I’m not sure when this will be posted on our sites. I have a friend working on some things for me, since this week’s a little hectic. I wrote this and then sat back and re-read the article. The funny thing is when reading through for mistakes I actually realized changes I need to make. Right now, my life is nowhere where I thought it would have been a year ago, it is better and more exciting. My career and dreams are larger, and coming true.

I took advice a long time ago about putting myself out there more, so I did this with many sites and it has been great. However, it has allowed people to try and hinder my character by their sad comments. All this went away, then lately it has come back some and in a different non-anonymous way. I realized after reading this that there is nothing I can do to stop this. Honestly, they are very proud of the fact that no matter their actions I can do nothing. I have talked about tracing who is behind this, however, speaking with mentors and friends this would solve nothing. Because even if they were pin-pointed they have plenty of people who would back them up and justify their actions. They know this, they know they can do anything and the only one affected is my image and character.

To me it is not a game. I realized after this that with my career I am not bound to my location. Maybe this is the time to move completely away, and then those I am trying to help and create change for do not have to read vulgar attacks. I would be leaving my family and friends, however, since I was 16 I have been pretty much away and always enjoyed new experiences, plus I make friends pretty quick. When I see a torn down kid and I make an impact and they change their lives and smile and laugh, I realize my talents and gifts. My actions are in complete contradiction to the words written and that’s all that matters. If moving will create the peace I need then I would be selfish to stay because I can make a drastic difference, as I once did for those now attacking.

I was asked if I felt this would be running away. I laughed because to be honest, as cocky as it may sound, I’m a young good looking talented, smart, funny guy, who gets everything he wants in life while treating others with respect and compassion. Also, I’m gone a lot anyways I feel like a nomad half the time, and I’m not running only flying. Flinging words, well I’m past all that, I’d rather build a legacy.

Regardless of my decision, I hope you read this and realize you are worth all your hopes and dreams. So many times people give up because their surroundings affect their beliefs. They find comfort, and in comfort happiness, then it sinks in that this is just how life is. Life is PASSION, and it is exactly as you determine it to be.

Do you have some goals you want to achieve or dreams you want to fulfill? A useful tool in reaching the outcomes you desire is the creation of a vision, which can be short or long-term. I recommend writing down specifics to add clarity and focus.

What is a vision?

Here’s one definition by Thomas Leonard.
“It is a state or outcome that a person can see naturally and that inspires them. In other words, they are drawn, attracted, and pulled toward what they see. It’s exciting, and there is very little emotional cost. In fact, joy is often present. It’s not a reason for living.”

*Visions evolve and change over time reflecting who you are – your passions, values, needs, desires etc.*

Powerful Visioning

Written as a story, single sentences, drawn as a picture, a collage… visions can take whatever shape is most meaningful to you. The point? Here’s a few….

1. How do you know what you want if you don’t define it?
2. How will you know when you get there if you don’t know where there is?
3. By putting things down on paper, makes what you think or say – REAL.
4. Saying and seeing what you truly want in your life opens you up to HAVING it!
5. Allows you to step back and view your life from a fresh or new perspective.
6. Creates hope and possibility.
7. Compels you to MOVE and get what you want!

Questions that evoke clarity in creating a vision:

* What do you truly want to experience or accomplish this year for yourself, personally and professionally?
* Where do you want to see your life a year from now?
* What do you want to change/add/eliminate in your life?
* If money was not an issue, what would you be doing?
* What brings you joy? Makes your heart sing?
* Describe your perfect life

” Imagination is everything” – Albert Einstein

I’m a believer in working with visioning and clear intentions for creating power-full outcomes. Imagine yourself on the 31st day of December looking back over this past year. What changes do you want to see? What challenges have you overcome? What are you most proud of having accomplished? Who have you become? Ready to make a 100-day commitment to get what you want?

Three steps to creating a powerful vision

1.First, create a clear vision/intention. It’s important to get a clear vision of the outcome you want. Be specific about what you really, really, want! Write about it and share it with supportive people. Give voice to your vision.

2. Second, create an inspiring connection. Take five minutes per day to open your heart and mind to focus on your vision feeling the joy of that vision already fulfilled. Isn’t it worth five minutes a day to get what you want? Set a regular time each day to envision the outcome you want and to feel the joy of it. Make this a daily ritual. Consciously revisit the intention of your vision throughout the day to keep the energy flowing.

3. The third step – take meaningful action. Vision and connection without action is just a great idea. Identify 5 actions that will move you closer to living your vision. As you complete each step, celebrate your wins and continue to add the next action steps that keep invested in the process of attracting and achieving the desired outcome.

* Remember to party along the way, be outrageous!

Note: Creating a vision, making a connection, and taking action will be dramatically affected if you are sabotaging your success!

