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Natural Physiques Newsletter Volume I Issue 3 May 14th, 2004

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Table of Contents

  1. In this Issue
  2. Quotes
  3. Editorial
  4. What's New
  5. Exclusive "Become the Journey" Excerpt: Jeremy's Story
  6. Top Ten Reasons to Get Hooked on Weightlifting
  7. Health News
  8. Born to Win, Taught to Lose
  9. Business Development: Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
  10. Closing Thoughts
  11. Subscription Information

1. In this Issue

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Welcome to the third issue of the monthly Natural Physiques™ Newsletter! I hope you enjoy this issue, and look forward to hearing from my readers. Feel free to contact me with your comments, suggestions, and constructive feedback!

Visit the Natural Physiques™ forums to share your story, seek advice, and offer knowledge to others!

This issue begins with a few Quotes. For the editorial this month, I share with you the idea of synchronicity. Read recent articles we've published in the "What's New" section, and learn about our featured tools. I am sharing another exclusive excerpt from "Become the Journey". If you are not familiar with my 300+ page eBook, scheduled for release this summer, it is a focus on healthy living that addresses three critical components: personal development, nutrition, and training. I have inserted some of my own story in the book, and this month's excerpt is a part of that autobiographical thread. For those of you who are not familiar with the benefits of lifting weights, we have the Ten Top Reasons to Get Hooked on Weightlifting. Health News covers several late-breaking nutrition and supplementation topics. In our motivational section, learn how we were Born to Win, Taught to Lose. In Business Development, guest author David Ledoux describes exactly what a million dollars can (and won't) do in today's market, and why you should be looking for ways to create additional streams of income beyond your primary J.O.B.

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2. Quotes

Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. - George S. Patton

Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men. - Lao Tzu

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. - Matthew 15:14

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3. Editorial

This month, I'd like to talk a little bit about synchronicity.

Synchronicity is a term used to describe when things fall into place. Many people who are born cynics will call this "coincidence." Others will call it luck. Once, I was a skeptical person myself, and I found those words were often in my own vocabulary - until I learned that the true definition of luck is the intersection of persistence with opportunity.

Persistence means applying consistent action over time. Consistency is important with persistence because if you are constantly changing what you do, there is no real method to understand how you achieve the end result. It takes days, weeks, months, even years to really understand if something works. This is why so many people fail in the multilevel marketing industry: they either aren't persistent enough to remain in business long enough to produce a return, or they constantly change methods because they believe that something isn't working and then never really know what is right or wrong.

Opportunity is one of those gold bars you pass by on the sidewalk. It is there, shining brilliantly in the sunlight, waiting for someone to pick it up. The problem is that many people create their own limitations in life, and never pick the bar up. Now why on earth would someone refuse a lump of glittering gold?

Some people feel, deep down inside, that they don't deserve it. Because they don't deserve it, it just couldn't possibly be true, so they pass it on. Others worry about mistakes they made in the past, when they thought they found gold and it turned out to be pyrite (Fool's Gold) instead. Yet others are simply born skeptics who don't feel it is possible to stumble across genuine gold on a sidewalk, so they simply refuse to allow the bar into their own reality. Finally, there are those who let the "what ifs" rule their lives. "What if it's not real?" "What if I drop it or lose it?" "What if there is something hiding underneath it, waiting to bite me?"

Are you one of those people? I have encountered this in my business, and it is amazing how this can correlate to personal fitness and health in general. For example, many people will ask for assistance with starting their own home-based business because they want to enjoy the time and financial freedom. If I could bottle the scream my daughter gave me when I picked her up from school for the first time because I no longer had a J.O.B. to report to, I'd be able to make millions from the sheer joy and excitement alone. So what happens when I connect with these people? We know from statistics that 80% are simply too afraid of change to even consider making a difference. The remaining are open to hearing more, but of those, most will deny their ability to achieve something because they are convinced that they don't deserve it. Many fear failure, a fear so strong that even if they have the money to invest, they are more concerned about failing than losing the money! Motivational speaker and success coach Jeffery Combs states that the most common fear in America is public speaking, and the second most common fear is dying. In other words, most people would rather die than stand up and speak to a group of others.

