William Shakespeare, Henry V.

In our pursuit to “acquire” and create an abundant life, I all too often see more people neglect the foundation of life- health.

In fact, here is a picture that was floating around on Facebook that quotes the Dalai Lama:

In the effort to “attract” ALL that we want, while living in the moment, we can look at the principles of attracting greater abundance, as taught by Chellie Campbell author of The Wealthy Spirit. These same principles can easily be applied to our lives to improve the state of health, fitness and vitality.

When someone feels good, they have more energy.  People with better energy attract more positive energy into their life. Regardless what level your financial goals are, they are most likely higher or a step or two above where you are now, yes?  Wouldn’t it make sense then that you have to be able to handle the next level physically, emotionally, and spiritually?  Without growing yourself as a person to a higher level, how can we expect to receive at a higher level?

In exercise, it’s called adaptation.  Our bodies respond to the stimulus we provide and we adapt to be able to handle it more easily.  If you want to get stronger, (or faster, leaner, etc) you must add more resistance or intensity to create a new level for your body to adapt to.

Let’s look at Chellie’s 6 Keys from The Wealthy Spirit:

1. Think Positive
2. Send Out Ships
3. Count Your Money
4. Swim with Dolphins
5. Survive the Storms
6. Seek Balance and Enlightenment

Now let’s look at how we can apply these principles to our bodies at the same time for more results, greater energy and vitality.

1. Think Positive- on my 6 Week Beach Body Program, our first class is about Thinking Thin. If you think you are unhealthy, over weight, and sick, you keep attracting more of those things and your behavior does not change.  “Thin and healthy” people actually view things differently. They can go to a restaurant and order a salad and really enjoy and feel satisfied. Thinking thin means you reach for water over diet soda because you want to replenish and nourish your cells so they can do their job.  There is a different mindset to being “naturally” healthy and fit and practicing this way of thinking will affect your behavior and therefore your results.  Click here to learn more about the 6 Week Beach Body Program.

1. Send Out Ships: In marketing, this is taking action steps so that the more ships you send out, the more likely some will return with riches and spices for you. Send out ships for your body by using some of your 300+ muscles and 200+ bones everyday. You were born to move, not sit.  Wake up your body everyday by doing something that is physical- even if it’s only 10-15 minutes.  Walk the dog, clean the house, garden, take a class, dance around, climb the stairs a few times, etc.  If you don’t move your body, it will not respond the way you’d like it to later. (or maybe even now!)

1. Count Your Money: Count (or at least pay attention) to your calories! Calorie counting is not the only (or even best) way to pay attention to your food but it is one that gets results and creates awareness.  You wouldn’t stand at the gas station and try to put more gas in your car then it needed, would you?  It would flow out of the tank to let you know that it’s full and can not handle any more.  Well your body “overflows” a little differently but it can still tell you when you have consumed over what you need to function.  Knowing your body fat percentage and calculating how many calories you need to be healthy everyday gives you a BUDGET. Your body budget is really no different than your financial budget.

1. Swim with Dolphins: If you hang out with healthy, happy people, this will rub off on you. If you hang out with people who overeat, over drink and never exercise, THIS will also rub off on you. Your energy will adapt to the dominant energy around you.  Pick and choose who you spend your time with wisely. I have heard it said that you are the composite of the 5 people you hang out with most on every level: health, wealth and relationships.

1. Survive the Storms: Follow the 80/20 rule.  Health is a habit, not an event.  What you practice most of the time will become your new normal. Life happens and can change your plan, but learning how to adapt and keep going is the key to success in every area of life.

1. Seek Balance and Enlightenment: We are human BE-ings, not human DO-ings. Take time every week (if not everyday) to STOP and BE.  Meditate, play, and rest.  The more centered, clear, and positive you are, the more easily you can achieve any goal.

For some free tools to help you get started on a physical, emotional and spiritual journey, please visit www.fit2love.info and www.invisiblefitness.com

JJ Flizanes is the author of Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life and Knack Absolute Abs: Routines for a Fit and Firm Core.  She was named best personal trainer in Los Angeles for 2007 by Elite Traveler Magazine and is the Director of Invisible Fitness. JJ’s passion is helping men and women get results with their body and love on the outside as well as the inside. View JJ on video on YouTube or visit her blog at http://www.jjflizanes.com.

Since writing Fit 2 Love, the universe has decided to put me into a few situations where I am reminded of what it feels like to be crushed emotionally.

You may have seen it on my video a few weeks ago- I looked like hell.

I thought if I let it ride out, maybe I could meditate on it and the solution would present itself to me-but it didn’t.  Instead, I found many more possible reasons for me feeling the way I did: abandoned, rejected, disappointed, frustrated, sad and fearful.

So I come to realize that I am going through a break up in my business life.  I think I have rationalized that it’s  “just business” and have not treated my feelings with respect.  I have not validated myself for how I really feel.