Here’s an example of how self-sabotage can impact the success of your vision/intention:

1. Your vision is to have more personal time. You create a vision of what that would look like (reading more, having free time, an exercise regime, leaving work earlier, delegating more tasks, setting boundaries with others, etc).

2. Your self-defeating beliefs (what you think) may be – what your role is for others, needing to please people for approval and/or love, being self-ish etc.

3. Your self-defeating behaviors (what you do) may be – inability to say no, difficulty in setting and reinforcing boundaries, trying to take care of everybody, doing it ALL, etc.

To change a behavior, you must first change your attitude. That can be part of your vision – changing/replacing a self-defeating/limiting belief.

I shared this with a few people, although I want others to read it.

My wish for you, is that you succeed beyond your wildest imagination. That you find love in places that astound you. And that you have friends who call you “just because.” I dream that you go barefoot more than you wear shoes. That you play as hard as you work. And that you laugh more than you cry. I want you to set the bar high, but not too high. To reach for the stars, but with your toes on the ground. And to never, ever stop dreaming. But most of all, I wish for your happiness.
And these dreams of mine are what started it all.

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I have been asked what exactly it is that I do? So, I wanted to share just a glimpse of this dreamers vision.

As you probably know from my past I grew up as the fat kid, my weight consumed my life reaching over 500 pounds. So, after all this I strive to help others overcome their weight issues. I was asked to speak and become a motivational speaker on youth obesity. I was being groomed to become an International speaker on obesity. However, these mentors were great speakers and great talent managers. The problem was they never were fat, they never dealt with body image issues, deep depression, constant verbal attacks, living their life in the dark. I could not go on a stage and speak and motivate teens for change and then just leave when I knew all I did was light a fire which would burn out. I knew the fire would burn out because I personally remember the environment and illusion they are living in.

I took everyone’s advice and wore the leash for a long time, just trying to “make it”, however, I knew I could do so much more, and felt my purpose was to create a global change. Our culture is saturated with false rules, and pre-conceived notions of what life “is”. How can you go and tell someone to love them-self when the don’t even know what true love is? How do you go and motivate someone to lose weight who has already tried every “fad diet” and has failed to do it again for they further instill the word “failure” into their life?

How do you go and tell someone to dream, and then their environment tells them to take the same path as them because in the “real world” this is how it works? I can do so much more, these issues have been coined “impossible”, well then crawl back in your comfort zone or box, because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

My vision is a world where these issues become irrelevant, where they become non-existent. I see people living their life with passion creating their own true reality by infusing their dreams into the world creating a ripple effect. Allowing artists, musicians, actors, poets a outlet to unleash their amazing talent on the world. I see films created that show how life truly can be, while also showing how every person can create all the changes in their life when they decide they are worth only the best. I see shows showing a new side of the human spirit a true side of greatness, same as some of histories greatest visionaries.

I wish I could go into details with what we are creating and soon my dreams for everyone will be unfolding. I used to be the fat kid, however I killed the fat kid because I am something greater now. I am the guy who will accomplish my dreams and watch as walls fall. I am the guy who is taking a stand and will not falter in my vision. I live to serve and create lasting feelings to re-instill the greatest passion which, dreamers had in the past and must be reinstated as all people across this amazing global landscape move forward.

I’m an artist because life imitates art, I live with passion and anyone I am around I strive to create great feelings for them. I have created a life where I have more time to spend with loved ones, and when I have a family where I have all the time to spend and dream with them as we travel the world creating dreams for others. This was my dream, I wanted to create live events, where you felt every emotion and when you left all you felt was passion for life and saw dreams. My dream is when they left these live events we had outlets and systems set up for they could showcase and create a career for their passion which they now decided they are worth pursuing.

My dream is to create a new entertainment where you would leave inspired and filled with truth about your true character and abilities. Where you would leave and rather than go home and look in a mirror and see only flaws because you did not fit the image on screen you picked up a camera and saw life as art. Where you saw beauty in love, where you saw only possibilities and infinite creation.

My dream was through art, entertainment, programs, and books anyone struggling with weight could walk out with complete empowerment and a solid foundation and support system where they knew only success. My dream is they will look in the mirror and realize once their mind tells their body they are no longer fat they have the tools to physically transform their bodies into who they now are inside.

My dream is for people to see beauty for what it truly is. Not a physical characteristic because I have yet to meet the person who can look at a photo of Mother Teresa and say she was an ugly person. Because, when they look at her they see beauty and love and passion because she was unreasonable and made the decision that all people matter. Because of these unreasonable people a ripple effect started and love was felt.

Today these dreams are being held and carried forward. These dreams like a fire will never be snuffed out as long as a dreamer is out feeding the need. Today, we make a stand, I made the decision to be great, and only except excellence in myself. Am I unreasonable, am I outrageous at times, unpredictable, YES, and I will create passion and dreams for others because my love is carrying the truth that “All People Matter”!

