When health guru David Kirsch, author of David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness: The No Excuses Program for Diet, Exercise and Lifelong Health, became a father, his life priorities shifted. He still wanted health and fitness to be a prime part of his life, but he needed to refine his approach to include his two young daughters and instill healthy habits in them at a young age.
Here’s what David writes about trying to be a parent and balance a healthy lifestyle.
“Although being a parent hasn’t changed how I feel about living a healthful, balanced life, I am a gentler, kinder, more inclusive fitness/wellness expert. I have learned to accept that I am far from perfect; that like life itself, wellness isn’t black or white. You might say the girls added color to my life. My priorities have changed, and I don’t always have ninety minutes for a workout like I did before they were born. I have been forced (through home and work responsibilities) to modify my workouts and loosen my—and my family’s— dietary restrictions. Although we don’t always eat perfectly healthy meals, I try to make the best choices from the foods available. “
His book also includes his tried-and-true 5-5-5 wellness program – five moves to lose five pounds in five days. Here’s more about how you can change your mindset and approach to see David’s astonishing results:
5-5-5
Lessons we learn as young children help form the foundation for the rest of our lives—our relationship with food, exercise, body awareness, body image, and self-confidence. The principles of healthy eating, snacking, and daily exercise are ageless and invaluable. With the suggestions in this book for easily achievable adjustments to your outlook on eating—which includes delicious, easy-to-follow (not to mention kid-friendly) recipes such as almond pancakes and my tasty and fun egg-and-spinach muffins—and family-friendly physical activities such as cycling or scooter rides, any family can become the Ultimate Fit Family.
As you’re starting to see, the 5-5-5 Program leads to so much more than weight loss; it is a lifestyle philosophy that will forever transform how you and your family view diet and exercise. This became abundantly clear when I shot the photographs for this book with my daughters Emilia and Francesca. When I asked them whether they wanted photos of us cooking and exercising together included in the book, they responded with a resounding, “Yes!” The first shoot took place on Super Bowl weekend, in my two favorite places: my apartment kitchen and my gym, the Madison Square Club. I watched with great pride (and truth be told, amazement) as both girls exceeded all expectations.
It is one thing to write about family wellness and quite another to see it unfold so organically before my eyes. Here were my beautiful five-and-a-halfyear-old daughters sharing my passion for healthy living—helping me prepare quick and tasty banana chocolate peanut butter smoothies, yogurt parfaits, and Oatmeal Banana Brulee. The next day we shot the exercise pictures. As you can see from the amazing photos, Emilia and Francesca enjoyed sharing their favorite exercises. After two days and twenty hours of shooting, they were still laughing and enjoying every moment. I was proud of them, and most importantly, they were proud of themselves. This is what my Ultimate Family Wellness Plan is all about.
Now that you know the Ultimate Family Wellness Plan is not a diet but rather a way of life, where do you start? Below is an overview of what you can expect from the 5-5-5 Program (work for five days, lose five pounds), found in chapter 5, and how you can turn that supercharged start into a fitter, healthier lifestyle. Before we get there, let’s get in the right mindset.
The Time is Now
When I was researching this chapter, I remembered a piece I wrote for The Huffington Post in July 2014, titled, “The Time is Now.” It seems a simple-enough phrase, but all too often, I hear people living in the past or future. So much of our lives is uncertain. We’re born with the power to manifest greatness, yet somewhere along the way, we get sidetracked. Why do some people succeed while for others, success futilely slips by? As a fitness and wellness expert for more than a quarter century, I have helped many men and women realize their wellness goals. That’s not to say I haven’t had my share of clients who, try as I might and sweat as they should, failed to realize or maintain their wellness goals. The difference between success and failure is often so slight, yet seemingly so unattainable. Before you embark on a fitness and wellness regime, you need a plan of action. You need the following four steps:
1. A set of realistic goals
2. A timeline
3. A fitness and nutrition program that suits your lifestyle
4. Motivation and behavior modification
The first three points are quite obvious, on the surface, and easy to identify. The final bullet, motivation and behavior modification, is often difficult to harness and overcome. Failure to recognize and implement all four steps will sabotage even the surest wellness plan. There’s a kind of symbiosis between motivation and behavior—when both are in sync, they make “beautiful music.” However, behavioral aspects of your personality are often mired in the past— self-doubt, self-loathing, and self-worth: “I can’t work out.” “It’s too difficult to eat healthy food.” “I’ll never look like ______.” Turn the negative into positive affirmations: “I will try my best to move my body every day.” “I will be mindful of what I eat and drink.” “I will strive to love my best self.”
