Lately, lots of folks I know have started eating Paleo. Essentially, that means eating real food such as vegetables, meat (preferably grass fed), healthy fats, and some fruit and nuts. It eliminates all grains, processed foods, and most sugar and dairy.
One of the first questions they typically ask is, “what do I eat for breakfast?”
I thought I’d share some of my favorites.
For many years, I operated under the illusion that I could make good decisions on the fly and was simultaneously frustrated that I wasn’t getting the results I was looking for. I never realized the two were connected.
Cue the virtual 2×4 across my forehead.
It easily ranks as one of my top 5 self truths. Let’s break this down.
First, we have to acknowledge that we don’t often make rational, logical decisions. Instead, our decisions are heavily (even primarily) influenced by the design of the question itself.
Disagree?
Here are some examples . . .
Last November, I stumbled upon an interesting analogy for life strategy – bumper bowling. I know what you’re thinking. It seems completely random and sort of ridiculous. Think about it this way . . .
When you get to the bowling alley, you can bowl “normally” or you can acknowledge your weaknesses and bowl with guardrails.
It’s likely to bruise your ego a bit, but I’ll bet your scorecard will improve. While you may not hit a strike every time, you’ll certainly be racking up points with every attempt.
I’ve learned that we can choose to live life that way too. And it’s pretty much the same trade: eat some humble pie and get significantly better results.
But there’s one really big key . . .
At the end of January 2011, I started using a standing desk. Since then, my work projects have changed dramatically, and that desk has seen many offices.
Today, it’s at Port Royal Ocean Resort, where I’m the Director of Finance and share an office with the Director of HR and her assistant.
What I’m most proud of is that they both now have one too.
Even after I grasped yesterday’s revelation that action leads to motivation (not the other way around), I still wasn’t out of the “mud.” I knew I needed to take action, but I often couldn’t bring myself to do it. Often, I was literally stuck.
Then something very odd happened yesterday morning.
My alarm went off at 5:15 am, as normal. I turned it off and snuggled underneath the covers, convincing myself that I needed an extra hour of sleep more than I needed to workout. After all, I was tired. (It’s been a brutal few months by any standards, and I’ve got at least another 30 days of this pace.)
Then I found myself in the kitchen at 5:35, getting a spoonful of almond butter and a banana. I don’t even remember the minutes in between. Getting in the car at 5:40, it dawned on me what really happened.
Count me as a member of Team Tebow. I’m a fan, and I’ve certainly enjoyed the last few weeks of improbable victories.
He’s certainly made football more exciting and provided an excellent role model for living out the Christian faith. But there’s more we can learn from his example. And I think the lessons translate to more than the football field.
Here’s what Tim Tebow can teach us about business.
On average, Americans spend 9.3 hours a day sitting, and it is literally killing us slowly. Take a look at this stunning infographic.
During this time of year, there’s always lots of talk about recipes – from an old family favorite to a new twist. Creamy casseroles and delicious desserts abound.
It’s also a great time to think about another type of recipe: your recipe for success. Before the calendar turns and we set those familiar resolutions, we have the opportunity to think about what we really want and how best to use our gifts to get there.
For some folks, the traditional holiday celebrations of food, family, and football are perfect. For others, some aspect of that trio just doesn’t fit. I can relate. We have a couple of choices. We can feel anxious about not being “normal.” Or we honor our selves and reframe our rest into something that’s a better fit.
This dilemma became very real to me when I stopped watching television. Unexpectedly, I had lots of time on my hands, and I’d run out of “productive” things to do. It may sound silly, but it made me very anxious. I did not know what to do with all that time, especially when I rarely had the energy for anything substantial.
Eventually, I decided upon the goal of “active recovery,” and I broadened that definition to include anything that produced positive, motivational, educational, or interesting thoughts. I decided that’s it okay to consume; I just have guidelines on what I “feed” myself.
In case you’re feeling anxious about the upcoming holiday, here are a few ideas.
I came across this article called Faked Fitness, and its list of ways we “fake it” hit closer to home than I expected.
Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller, PhD says many of us use these products to fake fitness:
- Figure-flattering clothes, plastic surgery, cosmetics, hair-care products, high heels.
- Athletic dogs, fast cars, video-game avatars.
- Expensive jewelry, art, books, fashion, fancy homes and cars.
I can identify with more “fakes” than I care to admit. If you can too, here are a few strategies for making sure you get the real thing.
