New Year Resolutions: 3 Easy Steps to Success

Exploring The Benefit of Organic Food

Broccoli : Nature

I recently read an article that stated most people will have forgotten what their New Years Resolutions were by the end of January. I would imagine it would be hard to stick to those resolutions when you can't even remember what they are!

Among some common top Resolutions were...

  Loosing Weight

  Quitting some habit (smoking, cigarettes, etc.)

  Enjoying life and free time more

All of these are great Resolutions, but very hard to achieve when there's

  No Emotional Juice, or

  No Goal or Definite Target, or

  No Commitment or Reminders

Here are three easy-to-follow proven techniques that will ensure your success in accomplishing your New Year Resolutions.

1. What's the prize?

One key to success when making new goals (or Resolutions) is to set yourself up to win.  Make every goal fun and somehow emotionally rewarding. 

Imagine that you're a child again and that you need to entice yourself to work for that goal.  What will be your reward for cleaning your room, or joining a gym?  Where's the Fun in the goal?

Every parent knows that a little reward can go a long way with kids.   Do we really change as adults?  I don't think so.  Set your reward and make sure that it's FUN.

2. Define Success

Know when to celebrate by setting a definite date and criteria. An example statement would be, "I love feeling fit at my new weight of ___lbs by June 1, 2007."

3. Use Reminders

Again, it's impossible to work on those Goals and Resolutions when you can't remember what they are.  I love taping goals up where I'm bound to see them at least once a day or more.  The refrigerator, the bathroom mirror, you car dashboard, all of these are great places for taping up reminders.  Here's a great way to word a reminder.

I love the feeling of choosing have a Fit Body!
I love the feelings when I choose to eat in ways that support my Fit Body!
I love the feeling of exercising because I know it further supports my Fit Body!

Another easy way to give yourself reminders is though email.  Many popular email programs allow you to setup an email to be sent at some future date and time.  Or, visit www.FutureMe.org and send email reminders to your Future-Self.  Here's an example of a short reminder that you can send to yourself.

Send Dates:
February 28, 2007; March 30, 2007; April 30, 2007...

Text:
Dear Me,
How goes the goal of "Becoming a Non-Smoker"? Did you make the hypnosis appointment that I said I was going to? Did you find three friends and make the pact to quit smoking that I said I would do? Did you follow-up with them to see if they were also taking steps towards their goals?
I'm sure that you've already been working on this goal and it's a Done-Deal. If so, take time now to pat yourself on the back and Celebrate, just the way I planned to in advance!
With love,
Me.

So remember, with just a little prompting and a little reminding, you'll be certain to make those New Year Resolutions, and any new goals that you choose to set!

To your success,

Patrick

About the Author Patrick Rodriguez is a Life Coach, NLP/hypnosis trainer and former corporate Project Management Consultant. By using his former corporate background in project management and strategic planning, Patrick helps his clients set long-range targets and break them into short-range achievable goals. To add to the success of his clients, Patrick uses NLP and hypnosis during his sessions. Please visit www.PatrickRodriguez.com for information.

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In today's society - with an ever vigilant eye towards health consciousness - we are forever in search of those factors that will give us the edge in achieving maximum health. As we've learned, a healthy diet, a consistent regime of physical activity, and plenty of rest all has a profound impact on our overall vitality. Subsequently, there has been an overwhelming group of people that swear by the benefit of organic food.

Produced by organic farms, organic food is grown under strict government supervision. Under these guidelines, organic produce is grown and packaged without the use of any chemicals or pesticides. Traditionally grown, non-organic produce is subjected to a myriad of chemicals - most of which are have not been studied thoroughly enough to understand or contemplate their long-term effects on the human body. Researchers are still undecided as to whether or not these chemicals can be linked to everything from food allergies to certain types of cancer. The benefit of organic food is that they are not subjected to these unreliable substances.

Meat and dairy produced under organic guidelines are also chemical free. Traditional agricultural farmers often subject livestock to a bevy of chemical supplements designed to speed their growth and weight. Further, dairy cows are often given chemicals to increase their milk production. The benefit of organic food is that livestock is given only organic feed that is chemical and supplement free.

Another benefit of organic food is its advantage to the environment. Traditionally grown produce are treated with chemicals; naturally the chemicals are then in the soil, changing the landscape and contaminating the ground and surrounding water supplies. The benefit of organic food is the ground in which it is grown is left unchanged.

Making a commitment to organic food means making a commitment to your health; the benefit of organic food lies in the chemical free enjoyment of natural whole food. Further, the benefits to the environment are varied and long lasting. The decision to go organic is a healthy and responsible one.

About the Author

For easy to understand, in depth information about organic food visit our ezGuide 2 Organic Food.

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Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts have several healthy substances in them. They do everything from fight cancer to regulate hormone levels. Using these tiny substances in foods to regulate our body's internal processes is called phytonutrition and broccoli is full of healthy phytonutrients which combat many ailments:

* Cancer. Broccoli is high in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant, and is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer. Broccoli is high in Vitamin K which may also lessen the risk of cancer.

* Estrogen. High estrogen levels can lead to cancer in both men and women. For women going through menopause, estrogen is responsible for many of the difficult symptoms. It also increases a woman's risk for cancer. Broccoli is high in a compound called Calcium D-glucarate which may indirectly reduce the risk of breast cancer by reducing the body's stress from estrogen. Another estrogen mediating compound is 13C, shown to be effective in both men and women at mediating estrogen and lowering the risk of cancer.

* Capillary Strength. Broccoli is full of flavonoids and Vitamin C which help support the integrity of capillaries

* Asthma. Broccoli contains a good share of the antioxidant Vitamin C which is also anti-inflammatory. Research indicates that individuals who eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C experience asthma symptoms less often.

* Bruising. Again, the Vitamin C in broccoli can reduce bruising in those who tend to bruise easily.

* Liver Detoxification. Broccoli contains sulforphane which has been shown to be a potent inducer of enzyme secretion during stage II liver detoxification. This substance may also have anti-cancer effects.

* Cataracts. The beta-carotenes or Vitamin A found in broccoli appear to lessen one's chance of developing cataract formation.

* Fiber. All cruciferous vegetables are high in insoluble fiber which helps you stay regular and protects from colon cancer.

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables make great weight loss foods. They have healthy fiber to keep you full and help regulate insulin levels. One cup of fresh broccoli has 2.6 grams fiber and only 25 calories. Most of the calories are used up during digestion so you really don't have to count the calories at all.

To get the most nutrition out of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables they should be eaten raw or steamed. Cooking robs them of many phytonutrients and much of the fiber.

Broccoli is one of nature's all time great foods. It reduces the risk of several cancers, decreases inflammation, has powerful antioxidant capabilities, helps to level unhealthy hormones and is full of fiber. Make sure broccoli is on your next shopping list for better health.

About the Author

Dr. Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and the President of the International Fitness Academy . For more cutting edge nutrition and fitness ideas go to http://www.aerobic-exercise-coach.com  

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