tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27304987851365582262024-03-13T00:06:15.016-07:00Team KratosTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-7590901439824158152013-02-24T13:31:00.000-08:002013-02-24T13:31:15.135-08:00Goodbye Winter!<div style="text-align: center;">
Is anyone else ready to say goodbye to this crazy weather?</div>
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Now, maybe in my case it's not right to complain. After all, here in Texas, I'm not annoyed by snow or blizzards. No, I'm annoyed that it's 80*F one day and 40*F the next!<br />
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SO not good for my plants.<br />
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Anyhow, if you live in Texas, we're doing an XFM at Mannatech Corporate (600 S. Royal, Coppell Texas) this upcoming Tuesday, Feb 26th starting at 7 p.m. I'll be there with my backpack and orange hair (there was a mishap going from red to blonde :o)<br />
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Comment and let me know if I should expect you!! Remember, just like Tom's shoes for every vitamin pack you get for your family, you're nourishing a child in critical condition for one month.<br />
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Do you know what that makes you?<br />
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That makes YOU a child saving ROCK STAR!!!<br />
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See you there,<br />
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Lizi<br />
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PS: If you want to participate, but you're not in Texas, on Tuesday the 26th at 7:30pm log onto www.mannatechlive.com and watch the broadcast by the amazingly smart Dr. Steve Nugent. When you're ready to save an orphan's life, go to www.mannamotion.com/teamkratos and click on either the Mannabears (if you have little ones) or Nutriverus (for everyone!). Make sure you get it every month, so you can know every time that box arrives that you PERSONALLY are fighting the deaths of children under six from malnourishment.Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-22539822415360626042013-01-19T07:48:00.004-08:002013-01-19T07:50:37.072-08:00On GriefHey everyone,<br />
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This last week I lost my sweet Grandma, Peggy Lou. Now that's a Southern name if you've ever heard one, right?<br />
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In all fairness, she did frequently remark that I was gonna throw her into a conniption fit, called me Sugar and lived off of sweet tea.<br />
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Towards the end of her life, she began to show signs of dementia, then Alzheimer's. Sometimes she joked about it, knowing that the wrong thing came out of her mouth. Other times, she was angry or sad that her brain wasn't working the way she wanted it to.<br />
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She loved kids. She raised two of her own, my dad and aunt; taught Sunday School; hugged a kid whenever one walked close enough to her.<br />
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She was a sweet, if ornery, lady, and I miss her very much.<br />
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I promise I'll get back to my usual happy posts. Today, I just needed to share a little about this wonderful woman.<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-39276931904144154492012-11-18T12:37:00.000-08:002013-01-19T07:51:23.060-08:00Food, Family and CrazinessHey guys,<br />
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This week was nuts! I hope all of you were able to go out there, crush your goals and live your lives with an impact. I've been modifying my diet with more legumes and seeing really awesome results--all post more about that another time! HIIT and low GI foods seem to put my metabolism into some kind of sweet spot.<br />
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Who else is excited about Thanksgiving? My favorite Thanksgiving challenge is taking our traditional foods and making them healthier. You're still going to stuff yourself silly, why not make it with healthy things so you can walk afterwards, right? :) Last year, I did a low carb Thanksgiving fest for my dad, who had to change his diet to get on top of his borderline diabetes diagnosis. The food was delicious and we all had a great time. This year, I can't wait to kick it up another notch with a healthy dinner and Minute to Win It games! If we do any really crazy stuff, I'll be sure to share. ;)<br />
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I'm staying strong with my resolution to not condemn, criticize or complain. Sometimes it's hard, and often I mess up, but the results of staying positive far outweigh any temporary relief from blabbling about my problems.<br />
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I hope all of you have an awesome weekend and an even better Thanksgiving Holiday! Don't be shy to e-mail me those prayer requests.<br />
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Thankful,<br />
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Lizi<br />
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<br />Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-35651979433166066442012-11-10T09:15:00.001-08:002012-11-10T09:15:22.593-08:00GrowthToday the kids were up very early. They're early risers anyway, usually filling the house with yells and laughter by 7 a.m. This morning, for whatever reason, they were up a little before 6:20 a.m. So, we went through the motions, breakfast, snacks, drinks, supplements, shakes and so forth. Then I got a crazy idea: Why don't we walk to the park? We have an elementary school around the corner with a play ground.<br />
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We walked there and the kids climbed up to the highest slide and went down about 60 trillion times while I jogged laps around them for about 25 minutes (with High Knees and Sprints. I do love me some running).<br />
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On the way home, I pointed out all the flowers, trees, shrubs and leaves I could and we talked about them. I showed them acorns and oaks, and explained how everything the tiny seed needs to become a tree is right inside. The seed just needs the right conditions to grow. Good dirt, water, fresh air and sunshine. If the seed had all of those requirements, it would grow up to be a huge tree.<br />
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My 4 year old looked at all the acorns on the ground and looked back up at me. "Momma, that's a lot of trees!"<br />
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I went on to explain that not every seed would get those perfect conditions. Only a few of them would. God would make sure that the strongest seeds with the best potential to be a big ol' tree would grow. That was God's job.<br />
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I drew a parallel with the kids about people. How we have thoughts and feelings and God gave us free will, which means we get to choose how we want to grow. I told my girls about how God let us pick the conditions for ourselves to grow into. We could choose to grow into astronauts, or doctors, or gardeners, or secretaries or whatever we want to be.<br />
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The kids went on to make knock knock jokes, but our lovely little nature walk got me thinking. I've been on a learning curve lately, reading everything I can about personal finance, investing, real estate options, strength training, dietary recommendations, human psychology, charities, vlogging, marketing and, of course, biblical teachings to supplement my daily Bible readings. I want to grow in the area of finances so that I can have more to give more. I don't like only giving 10%, I want to really change the world, especially for kids in critical condition.<br />
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But it's my choice to grow. That's such a beautiful thing! Likewise, everyone I listen to as I go about my daily life that complains, whines or grumbles about their current circumstances is choosing to complain over changing and growing. Library cards are free--go get a new skill set so you can change your circumstances. It really is that easy. Know where you're going, and then read a book or listen to a CD/MP3 on how to get there. If you want to be a real estate tycoon, learn from Donald Trump or Robert Kiyosaki. If you're drowning in debt, learn from Dave Ramsey or David Bach.<br />
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Even if you have no idea where to start, make the decision to start. If you are homeless, you can still get a library card and get access to the internet and go from there. You always have the power to affect your situation, don't ever convince yourself otherwise.<br />
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Do you feel helpless? Do you want to change but still don't know how to get started? E-mail me and let me help you! mannateamkratos (at) gmail :)<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-28279720654945606842012-11-08T07:07:00.002-08:002012-11-08T07:07:46.592-08:00Think.<i>Here's a little brain food for your day.</i><br />
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<b>Success</b> is good habits <u>repeated daily</u>. <i>Failure</i> is <i>poor habits repeated daily</i>. Monitor your habits closely.<br />
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Figure out where you want to be in life. Write down your biggest dream, and then <b>plan backwards to achieve it.</b><br />
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Get your financial house in order. If you don't know how to manage money, it <u>doesn't matter </u>how much of it you make, you'll never come out on top.<br />
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Make<i> sweet memories</i> with your friends and family. Journal about them, take pictures, post it on Facebook--have some place you can look over them again, <i>treasure them, savor them</i>. Life is too short not to.<br />
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Learn to give, <b>really give</b>, and expect nothing in return.<br />
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Before you can become great, you must<u> master the basics</u>.<br />
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Guard your <b>thoughts</b>. They're your <b>treasures</b> and will dictate how you act--<i>growing forward or self-sabotaging? </i><br />
