I’m tired of wasting my time. Time is one of the things in my life that I actually do have some control over. The choices I make allow me spend my time as I choose and I’ve been making some poor choices. I’ve been doing quite a bit of training throughout the state of California for various law enforcement groups. Most of the people attending this training do not want to be there. Most of them have been forced to attend the training because it is considered mandatory. As a professional instructor there is nothing more difficult to deal with than a room full of students who would rather be slitting their wrists than attending yet another mandatory training session. They see the whole process as worthless and a complete waste of time. What this means for me is that I have to spend an amazing amount of my training time “selling” the students on the relevance of the material and how it will help them. Frankly, it’s stealing my soul and sucking away vital time I could be spending with people who are actually interested in learning. That’s why in 2006 I’m only going to accept training work for groups that want to be there by their own volition.

One thing we must acknowledge in life is something my good friend and mentor Dr. John Mason has taught me. The things that cause us the most stress in life are the things we can not control. If we accept this as truth, then it becomes even more urgent for us to make better choices on the things that we can control. Time is one thing that once it is spent we can’t get it back. And, last time I checked, we only have a certain allotment of time before we check out for greener pastures. Never be afraid of looking within and never be afraid of making those choices that serve to enhance the quality of your life. I bet if you took a few minutes to reflect right now you could find a new choice to make.

How do you choose a good supplement?

I recently taught a nutrition class at a California regional training center for police recruits. This is part of the fitness and nutrition program at the academy is designed to promote lifetime principles toward optimal wellness. That means no quick solutions but actual reasonable choices that anyone can do to live a strong and healthy life. I always take an informal poll of the class to see who is using supplements to enhance their dietary intake. This particular class of 45 young men and women showed that 50% were using supplements. But what kind of supplements were they putting into their bodies? What kind of thought went into their choices? Bottom line, most gave very little thought to what they were putting in their bodies.

So, it quickly becomes obvious that we often treat our car with more respect that we do with our bodies. What are the reasons people do not do the proper research when choosing a supplement? That’s easy, it’s so damn confusing and there are so many choices the average consumer is lost. Adding to the problem is that the multi-billion dollar supplement industry is unregulated! Does that add to the potential for outrageous claims and abuse? Damn right!

What can we do? Simple, with a few important tips you can wade through the volumes of crap and advertising to make an informed decision. So, let’s take a look at some key indicators that will help you to make an informed decision;

• Look for companies that hold themselves to pharmaceutical grade ingredients. Many companies who produce the really cheap vitamins are not using high quality ingredients. This helps to keep production costs down and prices cheap, but it does not produce a vitamin worthy of placing in our bodies.
• Look for companies that do not use forms of cellulose to bind their pills together. Gel coated, aqueous coatings and fructose coatings are best for assisting in absorption. Cellulose is very difficult for the body to break down and so by the time your vitamins get into your system they are in the last stages of digestion and elimination. Not very efficient for getting those things on the label to work in your body.
• Look for companies that are self-regulated. There are several good companies that hold themselves to the highest standards. Here is a key, if you find a company that invites the government regulation to certify their processing centers as functioning at the pharmaceutical level, you have found a quality company.
• Spend some money. Quality vitamins are not cheap, but a hospital trip isn’t either!
• Quality companies have strong research and development branches of their corporation. Look for companies who have strong endorsements from the medical community. A word of caution here, sometimes if you follow the money, endorsements from respected professionals can show they benefit from the sales of the companies product.

Do your research. Find people who are able to measure tangible results. Hit the internet and look at the different companies out there and educate yourself about the realities of the supplement industry. Your investment in time is critical to insuring that you do not put crap in your body and waste your money.

I’ve found one company that I believe has a superior product. I have taken this product since October 2005 and have noticed a marked increase in my wellness, my personal key that I’m taking a good quality vitamin. The company is Pharmanex, and you can find the link to it on my website. Visit the contact us page and check out the links to find the path to this superior supplement company.

So, are you still maintaining your New Year’s resolution?

You are now entering the time when most of the New Years resolutions you made have dropped off into the abyss. The problem with resolutions is that most people set a goal that is unrealistic and nearly impossible to maintain for life. We jump too high because we have good intentions at the start of the year as we try to re-make ourselves. Setting a goal requires you to be kind to yourself and to take small steps. Remember, this is something you are going to do for life. GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD; there are no quick fixes. You can’t hammer yourself for a few weeks, hit your goal and then go back to your lifestyle of abuse that took down the path of being unfit. Wellness is a life long journey that should be something we look forward to, a part of our life that enhances everything we touch.

“I will win!”

This is by far my most favorite mantra. For a warrior, anything less than winning means death. Therefore we must condition our minds to only accept the outcome of success. This makes things simple for those of us who have embraced the warrior’s path, we will win!!!

Sit or lie back comfortably. Take three deep breaths, pausing after you inhale and then exhaling fully and completely. After you have taken your three breaths, just breathe normally. Close your eyes and let any tension you may be holding in your muscles just begin to melt away. After you center yourself and you feel your breath quite down, repeat the mantra; "I will win!", to yourself for the next five minutes. See yourself succeeding in everything you encounter as you continue to repeat this mantra.

As many times as you can throughout your day, stop what you are doing, take one deep breath and repeat this mantra. You can do this when the phone rings, or when you look at your watch, or anytime you feel the need to just slow down for a brief moment and focus. The power of setting a positive intention throughout your day should not be underestimated. It can literally change your life. Make this short time commitment everyday and begin on the path of empowering yourself to survive.