Many people live their lives like robots, going through the motions at work and in their relationships. They feel little inner passion. It’s not that the passion isn’t there; they simply do not tap into it. If only they could unleash their passion, their lives would become more fulfilling.
People often fear passion. It is misunderstood and sometimes applied in the wrong way. But the clearer your path and the stronger your passion, the greater your chances of success. Inner passion clarifies life, makes it easier and meaningful. When you live with passion, everything falls into place, freeing energy for you to pursue your wellness goals of eating healthily and exercising. We all have to find our passion, strive for the best, and most importantly, live a fulfilled life that exudes goodness and spirituality. We are all born with amazing possibilities and potential.
I have suffered much adversity in my life. Once I realized the precious nature of time, I decided my life was too short to waste on negativity. True, every so often I have a bad day and feel down because of it. But rarely do I allow myself to stay down for long. It’s a waste of time, and I’m in better health because of it. I am also blessed with the two most amazing daughters—my little angels—and just a smile and hug from Emilia and Francesca is enough to lift me out of the darkest place.
Negative emotions—anger, jealousy, depression, frustration, worry, anxiety, you name it—drain your energy and put you at a higher risk for disease. Some things are worth feeling sad about, but many are not. Find a way to get your inner peace in order.
How do you change your emotions? You do it by slowing down, noticing them, and taking corrective action. The Chinese have a phrase, pu shih, which means you accept what comes in life, whether you perceive it as positive or negative. You create negative emotions when you fight this acceptance. Once you embrace this philosophy, as I have, you will see that anything is possible. When you meet a barrier—any barrier—examine it, break it down into steps, and deal with it one step at a time.
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Fitness and nutrition are vital to your family’s health. Your family is constantly on the move, juggling busy routines, and it’s not always easy for everyone to stay fit, eat well, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness provides your whole family with the information you need to improve nutrition, maintain physical fitness, and live healthier.
This program, created by wellness expert David Kirsch, is more than just a step-by-step plan. It’s a guide to help you, and your family, make simple changes to your daily routine that will provide valuable lessons toward an all-around healthy lifestyle.
Fully customizable for adults of any body type, David Kirsch offers his no-excuses 5-5-5® exercise and diet program (five moves, five days, five pounds), to help you improve your fitness level, shed unhealthy weight and at the same time, instill in your family a true passion for fitness and health. Losing the first five pounds in five days is just the jumpstart to feeling and incorporating a new nutritional and fitness philosophy into your day-to-day life. The 5-5-5 plan is so much more than a weight – loss plan; it is a lifestyle plan and philosophy that will forever transform how you and your family look at diet and exercise! By combining enjoyable activities such as family time in the gym, scooter rides, swimming, running and hop scotch, to name a few, your family will discover and embrace the joy and benefits of an active life that goes beyond just pumping at the gym. In David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness, you’ll also discover ways to keep your body fueled and burning fat. Reduce the time in your kitchen with nutritious and delicious recipes that your whole family can make.
Finally, make it last with David Kirsch;s approach to staying mindful, living well, and staying happy and healthy. If it’s time for you and your family to make a change, or you simply want tips to improve the overall health profile for you and your family, David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness is exactly what you need. With a foreword from author, singer, actress, and fellow parent to twins, Jennifer Lopez.
“David’s philosophy gives you creative, realistic and exciting ways to help you and your whole family be healthy together.” – Liv Tyler
“In my work speed and precision are the difference between success and failure. David Kirsch recognizes that the stakes regarding personal health and fitness are just as high, and like the top drivers on the track he brings focus and intensity to his work, while still making it an amazingly fun ride. His new book, David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness, is sure to help keep you and your family on track for a fun, healthy, and fit life.” – Jeff Gordon
“I have worked with and known David for over three years and consider him not only my fitness/wellness guru, but more importantly, my trusted friend. No matter your age or physique, David’s new book, David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness, can help you get results and look and feel your best without sacrificing time with your friends and family. It worked for me. It can work for you. I have had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with his daughters Emilia and Francesca – both in and out of the gym and have seen how David has so beautifully taught and exposed them to a healthy (and fun) lifestyle. On a lighter note, Francesca can still kick my butt when it comes to pushups. I have also been a guest at one of his sumptuous Thanksgiving family and friends dinner and can vouch for his fine culinary acumen. It was one of the healthiest, most delicious home cooked meals I have ever eaten! I can’t wait to try the new recipes and encourage you to experience David’s 5 – minute plank workout. It helps shape and tone my body in no time!” – Kate Upton
The post A Positive Mindset for Positive Fitness Results: David’s Way appeared first on Quarto Knows Blog.