Back to synchronicity, I am often asked what happened several years ago to finally empower me to get into great shape. The answer is synchronicity, the new word I use for what others call luck or coincidence. The intersection between persistence and opportunity is important, because without the persistence or without the opportunity, you simply can't get to your destination. It takes both. When I start to talk about healthy living to others, the first excuse people create to avoid having to face their own inability to change is that I must have been fit my entire life. I then pull out my "before and after" pictures to show them the change, and the next question is, "What did you do?" When I give the answer, the majority are simply not prepared to accept it, so they walk away with disbelief. See, I explain it's not a particular nutrition program or training regimen that gave me my results. It wasn't what I did, it was who I became. Instead of focusing on dropping weight to gain my self-esteem, I focused on becoming a better person to feel more confident with myself to motivate and inspire myself to change.

Why is that so hard to grasp? It is sad, to me, that the statistics have such a firm grasp over society. It seems no matter how much I share and teach this point, 80% of you will still simply refuse to accept this message. By "accept this message," I don't mean to read this and say, "Hey, maybe he's telling the truth," but to really internalize what I am saying - to believe in yourself, to empower yourself within to make a decision and stick with it, to truly achieve your fitness goals not by finding some magic formula for calories and training, but by simply choosing that you are ready and then living your new lifestyle right away.

Is it that simple? Simple, yes. Easy? No way. Persistence was something that I possessed, because I faithfully trained and changed my eating habits for nine months. I averaged during that time frame about three pounds lost per month, or around 30 pounds over that period. I was frustrated because I did not see the changes, and the weight loss wasn't as fast as I wanted it to be. However, I knew that there had to be a way for me to get back into shape, so I persisted and kept trying, over and over again, to get it right.

Opportunity came when I was able to meet someone who had transformed their own life. I met this person, someone whom I had admired from afar, and they inspired me. I know this is a tough pill to swallow, but despite any conversation we had about nutrition and training, it was not the words that made any change in me - it was not the sets or reps or food items he scribbled down on a piece of paper for me. Those were foods I had already been eating, and routines I had already experimented with. It was the passion, the fire, the desire that he shared, the excitement, and underneath it all the tangible evidence that someone could simply CHOOSE to make a change in their life, and if they wanted it badly enough, and believed in it, it could happen.

So I found my gold bar, and because I couldn't afford not to, I picked it up.

Synchronicity. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. I received my dose of inspiration and through the power of the mind, was able to take what I lost over nine months and lose that much more in three months (1/3 of the time!), to finally fit in slacks with a waist a full foot (that's twelve long inches) smaller than what I started with.

If I did not believe in the opportunity, I would have never picked it up and no amount of persistence would have made a difference. If I kept changing my approach or giving up, in other words, if I lacked persistence, then I would have never been ready when the opportunity appeared.

Synchronicity happens more often now that I accept it. Looking back on my life, there were many gold bars that I simply passed by. The hardest hurdle for me was learning to deserve it, and this required taking the time to help others and let go of my ego in order to see the "me" within. Next was removing my skepticism - eliminating fear of failure because of things that are in the past, because the past is gone - nothing to do about it, let it go, dead weight, excess baggage, an anchor that we don't need. Finally, I had to work on my "what ifs" - because the ironic thing is that we can "what if" ourselves to death, but without taking action, there is no possibility for results. You can't have a harvest if you don't plant the seeds.

Are you passing the gold bars, or are you recognizing the opportunities that are being presented to you? The opportunity to become your own boss, or the opportunity to take charge of your own health, or the opportunity to lose weight, play a sport, smile at a stranger, or make a new friend? Do you persist towards your goals, or are you staying on the same neighborhood block, refusing to believe there could be something waiting for you down the street, outside of your comfort zone?

For things to change, you must change. Are you ready to change? Are you willing to get rid of luck and coincidence, and instead "let go" of your past? The only thing that is important is NOW because that is when you can have the greatest impact on your future. If you want a healthy lifestyle, the only thing that can influence the end result is what you choose TODAY. Stop resisting your own success, and start to allow synchronicity into your own life to empower positive change.

Have a great month! This is Jeremy Likness. Enjoy the issue!