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And of course, my personal favorite and the tagline of our company: <b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Live with an impact</span></u></i></b>.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-20048364949094279052012-11-04T11:09:00.001-08:002012-11-04T11:09:40.250-08:00Connecting With OthersI love to talk to people and help people. Often, I come across as very exciting and enthusiastic, because I'm a driven and passionate person. I understand that some people don't like that sort of thing, but even sticklers who prefer an even keel of hidden emotions (I used to act like one, in fact--it's a long story) grudgingly smile at my quirky inner joy.<br />
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I think the reason that even people who want to dislike me can come around is because no matter who you are, where you came from, your past circumstances, your current circumstances, I can look past all of those things and listen to you. Really listen. And really care. I can relate to so many different aspects of other people because I've been where so many other people are or are going. I get it, I do.<br />
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My vision is to heal a hurting world, one broken heart at a time.<br />
<br />Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-12135356388341615492012-11-02T15:00:00.000-07:002012-11-02T15:00:00.983-07:00Giving Just BecauseI had a goal today: Bless 7 people. That was it. No ulterior motives here. I'm not that kind of person anyway, just ask my husband. Anyway, I had many, many errands to run today and my Granny (my 85 year old American grandmother) had surgery on her femur due to a fall and I wanted to see her too.<br />
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My first errand involved the bookstore, where I needed to drop some stuff off and pick some literature up. When I dropped off my old books, the guy behind the counter needed to see my license. I showed it to him and he said, "What do you go by?"<br />
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I shrugged. "Elizabeth, Liz, Lizi, Beth, Betty--I've been called many things."<br />
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He nodded thoughtfully. "Lizi Ann?"<br />
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"That's a first," I said with a smile, walking away to the business section. I found a cool biography for my Grandpa to read while he hung out with my Granny, and a remastered cassette book with like 50 comedians from days gone by for my grandparents to listen to--they don't like the modern smut comedy.<br />
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From the loudspeaker, I hear, "Lizi Ann, your order is ready for pick up." I smiled at my new nickname and got my stuff. I walked around some more, browsing, then grabbed what I wanted and checked out.<br />
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Right before I touched the bar to push the door open, I remembered that I wanted to bless 7 people. I spun on my heel and walked back over to the bookstore guy who gave me the silly nickname. It's always nerve wracking to put yourself out there, isn't it? I waited until he looked up and then I said, "Hey, I just wanted to let you know I was grabbing this stuff for my grandparents. My grandma just had leg surgery and she isn't eating, so I was getting this stuff to cheer them up. I really appreciated your silly nickname, thank you."<br />
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He looked surprised, and said that he always tried to keep stuff light and silly to cheer people up. Now mind you--my husband and I are in there all the time. I'd seen this guy before and he had seen me with my spouse, so this wasn't some kind of weird thing. He knew I was crazy about my spouse. But he cheered me up on a really hard day, and so in turn I wanted to bless him by telling him why that silly little thing meant something to me.<br />
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My day continued much like that. I blessed an elderly gentleman outside of Quicktrip with a quarter for the payphone because his phone battery was dead and had him laughing about my kids eating pecans in our backyard and him telling me about growing up in a house with pecan trees. I blessed my Grandpa and Grandma with visits and presents, my Grandma's caretaker I blessed with a prayer, my Grandma's nurse I blessed with some kind words. I lost count by the end of the day, I just started making it my mission to bless everyone I came into contact with.<br />
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It was an awesome day, and I highly recommend everyone try to integrate it into their lives. You reach a point where you realize you set out to bless other people, but you really end up being the one who gets blessed the most.<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-24962336433991926412012-10-31T09:46:00.000-07:002012-10-31T09:46:11.659-07:00Where Has The Time Gone?Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and asked yourself that question? Do you frequently feel like you tried your hardest but you have nothing to show for it? Let's look at some ways to manage time more effectively to have results to show for it at the end of the day.<br />
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#1. Define Your Goals--Some people are into structure, some aren't. I recommend doing what works for you. If writing 3 things you want to do by the end of the day on the back of a receipt and sticking it in your pocket works for you, then do it! I don't care. I like having a day planner with time blocked off for each part of my day, with my running "To Do" list on the side. I can tell you right now, though, that if I asked my brother to keep one, it would never get written in. Ever. He's a "back of the receipt" kind of guy, and you know what? It works beautifully for him. So define your goals and put them somewhere. A secondary thing to do, once you have a focus for your activities, is to prioritize them. For example, I have a goal of working out for 30 minutes every day. It's a priority for me. Another priority for me is to learn something new. If I have 2 hours left in my day, I might try a new workout. Why? Because both of these things are priorities for me and I have a limited amount of time, so I'll learn a new workout for bonus points. Let's say in this 2 hours left scenario I also needed to...I don't know...return Library books. I might just bump that to the next day, because while returning them is important, the library books won't impact my health like working out will.<br />
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#2. Bust Time Wasters--If you frequently find yourself intimidated by your To Do list and jumping on FaceBook to compensate, you need to become aware of your bad habits and cut it out. If you are supposed to be setting up lunch meetings and instead you grab a coffee and hang out on Twitter for an hour, become aware of it and cut it out. A good way to catch yourself at this is to write down everything you do, every 15 minutes for 1 day. Don't lie to yourself and don't hold back. From when you wake up, begin recording even the mundane details. I realized I spent about 40 minutes every day just staring into space thinking of what to do next. That's what led me to a to do list! Almost an hour wasted literally doing nothing (not that thinking is bad, it's not, I still spend plenty of time doing it, but there's no need for me to stand around figuring out what to do next instead of having a plan of action that I wrote up yesterday and charging forward! Then I get to spend more time with my kids and husband after completing my To Do's :) )<br />
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#3. Rinse and Repeat--There's a Japanese Proverb that says, "Beginning is easy. Continuing is hard." My sentiments exactly! Don't just do this once or twice and then write it off. If you want a successful life, you have to change the way you do things. If you want to get healthy, you have to change the way you eat. If you want to catch a rainbow trout, you have to have a certain bait. You see where I'm going with these analogies? If you're unhappy with your life--MAKE A CHANGE! And then keep doing what is successful and modify what is unsuccessful.<br />
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Just never, ever stop. A friend of mine once pointed out that in Texas, Highway 45 runs all the way from DFW to Houston. And it doesn't matter if you go 50 miles an hour or 5 miles an hour--you'll get to Houston. Just don't lay down and don't turn around.<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-49882918876518606252012-10-29T10:10:00.000-07:002012-10-29T10:10:05.057-07:00It's here...Alright, I did it! I posted my first rough, unedited video on YouTube! Here's the video for your viewing pleasure:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>My daughter spilled juice all over my camcorder. I thought it survived. The green stripe at the bottom says otherwise! :o</i></span></div>
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I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think you could get healthy by sprinkling a little powder on your family's food? It seems almost too easy, but consider this: It took 18 years of research and development and over 20 million dollars for this product to be available! </div>
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Nutriverus is a multivitamin/multimineral/antioxidant/glyconutrient powder that can be added to virtually any food. I've put it into yogurt, ranch dressing, on egg cups, on meatloaf, sprinkled over vegetables, in salads, on fish, on chicken breasts and in protein shakes to name a few. I did all of this without telling my family to see their reactions (this is what you get with a nerdy scientist mom in the house!) My husband noticed no difference in the food, but after I did it for a week he told me he felt better and had more energy. My kids (who are very picky eaters) only noticed it in plain vanilla yogurt (but when I added a dash of cinnamon they no longer noticed it) and ate it without issue in every other food and beverage I put it into. </div>
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Some additional benefits: </div>
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-When you get this every month, just like a vitamin at the store, you're also saving the life of a malnourished child in critical condition around the world for that month</div>
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-You're giving your body the nutrients it needs to heal and repair itself, the common side effects of which are feeling great and having more energy</div>
