How to Handle Tempting Food That Will Take You Down!

What is the one food or drink item in your house that could take you down in a moment’s notice?

Answering this question is a great start but requires some further action if you want to gain victory in your nutrition.

I absolutely love sweets, specifically dark chocolate. I also love an open bottle of wine.

But I want to gain control of my nutrition and reach my nutrition goals. Herein lies the problem.

Just last night there was open wine and sweets from a party as parting gifts for me to choose what do with. And do you know what happened…?

There are three steps to help you Handle Tempting Food That Will Take You Down:

 

Step 1 – Determine What Will Take You Down

Everyone one of us has that tempting food / drink that will be to our demise if we’re not careful. You know and chances are, those closest to you know as well.

If I’m on the road, the joke used to be to just tempt me with the dessert menu and everyone can jump on my bandwagon knowing with 100% certainty I would try and order one of everything.

This has since changed because my long term goal of nutrition is becoming stronger than my short term gain of the chocolate rush. (please change the subject!!!)

How will you know what it is for you?

Answer this question: what is the one thing that if it was in the house and you knew it would call you by name and whisper “take me down big boy?” And it will consume your thoughts before you consume its content!

So what will take you down? Sweets? Chips? Drink?

You must know EXACTLY what will take you down (if you don’t already) so you can begin to win this battle.

Step 2 – Know If You’re a TASTER or FINISHER

I’ve found there are two types of people with tempting food:

Taster – this person has a unique skill set. If they can only taste the forbidden fruit with a bite or two, they’re good. They’ve “got it out of their system” and temptation is no longer an issue.

Finisher – this person has a “seek and destroy” mentality. They want no casualties left behind and if they start, they’re compelled to complete their mission.

Now, if a taster cannot get that “quick hit”, they’re on a mission. Let’s just say this is my wife. (strictly for example and complete fiction as far as you know) 

If Susan cannot find that quick hit of Trader Joe’s dark chocolate and can experience the crack of the chocolate on the side of her mouth and that first couple of moments of ecstasy (told you this was made up), my sweet wife goes dark (and I don’t mean chocolate) and it ain’t pretty. She’s not a happy camper. Can anyone relate?

Now, if a finisher has the food that will take him down (let’s say Susan’s husband for sake of example and guilty by association), that food will get hurt. And in record time. In sight – in mind.

But if the food (or open bottle of wine) is not around, it’s not that big of a deal. The temptation is out of the house and therefore not as strong. Out of sight – out of mind.

So, are you a Taster or Finisher? If you’re married, what is your spouse? You must know this answer.

Step 3 – Decide What To Do With It

Once you know WHAT IT IS, and WHO YOU ARE, now you must decide WHAT TO DO with the tempting food.

There are actual people who could have a half gallon of ice cream or a bag of cookies in their house and it could last an entire month. (If that’s you, I admire and completely do not understand you!). This is the Taster.

Their secret for the Taster is portion control. If they can just have a little bit, they’re good. But they need to stop at just “one taste” and not multiple tastes. (insert guilt trip here)  So, they need to set the boundaries to accomplish this goal of just a taste or two. 

But if you’re a Finisher, your best course of action is NOT bringing it into the house or ordering it.  And IF / WHEN you do, you know exactly what will happen. Every single time. The only question left to answer is how long it will take for you to play the magician and make it disappear!

You must decide AHEAD of TIME what you’re going to do with the tempting food / drink.

Closing Challenge…

The secret is in two words: KNOW THYSELF.

How are you wired? Are you willing to answer the above questions honestly? I mean with brutal honesty? Because if you do, then you will know what to do next.

And then it’s a matter of taking care of your “bitness” to help you succeed in your nutrition goals. 

Motivated, busy professionals can only reach their nutrition potential with making pre-decided choices that will help them gain victory in this difficult yet necessary area of nutrition. The ultimate goal is to always make the healthiest choice.

You can do this.

Closing Questions…

What’s your tempting food / drink?

Are you a Taster or Demolisher?

 

 

 

Three Quick Ways to Personally Lose Respect

Two questions for you:

Do you want to be respected and I mean truly meaningful respected?

Are you willing to earn that respect?

Those are two bi-polar questions. It’s like wanting to lose weight without changing your eating habits. It doesn’t happen by osmosis and it sure doesn’t happen quickly.

But it can happen.

But why do SO MANY PEOPLE do things that quickly make me lose respect for them? And some are professionals and don’t even realize their unique and offensive skill set!

I’ve found there are three quick ways to personally lose respect in the eyes of others. And ironically, they’re things we do all the time.

The problem is we don’t often consider the impact that creates either respect or disrespect and as a result are very cavalier in the very ways that allow us to gain or lose respect.

Let me give a working definition of Respect:

Honoring others with what you say and what you do

Wait. Did you just say honor? Absolutely. It’s putting someone or something ahead of ourselves and the result is respect.

But often we don’t even think about whether or not we’re honoring or respecting others.