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4. What's New

Bodybuilding RecipesWe have added another Free eBook: Bodybuilding Recipes which contains tons of high protein recipes, including protein bars and meal replacement shakes, that can be made at home in your kitchen. These recipes are designed for mass gain and fat loss - hey, wait, isn't that what we all strive for?

Featured Calculator:

Use the Bodyfat Calculator to learn learn about bodyfat measurements. This calculator demonstrates where to take the measurements, explains what a skinfold caliper does, and computes the estimate for your bodyfat online.

We are very pleased to provide you with a Nutritional Food Database through our partnership with other fitness providers! This is the Internet's very best, most comprehensive database.

Featured Articles

Jon Benson
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5. Exclusive "Become the Journey" Excerpt: Jeremy's Story

Become the Journey

As I walked towards the lobby, I couldn't help but smile to myself. What a strange turn of events! After going through so much change in the course of the year, I finally had the opportunity to give back something. I was browsing through the forums online, when I came across the invitation to a unique event. An organization known as “WishLift” was holding a charitable event in Evansville, Indiana. The idea was to collect pledges for lifting weight. The total weight lifted by each person would be added up, and the pledges donated to the Make-A-Wish® Foundation. I knew in my heart that this opportunity was right for me.

We could not arrange for anyone to watch the children, so my wife and I agreed to me visiting alone. I was going to fly to a city I had never been to, check into a hotel, wake up the next day and lift weights with a group of people I had never met except for through the Internet, and return home the next day. It seemed strange to think about, but felt like the right thing to do. I did not imagine how tremendously this would impact my life.

I stepped into the lobby, and was noticed immediately. My bald head was hard to miss! One person I had spoken with for the year prior, Marie Hallock-Sweet, came running over and gave me a huge hug. We smiled and laughed at the oddness of “knowing” each other so well, yet having never met. I met several other in the group as well, some of them new to me, others friends from the computer that I had not visited in person. It was an incredible evening.

I met Harry “Hank” Johnson, Jr., a former EAS Champion. I met Drew Avery and Scott Nelson, also champions. I met many individuals who were just fellow lifters at the time, but later that year would be named Top 2000 Finishers for the 2000 Body-for-LIFE™ Challenge. This proved to me that more than statistics were at stake here – for, out of nearly 750,000 who entered that challenge, less than 6% completed it. Out of the 40 or so people who attended the WishLift event, 8 that I know of were in the top 2000. Coincidence? Hardly. This was the active demonstration of the true driving force behind success in physique transformation: living life by helping others. All of the people there had changed so dramatically that they were willing to pick up and travel from all over the country for the chance to give something back and show the world they cared.

When I visited Jeff Seidman, I met a woman named Nicole Ann Weeks who was also there to visit him. We chatted a bit, and she snapped a picture of me with Jeff. We exchanged contact information mainly so that I could receive the picture from her. We did not think much of it – we were both starting our new, healthy lifestyle, and both wanted to meet Jeff to learn more about what it would take to succeed.

Imagine my surprise when I found her warming up in the gym at the event! Many months later, the same force that compelled us to cross paths in Miami brought us together once again. We both placed in the top 2,000 that year, and I do not doubt for one minute that it had everything to do with the belief and energy that Jeff shared with us in Miami. It was not a special nutrition program or workout routine he gave us, but a belief that filled us to the core.

There were many incredible stories shared at that event – a woman who had been suffering from recurring cancer, and finally embraced nutrition and exercise to see the cancer go into remission and not return for years. People who lost 50 lbs., 100 lbs., and more. One woman was obese – overweight by more than 100 pounds – but she had come here to work out and show that she was ready to make a difference and benefit the lives of others in the process. The connections we formed there were so strong, that years later I would find my path crossing the lives of people I met at that event. I still find that the positive force of giving that drew us together on that weekend is at work, inexplicably intertwining our lives and reintroducing us to each other when we least expect it. It is amazing.

We left amidst tears, warm hugs, and promises to keep in touch. The event raised thousands of dollars, and millions of pounds were lifted. Lives changed forever. For me, what had merely been a weekend opportunity to give back, turned into a life's mission. That weekend, I uncovered my “why” - my true, driving force in life. I realized the true depth of my passion to help others embrace health, and knew that I would no longer accept the career or the routine I had fallen into. As I stepped onto the airplane to return home, I smiled to myself, imagining the incredible changes that were about to take place in my life. In November of 2000, I uncovered the vision for my future as I rode home amidst the clouds.