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-When you try it and see amazing results and tell your friends, you can get a 25% discount on your own product. Tell 4 friends, nourish 5 kids and get your product free</div>
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How cool is that? If you're interested in helping me save 50 kids by Thanksgiving of 2012, e-mail me at mannateamkratos (at) gmail.com and let's change the world together!!</div>
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Lizi</div>
Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-9762125278777247832012-10-29T08:54:00.000-07:002012-10-29T08:54:40.050-07:00And We Work It Out!I have changed my workout routine. I am a very driven person, and if allowed to do my own thing, I'll run myself into the ground, lay there for a second, then get up and keep running. That's just how I'm wired. I'm ready to rock and roll all the time, I talk really fast and animated (as you'll see more of with the Vlogging I'll be posting) and I love to run!<br />
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When I left weights, I have to be very careful about my form because I favor explosive, dynamic, high intensity training versus slow, steady lifting. Again, this can obviously have a giant downside, and I'm super grateful for my sweet, muscular, weight-lifting husband who watches me and is like "Slow down crazy woman! Enjoy the burn." --He's right, too, when you focus on the muscle your working on (example: bicep curls) and instead of<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjIEXtVuRNo"> doing 21's like I favor</a>, you lift and then oh so slowly release you'll go much farther with less reps.<br />
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So, where oh where can I turn to in the fitness world to force myself to slow down and focus on what I'm doing instead of concentrate on burning off my extra energy with running or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iE3I9EnX7A">calisthetic exercises</a>?<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Did you figure it out yet? :p</i></span></div>
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Yoga, of course! Now I went through everything on wonderful Youtube.com last night looking for a routine that worked for me. I personally can't do a routine if it involves laying still and concentrating on your breath. So, I bookmarked a couple of these for me in the morning, when I need peace of mind the most: </div>
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This is Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown Level 1: </div>
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And here is Sadie Nadini's 20 minute Weight Loss & Fat Burning Routine:</div>
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Both of these were fun--especially the part where my cute little 4 year old was trying to do yoga with me last night haha! She likes to make it dangerous. Like crawling under my downward facing dog and popping up, missing my nose by a hair's breadth! I should film that and call it "Ultimate Adrenaline Yoga For Moms!" </div>
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So, my new routine, again customizable to my daily level of crazy, is:</div>
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Morning: Yoga routine 15-30 mins</div>
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Noon-ish: Going on a run (preferably) or a Core Workout (Like Sean Vigue with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUjFh4J1dnc">Motley Fitness</a>, he's amaaaazing!) </div>
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Afternoon: If I still have energy left to burn, or have to skip my noon routine, I like to do the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Supreme90Day">Supreme 90 video</a>s right now. I am ashamed to admit sometimes I curse the day Tom Holland (he's the host) was born in the middle of a routine, but by the end of it I mentally apologize to him because I feel amazing :)</div>
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I hope these little glimpses into my world help to inspire you to keep growing and changing and adapting to a healthier, happier lifestyle!!! :)</div>
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Lizi</div>
Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-53271687318926493752012-10-27T19:49:00.001-07:002012-10-27T19:49:57.354-07:00Just Do It!I've noticed a trend in people that are changing their lifestyles.<br />
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They want to change their eating habits. They want to start working out. They have a general idea of why they want to do that: live longer, lose weight, look fabulous, have more energy and so on.<br />
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And then they talk themselves right out of it!<br />
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Either their wasn't specific enough information on exactly when to do what exercise, or when to eat what specific meal, or what kinds of foods you should combine, or that sounds like too much food or not enough food and so on.<br />
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For the love--Don't talk yourself out of a healthy lifestyle!!!! <b><u>ALL OF THOSE ARE EXCUSES!!! </u></b><br />
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The bottom line is this: Eat healthy, real foods (real foods don't come through a window or out of a bag/box). Aim for 5 days per week of mixed exercises. Drink plenty of water. Supplement your nutrition appropriately.<br />
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That's pretty much it.<br />
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"But!!!" I hear you cry, "But do I do cardio, or yoga, or weights, or pilates, or yogalates, or Insanity, or use a personal trainer? And when I eat, do I eat according to my blood type, or low fat, or low carb, or Paleo, or according to an endo-ecto-mesomorph plan, or 500 calories a day? And do I weigh myself, or measure inches, or use calipers, or buy a $200+ body composition scale?"<br />
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The answer to those questions is...yes.<br />
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Ha! Now I've really got you trippin'!<br />
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You can do whatever kind of exercise you like. I myself, for example, love to run and lift weights. So, if my day allows it, I go on a 2 or 3 mile run (to some of you that's puny, to some of you that is a Herculean feat, to me that's what I have time for). If you like Yoga, <u>do that</u>! If you have a personal trainer, <i>use them</i>. If you used to like one thing but you got bored of it, FIND SOMETHING ELSE! It's the Age of Information, y'all--there IS something out there for you.<br />
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You can follow whatever realistic eating plan you want to--as long as it's real food <i>(You know, fresh fruits and vegetables, the best meat you can afford, prepared in your home with healthy ingredients you add yourself. If you have no idea what real food is, open a new tab on your browser and fart around for a bit finding out--it's worth it)</i>. You cannot eat a fast food diet and be okay--you might take the buns off and have a chicken breast with a diet soda but consider this<b> #rant</b>: The "chicken breast" is made up of old, bacteria-laden mixed parts (bacteria laden because of antibiotic use in modern farming, mind you), then it was injected with a sugar/salt water mixture to make it moist and tasty (barf), then it was fried, then it was coated in liquid smoke to make you think it was grilled. You can re-name your diet soda <i>chemical soup</i>. You basically consumed a bunch of garbage that will release free radicals to zing around in your body, damaging otherwise perfectly happy cells, which (if you eat like that I'm guessing you don't care about supplementing vitamins too much) don't have the proper nutrients to then recover from the damage. You age your body every time you eat that junk. Cut it out! <b>/#endrant</b><br />
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I think he says it best:<br />
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Drink your freakin' water too. Your body is over 90% water--you literally need it to live. If you get all of your water from carbonated crap, you're surviving but you're not thriving. When you drink your 8-10 glasses daily, your body releases toxins stored in your cells for your kidneys to deal with, which can often make you lose weight. Also, your cells release extra water they were HOARDING because they thought you lived in a desert, which often causes you to lose weight. Additionally, your molecular functions work properly when they have enough H2O to work with, giving you more energy. Oh, and you'll probably lose some weight.</div>
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On supplementation: The only reason I recommend it is because we've jacked up this planet so much our plants can't absorb the nutrients necessary for our optimal health. Some of us have seen the study on the <a href="http://www.cncahealth.com/health-info/general/declining-nutrition.htm">peaches in the 50's versus the peaches now</a>. Basically, we said screw composting, we'll concentrate on phosphorus/nitrogen balance in the soil only to make sure we can make more food to make more money. Do you think dirt is made up of 2 minerals? If you've gone through 10th grade chemistry, then you know it's incredibly more complicated than that. In addition to the declining nutritive value of our food because of crappy farming practices, we're now also genetically modifying it without enough testing to make sure that's okay to eat, spraying it with pesticides, covering it in salmonella, e.coli and MRSA--and <i>recommending everyone eat more of it! </i>The USDA recommends 7 to <a href="http://www.wellnessjunction.com/athome/mens_health/9servs.htm">9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily for men</a>, and from<a href="http://www.wellnessjunction.com/athome/mens_health/9servs.htm"> 9 up to 13 servings per day for adolescent teenage boys</a>. Don't get me wrong here: EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES! Just be aware that what you put in your body might have unnatural issues, and to counteract that, you might need to add additional plant-derived nutrients. Examples would be antioxidants, because they fight free radicals to keep your cells happy, glyconutrients to keep your cells communicating properly and recovering from damage, enzymes to properly break down and use nutrients from the plants you eat and so forth. Another thing to supplement is protein if you--like me--don't get enough of it. I eat really healthy, but I am also busy, and if given the choice between stopping my life to cook up a bunch of meat because I forgot to on a Sunday (when I try to prepare it ahead, but seriously, I'm not perfect) OR eating chopped up raw broccoli and roasted red pepper hummus, guess what wins every time? The faster one! And while chickpeas in hummus are healthy and have protein, that's not enough to sustain my level of output during the day. Therefore, I supplement with a good, clean, real protein powder, and vitamin complexes derived from plants, and glyconutrients, and antioxidants and omega 3 essential fatty acids (they're necessary for a healthy brain, eyes and heart as well as a natural anti-inflammatory). </div>
