January 2010
Monthly Archive
Uncategorized18 Jan 2010 05:10 pm
Are You commiting these 3 mistakes in your Christian life?
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“Are you committing these 3 Mistakes in your Christian life?”
- by Caleb Osborne
© Caleb Osborne - All Rights reserved
http://www.ChristThroughMe.com
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You’re probably sabotaging your successful Christian life right now if you’re making
one or more of these mistakes. Do you know what they are?
I’m going to share with you quickly three of the most common mistakes that Christians
make and how they can be corrected.
Mistake #1: “Being a Christian means I am a sinner that was saved by God’s mercy and I’m still a sinner…”
This is a commonly held misbelief by many Christians. They belief that they are still sinners. Christians are not still sinners who only received God’s mercy at salvation.
When you accepted God’s free gift of salvation because of his mercy, you also received
something by grace–his life!
So you are no longer a sinner, you are a totally new creation, God has placed his life
inside of you to make you who you are–a righteous and holy Saint!
Mistake #2: “I have to try to act like the Christian I am supposed to be-a good,
moral, holy person…”
Satan often uses this to trick Christians by giving them this thought, that would
appear to be a good thing–but it is actually a source of disaster!
You see, this goes along with mistake #1, when you try to act like something you’re
not you are bound for failure!
If you realize the fallacy of thinking that you are a sinner you won’t act like one.
And when you realize that you already are a righteous, holy, new creation because of
the finished work of Christ–you won’t have to act like one because you are one!
It’s impossible to successfully be something you are not. You have the victory to
succeed as a righteous Christian because you are, because you have Christ’s life that remade you!
Mistake #3: “I better be sure to ask forgiveness for my sins when I do sin because I want to make sure I’m forgiven of them, so God will still love me…”
Why would you ask for something that you already have? Why would you ask for forgiveness of sins you have already been forgiven of?
When Christ died on the Cross for the sins of the world, he died for ALL of them! Right? So when you accepted by faith his gift of salvation, the sacrifice that he made for your sins you received forgiveness for ALL of your sins! That is why Christ said,
“It is finished”.
A common misunderstanding is that he died only for those sins you have already
committed, not future ones. That sins you commit from here on out have to be
forgiven.
Ponder this for a moment, how many of your sins were in the future 2,000 yrs ago?
You are completely and totally forgiven of all of your sins-past, present, and future!
You received the life of Christ upon accepting salvation, that’s why you are a
reborn, righteous saint! Instead of asking for forgiveness, give God praise for the
awesome completed work at the cross!
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Caleb Osborne is a young Christian man that has just authored
his first book…
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“Who Else Wants to Experience The Abundant,
Care-free Life of Being a Better Christian
Day In and Day Out and Experiencing the Guiltless
Joy of Living Life Without Limits
or Having to Worry About Following a Bunch
of Uptight Rules?”
Click Here> http://www.ChristThroughMe.com
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About the Author
Caleb Osborne is a young Christian man that has just authored
his first book Christ Through Me available at http://www.ChristThroughMe.com
Humor Tips11 Jan 2010 05:38 am
IS GOD A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN? AND OTHER CULTURAL ANOMAL
The amazing thing about contemporary American culture is its predisposition to organize itself into neat little categories. This “pigeonhole syndrome,” referred to by some as PHS, (not to be confused with PMS), is responsible for much of the stress in our society today.
We even categorize this stress, enabling us to compare our stress with people we meet. Some fear they will one day meet someone with the same kind of stress as they have and will not know how to label him or her. Imagine the stress this would create. Or, visualize a situation where someone meets someone who has no stress at all.
PHS finds its way into every area of our culture, even the religious. Nobody in these days of labeling madness can just be a Christian. Are you Protestant or Catholic?
If you are Protestant what kind? Baptist? Methodist? Presbyterian? My question is simply, why can’t we just be Christians?
I was behind an elderly lady at the post office recently and could not help overhearing the conversation. The lady wanted stamps.
The Postmaster asked her, “What denomination of stamps would you like?”
The lady paused for a moment and then replied, “Presbyterian.”
I guess a Presbyterian doesn’t need as much water as, say, a Baptist.
Cataloging people into convenient groupings is not bad. In fact, it can be helpful in many ways. I attended a conference last year where 97 percent of the people were of the non-male persuasion and believe me when I say classification is important.
Following one session I followed the crowd; not paying too much attention to where we were going - and ended up in the ladies restroom. To say they labeled me is putting it mildly.
