The world is changing. Seventy years ago the American mind set was to pick a field, a profession, something that pays enough to buy a nice house with a white picket fence, and stay there until retirement. Many, many things have changed since then. Culture as a whole, the economy, business market, even media are completely different. Job’s are harder to come by, especially for the younger generation, even with degrees from prestigious colleges and universities. Which is why entrepreneurship is on the rise, and is the new future and norm for business.
Amazon, Google, Apple, Harley Davidson, the list goes on. All started by entrepreneurial minded adults that wanted what only entrepreneurship can achieve, freedom and control over their life and their success. It’s a lifestyle that is quickly becoming the ideal, and here’s the brilliance of it: it’s achievable by anyone. Entrepreneurship has no age barrier, no experience, prerequisite and no affiliation requirements; all it takes is hard work and a want, a need, to control your destiny.
Becoming an entrepreneur means that you are never bored. You’ll find your stride and want to do more and more as your success starts to grow. You set your schedule, you make your business plan, and you are the one that works towards making your dreams come to fruition. Your earning potential is limitless, and you’ll strive to work harder the more success you achieve. Plus, you’re not bound to a nine to five thankless job, in a cubicle with terribly dismal lighting. You control your schedule, your brand, your time, and you never feel undervalued.
But that’s just the business side. Entrepreneurs get something that the more pedestrian career cannot offer. Personal growth. You acquire new skills sets, that you will value throughout your life, and you’ll always be learning and using your creative brain. You can concentrate more on yourself, and your family, have the freedom to travel, the freedom to work on personal projects, and the freedom to not miss a birthday or a baseball game. As a business owner you’ll be a role model to others, and can help others on their path to success. You have the potential in your business and in your personal life to change the lives of others.
Since entrepreneurship is becoming more prevalent, there’s an added bonus of friendship and support. You become part of a family. The entrepreneurial world is a tight knit group with a culture unlike any other. Peers want to help you, and you’ll want to help them. It’s about everyone finding their path and successes, and when they do it’s a celebration for everyone. It’s a positive atmosphere that works to bolster and uplift everyone. And you absolutely cannot find it anywhere else. Certainly not in a cubicle.
]]>I was hired on not only for my writing skills but for the fact that I've been a personal trainer and self-defense instructor for 9 years.
I've always had a very active lifestyle, I played volleyball and basketball in Junior High and High School. And I've been in martial arts since I was eight.
I've had five knee surgeries, back surgery, and countless other injuries from fighting and training (and motorcycle/four-wheeling accidents, but I digress)
Needless to say, my body is understandably angry at me. Some days are better than others, but there are days when I struggle to get out of bed because of my back or knees.
I told the gents of SIX NUTRITION my many issues when I started, so they gave me ASTA-VI, to try and to experience so I could write about it.
ASTA-VI is an uber-powerful antioxidant. It has the ability to OBLITERATE inflammation. Most people don't understand that a majority of pain is caused by inflammation.
So I did as they instructed, front-loaded six a day, then moved down to the recommended dosage.
Now the week I started this, I had a trainee who flipped me when doing self-defense techniques.... overzealously. It destroyed my back, and I was basically crawling for a week, I had to cancel or reschedule classes. It was a mess.
I started taking ASTA-VI that week, low and behold it gave me THE ABILITY TO WALK.
Pile on top of this that I recently had neck surgery. The inflammation from my injury plus my back was making life miserable. Since I started a new bottle of ASTA-VI a week ago I've been exercising again every day and feel almost like new.
I truly believe in SIX NUTRITION products. Not only because of my background but because I know the guys that make them. They were sick of subpar products and they wanted things that THEY would take on the daily.
Plus they're all really sweet and hilarious (I really hope they don't proofread this)
I digress again, ASTA-VI, I highly recommend it for anyone suffering from pain, I will stay on it for life!
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The great lie.
The bane of my professional personal training existence.
Let's get this straight
Not all calories are created equal
100 calories of soda and 100 calories of vegetables are going to affect your body on entirely different levels.
One has a negative nasty impact, freaking out your pancreas and kidneys with insulin and hormones.
The other is going to supply your body with much-needed vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your body needs.
A perfect example of this iis the martian. He needs calories and nutrients to survive. He has a limited supply of calories, but he has a crap ton of vitamins, which keeps him alive even on a very limited caloric intake.
Here in the U S of A, and anywhere we spread the western diet, we have the opposite problem.
We have an abundance of calories in our food like substances, but not enough nutrients.
So we are malnourished.
