Addiction - Don't Let It Steal Your Success!

Addiction is one of the greatest and most costly public health problems in the United States. While all this publicity is going on for the H1N1 Virus, people are dying from a disease far more prevalent in our country. Addiction is the physical or mental dependence on a behavior or a substance. To take that a step further, dependence means that despite the harm it is causing in their lives, they are powerless to stop. It is not limited to drugs and alcohol. There are behaviors that can activate the reward system in the brain. This activation of the Dopaminergic system has the same effect as if someone uses Cocaine or Amphetamines.

Because of the similarities in response from the reward system of the brain, many addicts who are successfully able to quit illegal drug use or stop the use of alcohol will find themselves replacing the drug with behaviors such a sex, gambling, compulsive shopping, excessive exercise video games or even web surfing. Again, the definition of it being an addiction is when it brings harm to themselves or their lives.

Addictions to substances such as alcohol, illegal and prescribed drugs, tobacco and food bring with them other potential areas for harm. Many types of Cancer, Diabetes, liver diseases and life threatening interactions can result from a single use and from prolonged use. The problem becomes perplex due to the system of denial that protects the addict from seeing the harm he/she is causing to others and/or themselves. Add to this that most addictions come on slowly; it is difficult to accept that one needs help.

Help does exist. First and foremost, treatment is available for most any addiction that you might be battling. If you are a friend with an alcoholic or drug addict, most cities have intervention counselors to help you confront the addict and help them to see they are in trouble. You need treatment with the support of people who are struggling with the same addiction and from professionals who understand it. If you don't feel ready for this step, read on.

The next step is to begin Recovery. Once you are an addict, you will always be an addict. But just like a diabetic can control their disease, you can learn to control yours. It is learning about how to tolerate how you feel at any given moment and not have to participate in self destructive or self defeating behaviors and thoughts. It is realizing we didn't get to the place we need recovery overnight so we won't travel to a place of healthy life and wellbeing overnight either. One has to relearn how to have fun without the use of the addictive behavior or substance. It is about learning how to live life... on life's terms.

The next thing is to get involved with support groups. There are tons of support groups out there from spiritually based or church group ones all the way to the original Alcoholics Anonymous. There are groups for sex addicts and food addicts. There is no reason not to have a support group. There are even CODA groups for those that are co-dependent. Which means living with an addict and struggling not to make things easy for them?

Here are some resources for support groups:
http://www.na.org (narcotics anonymous)
http://www.aa.org (alcoholics anonymous)
http://www.codependents.org (codependents anonymous)
http://12step.org (twelve steps to serenity)
Free 24 Hour Addiction Help Line ~ 888-691-3919

You can also check with your church for more spiritual based programs.

If you do not feel like you are ready for this step where others are involved or if you are not sure your loved one needs an intervention, there is an eBook you can get to evaluate and also to get some tools on your own.

Learn about alcoholic tendencies!
Acquire various treatment options!
Learn how to help a friend or family member who is alcoholic!
Learn about drug addiction and methods to deal with it!
Learn alternative methods to the AA approach!
And much, much more!

Remember above all things... seek balance in life. Learn to be happy in your own skin and you will soon find that you do not need to alter your reality!

Have a prosperous day!
Cheryl
http://drinkact.tv/cherylmathynssens

Self Respect Can Be Learned!

According to Merriam-Webster, self respect is defined as: 1: a proper respect for oneself as a human being and 2: regard for one's own standing or position. But what does proper respect of one's self really mean? It is the looking in the mirror and seeing someone of value. It is believing that you are as good as anyone else. E.E. Cummings wrote, "We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit."

Self Respect is not ignoring the fact that you have faults as a person. It is accepting that you have them and loving yourself despite them. It is knowing that making a mistake or failing at something does not define who we are inside. Many people think that it can be measured by the acts that they do, but self respect is about whom you are and not what you do on the outside. It is not about how we measure up to the person next to us. Our society of competition pushes people to be at their best and if they have strong self respect then they can weather the times when they do not come in first. However, for many it is a killer of both self esteem and self respect because there can only be so many winners in a competitive environment.