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Sorry for the nutrition rant. I'm a little passionate about the care and keeping of the world and the human body. </div>
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Anyway, you can complicate your life as much as you want to, but you'll end up feeling like a failure and quitting. Don't do that. Don't give up on being healthy, or being able to see your feet when you look down, or running a mile, or living to be 130 years old and the world's top endurance knitter (I don't even know if that exists...yet...). Don't give up on your desires for a better, healthier lifestyle. </div>
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Just do it already. </div>
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Eat real foods. Aim for mixed exercises 5 times per week. Drink your water. Supplement appropriately. </div>
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Repeat, and enjoy a long, healthy, happy life. </div>
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Lizi</div>
Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-61877274505510509392012-10-27T06:59:00.000-07:002012-10-27T06:59:05.191-07:00Bust Your GutsWith commercials on <u>Activia yogurt with Jamie Lee Curtis' endorsement</u> and <u>billboards for Yokult</u> popping up along major highways, the public is becoming more aware of the link between yogurt and healthy bowels. But what many people don't understand is why that link is important.<br />
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More than <a href="http://www.christensencenter.com/GutFeelings.html">70% of the body's seratonin</a> is made in the gut. Seratonin is a brain neurotransmitter responsible for feeling calm and happy--if your gut is unhealthy, your thoughts won't be balanced. Also, more than<a href="http://www.newleafhealth.com/probiotics.html"> 80% of your immune cells are made in the gut</a>--so not only will your thoughts be hard to reel in, your health will suffer.<br />
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If you don't have the proper balance of beneficial bacteria in your bowels, also known as "<b>probiotics</b>", then when you are exposed to bad bacteria such as e.coli, strep or salmonella, you're more likely to succumb to the bad bacteria. When you replenish your good bacteria daily, your odds of becoming seriously ill from bad bacteria decrease.<br />
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So, take care of your guts! They're super important to your mental and physical health, and are often overlooked in whole body wellness. My kids like the GI Pro Balance sticks from Mannatech--while they've never had a pixie stick or a Fun Dip, they eat these little yogurt flavored slim sticks the same way. We just rip off the top and the kids pour it right into their mouths. I keep these and Mannabears in my purse for meltdowns--so much healthier than candy and just as effective for changing the kids' focus.<br />
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Hope you guys are enjoying this cool weather and replenishing that healthy gut flora!!!Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-58854575672361357742012-10-26T08:10:00.001-07:002012-10-26T08:24:30.266-07:00VLOGGING!!!<i>(Sounds like a new word for vomit haha! But I'm talking about Video Blogging...Video + Blogging = Vlogging!)</i><br />
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Today I'm going to be working on several little segments while my hubby works on <a href="http://teamkratos.blogspot.com/2012/09/inspired.html">saving 50 kids by Thanksgiving!!! </a><br />
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Keep your eyes peeled for the latest developments in our family. Team Kratos has been growing like crazy, so I thought blogging in video might be a little shorter and sweeter for everyone. I'll start posting them in the coming weeks for you guys.<br />
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Until then, remember:<br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8:37&version=KJV" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Romans 8:37</a></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Nay, in all these things we are </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">more</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">than</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">conquerors</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> through him that loved us.</span><br />
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<i>Follow your dreams!</i><br />
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Do things that <u>make you happy.</u> Like curling your hair :p<br />
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Eat<b> healthy, nourishing foods and feed them to your friends and family</b>.<br />
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And please forgive me for being an erratic poster. I will do my best to continue to inspire you all to live your best lives, as well as<u> uncomplicate the crazy world of health for you</u> in my own <i>weird</i> way.<br />
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God bless, you're the best!!!<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-75080016518325962282012-10-22T20:48:00.000-07:002012-10-22T20:48:14.527-07:00We Like To Move It Move It! Our house is turning into a pseudo-gym! Our living room is used for Core Workouts, Plyometrics and working out with DVD's, and our huge kitchen/dining room houses my husband's bajillion giant weights, our trampoline (or rebounder, as it's known by some), our kitchen table bench that doubles as a workout bench and our kitchen chairs, also known as additional stand-in workout equipment.<br />
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It's awesome though--I love living a healthy lifestyle by eating right, supplementing with food-based technology and moving my body. Plus, our kids love to "do cardio" by jogging laps around the backyard or kitchen table and they also enjoy yoga. How cool is that? Other kids are developing juvenile diabetes and we're training superheroes in this house!<br />
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Anyway, the purpose of this post is to share with you this amazing core workout Michael (that's my husband) turned me on to today. If you enjoy working that core like crazy, give this intense but short workout a try!<br />
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Be the ball, Danny! (you'll get it during the video). Hope you are having an awesome night living life with a major impact!<br />
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PS: Want to see my precious face? Tune in to www.mannatechlive.com tomorrow Tuesday October 23rd at 7:30 pm Central Standard Time--I'll be on Tuesday Night Live with the 2MannaSisters regarding Xtreme Food Makeovers! This will be broadcast all over America and in 22 countries internationally, so don't miss out! :)<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-52578452640629016802012-10-22T09:41:00.001-07:002012-10-22T09:41:41.982-07:00Eating HealthyHey guys, how's it going? We're living life with an insane impact here at Team Kratos! We've got testimonials coming in from everywhere, I'm being asked to speak all over DFW and even at some out-of-state locations as well as having people ask for weight loss and healthy lifestyle consultations! How awesome is that? And the best part is: malnourished kids are getting fed as a direct result of our efforts. That's what it's all about, right?<br />
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So today, I'll keep it short and sweet and focus on <b>eating healthy</b>. I know a few years ago I was a medical assistant with tons of health information crossing my desk every day but I was<i> <b><u>30 lbs overweight</u></b></i> after my first child and SO CONFUSED about what healthy eating really meant.<i> (Maybe 30 lbs doesn't sound like much to you, but I'm only 5'1"...so I looked and felt pretty hefty).</i><br />
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One study said low carbohydrate diets were the only way to<a href="http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/u/sty/readersshare/weightlosssuccess/Down-143-pounds-in-20-months.htm"> lose significant amounts of weight</a>.<br />
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Another study said that <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/low-carb-diet/NU00279">low carbohydrate dieters lost significant weight at firs</a>t, but almost always gained it back within 1 year.<br />
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Another studies said a high carbohydrate,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-fat_diet"> low fat lifestyle</a> was the only way to go.<br />
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Another study said <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=123869#.UIVvb8XoQfQ">high carbohydrate, low fat lifestyles </a>led to increased health risks later in life.<br />
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One study said <a href="http://paleodietlifestyle.com/weight-loss-on-paleo-diet/">Paleo-style diets were the authority on healthy living</a>.<br />
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Another study said<a href="http://volneywillettmd.squarespace.com/kidney-diet/"> Paleo-style diets caused kidney failure and other health complications</a>.<br />
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So you can see my dilemma. Here I was, just had my first child, the doctor told me I was breastfeeding too much and making my baby fat, my OB/GYN was telling me he was concerned because he thought I should've dropped like 20 lbs by now post-baby, I hadn't slept in 3 months because my little girl had colic and everything I was reading contradicted everything else I was reading.<br />