And feel like shit.
Which is not great.
So what can you do?
Switch to the human diet. 50% veg, protein, berries, and whole grains. Calorie counting isn’t necessary if you’re eating the proper diet in the first place, mixed of course with proper exercise.
So stop counting, start eating!
]]>1. Eat before you go: This sounds counterproductive but, hear me out. Before you go out celebrating eat a full and highly nutritious meal (and when I mean nutritious, I mean at least half vegetables). This trick is to fill you up, the vegetables will keep you full longer and you will only munch and nibble as a result.
2. Protein is your friend: Eating a full dinner at a party? No worries, start with the proteins. There aren't a lot of traditional veggie-filled dishes during this season, so stick with high protein plan at a party. Start with turkey and chicken if they are available.
3. Have a piece of pie: pie tends to be one of the "healthier" dessert options. But if you have a piece, have a piece. Many make the mistake of having a "sliver" of each kind, and end up eating two or three pieces worth. So if you are going to indulge, have a full piece and only one. You'll feel satisfied and can work it off during your next workout.
4. Drink ALOT:.... of water: Water is filling, and especially during the cold season (if you're in a dry state) your body needs it more than usual. Drink 24oz of water before you leave, then stick to water during the party.
5. But if you're drinking: politely ask what drinks will be there: This is a trick that can make you look super classy and polite all at the same time. Ask the host what drinks they plan on serving because you'd like to bring one to help out. Normally with close friends and relatives, this is very welcome. Eggnog, glogg, and spiked punches aren't great for the waistline, so bring a wine, sherry, or even gin and tonic. You can stick to your drink and help out the host. (Keep in mind, most eggnog has around 343 calories and 19 grams of fat per cup)
6. If it's a potluck: Bring healthy options. Many people are swayed by peer pressure, so being around a bunch of loved ones chowing down on calories can lead you to break your willpower. So bring a few healthy dishes, make sure they're tasty, and you can share the love.
7. Time your workout: Last but not least, time when you workout. Men, if you do a short workout (cardio) before a party it keeps your appetite at bay. Women, have the opposite problem. So make sure you don't work out beforehand. Work out early in the day, or after you get back, or even wait for the next day. And make sure you keep tabs on how many calories you're burning off.
Keep these tips in mind and have your waistline be smaller when you come out the other side of the party gauntlet. Happy Holidays from everyone at SIX NUTRITION.
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Gluten is a protein, actually, it is a bond of two proteins, gliadin, and glutenin. These proteins make up the doughy texture that is found in wheat and grain products. So what do these proteins do? Well, for those with the curse of celiac, or that have autoimmune diseases (which often come with gluten intolerance) it makes us sick. There are certainly different reactions depending on the individual, but what gluten does is mostly the same. The small intestine has a lining of villi, which look like fibers or fingers. When gluten touches them, they swell shut with the allergic reaction, inflaming the intestine and cutting off nutrient absorption. This leads to diarrhea, bloating, nausea, and other symptoms. (Itchy eyes and a tongue feeling of carpet for yours truly).
So what does gluten do to those that don’t have celiac or intolerance? Well, they affect the elasticity of dough. That’s it. Gluten has no adverse effect on those that have neither celiac or intolerance. So why are people feeling better and losing weight anyway? Well, the culture. Someone that decides to go gluten-free (that hasn’t been told to do so by a doctor) is in a mindset to be more healthy. And it just so happens most gluten-free food is available in the widest variations in health food stores or the health food section. Healthy choice begets a healthy choice. They are now surrounded by healthier alternatives, and most products that are gluten free are made with healthier, often organic, ingredients. Now you can make an informed decision on whether or not to go gluten-free. Or just impress the numerous amount of people who don’t know what it is with your new found knowledge.
]]>BCAA'S and melatonin. (I won't write about melatonin today, suffice to say it's a natural chemical that our bodies produce to help us sleep)
And there is a reason for that. He pushes his clients hard, and he's able to because of the BCAA'S and their effect on the body.
So what are these things?
BCAA stands for Branch Chained Amino Acids.
Amino acids are extremely essential for building new protein and muscle in your body.
Basically, if you take BCAA'S before and after your workout, you're instantly starting to replace the muscle you have ripped during your workout. This means that you won't be sore the next day and can push yourself harder.
BCAA'S also give you energy since they are chained they act as a kind of long burning fuel, which means there will be less fatigue during your workouts.
