The Winner Within
The Challenges of Finding Time to Exercise After Pregnancy Part II
In my last post, I wrote about how having a baby disrupted my lifelong exercise routine, and about the challenges I was having establishing a new one. One of the solutions I explored was joining a fitness club with a daycare centre. As things stand, it isn’t a viable option. Here are the issues: - A fitness membership is a luxury I can’t justify being self-employed, especially when there...
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The Challenges of Finding Time to Exercise after Pregnancy
If I had a nickel for every time an overweight woman blamed her weight gain on pregnancy, I’d be driving a Ferrari, or at least carrying a much nicer handbag. Another line I often heard was, “Exercise? Sure I chase the kids around all day.” “That isn’t exercise,” I would say (in my head, of course). And then I became pregnant, had a baby, and now see why these truly are legitimate ‘excuses.’ As...
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Water, Water Everywhere, But Should You Drink It?
Recently I mixed my protein powder into spring water and noticed that it floated rather than sinking to the bottom as it did with my usual filtered water at home. When someone suggested that perhaps my filtered water was acidic, I leered, “That’s impossible, all water is neutral or alkaline.” Nonetheless, my curiosity got the best of me; so when the pH strips came out and my water measured at a...
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Artificial Colors Where You Might Not Expect Them
On one of my recent gift shopping expeditions, I picked up a box of seven tubes of lip gloss in a variety of shades for one of my friends. The colors were fun and the price was right – a bargain at only $7.99! As I was wrapping it up, I happened to notice the ingredients listed (in microscopic print, by the way) on the back of the package. Admittedly, I was shocked to see listed parabens, artif...
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Food Should Taste Good
From the time I learned about natural nutrition, I followed quite a puritanical approach to meal combinations and recipes. Keep it simple was my motto. Rather than soaking meals in fancy sauces, I enjoyed the flavors Mother Nature supplied, and preferred to eat foods plain. That changed as a result of two life changes: getting married and having a baby. My husband, as open minded as he is, will...
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Kicking the Sugar Habit
In my recent blog post about kicking the post-holiday sugar addiction, I outlined a basic anti-sugar diet. A friend of mine recently asked, “What exactly does that look like?” This menu structure should help: Breakfast: Build breakfast around healthy protein sources (about 20 grams) such as eggs (two eggs with whole grain toast), yogurt (a yogurt/fruit smoothie or parfait topped with grano...
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Reinventing a Holiday Tradition
Every year my mother-in-law (who, I must say, is a fabulous conscientious and healthy cook) makes a traditional family breakfast on December 26 called “The Wifesaver” – a medley of ham, cheese, white bread, and diced green and red peppers all layered (like lasagna) and baked with Corn Flakes sprinkled on top. And this year was no different. The first time I ate it (reluctantly, I might add...
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Just Say “No” to Sugar? Yeah, Right!
Thank goodness it’s January and the cookies, chocolate, Christmas logs, eggnog and candy canes have disappeared. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Not exactly. Every day since the holidays have ended, I’ve snuck at least a bite of some form of sweet. Why? It isn’t exactly as though I lost any weight over the holidays. (In fact, while cutting a second slice of Christmas log, I guiltily joked tha...
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Learning to Dance in the Rain
Take a moment and think of how many perfect days you have had so far in life. I expect the answer is not in the thousands or likely even the hundreds. The more I get to experience life, the more I realize just how precious it is and how important all the hours in all the days are. The mind has a way of tricking us into believing that if we can just get through “this,” then life will be great and...
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Mouthguards: Protect Your Winning Smile
Mouthguards are flexible dental appliances worn by athletes to protect teeth from possible damage. They are usually made of plastic materials that fit comfortably over your teeth and gums. There are over-the-counter variations available, but for the highest level of protection we recommend a custom fitted mouthguard that is made specifically for your smile. The make we choose has a kevlar protec...
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Inspiration: The 30-Minute Threshold
This business of personal and professional development is not an exact science. It can't be. No two of us have ever or ever will be the same. There are, however, general rules and guidelines to achieving our goals. Common sense philosophies like "All achievements are borne of action" provide clues as to how to get there. One such rule I have found to be a constant is the length of t...
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Economic Turnaround: What You Plant Is What You Will Sow
Hard to believe I am sitting down to pen thoughts on this topic: the turnaround of the economy. Not that long ago, all anyone in the media or the world of economics wanted to discuss was how much further down the defecit rabbit hole we all would be pulled. Sure, we may not be back to where we were 15 months ago, but we're on our way. This turnaround and gradual uptick in the economy is an i...
