Just a Six Legged Man Juggling Naked In Times Square

There Is Light At Tunnel's End

In just 37 days another year passes into the record books, 52 days after that the birthday clock ticks off another year in my own life as I move from 56 to 57, one step closer to wherever it is that life and eternity is taking me.  Almost two months ago, perhaps by accident or maybe by design I found myself at a juncture where life was screaming loudly, "It is time for a change".  Voices are often easy to ignore, or at least give only a half an ear to whatever it is they are saying, even when what they are saying we already know is true.   For whatever reason...providence?...I heard the voice, realized that something had to give, that something had to change, that my life needed a new direction.

 

Change is not easy, and does not happen overnight, and the process/journey of that change suddenly sees you having your feet not so firmly planted in not just one, but two, three even six different worlds, grappling with a simple fact...change often times requires giving up things, things that you perhaps love, are comfortable with...even if some of those things are not good for you, emotionally, mentally or physically. 

 

I like to eat...too much at times, but the huge Budda Belly hanging over my ever expanding waist, was not a healthy byproduct of that eating.  I don't drink a lot, but probably being honest like it more than I should.  A great bottle of wine with dinner, a few drinks with friends while listening to music at an Open Mic night in the bar across the street.  Cannot say I like smoking, its a habit, one that gives me some comfort in bad times, something to do when I need something to do for whatever the reason might be.

 

That voice screaming relentlessly..."It is time for a change."

 

I found Isagenix, or more aptly it found me.

 

The journey so far is being an exciting one even if it has its highs and lows.  I have a lot of self disciplend at times, at others not so much.  One foot in the world of Isagenix, the other in the world that was and still is.  Another foot is in the business end of Isagenix, a model (network marketing) that is alien to me, one that takes me so out of my personal comfort zone.  Truth be told, I am a very visible loner, preferring the solitude of a walk in the woods with my camera, my feet, mind and heart comfortable in this alone space that lets me think, in a world that lets me observe without having to be a part of it, in a realm where my mind for a bit can be and know quiet.

 

A six legged man, one foot in this world, another foot firmly planted in another as I try to juggle balls hoping none fall from the air...that part of me I keep hidden from the world afraid of what will happen when I do.  Once read somewhere that if you want to be something, pretend you are until you have the skill sets to be what it is that you want to be...sometimes in this journey, feel like I am prentending to be while hoping one day I will be...not sure I have ever been really HEALTHY my whole life, and a lot of the time right now, though I know I am getting healthier do feel that I am pretending to be, and think that reality is why I fear what happens if I fail.

 

The weather outside suits my mood, the wind howling as storm clouds pile in one upon another, as a storm blows in on the horizon, the weather like my life changing fast, me wondering if I am going to be able to keep up, me wondering who this new person emerging from within is going to be.  Sometimes it all seems to much, sometimes fear sees me wanting to fail, wanting to go back to that unsafe safe place where white is white, black is black, and even if it is bad for me, returning to that space of being comfortable because of the familiarity of the world in which I lived, even hid.

 

NOPE...cannot let that happen, best to be the six legged man juggling naked in Times Square, braving the gawkers and the doubters, proving to myself that where I am going to is where I am supposed to be.

How To Write a Winning Blog Article in 30 Minutes Or Less

authored by Sherwood Martinelli…The Isa Guru 

One does not have to search very hard to find someone who has started a blog only to abandon it a short time later. When you speak to them, there are usually three reasons given for abandoning their blog. They did not know what to blog about, they felt they could not write a good article once they had a topic, or they just felt the whole process took way to long. 

Like most things in life, blogging takes practice, but there is a formula, a recipe that if followed will have you writing great content, creating winning blog articles in almost no time at all…about 30 minutes! 

What Qualifies as a Winning Blog Article? 

First…blog article must provide the reader with valuable information. When finished reading, will your reader walk away feeling smarter about the topic, feel as if they learned something from your words? When you write an article, always focus first and foremost on your audience…what do they need from you, what can you share with them that will keep them coming back again and again? Know your reader, and you will never run out of things to share with your audience, never run out of things to write about. 

Second…a WINNING blog article can pull in traffic from the search engines. Writing a winning blog article has no value if no one reads it. There are over 100 million blogs out on the World Wide Web (www) with over 100,000 new ones popping up on a almost daily basis. So, a great article is both well written, and has lots of keywords in it that will help you pull in traffic from the search engines. (Researching keywords is a lesson for another day.) 

