for the rip-cord was 100%… no accidents had ever happened.

Focus On The Prize

Before I knew it our time had arrived. We were standing in the prep area getting fitted for our harnesses they attach the cable to. My nerves had calmed down and I was feeling pretty excited. But ever since we set our time to ‘fly,’ approximately 2 hours previous to this, my stomach was in (small)knots. Simply stated, I was just unsure about this whole adventure.

But I wanted to fly.

After we were fitted they took us out to the lift, hooked us up, and it was up… up… and away. In a matter of about 30 seconds we were hanging 180 feet above the ground waiting for the command to ‘pull the cord.’ And that’s when the fun started.
As soon as we pulled it we were diving towards the earth at more than 65 mph and the adrenaline was pumping. It’s a feeling you just can’t explain to the people that are standing there watching you fly by them smiling from ear to ear and letting out screams of fear and excitement.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

As you can imagine, there are more people watching than flying. I know not everyone is a thrill seeker, but the sad thing is that’s true with about everything in life.

I bet that most people you know aren’t living the life of their dreams. What’s even more sad is most of those people have forgotten what their dreams were. And if you challenge them to do something outside their ‘comfort zone’ they want nothing to do with it.

Life’s An Adventure

If you really want to experience life you’re going to have to push yourself. You’re going to have to ‘go for it.’ Being an observer and standing on the sidelines is never as fun or rewarding as ‘getting in the game.’

Never.

To live a fulfilling life you’re going to have to do the uncomfortable sometimes. You’re going to have to take some risks. But that’s where the thrill, the reward comes from. It happens even if you don’t succeed because you can look back and say “at least I tried.”

When I was thinking about flying on the rip cord I thought it was crazy. Other people thought I was crazy. Some people still think it was crazy. But guess what, I’m going down to Florida, and when I’m there I’m going to fly from a 300 foot rip cord.

So think about something you’ve been wanting to do, or try, or achieve… and forget about all the fear. Focus on the reward and ‘pull the cord.’ Either way, it’ll be a helluva ride.

Dana

1. Get breathless – “Longevity is all about daily vigorous physical activity. Go outside after you read this and walk around for half an hour, and do it at a pace so that you get a little breathy. Do that a few times a week, and you’ve done the most important thing you can do for longevity.”
2. Eat real food – “Eat whole food, food that looks the way it looks out of the ground when you eat it. Those nutrients are too important for us. Remember, when you’re walking into a grocery store, you’re walking into a pharmacy.”
3. Have a purpose – “You have to have a meaningful reason for what you do in life. Retirement can put this at risk. If you have a hobby like wanting to cure hunger in Africa, I say yeah, retire fast. But most people don’t have that. Sitting around at home doing nothing is like waiting for death. Statistically, you’re most at risk of dying within six months of retiring. If you give your heart a reason t keep beating, it will.”
4. Get screened – “Colonoscopy. Mammograms. Prostate exams. Form a partnership with your doctor. The information is out there. Prevention to me is all about making it easy to do the right thing.”

What differentiates Dr. Oz

Most doctors simply treat the symptoms by writing a prescription and sending you on your way. Then, inevitably more times than not, you end up back in their office with another problem or the one you started with has advanced. Dr. Oz’s biggest focus is keeping you healthy and fit so you don’t end up in his office. He helps his patients find preventative measures to keep them from coming back. Solutions such as supplements, heatlthy eating and fitness programs. Dr. Oz came to this conclusion when he was performing surgery on people in their 20′s with blocked arteries, who would then have fast food for their first post-op meal. It was then he knew he had to do something more.

How Do You Know What Supplements Work, To Use?

If you’re like most people, when you walk into your local drug store or health food store you have no idea what you’re looking for. And sadly, most supplement products on the shelves don’t even have all the ingredients listed or do what they’re supposed to. How can they if the product is subpar and packed with fillers? There’s one company, well more than one, but Dr. Oz endorses this one.

Why?

Because Dr. Oz tested the products and they HAD the ingredients listed and DELIVERED them properly to the body. Every product Advocare formulates is tested by a third party company called Informed-Choice. This is done to guarantee the products contain proper and consistent ingredients and do what they’re supposed to do.

If you’re going to spend the money on supplementation, don’t you think it’d be smart to buy a product that you know that it is what it says it is? And if you’re going to take care of your health you’re going to have to use supplements. Because without your health you really don’t have anything.

Read Dr. Oz’s article here and learn what he discovered.

