Splenda Makes You Fat? Don’t Be Surprised…
Posted on June 29, 2009
Filed Under Health & Wellness, Science & Medicine, Weight Loss |
According to a study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, consuming Splenda decreases intestinal flora and causes weight gain. Don’t be surprised; most diet substitutes, supplements, remedies, plans, programs and other “miracle” solutions that sound too good to be true simply aren’t true. Users of these products typically react to these kinds of revelations with shock and anger — defending their new favorite products by parroting the same marketing material that convinced them to buy it in the first place. But it shouldn’t be too difficult to believe that corporate America will never out-smart or out-perform Mother Nature.
Your body is a miracle; making chemicals that taste enough like “real” food to trick the average person is a cheap magic trick. Your body knows what to do with naturally occurring foods — even cane sugar. Your body does not, however, treat artificial products like the real, or natural, product just because your taste buds are tricked. Weight loss and healthy weigh maintenance are not a matter of tricking your tongue; and it really isn’t about limiting yourself, either. True, healthy living starts in your mind and is expressed through your body. A person who is not stressed out all the time will simply not spend their time “self-medicating” with junk food. And a body that isn’t stressed will process food more effectively, as well — assimilating what it needs and eliminating the rest. Though this may not be the most popular line of reasoning among corporate America — the people who feed you taste-bud-tricking-toxins to make a buck — but it is nonetheless true. Your body knows what to do if you let it. That’s always been the case; and no chemist will ever outsmart the Maker of YOU.
So do yourself a favor: Eat real food; eat what you want; eat when you want; and work on eliminating the stress in your life and thoughts. We all know people who eat like birds and exercise like fanatics but can’t seem to lose weight or create a “healthy” appearance. Likewise, we all know people who eat whatever they want, whenever they want, but never gain an ounce. Have you ever considered that the person who eats like a bird is constantly worried and stressed about things — including their body, appearance, weight, and what the food they eat will do to their body? Don’t worry, if you get a handle on the stress in your life, you won’t naturally default to eating as a distraction or a form of self-soothing. Stress management — not sugar substitutes — is the key to a healthy life and to making any weight-loss program produce lasting results.
5-Secrets To A Successful Fitness Plan: Making Health Fun And Easy
Posted on June 26, 2009
Filed Under Health & Wellness, Moving & Breathing |
If you’re like most people, you want to look and feel good; but you’re probably frustrated or confused by all the different diet plans and exercise programs coming at you from all directions these days. Perhaps you’re just sick and tired of being sick and tired and you just want to be able to do the things you want to do without difficulty, pain, or fatigue, but you don’t feel like you’re fit or healthy enough. Even if this isn’t an overriding concern in your life, there’s probably at least one or two areas where these things are true for you — a few extra pounds you’d like to lose, not as much energy as you used to have, etc… Health and fitness doesn’t have to be difficult or painful; and life was meant to be enjoyed. You can get fit and healthy with a smile on your face and a spring in your step if you just pay attention to these 5-secrets to easy fitness.
- HAVE FUN! The first secret to getting fit and staying that way is Fun. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, your lifestyle has to be sustainable; in order for an exercise program to be successful, it has to be sustainable. If your workout isn’t fun, you’ll eventually start coming up with excuses to avoid it. Workouts don’t have to seem like “work” in order to work your body. Kids don’t buy gym memberships and hire personal trainers to stay active and fit; they PLAY! Find something fun to do and do it. And keep doing it! Before you know it, you’ll notice a difference in your health and your attitude; and you’ll be looking forward to your opportunities to “work that body.”
- Start small. How many people do you know (including yourself) who decided to take up running, went out and bought a new pair of $100.00 running shoes, and tried to run a 5K the first time out? I don’t have to tell you what happened next, do I? But I will. They (and by “they” I mean, “You”) were too sore to run the next day, and the next day, and by the time they weren’t sore — a week later — they had gotten over that silly urge to run marathons and the new shoes are under the bed or in the back of the closet. If you want to run, start by walking. Then, after you’ve come to enjoy your daily walks, add a few minutes of jogging in here and there. If running isn’t your thing, try walking a little faster; but any amount of walking is better for you than sitting on the couch with a bowl of potato chips. They say, “The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time;” start small and enjoy the little victories — then build on them.