So how do we increase self respect? First, listen to how you talk to yourself! Carla Gordon is quoted as saying "If someone in your life talked to you the way you talk to yourself, you would have left them long ago." This is so true. The kindest of people to others often is rarely kind to themselves. It is estimated that over 70% of what we say to ourselves is negative. If you put yourself down that much, you cannot help but have little respect for yourself. So, the first step, speak to yourself as you would want others to speak to you.

The next thing you can do is stick to your values. When we lie but have the value of honesty or when we hold resentments yet hold a value to be forgiving, we tear at the very fabric of our values. Every time you act in a manner that is support of what you believe, you increase your respect of self. We will focus on all the reasons we are 'bad' or 'not worthy' which adds to our negative self talk. But when we act in a manner that makes us smile or feel a sense of pride, we walk a little taller and with a little more pep.

One other thing that you can do is to treat others in the manner you wish to be treated. I know, the golden rule has been preached and preached. But face it, the reason that this saying has held throughout the years is that it is a basic truth. In regards to self-respect, when you treat others with respect, most will treat you back in the same way. This raises your value in your own eyes. Forgive others when they make mistakes and then forgive yourself when you make them. This simple thing is so powerful. It leads to the belief that you are exactly what you are meant to be, a constantly improving member of your community that has value and worth.

The last thing is to stand up for you. Hold to your boundaries and your beliefs, but do so with respect. Agree to disagree if you must for the sake of relationships but do not sacrifice your beliefs. Whenever you allow someone to compromise your boundaries and values, you not only lower yourself in their eyes, but yours as well. Believe that you deserve to have an opinion, happiness and success.

If you work to develop your self-respect, you will find that your relationships will improve. Those you work with and for will seem more amiable and you will notice what you do well more and more. It is a cyclic event. The more you realize that you do things right and well, the more you will see the things you do right and well. The more you see it in yourself, the more others will see it in you as well. And if one must chose to do business between two people; one who cannot look you in the eye and that their mannerisms show a lack of self respect and another who has a warm handshake, a bright and honest smile and a posture of pride; the one with self respect will always win. Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without consent." Never give it!


Join my team today!
DrinkACT

Self Confidence - A Key to Personal and Business Sucess

Self Confidence is a key part of success in business. It is the difference between having faith in yourself and feeling scared out of your wits. It is about having trust in what you know and your abilities to handle the unexpected events that life puts in your path. It is also a belief that you are the one in control of your life and your goals. It is that unexplainable and untouchable attribute that allows you get in touch with that inner self that allows you to express yourself fully.

The good news is that it is a trait that is strengthened so do not give up if you do not feel you have it at this time. In addition, self confidence varies depending on whether you are doing something for the first time or it is something you know well. It can vary due to environment as well. For example, some people are very confident in one on one presentation while others are confident in front of large groups of people. It won't increase overnight but you can work to build it up to the level of your aspiration.

The first step in building self confidence is giving you permission to not give up no matter what the outcome. The key is, to do your best in any given situation regardless of your knowledge or the end result. When this happens, then each small step of progress increases confidence.

The second key ingredient is to set achievable goals. If you are doing something for the first time, give yourself goals to learn each small step. Do not expect perfection in your first attempt. Progress and not perfection is the attitude that builds confidence. If you must be perfect in your own mind, then even the smallest error becomes disastrous to confidence.

The smallest things can improve confidence. Add a smile when you make a phone call and it will show in your voice, increasing a positive response. Straightening posture when meeting someone or giving a warm and confident handshake even if you are trembling inside returns a positive response. When another person responds in a positive manner, you comfort level increases.

The third ingredient to building up your confidence is based on your physical well being. When we eat right, sleep well and get exercise we then feel better. That sense of physical well being comes out in our work, our voices and even our presentations and productivity. These are all factors to building up a sense of worth. Making eye contact, a simple physical event, will actually convey confidence. So no matter how you feel inside, get those eyes up to those who you are speaking too!