Women, regardless of what you may have heard to the contrary, are quite cruel to any man (meaning of course, Yours Truly) found in the ladies restroom.
During the last days of this election, politicians and pundits alike are making much of the undecided voter. I like to refer to these elusive people as the UDVs of our country.
Who are these people and where do they live? Moreover, how long did it take them to decide where they were going to live?
If UDVs exist at this point in the game, I would not want them voting for me. Personally, I do not believe in UDVs. In my mind, it is something the news media invented so they would have something to talk about, especially these 24-hour cable news programs.
Having something fresh and interesting to say 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a lot of airtime to fill. Not to mention that most (if not all) on-air personnel are full of hot air.
UDVs are only a figment of their tired and stressed imagination, searching for something new to say about something everyone already knows. In fact, I think UDVs, the WMDs and Elvis are all hiding out in Syria.
Putting labels on other people to see where people fit is not bad, except some people want to include God in this PHS equation and He does not fit.
Perhaps because we are in an election year, many people ask the question, “Is God a Democrat or a Republican?” I have never heard anyone ask if God was an Independent or member of the Green Party. Maybe they know something about these parties I don’t.
During an election year, politicians will use anything or anyone to help their cause. Most politicians need more help in their cause than even God could give them.
However, some think it important to try to draw God into their party platform. The further behind they are in the polls the more they invoke the Almighty on their behalf.
Knowing God as I do, and understanding as much of politics as I do, no politician in his right mind (and try to find one in his right or left mind) would even want God on their side. God deals in absolutes. A thing is absolutely right or it is absolutely wrong.
Politicians shy away from absolutes.
A politician deals with all things relative and self-serving. If it does not advance his or her cause, the politician has no interest in it.
Every political party has its “spin-room.” That’s a place where they take what was said and spin it around for self-serving purposes. It all depends, so they all say, on what your definition of is, is.
I remember the day my mother got her first spin dryer. Up to that time, she hung all the washing outside to dry in God’s good sunshine. Then came the spin dryer and it did not matter what the weather was like outside, my mother could always dry the wash.
It was great. If some of the clothes were not folded right away and were wrinkled, she just tossed them into the dryer and, presto, the wrinkles were gone.
The political “spin-zone” does the very same thing. If a political candidate says something, immediately it goes into the spin to get rid of those wrinkles.
God, however, does not work that way. In the Old Testament we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV.)
It is never a question of whether God is on my side, but whether I am on His side. The only way to get on “God’s side” is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
About the Author
Rev. James L. Snyder is an award winning author and popular columnist living in Ocala, FL with his wife Martha.
Uncategorized10 Jan 2010 03:52 am
How much water to drink
There’s no easy answerto how much water you should drinkevery day.Just as you are unique, so are your water needs. How much water you need depends on many factors, including your health status, how active you are and where you live. Though no single formula fits all people, several guidelines are available to help you.
Health benefits of water
Water is crucial to your health. It makes up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water.Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry on normal functions. Even mild dehydration can sap your energy and make you tired. Dehydration poses a particular
health risk for the very young and the very old. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
Excessive thirst
Fatigue
Headache
Dry mouth
Little or no urination
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Every day you loose waterthrough sweating, exhaling, urinating and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you need to replace this water by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
At least three approaches estimate total fluid (water) needs for healthy, sedentary adults living in a temperate climate:
1. Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is 1.5 liters a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your fluid intake, so you if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups), along with your normal diet, you
can replace the lost fluids.
2. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the “8 x 8 rule” drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day,” as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though this approach isn’t supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water to drink.
3. Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consumeabout 13 cups of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. These guidelines are based on national food surveys that assessed people’s average fluid intakes.
You can choose any of these fluid intake approaches to gauge how much water to drink. Your current total fluid intake is probably OK if you drink enough water to quench your thirst, produce a colorless or slightly yellow normal amount of urine, and feel well.
Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify total fluid intake from these recommended amounts depending on several factors, including how active you are, the climate, your health status, and if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
1. Illnesses or health conditions. Some signs and symptoms of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose extra fluids. To replace lost fluids, drink more water or oral rehydration solutions (Gatorade, Powerade, CeraLyte, others). When water loss can’t be replaced orally, intravenous water and electrolytes may be necessary. Increased
water intake is nearly always advised in people with urinary tract stones. On the other hand, you may need to limit the amount of water you drink if you have certain conditions that impair excretion of water such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver, adrenal and thyroid diseases.