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If You Had The Power To Change The World Today-Would You?

Last night I was with some friends who have been helping and pushing me to create our vision. We were also celebrating, because of where we came from and the impact we were making. I was sharing emails and letters from people who decided to be great. We talked about dreams and how to create more opportunities for others to dream.

As we were reading some of the emails a friend of mine Jessica, looked over and said, “It must be an incredible feeling when you read those letters, knowing you helped.” I didn’t answer right back because I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I explained the letters and emails I want to see and read are letters not thanking “ME” for anything. Perhaps I helped a little, or they read something to inspire, who knows. The main thing is I don’t want them taking away their personal victory, I want them to be proud that “THEY” did it, they made the decision, they dreamed, and they became “GREAT”!

I took this a step further and this is the point I want to make today. If you read something of mine or I personally help you and a change takes place, you embrace a greater you I have a favor. That moment, in that day, do not thank me! I want you to go make an impact in someone elses life. If it was only words which inspired a change, then send out an email, send out a bulletin, inspire one more person. You do not have to know them, everyone matters, ask them to do the same thing, inspire! Be available to friends and family to listen, take time if a stranger walks up and starts talking just listen. You never know the impact you taking 5 minutes to only listen may have in that persons life. When you walk around keep your head high, and smile at others, especially if they have their head down.

Take the high-road in life, take flight and know that when others attack, or words hurt that they are only words. Take flight, because you have control over yourself, your happiness, your success, your dreams. Honestly, if you are out everyday listening when someone needs an ear, when you smile because someone is carrying pain and they smile back, when you inspire another person and in return inspire others, then in all honesty can these “words” bear any weight or truth?

I believe in these moments, this is when you truly define how great you are, because they can be either the hardest or easiest test of our character. Personally, I choose to only remember greatness, I refuse to allow a negative memory or thought about others no matter the situation. Perhaps, my memory is all in my head and it is a complete fairy tale and dream, does it matter? That’s the real power, NO!, because although you may hear terrible things, and these are the thoughts and words of others, you are not “IN” that situation anymore. So, you can decide what you remember and recall only the memories which make you feel good. Because, that’s your control and if you only focus on the greatness, passion and only show love, then throughout life that is all you will bring into your life.

I honestly, have guys who think I’m a player; because on the rather rare occasions I go to a club, I have girls around. This is why, it’s not my looks, money, or clothes. It is because I only project confidence, love, passion and I create dreams, fuel for life, and humor. Ok, a nice smile helps perhaps. I explain, everyday, your actions decide your day, and everyday there after. People are drawn to me because of how I treat those around me and also, how I treat those who feel it necessary to attack me. So, who is actually the winner in the situation? The dreamer, who created their perfect life and travels, and is blessed with being allowed to share and be apart of so many lives, or those who only know how to be a victim and everyday when they are not happy they will find someone to blame?

So, if this makes some sense, if you can see that YES, you can make drastic changes in your life. Then you also, see you can make powerful impacts in other peoples lives, starting today. If you remember one thing, let it be this. PEOPLE MATTER! Why ever settle for just being comfortable, when it’s OK to only accept the best for yourself? Why is it the hardest thing to believe in is ourselves? Do not give in to this illusion that if it’s comfortable and everyone else around me is happy, then I MUST be happy? Wrong, only you get that decision, you decide what life you want, comfortable and so-so happy because it’s better for everyone else? Passion and a lust for everyday- because you deserve no-less? People Matter, You Matter! Be Great!

***I wanted to respond to a few emails I received on this post. I apologize some of our blogs we have had to disable the comments feature in order to protect people from cyber-punk’s who were degrading others anonymously.

I was asked how do you just “ignore” very hurtful comments and words. One of the most powerful ways I have dealt with this and others have followed this advice and find it helps is the following. Listen to the words “not” spoken. I’ll use me as an example, words people have not been able to say: Lie or liar, cheat or cheater, selfish, self-centered, lazy, non-provider, mean, abusive, non-supportive, argumentative, rude, non-caring, doesn’t put others first, not-funny, closed-minded, un-appreciative, didn’t believe in someone, didn’t support, never left, never put others first, choosing your buddy’s over your significant other, un-adventurous, not courageous, not confident, really I could go on, and I believe you could to. You start rattling off these “true” character traits it’s hard to hear the words that are spoken and feel they have any merit or value.