How To Write a Fabulous Blog Article Quickly…The Recipe 

Schedule Dedicated Time To Write…find one hour in your day that is dedicated over to blogging that is FREE FROM DISTRACTIONS. As you get better at being a wordsmith the time set aside will be less…30 minutes being the goal. No Facebook, no phone calls, no coffee with the neighbor. Blogging for your business is a job, treat it like one. 

Choose Your Topic…select a subject your reader is going to care about, something that will teach them something that will move their personal life, dieting goals, or business forward. In Isagenix, you are writing for two different audiences at the same time…new prospects, and your own down line associates. Choose a topic that is going to give your audience value for the time they are going to spend in reading your articles. 

Find Your Keywords (Allow yourself 5 minutes)…think of keywords as words you will put in your article (winning blog article) that you will also use as tags for your article so that people can find you. I did a keyword search for blog writing, and came up with over 350 different phrases people type into the search engines…I want to use some of these keyword phrases in my article so people can find me. Writing winning articles/Winning Articles/Blog Writing…all of these are variations of the theme of my article, that will improve my chances of being found in a Google Search. 

Do Your Research…you are not writing a “Doctorates Thesis” so don’t freak out about doing research. Do a Google search, find out what others are saying on the topic you are about to write on, maybe even find a quote or two that you want to incorporate into the article. 

Do Some Brainstorming (again, five minutes)…figure out what points you want to make, give some thought to the flow of these ideas you are about to share. In short, organize your thoughts so you have a map of where you want to go when you begin writing the winning article. This Brainstorming time actually gave me the title for my article. For this subject on how to write a winning blog article, I wrote out the key topics, and for each of these topics came up with my bullet points. Once done, I was/am almost ready to let my fingers do the typing. 

Give a Few Minutes Over To Layout…if you picked up a Time Magazine, opened it up and found page after page of nothing but words with no pictures or graphs, how likely would you be to buy a second copy of the magazine? I try to ALWAYS include at least one pleasing visual image in every article I post to my blog. 

Last But Not Least…figure out what links you want to embed into your article. 

One last super cool uber tip…ALWAYS (ALWAYS) give your article a great title! A lot of times, that brilliant title, more than anything else will bring new readers to your blog, even if just out of curiosity.  Have fun, and remember...practice makes perfect.  Happy Isagenix blogging everyone.

Social Media...Some Beginners Tips For My Isa Friends

First, wishing everyone a very happy, fun filled Thanksgiving full of fun, family and blessings.  Speak a blessing of gratitude for what you do have, and lift up to the heavens a prayer for all those in the world going through rough times.

 

As I sit here drinking my morning Isa Shake (already had my Ionix Supreme) wanted to write an article to share with everyone in our Isa Social Media group over on Facebook...a few tips on getting started in Social Media Marketing.  For beginners, Social Media Marketing (SMM) can be...well, it can be intimadating. 

 

Social Media Marketing is something necessary in this new age of instantaneous communication, and it takes time to learn as there is a LOT TO LEARN.  That said, don't let it intimadate you...Rome was not built in a day, and when it comes to getting yourself out there, patience truly is a virtue.  So, some basic tips for those wanting to get started. (Hey, once the turkey is in the oven, and the footballs games are turned on, or after dinner when everyone wants to take a timeout before desert, why not get your toes wet?)

 

Social Media Tips For Beginners

 

1. Listen to your audience.  Sure, we all want to speak our minds, but are we doing it in a way that makes others want to listen...your audience is going to let you know what they like, what they want to hear about.  If one of your articles in a blog, tweets on Twitter, or a time line entry on Facebook gets great response (how many comments, how many article views?) while others see almost no traffic, your audience is speaking to you, "HEY, we really like this."  You can also ask your audience what they want to hear using polls, or even putting up a post asking them, "What articles would you like me to write, or what discussions are we wanting to have."

 

2. Know your audience.  On Facebook, many of us belong to various Isagenix groups, a captive audience of folks who want to hear about, and learn about Isagenix...so, probably would not make a lot of sense if I started putting up comments about the fine points of overhauling and restoring a 1947 DeSoto.  Those in Twitter A) like short concise statements (duh...only have 140 characters) and tend to like links in case they want more information.  Blogs on the other hand give you more of a platform for longer posts and explantions. 