Respect at Work – boss and co-workers

Respect at Home – spouse and child

Wouldn’t it be nice to know the rules to avoid this altogether?

Here are the three quick ways to personally lose respect:

 

#1 – WORDS – How We Speak To Others

I’m amazed how people talk to each other. Whether it’s a co-worker, spouse, or even a stranger, our words have power.

One of the quickest ways to lose respect is with our words. It’s how we speak to others.

We see it the quickest in children. In a split second kids will actually say what they’re thinking and the damage is done.

It’s such a big deal in our family that it’s one of our Six Buckley Values. We’re all over showing respect to others because if we don’t learn it now it’s so much more difficult later in life to change.

Often, we hurt more with how we say our words. And we know when we do it. We know the edge or the tone to use that puts that little “umph” in the words to leave a mark.

Yet what may feel good on our end pays the price of the loss of respect on the other end.

#2 – TIME – How We Affect Others

So many people are dis-respectful by how they use their time. This may come as a surprise so let me give you an example.

I had a close friend whose boss would constantly not show up for a weekly meeting. Worse yet, he wouldn’t even cancel the meeting.

To me, this was SO disrespectful. His actions would result in holding my friend hostage every single week during this scheduled call. Completely avoidable and it spoke volumes to my friend without his boss ever saying a word.

As a result, my friend lost a ton of respect for his boss because of how careless he was in this area by ultimately disrespected my friend’s time. The sad part is I’m not even sure if this boss had any clue the loss of respect that was caused by the way he was cavalier with someone’s time.

We can be disrespectful by not returning an email or phone call, showing up late to a meeting (then making an excuse when you KNOW you could’ve actually been there on time with a few small changes).

We make it about us but in reality we’re disrespecting the other person. As a result, they lose respect for us. Completely avoidable.

#3- ACTIONS – How We Follow-Through

The 3rd and final way to lose respect quickly is in our actions. We can “say the right things” but if we don’t follow through, we’re showing disrespect.

We know what to say and we may even mean to do it but when we don’t follow through, whether we intend to or not, respect is lost.

Actions are not about intentions. Your direction, not your intentions, determine your destination.

If you want others to respect you, then follow-through. Put your big boy pants on and getter dun!

This is a big area for people. There are friends or co-workers that I know who are going to be late most of the time, will not respond to an email or call and have to be hounded down. They simply will not respond or get something done.

It drives me crazy and I lose a ton of respect for them.

But… how often am I doing the same thing?

Closing Thoughts…

It’s amazing how quickly we can lose respect for someone or lose it ourselves!

Most of us don’t want to disrespect others and in fact what to be respected.

But are we willing to be self-aware enough to watch our words, our time, and our actions?

If we are, then we have the ability to learn the three quick ways to personally lose respect and gain what we truly desire of others, their respect.

The key is starting with yourself and answering the closing question.

Closing Question…

Which area is the one you’re most likely to disrespect others?

 

 

How to Know If You’re Stuck in a Workout Rut

 

Life’s natural path could be simply be described by easy and routine.

We want to take the path of least resistance (not a good thing when you’re working out) and will naturally drift that direction unless we intentionally fight it.

I listen to professionals who are consistently disappointed by the quality of their workouts. (or lack thereof)

Simply put, there in a workout rut.

I’ve been there TOO many times but found a way out of the workout rut by working through these four realities:

1. I’m Simply Bored With My Workouts

SO many people do the same type of workout almost all of the time and to be honest, they’re just simply bored with it.

They go through the motions almost in a workout coma because it has become such a habit for them that it’s lost its appeal.

I’m a people watcher. And if I’m in a fitness center or gym I will watch people workout out their thumbs on their phones more than their bodies.

Or others will do the same workout week after week and just there. Nothing more.

They just look bored and unengaged. But they also seem fine with it. Is that you?

If you find yourself just going through the workout motions it’s time for a change to do something, anything different.

 

2. I Don’t Have Enough Time For My Workouts

Sometimes we stop working out or simply don’t get much out of a workout because of the time crunch. It’s always looming on us and as a result, we get stuck in a rut.

Once I started traveling for work I found that my road workouts HAD to look different than my home workouts. I didn’t always have the time like I would at home and would need to great creative.

You may be in a season of life at home or work that requires you to change how long or when you workout.

Stop justifying and using this as an excuse. Get out of the workout rut and figure it out.

3. I Don’t Have a Clear Plan For My Workouts

I’m amazed at how many people just “kinda do a workout” meaning they do “a little of this and a little of that” and call it a workout.

No wonder they’re stuck in a workout rut!

Let me give you an example. Just last week I was in a fitness center at a hotel and I just watched person after person come in, pick up a weight and do a set of arms. Then went to a machine and lazily did a set of shoulders.

They ended with a super set of walking pathetically slow on the treadmill while checking social media on their phone. I was exhausted by the intensity in their workout!

If you don’t have a clear plan, it’s VERY easy to get stuck in going through the motions of quickly fall into a workout rut.