The fourth ingredient is to watch your own self talk. Many individuals erode their own self confidence by the negative self talk and the downplaying of recognition or compliments. Monitor how you talk to yourself. If you find yourself discounting your work, your abilities or any other aspect of yourself, tell yourself "Stop." This word is so ingrained into our psyche that it will momentarily freeze thought. Then replace the thought with something that is positive and opposite of the interrupted thought.

The fifth ingredient to building confidence is to make an achievement list. Make yourself a list of everything you have accomplished no matter how small. We do not give ourselves enough credit for all the things we do right. We could in any given day, do ten things right and still focus on the one thing we have done wrong. Do not let yourself get caught in this trap. It is a self-confidence killer. When you find yourself fixating on an error, review you accomplishments. Then fix the error and move one. Life is too short to spend it beating yourself up for the thing you didn't do right. Pick yourself up... and get going!

Lastly, if you find a subject you need to know but have no confidence in then take a class, read a book or just find a forum and listen to those chatting about it. Knowledge is power! There is no doubt that just knowing what others are speaking of will increase your confidence and social presence. When you don't feel left out, you again, increase your confidence levels. In addition, when you pursue knowledge on a subject to which you have a need or a passion, you gain the experience of uniqueness which will also increase worth.

Making the decision to work on building self confidence could actually affect the success you find and achieve in life. It is an important decision. It is important to be you. Whenever we are put in positions to pretend to be what we are not, we risk our confidence levels. While there is some truth to the 'fake it till you make it' mentality, Life is a much happier journey when you can be who you are and when you can be proud of the skills you have. It is about recognizing your strengths and being able to truly understand that we all have areas of weakness.

If you are an employer or a team leader, remember to recognize the smallest gains from those you supervise. A first sale, a new technique, a first presentation, these critical moments can make or break those you work with. Recognize the strengths of an individual before you point out areas they may want to focus on next. When your team feels confidence, then everyone wins. That is the cool thing about self-confidence. The more it is felt the more there is... it just keeps growing till you have a powerful team that is unstoppable. As a leader, you have nothing to lose in these little recognizable moments and everything to gain. Success and Self-Confidence are intricately twisted about one another, never lose sight of it.

Entrepreneur? - What the Heck is That?

Entrepreneur - a word that is hard to spell and its meaning is tied to business. But what does it really mean? Before becoming one, you need to know what it is. Perhaps you are already one? Are you an entrepreneur?

According to most dictionaries, an entrepreneur is a businessperson who willingly takes a new idea, concept or enterprise. He or She will take on the full responsibility for the outcome. They provide more then capital. Just providing capital would make them an investor, not an entrepreneur. An investor usually will let someone else handle all the day to day business activities.

Any person who invests in a business enterprise and then also runs it can be called an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is someone who develops a fresh and new product, a new way of manufacturing, or an innovative market. A large number of new ideas, products and ways of creating are developed by entrepreneurs. Often, they are then picked up by bigger companies and mass produced. Smaller companies can devote their ideas to a narrow niche and not have to spend the expense of mass production and advertising. This means more of their resources are spent on being innovative.

Some people just naturally have the spirit of an entrepreneur. You can see it early in life. The way the child problem solves. Usually they are more thinkers and often scheme their brothers, sisters and other relatives into getting them what they want. They set high goals that often seem impossible to those around them as they age but yet they often manage to reach or at least come near to reaching them. However, a person not born with this natural spirit can develop it.

The first key is to set a goal and let nothing stand in your way. A true entrepreneur does not worry if something does not work the first time. They just try another route till they find the way through the maze or difficulty. This means the number one quality that must be developed is to be a bit of a risk taker. Leadership skills can be learned. If one is not creative, linking up to creative people can also be achieved. But the biggest key is to have a goal that is solid in a person's mind that the drive and passion fuels the disappointments and roadblocks.