2. Environment. You need to drink additional water in hot or humid weather to help lower your body temperature and to replace what you lose through sweating.
3. Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you’ll need to drink extra water to compensate for that fluid loss. Drink 2 cups of water two hours before a long endurance event, for example, a marathon or half-marathon. One to 2 cups of water is also adequate for shorter bouts of exercise. During the activity, replenish fluids at regular intervals, and continue drinking water or other fluids after you’re finished.
Rita Hutner is a copywriter for Catalogs.com. Catalogs.com is the Internet’s leading source for print and online catalog shopping - and a growing hub of original content and “how to” information at www.catalogs.com
Being Fit06 Jan 2010 03:02 pm
Shoulder Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders
The main shoulder muscles that concern bodybuilders are the deltoids and although they work closely with the arms and chest muscles, it is possible to isolate the delts in a training session. Unlike other body parts though, the shoulder is not designed for heavy lifting in all directions so beginners need to take care and use lighter weights than usual for shoulder-isolating exercises.
The deltoid covers the shoulder and consists of three distinct segments:
1. The anterior or front deltoid allows you to raise your arm to the front.
2. The medial or middle deltoid allows you to raise your arm to the side.
3. The posterior or rear deltoid allows you to draw your arm backwards when it is perpendicular to the torso.
The front delt usually receives plenty of work with chest exercises such as the bench press and pushup, so you’ll need to use common sense and listen to your body when performing exercises that specifically target this muscle. The recommended shoulder exercises for beginners are as follows:
1. Seated dumbbell press - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise places the emphasis on the medial head.
2. Front lateral raise - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise emphasises the front delt.
3. Rear lateral flyes - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise targets the rear delt.
As with all exercises you need to take care in scheduling specific body parts. To begin with you should incorporate your shoulder exercises into a program similar to the one suggested below:
Day 1: Biceps, Back, Abs
Day 2: Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs
Day 3: Quads, Forearms, Calves
Day 4: Triceps, Chest, Abs
For the first couple of weeks complete one set but then add one set each week to a maximum of three. At the end of three months you will be ready to move on to more intensive intermediate level exercises.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
Social Network Software
My neighbor - a lovely man I’ve known, and have had social contact with for years - is the COO of one of the world’s largest companies. He’s read my books, is familiar with my concepts, and is a fan. But we’ve not talked shop due to our social connection.
One day he called me and told me he wanted me to speak with his new national VP of sales - that he wanted my ideas and methods to be used in his company. Wonderful. Especially since it all came from him.
The VP called me days later at my friend’s request, and we had a great phone contact: he said he was familiar with my concepts and was interested in a conversation, and he invited me to his office to spend some time. It was one of the only times in my life I flew to a client site for a face-to-face prospecting visit. In my mind, this was a very hot lead indeed.
When I got there, it became apparent he was setting me up to show the COO that he didn’t need me, didn’t need my material, and was fine, thank you very much. He was curt, rude, and, frankly between us, rather stupid in his remarks.
When I spoke with my friend, he grumbled and hung up. Next week, he called me back with the name of the VP of training. The man called me, had a lively, exciting conversation with me, sent me a check for the next public training so that he could attend himself, and I never heard from him again.
IT’S NOT ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW
I knew the right guy. It doesn’t get any better - COO of a Fortune 50 company, close friend. But in the end, it had nothing to do with what I was selling, or who I knew - it had to do with how the buyers were buying.
There is a whole burgeoning field of software that will help sellers find people who they know in a company. Then you can call that person, or have one of your friends call that person - all in hopes that this connection will give you a leg up. Let’s take a look at the presuppositions inherent in the concept of social networking:
1. that the person you know within a company has the clout to have some say within the company;
2. that the person you know is on a decision team (or knows someone on a decision team) that is ready to make a decision to bring in a new product or service;
3. that the person you know will know how to say what you need him/her to say to get you the exposure you seek;
4. that bringing you into the company - even if the person has the clout to get you into the company - will influence a decision;
5. that the company is ready to make a change;
6. that the person bringing you in can help the company understand they need to change;
7. that the company will know how to line up it’s decision criteria just because you know the right person, and you can show up with your great product and presentation material.
Let’s take a look again at what’s happening at this point in history. Sales people are not needed to offer information: buyers can get more information about a seller’s product than they have to offer, more about their product andthe competition, the good points and bad, the industry successes and failures, the price points - sellers are just not needed to push product any more.
