Say Your Prayers!!!!

Did you know that science is "discovering" the benefits of prayer. But God forbid we actually call it that. So, to be more PC we say: Meditation. Regardless, say your prayers.

But wait! There's more!

Prayer has been shown to normalize blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and improve the functioning of the immune system. Those who have a steady connection with God tend to be happier. They also tend to be better able to cope with negative situations in life better than non prayers.

But wait! There's more!

Did you kow that non-directed prayer is more powerful than directed prayer? That means that in New Age terms: we just open ourselves up to the universe. However, in the Catholic Christian tradition we have something called "The Lord's Prayer." (Our Father)

But Wait! There's More!

If you take the words of the "Our Father" and examine it... the first things we say is non directed prayer ("your kingdom come, your will be done". Amazing that 2000 years ago, Jesus without scientific proof taught us to first use Non Directed prayer, and then move into directed prayer. Wow!

But Wait! There's more!

Did you know that the Catholic Church has a ton of meditative prayers (Rosary being the most popular.

So, when you say your prayers, and do them in a meditative fasion, then you are experiencing the Holyistic Lifestyle.

But wait!!! There's more ...

I'm Perfect ..... Not!

Reading the Bible, specifically, the Gospel of Matthew,I stumbled, or restumbled upon the passage about "being perfect as my Heavenly Father is perfect." Holy Crap! That is a true undertaking. So after successfully failing at that... I happened to be reading a commentary on the Gospels and found out that ...
The Greek work "teleioi" doesn't mean perfect, but actually means: HOLYISTIC! (my explanation) and NOT Chuch teaching,Just to Clarify.
The real translation of "teleioi" means "complete, all together, mature." Exactly what Holyistic is.
As you live out the Holyistic life you are actually working towards the fulfillment of Matthew 5:48.

The Holyistic life is one of intgration of Body, Mind, and Spirit; in which all three must be attended to with diligence. What happens when one area is neglected?

One cannot neglect the body to the exclusion of the mind and soul. Often times we see this in conceited individuals, the vain people who are preoccupied with their physicality or lack thereof. Many people who are obessed with their physical being resort to cosmetic surgery or illegal "body enhancing" drugs.

The neglect of the Body and the Spirit leads to the intellectually superior individual who tend to lord their knowledge over the less intellectual. These people are book smart and like to let others know.

Finally, the Spiritually obsessed individual often display a Holier than Thou attitude. You know, the "leave me alone, I'm trying to be holy" type people.

As Buddhism teaches the middle way, so too the Middle way of intentionally developing all three ares of one's life will bring you closer to fulfillment of Mt 5:48.

So until then,

Live Holyistic

Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Effort

Marital Arts great Bruce Lee would say: Maximum efficiency, minimum effort.
Of course this precept can be translated into many areas of life.
Many struggling dieters have said, "oh I'll eat this and then work out harder tomorrow" or "Well I worked out today so I can splurge" (meaning: I can show a lack of discipline). What they don't realize is that they are living by the MAXIMUM EFFORT, Minimum Efficiency law. They got it all reversed.
However, if the struggling dieter would apply the maximum efficiency mentality, they would find it easier to stick with their eating plan.
Imagine saying: "Well I worked out today, so I am going to fuel my body with great food to help it build the muscle i want and eliminate the fat I don't want." Imagine, that the minimum effort it takes to ingest healthy foods will produce maximum efficieny in helping your body to achieve it's fitness goals.

Too much $ to buy organic

You don't have to spend a fortune to eat healthy. Some people give up the Holyistic Life because they think that buying healthy organic food will break the bank.

Let me say: Get your priorities straight.

All kidding aside, the reality is we have budgets and some of us are living a little be more paycheck to paycheck than others. And at this point, organic foods would be a luxury.

Fear not, here is a financial yoga that will get your dollars stretching.

When buying fruit a good rule of thumb is that the stuff with thicker skins don't have to be organic. why, because the it takes longer for the pesticides to move through the thickness and into the fruit. So things like: bananas, cantalope, watermelons etc... buy "regular" if you have to.

The thin skinned fruits are a "must" buy organic. The pesticides are permeating that skin real quick.

And of course if you cannot buy organic, then be sure to really wash and rinse your food before eating it.

And if all else fails...plant a small garden for yourself. This will get you back in touch with nature, and you will have ultimate control over what pesticides you put on your plants.