- Be practical. There’s nothing wrong with going to the gym; but, if it isn’t easy to do, there’s a greater chance you won’t do it. Going to the gym adds time to your exercise routine (travel to and from, etc…) as well as cost. If it’s free and close to home, you are much more likely to exercise than if it’s expensive and far away; that’s just common sense. But keep secret #1 in mind: Fun is essential; and sometimes the things we most enjoy doing require us to go somewhere or pay some fee. Nonetheless, look for low-cost or no-cost pastimes that are close to home, easy to access, and fun and easy to do on a regular basis.
- Be good to yourself. Don’t punish yourself or be too hard on yourself about performance. You don’t need to work out for an hour to benefit; and you aren’t a loser or a wimp if you can’t do something someone else can do. Don’t compare yourself to others — especially professional trainers or the people on workout videos or television shows. Not everyone is a workout fanatic; and people weren’t dropping dead from a lack of exercise before personal trainers came along. Be more active; but be kind to yourself. Stress is the real killer; and all the exercise in the world won’t protect you from stress is you are constantly entertaining negative thoughts and negative self-talk. Create a positive self-image and keep it in mind as you do fun activities. Consistency is the key to success; and positivity and enjoyment is the key to consistency.
- Be flexible and creative. Don’t limit yourself to one activity — especially one that can be affected by the weather or someone else’s schedule. Give yourself options and be flexible and willing to move to “plan-B” if your first option is not possible. If you can’t go outside due to weather, think about developing some simple calisthenics and stretches you can do indoors. Though it requires an initial investment, the Wii Fit video game can give you a surprisingly good workout before you realize it; and dancing is another simple way to be active in your own living room. Resistance bands, dumbbells, jump ropes, exercise balls, exercise bikes, treadmills, and other workout aids provide an almost endless array of at-home exercise opportunities if you can just be creative enough to incorporate them into a routine you enjoy.
The bottom line is simply this: You don’t have to be fanatical about working out to be fit and healthy. Practically anything you do that keeps you moving can provide you with the exercise you need provided you do it for at least 20-30 minutes at a time — at least three-times per week. In order to do it consistently, it must be fun and enjoyable; so be creative, be playful, be flexible, and have fun while getting healthy. You’ll be surprised how easy it can be; and, as long as you’re doing something you love, you’ll love your new lifestyle.
Leave a Comment"Common Knowledge" Hides The Truth
Posted on June 5, 2009
Filed Under Effective Thinking |
“Well, everyone knows that’s not possible! The experts say so!” We’ve all heard words like these before; they’re usually heard just before someone does something new and innovative. When you hear people saying such things, saying what isn’t possible, or citing “common knowledge,” run the other way. “Parrots” and nay-sayers are a dime-a-dozen; but creative minds — geniuses and innovators — are rare indeed. Seek the “Fifth Expert;” not the 4-out-of-5 who agree that they all heard the same thing in the same place from the same people.
Common knowledge blinds people to the truth. When the Wright brothers said we could fly in airplanes, common knowledge boldly declared otherwise. What was the truth? Time always reveals the answer to that question: The masses are almost ALWAYS wrong. Why? Because the masses believe what they’re told and look no further; that’s what common knowledge is — whatever the masses have been told. If you find yourself in a large group — who are in agreement on something — you are probably in the wrong group. When there are two large groups who disagree with each other, they are probably all wrong. Think about it.
Consider presidential elections. “My guy is better than your guy.” “No, my guy is better than your guy!” Both are wrong. Nobody is better than anybody else; and, whoever wins the election will still be a politician — there’s no way around that. Some do more good than others, but in the end, we have politicians serving the interests that installed them in their seats of power. Half of the people are going to be displeased because the system is simply designed that way; and politicians who seek the highest seats are typically cut from the same cloth. True seekers of knowledge and enlightenment don’t seek high office, power, or control. Think about it.