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As Good as Your Word
We live in a contractual world these days. Everything is written by lawyers and mediated in the courts. Trust has been traded in for binding clauses, arbitration, mediation, and court orders. The battle cry in the legal profession has become, "Sue the &%#@%*'s." Gone are the days of a handshake and a promise. I have talked and written a great many times of the great lessons we...
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Can't Believe It? Believe It! It's Possible!
What is possible is so much more than your mind is willing to allow you to believe.I have heard it said many times that God dreams much bigger than we ever could. The evidence of that surrounds us every day. Think back over aspects of your own life. No doubt you can pay witness to achievements and events that in earlier days you likely never even dared dream were possible.What I would...
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Not All Choices Are Created Equal
Here is an interesting fact to consider: Human beings are the only species on this entire Earth that has the capacity to limit our potential. You can't ask a tree to grow to half of its size. You can't ask an ant to limit its activity in search of food and shelter. Because of the genetic code, they know no other way. We humans are the only species capable of limiting our potential. Here ...
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They Are Not Your Goals
Here is one of the great perplexities of life: You say, "I have goals. I know what I want. I write them down. Yet, I can't seem to motivate myself to do what I know is necessary to make them happen." Sound familiar? If this is a refrain you have heard often inside your head, you are not alone. There is a very simple reason for this. The goals you have are not yours. At first blush ...
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Fearless as a Five-Year-Old
Fear is one of the great thieves and villains that steal off into the night with our true potential and possibilities. Fear is the main driving force that causes us to re-think great inspired thoughts and freezes action in its tracks. Fear re-routes our lives away from the bright flame of success toward the dull shadows of mediocrity. Fear, it should be stated from the outset, is not real. It has...
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Offense or Defense?
There are so many great analogies in sport that mirror situations in life. This is not one of them. My boy got an ear infection that progressed over the weekend to the point where he needed to see a doctor. Our doctor was was away for the day, so that left the local walk-in clinic. Most every town and suburb has one or more of these facilities to handle situations like mine and to take the overfl...
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Until You Walk a Mile
Having compassion for others is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give, expecially in the face of personal adversity. During a conversation with a client today, the talk turned to the stresses and strains of the financial markets over the past year. A great many of my clients work in financial services and have borne the burden of managing the lifesavings of hundreds of clients and their fa...
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Look Close to Home
It sure is strange, but mankind seems wired to believe that what we seek is over the next mountain or ocean or continent. Espresso must taste beyond belief in Milan. Pastry cannot be equaled unless is comes from Marseille. "The big fish must be out in the water, only reachable by a boat," says the fisherman on the shore. The man in the boat spends hours trolling the shoreline, believing ...
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It's Not All Been Done Before
I remember reading some time ago that there was talk early in the 1900s that the patent office was considering closing because they believed that all that was going to be invented or discovered had already been. Good thing they didn't close because I imagine they may have missed one or two advances in the time from then to now. That same sentiment can also hold true for what we believe is po...
Read more...New Radio Show
The Winner Within is proud to announce the launch of the brand new radio program, The Winner Within with Randy Taylor of Taylormadeleadership.This is a call-in show on personal and professional development. It debuts this Saturday, August 15th (TODAY) on 610 CKTB AM. If you have enjoyed and been inspired by Randys blogs at Naturally Savvy, you will love his new radio show.L...
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One Degree of Separation
What does it take to win? To really win and to reach the destination we have set out for ourselves? The truth is, it may be far less than you may have thought. Over the years I have talked at great length about elite performance—what it means and what it takes to achieve it. The true definition of winning is: to design your own life and pull it off. The "pulling it off" requires effort ...
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Pull the Trigger
What is possible inside all of us—for today and tomorrow and the rest of our time here—so often remains pent up. During a presentation today, I flipped to the next slide and saw a picture of a runner in the starting blocks. What we were talking about was elite performance and what it takes to not only define it but to engage in the activity to bring it into reality. While driving back after the p...
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Find Your Voice
Find your voice. It's there. It's always been there. Over days and months and years, we tend to get distracted and set our voice down. In a hurry most end up picking up the wrong one and carrying on through life. You will know when you find it. It's unmistakeable. Of late I have been fortunate enough to listen to an entirely authentic voice coming of age. Our little girl is just ove...
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Where Did All of This Come From?
There is little doubt that our greatest joy in life comes from just being here. Experiencing what we are doing. Where we are. Who we are with. What we have. Today's blog came this morning while I was making coffee. It was the focus of what we have. In this case, brown sugar, to be exact. After removing the lid from the sugar bowl, I peered inside and felt something mixed between gratitude an...
