Saturday, February 28, 2009

Reward Your Weaknesses (By Turning Them Into Strengths)

We all have weaknesses, encompassing myriad aspects of our lives, be it health and fitness challenges, personal development and growth issues, or career and relationship struggles. And then there are food weaknesses. For me, I have a soft spot for salty snacks, like potato chips. I have also been known to power down copious amounts of Doritos with the best of them. What’s your food weakness? Candy? Chocolate? Pizza? Cheese? Cake? Soda? Fast food?

The good news is: help is only a video away:



REWARD YOUR WEAKNESSES (BY TURNING THEM INTO STRENGTHS)

* by the way, if you enjoyed this video (or despised it), please visit livelife365.com and let me know your feelings by utilizing my new comment system; if would be mucho appreciated!

In the above vid, I focused on food weaknesses, like my naughty secret (not-so-secret anymore!) addiction to potato chips. But most of our weaknesses do not stop there. We are, after all, human beings, which makes us flawed individuals, which throughout a lifetime of living leads us to acquire a multitude of weaknesses. Anything from not exercising enough to watching too much daytime TV; from procrastination to condescension. Being too unorganized to being just plain lazy. These are all typical human weaknesses, and all share one commonality:

THEY CAN BE OVERCOME!

Let’s start with some common, and not-so-common, quotes:

“The mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
“Mind over matter.”
“If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
(one of mine)
“To err is human, to forgive divine.”
“Cut yourself some slack, man!”
(another one of mine)

By admitting and accepting that as human beings we are going to have our share of weaknesses, we can then begin to understand them, and then work on overcoming them.

Let’s return to that potato chip (and Doritos) jones I’ve been nursing since I tasted my first salty treat as a curious child growing up in New England.

FACT: Chips, while made for the most part from natural ingredients, are loaded with sodium and empty calories.
FACT: Mass consumption of chips will contribute to unhealthy weight gain, hypertension, and a laundry list of assorted maladies (possibly diabetes, heart disease, obesity).
FACT: I love chips and could eat them every day.

SOLUTION: Don’t run from your favorite weaknesses, embrace them! Use that weakness as a reward for sacrifice.

Here’s where those earlier quotes come into play. Use them to play mind games with yourself. By embracing your weakness as a good thing, you will eliminate some of the guilt associated with said weakness. By denying yourself your weakness (and, granted, this is by far the most difficult part) through self-sacrifice, focusing instead on exercise, moderation, concentration, and good, old-fashion determination during the five-day workweek, you can then reward yourself with said weakness, in moderation, on the weekend.

Make sense?

It’s all about risk versus reward. We know what the reward is: taste, comfort, fun, and favorite foods. And I’ve already listed the risks. The rest is up to you; your choice. While I have focused mainly on food weaknesses, this formula can be used for almost any other weakness; just follow the formula and give it a try.

If you want to live a better, happier, healthier, longer life, then you have to make sacrifices, need to deprive yourself of some things, and then reward yourself for your efforts.

I’d like to close with my favorite quote on this topic, and one I’m the most proud of:

“Exercise control, control your weaknesses, and your weaknesses will become your strengths.”

Think about it.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

32 comments:

Anna said...

My list of guilty food pleasures wouldn't fit in this little space! But I have been good lately, lost some weight though I did give in to temptation by eating some peanut butter M&Ms! :)

All things in moderation...

Anonymous said...

My weakness is Diet Pepsis. Not loaded with calories but they're just a beaker full of a chemical cocktail. *sigh* I'm working on kicking the habit but it's a physical addiction and it's really difficult!

Lighthouse Prayer Line said...

Hi Mike!

Nice post!

If you get the opportunity, please say a prayer for the prayer requests on our main page. We would be honored if you became a follower also.

God bless you,

Mark Seay
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org

Anonymous said...

I have the biggest sweet-tooth, and I get cravings for chocolate at any hour. And Dr. Pepper. I swear they put something addictive in there...

I've been trying to make that switch happen where I actually start some new, healthy habits.

Thanks for telling it like it is. I really enjoyed this post.

Anonymous said...

I have a weakness for all of the above. It's sometimes very hard to say no, but now it must be.

“Exercise control, control your weaknesses, and your weaknesses will become your strengths.”

Love, love, love this. It's so true. If you're able to control your weaknesses, you'll slowly build self-esteem, which will lead to so many good things.

You've definitely got the answer here, Mike...............:)

Coach Rollie said...

Nice post, although eating chips on the video was making me want chips. My weaknesses are ice cream and cookies. Moderation is definitely the key.

Faisal Admar said...

Oh Mike, I love potato chips a lot! Here in Malaysia we got a less salt one. Is it better than your potato chip? Hehe.

Unknown said...

anna: glad to hear about your weight loss, now about those m&ms...

casbah kitty: i used to have a big time addiction to diet cokes, but have since switched to green tea...I have a green tea video that may help you...Drink Green Tea Every Day

lighthouse: will do, god bless you too

wayne: thanks...they say chocolate, in moderation, is actually good for you...antioxidants...

lisa: the key is finding the best ways to get control and, as you so aptly stated, slowly build up that self-esteem

fat x: when I'm going good with my diet and fitness i can eat anything...in moderation...which is THE KEY...

faisal: i can find some here with less salt, more salt, cheese, vinegar, barbecue, you name it...


peace,
mike

Don't forget to comment on videos at livelife365.com

And be on the lookout for my new music video: "Social Networking Blues."

Anonymous said...

My sweet weakness comes in the form of oreo cookies and milk. I don't usually buy them but once in a while I feel a craving and I buy a bag which I share with my four kids then when it's all gone, it's gone. I learned that it is best to not keep something around that will only torture me and cause me to fail. Great info Mike, Thanks.

bookieboo said...

