That Time of Year

This time of year can seriously derail the most disciplined people around. This week for example I have lunches and breakys and dinners all happening this week alongside two Christmas drinks episodes. It really is hard to avoid situations like these, but the best advice that I can provide is that you know what you have been educated on, you know the dangers of over consuming. So here are my tips.

• Stick to protein with any meals and stay away from the "beige" (The deep fried stuff)
• Ensure you drink plenty of water both before the events and during. Having a drink, then having a wate is a good way to stay in control.
• Set your limits, and stick to them.
• Increase your "activity" between events.
• Stay Positive and don't beat yourself up.

Hope everyone enjoys this time of year. It doesn't need to be the time that adds kilo to your waistline. A little bit of discipline combined with a little bit of enjoyment, will ensure that when Christmas is over and you are facing 2011, we do that with renewed vigour.

Exercise Day

There is nothing better than an early start and into the resistance exercises that form part of Bodysculpt. The exercises themselves and then the "gentle" burn after makes me feel great for the day and starts the day on a high. One of the key things that I have discovered is that exercising first up in the morning, whether it be a walk or some serious resistance stuff, gives me more energy during the day, sharpens my focus on what needs to be achieved today as well as giving me, "me" time. I still struggle seeing other leaders rocking into work, still getting dressed, chowing down a Maccas feed as they leave it until the latest possible moment to get out of bed. Those extra minutes sleep, aren't worth the additional hassle and stress that happens when you need to put the foot to the floor to get to work on time. And honestly, who would want to be led by someone like that?

Making a conscience decision to be better, sharper provides you with a better chance of being more effective in the workplace. I guess it's your call.

What's Important: The Big Rocks!!!!

As part of my role, I spend a lot of time developing other leaders. As such, I have learnt a lot from Stephen Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey talks about Quadrant Two Leadership, where the focus is on doing the Important, non-urgent stuff. In doing so, we start to remove a lot of Quadrant One Leadership, the urgent and important stuff, typically crises and issues that have arisen. We like to talk about looking after the "Big Rocks".

Recently the Big Rocks scenario has really struck home. A leadership colleague had recently undertaken his health check, and his results had gone backwards since his last one. He bemoaned his new job location, which requires additional travel and puts him on a time squeeze. As such, looking after himself had become the missing bit. I noted to him, that Exercise and Diet was clearly Quadrant Two leadership. A conscious decision to do what is important and non-urgent, which will ultimately stave off a Quadrant One health crisis. He hadn't looked at his health in this way, and realised that Quadrant Two leadership would never work for him at work, unless he started to look after himself. Covey also talks about Sharpening the Saw, but that's another story for another time.

The other scenario has a more global aspect. I read headlines every day about health crisis, obesity epidemic etc etc. The spiraling cost of healthcare......This is all a Quadrant One Issue. Urgent crisis, we just seem to be treating the wrong end of the crisis. We aim to "fix" people after their lifestyle choices have made them sick. When I go shopping, I get annoyed about how we are bombarded with "healthy" messages from products that are clearly not healthy. So just maybe we need a little bit of Quadrant Two in terms of messages at the supermarket. For those "Fat-Free" lollies, the message could be "Fat Free- but will make you fat anyway". Maybe reduced fat products could say " 97% Fat Free, but TWICE as much sugar"

I believe that it is about time, the Government or whatever regulatory department, takes a stand on how food is marketed. I am not just talking kids food either. Many adults buy low-fat foods thinking they are doing the right thing..............and they still get fat. Market the foods correctly, educate people on what goes in their mouths, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, we can stop the escalating costs of healthcare, treating the fat and the obese and the lifestyle diseases they cause.

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness: Miniature EditionFirst Things FirstThe 7 Habits Of Highly Effective TeensThe SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes EverythingThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

Weeks Results

The Results are in for this week and I have seen a minimal loss of 100g. I am actually OK with this considering the week that I have had. Heres to a better next week.

What a Week!!!

 

What a week everybody. Just when you think everything is going so well, life throws you some Curly ones...lol. Firstly, I have been operating for the last two weeks without my Operations Manager who was recently promoted, and this along with my project work I do for both my Regional and State Manager has left me working longer hours daily to fit everything in. It's been tough and at this stage this will continue for another two weeks, until I get my new Ops.

On top of this, one of my best friends had a death in the family on Monday. I spent some time with John on Monday night having a few beers and supporting him in this time. On top of this, we traveled down the Gold Coast last night to look at a car for my son. We came back, considerably lighter in the pocket but with one happy son.

Finally, I am also weighing up whether to apply for a new job, which would require me to relocate to Sydney. I feel I am capable of doing the job, which is a State Manager role for QLD/NSW and excited by the challenge, but I would be relocating myself and needing to arrange to spend time often with the family in QLD. So I have a lot going on. And even with that, I have managed to keep my walking and exercises on track, but had some glitches with food and drink. Not expecting anything major this week with results, but I am not sweating the small stuff.