 

Bonus tip...Write a blog post (IE, this one) then make a short concise statement about it with a link on twitter...a great twofer!  Viral Marketing at its finest.

 

3. Start small.  Yes, you want to protect your brand, maybe you want to run out and establish yourself on say 10 Social Media sites...but, once you have made that LAND GRAB, let some of those pieces of real estate sit idle.  It is best to put all your efforts into one or two projects, build them up, grow a following, then look toward expanding.

 

4. See what’s working.  Think of it as research...do Google searches, find out what others in your industry (Isagenix) are doing to attract and build their own audience...if you are using Facebook, go find out who is being successful marketing a similiar/identical product, and start modeling your plan based on this newly gained information...they say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and it is.  After all, why would any of us want to duplicate a marketing plan that DOES NOT WORK?

 

What it all comes down to...GET STARTED.  Find your audience, strike up conversations about what you are passionate about (Isagenix), engage, engage, ENGAGE...why do you think they call it SOCIAL MEDIA?

Dedication... When "The Chips" Are Down...A SHOUTOUT To Amy Austin

I always like reading great testimonials from my Isagenix friends who are over on Facebook.  Being successful in losing weight means being dedicated to where you are wanting to go, especially when the "chips" are down.  This morning while catching up on Facebook I came across a testimonial from my Isa friend Amy Austin who lives in Canada.

 

She received a difficult phone call, and one of those old demons was sitting on her shoulder encouraging her to stop and get a bag of chips, to fall off the proverbial wagon and break her two day cleanse that she was/is being so good with.  Perhaps out of will power, or perhaps because the cosmos had her get on the scale this morning finding out she had already lost seven pounds saw her ignore that tempting voice!  WAY TO GO AMY!

 

Here is the link to her article.  Go give her a "Job well done" comment in her blog!

What's in Season...Trying A New Widget

Hello Readers:

As I work toward getting healthy and SLIM, looking for some new widgets that my readers and I might find useful...today looking through the list of widgets that are available right in my Blogger console, found one that I am trying out for the next few weeks as it looks promising.  To find it, simply scroll down to the bottom of my blog and try it out.

 

This is a FRESH FOODS widget...how cool is that?  You can choose what state you live in, what month it is, and it tells you the fruits and vegetables that are in season for you with little pictorial icons.  Click on any icon and it opens up a new page that gives you a brief history of the fruit or vegetable you are considering for your meal.  It gets better...over on the left side are various links to RECIPES!  I love recipes.

 

So, for those of you looking for fresh fruits and veggies, for those of you looking to find new recipes for some of your favorites foods, give it a whirl and let me know in the comments section of this article what you think of it.

Looking For A HEALTHY Energy Drink?

Five Hour Energy has put energy drinks in the news in a big way, the company and product under investigation by our federal government.  One thing is for sure...a lot of the energy drinks on the market today, with Gatorade the best known, from my perspective leave a lot to be desired.  Have you looked at the ingredients on the labels of some of these drinks?

 

water, sugar, table salt, carbohydrates, electrolytes (110 mg sodium, 30 mg potassium, 93 mg chloride), high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, glucose, fructose, and sugar

.

 

Does this sound healthy?  Do you really want your children, family and friends drinking high sugar beverages filled with GMO's (organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques)?  If you are an athelete, is this what you really want to be putting in your body?  Worse, what happens when over time you begin drinking it as just a beverage, overconsuming the product?  Can we say obesity?

 

There is a better choice, a healthy choice when it comes to Energy Drinks. 

 

Want More Energy (yes, that is the name of the product!) from Isagenix, the company known for giving the world healthy Super Foods.  Want to know more about this incredible healthy energy drink, or perhaps even try it?  CLICK HERE!

 

Want More Energy FAST FACTS

Life and Isagenix Is About Giving Back, Paying Forward

Network marketing was always one of those things I saw in a negative light, something I associated with phrases like pyramid scheme...then one day I had an epithany...every product sold is sold through network marketing in some fashion or another.  If Walmart  has a camera for sale on Black Friday, and your friend knowing you are looking for that camera too give as a gift tells you about the sale, isn't that networking/network marketing?  If you rave about your new car to a friend and they go out and buy the same vehicle based upon your personal recommendation, isn't that network marketing? 