4. I’m Not Seeing Any Results In My Workouts

Minor yet important detail, right?! Yet how many of us just continue to go through our weak and possibly useless routine and don’t see any results.

There’s a scene in the movie, Liar Liar, where a client of Jim Carrey calls asking him for his advise because he keeps getting in trouble.

Jim Carrey’s classic advice: Stop Stealing!

 

Can I suggest a tweak but similar simplicity in advice?!

Stop Doing Something That Doesn’t Produce Results!

 

 

Chances are if you’re not seeing results, you’re also bored and possibly don’t have a clear plan with your workout routine.

 

Here are Two Suggestions:

1. Find something that you look forward to doing.

I love trying a new workout. I find myself looking ahead to see what I will be doing tomorrow.

I’m a BIG Beach Body workout fan.  I love the variety of workouts they offer and even if I choose a P90X workout one day, an Insanity workout another day, then a Body Beast workout, it’s a great workout that is fresh.

They also have a set amount of time (usually around 30-40 minutes) and a clear plan of what to do each day.

I can also translate the workouts into going into a fitness center or gym once I learn the exercise.

No matter what you choose, it’s an absolute must to find something that motivates you to workout.

 

2. Find something that will challenge you.

When I switch workout routines, do you know what naturally happens? I’m completely engaged.

Why? Because I don’t know mentally or physically what’s coming next.

It’s a sense of anticipation that forces me to pay attention and I cannot zone off. This is good fitness fans and keeps me out of going through the motions.

I also wake up sore in places there were not sore in my previous workout. Imagine that.

You need to be challenged in your workouts and being caught of guard again mentally and physically may be just what you need again.

 

Closing Challenge…

If you really care about the quality of your workouts you will work through these four realities to measure your level of “workout rut-ness” you may find yourself in right now.

As motivated, busy professionals, we NEED to have success in the fitness area of our life.

And when we do, everything else just seems better because we feel better.

We also need the challenge. So, here it is, take the challenge to see how you’re doing in this area. Where do you stand? Do something about it today!

Closing Question…

How can you get yourself out of a workout rut?

 

 

How This 19th Century Quote Challenges My Purpose

 

I read a quote that I just cannot shake.

It’s one that makes me explore myself and then question myself.

I prefer happy quotes that I can say are true of myself. Ones that make be feel good about myself.

Not this one.

The quote comes from Soren Kierkegaard who was an 19th century Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher.

He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christendom, morality, ethics, psychology and the philosophy of religion, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony and parables.

Much of his philosophical work deals with the issues of how one lives as a “single individual”, giving priority to concrete human reality over abstract thinking and highlighting the importance of personal choice and commitment.

He was only 42 when he died but what a legacy of writing he left behind including this powerful quote:

“There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.”

Did you catch it? Here it is again…

“There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.”

Here is a breakdown of the quote:

There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know…

Most of us simply don’t like being alone with our thoughts. Why? Isn’t there so much gain in deep thinking?

It’s not something we’re comfortable with for a couple of reasons:

• it requires us to be still and actually think
• we’re concerned of what we will find

And since most of us just live our lives one day into another week which blends into another month and until we say, “where did all the years go…?”, we simply don’t think about our lives let alone deeply.

This quote challenged me to really think about my life. I don’t want to be afraid getting to know myself through my thoughts.

Is this true of you?

How enormously much he is capable of doing…

The two words “enormously much” are heavy.

The word “much” you would think is big enough compared to the average person.

But Kierkegaard adds the powerful adjective of “enormously.” That could scare a person who lives a safe life.

I’m done with a safe life.

It’s predictable, comfortable, un-impactful, and, well, average. Been there. Done with that.

Don’t you want to be known for how “enormously much” you’ve been capable of doing? And even more, what you actually do?

This kind of quote challenges me big time but is also motivates me to get beyond my fears and step up. Are you with me?

and becoming

Our world focuses almost solely on what we accomplish and that alone. Most rest our entire success on what we do.

And there is SO much good in what we do.

But who we become is so much bigger and deeper.

And this is scary. It takes deep thought and searching inside of which most are just unwilling to do.

This quote challenges us that it’s also who we become.

Who you become is the core of who you are.

And if done correctly, who you become is a pre-requisite for what you do.

And in the end, the best results of what you do flow out of who you’ve become.

Closing Thoughts…

Your purpose is just that, YOUR purpose. Someone else can help you discover it. They may have a feeling this is what you’re called to do.

And they can help you develop your purpose. But in the end, only you can do your actual purpose.

Are you wiling to do the pre-work in discovering your purpose by being willing to “get to know how enormously much you’re capable of doing and becoming?”

My hope for you as a motivated, busy professional is you will take the time in your thoughts to not be afraid of what you find but use it to challenge and motivate you to become that person. To live life on purpose.

Create the Think Space to wrestle with quotes like this one to describe and develop your purpose and your potential. It’s worth every moment of thought.

Closing Question…

What are you going to do with this powerful and challenging quote?