Because this historic sales function has been superseded by a computer, sellers don’t know what their jobs are anymore. Sellers are attempting to add new functions to their role so they can offer some value: they are making themselves ‘trusted advisors’; becoming ‘true consultants’; demonstrating some sort of ‘value add’- either through product or service or technology.
IMPEDITMENTS TO SALES
But the problems with sales continue: the same problems that have existed within the sales function since its inception continue to be impediments to sales. There remains a void in the sales process in that space between how sellers sell and how buyers buy.
Since its inception, the dichotomy between the product/seller/sale and the buyer’s environment/buyer/buying process has been met with fallacious assumptions, including:
* if you get in the door and have a face-to-face meeting, the buyer will know how to buy.
* if you pitch/present/promote/advertise your product effectively, the buyer will know how to buy.
* if you give clients great prices, they will choose your product;
* if you give clients great service, they will know how to choose you;
* if you are the brand leader…
* if you have the best product…
* if the buyer needs your product…
* if you have the best software…
* if you know someone…
A few years ago - about 5, I’m guessing - we came to the realization that ’sales’ wasn’t working. What did we do? Point our resources to the new-new thing - technology. Since then, we’ve attempted to try to use technology to overcome all of the inherent problems sales creates. We’ve tried SFA, CRM, and now Social Network Software. And all they do is continue to operate on the same beliefs that sales has always worked from: people will buy if they like/understand/need/recognize the product, or like the sales person. And that’s patently untrue. We’ve just not known what else to do. And the gulf between the sales end and the buyer’s end keeps widening.
In the December 2003 issue of Inc. Magazine, Michael Fitzgeral says in ‘Internet Icebreakers’, an article on Social Network Software:
‘It’s not a slam dunk–the contact might not care that your brother’s partner’s wife just happens to be a member of his homeowners’ association.’
THE SOLUTION
For those of you who have been reading my newsletters for years, you are going to have to hear me rant about this just one more time.
-Buyers live in an idiosyncratic buying environment.
-The buyer’s network of decision factors includes an interesting network of people, rules, collaborations, initiatives, budget issues, and human fallacies.
-The buyer’s environment is a complete system that they are comfortable with.
-Systems face chaos when something new gets added.
-Buyer’s systems won’t add anything new until they understand how to manage any chaos to return to some form of stasis.
In other words, no matter how good your product is, how well you pitch/present/promote/propose it, or who you know, the buyer won’t make a purchasing decision until they line up all of their decision variables so they can manage the disruption a new purchase will create within their system.
If you are eager to use Social Network Software, at least use Buying Facilitation® as the front end: help this person navigate their internal variables so they can learn with you how to bring you in the most effective way.
Remember that Buying Facilitation® uses the buyer’s decisioning sequence to: lead them through a good look at where they are at (all of their company’s norms, rules, values, initiatives, and subjective criteria); notice if anything is missing; understand how to fix it with familiar resources; address all of the internal systems they need to manage prior to bringing in a solution that will possibly create chaos.
The above is the sequence buyers go through anyway, and that the time it takes them to do the above is the length of the sales cycle: they are going to do it with you, or without you. If you can use your new-found relationship to get you into a close range with the prospect, make sure you take the opportunity to lead them through this process and become a true Trusted Advisor.
Once you are ‘in’ and getting a chance to have your time in the sun, use Buying Facilitation® again to help them line up their decision factors. That will not only make you their true Trusted Advisor, it will also make the person you know look good. It will increase your sales over 200% (that’s right - there is not an extra zero there), reduce your sales cycle by 75%, and get you on the decision team.
Getting into the prospect’s space, knowing someone who can bring you in, or having a great product remain the outer edge - the selling edge - of sales. It’s time in our history to use the job of ’sales’ to help buyers make their best buying decisions. Social Network Software can play a part: it’s just the front end, however. There’s still plenty of work to be done to help buyers buy.
My tag line remains: do you want to sell? Or have someone buy?
Sharon Drew Morgen is the author of NYTimes Best Seller Selling with Integrity. She speaks, teaches and consults globally around her visionary sales method, Buying Facilitation.
http://www.newsalesparadigm.com http://www.sharondrewmorgen.com 512-457-0246 Morgen Facilitations, Inc. Austin, TX
Uncategorized05 Jan 2010 01:03 pm
4 Natural Home Remedies to Ease the Pain of Sunburn
At some time or another, we’ve all experienced the effects of sunburn - be it a light burn or a more heavy burn.
