We Need a More Nuanced Way of Saying "Just Do It" (By Andy Kay)

People with low confidence and/or depression endure additional frustration when confronted with the attitude of just do it.

Popularized by an immense athletics corporation, it's hard not to see the mass-appeal of this ubiquitous saying. -- And of its more jaunty sibling: Nothing to it but to do it.

Ah, how quaintly it conveys confidence and a winning spirit.

Unfortunately, it's hardly translatable into utility.

Two reasons for that:

1) First of all, it only presents an attitude that, when paired with persistence, focus, and above all a crystal clear plan, will help you endure. But when you have neither, what good is a one-sentence peptalk in itself?

In other words: I should just do what, exactly?

And when? And how? For how many hours a day? What time of day? And until when? And succeeded by what?

2) Second, depression and low confidence is impossible to understand unless you've been through it yourself. And the people who are keen on giving well-meant advice often have no clue what kind of situation they're addressing... :

"Feel depressed? Well, you just gotta pull yourself together!"

"Can't lose weight? Well, you just gotta eat less and exercise more!"

"No luck with the ladies? Well, you just gotta be yourself!"

"Don't have any friends? Well, you just gotta have more confidence!"

*SIGH*

Look: Building one's confidence and/or breaking free of depression can be tough. Solving those issues can take months, or even years. And...

If you have neither confidence nor direction in life, being met with an attitude of just do it isn't only inappropriate; it can seem downright insulting.

If we want to carry something out, we gotta be specific about it. Only THEN does it make sense to talk about "just" doing something.

First, however, we gotta figure out what we're gonna do. And for many people, this in itself is a biggie.

(Hell, it took me +33 years!)

Specifically, the best way to get started on this is to start walking one path. Plain and simple.

Pick it out of interest. If you don't feel like you're going anywhere, pretty much anything will do.

This isn't a mandatory future career we're embarking on here. We merely walk a path because any momentum is essential for any progress, and because standing still will only cause us to deteriorate.

Also, if at any point we feel like changing directions, we can always do that. And we will have gathered valuable experience for our onward journey.

ACTION ITEM:

Write down at least three things you'd like to answer the next time someone gives you the happy-go-lucky attitude of just do it.

No need to be belligerent. Just think about what you'd most of all want people to understand, and use that as a benchmark.

Optionally, if what you need might be direction, write down three things you'd might want to pursue. List any pros and cons beneath each one. If you have no interests whatsoever, take comfort in the fact that you likely have worlds of undiscovered interests ahead.

http://ezinearticles.com/?We-Need-a-More-Nuanced-Way-of-Saying-Just-Do-It&id=9725349

Lost Interest In Sex? Can't Lose Weight? It Could Be This

Testosterone levels are something we don't think about a lot, but they could have a major effect on your health. As a nutrition and fitness coach, I always keep this in mind when reviewing a client's diet.

Here’s the bad news, guys: Studies have found that testosterone (T) levels decrease about 1 percent every year after age 30, and low T affects 20 to 40 percent of older men.

Women, you aren’t off the hook. Researchers found that lower T levels contribute to depression, osteoporosis, declining libido, and an increase in total body fat mass.

So it should be no surprise that one study found that restoring your T levels to a more normal range could have a wide range of benefits such as improving your sex drive (libido), sexual function, and mood, while also reducing fat body mass and increasing lean body mass. It could also improve your bone-mineral density.

Talk with your doctor if you struggle with low libido, weight-loss resistance, mood swings, and other symptoms that signal low T levels. While some people opt for testosterone replacement therapy if their blood work reveals low levels of testosterone, the good news is that a few simple strategies can help normalize T levels.

Hormones can have a domino effect. When one gets out of balance, others follow. I’m not opposed to hormonal replacement therapy, but you have the power to reset your T levels yourself with these five strategies:

1. Go low-sugar impact.

Sugar keeps your hormone insulin ramped up, storing belly fat, lowering muscle mass, and crashing T levels. Belly fat elevates estrogen levels in men, and low libido and erectile dysfunction often result. One study found that glucose (sugar) significantly reduced total and free testosterone levels in men.Dumping the sweet stuff (including sneaky sugars) could help hit your T-reset button.

2. Get optimal nutrient levels.

One study found that higher zinc levels mean normal T levels. Another found magnesium supplementation increases free and total testosterone values in sedentary men and athletes. Look for these and other nutrients in a professional-quality multivitamin.

3. Burst to raise T.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) gives you a killer workout in just minutes a day, but the most efficient, effective exercise on the planet can also help to normalize testosterone. One study found that for middle-age men, supplementing with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) combined with burst training could raise free testosterone levels.

4. Sleep well.

Ever noticed you’re not really feeling frisky when you’re tired and jittery, coasting on your third dark roast? Among its other detrimental effects, studies find sleep-loss reduces testosterone levels in men. Aim for seven to nine hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night.

5. Reduce stress.

Chronic stress levels can crash and burn T levels, sinking your libido in the bargain. Among other problems, one study associated increased job stress with decreased T levels in men. Whether you choose massage, yoga,meditation, or deep breathing, find something that helps you de-stress, and prioritize it.

If you’ve struggled with low libido or other low-T signals, did you opt for testosterone replacement therapy? What strategy would you add here to normalize testosterone levels? Share yours below.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-22089/lost-interest-in-sex-cant-lose-weight-it-could-be-this.html