Then go get the supplements you need right here.

If you have any questions about what to take don’t hesitate to contact me at: fitrichandfun@gmail.com

-Coach D

Compatibility is an interesting thing isn’t it? It’s true that you can’t really have a successful relationship without it. But what is it exactly? What makes two people “compatible?” And once life’s ups and downs set in, how do you remain “compatible” over time?

Compatibility is like chemistry – another essential “C” of relationships – either you have it or you don’t. All too often, we tend to think of being compatible as having a bunch of similarities with our partners. This isn’t totally untrue. There are certain fundamentals which, when shared, create the basis for a strong relationship. But it goes beyond that. So let’s break it down and take a look at the three main components of compatibility.

World View Compatibility – How we are raised, our religious faiths, and our education levels are all examples of influences that shape how we look at life. Having similar backgrounds and beliefs can indeed translate into relational compatibility. Being in harmony on the “big things” – how to raise your family, financial matters, and faith – can help diffuse disagreements on the “little things.” But even more important than agreement is respect. Seeking to understand your partner’s views and working toward compromise when necessary is actually more critical than always being of like mind.

Activity Compatibility – You’ve heard it said that couples who play together, stay together. And I think there’s truth to that. Having a shared interest or hobby creates a bond. It doesn’t matter what it is; maybe it’s scuba diving, wine tasting, or going to the movies. What is important is that you enjoy it as a couple and carve out time to make it a priority. If you don’t have an interest or two in common, chances are high your relationship will eventually fizzle out.

Negative Trait Compatibility – I think we overlook this much too often. How do you feel about your significant other’s worst habits or their biggest piece of baggage? Is it something you can live with? If it never changes or gets any better, are you okay with that? As far as I see it, people come with an “as-is” policy. Trying to change someone into who or what you want them to be rarely works. Sure, we all go through transformations as we grow older and grow up. Our life experiences can certainly shape us over time. But while relationships may refine us somewhat, who we fundamentally are usually doesn’t change. So look for someone whose “negative qualities” work with your own faults. Find someone who you can live with and love through their worst moments. That’s true compatibility.

Both men and women tend to get involved based on attraction and feelings of “fun” when they’re around another person. That’s not a bad start. But it’s compatibility that provides the framework on which healthy, long-term relationships are built.

Jenn Clark is a writer, love coach, and all around “sex-pert” when it comes to dating and relationships. She is a columnist for AVID Magazine, a featured writer for a variety of websites, and a monthly co-host of the radio show “Beyond Beautiful.” You can find both her and her popular blog at www.facebook.com/jennx30somethingandsingle.

Well maybe, kinda, sorta but not really. I do know how they stay in shape while they’re out in the field though.

TRX Suspension Training

If the TRX Suspension Training System is any indicator of what it takes to be a Navy Seal, it’s no wonder so few make the cut. By the way, it is an indicator because it was designed and developed by a Navy Seal.

I’ve been working out for over 20 years and my inaugural TRX Suspension Training Class was the closest I’ve ever come to ‘blowing chunks’ from working out. It was the most intense hour I’ve ever spent exercising. I’d mentioned to the instructor that I had previously done the famous P90X and that I’d been training with a kettlebell for awhile.

He just kinda smirked.

But I have to say that kettlebell training is a butt kicking workout too and it goes hand in hand with TRX. And I’m glad I had been training with the kettlebell because I’m pretty sure I’d of ‘blown chunks’ if I would have started this class completely out of shape.

You Don’t Have To Be A Seal

The good news is you don’t have to be a Navy Seal to enjoy the spectacular benefits that come from training with a TRX Suspension Training System. And you don’t have to do it for an hour either. I took the class to see if this was the real deal. It is. Now I’m ordering my own TRX Traing System to use in the comfort of my own home. And my workouts will only be about 30 minutes. But it’ll be an intense 30 minutes.

The TRX Suspension Training System develop strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability simultaneously. Your body is your machine. And with this system that is all you need.

Believe me.

If you’re looking for a light weight, take easily anywhere you want to go, super intense, highly effective workout system… the TRX Trainer is it. There’s really no excuse to not workout anymore. With more than 30% of the population overweight or obese you should have plenty of incentive. Not to mention the fact you’re going to love the way you look and feel when you tone up those muscles and lose that fat that’s hanging off your body. So grab your TRX Suspension Training System right here and get started training with the same system some of the fittest individuals in the world use. If it’s good enough for them… it’s good enough for you.