Although the sting of regret of inadequate protection (from UV exposure) can be an excellent incentive to plan more carefully on ‘future’ occasions, it’s of little help in soothing the immediate physical sting (i.e. pain) accompanying sunburn.
However if you ‘have’ found yourself having spent a little too much time in the sun, — here are 4 natural home remedies to help ease the pain of sunburn, and assist in the body’s healing process:
1. Cool Milk Compresses: - The fat and lactic acids in milk are known to have soothing qualities for sunburned skin. Soak a soft cloth or cotton gauze in cool whole milk, and dab carefully onto the burned skin. Do this for around 20 minutes, and follow by rinsing off with cool water. (Due to the importance of the milk’s fat content, it’s important that whole milk be used in this treatment).
2. Cool, sugarless tea: - The tannin in tea is the active ingredient here, which helps to soothe and relieve some of the discomfort of sunburned skin. After brewing a big pot of tea, and allowing it to cool completely, slosh the affected areas with a soft sponge or washcloth. As with the vinegar (4), you could also fill a spray bottle, and spray the tea directly on the skin. And don’t throw away the used (cool) teabags. These are especially good for sensitive areas around the eyes - simply place the teabags over your eyes if they feel hot and tired. (If you have ‘St. John’s Wort’, consider using this as it contains cooling properties, which can help tone down some of the heat in your skin, as well as soothing the nerve endings damaged by the sunburn).
3. Aloe Vera: - Aloe Vera is commonly used to treat sunburn. As well as providing soothing relief, it may also assist in the healing process. Apply to the affected areas as needed. Although the gel extracted directly from an aloe Vera plant works best, if you don’t have ready access to one, you may use an ‘over the counter’ Aloe Vera Cream that contains the gel. For this to be effective, just ensure that the cream contains a high concentration of Aloe Vera than it does water or other solutions.
4. Water: - When exposed to the sun, your body loses water and essential body salts. Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid, and begins to reabsorb fluid from the blood and other body tissues. To prevent the consequences of dehydration, increase your fluid intake to ensure you adequately re-hydrate your body for optimum recovery and health.
Sunburn should of course be avoided where possible — particularly as it’s adverse affects not only include damage to the skin, but also the increased risk of skin cancer. Prevention and protection should always be considered the best treatment for sunburn, and will assist in ensuring your optimum long-term health!
DISCLAIMER: These are home remedy tips only, and should not replace your regular health care provider. If in doubt at any time in relation to your sunburn, please seek the appropriate health care assistance.
Angela Perin is editor of the ‘Safe Tan Ezine’, which features practical articles and tips on Beauty, Fitness, Nutrition and more. SAFE TAN - The Ulimate Experience in Natural Sunless Tanning
Education Special05 Jan 2010 08:01 am
Native American Life After Prophetstown
My name is Luksi Humma, I am Choctaw or, Chahta, our name in reality. I am a builder of people and log cabins. Although, I live in our present time, I talk to many people who come to Historic Prophetstown, in Battle Ground, Indiana, about the way the Old Ones lived, and died.
Misconceptions, are a part of most Americans ideal in regards to Native American People. It is my job to inform the uninformed, about the Love, Respect, Honor, and Dignity the American Indians had for their Families, Lives and the Land.
How did the People live along the Wabash? They lived well, commerce continued to flow throughout the region as our People
moved forward into an age that would eventually swallow them up, swirling them into the Great Melting Pot of these United States. This motion inexorably changed the Ways of our People, both, in their thought processess, and in their Hearts.
The Europeans who lived with the Indian People would change significantly, daily movements, personal contacts, language, lifestyles and much more. Pressures of being humans, finding a much easier way to cook, kill, stay warm, communicate,
travel and live, ate away at the Traditions of ten thousand generations.
Robust in their spirits, Native People adapted rapidly, and found value in their trapping of Beaver, and other furbearing animals. Trading these hides, for durable goods, gave the Indian People an opportunity to live more comfortably, amidst the French, English, and some Americans, who became their trading partners in this region, for many years.
Log Cabins were abundant in the Village of Kethtipikanuck, about 120 log structures as some writers saw it. Shake roof shingles adorned the cabins, of those lucky folks who knew how to, and, had the man power to build these brutish structures. Forged from the wilderness, these people were powerful and relentless in their will to make life come forth, from a forboding entity, that the wilderness posed. This was, after all, the Northwest Territories. The end of the continent for most people who struck out on their own.