They also replace the missing amino acids from your diet. You'd have to eat extreme amounts of protein to not only replace the stuff that you rip during exercise, but to fuel your next exercise, you'd essentially be eating all day (which sounds nice at first, but it's tedious and time consuming)
In summation, BCAA'S fight fatigue, build muscle and replace essential amino acids in your diet so you can workout harder, better, faster... and stronger.
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So first, let's answer what CBD is; put in layman’s terms, CBD is an active chemical compound, also called a cannabinoid, that’s part of the cannabis plant. However, unlike the full cannabis plant, CBD doesn’t get you high, because the compound that gets you high (THC) is miniscule or altogether missing from CBD, leaving behind only the pure stuff that helps with a myriad of issues. Many scientific and medical studies have shown the benefits of CBD has, plus the fact that it doesn’t get you high makes it one of the most popular products on the market right now.
There are two types of CBD, and there’s a large difference between them. There is CBD isolate, and CBD full spectrum (like Warrior’s edge). What is the difference? Simply put CBD isolate is pure isolated CBD, all by it’s lonesome. That’s all it is. Full spectrum, however, has other plant compounds and vitamins and minerals. Which means it’s even better for you.
In WARRIOR’S EDGE FULL SPECTRUM CBD OIL there are vitamins galore. A, C, E, B complex, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and beta-carotene. It also contains essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. On TOP of all that, Warrior’s Edge is also a healthy source of protein, its a heart-healthy source of all 20 amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids that must be provided through the diet. It also contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, two important fatty acids that most American diets lack.
Alright, so we’ve broken down what CBD is, what Full spectrum contains, now let's talk about what it DOES for you, besides supplementing your diet. CBD FULL SPECTRUM OIL CAN:
All these positives have been proven by thousands of studies, and now CBD is becoming legal in more and more states. But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Trust me, you’ll thank me.
]]>Wrong.
Our exclusion of fat in our diets may have actually been a detriment to us, because, what was the fat replaced with?
Sugar.
Science has made leaps and bounds in many fields but is just now catching up in the food industry. And there’s a reason for that. The sugar industry paid for many of the “studies” that were done on sugar, they ran a campaign, not unlike the tobacco campaign in the 70’s. Telling American’s that sugar was ok, that in small amounts it could even help you lose weight (yes, that was an actual add). Some of these facts just coming to light in 2015 and 2016, such as proof that the sugar industry manipulated heart disease research in favor of sugar, placing the blame on fat. The list of grievances against the corporation is long and varied but we're here to discuss the culprit.
Sugar.
New studies are showing that sugar is the main culprit for America’s obesity rates, heart disease rates, and diabetes rates, which have been continuing to grow since the 40’s. Kid’s as young as four have been shown to have dense fat deposits not only under the skin, but around their organs (which is extremely dangerous) and thought to be caused by sugar and processed foods. Because of the sugar industry’s prolific campaign, sugar is in almost everything, and most certainly in everything processed. And here’s some subversion for you, they have over 61 different names that they can legally call it. So you may pick up a box of cereal, and see the second ingredient sugar, then a few more ingredients in you see rice syrup, or maltose, or dextrose; all different names for sugar. On some ingredient listings you can find sugar listed up to 10 times! And because it’s in processed food, most American’s eat 150 to 170 POUNDS of sugar a year. If that sounds like a lot to you, it’s because it’s a heinous amount, your body can’t process even a small amount of that. When it has sugar flooding in and the inability to process it, it turns it into fat, a lot of that fat the very harmful kind that surrounds your organs, hindering their processes and causing your body harm in the forms of weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, organ failure, and even death.
So, we’re in agreement sugar is bad. Now what? Go find sugar free everything? No. Not quite. Because even the ‘sugar-free’ products are at times not sugar-free since technically a company can put sugar-free on their label and not actually have to follow through. There are many loopholes as of now, that companies can simply step through to put sugar into their products. The same companies, to overcome being sugar-free, jam more and more chemicals in it to make it taste better. Sugar-free and processed are at times synonymous when it comes to your health. But now that you’re aware, you can shop and eat smart.
Sugar is in natural foods as well, though moderate amounts of this sugar are easily converted into energy instead of fat stores. Mostly this consists of fruit, oranges, apples, and bananas, they all have sugar, so perhaps you can opt for the less sugary option, berries. Straw, blue, black, Boisen, most berries are low in sugar and high in goodness like antioxidants and vitamins. Vegetables and meats are often sugar-free if not processed, just check the labeling and ingredients. The group that is the most problematic is carbohydrates. These tend to be the most processed thing you can buy, made with bleached white flour with little to no nutrients, then sugar added to make it palatable. Choose ground whole wheat bread, made with honey or coconut. They are much more nutritious and filling.