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6. Top Ten Reasons to Get Hooked on Weightlifting (by Garrett J. Braunreiter)

Why do some men and women, in the effort to improve their fitness, still resist weightlifting? Here are some motivating ideas for building weight-room confidence and helping you understand why this method of exercise is so very important to your success…

  1. Lift weights to lose fat: One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting an exercise and nutrition program is not including a weightlifting program with their cardiovascular exercise and low-fat eating regimen. This is unfortunate because when we cut calories without exercise, we can lose muscle as well as fat. And when you lose muscle, your body becomes a lot less efficient at burning fat. However, when you gain muscle, you can actually condition your body to burn fat more efficiently...24 hours a day!
  2. You feel strong and fit: It's a great feeling when you look in the mirror during your workouts and see your back muscles, biceps, shoulders, and legs flexing. If you're unsure about proper lifting technique, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions. The money you invest is well worth it, as is the time and energy you put towards an effective program. And weightlifting can definitely increases your confidence. It's a wonderful feeling to feel strong, especially after a workout. You look forward to looking in the mirror, and actually like what you see.
  3. You have more energy: Even if you're just starting out with a few basic weightlifting exercises, very quickly you won't believe how fantastic you'll feel. Instead of making an excuse to skip your workout, you'll make excuses to do just one more set. Plus, with the excess fat you're going to lose, there will be less of you to lug around and therefore less fatigue.
  4. You’ll finally see the results: Knowing what to do makes all the difference. Many people go to the gym for months – even years – and wonder why they're not getting any results. Well, it's because they're doing the same darn workout every time.

    This is a critical point: you can either quit out of frustration, or you can become a sponge for knowledge and get some help. Get your hands on fitness magazines, books, the trainers at the gym, ask other successful exercisers, or hire a coach. Learn what you need to do to make your program successful. Acquiring the knowledge and getting help is all you need to get hooked.

    At first you may question what you're doing: are you going to get too big, are you wasting your time, how do you know this will work? But then you see other men and women who have been weightlifting for years and they look terrific. Here's the telltale sign that your program is working: you start to see definition and feel firmness in muscles you never thought you had.
  5. You won't get bored: I suspect many people don't lift weights because they think it will be boring. Just remember to change your routine every 3-4 weeks to keep things fresh and your body responding to your training. Change the reps, the sets, the weight, the rest period, the exercise order, etc. Training only gets boring if you allow it to.
  6. You have everyday, functional strength: Weight training does wonders to help you with activities of daily living: Housework, yard work, moving furniture, and carrying bags of groceries without gasping for air and pooping out within minutes. If you have a medical condition such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis, lifting weights can be a godsend. You can rely on weightlifting to keep you strong where once all your strength was gone.
  7. You have a stronger back: Juggling a 30-pound toddler and a few bags of groceries while pulling out the stroller can put your back in a compromising position. When you lift weights, you strengthen your upper and lower body, which reduces strain on your back when you're forced to lift heavy loads. Plus, don't you think it would feel really good to walk around knowing that your back is as tight and toned as your legs?
  8. You can train at home: Have you been putting off getting started with your weightlifting program because you felt you had to belong to a gym? You can implement a very effective weightlifting program no matter where you are. Invest in some dumbbells and an adjustable bench and you're set. Get some exercise videos or books that focus on strength training; now you can lift weights on your own anytime you like.
  9. You can get rid of pain: Do you have limited range of motion in your joints? A bad knee? A wrenched neck? Bum shoulder? Weightlifting promotes strength in your joints so you have ease of movement. That old knee problem improves enough for you to can go hiking in the mountains for days without pain. No pain, more endurance. You can do more outdoorsy things - and have fun while doing them!
  10. You build stronger bones: Bone responds to weightlifting the same way that muscles do, by becoming stronger and denser. Building strong bones can be the best defense against osteoporosis. You're more active, more mobile, and without lower back pain. And age doesn't matter; you can start when you're 65 and still experience tremendous benefits from a weightlifting program. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START A WEIGHTLIFTING PROGRAM!