Eating Right: The Basics

Talking with a Colleague of mine, the subject of Superfoods and healthy eating became the topic of discussion. Interesting time too as I am coaching two people towards their weight loss goals. Which is a story in and of itself as these two people are at complete different understanding of healthy and "doing well" on the program means.

That made me realize how much most people don't really know. And the one's that do...well it's okay to hear it again.

Today I want to recap some basic general guidlines for eating to be lean. Taking into consideration that the food quality today is a bit crappy compared to that of yesteryear.

VERY GENERAL EATING GUIDELINES:

There are 4 Food Categories:

1. Proteins
2. Carbs (carbohydrates)
3. Fats
4. Greens

There are both Good Carbs (complex carbs) and Bad Carbs (simple carbs).
Good: Whole Grain stuff
Bad: "Enriched" crap you get at the store

There are good fats and bad fats.

Good: Avocados, Raw Nuts
Bad: Saturated processed Crap fat

Carbs are your energy sources. Yes, they need to be consumed so that your body can run efficiently. Think gas for your car.
However, you don't need to be "topping off your tank" every couple of miles: that means you don't need carbs for EVERY meal.
For weight loss, you need to do the following: eat your carbs as early in the day as possible. I personally try to cut mine off by noon or early afternoon.
ALWAYS eat a carb WITH a PROTEIN. Never eat a carb alone.

That one little change in habit will help you tremendously.

Try this for a week and see what happens! Get back to me with your results!

Stay tuned for some Fat talk....

Cleaning it Up!

Many times I hear people say things like: "I got to clean up my eating," "I need to clean up my diet."
I wonder: Don't you wash your food first? All kidding aside, clean eating is important if not one of the most important aspects of achieving the weight and physique you want.
There an old saying: Abs are made in the kitchen.
If you are to get that six pack, or lean body, then what you eat is the determining factor, or should I say, what you don't eat is the determining factor.
But Coach I want to enjoy my life! is the biggest "objection" I hear. As if foregoing ice cream one night will make life miserable.
What we are looking for is a consistency in eating. (Eating Habits)
I was in the supermarket the other day picking up items for a "dessert" that I make. (Heavily laced with fruit). I was holding a bag of frozen blueberries in my hand.
and walked past the ice cream aisle and my mind drifted to the days of my excitement of seeing 2 for 1 half gallon of my favorite ice cream. (I then realized how far I had come in what used to be a weekly and sometimes a nightly ritual of eating ice cream. No wonder I was fat.
I still eat ice cream. It is not to the same amount, nor the same frequency. However the enjoyment factor is the same! Weird how that works.

2 Clients decided to join my coaching program to lose weight, and so as we are talking, Im helping them on small changes in consistency. They are:

Consistently drink about a gallon of water a day (give or take for you body)
Consistently eat fresh greens
Consistently choose foods and amounts that will bring you closer to your goals

One client I'm coaching has lost 7 lbs this Week alone!

(Yes this normal and possible, even though pop medical and fitness culture will say otherwise. Believe me, your body wants to get rid of the useless fat and garbage that has been sitting in there. And it wants to do this fast).

So in your quest for Holyistic living, be sure to focus on Holyistic foods (whole, complete. Foods that will aid you in your quest for living that life you want.

And if you need the extra push then contact me for coaching:

coachdarryld@aol.com


Until then... Be Holyistic!

Why are you doing this?

A friend of mine, a priest, saw my blog and wondered why am I blogging this?
It really got me thinking, why am I doing this?
I mean, really, our body is corruptible and aging. We get sick, and know that there is no escaping death. Death is the ultimate part of life, but not the final. (Don't be confused on that one). However, I do believe that although we cannot escape physical death, we can make the most of life. We can make the most of this world. Ultimately, we can enjoy a quality time physically while we are here.
I also am a huge psychosomatic fanatic. I thoroughly enjoy discovering the relationship between the body and soul the visible and the invisible.
I'm doing this because I have seen the first hand results of people who have decided to make the most of their bodies. Not cosmetically but naturally and healthily. Yes, that is my word (healthily).
I have seen the first hand results of a woman who worked out and more importantly ate according to my eating plan thus: was doctor recommended to stop taking medications.
I witness first hand how, the mordidly obese and melancholy changed personality and improved their self-esteem when they started seeing results in their working out and eating habits.
I do this to share what a holistic lifestyle can do for you. I do this because I don't want to limit holistic to mere "fringe," "alternative" living. I do this because I want you to see life as God intended it: holyistic - complete, whole.
I want you to live a life that is good for your soul, body and psyche - I want you to live holyistic!