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So what did I do? What any unhealthy, red-blooded American woman would do--I lived on Diet Coke, popcorn and chocolate with the occasional iceberg lettuce salad...covered in Ranch dressing...<br />
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As my weight continued to stubbornly stay put almost no matter what I did, my life stress levels were increasing due to lack of sleep (my daughter had colic for her first 9 months of life and no one slept!) and increased work load. I eventually developed stress related chest pain that culminated in a panic attack. It was kind of funny actually, I had no idea what was happening and thought I was dying or something. Fortunately my husband had experience with anxiety which had never plagued me before, and was able to figure out what was going on.<br />
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Anyhow, after that period in my life I did several significant things.<br />
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#1. I jumped OFF of the bandwagon. I decided that media on dieting was too varied: the master cleanse and the 17 day diet went in and out of popularity faster than I could blink--and I'm sure they'll do it again in a few years. I just thought about what the facts were, what every body was seeing in a general blanket and that I would stick with those, namely increasing vegetables and decreasing processed foods and simple carbohydrates like white flour and white sugar.<br />
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#2. I made <b>vegetables</b> my best friend. Don't get me wrong--I love meat and I'm not a vegetarian. But instead of eating a giant steak with a few pieces of broccoli, I switched it around to a palm-sized portion of meat with 1 cup of broccoli. And for snacks, I avoided anything packaged and ate celery, chopped zucchini and summer squash with humus or some other kind of naturally occurring, non-packaged veggie. If I was cooking a larger portion for guests or something, I chose a meal with a basis of vegetables, such as a stir fry. That way, I could continue to eat healthy by having vegetables as the basis of the meal instead of a starch (our stir fry's are usually chicken or shrimp tossed in with frozen stir fry vegetables or cabbage and broccoli instead of rice--just as delicious and twice as healthy).<br />
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#3. I combined<b> protein and complex carbs</b> with every <i>small meal</i>, and increased my meals to 4-6 small meals daily. At first, I felt like I was just <b>slightly hungry all the time</b>. Eventually--probably after 2 or 3 days--my body began to adjust to the smaller, more frequent meals and it became natural to crave food every few hours and to feel satisfied with smaller meals more frequently. An example of protein and complex carbs would be: Lettuce (complex carb) and Chicken breast (protein), Apple (complex carb) and Peanut Butter (protein), raw Broccoli (complex carb) and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (protein). Or, another one of my favorites: 1/2 a banana (complex carbs) with a scoop of <a href="http://www.mannatechosolean.com/scientific-support/">Osolean</a> (protein) and some spinach (MORE complex carbs, yum!). Pretty easy stuff, right?<br />
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#4.<b> I began to exercise</b>. Like,<i> really</i> exercise, not consider walking around Wal-Mart for 20 minutes exercise. I lifted weights--dinky little 3 lb weights at first--for 10 minutes three times per week and went on 2 mile power walks on my lunch break (took me about 40 minutes at first). Eventually, I worked my way up to what I now LOVE to do: about an hour of running 5-6 times per week and weights 3-5 days per week. Mind you, I feel incredible when I work out so it's not something I'm doing to be vain or self-righteous--working out is now something I adore. I also park further away from the store to get in more of a walk, walk around a shopping center instead of going to one store, then my car, then driving to the next store haha, I take the stairs when possible, I limit my television and computer time, I walk while I read and in general do everything I can to keep my body moving. A study was just released that for every hour of television you watch,<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20093072-10391704/tv-shortens-life-by-22-minutes-per-viewing-hour-says-study/"> you take 22 minutes off of your life</a>--THAT'S DOUBLE THE TIME FROM SMOKING A CIGARETTE! Not that I condone smoking--I absolutely don't, but how shocking is it that our TV habits are worse than smoking???<br />
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So, there you have it. A generalized condensed plan of how I changed my thinking patterns, my eating habits and began exercising to lose 35 pounds and keep it off for 4 years.<br />
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Have you lost weight? What worked for you? Comment below!Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-50307305779554814742012-10-19T07:49:00.003-07:002012-10-19T07:50:48.005-07:00Driven MindsetI've learned several things over the years:<br />
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<u>Time management</u> is very important.<br />
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<u>People</u> are very important.<br />
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<u>Controlling your thoughts</u> is very important.<br />
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And <u>giving back</u> is very important.<br />
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So when I have a day where I am nervous about trying something new, or talking to someone unfamiliar, or doing something differently, I remind myself of <b>what is important</b>. I <i>can't ever renew my time</i>, so wasting it on dumb things that don't help me at all shouldn't be an option. I should never <i>put my fear </i>of talking to new people above the knowledge that there are<b> people in this world actively looking</b> to lose weight and get healthy, and by letting fear stop me, I'm contributing to the awful way they feel. I shouldn't let fear, doubt or worry burden my thoughts, because the Bible says "<b>God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7)</b>. I know that <i>giving blesses me and the person I am giving to</i>, more than I will ever see or know, and that I should perpetuate a giving spirit in myself and encourage it in others.<br />
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This is what I'm digging on today, I hope it inspires you to banish fear, prioritize, get your thoughts under control and CRUSH IT today!<br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4:8&version=KJV" style="color: #b2462d;">Philippians 4:8</a></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Finally, brethren, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">whatsoever</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> true, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">whatsoever</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> honest,</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">whatsoever</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> just, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">whatsoever</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> pure, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">whatsoever</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">lovely, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">whatsoever</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> of </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">good</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">things</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span>Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-39653346506375561572012-10-18T10:43:00.000-07:002012-10-18T10:43:42.827-07:00Humble & RelateableDo you remember Bill Cosby's "Kid's Say The Darndest Things" show? I didn't actively watch it, but I remember my grandparents watching it and laughing until they cried. I never really understood why until I had children of my own.<br />
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It's about <b>relate-ability</b>. My grandma and grandpa took my dad, brother and myself in after my parents divorced until my dad could get on his feet as a single parent. So, in essence, in their late 60's they became parents again while our dad worked crazy hours to establish himself here in Texas.<br />
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I can remember some of the crazy things we put them through. My grandma was forever trying to teach me manners and get me to take an interest in <i>little girl things</i>. I was a tom boy and I was very jaded and mature from my childhood, so when I wasn't reading I was outside climbing trees or catching bugs. Well, Grandma went to a garage sale across the street and bought me some Barbies, encouraging me to take an interest in girly toys over catching bugs. I have no idea why I reacted this way, but I grabbed an empty Whitman's Chocolate sampler box, filled it up with hundreds of roly-polies and let them loose in her living room! That was a rare, childish and impulsive moment for me, but I can understand a little better why she'd watch the "Kids Say The Darndest Things" show and laugh--because she saw again first hand how silly and reactive kids can be, and she (and my Grandpa) related to the feeling of trying to be the adult in a humorous situation.<br />
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My brother got into all kinds of little boy craziness--urinating outside instead of using the inside toilet (which I'm told by girlfriends with little boys that this is not an uncommon issue for young misters!), rough housing with neighborhood boys, leaving Lego pieces everywhere to be stepped on in the middle of the night, waking up the entire house hold to find his red Power Ranger before bed and so forth. At the time, it was a hassle to clean the mess and find the lost toys--but looking back, it was an honor to be <i>trusted</i> to look for his most prized possessions.<br />
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How many times has someone reached out to you, only for you to ignore or belittle them? Do you cultivate your <b>ability to relate</b> to other people? Or are you <u>too busy </u>to stop and open up a little?<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">My girls, making a huge mess </span></div>