Maybe you were wrong. Do you realize how many people I meet who will never admit they were wrong. Instead, just blame others and say “a-well”. Crap, I’ve messed up plenty, and guess what if I continue to push myself and try and help people no matter the situation I’m gonna mess up again. I have been in plenty of circumstances that I was completely out of my comfort zone. However, I was asked to serve or help, and I did the best I can. So, you have a choice stay where it’s safe and never truly grow, or take flight, take your hits, because you will impact so many more. I know if I was hit by a bus tomorrow, I did my best. I apologized and tried to make amends, and really I tried way to hard. But it’s in the past and I’m still in flight, I’m still making a difference. So, the words that describe me, no matter the situation they will never be able to say about me. Remember, just like politics and history, it’s very easy to look back and blame or find wrong doing after the event, after all the facts. What history and people will remember at some point, is who was “there”, who “gave”, who “loved”, to me that’s pretty cool.

Also, I was asked why help others when no one helped me. To be blunt, that’s crap! There are always people there to help you when you need it, especially if you are helping others, and showing love. The problem is you probably have a particular person or persons who you feel should have been there. You over look the ones who are always there because your allowing the “victim” inside of you to say “see, so and so wasn’t there for me”. Rather than seeing everyone else who was. Take the blinders off you’ll see a lot more. Life will become art, then it becomes beauty. Tollie…***

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Tollie’s Journey Of A Dreamer…The Illusion Ends 07-03-2009

LOVE PASSION FAITH HOPE DREAMS

At Birth we were born with infinite possibilities. As time passed, walls were built, rules placed, and an illusion formed.
Between Heaven and Earth lies a source of truth and power. My life has been encapsulated between these worlds.
No words describe these feelings, and power.
The only word known on earth to bear any comprehension is “dreamer”.

The Illusion end’s… Journey of a Dreamer…

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Act with faith. Prepare the way for your inevitable success.

To the degree you can, behave as if your dreams have already come true, as if you already owned a Love, as if later today you were going to Be on Oprah.
And you shall see the power you wield as the floodgates begin to tremble, the elements begin to conspire, people in your life begin to change, insights are summoned, comprehensions soar, and clarity is born.

Not to mention fierce, wild animals laying down when you pass by -

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Tollie’s Teen Weight loss and Diet Empowerment Outsmart Your Stomach

Recently, Cornell University researchers asked a group of people a simple question: “How do you know when you’re through eating dinner?”

The answer might seem obvious. After all, doesn’t every teenager push the plate away when they feel full? Well, no. The leanest teens do, according to the scientists, but teens that are overweight rely more on what are known as “external cues.” For example, guys packing a few extra pounds tend to stop eating when, their plates are clean, everyone else in their group is finished, or the TV show they’re watching is over.

**Extra Resource:**

I am a firm believer in weight loss programs who encompass real nutrition, many steps, and includes, books, videos, and results. Here is a very inexpensive system I highly recommend. It is a Real-Time Step By Step Program on solid truths.”90-Day Body Transformation System“

Unfortunately, these cues have nothing to do with how they feel physically. “People’s brains are often out of touch with their bodies,” says C. Peter Herman, Ph.D., a University of Toronto expert on appetite control. “And when eating becomes mindless, overeating becomes routine.”

The key player in all of this appears to be a region of your brain called the left posterior amygdala, or LPA. This area monitors the volume of food in your stomach during a meal. Fill your gut to a comfortable level, and the LPA tells your brain to drop the fork. Trouble is, it delivers that information at dial-up speed in a DSL world.

“Many teens consume calories faster than their bodies can say, ‘Stop!” explains Herman. “So they look to external cues to guide their consumption.”

The bottom line is this: To shrink your gut, you need to start listening to it. We’ve scoured these scientists and tapped the top experts to help you learn how to do just that. Use these seven simple strategies, and you’ll fill up without filling out.

Sit down to snack. Turns out, the trappings of a formal meal make you think you’re eating more than you actually are and that may boost satiety levels. A 2006 Canadian study found that when teens ate lunch while sitting at a set table, they consumed a third less at a later snack than those who ate their midday meals while standing at a counter.

Think of it as the Zen of eating: “If you treat every dining experience with greater respect, you’ll be less likely to use your fork as a shovel,” says sports nutritionist and behavioral psychotherapist Lisa Dorfman, M.S., R.D. “And that includes snacks as well as your three squares.”

Turn off the tube. University of Massachusetts researchers found those teens that watched TV during a meal consumed 288 more calories on average than those who didn’t. The reason: What you’re seeing on television distracts you, which keeps your brain from recognizing that you’re full.

Slow down and savor. “Pay close attention to those first three bites, which teens usually wolf down due to excitement,” says Jeffrey Greeson, Ph.D., a health psychologist at Duke Integrative Medicine. In fact, mimic a food critic: “Examine the food’s texture, savor the flavors in your mouth, and then pay attention and feel the swallow,” he says. “Psychologically, this form of meditative eating boosts satiety and promotes a sense of satisfaction for the entire meal.”