This article was provided by Garrett J. Braunreiter, CSCS, a Success Coach for Global Health and Fitness. Please visit his site at http://www.worldpeakperformance.com

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7. Health News

Elevated Insulin Levels Linked to Colon Cancer Risk

Colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes share many risk factors, and insulin resistance appears to be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Researchers used the concentration of plasma C-peptide (an indicator of insulin production) to determine whether insulin and insulin resistance are associated with the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Blood plasma samples were collected between 1982 and 1984 from nearly 15,000 cancer-free men participating in the Physicians' Health Study. Compared to the 294 matched noncancer control subjects, the 176 men who developed colorectal cancer tended to have higher levels of C-peptide, indicating higher production of insulin. Men with the highest C-peptide levels had a 2.7-fold increased risk of colon cancer compared to those with the lowest levels. The results of this study indicate that elevated insulin production may help predict the risk of developing colon cancer, independent of other insulin-resistance related factors.

The researchers acknowledged that these results support the argument that avoiding or reducing modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, inactivity and poor diet, could effectively decrease the risk of colorectal cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Jing Ma, Edward Giovannucci, Michael Pollak, Azita Leavitt, Yuzhen Tao, J. Michael Gaziano, Meir J. Stampfer. A Prospective Study of Plasma C-Peptide and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Men. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 96, No. 7, 546-553, April 7, 2004

Calcium - Not Just for Bones

It is nearly impossible to open the newspaper or watch television without hearing about the growing incidence of childhood obesity. The latest federal statistics show that the prevalence of being overweight has increased by 100 percent among U.S. teens in the last two decades. And almost 14 million children (24 percent of the population aged 2 to 17) are obese, with an additional 8.6 million children at risk for obesity.

But the answer to the weight epidemic isn't restrictive or fad diets. A recent study conducted by researchers from Harvard examined the eating habits of nearly 15,000 girls and boys between the ages of 9 -14 for three years and found that kids who dieted actually gained more weight on average than those who didn't. The dieters gained an average of two additional pounds per year compared to the non-dieters. What's needed are lifestyle changes. Teaching teens and preteens how to eat nutritiously, increase exercise and cut down on TV and computer time are much better avenues to lifelong weight control.

In addition to lifestyle changes, calcium intake appears to play a specific role in regulating body fat. Data from six observational studies and three controlled trials reveal a consistent effect of higher calcium intakes, expressed as lower body fat and/or body weight, and reduced weight gain at midlife. Similarly, studies relating nutrient intake to body composition report that reduced body weight at midlife and decreased body fat accumulation during childhood are associated with greater intakes of calcium. There is a fairly consistent effect size, with each 300 mg (one typical dairy serving) increment in regular calcium intake associated with approximately 1 kg less body fat in children and 2.5-3.0 kg lower body weight in adults. Taken together these data suggest that increasing calcium intake by the equivalent of two dairy servings per day could reduce the risk of overweight substantially, perhaps by as much as 70 percent.

Calcium is not just for strong bones. When added to a lifestyle of nutritious eating and increased activity, calcium intake may be a simple way to assist in reducing the incidence of childhood and midlife obesity.

Field AE, Austin SB, Taylor CB, Malspeis S, Rosner B, Rockett HR, Gillman MW, Colditz GA. Relation between dieting and weight change among preadolescents and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2003 Oct;112(4):900-6.

Heaney RP, Davies KM, Barger-Lux MJ. Calcium and weight: clinical studies. J Am Coll Nutr. 2002 Apr;21(2):152S-155S.

Benefits of Lutein - New findings from the Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST)

Lutein is an important carotenoid credited with reducing the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A new study published in the April 2004 edition of Optometry, Journal of the American Optometric Association, further confirms that lutein (10-mg/day) alone, or combined with additional carotenoids, antioxidants, and minerals (including zinc), significantly improves macular pigment optical density and glare recovery, near visual acuity, and significantly improves most measures of quality of vision.

These results are important because lutein is an essential carotenoid obtained only from dietary sources. The researchers suggest that AMD is, at least in part, a nutrition-responsive disorder, and supplementation (particularly with lutein) may improve eye function and slow the progression of AMD.

Lack of vitamin D is associated with insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction.