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This morning my daughter had what was a very important conversation to her with me. She was listing everything that she thought she might want for Christmas.<br />
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"And a Barbie playhouse, and a Strawberry Shortcake City...and...and..." Her little face scrunched up, then fell apart. "Oh mamma, I was thinking too much and I forgot everything that I wanted."<br />
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I smiled. It was 6:45 a.m. and I just wanted to drink my coffee. However, thinking about that "Kids Say The Darndest Things" show, and about how many people <b><i>need you</i></b> to just open up and relate to them, I set aside <u>my</u> wants. "Well baby, maybe you should think it over again, but make your list a little smaller, that way you can be more grateful for what you have, and not focus so much on what you want."<br />
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She nodded. "OK. I love you mommy, I'll be thankful."<br />
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If I allowed myself to be brusque and rude, and consider <b>MY time</b> and <b>MY desires</b> the <i>MOST</i> important thing, I would've missed hearing what my daughter <u>was really saying</u>. Behind her little Christmas list, she was saying, "<i>I need to talk to you. I need your help. I need you to see me being a big girl and thinking this through and to recognize my forethought</i>."<br />
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I am so thankful I caught her message and cultivated that moment with her. Life is a series of these little moments, will you be too wrapped up in yourself to see them? Or can you decide to change, to listen to what someone else is saying, what someone else needs from you?<br />
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LiziTeam Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-70590113673239606072012-10-17T17:49:00.002-07:002012-10-17T17:49:58.839-07:00Dream BigI don't have much time tonight, but I still wanted to say something.<br />
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Don't limit yourself. </div>
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Don't suffocate your desires under excuses.</div>
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Dream big.</div>
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Take risks.</div>
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Is this cheesy? Somewhat.</div>
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But we all need to hear it.</div>
Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-46435596215829777242012-10-16T15:05:00.001-07:002012-10-16T15:05:07.540-07:00Self-CompassionI am a driven perfectionist. I can admit that. This is what has caused me to go above and beyond what anyone told me I might be capable of achieving based on my past.<br />
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I am intentional about what I feed myself, what I feed my family, how I speak to others--I even mind my own thought patterns and evaluate habits.<br />
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But I am guilty of not being very kind to myself.<br />
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I don't "go easy" on myself when I eat some junk food. Mind you--getting me to eat junk food requires isolating me from all healthy food choices for a minimum of 8 hours with only something fried as an option. Even then, I might prefer fasting to filling my body with free radicals.<br />
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Being around sick people all day in a clinical setting does funny things to you.<br />
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So when I read this article, I was surprised! Modern psychology is telling us to take it easy again.<br />
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It is well known that we as Americans have a culture of busyness. We must always be running ourselves ragged to feel that we've done something significant in our day--an unhealthy way to live. I am guilty of this lifestyle, although I am trying to work on it...<br />
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Anyhow, new studies are showing we are just as reactive towards ourselves with regard to dieting. Read the article<a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/go-easy-on-yourself-a-new-wave-of-research-urges/"> here</a> and tell me what you think.<br />
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Are you too easy on yourself with regards to diet? Too hard on yourself? Leave a comment below!Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-74570182381270436282012-10-14T18:42:00.001-07:002012-10-14T18:43:06.767-07:00Reduce Stress<br />
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<strong style="font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">Stress</span></i></strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;"> is terrible for you. It affects every aspect of your life, whether you realize it or not. It can take a normally happy, adjusted person and turn them into an angry, high-strung, twitchy excuse for a person. It can take a healthy person and give them a slew of medical issues (stress has been shown in medical studies to cause<a href="http://www.cbn.com/health/naturalhealth/drsears_silentkiller.aspx"> silent inflammation</a>). Stress takes mothers who love their children and want nothing more than to gently guide them through life and turns them in to screaming harpies! (Don’t ask me how I know).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;">The first step in</span></span><u style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;"> reducing stress</u><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;"> is to identify your stressors. Is it an increased work load (whether you’re a stay at home mom or a CEO)? Could it be due to a health issue in yourself or a loved one? Sometimes it can be from one hundred little things in your day that you suppress and internalize. Whatever the case, identifying the cause is the first step. A doctor can’t fix a medical condition if he </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">doesn't</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;"> know what it is, can he? He might prescribe the wrong thing and complicate the disease or even hurt the patient. That’s why he must run tests to figure out what is causing the problem so he can be accurate in his treatment. Same thing with you–find the cause so you can treat the issue appropriately.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">The second step is then to relieve the cause of the stress. If you’re internalizing your issues, then find a way to let them out. As cheesy as it sounds, </span><a href="http://stress.about.com/od/generaltechniques/p/profilejournal.htm" style="color: #222222;">journaling</a><span style="color: #222222;"> or <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070">meditation</a></span><span style="color: #222222;"> work better than anti-anxiety/depression medication.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;">If the cause of your stress is the adverse health of a loved one, obviously the condition is out of your control. Remember, you can’t control what happens to you, but you can control your reaction. If the condition is terminal, talk through the situation with that person and do everything you can to make yourself at peace with what is happening and how it affects you. If it is a treatable condition, learn more about treatment options, speak with your loved one and gather information so the condition stops being a “scary unknown” and becomes something you can understand and deal with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;">If the stress is due to an increased work load, consider <a href="http://www.2mannasisters.com/category/working-from-home/">working from home</a> full-time or going to part time at your current position and looking at residual income options. One of the common reasons for feeling over-worked is lack of <a href="http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_98.htm">delegation</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;">Remember that<a href="http://www.mannatechscience.org/files/file/Product_AboutAO.pdf"> antioxidants</a> are very effective in controlling the damage done in the body from oxidative stress. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;">In order to banish stress effectively, you have to identify the cause and then treat it accordingly. As a bonus, it is always helpful to put positive, <a href="http://www.lifescript.com/soul/self/well-being/a_life_of_positive_thinking_and_laughter.aspx?gclid=CISlv7mtgLMCFUWS3godlkUAvA&trans=1&du=1&ef_id=UHqbfwAAEr1o7q-5%3a20121014110119%3as">uplifting information</a> into your brain daily. Some people listen to inspirational songs, motivational speeches, read the Bible, dance around to positive music or talk to an optimistic </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">friend</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;">Whatever you do, don’t continue to do the things that got you into the stressful place. You have to change in order to change your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt;">Are you stressed? Do you have more suggestions? Please leave us a comment below!</span></div>
Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-26736050098832589752012-10-13T17:45:00.006-07:002012-10-13T17:46:49.812-07:00XFM!XFM is the little moniker for Xtreme Food Makeover--something Mannatech is doing to educate people on what has happened to our food supply, what has happened to our vitamin industry and a real food technology solution to the issue.<br />
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Today I went to an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/XtremeFoodMakeover">Xtreme Food Makeover</a> in Rowlett at the home of Marla Finley, one of the famed<a href="http://www.2mannasisters.com/"> 2 Manna Sisters</a>. We had an awesome time--My good friend Merissa came with me, and we helped Marla prep for the party. We chopped broccoli and cucumbers, prepared blueberries and strawberries, put out the <a href="http://www.mannatechosolean.com/">Osolean</a> and <a href="http://www.mannatechscience.org/home/products/glycoslim-vanilla">Glycoslim</a> for making shakes while my two little princesses played in the backyard.<br />
