The Danger of the Clean Plate

There’s nothing wrong with cleaning your plate. Unless, of course, you let the dog do it (which was the only time I heard my Granny curse. Lesson learned.)

The problem today is not that we clean our plates. The problem is that our plates are too big and/or too full. Supersize meals are giving us supersize bodies.

I read something interesting the other day about how the brain and body work together when you eat. And how we can overwrite our body’s internal programming and make ourselves sick.

Not just sick like "I ate too much". But sick like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer.

My business partner, Dr. Elise, suggested I read The Omnivore’s Delimma, by Michael Pollan. It’s a great book, and I recommend it to you, too. Here's the omnivore’s delimma: since we can eat virtually anything we want to, and have access to ever-increasing food choices, how do you decide what to eat? And why?

Pollan explores the politics, economics and biology of eating, and how they shape our food choices. Good stuff.

The one thing that caught my eye, was how the brain-body connection influences our eating.

Researchers found that people presented with large portions will eat up to 30 % more than they would otherwise. Basically, the more we have on our plate (or in our box or our cup holder), the more we eat.

30%. Yikes. Would you like fries with that?

Part of it is hard-wired into our biology. We feast when there’s more food available, to store up some fat for the next famine.

But to quote Mr. Pollan, “…it’s a disaster in an environment of fast-food abundance, when the opportunity to feast presents itself 24/7. Our bodies are storing reserves of fat against a famine that never comes.”

So, how can we learn (or un-learn) to get past this survival instinct? Can we retrain and respect our body’s appetite, and help maintain our ideal weight?

Here are a few ideas:

First, don’t cook so much. Save the feasting for weekends or special occasions.

Second, don’t take so much. Only fill your serving spoon or your plate about 80% of what you normally do. Or use smaller plates.

When you eat out, only eat half your meal, and take the other half home for another time (restaurant portions are way too big anyway). Or share.

The idea is not to deprive yourself of food, or to eat less food than your should. Just not to overfill yourself. You should always have room for a ‘wafer-thin mint’.

If you take a little less food and eat it slowly, you’ll feel the fullness sooner, and you’ll be more likely to stop eating before you get cram-packed full and miserable. You can clean your plate with a clean conscience (and stay out of trouble with Granny).


Dr. Vince

How to Stay Out of the Dog House

In my last post, I mentioned the recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute showing that nearly 80% of auto accidents are caused by people not paying attention.

And that got me thinking about how distraction, divided attention and lack of focus can cause other kinds of mishaps. About how many opportunities we've missed or squandered because we weren't paying attention.

Personally and professionally.

Not listening when we should have. Talking when we shouldn't have. Missing subtle (or not so subtle) clues, cues, tone and body language that would have helped us Seal the Deal (or stay out of the dog house).

Here are a few tips to improve your attention span, your mental clarity and your focus, so you can take advantage of those opportunities and start firing on all cylinders:

1. We're half-way through the new year now. The long weekend would be a great time to review your goals, forgive yourself for the blown opportunities and start paying more attention to your life, your relationships and your success.

2. Relax: reducing your stress levels can help you relax, focus and concentrate. Just like relaxed muscles are more responsive, a relaxed mind is more responsive, creative and productive.

3. Feed your brain right: The DHA in Fish Oil is essential for brain function; your brain prefers DHA and needs a steady stream to work right. CoQ10 keeps beta amyloid peptides from building up in the brain (thus preventing Alzheimer's). And besides protecting against cancer, multi-vitamin/minerals have also been shown to improve your mental clarity.

Whether you're a student, a teacher, boss, employee, parent, performer (or just trying to make a phone call while you're driving), your success in life--even your very life itself--depends on your ability to stay alert and focused.

You can reduce the effects of stress and get the sense of calm and peak performance you deserve with the Q-LinkPendant Personal Energy System

You can start feeding your brain right with the Core Four

It's your life. Live it like you mean it.

Dr. Vince

PS The most common distraction in the Virginia Tech study came from cell phones (dialing, talking and/or listening). The Q-Link helps you pay better attention, but it also protects you from the harmful radiation produced by cellphones. So if you're using a cell phone (on-road or off) your brain would appreciate it if you protected it with a Q-Link. Drive on over and check it out at www.drvinceonline.com

Look Ma, One Hand

I saw a funny sign on the tip jar at "Perk Avenue" our local coffee shop the other day:

"No one uses their turn signals any more. They need thathand to talk on the cell phone."

It's not really that funny, though. Grace and I saw a lady drive for fifty yards with her right wheel in our lane. Then she drove another fifty with her left wheel in the median.

When I passed her I could see her face clearly, even though it was pitch black outside. Her face was being illuminated by her cell phone, as she tried to dial and steer with her forearms. And guys are just as guilty. Lately, any time I see someone weaving or driving too slow, they're on the phone.

A recent study showed that 80% of auto accidents are caused by people not paying attention. And 80% of the distraction came from cell phones.

Now, I don't know if "Miss Median" would be able to stay in her lane better with a Q-Link Personal Energy Pendant, but it would sure relax her mind and help her make better decisions about dialing and driving.