Crushed.

It’s very similar to being dumped or breaking off a relationship that you thought was going to be forever. It’s been a long time since I have felt these feelings so it may be my time to remember what it’s like to be in the shoes of someone who needs to read Fit 2 Love.  It sucks.

My heart hurts and I can’t help but at first to feel betrayed and abandoned.  But just like I used to handle breakups before I met Brian, I now see how I can apply the Fit 2 Love principle (everything I did when I was dating and preparing to meet my husband) and manifest someone who is more appropriate for me.

When I asked for help, I was not specific in what I wanted.  The universe delivered someone who sold me a bill of goods and I thought I had hit the jackpot!

Just like in past relationships that did not work out, I can now see what I learned and how to move forward.  But it still hurts and it’s the underlying reason I have been emotionally eating.

If you have been heart broken- I totally feel your pain.  If you do not know what to do about it or keep doing the same thing over and over again without any improvements, I BEG you to check out the workshop.  Now that I know what I am going through, I am excited to fix it!!   I can help you get excited too and give you the tools that will make the difference.

Would love to have you post a reply here or share your story too.

Who am I kidding?

So I am going to start this conversation. It will continue and morph as it should.  Please add your comments to the blog to get involved and share your experience as well.

I got stuck writing so I made you a video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Some of you own your own business and some of you do not. I figured that I “should” be giving you fitness and health advice only, so I stayed away from all that talk about building a business and all the ups and downs I go through on a weekly basis.

But I am holding back. And I don’t like that.

For me, keeping something inside is like locking my spirit in a box and it weighs heavy on my heart. So I have decided that from now on, there will be a section dedicated to “The Business Side of Things”.

It will never be very long on this page and will always have a link to my blog. I understand not all of you are interested and that is perfectly ok. My heart needs to express all that is going on because if you want to learn from me or have me be a positive influence in your life, I want to to come clean with all I struggle with too and how I either conquer it or learn from the mistakes.

There have been some MAJOR mistakes and I have recovered.  It may not be wise to start from the beginning so I will share what’s most relevant now.

I just launched a book, I just started a new business (which most of you do NOT know about),  and I have learned some valuable life lessons about relying on others in the recent weeks.

I know this blog is general- it’s just to prepare you (and me).

I am excited to finally get this stuff off my chest and hopefully help you sort some things out as well. It’s amazing how life mirrors itself.  The same problems show up in different areas of life-if you know how to spot them.

My mom was here and we were up very late into the wee hours of Feb 9th preparing and sending out emails to friends, family, and the community to let everyone know that “Today is the Day!”

Well many of you tell me that you never got that email.

WHAT????

I can’t control this system I use, which is seemingly reliable most of the time until I find out on a day like last Wednesday that some of you never got the email.

So I owe you something.

People last week got the opportunity to get $1500 worth of prizes when they purchased the book.  The link was supposed to be disabled on February 10th but when I found out that not everyone had the same chance, I left it up.

I made this video for you too!

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you have not gotten your copy of the book and you want one, please visit Fit 2 Love and get your other free gifts.  The page will be disabled in the next few days.

The other reason technology SUCKS is that we have found a few errors in the book.  Some of them I won’t even tell you about because you wouldn’t know it unless you saw the original manuscript.

Some of them you will know.

What happened was that the file got corrupted when it was sent from the designer to the publisher.

I looked at it and GOT SO MAD!!!!  But the problem is that there is no one to blame except maybe my publisher’s computer!  I had an editor, proofreader and some of the endorsements sent notes of changes they saw that were needed. (with that many eyes, I wasn’t worried)

So we will be uploading a new version in the next month or so, if you were bothered by some of these small errors, I will be happy to send you the electronic version of the new one for free and right away.  Just let me know.

As great as technology is (like this blog!) it can really be a pain in the a#s!

Next time, I am sending more than one email.  So consider yourself warned!!

This article was written by Oprah’s Dr. Oz and Dr Roizen.

“The best way to keep your job might be to leave your desk. That’s right: The less time you spend sitting on your bottom, the better it might be for your — and your company’s — bottom line.

In a study of entrepreneurs, people who worked out regularly also had companies that performed well. In fact, those who ran regularly were better at meeting their personal goals, and their companies had better boosts in sales than those owned by nonrunners. (The researchers didn’t ask about walkers.) People who stuck to a strength-training regimen were also better at meeting their personal goals than people who don’t lift weights — but their businesses weren’t doing off-the-charts better.

Researchers suspect that the lift in confidence and energy that people get from regular exercise may spill over into their careers, giving them an edge. Plus, getting into shape often means developing a mind-set that accepts and embraces hard work — a definite perk when it comes to moving a business through tough times and beyond……………..”

you can read the rest by searching Dr Oz and the title.  Now my 2 cents.

Duh?