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As everyone was arriving, the conversations branched off and Marla's warm kitchen was filled with laughs and smiles and exclamations over the food. She whipped up a healthy chocolate peanut butter shake with Nutriverus, a Pina Colada shake with Nutriverus and a "Purple Monster" smoothie (purple from the blueberries--of course this one was a hit with the kids!)<br />
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If you want to see some of the educational videos we watched, you can<a href="http://library.mannatech.com/resources/topvideos"> click here</a>! :)<br />
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Here's some pics from the XFM:<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Veggies with Nutriverus in the dip</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">My girls with healthy food all over their mouths!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Talking about nutrition at the table</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcgcU305Vw6FD2Fr2fiSP0OR0eAB1t1lathjTr1fzLtsXd5ewQp5LdauXZjsxPyGjXGJ9RAHvT8QKfWgBVW80HMVO5jRPkxRqgCJ1GSH3ejRcYMEE6NbUAkfQc7bTsylmOkOjCryaVYE/s1600/Pics+743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcgcU305Vw6FD2Fr2fiSP0OR0eAB1t1lathjTr1fzLtsXd5ewQp5LdauXZjsxPyGjXGJ9RAHvT8QKfWgBVW80HMVO5jRPkxRqgCJ1GSH3ejRcYMEE6NbUAkfQc7bTsylmOkOjCryaVYE/s1600/Pics+743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Talking about how the world is changing</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27joaf-Izo6yhsVMlqArDsCgbmYLjTvypmnJPKJYGfGDTXeasN1iJ_vIGHYLgASVzTBlzPck-qkdbEDhimIUSEgzI8LCE9DJX4sBOugm5TN2eAx9oYCAUNaAqA37DLIQNZuSaOILs3NI/s1600/Pics+747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27joaf-Izo6yhsVMlqArDsCgbmYLjTvypmnJPKJYGfGDTXeasN1iJ_vIGHYLgASVzTBlzPck-qkdbEDhimIUSEgzI8LCE9DJX4sBOugm5TN2eAx9oYCAUNaAqA37DLIQNZuSaOILs3NI/s1600/Pics+747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Delicious shakes!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZijFhKZtPGJkl347_5O8dPHtFTUj70NV08ZrTXcskDJHYFrVtUc8xobZ7hWRed8kWURtUMXHr5btqO7uSWsVy_5m9VYL25b71BNUQOXx9Jh7aI5YFLg-HBocrfUbU3_cQasqIC6Tsp5c/s1600/Pics+749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZijFhKZtPGJkl347_5O8dPHtFTUj70NV08ZrTXcskDJHYFrVtUc8xobZ7hWRed8kWURtUMXHr5btqO7uSWsVy_5m9VYL25b71BNUQOXx9Jh7aI5YFLg-HBocrfUbU3_cQasqIC6Tsp5c/s1600/Pics+749.JPG" title="" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is what happens when your vitamins have nasty junk in them...they turn black when you bake them. Notice the pure vitamins didn't putrefy from the heat.</span></div>
<br />Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-10713698761491984012012-10-12T19:07:00.000-07:002012-10-12T19:07:17.531-07:00A Broken SystemIn America, it is recognized that<a href="http://nutrition.about.com/od/researchstudies/a/unhealthy_ams.htm"> our current diet and lifestyle choices</a> (eating fast food, eating at restaurants, constant stimulation from advertisements and games and a metric ton of oxidative stress from working too much and not relaxing enough) are killing us.<br />
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<h4>
Many popular doctors say all you need to do is<u> supplement your diet, eat at home and take extra antioxidants </u>and you'll be fine. </h4>
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Hold up. Let's address these one at a time, shall we?<br />
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<h3>
<u>Supplement Your Diet </u></h3>
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When you go to the doctor and he says "make sure you're getting a good multivitamin" he then tells you, usually, to go to the store and pick up a reputable brand, right? Well, there are a few problems with that. 95% of the supplements on the grocery store shelves are derived from coal tar and petroleum by-products. Most calcium supplements on the shelves have the calcium derived from limestone. I know that doesn't sound too terrible, so let me elaborate.<br />
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Most women know that when you start a higher level of calcium (like a calcium tablet or even chewable), you can become constipated, right? So the doctor tells you to pick up some magnesium citrate (a fancy word for a petroleum derivative that has been treated with citric acid to be more easily absorbed by your body). Well, that takes you from not being able to poop, to not being able to stop! And if we take a moment to appreciate the<a href="http://www.doctorschierling.com/1/post/2011/10/80-of-your-bodys-immune-system-is-in-the-gut.html"> fact that 80% of your immune cells are made from your gut</a>, you can begin to appreciate how vital intestinal health is to overall health. So when you're trying to add healthy things to your body by adding the above two minerals, you could actually be harming yourself.<br />
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Have you ever become constipated from spinach? No? How about almonds? Broccoli? Oh, celery? None of the above? These are natural, vegetable sources of calcium. Do you understand that it isn't the calcium causing the gut issues?<br />
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Which leads us to the next issue, the junk in our diet.<br />
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<h3>
<u>Eating at Home</u></h3>
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This no longer means what it used to mean. A hundred years ago, eating at home meant eating food that you'd raised and slaughtered yourself, more than likely. If not, someone you knew did it for you. Local homesteads--a quaint term for a suburban farm--would raise some chickens and grow vegetables to give to the grocery store, to supplement if farmer's couldn't meet the demands in a humane manner.<br />
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All of that's been thrown out the window. Even chicken meat that you buy at your local health-conscious store that says "free range" has arsenic in it. Yes, arsenic--they add it to the chicken feed to plump up the chickens. They're supposed to remove it before the last feed, but you know, the extra pounds mean extra profits, who cares if anyone dies. How do I know? Someone I trust with my life got arsenic poisoning from *drum roll* chicken meat. And he was informed of how it got there by a highly ranked scientist at a nationally renowned laboratory.<br />
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And most people are familiar with the<a href="http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214"> "Dirty Dozen"</a>--the foods that have a higher than normal amount of pesticides that should be purchased organically (and still washed-- E. Coli isn't a pesticide and doesn't care if your strawberries are organic!)<br />
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My point being--fast food isn't food, but what we're getting at the grocery store isn't much better. It doesn't matter if you shop the perimeter, there's something really wrong with children getting <a href="http://www.fooddoctors.com/FoodSafetyOnline/0908/090804.pdf">cadmium toxicity from iceburg lettuce</a>, adults and children becoming<a href="http://www.gfcf.com/articles/gfcf-allergies.html"> gluten and casein intolerant</a>, the staggering amount of <a href="http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/statistics.aspx">Americans with gut issues</a> and the rising amount of anaphylactic allergies to fruits and vegetables (I had one of those myself to kiwis). <br />
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So if we can't trust our fruits and veggies, how are we supposed to get our antioxidants?<br />
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<h3>
<u>Take Extra Antioxidants</u></h3>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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And the last suggestion to combat common health issues is to take in extra antioxidants. Some antioxidants are vitamins, like Vitamin E or C. Some antioxidants are berries that are high in cyanins like blueberries, nutrients found in green tea, bioflavenoids in vegetable skins and other nutrients such as resveratol in red wine. </div>
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<div>
Some people take in extra antioxidants by juicing--which is great, if you are using food you grew yourself and harvested organically, and if it is mostly vegetables. Most people can't stand the taste, so they just juice fruit, which gives them an enormous amount of fructose (fruit sugar) without any fiber to balance it in the body. Then they get fat. And angry. This isn't to say juicing is a bad idea, just that most people don't do it in a healthy manner.</div>
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<div>
Another way people take in antioxidants is from an antioxidant drink. There are several brand names out in the marketplace that boast having a very high antioxidant level. If you check the label, you'll find either that it is mostly sugar, contains very unhealthy ingredients or is made up of mostly synthetics (for example, d-alpha tocopherol, which <a href="http://teamkratos.blogspot.com/2012/10/vitamin-c-plants-vs-synthetics.html">we've discussed previously</a>, is not Vitamin E). </div>
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<h3>
What Can You Do About It?</h3>
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I don't know about you, but when I found out about all of this stuff, I despaired I thought, "man, no matter what I give my family, it's going to hurt them. Supplements are bad, the food is bad, the air quality sucks, there's poisonous stuff in the water--maybe I should give up on trying to keep us healthy. Maybe the best we can do is pray not to get heart disease or cancer."</div>
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Well, that's a crappy attitude. There is something you can do. Mannatech has developed a line of products that are plant based and hydroponically grown--meaning they control the nutrients the plants receive, the air quality where they're being grown and the processing to ensure the maximum amount of nutrients in each supplement, which is then proven to be effective in their state of the art analytic chemistry lab. That's good nutrition that won't harm when it's supposed to help heal.<br />
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There is a new product out now called Nutriverus. It's the culmination of 18 years of research and over $2 million in research and development. And now, it's less than $60 USD. Not only that, but there's a way to get it for free (e-mail me and I'll hook you up).<br />
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NOT ONLY CAN YOU GET IT FOR FREE, but for every auto-order, a months supply of this nutrient-rich, plant-based, real food technology solution is sent to a child in critical condition from malnourishment.<br />
