Are you struggling with your weight? Do you find yourself hungry shortly after having eaten? Try adding a serving of lean protein to every single meal. Protein is found in every single tissue and organ in our bodies, and is essential for every function the body performs. Protein is a macronutrient that is composed of basic building blocks called amino acids. There are complete proteins - meaning all the essential amino acids are provided in one source. And there are incomplete proteins - meaning a source of protein that is lacking some essential amino acid, and should be combined with a complimentary protein to make up the any deficiency. Some high quality, complete and lean protein sources include: skinless chicken and turkey breast, egg whites, fish, low fat cottage cheese, whey protein powders, and skim milk. For optimum health, weight loss and muscle development include a small portion of lean protein at each meal. You'll find yourself satisfied for longer periods of time which will help to stave off those unwelcome cravings during your day that can undermine your healthy efforts.

Want to burn more fat with that exercise your doing? Try exercising on an empty stomach. Research has shown that working out on an empty stomach burns away more fat than exercise after grabbing a bite to eat first. Many people eat something small before working out in order to give them a boost in energy, which can actually work. However, as your body metabolizes the foods that you consume before a workout, insulin levels tend to spike which causes the body to be less efficient at oxidizing fatty acids. When insulin levels are low and the body needs to rely on adrenaline for energy, the body is primed for burning fat. In elite athletes however, it is not uncommon to see them eat an entire pizza, or highly sugary treat. When your body needs quick energy and has low body fat stores (as tends to be the case with elite athletes), carbohydrates provide quick energy to the muscles for fast and hard action. So, unless and until your an elite athlete like Michael Phelps or Lance Armstrong, try hitting the gym or the trail on an empty stomach. Better yet, try going to bed a little earlier and waking up earlier to exercise in the morning. Exercising after a full nights rest can give you a jump start on the day as well as increase the efficiency of your workouts and it will also help elevate your mood and energy for the rest of the day. However, if you feel you need the extra energy boost just before your workout, try having a small protein shake with some glutamine powder. Also, always be sure to give your body plenty of water throughout the day the help flush the toxins out of your tissues. Enjoy!

Brace yourself, here comes a difficult reality. Ready? Are you sure? Ok, here goes. You, my friend, are going to die. Hopefully not today, tomorrow or anytime soon, but to really be honest with you, you are going to die. I'm going to die. Everyone you have ever known, will ever know, or know now, will die. The body, every body, is going to irreparably stop functioning at some point in time. No one has escaped it, ever. Of course some people want to point to the story of Jesus, but he died too. His body is no longer here either. So, what is there to do about this situation? Well, I suggest you break from the social norm and actually let it sink in. Really give it some consideration. It is your destiny that there is a moment in time when you as you know yourself now, will no longer be...ever again. And not only is it your destiny, it is everyone's destiny. We are all in this boat together. We are bonded by the reality of our finiteness. And yet, we all face it utterly alone. And that is the beauty of the design. No matter what, death is a moment of utter and complete aloneness. No one can walk you through it. We all face it, yet we all face it alone. The implications of our own death can range from utterly horrifying to a marvel of creation, a subject of infinite wonder and mystery. Many people may not have read even this far in this article while another may be eager to explore the subject at any opportunity. So, what does this have to do with meditation and mental health? Everything. If you really take a moment to accept the reality, what do you experience? What feelings wash over you? What thoughts do you have? What urges do you have for or against the subject? All of these things can be powerful indicators to yourself of your level of security in your own being. But the trick is to be honest. Most people I come across say something like "I'm not afraid of dying, just of pain." To which I can't help but think, if you were really facing the possibility of your own death right this moment, I'd bet good money you would feel a deep and unrelenting fear about it. Of course death is scary. There is no recourse that we can witness before it. There is no guarantee, there is no do-over. It is final. And that is why it's important to consider now. Don't avoid it. The irony is that the fear you feel for your own death is a door of sorts. It's a passage. A corridor that you can follow, if you choose to, that leads to a profound silence within yourself. A letting go of the petty things we cling to and an appreciation of the little things we ignore. Diving into the reality and acceptance of our own death is a profound way of resurrecting our aliveness. Don't let fear, the gatekeeper of our innermost selves, keep you from real acceptance of our own impermanence. That acceptance leads to profound peace and joy, and you deserve it!