Though entrepreneurs are known to be risk-takers, they still have to make sure that they are entering a good business. There are thousand of opportunities available in our electronic culture and even in areas of health and wellness. Take the time to study markets. Find one that you believe in.

Becoming an entrepreneur is an exciting and challenging task. Learn what you need to know before moving forward and then do not hesitate to introduce something new to the market. Customers often like to be the first to have the latest idea, concept or product. What are you ideas? Is the area your considering starting in, have a need for your idea? What is your competition? When you have the answers and you are prepared. Step to the edge of the platform and leap! After all, faith in yourself and what you create are more powerful then any static!

Cheryl Matthynssens
cheryl@thebalanceguide.com
Balanced Freedom

Weightloss Energized - Fitness Happens - Are you in the Game?

Written By Drinkact and brought to you by .. ME!

DrinkACT - GAMEON




Whether you are looking for cutting edge products to achieve your personal weight and wellness goals, or if you are looking to build a successful business that suits your lifestyle, the A.C.T.™ Game On™ Weight Management System is for you!

The Problem:
With obesity increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, weight management is at the forefront of the current health care crisis. Excess weight affects people of all ages. 120 Million Americans over the age of 20 are overweight and a staggering 59 Million Americans over the age of 20 are obese! One in five children between the ages of 6 and 11 is overweight.

The medical community reports that excess weight directly affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Increased risk factors for conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Diabetes and Arthritis are directly related to excess weight. Yet, the problem just gets bigger and bigger!

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical activity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity.” This is the REAL healthcare crisis.

Identify the Problem
An easy way to gauge your health is to compare your current height and weight to the BMI chart. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat.



When Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 30%, the relative risk of death related to obesity increases by 50%. ( American Obesity Association)

The Solution:
Let’s face it, your weight is not going to change unless you do something different. The solution starts with a solid commitment to losing weight with the goal to maintain a healthy weight. This commitment is often the hardest part but once you’ve made this important decision to take charge of your life and your health, you are well on your way to improved health and a better quality of life.

We suggest to keep a food diary to help make you aware of what you are eating. Being informed empowers you to make intelligent choices. You don’t have to give up great food to achieve your weight loss and health goals - many great foods are good for you! Avoid heavily processed foods such as potato chips, sugary snacks, fried foods, and soft drinks. Many energy drinks or soft drinks are loaded with refined sugar and caffeine, these simple carbohydrates are terrible for you. Make the decision to eliminate these types of foods from your daily life. Make each food choice a healthy one! Eat fresh, non-processed foods and, replace those daily burger meals and fries with a terrific chicken or Caesar salad. Replace sugar and calorie-laden drinks with healthy drinks. You’ll feel better and you won’t suffer from the dreaded “sugar crash”, which only perpetuates the downward spiral of your health.

Now put one foot in front of the other and get moving, moderate exercise is invigorating and healthful too! 10 to 15 minutes of moderate exercise each day is a great start. Take a walk, ride a bike, make time for yourself and take a pilates or yoga class – it’s good for YOU! Moderate exercise is good for your body and your mind!

Maintaining your healthy weight is like balancing your check book or bank account. You can eat a specific number of calories per day to maintain your weight, exceed this number of calories and you could see your weight increase. To lose weight, consume less calories than this base line number or increase your activity level. Making better food choices and increasing your activity levels are great additions to your new healthy lifestyle.

This Revolutionary System includes:Power Up™ AM Thermogenic Action
This proprietary formula was specifically developed to boost energy and metabolism. Simply take two capsules in the morning and mid morning with at least 8 ounces of purified water to get your morning started and to Power Up your energy and thermogenesis to promote optimal metabolism.