The role of vitamin D in type 2 diabetes is well recognized, however, its relevance to glucose metabolism is not well studied. In a recent study of 126 healthy, glucose-tolerant subjects living in California, the role of vitamin D and glucose metabolism was analyzed. Subjects with low vitamin D levels had a greater prevalence of health risks associated with metabolic syndrome than did subjects whose vitamin D levels were in the normal range. The data showed a positive correlation of vitamin D concentration with insulin sensitivity and a negative effect of low vitamin D on beta cell function. The researchers concluded that those with poor vitamin D status are at a higher risk of developing insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and conceivably type 2 diabetes.

A Fast Food Breakfast Triggers Inflammatory Response

A new study published in the April 2004 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that consuming a typical fast-food breakfast dramatically increases inflammatory markers in the blood stream up to four hours after eating. The researchers conclude that the influx of high levels of fat, carbohydrates, and protein caused by eating a typical fast-food breakfast, temporarily flood the blood stream with inflammatory components that can overwhelm the body's natural inflammation-fighting mechanisms. This reaction alters the behavior of cells and activates mechanisms that produce powerful enzymes capable of damaging the lining of blood vessels.

Repeated temporary periods of inflammation, as a result of eating a high- calorie, unhealthy fast-food breakfast, may contribute to chronic inflammation of blood vessels, a primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Fiber intake linked to lower prostate cancer risk

A recent study published in the March 2004 edition of the International Journal of Cancer suggests that men who eat their veggies may be less likely than others to develop prostate cancer. Results from the study, conducted in Italy from 1991 to 2002, assessed the diets and lifestyles of 1,745 men. The researchers found that the subjects who consumed the most fiber, especially from vegetable sources, had a decreased risk of prostate cancer, compared to those who consumed the least. Fiber from fruit or grain products was not specifically related to a lower prostate cancer risk, but soluble fiber (from vegetable sources) did appear to provide protection against the disease. Fiber comes in two main forms, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber partially dissolves in water, and its food sources include vegetables, fruit, oatmeal, and legumes. Insoluble fiber, which passes through the digestive system largely intact, is found in foods like whole grains, seeds, and the skin on fruit.

A Note on Pharmaceutical Grade Supplementation

It seems every day a news headline flashes by and demonstrates how powerful antioxidants are for general health. Unfortunately, most people are not well-educated regarding the benefits of multi-vitamins and therefore "settle" for far less than what their body deserves. Research is typically performed in a quality environment where the ingredients tested are high potency: when the research reports a specific amount, you can be certain that is well within the range of what was indicated. Are supplements that you take off a supermarket shelf subject to the same standard of quality? The answer is NO! The supplement industry is only loosely regulated, and many manufacturers choose to avoid quality control processes. Some use their own, proprietary techniques that are not verified by third parties. Often when they embrace what is known as General Manufacturing Practices (GMP), they adhere to the "food" standard, which is far less stringent than the "pharmaceutical" standard. You can read more about these standards by clicking here.

There is a great guide to multi-vitamins called the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements by Lyle MacWilliams, B.Sc., M.Sc., FP. Lyle is a former Canadian Member of Parliament and Member of the Legislative Assembly for British Columbia. His book not only introduces the importance of antioxidants, but has several chapters explaining how they impact health. It covers the research behind vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, Lyle pulled together a panel of leading nutritionists (all doctors) to find the recommended levels for optimal health. This was called the "Blended Standard" and over 1000 multi-vitamins were compared against the standard. Only 500 made the cut, and of these, only 5 ranked in the 90th percentile or higher! Lyle published the scores for these top 500 in his book.

If your vitamin scored in the top 10%, that is fantastic! Congratulations for taking steps to protect your health - the monthly investment in a pharmaceutical-grade multi-vitamin is, in my opinion, a true health insurance policy. If your multi-vitamin is not superior quality, or if you are not currently taking a multi-vitamin, then I encourage you to click here to appreciate the value of the multi-vitamins I sell (it took me 4 years to find a company with this level of quality and integrity), and then contact me or call toll-free 1-888-472-2829 to place your order and get started right away! Your health is precious, and I would not ask you to invest in something so important without offering the opportunity risk-free. Our products adhere to pharmaceutical-grade GMP, come with a potency guarantee that what is on the label is in the bottle, and are backed by a 100% 30-day money-back guarantee.