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Healthy Success Takes Time & Repetition
We are surrounded by poignant lessons every day—if only we would stop long enough to look and listen. In my case, today I had to stop to, well, use the facilities. I'll admit it's been a very long time since I have seen inside of a fast food restaurant. I would like to officially apologize to the board of directors and shareholders of these monolithic burger giants for making use of your...
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Think Things Can't Change? Just Wait!
If you think things can't change, just wait a while. In my travels today, I heard that President Obama was in Russia for talks. Back at the office I went online to find out what the purpose of the visit was. The story said that Obama kicked off two days of meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. They're expected to focus on nuclear arms control, Afghanistan, and the environmen...
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Break Some Rules but Not Others
Getting set to celebrate Independence Day? What most don't realize is that those 56 men led by Thomas Jefferson on July 4 back in 1776 signed their names to a document that they knew full well would either bring about freedom to all Americans or leave every one of them hanging from the gallows. What some call the greatest decision of all time broke the rules. If you look back over history o...
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Don’t Get Hypnotized
Life is the laboratory I work in every day. The most interesting aspect of writing each day's perspective is that it is always based upon real life experience and observation. I was sitting watching Treehouse TV with my son. It was one of those rare times when the show was not a cartoon. It was about a group of young children riding in a horse-drawn carriage along a winding country road up a ...
Read more...Anything Is Possible When You Have Faith
We often reflect on the perceived challenges in life and question the possibility of our hopes and goals and dreams. It is this very questioning of what is possible that creates the greatest obstacle we will likely ever face. At 1:45 on the morning of the first day of spring, my Faith was strengthened and will unquestionably impact my life in the coming years in ways I can't yet comprehend. F...
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Compare You to You
I finally got around to booking a haircut on Saturday. While waiting my turn, I thumbed through a magazine that was there in a stand. I am always amazed that magazines in hair salons are for women only. For all the men like me who enter these hallowed halls of style, it makes us feel like secret agents on a mission of espionage, looking to spirit back the secrets of the blow-dry or highlight techn...
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Are You Dancing?
While out shopping this weekend, I was in a store where they have all these earthy, creative signs, jewellery, and meditative CDs. On one of the framed plaques was the quote from William Purkey that read: “Dance like no one is watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live like it's heaven on earth." It made me smile. A short while later I was pro...
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Who Needs You?
My brand new baby girl has been having some digestion problems that may be bordering on infant colic. Terrible to watch someone so small, especially your own child, go through that. Late this afternoon I gave my wife a break and tried to settle the baby. I was finally able to get her to fall asleep on my chest all wrapped up in blankets while I was reclined back on the bed. When she finally fell a...
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Don't Have a Plan B
Oh, how often we allow ourselves to get faked out into settling for less than we want. Less than we deserve. I spoke with a client earlier today who is going through a challenge. We all go through them. During the conversation about this challenge, it was brought up that what had been defined as the client’s goal would now likely have to change as a result of the situation. I could feel myself alm...
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Get Through or Get From the Day
Fascinating really just how many choices we are subjected to each day. What to eat for breakfast? What information to take in? What conversations to have? What music or radio station to listen to? How quickly to jump from the brake to the gas when the light turns green? Consider the choices we make each day as the colors on the canvas of our lives. Do we want big bold brush strokes that make an im...
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Be Inspired—Not Impressed
One woman was on the verge of hysterics because she was quite sure she was able to see part of his hand waving from her vantage point about 60 yards away before he was swallowed up inside the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. The visit of the 44th President of the United States—Barak Obama—to Canada marked his first official state visit to another country. The visit mixed the challenges of our share...
Read more...Is There a Responsibility?
The direction we choose in life is largely affected by the experiences we have on our journey. I don't want to be the one to alter your personal philosophy or nudge it from its path, but I would like to ask you to think about something. The human experience is a fascinating endeavor. Only because we live in this collective environment are we allowed to partake in all that is possible. The bil...
Read more...The World's Greatest Untapped Resource
The wildly fluctuating prices of energy and talk of problems relative to dependence have created great discussions over what should be done. Should the focus be on developing alternative fuels? Should we, as Sarah Palin put it, "Drill, baby, drill," look at cutting back, or prepare for the ultimate Armageddon when the flame will go out and we will simply sit staring in disbelief as we fr...
Read more...Out with the Bad, In with the Good
Likely the greatest challenge we will ever face in life rests between our ears. Overcoming the voice in our head that so often speaks counter to what we are looking to achieve and what direction we hope to move towards is the nemesis of growth. It really is a basic formula of mathematics. The more information we take in that strengthens the message of can't, the more difficult it is to believ...
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