Concepts And Principles Of Living Well

Song:  Hijo De La Luna

Artist:  Sarah Brightman

My mother and I walking along the Truckee River - 2015.

First of all...

who am I?

I am the retired 55 year old son of my mother.

Why is this important?

Actually...

it is not.

However, as many must judge the messenger

before they will open their minds up to the message...

here goes.

I am a former soldier 

(Light Infantryman / Battalion Scout 1977 - 1981)...

and a retired Correctional Officer.

I've engaged in combative, endurance, and strength training most of my life.

Although I have a B.S. degree from a California State University...

I simply operate from good ole' country common sense.

Most of my knowledge concerning the human condition

(mental, physical, emotional)...

comes from first hand experience throughout my life.

I know my body and mind...

and so, by extension...

I know other's bodies and minds

(basic action / reaction to stressors).

Genealogy

My maternal lineage is Japanese

My paternal lineage extends to Germany...

they had emigrated to the USA...

they were Jewish.

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Addendum:  As of 08/2017 My elder sister had her DNA tested.
We are actually only partially Jewish.

Although we are 50% Japanese (100% Japanese Mother)...
we are actually mostly of English / Irish / Scottish / Germanic / Nordic blood
on our paternal side.

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Why am I writing this blog?

Over the past few months...

as my mother kept improving in all aspects of her health and well being

as a direct result of my having her follow the basic three of vibrant health

(Nutritious and Delicious Diet / Exercise / Deep Restorative Sleep)...

I knew that if my 76 year old mother could achieve this so easily and happily...

almost anyone could.

I am a teacher at heart.

I love to see improvement in myself...

and in others.

My life has been magical.

I have been on many adventures...

I have lived fully, and loved deeply.

I get so much joy out of the simple pleasures in life. 

When I am able to pass this way of living on to others...

it makes my own life all the better.

Okay?

Now, on to the message...

First of all...

you must realize some basic concepts

so that the methods used will make sense

(it doesn't really matter if one understands...

however, a person doesn't usually go along willingly unless he understands why).

There are but two basic drives in all sentient beings:

The pursuit of pleasure

The aversion to pain

The key to success is to keep it pleasurable...

otherwise, we simply won't keep doing the necessary.

This ties into achieving any of our goals.

Problem: 

 How do we institute any helpful measures

which may involve the deprivation of pleasure...

and/or the stimulation of the un-pleasureable.

Solution:  

Through incremental application of stimuli below that of the pain threshold...

and through subsequent reapplications after the supercompensatory process is completed.

Huh?

All living beings are inherently adaptable.

So long as a stressor is not so strong as to overcome the adaptive capabilities of the being...

it adapts by becoming more capable of handling the stressor.

It grows stronger than before.

This process is called supercompensation.

This process is often called by other names depending on the system being affected...

however, the principle is the same.

You must also realize that the three major components of the body all interrelate.

Physical / Intellectual / Emotional

Positive stimulation of one affects the others in a positive manner.

Negative, or no, stimulation of one affects the others in a negative manner.

A physically active body stimulates proper hormonal and neuro-chemical output.

Hormones affect every part of the body.

Neuro-chemicals affect the intellect and the emotions.

Body growth is stimulated...

emotions are heightened...

the mind becomes more creative.

However, proper stimulation of the body is only one portion of the equation.

Without adequate nutrition and rest...

the body will not supercompensate.

And so...

the basic three:

Nutritious and Delicious Diet

A nutritious diet is self explanatory...

but why must it be delicious?

Because...

even if something is healthful...

if it is not pleasurable to eat...

it will not be eaten for long.

Exercise

Both, weight training of the largest muscles of the body twice a week...

and endurance training for 45 minutes to 60 minutes two to three times a week...

must be practiced to achieve meaningful results

(with careful and incremental build up).

Deep Restorative Sleep

There are three basic principles to follow:

Dark

Cool 

Quiet

Why dark?

Our sleep is brought about because of the output of Melatonin from the Pineal Gland in the brain.

This output is regulated by the amount of light the eyes receive.

Even with the eyes closed...

if the room is not dark...

the glow through the eyelids is enough to inhibit optimal amounts of Melatonin.

This results in sleep which is too light for the full release of Human Growth Hormone...

and a lack of this results in the body not being able to adapt to stressors so easily.

Cool

Why cool?

If the body is warm...

it naturally tosses and turns to seek out cool spots.

This also disrupts sleep.

Quiet

A lack of this disrupts the normal sleep patterns which allow for optimum hormone output.

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Psychological


Lead the mind...
the mind will lead the body.


The most important attribute in the formula for success is one of Drive.


The greatest component of drive is having a goal...
a dream to achieve.


However...
there are many who start out doubting themselves...
doubting the program.


The strongest progenitor of success...
is success.


I can only say that if my 76 year old mother could achieve such successful results...
then so can many of you.

However...you have to follow the program.


For the next few articles...
I will cover my mother's program and the results achieved through it.

These articles will give you specifics.