 

It was/is this epithany that has allowed me to go beyond  embracing the product that is Isagenix, to embracing it as a business that I want to be involved in...in short, this epithany has seen me taking my first steps as a network marketer, though in many ways I have been a network marketer most of my life, but for others, rather than for myself.

 

As I've taken my first steps into this new world known as network marketing, realizing other truths, such as the very real fact that my own success is completely dependent upon me helping others...sharing my truth, introducing others to Isagenix by sharing my own testimony, my own story of becoming a product of the product, and then once someone says "I want to be a part of that", helping them become successful in their dreams and goals.  In short, it is about giving back by paying forward, giving others the helping hand up that is so generously being given to me by everyone I have met in Isagenix (both in real life, and in the various Isagenix Facebook groups).

 

As in most of life, you get out of network marketing what you put into it, and there is no room for selfishness in giving back by paying forward.

 

 

Not Being a Great Day...

This has been a very rough day for various reasons...will not go into it other than to say my Saab is sitting in a repair shop, and I am hoping the repair is not going to be too overly pricy...if it is, going to have to decide if it is worth making the repair, or time to go in debt for a new car.  Not a choice I had really wanted to make right now.  It has something to do with the cooling system, but is it a hose on the radiator, or something far worse such as the water pump...hopefully will have a better idea of things some time tomorrow.

 

I had just gone out for a drive to clear my mind, camera in tow, the idea being to just drive around looking for subjects to photograph.  Stopped to take a picture of some ducks and when I got back in the car it was overheating.  Luckily I had two gallons of antifreeze in the trunk and was able to limp the car to a repair shop.  Spent two hours waiting for them to put the car up on a lift, and one hose is severed...if that is all it is, might not be so bad, but the mechanic has no way of identifying other issues until that one is resolved.

 

The good news...at least I was at the end of my Deep Cleanse day when this all unfolded.  Time to try to decompress here...I need a IsaLean Shake!

Starting Another Deep Cleanse Here

Have just started another two day deep cleanse here...got in my stationary bike ride covering 7.23 miles, and burning a total of 170 calories, so that is always a great way to jump into it.  In looking back on my last cleanse, realized I was a bit lack in my water intake, so this time around, making sure that the all important water component of the program is where it is supposed to be...for those wondering, to maximize weight loss you should take your total body weight and divide by two, and that is the number of ounces you should be drinking in water each and every day.  So, for myself rounding up to 180 pounds, I should be consuming 90 ounces of water a day.  To put that in perspective, that is just under six one pint bottles.

 

Another issue I am staying up on this time around...taking advantage of my Isasnacks, and I also have my Isa Delights, which is new.  (Have to contact my coach to see how many of those Isa Delights I can have during a cleanse day...I know that the snacks are pretty well unlimited.)

 

Have deliberately set my weight loss goal easy this month...Thanksgiving is next week, and as much as we want to behave, I know I am going to indulge a bit more than I should.  So, my goal during this 30 Day Cleanse period as I work on my Isagenix Body Challenge make over is to be under 175 pounds by the end of it on December 6th, 2012 which will put me within striking distance of 170 by the end of the 90 days...MY SUPER GOAL...165 pounds.  That would be SO SWEET.

 

Took a walk down to the local coffee shop in hopes of speaking to a prospective associate today, but she was not around.  Will call her later in the day and set up an appointment with her to get her signed up and started on her first 30 Day Cleanse...am thinking it might be wise to time it so that she can start the Monday after Thanksgiving.  This time of the year is such a tough time of the year to jump into this program as there are so many pitfalls in your path.  Holiday meals, parties, visiting friends and finding a plate of cookies put out on the coffee table...did I mention Eggnog...I love, love love EGGNOG.

 

Another bottle of water is in order, and maybe an Isa Snack, so going to end this here...in short, the Cleanse is GOING WELL.

Is Your Scale NOT MOVING?

I have been having trouble moving the scale downward, and was pondering the issue when I found a link to a great article on the Isagenix Health Blog on Facebook.  After reading it, have decided to share it with my readers, and put a link to the article in my sidebar...YES, it is that good!   Thank you Isagenix for creating such great information for those of us wanting to get healthy, wanting to lose weight.  Don't know about Isagenix?  Email the Isaguru, or call me at (845) 693-4513

 

Can’t Make the Scale Budge? 11 Questions to Ask Yourself

March 20, 2012

by Ina Nozek, DC, MS, CCN

Losing stubborn weight is easier with these 11 tips.

