FE #3

In todays Newsletter you’ll find:

• Who is your biggest critic?

• Have you learned something new lately?

• What are we going to eat?

• Ponderings?

Before we begin, I’d like to thank you for subscribing and embarking on these new Fitness Endeavors together.

When we take a step back from the day to day life, we slow down and really give it some thought, we often find that one’s self often emerges as the most relentless critic. We sometimes scrutinize our physical appearance, our nutritional choices, our workouts or lack there of. For some it can turn into an obsession with counting calories or if the routine you're “supposed to be doing” happens to get interrupted with something else in life, we feel like all the gains we have achieved are going to be lost. We often are delayed in our realization that we may be measuring ourselves against unrealistic standards. One of the other major ideas that gets overlooked it the question of WHY.

If we dig into the question of “Why” we just may find the answers to many of our insecurities or questions. When a person takes the time to understand their own “Why” they can often find the underlying driving force to reach greatness. It may look like a strong desire to stay on track with your nutrition, your willingness to make the time for that workout you’d rather not do, or the ability to create the habits that will help you stay on track with your nutrition. Often times nutrition is the biggest challenge we face, and we have literally every waking moment to make choices that either align with our goals, or choices that work against our goals. So we must understand that even though we may be our biggest critiques, it is a double edged sword. We can use it to cut ourselves to the ground or to fight our way to victory. The choice is ours, the decisions are ours. How will you wield the sword?

There is a very fascinating supplement that may be new to some but has actually been used for many hundreds or thousands of years. Berberine is a supplement that has been used for many years in traditional medicine. Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, as well as Native American medicines have all used berberine to treat various ailments, including gastrointestinal issues along with infections.

One of the major breakthroughs in the 20th century has been a more thorough understanding of berberine ability to lower blood sugar levels, increasing insulin sensitivity, improving overall cholesterol numbers as well as lowering body fat.

When choosing a supplement to take, it unfortunately isn’t as simple as finding any brand with the name listed on the bottle. It often requires a bit more research to know reputable companies and often times you must also do some research into testing of formulas and potency of the supplement. This is a great study which looks at the potency among commercial preparations of Berberine.

Remember to always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements and doing your own research is a must.

Sometimes I wonder back to where I first tried a certain dish. Vast majority of the times I can’t seem to recall the place but I can definitely recall the flavors. This Strawberry Spinach Salad (Click for link to ingredients and directions) is one of those salads that could have you going back for more. You can add more greens to it or subtract what you don’t care for (red onions), and make it all your own. The sweetness of the strawberries and the creaminess of the feta… they’re so good I’d imagine you could almost throw them on anything and make it taste great.

“Superficial knowledge breeds ignorance; true knowledge induces humility.”
-Yasir Qadhi

Many times in the health and fitness industry we can be led astray if we aren’t willing to put in the time and energy to either do our own research into any given topic OR put in the time, energy and research into hand selecting individuals you can trust to give you solid information. Flashy videos, ripped abs and tight clothes often take center stage, yet the vast majority of the times the information or recommendations are partial truths or not conveyed in a manner that gives the end recipient a true understand of if and when said knowledge should be utilized. Look for guidance from individuals you feel have a greater sense of understanding on a particular subject but also posses a level of humility and intrigue with the world around them. There is arguable nothing more complex and intricate than the human body and if someone is acting like they have it all truly figured out, take that as a yellow flag warning if not a red flag warning. Do some research, work to truly understand any ideas they’re presenting and you will be in a better place for it. They may end up being a go to resource, or you may find out its not all what it seems

The Fitness Endeavors Newsletter will be a constant source of inspiration, as well as information. You will find stories from individuals just like yourself, stories of tragedy and heart ache to persistence and triumph. Fitness Endeavors is about the ups and the downs, the choices we make every day, some right in line with our goals and others not so much, but either way we keep forging ahead knowing that as we continue on the path, we learn to enjoy the struggle, the small victories, we learn from the mistakes and we constantly keep learning and growing as individuals. We value sharing our wisdom along the way, and bringing others along on the journey with us.