Natural Weight Loss Coach

Today, May 23 2009, I finally got to watch Star Trek with my wife and teenage son.

I don’t know if you’re a Trekkie,  but let me explain the big draw of this movie franchise: the variety and richness of the Star Trek characters.

(Sidenote: My personal favorite is Capt. Picard, and my personal favorite episode is Tapestry.)

The movie starts with the extremely unusual circumstances surrounding the birth of James T. Kirk, the cowboy captain that started it all.

Then it is followed by the strict discplinary, but somewhat controversial upbringing of Spock, in his homeworld of Vulcan.

One by one, we are introduced to the rest of the legendary crew of the USS Enterprise: Lt. Uhura, Doc James McCoy, Lt Sulu, Ensign Chekov, and of course, our Engineer Scotty.

In my opinion however, the movie is slightly more about Spock than Kirk. These two main characters vividly illustrate the differences between the logical Vulcan, and the emotional Human.

The confrontation between Spock’s logic and Kirk’s passionate drive to win was how these two legends were introduced to each other.

In the end, emotions, both good and bad, were the “heroes” that delivered the results. Logic developed the plans on how to achieve the results.

Simply said, emotions drive our behavior more than anything else. Emotions fuel our passion and conviction and determination to get things done.

Emotions, not logic, drive us to do whatever it takes to make things happen. Logical reasoning only develops a roadmap.

So what has this got to do with weight loss?

Herein lies the problem of the weight loss industry in general – we focus too much on:

• the logical equation of calories, and
• the logical approach of restrictive diets, and
• the logical fat burning of exercise.

In reality, we will only change our behavior once we have a deeply rooted emotional reason to become and stay healthy. It could be:

• fear of premature death.
• embarassment from how we look in our bathing suit.
• concern to be a good example for our children.
• our desire to be loved by our spouse.
• anger at those who silently ridicule us for the way we look.

Every person is different. Every single one of us was raised in a unique environment that shaped our emotional character. (That’s why I like the Tapestry episode.)

Regardless of what these factors were in our lives, it is entirely up to us, to identify a deep emotional conviction to finally get us to our desirable and attractive body shape.

In Star Trek, Capt Kirk was driven like a wild man by the inspiration of his father’s heroism.

Spock was intensely conflicted between his logical sensibilities and the traumatic loss of his human mother’s tender love.

Both of them saved the day, pushed by their respective emotions. But it was their logic that carved the path to their success.

Logical and emotional. Combined together, I label it: mental fitness.

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. ~ Bill Cosby

What’s it gonna be for you?

Live long and prosper,

Capt Harry

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Lean and mean weight loss

262,085 miles since Dec 31st, 1989.

Pictured here is one of the best material investments I’ve ever made since migrating to the US.

I bought this car brand new on New Year’s eve and she’ll probably run until 350,000+ miles, without any major work.

Aging gracefully

But what has this car got to do with health?!?!?

I’m getting there in a minute, so please bear with me.

I don’t get 35 miles per gallon mileage anymore, but she’s still at a respectable 26-30 mpg. Still pretty green, relatively.

Here are the top 3 biggest expenses I’ve incurred to date:

• clutch replacement – $897.73 May 2008
• strut replacement – $690.47 Apr 2002
• distributor replacement – $527.77 Jun 2006 (this was my fault because I made some simple, but stupid modifications)

Notice that the major components: the engine, the transmission, the frame, the body are all original and intact. Heck, even the paint is original.

Normal maintenance:

• timing belt – $550.06 May 2006 (3 yrs premature – long story)
• timing belt – $353.56 Mar 2003
• timing belt – $365.40 Jun 1997
• oil change – guestimated at $1,050 over the 19-yr period (as prescribed, every 7500 miles)

All throughout its life of 19+ years, only once did this car ever stop on the road, and I had to call a tow truck to help me out. (That was a result of my stupid modifications!)

One more thing: this car is NOT pampered. It doesn’t sit idle in the garage with a warm blanket, but it does stay inside the garage every night.

So again, what has this got to do with health?

Here’s my point. If you take care of your car, the car will take care of you.

Take Care of Your Body and
It Will Take Care of You

Take care of your body TODAY and everyday thereafter, and it will take care of you for a long and healthy life.

In reality, your entire body is in constant repair and maintenance. Almost every living cell dies and gets replaced by a new cell – CONSTANTLY.

As you age, however, the cell duplication process becomes less and less efficient. It slowly deteriorates over time – normally. But it could accelerate depending on your lifetyle.

It’s just like making a photocopy of a picture. A copy of the original is fine. But a copy of the copy is not quite as good. What if you make 50 subsequent copies of the picture? What do you think will the last picture look like?

Get the picture? (No pun intended.)

Copying from a copy leads to poor quality

When a living cell duplicates itself, do you think it needs raw materials or ingredients to do that?

You betcha. Specifically, your living cells need MICRO nutrients (minerals, enzymes, vitamins, biotics, etc.), which in turn, come from MACRO nutrients (carbs, proteins and fats) that you eat.

This is the reason why I don’t believe in counting calories. Quality food will keep your metabolism going, while bad calories will CHOKE your metabolism.

So if you feed your cells on empty calories, the cells do not reproduce properly. If your organ cells fail, then eventually the organ itself fails.

Let’s take the pancreas. When its cells start to age prematurely, then it will slow down in producing insulin. And of course, lack of insulin (which is different from insulin resistance), can potentially lead to weight gain.

I’m not a body builder, and I don’t really have any aspirations to be one. I’m just a regular guy who’s discovered REALIZED some common sense approach to maintaining a lean (not mean) body.

As I grow old into my sunset years, I’d like to be strong, healthy and ACTIVE up to at least 100 years.

Please, no chronic disease that would cripple me for 10, 20 or even 30+ years. No organ transplants or heart bypass operations either.

I don’t wanna be moving around with a cane, let alone in a wheelchair or cart, with an oxygen tank strapped behind me. It’s not the way to enjoy the time with my grandkids.

Preferably,  I’d just stop breathing in my sleep one day. (After I’ve had my last words with my family & close friends.)

Here’s one of my simple rules – don’t mess around with the manufacturer (unlike the “simple” modification I did with my car).

When it comes to my health, NATURE is the manufacturer. I try my darn hardest not to mess with it.

As much as I practically can, I let natural foods maintain my health – avoiding, as much as possible, man-made medication including processed foods and pre-packaged “weight loss” meals.

Are you investing on wellness and prevention, instead of spending for repair and intervention?

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Wow, this is one of the best audios that I have heard in a long time.

One of my own personal coaches sent this to me, and he’s encouraged me to pass it along.

I was a competitive chess player a long, long time ago as a teenager. I haven’t played the game since then, but this 20-min interview reminded me of all the life lessons I’ve learned. Lessons I’ve used to maintain a healthy weight – without sweating it.

As I listened, it jogged memories of how I’ve incorporated certain habits in my life that have led to unconscious healthy choices, as well as conscious deliberate actions.

Some of these lessons are:

• Every move you make has consequences. Think before you move.
• The principle of delayed gratification.
• KASH is king.
• Looking at a situation from both sides.
• How to question everything.
• The key to success is information and acting on information. Losing a game is information, learn from it.
• The biggest mistake you can do is to give up.

Here’s my favorite quote from Orrin Hudson:

“If you stop fighting for what you want,
what you DON’T WANT will take over.”

Click here: Be Someone – the healthy person you were meant to be.

Note: You can also right click on the above link, and download it for your ipod convenience.

Have a naturally healthy day,

Health Coach Harry

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