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8. Born to Win, Taught to Lose (by Dr. Frank B. Smoot, DD, MA)

One of the great tragedies of human life is that so many of us have no idea who we really are, or how powerful we are capable of being, or that having healthier bodies is much more within our reach than we had imagined.

We are literally brainwashed as children and young adults to believe disempowering things about ourselves and about life in general that simply aren't true. These megadoses of misinformation we're exposed to can result in low self-esteem, a bad self-image, and feelings of powerlessness to be, do, or have what we want in life. As a consequence, we live lives that are far below our potential, and much less satisfying than we deserve.

The truth of this is easy to see by observing young children, or perhaps by recalling our own lives before this destructive cultural brainwashing had taken its toll. Children are full of optimism, excitement, playfulness, and a willingness to dream big. But as life moves forward, the prevailing cultural notions begin to slowly but steadily chip away at their childlike wonder. They eventually become cynical, negative, depressed, or even suicidal.

Think about it for a moment. Look around and see how many people you can spot who are clearly suffering from chronic low expectations--who are always expecting the worst in life, and usually end up getting it. But even those of us whose afflictions are not so obvious can still suffer greatly because of the untruths we've been taught.

Cultural Time Bombs

Not every limiting thing we were told as children had its impact right away. Some of the verbal toxins took years, or even decades, to kick in. They were "cultural time bombs," planted in childhood, but timed to explode at point in our adult lives when they could do the most damage.

How many of us were told that, "You'll never amount to anything," or "You're not smart enough / pretty enough / strong enough to have what you want." Or maybe you were told that you were too short, too tall, too skinny, or too fat to succeed. Such statements generally came, not from the culture at large, but from people we knew well, and often from our own parents.

While the impact of these messages may have been minimal at the time of delivery, they were seldom heard only once. Instead, they were typically repeated many times over many years. Since we saw our parents and teachers as the primary sources of wisdom in our lives, we had little choice but to give at least a certain amount of credence to whatever they told us.

The overall effect was that these toxic, self-sabotaging beliefs slowly but surely wormed their way into our belief system. Over time, they made the transition from being other people's opinions to being the undisputed truth. So, even if they didn't cause us significant harm in childhood, they would have many more opportunities to do so in our adult lives.

The Real Recipe For Becoming Overweight And Out Of Shape

There is a popular notion in this culture that being overweight and out of shape is something that "just happens" as we get older. We often say justify it on the basis that it's an inherited problem; We're overweight because our parents were. This simply isn't so. Genetic obesity accounts for the tiniest fraction of overweight adults. We can see the truth of this by thinking about the fat cats and dogs we know. When you look at a fat cat sprawled out on the sofa, do you think, "Poor kitty. It's the victim of genetic obesity." Of course not. You know exactly why the cat is fat. It just eats too much!

Let's give ourselves the courtesy of applying the same clear logic to our own lives. We're overweight because we eat too much! We can look around and see that many people remain trim and in shape because they don't eat too much. What is the biggest difference between the two groups? It's those negative and untrue beliefs about who we are, what we can do, and what we're entitled to have in our lives.

Your Past Does NOT Have To Determine Your Future

As adults, each of us needs to understand how we may have been impacted by the culture we grew up in and, more importantly, by the words of the influential people closest to us. If we are finding it consistently difficult to lose weight or get in shape, it's a safe bet that we've bought into some very disempowering notions along the way that have now become beliefs.

Please understand, the fact that we bought into these self-sabotaging beliefs as children is nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to be in denial about. Quite the contrary, we need to see that all of us suffer from this cultural brainwashing to one degree or another.

What we do need to avoid is keeping our heads buried in the sand. If you have a history of struggling with fitness and weight loss, you need to understand that the root cause of your problem is in your own beliefs, and nothing of a physical nature. But you also need to know that, until your self-sabotaging beliefs are identified and replaced with self-supportive ones, no amount of messing around with diets, exercise machines, drugs, metabolizer pills, or anything else physical is going to bring you the safe and lasting results you desire and deserve.

In all likelihood, you have decades more life ahead of you. I'm sure you're aware of that. What you may not be aware of is that you have a tremendous amount of power to determine how your future life will be lived--including your level of self-esteem you get to enjoy and the shape of your body you get to occupy. If you are seriously interested in making your future better than your past, I urge you to take to heart the message of this article.