While you’re at it, try spicing up relatively bland fare, such as scrambled eggs, with hot sauce or smoked paprika. “Hot, flavorful foods help trigger your brain to realize you’re eating,” says Dorfman.

Take a bite and take a breath. University of Rhode Island researchers discovered that consciously slowing down between bites decreases a person’s calorie intake by 10 percent. “Breathing helps you gauge how hungry you are, since it directs your mind toward your body,” says Greeson. “It’s also quite practical, since you can do it throughout a meal and not draw attention to yourself in a social situation.”

Don’t share your food. Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo observed that teens who ate with a group of buddies downed 60 percent more calories than when they ate with a boyfriend or girlfriend. That’s because people often match their intake of food to that of their dining partners. Of course, you shouldn’t have to sit home on guy’s night out. Choose one reasonable entrée for yourself, and skip the communal foods, bread, nachos, wings, and pizza, for example-which encourage you to take your eating cues from your buddies.

Keep a food journal. It’s an effective way to remind yourself how much you’re eating over the course of a day. But, it doesn’t need to be complicated: University of Pittsburgh scientists found that dieters who simply wrote down the size of each meal (S, M L, XL) were just as successful at losing weight as those who tracked specific foods and calorie counts.

One useful addition: Detail the motivation behind your eating habits. “Were you really hungry or just blowing off steam before bedtime? Recognizing that you weren’t feeling true hunger reinforces the idea of listening to your body,” says Dorfman.

Don’t trust the “healthy” menu. You’re likely to underestimate your meal’s calorie count by about 35 percent, according to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. The best approach is to check the restaurant’s nutrition guide before you order. A University of Mississippi study found that teens consumed 54 percent fewer calories when they used this simple strategy.

Tollie’s 5 belly filling Protein packed foods. Almonds: Along with 6 grams of protein, a handful (1 ounce) of almonds contain almost 9 grams of healthy mono-saturated fat. Oatmeal: You can thank the 4 grams of fiber in a 1-cup serving for this breakfast staple’s stick to your ribs quality. Salmon: A 3.5-ounce serving contains 22 grams of protein and is a top source of omega-3 fats. Quinoa: Quinoa cooks up like any grain, but it contains the same type of muscle building protein found in eggs and meat. Black beans: All legumes provide a ton of nutrients, but black beans lead the pack with equal amounts of protein and fiber-15 grams in a cup. They’re a great addition to almost any salad.

**Extra Resource:**

I am a firm believer in weight loss programs who encompass real nutrition, many steps, and includes, books, videos, and results. Here is a very inexpensive system I highly recommend. It is a Real-Time Step By Step Program on solid truths.”90-Day Body Transformation System“

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Apparently, it doesn’t take a biochemist to formulate an energy drink. No, according to Starbucks, any guy off the street is qualified. At least that’s whose opinion mattered most when the coffee giant recently created the ingredient list for its own concoction.

“There are many energy ingredients on the market, and B vitamins, guarana, and ginseng are the ones our customers are most familiar with,” says Ruby Amegah, product development manager for the team behind the Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee. Which perhaps in large part explains why the company chose them; It’s smart marketing.

Trouble is, by letting consumer research influence ingredient lists, energy-drink companies are helping popularize exotic-sounding compounds that even scientists don’t yet fully understand. The approach has worked: Last year, Americans spent $4.2 billion on these supposedly high octane elixirs. And that’s probably why manufacturers haven’t strayed far from the best-selling recipe they used when the first energy drinks took off a dozen years ago.

It’s a formulation that includes a hefty dose of caffeine and sugar combined with smaller amounts of seemingly obscure substances, most notably guarana, ginseng, and taurine.

But do these beverages really energize your body and sharpen your mind? Or should you can the energy drinks for good? To help you separate the science from the sales pitch, I analyzed five key ingredients in the market’s most popular potions.

Caffeine: What is it? Caffeine is a chemical compound that stimulates your central nervous system. Most energy drinks contain between 140 and 170 milligrams (mg) of caffeine in a 15- or 16-ounce can.

Does it work? Java junkies certainly think so. As for the science, an Austrian study showed that men who swallowed 100 mg of caffeine had a bigger boost in brain activity after 20 minutes than those who took a placebo.

Is caffeine safe? The most caffeine-packed energy drink contains the equivalent in caffeine of about two 8-ounce cups of coffee. If downing that much joe doesn’t make you jittery, then quaffing a can shouldn’t pose a problem. Of course, if you combine that with other caffeinated beverages throughout the day, then the sum total stimulation could cause headaches, sleeplessness, or nausea.