This wonderous village had many Wigwams, smoke filling the air on the flats at the mouth of that river. Trade items coming in, and leaving, in boats of every description, dugouts, birchbark, heavy river tugs. One should try to imagine this commerce, it is pleasing to see it in the mind.
Eleven years of good life came to an end, as the wood of their cabins and wigwams lost their battle with the crucible of fire, which the American Army brought with them, to eradicate their way of life forever.
This is but the beginning of their story, I will write more of this facinating historical drama, played out on the banks of the Wabash. Prophetstown, looming in the future awaits the telling of its story in another time, but now I am tired and must rest.
Luksi Humma messenger of the People.
I am a humble teacher of Indian People, travelling to bring the Ways of our Ancestors to those who can least afford it, and desire it the most. My hands and mind belong to the People who came before us, and it is they whom I serve.
Being Fit05 Jan 2010 02:52 am
15 Muscle Building Rules For Skinny Guys And Gals! (Part 1)
WHY CAN’T YOU GAIN WEIGHT?
Though there may be many reasons why you may be thin, the most apparent reason is because of your genetics. If your parents are naturally thin or have a small body frame, then you will most likely have the same small body type.
To some degree, your size can also be controlled by your metabolism. If you have a difficult time gaining weight of any kind (fat or muscle) then you most likely have a fast metabolism. That simply means that your body burns calories at a faster than normal rate. You must take this into account whenever you are considering a particular diet or training program. Is it geared towards someone with your metabolism and goal?
Now as you know, there are many ways to train. Hundreds, thousands even. Some work and some do not, but for the specific goal of gaining weight, there are a few UNIVERSAL things that all skinny guys must do.
Though much of the information I cover here is not as “magical” as you may like, I consider these rules to be the basics with regard to weight gain. These are not all of the answers, but they are definite elements that MUST be addressed in any successful weight gain program.
You should be able to easily integrate these rules into your current program to make it more suitable for your particular body and goals.
GENERAL RULES
1.Get the proper information that pertains to your SPECIFIC condition and goals.
The first big problem I find in most people is the lack of correct information. Yes you are motivated and doing things, but your effort is wasted on incorrect dieting and training information. Basically, skinny guys are taking advice from people who have never had a weight gain problem. Want to know how to gain weight? Then find someone who has walked your shoes. Someone who has been where you are.
2.Set a specific goal and create a plan of attack.
If you were to drive cross country to another city, would you just start driving randomly, or would you plan a route that would get you quickly and efficiently?
Think of your plan as a road map and your goal as your destination. Without a plan and a specific goal you will be without focus and can easily get lost or side tracked. This happens more often than you know. I see many people in the gym just doing whatever, or just eating whatever — no plan or specific goal. They wonder why they don’t make progress. They have no focus.
Having a specific program to follow allows you to take action each day. This action is focused on specifically getting you to your destination quickly. There is no thinking, debating or guessing. You just do it. A specific plan provides necessary daily structure that not only keeps you on the road moving forward, it also helps to develop good eating and training habits that will benefit you long after you have reached your destination.
3.Have confidence in yourself and belief in what you are doing.
Let’s face it; we live in a cruel world. Hate and jealously is everywhere. For most people who begin a fitness program to improve themselves, getting started will be half the battle. The other half will be staying motivated throughout the constant onslaught of negativity from others. A few negative words can do serious damage if you allow it.
The most insulting things you hear may be from friends, co-workers and acquaintances at the gym. People hate change. It makes them insecure, because they suddenly discover there’s more to you than they were probably willing to admit. They fear that you may actually achieve your goal. It makes them look less “superior”.
Once you have begun your plan, you must have faith and believe in what you are doing. Stay focused and avoid overly critical or negative people. If you have to, keep your business to yourself. When I first began my program, I stopped talking about what I was doing because I got tired of hearing things like “you can’t do that”, “that’s impossible”, “you’re wasting your time and money”. Funny thing is, now those people are constantly bugging me for advice.
It’s your life. It’s your body. It’s your dream. Don’t allow your success or failure to rest in the hands of others.
In Part 2 of this article, I will cover your workout rules and guidelines to MAKE SURE you gain muscle.
Former “skinny guy” Anthony Ellis is the creator of the most widely used weight gain program in the world. This unique program designed to help people gain weight and build muscle, is currently being used in over 90 countries. For more information on how to gain weight and build muscle, check out his website at www.fastmusclegain.com