At the end of the day, it’s a lifestyle choice. Sugar has been proven to be addicting, and we’ve all been eating it for years. Cutting it out won’t be easy, changing the way we look at food will absolutely be a challenge. But the rewards will be astronomical; making us truly healthy, living longer, and working harder.
]]>Let’s explore those.
Anthropologically speaking, your body is wired to want certain foods during different times of the year. It follows this process even if you are getting proper nutrients (which 89% of American’s don't, by the way). In winter your brain urges you to eat more, putting on fat layers for the winter; this is the starvation mode, your body is worried that food will be scarce. Diets unduly activate your starvation mode, putting your body in a constant state of stress.
Let us say, for instance, your new diet has no carbs. If presented with a carb, maybe at a lunch with friends, maybe just opening your fridge and seeing leftover pasta, when you deny the urge to eat that carb, it puts stress on your brain, and your brain tells your body that it needs to go into starvation mode. So your brain holds on to the fat stores it has and tries to reap as much fat from whatever you are eating. Which then, the added weight can make you more stressed and the process restarts. Diets also tend to shed a modicum of weight, and then when that dieter returns to their regularly scheduled eating program, they gain weight again, which leads them to yet another diet. It’s truly a vicious cycle.
However, blanket statements are unwise when it comes to health, so we explore the thought of your body and it’s likeness of a science lab. You are special, you are the only one of you, and your body works the way it wants to work and will not be told differently. An eating plan that works for a 5’2 female athlete, may not work for a 6’4 sedentary male office worker, and what new diet has worked for whatever celebrity is at the forefront of it, may not be compatible with your body type and metabolism.
Which is why we come back to diets and diets generally being terrible. But here’s a secret, you don’t need to diet. What you do need may be much harder to implement and control (at first). The most success you will have is with a lifestyle change. Choosing to live a healthy, balanced, vitamin and nutrient-rich life is a commitment and an ongoing experiment. Finding what your optimal eating plan takes time and effort, trial and error, but the rewards last far longer. So you won’t be turning to the next fad after the last fad shed the ten pounds you needed off in time for vacation, but then inevitably put back on when you went back to how you were eating before. So do your body a favor, break the cycle, stop the diet.
]]>But more on that another post.
The American diet is missing key nutrients, most of which you would get out of a heavy vegetable and fruit laden diet. But let's face it, with horrifically full schedules, and social engagements, we don't necessarily surround ourselves with food that's good for us.
That's where vitamins come in, to fill gaps in our diets that are nutritionally lacking.
Now I'm not saying that vitamins should take the place of vegetables and fruit. I highly recommend that whatever you eat daily should be at least half vegetables. No, I'm saying we can supplement healthy lifestyles and make our bodies feel awesome by taking vitamins.
There's a lot of misinformation about vitamins. Perhaps you've heard that they don't really do anything? And that you urinate most of the nutrients?
That is just simply untrue.
Campaigns of misinformation against vitamins have been going since the 70's. But it turns out, doctors are now actually treating patients with high doses of vitamins, and having great success. Many people around the world are figuring out the gaps in their own nutrients and filling them in with vitamins, and with great health benefits, including weight loss.
The only way you can know for sure is to try it yourself. Buy a few vitamin daily packs (for the men reading this SIX NUTRITION has VITAMINS FOR MEN) and see how they make you feel. Experiment. You are the scientist, your body the lab.
]]>Below are my steps to starting and maintaining a new and balanced healthy lifestyle.
The first step is supplementing your existing diet with heavy nutrition, your body is starving for it and needs to be fed. I, in all my wisdom, recommend that you start with juicing and vitamin supplements. It gives you powerful nutrients that your body is lacking and is easy and surprisingly tasty.
The next step is hydration. Most Americans do not get enough hydration. Living in Utah, I suggest to my trainee’s that they drink 120 oz a day, since Utah is one of the driest states, and your body craves hydration. Think of water as the lubricant in the machine that is your body, it needs it to function properly, so keep yourself properly hydrated and you're sure to start feeling the difference.
Next (This is the one that scares people) is cooking healthy delicious meals with whole and organic ingredients. Yes, this does require a degree of actual cooking, but with Pinterest and youtube adding easy recipes every day, you should have no problem finding recipes that your palate enjoys. You can also supplement your meals with seeds, nuts, and healthy fats.