Glucose: What is it? Sugar. Sucrose, another ingredient you’ll often see on energy drink labels, is a combination of fructose (the natural sugar found in fruit) and glucose. Many energy drinks contain 50 to 60 grams (g) of glucose or sucrose in a 16-ounce can.

Does Glucose work? Your body runs mainly on glucose, so topping off your tank with the sweet stuff should theoretically provide an instant boost.

Is Glucose safe? Dumping empty calories down your gullet is never a great idea, and some energy drinks contain nearly as much sugar as a 20-ounce soda. Then there’s the fact that a sudden infusion of glucose can cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to skyrocket, signaling your body to stop incinerating fat.

Guarana: What is it? Guarna is a South American shrub. One seed has caffeine content of 4 to 5 percent, while a coffee bean has 1 to 2 percent. The amount of guarana in a 16-ounce energy drink ranges from a minuscule 1.4 mg to as much as 300 mg.

Does Guarana work? Yes, if you don’t set the bar too high. Is Guarana safe? Scientists at Florida’s Nova Southeastern University conducted tests and concluded that the amounts of guarana found in most energy drinks aren’t large enough to cause any adverse effects.

Ginseng: What is it? An extract made from the root of the ginseng plant. Panax ginseng is the species most commonly used. The ginseng content in energy drinks typically ranges between 8 mg and 400 mg in 16 ounces.

Does Ginseng work? Not if you’re hoping for energy to burn. However, ginseng is known to boost brainpower. Is it safe? Since the amount of ginseng in an energy drink is minimal, harmful effects are unlikely. And while there have been some reports of negative side effects from ginseng – diarrhea, for example – Scholey points out that those occurred in people taking 3 g a day.

Taurine: What is it? One of the most abundant amino acids in your brain, where it can act as a neurotransmitter a chemical messenger that allows your cells to communicate with one another. Does Taurine work? Scientists aren’t sure, but it doesn’t seem likely. When taurine is dumped into your bloodstream when you down a Red Bull, for instance, it can’t pass through the membranes that protect your brain. Is taurine safe? Probably in small doses, but chug too many energy drinks and the picture becomes less clear.

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Think and Grow Young: Just Say No to Aging

A provocative new book from a Harvard psychologist suggests that changing how we think about our age and health can have dramatic physical benefits.

Source: Newsweek

**Our New Websites Will Be Online very Soon. To Keep Up With Our Future Blog Please Visit Here**

Imagine that you could rewind the clock 20 years. It’s 1989. Madonna is topping the pop charts, and TV sets are tuned to “Cheers” and “Murphy Brown.” Widespread Internet use is just a pipe dream, and Sugar Ray Leonard and Joe Montana are on recent covers of Sports Illustrated.

But most important, you’re 20 years younger. How do you feel? Well, if you’re at all like the subjects in a provocative experiment by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer, you actually feel as if your body clock has been turned back two decades.

Langer did a study like this with a group of elderly men some years ago, retrofitting an isolated old New England hotel so that every visible sign said it was 20 years earlier. The men—in their late 70s and early 80s—were told not to reminisce about the past, but to actually act as if they had traveled back in time. The idea was to see if changing the men’s mindset about their own age might lead to actual changes in health and fitness.

Langer’s findings were stunning: After just one week, the men in the experimental group (compared with controls of the same age) had more joint flexibility, increased dexterity and less arthritis in their hands.

Their mental acuity had risen measurably, and they had improved gait and posture. Outsiders who were shown the men’s photographs judged them to be significantly younger than the controls. In other words, the aging process had in some measure been reversed.

I know this sounds a bit woo-wooey, but stay with me. Langer and her Harvard colleagues have been running similarly inventive experiments for decades, and the accumulated weight of the evidence is convincing. Her theory, argued in her new book, “Counterclockwise,” is that we are all victims of our own stereotypes about aging and health.

We mindlessly accept negative cultural cues about disease and old age, and these cues shape our self-concepts and our behavior. If we can shake loose from the negative clichés that dominate our thinking about health, we can “mindfully” open ourselves to possibilities for more productive lives even into old age.

Consider another of Langer’s mindfulness studies, this one using an ordinary optometrist’s eye chart. That’s the chart with the huge E on top, and descending lines of smaller and smaller letters that eventually become unreadable. Langer and her colleagues wondered: what if we reversed it? The regular chart creates the expectation that at some point you will be unable to read. Would turning the chart upside down reverse that expectation, so that people would expect the letters to become readable? That’s exactly what they found. The subjects still couldn’t read the tiniest letters, but when they were expecting the letters to get more legible, they were able to read smaller letters than they could have normally. Their expectation—their mindset—improved their actual vision.

That means that some people may be able to change prescriptions if they change the way they think about seeing. But other health consequences might be more important than that. Here’s another study, this one using clothing as a trigger for aging stereotypes. Most people try to dress appropriately for their age, so clothing in effect becomes a cue for ingrained attitudes about age. But what if this cue disappeared?