If your current condition is not to your liking, there is still time to do something about it. If you would like to know more about how you can identify and replace any beliefs that are right now lowering your quality of life, please click here.

Dr. Frank B. Smoot, DD, MA

GHF's Success & Personal Growth Coach - Visit www.global-fitness.com.

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9. Business Development: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

by David Ledoux, founder of ILOVEMLM.com

Yesterday a nice couple won $239 million in the lottery. It was the second biggest lottery win in history. The wife was a little shaken. The husband was as low key as paint drying on a porch swing in the middle of summer. No big deal. He was going to keep his job for a while just so he could get used to the thought of the money.

Let's face it, $200 mil IS a big pile of Benjamins. Most people can't even imagine having $1 million. That's a problem. And that's the topic of conversation today.

Every Sunday morning on the A&E Channel is a show called "America's Castles". My wife likes to watch it, and I'm too lazy to argue. It's actually quite fabulous. Each week they showcase the old mansions built at the turn of the century by America's millionaires. Back in the day when $1 million actually bought you something.

It's hard to imagine making a million dollars until you actually get there. Note I said "make a million" as opposed to "win a million". Two very different things. But the problem is the same. It's really not very much money any more.

Don't get squeamish on me. A million really isn't enough. A million is not enough to quit your job, and it's not enough to retire on safely. Most people don't believe me, and that's why currently 8 out of 10 Americans retire at or below the poverty line.

Check out this madness. Let's play a little game. Let's say you have a great job paying you around $100,000 a year. Technically in most major cities you're middle class. Not rich, maybe a nice house in a nice neighborhood, two leased cars, and if you're somewhat careful with your money, you're fairly comfortable.

Your boss pats you on the back one day, says he's happy with your work, and gives you a MILLION DOLLAR BONUS! Holey moley, your ship has come in! Or has it?

In my province of Ontario, the top income tax bracket of 46.4% hits salaries above $105,000. That's you....BAM! Right off the top they clip $464,000 in taxes.

Your bonus is now $536,000.

The stock market is insane, the real estate market is overvalued, and there is a bubble in commodities. You play it safe and put the remainder in a Guaranteed Interest Certificate (GIC) paying 3%. Better safe than sorry, right?

A year goes by at the old job. You glance over at your bank statement and are somewhat displeased to find that the original million-dollar bonus has thrown off a whopping $16,080 in interest. Well whoop de do!

Wait, it gets better...I mean worse.

You can't quit your job with 16 grand coming in. So that interest is still taxable at the high rate....BAM! There goes $7,461 in income tax.

Your original million-dollar bonus is throwing off a stellar $8,619 in after tax income. Sure hope inflation doesn't climb back up to 3%....in which case your real return is zero.

Is it really that bleak? I say it's really much worse. People are getting hammered in the markets, on their credit card debt, and every time they turn around someone has a hand in their pocket. I am truly scared for the masses of people out there.

Here's an ominous prediction. The next 20 years are going to see millions of sick, broke people like the world has never seen. Prepare yourself not to be one of them.

How?

Wrap your brain around this. You start a little network marketing business for $150 on the side. Within a year or two it pays you $300 a week. Plus you have the home-based business tax deductions of thousands of dollars yearly. Pulling in $15,000 a year in your MLM gives you more than that $1 million salary bonus....

Makes you think, doesn't it? Will it make you value your business a little more?

I appreciate you!

David Ledoux has been involved in the network marketing industry for 15 years. He is an author, speaker and million dollar earner. To discover more jealously-guarded secrets of making $100,000.00 or more every year through MLM check out his new book, The Ultimate MLM Blueprint for Massive Success. The book and a FREE MLM Training ezine are available online at ILOVEMLM.com.

If you are a multilevel marketer or interested in MLM, visit MLM-Secret.com.
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10. Closing Thoughts

I'm going to be "out of pocket" as they say for a short period. By the time you receive your June edition, I will have moved from Atlanta, Georgia to beautiful Lead, South Dakota. We look forward to our new home in the Black Hills! I hope you have a blessed month. Until then, in health, Jeremy Likness.

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