Sorry if that seems simple and offensive but people who take time to take care of their body GENERALLY value themselves more than people who do not.  Therefore the people who care about their body, take action and then have ENERGY to spend giving to others.

If you neglect yourself, you probably neglect other things too.  And you end up being miserable and cranky because you feel badly and you want to lose weight but make the excuse that you don’t have time.  People know what your priorities are by WHAT and HOW you do things.  If you want change in your body or your wealth, it might be time to rearrange your priorities.

You get one body.        That’s it.     How are you treating yours?

The Ecomony and Corporate costs get hit hard!

The Hard Facts as of May 2008

• There is a $1.3 trillion total impact on the economy from seven chronic disease, pulmonary conditions and mental illness. Of this amount, $1.1 trillion is attributed to lost productivity (DeVol et.al. 2007)

• It is projected that by 2023 there will be a 42% increase in cases of the seven chronic diseases, which will cost $4.2 trillion in treatment and lost economic output (DeVol et. Al. 2007)

• Lowering the rates of obesity could produce productivity gains of $254 billion and avoid $60 billion in treatment expenditures annually(DeVol et. al. 2007)

• In 2004, the US spent 85% of every healthcare dollar on people with chronic conditions (www.silverbook.org/fact/1334)

• In 2002, the US spent more per capita ($5,267) than the next highest country, Switzerland ($3,446) and 140% above the median industrialized country ($2,193) on health care, with comparable outcomes ( Anderson et.al 2005)

• Chronic diseases are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths in the US (PFCD 2007)

• The economic toll of chronic disease for developing and developed nations around the world is estimated at approximately 3% of gross domestic product, globally (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• The world now has more people who are overweight than people who are hungry (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• According to the World Health Organization, The US is the world’s fattest nation, with over half of adults overweight or obese. But China and India are growing fatter at a faster pace. By 2015, the number of overweight and obese adults in China and India will grow by 66% and 44% respectively (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• More than half of multinational corporations in a 2006 survey expect to introduce or expand corporate wellness program over the next 5 years (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• One third of multinational corporations are rolling out comprehensive wellness programs in multiple countries (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• Presenteeism (days employees are at work but performing at less than full capacity because they are ill due to chronic disease) is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to employee health costs. The January 2008 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that workers with moderate to severe obesity annually cost $1800 (about $500 higher than for other workers) in presenteeism, based on an hourly wage of $21 (Gates et al. 2008)

• More than 60% of American adults don’t get the recommended amounts of physical activity and the majority of the US population has a poor diet (CDC 2002)

• In 2006, the average annual premium costs for insurance-covered workers were $4242 for an individual, including both the worker and the employee contribution, and $11, 480 for a family of four (KFF 2006)

References:

1.    Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 2002.  HHS urges community partnerships to improve physical activity. www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r020501.htm

2.    DeVol, R., et al. 2007 An unhealthy America: The economic burden of chronic disease-charting a new course to save lives and increase productivity and economic growth. Milken Institute. www.milkeninstitute.org

3.    Gates, D.M. et. al  2008: Obesity and presenteeism: The impact of body mass index on workplace productivity. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 50 (1) 39-45

4.    Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). 2006.  Data spotlight. www.kff.org/charts/012907.htm

5.    PricewaterhouseCoopers. 2007. CEO’s take on wellness as corporate strategy; rising costs of chronic diseases hurting corporate profits and productivity. www.pwc.com

We offer comprehensive corporate fitness and wellness programs that are customized per client. We cover food, exercise, mental and emotional components, habits, lifestyle, accountability and tracking for all of our clients.

http://www.invisiblefitness.com   800 571 5722

After years and years (seriously) of calling myself a certain “kind” of trainer, I finally heard it this past weekend when it came out of my mouth as the title of MY BOOK.  FINALLY!!!!  I have been working with a few different people on 2 other books that I am very excited about but none of them were mine.  I mean- ALL ME.

I was sitting in the canyon in Ojai this past weekend with my good friend Tina Mattis.  We were talking and talking and talking…. And it hit me.  She even commented on how OBVIOUS it was.  Ready?

“The Wine-Chocolate-Cheese Diet”

People that haven’t even been clients know that I call myself the wine-chocolate-cheese trainer!  I used to add pizza to that list but now being gluten free, I’d have to say “gluten free pizza” and that’s just too long!

I was so inspired I actually can’t wait to write it!  I already started the outline, scheduled time away back to Ojai to “retreat and write” and I am off and running!  It feels amazing to be in alignment with what is supposed to be.  I have felt like I was forcing things before when I would pick a title or brainstorm on what it should be.  I would consider it from a marketing or branding standpoint but I think this is brilliant and perfect!  And obviously I am not being modest either.

I might have to start another blog to get sample chapters out…recipes, testimonials, stories of other’s successes while not giving up what they love.  Hmmmmm