But the television and other media tell us what to think about these people; they tell us who they are, what they’re going to do, etc, etc, etc. And the masses believe it. “Everyone knows…” The truth is that everyone simply THINKS they know; and, out of fear of the unknown, they turn those thoughts into beliefs. Common knowledge is nothing more than common belief systems. This is how media and advertising work: The more people you tell, the more people you will be able to convince. It’s the law of averages and it works. We are bombarded with information and the person with the most money and technology usually wins. These are the people who sway public opinion; this is the greatest source of common knowledge.
But there is also the element of ignorance built into common knowledge. Common minds typically think that a thing is impossible simply because it has never happened before and they don’t understand how to make it happen. Just think about the Wright brothers, space travel, cellular phones, computers, etc… Everyone knows such things aren’t possible until they see them with their own eyes. That’s common knowledge. Of course, it is obvious — if you take the time to think about it — that all of these things were indeed possible before anyone saw them with their own eyes. Otherwise, none of them would have happened. All things are possible.
In 1899, the director of the U.S. Patent office said that the office should be closed because everything that could possibly be invented had already been invented. Think about the ignorance that is so prevalent — even at the highest levels of government. Common knowledge would have agreed with this statement. But it couldn’t have been further from the truth. More things have been invented since that statement was made than had been invented in all human history leading up to that statement. Now, who’s to say what’s possible, or what may or may not be invented or discovered in the future? Common knowledge — that’s who.
Leave a CommentCommon Sense Is NOT Common Knowledge; And It Isn’t Really Common
Posted on June 4, 2009
Filed Under Effective Thinking, Manifestation - Creation |
“Everyone knows humans can’t fly!”
That statement is an example of what was once common knowledge. A much more accurate statement would have been: “As far as I know, humans have not yet flown in powered airplanes.” As a species, we humans have an incredible ability to intuit what is possible and a very bad habit of declaring what is not. From the beginning, wise men have told us, “All things are possible;” yet the more “common” humans cling to the smallness of their own awareness as if it were some kind of truth — even though common sense tells us that there is that which has been done and that which has simply not been done YET. It takes common sense to find the truth that is not yet common knowledge.
The point I wish to make is this: Common knowledge is common; but common sense is not. And what does this mean? It simply means that most people are “common,” ordinary, not that remarkable, and prone to fear and ignorance — the emotions that cause us to cling desperately to what we’ve been told as if it were the truth and our lives depended on it. The “common” person is in debt, unhappy (most of the time), unhealthy, in a typical, unfulfilling relationship, un-creative and living a life of mediocrity — by their own observation and definition (not simply my judgments). Just look around and you’ll see what I mean.
If any of those things are true for you, then consider that some of us — like the Wright brothers, for instance — are able to transcend mediocrity by ignoring common knowledge, common “wisdom,” and popular beliefs. The individuals I am referring to tune-in to a much higher source of intelligence — a source we all have access to. Each one of us has a common link to a sense, or “knowing,” that will answer our questions and guide us to our destination if we only establish that destination firmly in our minds. I am referring to a common sense all humans have but few ever use. We each have the ability to ponder — to say, “I wonder how…” And, we each have the ability to tune-out the everyday mundane world that keeps us from hearing the answers that always come when questions are asked. Most of us, however, simply live our lives on auto-pilot — following the herd wherever common knowledge leads them.
Rare are the individuals who quite their minds and ask great questions, wait for answers and guidance, and then act boldly on the inspiration that follows. These people are often called, “mad,” or “insane,” by the average person; after all, everyone knows the impossible is impossible! But the impossible doesn’t really exist. There is only that which has not yet been attempted or achieved. The un-reachable goals are not really unreachable; they are simply reserved for the extraordinary person who uses their common sense to achieve them. These are the people history remembers for their actions and accomplishments. But, as you watch helicopters fly overhead, or jet your way across the Atlantic ocean, it isn’t the rickety flying machines built in a bicycle shop that are so important and so worth remembering; what’s important to remember is that common knowledge declared these things impossible until very uncommon people tapped into common sense and made these things real.