Body Trim™ On-the-Go Weight Management
This natural, great-tasting pink lemonade drink supports and promotes a healthy weight and blood sugar levels with only 20 calories per drink. Body Trim™ comes in convenient “On-the-Go” Slim Pouches. Simply add this amazing drink in place of a mid-morning snack. Great to drink during your workouts too. Body Trim™ is a terrific source of natural soluble fiber as well, helping to satisfy your appetite without adding a lot of calories.

FORMŪLEEN™ Stealth Food Fiber™
A unique and proprietary formula developed exclusively for A.C.T.™ Studies show that most adults are not getting enough soluble fiber in their daily diets. Soluble fiber helps maintain healthy weight, balanced blood sugar levels and healthy digestion. This exciting product has been deemed a “Stealth Food Fiber™” because when added to most foods, FORMŪLEEN™ takes on the taste and texture of those foods. This amazing product has virtually no taste, but can actually accentuate the flavor of your favorite foods. Add FORMŪLEEN™ to hot cereals, soups, salads, meat or pasta dishes, throughout your day. Taken as directed, FORMŪLEEN™ adds an additional 7 grams of high tech Stealth Food Fiber™ to your daily diet.

Shake Down™ Meal Replacement Shake
Finally, a meal replacement protein shake that tastes great! Offered in Chocolate or Vanilla, Shake Down™ was developed to shake down the weight, by reducing the amount of calories you consume. Simply replace one meal, such as lunch or dinner, with a delicious Shake Down™ Meal Replacement Shake and a low calorie drink such as Body Trim™. It’s a simple way to assist in portion control. Shake Down™ contains 35% of the RDI of most essential vitamins and major minerals, while also providing 15 grams of the healthy protein your body needs.

Power Down™ PM Cleansing Formula
A proprietary blend of gentle cleansing herbs that is an integral part of the Game On™ Weight Management System. Many health professionals believe optimal health begins with the digestive system. Power Down™ helps cleanse and purify the body by supporting detoxification of the digestive system. Simply take 1 to 2 capsules before bed with at least 8 ounces of purified water. Power Down™ helps your body cleanse and renew itself as you wind down from your busy day.

Join the game at: http://drinkact.tv/cherylmatthynssens

Kids Group for Dogs and Kids gets Energized!

(Free-Press-Release.com) October 4, 2009 -- This week, Kids & K9S club leader, Linda Shelton worked with a leader from the DrinkACT energy drink company to create a fundraiser for the kids she works with. Everyone is very excited because instead of having the children out door to door trying to sell fundraising items or being limited to their geograpic location, they have created a website to refer customers to.

DrinkACT has provided a website at: http:drinkactweb.com/kidsncanines
The children's club will get all the retail profits AND if individuals sign up to get DrinkACT wholesale or want a business through their site, the club gets those residual checks as well.

When asked why she chose an energy drink company. Linda replied, " I found out that 90 million energy drinks are served every day. Most of these are loaded with sugar and sodium. I was looking for three things. 1) Someone who would work with us. 2) A product people could use that was better for them and most important 3) Something the kids could raise funds with in a safe manner."

Further investigation found that this A.C.T. has only 4 grams of fruit sugars per serving with a low glycemic index. DrinkACT's A.C.T. energy is reported by them as "all natural ingredients that all work together on the cellular level. The resulting formulation creates a large, healthy, mental and physical boost that starts working in minutes and lasts for hours!"

Linda stated that even though they will focus on the energy drink, people wishing to support the kids will find there are many products for nutrition, energy and weightloss. They even have Suzanne Somers - Suzanne Essentials: Sip of Sunshine. A drink designed to deliver Vitamin D to the body.

Linda shared that the funds earned will first go to make sure every dog has proper care and supplies while the kids are working them. Then, they will use funds to pay for their entries and support during the Grays Harbor County Fair and then lastly to send each club participant to Camp. If there are funds left over, they will be donated to the local 4-H club to offer camp scholarships to other deserving children that can't afford to attend the yearly summer camp that 4-H holds in their local county.

Linda was asked what support she would need. She smiled and just stated, "Stop by the website instead of 7-11 and pick up your energy drinks from us. Better for you and if you sign up (free to sign up) to get them wholesale, cost the same as your favorite brands."