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So, you save yourself.<br />
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You save your family.<br />
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You save the economy.<br />
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You save malnourished children in critical condition.<br />
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You save money.<br />
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What in the world do you have to lose?<br />
<br />Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-38389431197570885722012-10-12T09:40:00.000-07:002012-10-12T09:40:28.592-07:00On Power<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Do you know what the most powerful tool in the entire world is? Do you have any guesses?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Money?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Prestige?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Credibility?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Popularity?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Let me tell you something: the things listed above are effects of the most powerful tool in the world, but they are not the tool itself. This tool allows a person, no matter what their personal situation is, to pick themselves up by the bootstraps and become a success. This tool is the only avenue to true health and wellness. This tool is also the only avenue to financial success. Once you have the proper information loaded into this tool, no one can ever take it away from you. It belongs only to you, to do with as you please.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">What is this tool? It's <b>your mind</b>.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Your mind is the single <a href="http://www.openforum.com/articles/the-power-of-the-mind-how-to-train-yourself-to-be-more-successful">most powerful thing in your possession</a>. Your mind allows you to overcome boundaries of not having enough money, being too skinny or too fat, healing from physical or emotional abuse and being free of stress.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">The key to maximizing the potential of your mind as a powerful tool is to find the right information and input it. Once you have those things working together you can achieve whatever your desire is.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">I've been intentionally vague because I don't know what your desires are. I know what mine are: I want to be able to take care of my 2 beautiful little daughters. I want to keep myself and my husband healthy. I want to feed 50 kids in a third world country by November 2012. And once I've accomplished that--and I will--I'll set a new goal and crush that one too.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Why? How?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Because I know mentally that I am all in. I have the<a href="http://www.mindfulness.com/2012/01/08/mindfulness-living-and-leading-with-intention/"> information in my brain</a> necessary to be successful. Not only that, but I love to help others and share what I know with them. If you're struggling to be successful, shoot me an e-mail. If you have a goal that you'd like to meet, let's get together and talk it over.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">I'm willing to help you if you're willing to help yourself.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia;">Lizi</span></div>
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Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-61125772780234868122012-10-10T12:38:00.001-07:002012-10-10T12:39:08.530-07:00Shocking TruthsDid you know that 95% of over-the-counter vitamins are petroleum by-products, or made with coal tar?<br />
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Did you know that research in 1941 by Dr. Agnes Morgan showed animals fed synthetic vitamins died more quickly of degenerative diseases or had toxic reactions to the synthetics as opposed to vitamins consumed in a whole foods diet (University of California study).<br />
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Did you know that there are iron shavings in cereal? And baby formula?<br />
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Does this sound like maybe we're being asked by companies to pay for something that's killing us?<br />
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You can see more about what's happening in the modern diet here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uBGXBLyt8A">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uBGXBLyt8A</a><br />
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And, if watching this makes you angry at the lies we've been fed and sad at what we've been consuming and feeding to our families, you can do something about it here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO-jNJj_Caw&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO-jNJj_Caw&feature=player_embedded</a><br />
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And here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB__rZ8ZvVg&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB__rZ8ZvVg&feature=player_embedded</a><br />
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Imagine giving your body what it needs, nutrition from whole food sources. And while you're doing that, you're sending nutritional supplements to a child in critical condition.<br />
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How cool is that?Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730498785136558226.post-35689805491130013742012-10-08T12:15:00.000-07:002012-10-08T12:15:20.064-07:00Banish FearFear is binding, restrictive, habit forming negative thought patterns that can destroy your life if you let them. Fear isn't always a huge panic-ridden incident like on television shows, sometimes fear is just small hesitations and inhibitions that pile up quickly.<br />
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For example: Fear to get your haircut might make you feel ugly or ratty, which you'll manifest in front of other people. Fear of changing careers might make you unhappy in your current position, causing you to get demoted or fired because of your actions or behaviors. Fear of inadequacy might prevent you from talking to someone who is interested in you or your opportunity and cause you to be frustrated with your lack of communication skills.<br />
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Notice that in each of these scenarios, we as people tend to think about what is holding us back and make ourselves unhappy, and then instead of owning our poor thought patterns and changing them, we look for someone else to blame. Your boss, your job, a customer, a teacher from Elementary school--your mind, if untrained to recognize fear for what it is and change your thinking, can and will find a reason why it's someone or something else's fault.<br />
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If you find yourself in an unhappy and depressed place, think about why that is. If you immediately find yourself blaming everyone but yourself, stop it. You are responsible for your thoughts--you can choose to live a happy life by being accountable for your thought patterns and changing them, or you can choose to let your thoughts run negative and wild, keeping you under the bondage of fear.<br />
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Always remember it's your choice.<br />
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If you agreed with the above and you want to know how to change, here's some tips:<br />
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1. The first thing that has to change is your thoughts. You can change your clothes, hairstyle, hair color, house, car, whatever as many times as you'd like--and it might bring you relief for a little bit--but if you don't change your poor thought patterns, your life won't feel any different in the long run. To change your thoughts, examine your inner dialogue. If you're critical of yourself, stop being critical and look for what you've done well. If you're constantly blaming others, take accountability for your part in a positive way, and look for how you can change your habits. Don't complain about your situation--you'll only make it worse. Don't condemn yourself either; think about what makes you happy and excited and stay focused on that.<br />
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2. Once you've changed your thoughts, change your actions. If you have a fear of speaking to people, join Toastmaster's or another speaking organization to become more comfortable in your skills and abilities. If that's too intimidating, ask wise and honest people you know how you can improve your communication skills. If you have a bad habit of hanging out with negative people that always put you in a bad mood about life, respectfully ask them to not complain or gossip in front of you. If they don't change, it might be a good idea to find a new crowd to hang out with. If you have a negative tirade in your head over mistakes you make, do a "performance review" on yourself instead: write down what went wrong and how you could have fixed it, but write it professionally, as if you were a boss supporting and encouraging an employee. This is a valuable way to correct your actions without condemning or criticizing yourself too harshly. When you start ripping into yourself, instead of improving you'll just feel sorry for yourself and do it all over again the next day. Instead, set goals, be proactive and be encouraging to yourself that you're in control and you can change.<br />
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3. Once you've changed your actions, change your demeanor. Rather than walk around with a sour look, smile. Smile at strangers, smile at yourself in the mirror, smile when you remember something silly, smile at your spouse, children and friends. Be generous with your affection--if you don't like to touch people, a smile will suffice! Find reasons to laugh and have a quiet inner joy. If someone makes a mistake, be kind about it and encourage them the way you'd encourage yourself.<br />
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I hope this little toe-dip into the world of banishing fear, taking control of your thoughts and your life has been helpful to you! If you have any tips, thoughts or suggestions, comment below!<br />
<br />
Lizi<br />
<br />Team Kratoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08249371154354778020noreply@blogger.com0