The last step is getting enough exercise. This is extremely difficult in our busy lives. Not only do you have work, but families, friends, and other obligations, and it isn’t easy to fit in exercise after all that (when all you really want to do is sit down and binge Netflix). Baby steps. Slowly add things into your routine; wake up in the morning and do a short seven-minute workout. It wakes you up and gives you energy for the day. Then add in a walk after dinner. It helps digestion and spine lubrication. Adding things in slowly you’ll start to feel the difference and you’ll be craving more.
You should be forewarned, being around those that haven’t made this transition is difficult. Eating is very much a social activity, and many can feel self-conscious or even pretentious for eating clean. Don't let this sway you! Talk to your friends and family, and if they don’t make the change with you stand strong and be an awesome, shining example to them all.
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Your body is made up mostly of water, as such think of yourself as a great hydro-machine. Rather than gasoline, it takes water to make your machine run properly. Water is your bodies largest energy source, and dehydration causes the enzymatic activity to stall in your body, the manner in which your body converts water to energy, causing lethargy and fatigue.
Let's take a look at each of your body’s everyday functions, first, your blood. Your blood is about 92% water when you are properly hydrated, flowing steady and constant, but when it isn’t properly hydrated, your blood becomes viscous, increasing your blood pressure. Which, if left unchecked, can lead to heart disease and strokes.
Breathing is a rather essential part of life, and allergies are a typical side effect of dehydration. Your air pathways close up to conserve moisture when you’re dehydrated and increases histamine production. It may be that dehydration is causing your stuffy nose.
Ever heard of cholesterol? Dehydration increases cholesterol production to inhibit water from leaving your bodies cells; Medications can only do so much to bring it back down if you aren’t suitably hydrated.
Dehydration also weakens your body's abilities to discharge toxins from your system and cells. All systems, however, we'll focus on your skin. Those toxins back up in your skin when dehydration sets in and can lead to premature aging, acne, sebaceous cysts, wrinkles, and discoloration. Dehydration also leads to the buildup of toxins and acid in your kidney’s and bladder, often resulting in bladder and kidney infections.
Another side effect of the buildup of toxins. When your body can’t expel those toxins, to protect your system, it will store them in fat cells. Thus weight gain is rampant.
Dehydration is not only lack of H2O, but it’s the reduction of minerals that you get from water. Alkaline minerals help with your digestive tract and the lack thereof can lead to ulcers, gastritis, and acid reflux.
Another noticeable symptom of dehydration is constipation. Think of water as lubrication, and your tubes need lubrication for byproducts to pass through your system.
That is a lot that dehydration causes right? But wait, there's more!
Dehydration can cause cartilage in your joints to break down and dry out which causes pain and swelling.
Brain tissue is greatly affected by dehydration. It can cause headaches, confusion, inability to focus, and irritation. Ever forgot an obvious word? Dehydration may be the culprit.
An average adult body loses 10 cups of water a day, just breathing, natural sweat, urination and waste elimination. So you can imagine the number is much higher when you add movement, walking, exercise, even talking. Your blood is 92% water, your bones are 22% water, and your muscles are 75% water. Your body CANNOT function properly without water.
And slightly less horrible, dehydration can cause bad breath, body odor, cramps, and sugar cravings.
So I'm sure you're now properly quelled, now we switch gears and look at what proper dehydration will do for you. First off, your entire body begins to work efficiently. Your mental acuity goes up, your mood levels out, and it alleviates inflammation. Your body can also expel toxins quickly and efficiently.
So pain relief, clearer mind, better skin, better digestion, improved mood, and weight loss. Mix it with Hydra Energy or K-Boost and you get hydration and nutrients in one shot. Ready to feel amazing? Go drink some water.
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The Ketogenic diet has been scientifically proven to be better without exercise than the American diet with exercise. It’s simple science and people are coming to the lifestyle in droves. However, some do not anticipate the bodies adaption to Keto, and the downsides thereof. I have experienced it myself, so I'm here to warn you, and give you some advice to overcome the Keto blues.
The Keto Flu - It takes 3-5 weeks for your body to acclimate to burning fat instead of glucose. This leaves you tired, groggy, and generally not feeling great. Fear not, there are a few ways to overcome the Keto flu.
Now you could put together a smattering of vitamins and supplements yourself, or just shop our supplements, especially our new K-BOOST, exogenous ketones mixed with electrolytes, I call this “magic liquid” as it helped me get over my keto flu quickly. And the best part? It tastes absolutely delicious.
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