Langer decided to study people who routinely wear uniforms as part of their work life, and compare them with people who dress in street clothes. She found that people who wear uniforms missed fewer days owing to illness or injury, had fewer doctors’ visits and hospitalizations, and had fewer chronic diseases—even though they all had the same socioeconomic status. That’s because they were not constantly reminded of their own aging by their fashion choices.

The health differences were even more exaggerated when Langer looked at affluent people: presumably the means to buy even more clothes provides a steady stream of new aging cues, which wealthy people internalize as unhealthy attitudes and expectations.

Langer is not advocating that we all don uniforms. Her point is that we are surrounded every day by subtle signals that aging is an undesirable period of decline. These signals make it difficult to age gracefully. Similar signals also lock all of us—regardless of age—into pigeonholes for disease. We are too quick to accept diagnostic categories like cancer and depression, and let them define us. Doing so preempts the possibility of a healthful future.

That’s not to say that we won’t encounter illness, bad moods or a stiff back—or that dressing like a teenager will eliminate those things. Mind thought is amazing you can create your body of dreams by Burning The Fat By feeding The Muscle. But with a little mindfulness, we can try to embrace uncertainty and understand that the way we feel today may or may not connect to the way we will feel tomorrow. Who knows, if we’re open to the idea that things can improve, we just might wake up feeling 20 years younger.

We owe ourselves and our children the opportunity to fail at things…and thus the opportunity to learn how to wildly succeed. Remember this, and dream BIG – the world needs dreamers!

© Tollie International “Creating A Dream-Infused World”® 2009

Tollie lived his life as the fat kid. His weight reached over 500 pounds. Losing over 300 pounds, today Tollie’s a sought after International Speaker, Author, producer and dreamer.

Today our Youth have a voice for change.
(Empowering greatness for a Dream-Infused Life).

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The 10 Worst Foods For Kids Since Losing 300 Pounds My Passion No Kid Follow My Path

The restaurant industry has declared war on waistlines, and all of us are worse off for it. Here’s how to fight back. I do not want any kid to end up lifeless and over 500 pounds like I did.
Most kids, if given the choice, would live out their young lives subsisting on nothing but chicken fingers. If those chicken fingers happened to come from Chili’s, they might be pretty short lives. An active 8-year-old boy should eat about 1,600 calories a day. This single meal plows through 70 percent of that allotment. America, we have a problem.

Knowing firsthand the struggle with understanding what is good or bad since I was always the fat kid and then topping out over 500 pounds. I have analyzed kids’ menu offerings at all the major chains, taken a hard look at packaged foods, and uncovered the truth about what this country is really feeding its children.

The bad news is that many of America’s food industry titans are pumping kids’ meals full of added sugars, dangerous fats, and empty calories. But, there’s great news, too: Kid’s meals tell us a lot about how adults will fare, as well. Read on for all the dietary disasters, and an equal number of drive-thru saviors, for everybody in the family.

20. Worst Breakfast Cereal: Cap’n Crunch (1 cup) 147 calories; 2 grams (g) fat (1 g saturated); 16 g sugar; 1 g fiber. Sweetened cereals are among the most dominant sources of empty calories in a child’s diet. Aside from the added vitamins, which are mandated by the government, this cereal is an amalgam of largely worthless food particles and chemicals. Buyers beware: Most cereals marketed to kids suffer similar problems. Eat this instead: Cascadian Farm Clifford Crunch. (1 cup) 100 calories; 1 g fat (0 g saturated); 6 g sugar; 5 g fiber.

19. Worst Breakfast Pastry: Burger King Cini-minis with vanilla icing 500 calories; 21 g fat (6 g saturated, 5 g trans); 72 g carbohydrates. There is no worse way to start your day than with a combination of refined flour, sugar, and trans fats. What’s more, studies show that overweight people who trade fast-digesting carbohydrates for more protein at breakfast have an easier time slimming down. Eat this instead: Burger King Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich 300 calories; 17 g fat (6 g saturated, 2 g trans); 26 g carbohydrates.

18. Worst Side Dish: Bob Evans Smiley Face Potatoes. 524 calories; 31 g fat (6 g saturated); 57 g carbohydrates; 646 mg sodium. Not even an extended bath in hot oil would wipe the grins from faces of these creepy-looking potatoes. When you’re eating out, side dishes make or break a meal, and with more fat and calories than Bob’s sirloin steak, this side falls woefully into the latter category. The lesson for kids: Just because they’re smiling doesn’t mean they’re nice. Eat this instead: Bob Evans Home Fries. 186 calories; 7 g fat (1 g saturated); 27 g carbohydrates; 547 mg sodium.