Don’t be afraid to simply stop doing what you’ve always done — or stop believing what you’ve always believed — especially if it isn’t working for you. When 4-out-of-5 experts declare a thing to be true, seek out the 5th expert — the one who dares to be uncommon! You can be that expert. You don’t need to go to school to learn things everyone else knows; you need only go inside to the place where your common sense lives, and listen to it. “Ask and you shall receive;” but you must be listening to hear. Common sense is not a commonly-used commodity; but that isn’t common knowledge. You can fly! Everyone knows that — now; it’s common knowledge. But just remember: There was a time when it wasn’t.
When You Complain, You Remain
Posted on June 2, 2009
Filed Under Effective Thinking, It's all about Happiness |
If you aren’t happy with your life or some aspect of it, consider the way you typically think and talk about your problems. How often do your remind yourself and others of the burdens you are carrying? How often do you think about how unhappy you are or how much you hate your life — or some part of it? When you seek answers to life’s “problems,” or guidance to living a happier life, the advice and wisdom you will most often find reminds you that your life will change when your thoughts change: “Don’t worry, be happy;” or “As you think, so it will be done to you.” It may not have occurred to you, but you cannot think of more than one thing at a time; so try asking yourself how you plan on creating a new, happy life by continuing to dwell on the “old, unhappy life” you have been experiencing. How can you complain about problems without remaining in that state of negativity?
The simple answer is: YOU CAN’T! It is impossible to make yourself happy, or create new happy circumstances in your life, by thinking, talking, and otherwise dwelling on the negative aspects of your life — what’s wrong with life, what this person should do differently, how that person offended you, why you are justified in your anger or misery, etc… You may be right about all of your judgments and opinions. Good for you! But would you rather be RIGHT, or HAPPY? I know lots of miserable people who think that their beliefs are the only RIGHT beliefs, and their actions are the RIGHT actions, etc. But I also know lots of HAPPY people who don’t care so much about who’s right and wrong; they’re too busy living happy lives to complain and ruin things for themselves. How many HAPPY “complainers” do you know? That’s right; me neither. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps the complaining has something to do with their problems and continued suffering? That’s right; it does. No matter how bad your life is, or how justified you are complaining about your current situation, just remember: When you complain, you remain.
If you are a complainer, you may hear yourself saying something like, “Well, yeah, but he really DID do that thing and gave me a reason to complain. I didn’t start complaining until I had a reason to! My complaints about what he did aren’t what caused him to do it!” Zoom your focus out a little and dial-up your honesty. Is that really all you have to complain about? Is that really the first thing you’ve complained about? Are you saying that you’ve been happy up until this one event and now you have suddenly forgotten how to be happy? If you complain about things, you complain about things. That has very little to do with what is outside of you; complainers have a knack of finding things to complain about. Go back to the old wisdom and logic; and start now focusing your thoughts on happy things and things you wish to experience. It may be some time before your life makes a dramatic turn for the better; but joyfully remind yourself that you are just burning-through all of the negativity you ordered-up in the past — with past complaints that simply haven’t been delivered yet. And be grateful for those “negative events” and for the fact that those things are reminding you how powerfully creative your thoughts are; they are reminders to be diligent in your positivity in order to create a more positive life.
A Positive Focus: Accentuate The Positive, Eliminate The Negative
Posted on June 1, 2009
Filed Under Effective Thinking, It's all about Happiness |
If you want to change your life, you aren’t alone. Most people are less than content with at least one part of their lives. Most people would change something about their lives if they could — or if they knew how. The thing all of these people have in common is they know “what they don’t want.” The good news is that your life — and everyone else’s — is continually changing; the bad news is that, if you only focus on the parts of your life you don’t want, you’ll keep getting more of the same.