DrinkACT is truly on the cutting edge of fundraising. For more information on how to set up your own fundraising account, Linda stated she would be happy to help. She can be reached at balanceguide@gmail.com or call her consultant she is working with at 1-360-820-3392. Linda stated that they will set up your fundraising account for free. You just need your EIN number.

http://drinkactweb.com/kidsncanines

Do I really need to lose weight?

It is a very small group of people that are actually happy with their weight in this world. If you are one of them, then you should stand with pride for your optimistic outlook on your life and your body image. Even if you do have such an outlook, healthy weight loss may still be needed. Even if a person is happy with their body, they may not have reached their healthy weight.

If you are overweight, even by a small proportion, you are at a risk for a number of diseases. The primary concern is, of course, the strain on the heart and then heart disease itself. This can lead to a heart attack. Extra weight and then heart disease causes the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. This can cause the heart to become fatigued. The primary cause of a fatigued heart is weight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

In addition, heart disease and high cholesterol levels can put you at risk for a stroke. Strokes occur when blood, and therefore, oxygen cannot reach the brain. This is usually caused by a clot when the cholesterol causes a build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels. A piece of this faty tissue, plaque breaks off and that is what causes the clot.

For women who wish to become pregnant, being overweight can interfere with this as well. Obesity changes the hormones in your body and if you don't get the right nutrients in the body, the body does not produce the right chemicals for the hormones needed to ovulate or carry a child. Even if you become pregnant, being overweight can increase the possibilites of complications such as miscarriage or even a type of diabetes that only shows up during pregnancies.

With obesity increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, weight management is at the forefront of the current health care crisis. Excess weight affects people of all ages. 120 Million Americans over the age of 20 are overweight and a staggering 59 Million Americans over the age of 20 are obese! One in five children between the ages of 6 and 11 is overweight.

The medical community reports that excess weight directly affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Increased risk factors for conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Diabetes and Arthritis are directly related to excess weight. Yet, the problem just gets bigger and bigger!

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical activity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity.” This is the REAL healthcare crisis.

An easy way to gauge your health is to compare your current height and weight to the BMI chart. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat.




When Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 30%, the relative risk of death related to obesity increases by 50%. ( American Obesity Association)

The Solution:
Let’s face it, your weight is not going to change unless you do something different. The solution starts with a solid commitment to losing weight with the goal to maintain a healthy weight. This commitment is often the hardest part but once you’ve made this important decision to take charge of your life and your health, you are well on your way to improved health and a better quality of life.

We suggest to keep a food diary to help make you aware of what you are eating. Being informed empowers you to make intelligent choices. You don’t have to give up great food to achieve your weight loss and health goals - many great foods are good for you! Avoid heavily processed foods such as potato chips, sugary snacks, fried foods, and soft drinks. Many energy drinks or soft drinks are loaded with refined sugar and caffeine, these simple carbohydrates are terrible for you. Make the decision to eliminate these types of foods from your daily life. Make each food choice a healthy one! Eat fresh, non-processed foods and, replace those daily burger meals and fries with a terrific chicken or Caesar salad. Replace sugar and calorie-laden drinks with healthy drinks. You’ll feel better and you won’t suffer from the dreaded “sugar crash”, which only perpetuates the downward spiral of your health.

Now put one foot in front of the other and get moving, moderate exercise is invigorating and healthful too! 10 to 15 minutes of moderate exercise each day is a great start. Take a walk, ride a bike, make time for yourself and take a pilates or yoga class – it’s good for YOU! Moderate exercise is good for your body and your mind!

Maintaining your healthy weight is like balancing your check book or bank account. You can eat a specific number of calories per day to maintain your weight, exceed this number of calories and you could see your weight increase. To lose weight, consume less calories than this base line number or increase your activity level. Making better food choices and increasing your activity levels are great additions to your new healthy lifestyle.