If you want increased mental clarity, improved focus and killer concentration, on the road, on the job or even on vacation, you should get a Q-Link of your very own.

Be careful out there.

Dr. Vince

P.S. The Q-Link also protects you from the harmful radiation produced by cell phones. So if you're using a cell phone (on-road or off) your brain would appreciate it if you protected it with a Q-Link.

"Miss Median"'s brain could definitely use the help.

What's your Favorite Cookie?

Ahoy! (that's Slovakian for "Hello")

My brother Adam and his lovely wife Jana came from Cincinnati to spend a few days with us over the 4th of July holiday. While I was making some m&m cookies (red, white and blue), Jana mentioned how eating all those cookies in Denver a few years ago made it hard to get her pants buttoned . "It made me very round."

As it turns out, she had come to the US from Slovakia to work for a summer, as part of her college exchange program. She worked at a cookie store in Estes Park, high the Colorado Rockies. It felt like home, since Slovakia has lots of mountains, too.

Adam was working in Denver at the time, and had gone to Estes Park one Saturday with some friends. Just before they went home, they decided to stop and get a cookie. Adam was a little tired from the day, a little distracted, and just wanted to get back. So he bought his cookie and left.

As they stood outside the store, munching away, one of his friends said, "Dude," (they were snowboarders after all) "why didn't you talk to her?"

"Who?" Adam said.

"That girl that sold you the cookie. I think she likes you."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah. You should definitely go back in there and talkto her."

Long story short, Adam and Jana were married in Slovakia a few years later, and will celebrate their second anniversary later this month. I learned a few lessons from this story:

1. The opportunity of a lifetime may be standing right in front of you, smiling, but you can miss it if you're not paying attention

2. It's good to have friends around to help you see things in your blind spots

3. Sometimes it's OK to get a cookie

I'm glad Adam's friends were there that day. And I'm proud of him for taking the risk and going back in to talk to a stranger.

Just imagine: Adam almost missed his future wife, who had traveled half-way around the world to meet him. Because he was distracted.

There's probably something right now in your life that needs more attention. Can you see what you're missing?

I sent Adam home with a tool to help him pay better attention. To be a better husband. A better employee. A more creative and successful businessman. It's sort of a secret weapon, but I'll share it with you, too. It can clear out the cobwebs and give you clarity and laser-beam focus.

There may be a great opportunity for your own personal growth flirting with you. Like they used to say in Georgia Championship Wrestling: Don't miss it. Be there!

I don't want you to miss it, so I'll be your friend: "Dude, that Q-Link pendant is awesome. It keeps your mind clear, helps you focus and gives you more energy. You should definitely go back in there and check it out"

Hey, that's what friends are for.

Dr. Vince

P.S. Don't wait. Before you get your cookie, hike on over to drvinceonline.com and find out why the Q-Link pendant is essential for an enthusiastic life.

How to Never Get Old

My baby brother Adam (turns 32 next Thursday) and his wife Jana came to visit for the 4th of July holiday. Jana is originally from Slovakia, but they live in Cincinnati. They're budding entrepreneurs, like to travel, and are into all things natural. And like good Europeans, they take their beverages ice-free.

We were sitting by the pool, soaking up some Vitamin D, talking about business and health, and Adam made a good point about supplements:

"It's not necessarily what you get, but what it gives you." He said, "Sure, some people may think the Core Four is expensive. But when you think about it, you know that your brain is getting fed with what it needs--every day. You know you're doing something good for yourself, and it's going to help you be your best. And that's worth it."

I had a very thoughtful, profound response: "Yep"

There wasn't much else to say. The nutrients in the Core Four have been shown to help not just the brain, but to prevent all kinds of "diseases", like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, even cancer.

But Adam's still young. He's not really thinking about diseases of aging (even though these are starting to show up sooner and sooner now--especially diabetes, but that's for another letter).

He's thinking about today (shouldn't we all be?)

That's why Adam and Jana both got their Core Four before they headed back to Cincinnati. Instead of just "preventing disease", they're "promoting health".

Today.

Because if you string enough healthy "todays" together, you stay healthy as you age. You keep re-generating instead of de-generating.

You may get old-er, but you never get old.

The flip side of that coin is that if you string enough mediocre, un-productive, junk-filled, sedentary, high-stress, cola-saturated, lackluster, un-healthy days together...

(well, you know the rest of that story. It's everywhere you look, and it's getting worse, not better.)

But you can change it. Today.

Like the developer of Chiropractic, BJ Palmer, said:

"You never know how far-reaching something you may think,say or do Today, may affect the lives of millions tomorrow."

Go ahead. Be like Adam and Jana. Check out the Core Four and start stringing some healthier days together.

If not for the millions, at least for yourself.

Living Enthused today,

Dr. Vince

P.S. For what the Core Four give you-less stress, stronger bones, stronger heart, healthy immune system, better performance (in the boardroom and the 'other' room)--it's abargain at twice the price. But I won't charge you double.

Float on over to www.drvinceonline.com And get started today.