17. Worst Home Style Meal: Boston Market kids’ Meatloaf with Sweet Potato Casserole and Cornbread 580 calories; 29 g fat (12 g saturated); 780 milligrams (mg) sodium. What begins as beef ends up with 42 ingredients, including partially hydrogenated oil. What’s more, the sweet-potato casserole is topped off with marshmallow, brown sugar, and molasses. Eat this instead: Boston Market Kids’ Roasted Turkey with Green Beans and Cornbread 210 calories; 6 g fat (2 g saturated); 568 mg sodium.

16. Worst Pasta Meal: Romano’s Macaroni Grill Kid’s Macaroni ‘n’ Cheese 600 calories; 31 g fat (20 g saturated); 1,720 mg sodium. This dish used to be more than double the size and caloric impact. The chain finally cut down the massive portion size. Thanks, Macaroni Grill. (P.S. It’s still a disaster.) Eat this instead: Kid’s Grilled Chicken & Broccoli 390 calories; 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 560 mg sodium.

15. Worst Sandwich: Au Bon Pain Kids Grilled Cheese 670 calories; 41 g fat (25 g saturated); 1,060 mg sodium. Au Bon Pain turns a simple sandwich into a complicated mess, with just about as much saturated fat as 24 strips of bacon. Eat this instead: Au Bon Pain Kids Macaroni and Cheese 220 calories; 14 g fat (9 g saturated); 650 mg sodium.

14. Worst Prepared Lunch: Oscar Mayer Lunchables Maxed Out Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Combo 680 calories; 22 g fat (9 g saturated); 1,440 mg sodium. The maxed Out line is the worst of the lackluster Lunchables, with an ingredient list that looks like the index of a chemistry textbook. Oscar Mayer even manages to cram in 61 grams of sugar more than you’ll find in four Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! Eat this instead: Hillshire Farm Deli Wraps Smokehouse Ham & Swiss Wrap Kit with dressing (1 serving) 260 calories; 11g fat (4 g saturated); 960 mg sodium.

13. Worst Fast Food Meal: Burger King Double Cheeseburger and Small French Fries 740 calories; 42 g fat (17 g saturated, 4.5 g trans); 1,410 mg sodium. Burger King’s dubious double burger earns the distinction of being one of the fattiest meals for an on-the-go kid, with more than a day’s worth of saturated fat for the average 8-year-old. To make matters worse, it’s also loaded with trans fat and sodium. Eat this instead: Burger King Chicken Tenders Kid’s Meal (4 piece) with Burger King Fresh Apple Fries 215 calories; 11 g fat (3 g saturated, 1.5 g trans); 440 mg sodium.

12. Worst Pizza: Cosi Kids Pepperoni Pizza 806 calories; 40 g fat; 94 g carbohydrates; 1,423 mg sodium. Before your child eats this doughy, oversized pizza, consider strapping two boxes of Mozzarella Bagel Bites to her stomach to see if she likes the added bulk, because that’s how many calories she stands to absorb. You’re better off ordering in even two slices of a 12-inch pepperoni pizza from Papa John’s is only 440 calories. Eat this instead: Cosi Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich 269 calories; 15 g fat; 22 g carbohydrates; 314 mg sodium.

11. Worst Breakfast: Denny’s Big Dipper French Toastix with Whipped Margarine and Maple Flavored Syrup 810 calories; 76 g fat (14 g saturated); 107 g carbohydrates. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and kids, after all, need energy to grow and play. But that doesn’t mean you should let your children eat a breakfast twice in one setting. At this size, four French Toastix is three too many. Eat this instead: Denny’s Smiley Alien Hotcakes with Sugar-Free Maple Flavored Syrup and Anti-Gravity Grapes 313 calories; 3 g fat (0.5 g saturated); 71 g carbohydrates.

10. Worst Frozen Supermarket Meal: DiGiorno for One Garlic Bread Crust Pepperoni Pizza 840 calories; 44 g fat (16 g saturated; 3.5 g trans); 1, 450 mg sodium. Another reason to read the nutrition label: The name says it’s made to satisfy a single appetite, yet it contains a child’s full day of saturated fat and a giant glob of trans fat in the crust. Whether fresh or frozen, keep your pizza crust thin and it’s topping pepperoni free. Eat this instead: Red Baron Singles Thin & Crispy 4-Cheese Pizza 300 calories; 14 g fat (8 g saturated); 600 mg sodium.

So many times we have no idea what is in our favorite kids food. I hope this sheds a little light on the subject. I have done much more research and will be writing more articles highlighting other restaurants kids meals. I used to weight over 500 pounds and since losing over 300 pounds of fat, I am constantly reviewing and learning what is being served to me. Best rule of thumb, ask, and see if your favorite restaurant has dietary guides available.

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