Amazing transformational changes to our health and our body composition are seen with the Isagenix nutritional cleansing and fat burning systems, but every now and then we get “stuck.” Sometimes the weight seems to be coming off too slowly, or compared to other people’s results it doesn’t feel “up to par.”
What I’d like to do is give some tips on how to optimize weight/fat loss results so that you can reach both your health and your weight loss goals. Before you get discouraged, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:

1. Are you drinking enough water? The products do an amazing job at helping your body cleanse away toxins, but it’s your job to flush those impurities out with adequate hydration from pure, plain water. It is extremely important to consume at least eight to 10 full glasses of water each day, as is standard advice. On hot days or if performing physical activity, drink a few ounces more along with the sports drink Want More Energy?® that replenishes lost glycogen, vitamins and electrolytes.
2. Are you moving your bowels well each and every day? Constipation could hinder weight loss results. Rather than carrying around pounds that build up in the colon, regular and complete bowel movements are important in managing your ‘true’ body weight. If necessary, increasing the amount of IsaFlush! (containing magnesium) and fiber that you are taking each day will support regularity. FiberPro and FiberSnacks! can be used to get your required amount of daily fiber, which will certainly support gastrointestinal health.
3. Are you taking in enough or perhaps too many calories? Take a look at the meals and snacks that you consume on your Shake Days. Make sure to follow the program with 400- to 600-calorie meals consisting of whole, natural foods.
4. Are you letting too much time go by between your shakes and your meal and/or snacks? Timing is everything! Your shake or meal should hold your appetite for three to four hours. If there is more time than that between meals, you need to choose a healthy, balanced snack to curb hunger. This will keep your blood sugar stable and prevent your body from slowing your metabolism to conserve energy.
5. What are your food choices? Many of us may be absent-mindedly hindering results by reach for excess sugars and/or starches. Snacking on high-glycemic, low-fiber foods, or having a handful of this or that throughout the day can be enough to slow things down. Be aware of what you are choosing to eat.
6. Are you sleep deprived and/or stressed out? Either of these issues can cause your stress hormones to be out of balance and lead to increased fat storage—especially around the belly. If you are under a lot of stress and/or not sleeping restfully at night, I suggest you double up on your Ionix Supreme. Meditation and light physical activity may also be helpful in restoring your natural rhythms.
7. How often are you cleansing? For some of you, you may be cleansing too often and for others, you may not be cleansing enough. Keep your body guessing! Two consecutive Cleanse Days is the deepest advisable cleanse and the most effective way to burn fat. However, some people may do this too often. In which case, I recommend that you switch things up. Perhaps do double Cleanse Days every other week. Or, you can try one Cleanse Day one week and then a two Cleanse Days the next week. Maybe switch to drinking 1 or2 ounces daily (“daily cleansing”) for a while instead. Two to four ounces of Cleanse for Life before bed on an empty stomach may be helpful for many people, too. Remember to hydrate well throughout the day whether you are “deep” or “daily cleansing.” The key to all of this is to keep your body guessing by making sure to switch things up!
8. Are your foods settling? Food allergies and sensitivities may be playing a role in slowing weight loss results. Be aware of what foods you are eating and whether or not they are “jiving” with your body. Avoid any obvious foods sensitivities or intolerances.
9. Are you maximizing your meals? If not, consider Vanilla IsaPro! Adding 1 scoop of IsaPro to 1 or 1 ½ scoops of IsaLean shake can be helpful for optimizing your metabolism. The boost to protein can make a huge difference to anyone with a sluggish metabolism. Extra protein also keeps your appetite satisfied longer and promotes maintenance of muscle, a key element for plateau busting!
10. How many steps do you take every day? Get out there and move! Exercise is so important for our general health and it makes a huge difference in transforming our body composition. Daily exercise increases metabolism naturally as we build muscle. Incorporate strength and resistance training as well as cardio exercise for optimal fat burning results.
11. Are you following the plan? Are you committed to getting the best results? Are your food choices optimal? Are you adding too many extra calories to your shakes and to your snacking? Be honest with yourself. If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we realize that we could be more committed and disciplined. For some of us, it’s this discipline that makes all of the difference in achieving our goals. Then maintenance becomes a lot easier. Stay strong in order to truly transform your body so that you can look and feel your absolute best!