I'm a Dorrito gal too! Nacho dorritos was what I spoiled myself while I was pregnant last.

Anonymous said...

very good and nice information..

Thanks for sharing the information.

Anonymous said...

my weakness is eating in huge quantity, i cannot embrace it right? if i do that i will multiply my size three times easily. guess we got to pull a line somewhere.

Unknown said...

spin diva: great advice: if it's not in the house then ya can't eat it...

bookieboo: and here I am, cramming doritos into my face and i'm not even pregnant...

cptan: thanks for dropping by...

tom: embrace it in moderation...kind of an oxymoron...


peace,

mike

Bagman and Butler said...

I love how you can combine eating potato chips with great wisdom. Nothing is too trivial.

Anonymous said...

“Exercise control, control your weaknesses, and your weaknesses will become your strengths.” That sums it up! An excellent post!

Anonymous said...

Moderation. The key, and the issue, all wrapped up in one! hahaha

I love reading your stuff because it motivates me to do what I know I should be doing anyway. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

LOL, your funny pics made me smile today! ;)

My weakness right now (this very minute!) is sushi. I just thank God that it's so expensive that I can only go so far with it!

Other than that, it's the occasional craving for sugar. I have to stave that one off, though, because once I give in, that thing becomes a monster. One little treat is not enough. It can lead to a sugar binge that lasts about a week.
Trying to stay and be good here!
But, man, this sushi is GOOD! :D

Anonymous said...

I think you've got a really good take on this! It's an excellent way to enjoy ourselves and stay healthy too.

Some of the things I really like which aren't healthy are frozen perogies and chocolate (not together, of course ;)). But I am usually good at not eating those; its just that I eat large quantities of food. I embrace that by allowing myself to over-indulge in popcorn whenever I make it. (Air popped with no butter or salt- so even though I'm having too much, it's still "healthy" hehe).

Jackie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jackie said...

Sadly my downfall is also potato crisps actually potato anything. Must cut back though as being rather ancient my metabolism has slowed somewhat and everything lands on my hips LOL.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike,

I followed you here from Evelyn's blog. It's cool how you use your own pics in your post!

My weakness is cheesecake and other desserts. My compromise is to order anything I want but eat only half of it. So I get to practise indulgence and discipline at the same time!

Unknown said...

butler and bagman: eating the chips is easy, finding the wisdom the hard part

mark: thanks, it took all of my strengths to write

wayne: glad to be of service, and, i agree, moderation is the key to life

fitness diva: i'm please my goofy mug gave you a grin.

sagan: popcorn has some good healthy benefits...just stay away from the butter

jackie: i know your pain, age has been creeping up on me for years, while my hunger for chips never dies...

daphne: good plan, but only eat the low-fat part, right?


peace,

mike

L. Venkata Subramaniam said...

I guess one is as strong as ones mind. Nice one.

kRiZcPEc said...

I love dark chocolate, 70%, 85% and esp. 99%, and cheddar cheese and coffee cocktails, but I'm having these less frequent now. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Mike,
You know that everyone was drooling over that video.

I love how instead of saying you must, you talk about everyone having a weakness or vice.

So many people say you must not, must not, must not eat empty calories.

Your post was refreshing. Plus if you really cant have the vice then find a healthier alternative.

Paul Eilers said...

My food weakness is chocolate chip cookies!

The key for me is to not have them or anything else in the house. If I can't immediately get to it, then eventually the craving subsides.

However, the older I get, I have found that eating unhealthy makes me feel bad. A quick fix is no longer worth it.

On top of all that, exercise helps me want to eat well too. After I've been out running, I don't want something that will make me feel bad.

Paul

Eat Well. Live Well.
PurpleGreenPops.com

lunaticg said...

Hi!
Potato chips is one of my weakness to beside chocolate...
It is not easy to try fighting the temptation after looking at your picture.
Nyum2...

Unknown said...

l.venkata: so true...they say we only use a very small portion of our mind

kriz: maybe mix them all together in a coffee cocktail?

cathe: i seem to be eating a lot in my videos lately...maybe I'm hungry?

paul: the best deterrent is giving your mind the motivation not to allow your mouth to consume bad stuff...thanks for the comment, paul...

lunaticg: seems like chocolate is a major weakness for a lot of folks...and chips, like for you and me...


peace,

mike

Ish said...

My weakness is rice I can't get enough of it, Like you said I just think that It's my reward for Running every other day for me to lose weight.

Anonymous said...

Okay you rascal, I watched this on Facebook last night and laughed my face off. Every time you start eating I laugh. You do it with SUCH relish!!

Now, due to this video I committed a crime. LOL!!! I went and bought a bag of chips, something I've not eaten in years (they were a low salt, low fat, health food, organic brand). NONETHELESS, I sat on the couch and ate them with shameless JOY!! And I am NOT a potato chip eater. Never really was; can take 'em or leave 'em. But YOURS looked so good I somehow related to eating them. NOW, I don't know if it's a new habit or just a one of whim. I think it's a one of whim. :) :)

And they were sooooooo good. I too tend toward salt over sweet. Always have. Anyway, Mike, you are such a joy and serious riot. I now start laughing just if you have food in your mouth, even before you speak! :) :) :)

Peace my goofey friend,
Robin

Unknown said...

health assistant: good attitude--work hard, exercise, and treat yourself at the end of the week...but not too much

robin: at least you're eating the healthy chips, which i used to do too. i'm just going through a chip phase that i am hoping will soon pass...and turn into a doritos problem...oh, well...


peace,

mike

Social Networking Blues

kRiZcPEc said...

to put cheese in coffee cocktail...dunno if I like what the end product tastes, lol.