In 1944, Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen published a song called, “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” that offers age-old wisdom on a subject all great prophets and teachers are in agreement on: The Universe tends to give you what you think about, so don’t waste your time being wishy-washy about your desires; and certainly don’t be foolish enough to dwell on negatives! All religions and philosophies are in agreement on this fundamental observation; though, sadly, very few people actually understand it — and even fewer have the discipline or self-control to put this wisdom into practice.
The chorus of this song goes like this:
“You’ve got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mister In-Between.”
Teachers like Jesus used phrases such as, “As a man thinketh, so it is done unto him,” “Ask and ye shall receive,” and “Fear not; be of good cheer,” to explain how this philosophy works and how to put it into practice. Essentially, if you walk around moping about how bad things are, you aren’t using your mental resources in a way that will bring you great joy. Likewise, if you spend all of your time thinking about the things in life you don’t want, your thoughts are in the wrong place — on the wrong thing. If things are done to you “according to your thoughts,” it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what placing your thoughts on misery, debt, loss, and suffering will bring you. And, regardless of whether these things come immediately or not, you will always feel as if they are upon you; it isn’t possible to be happy while thinking sad thoughts.
Creating a happy life takes some focus and effort — mental focus and effort. You’ve got to train yourself to keep your thoughts positive. It isn’t necessary to say things like, “Oh no; I had plans today and now it’s raining! My day is ruined!” If your thoughts go in this direction, you will feel as if your day really is ruined. Instead of allowing your external circumstances to create inner turmoil and suffering, teach yourself to respond differently: “Well, it’s raining; I suppose the plants and water table need it. Now how can I go about my day? What can I do to carry out my plans for the day; or, what other plans can I make that won’t be affected by the rain?” If you learn to be flexible and let things happen without attaching your emotions to them, you will quickly master the art of being happy always — or at least most of the time. And, after all, what could be better than that?
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The Belief Formula on Ponder Central: Right Here Right Now…
Posted on April 17, 2009
Filed Under The Belief Formula |
PONDER on THIS for Friday, April 17th, 2009 by Pete Koerner in THE BELIEF FORMULA
“If you feel resistance, you created it. You have either put your feet down in an attempt to slow the passage of time, or you have turned around in the current, facing the past – from whence ye came – in an apparent effort to hold onto, or recapture, a fleeting feeling. You cannot capture creation, you can only ask and receive; you need only allow what is. The past is not a thing that can be recaptured; but just as you created the moment that you long to recapture, you can create other moments even better than past remembrances. You are no longer in the past; and you are no further downstream than you are. You are right here, right now. This is what is; surrender to that reality.”
Pete Koerner, in “The Belief Formula”
*Special thanks to Jeff Maziarek for posting this excerpt — and many others — from The Belief Formula! For more inspirational quotes and excerpts from some of the leading authors in the personal growth and development field, visit: www.PonderCentral.com
Leave a CommentAmazing Offer from Jeff Maziarek!
Posted on April 16, 2009
Filed Under Spirituality Simplified |
Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified, is offering an amazing deal on a really great book. Check out this e-mail I received from Jeff today:
Special PONDER on THIS for Thursday, April 16th, 2009 - Sale Price for Spirituality Simplified by Jeff Maziarek through April 30th
Since my book “Spirituality Simplified” was originally released, I have made a concerted effort not to promote it any more than other books referenced on Pondercentral.com. For just today I am departing from that approach, because it’s “spring cleaning” time at our house, and I would really appreciate your support in helping me clear some additional space in my office!
So, from now through April 30th, Spirituality Simplified will be available on www.spiritsimple.com for a special sale price of $5.00 per copy (more than a 68 percent discount from list price). Shipping and handling (S&H) for U.S. customers has also been reduced to $2.50 per book, for a total of $7.50 per single copy delivered. Illinois residents will also be required to pay 35 cents for sales tax. Customers outside of the U.S. can also buy the book for $5.00, but the final S&H amount will depend upon their specific location.
Please note that the shopping cart I use is securely processed through PayPal, which does not require buyers to set up an account on their site in order to make a purchase; they will simply process the credit card transaction.
To order a personally endorsed copy (or copies) of Spirituality Simplified, please click here to visit the purchase page on Spiritsimple.com.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
*I’ve read this book and can highly recommend it. And, at this price, Jeff is practically giving them away; so I can’t think of a better gift to get someone — or a better opportunity to get a great deal on a great book! ~Pete Koerner
Leave a CommentFree Introduction to Z-Point — Sunday, April 19th at 8:00pm Eastern!
Posted on April 16, 2009
Filed Under Z-Point Process |
Pondercentral published a new entry entitled “Special PONDER on THIS for Friday, April 17th, Free Introduction to ZPoint Process Daily Practice on Sunday, April 19th at 8:00pm Eastern + New ZPoint Intensives Teleclass” on 4/16/2009 7:41:11 PM, written by Jeff Maziarek.
Special PONDER on THIS for Friday, April 17th, Free Introduction to ZPoint Process Daily Practice on Sunday, April 19th at at 8:00pm Eastern + New ZPoint Intensives Teleclass
Previously on Pondercentral I’ve mentioned the ZPoint Process for Personal Happiness as a great personal growth tool. Yesterday, I heard that on Sunday, April 19th, ZPoint’s founder, Grant Connolly, is holding another free “Introduction to ZPoint Class” at 8:00pm Eastern time (available via phone or webcast) where he’ll explain how to dramatically change your life for the better using the ZPoint Process. During this 1 hour class Grant will show you how to heal difficult relationships, release your anger and frustration and let go of worry about finances or health.
The purpose of ZPoint is to allow you to live a happier more abundant life. It’s so easy and you’ll learn how during the class. The last 20 minutes will be spent letting go of whatever stresses you the most. If you cannot join the event in person, you can always listen to a recording of it later. Please click here for full details.
New ZPoint Intensives Teleclass
Should you find the ZPoint introduction to be of value (and if you attend I’m confident you will), please note that Grant Connolly is beginning a new 6 Day Intensives Teleclass series on April 30th that will begin the process of releasing your attachment to any ‘less than’ beliefs and allow you to begin to experience your life from a far different perspective. The first 2 classes will work through situations, circumstances and relationships that generate difficult feelings with an intensity level of between 7 and 10 with 10 being the most intense. Difficult relationships fall into this category.
Classes 3 and 4 clear away feelings with a characteristic feeling of between 3 and 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. Worry about lack of money or worry about health concerns fall into this category.
The final class will focus on shifting our attention away from not having such things as more money, more love, better health, etc to allowing ourselves to actually believe that we can have these things. And, when we believe we can have something, it activates the powerful Law of Attraction and those things actually begin to manifest in our lives.
After each class you will be given an assignment to complete by the next class to further your clearing in each particular area of life. By the end of the 6th and final class it is expected that you simply won’t look at your life in quite the same way. In short, you will be given the tools to transform your life for the better and you can do so almost without effort.
For more information on this truly groundbreaking series, click here.
Thanks For Your Patience! We’ll Be Back Soon!
Posted on March 22, 2009
Filed Under General |
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything new here. I apologize; but we’ve been rather busy around here these past few weeks.
It will probably be a couple months before I get back to regular posts on this page; but I would like to encourage you to check back as often as possible for special posts and invitations to free tele-classes and other events.
I’d also like to welcome the thousands of new subscribers that have joined us in the past month! Wow! The past month has been a record for new subscribers! We appreciate your interest and your commitment to Exploring your world, Expanding your mind and awareness, and Evolving into a healthier, happier, more fulfilled person. We also appreciate your interest in what we’re doing here to help people improve their lives, health and relationships.
Stay-tuned; and we’ll be back with you as soon as we can. And you’ll be surprised to read about what we’ve been up to!
In the meantime, check out www.PonderCentral.com and www.Heavenletters.org for regular doses of wisdom, inspiration and enlightenment. Also, be sure to visit our friends at www.EvolutionEzine.com for more enlightening and uplifting insights and information.
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The Belief Formula
