COMMITMENTS!

What's the most important thing you need to do in order to reach your goal?

COMMIT TO IT!

Too many times we hear people say, "I would like to lose 10 pounds" or "I would like to be able to run a mile in 10 minutes." But, that's as far as they go.

If you don't commit to achieving it, then it's a DREAM. If you make the commitment to take all the steps necessary to get you there, then it's a goal that will soon become a reality.

This week, focus on one goal that you really want to achieve. Then, make a commitment to achieve it.

Here are Nar & Elaine's goals.

Elaine has committed to hike Mt. Whitney with our BootCamp group. This means lots of long hikes between now and then.

Nar has committed to rccording all her food intake in her nutrition journal and posting it right here on this blog for all of you to see!

SUPPLEMENT QUESTIONS?

Since supplements are not regulated, you have no idea whether they are safe or effective by just looking at the bottle or reading the ingredients.

There may be misleading claims on the label because the manufacturer does not need to prove that it's accurate or truthful before it appears on the product.

And, you don't even know if the product really contains the ingredients listed, or if it contains an ingredient that is not listed!

And, even if it's a good supplement from a reputable company, do you know if it's really something that your body needs?

Dietary supplements generate more than $20 billion in annual consumer sales. They have big advertising budgets. Don't be fooled into thinking you can just take some pills to boost your energy or lose weight or build muscle.

There is a place for some supplements, but to make sure your body really needs them, do your research and consult with your health care provider.

Post your comment here to ask Nar & Elaine about any supplements you have questions about.

EAT WELL!

This month in BootCamp, we've been reminding you how important it is to eat a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, nuts, legumes and dairy in order to get all the vitamins and minerals you need.

A lot of people take a multi-vitamin as "insurance" that they are getting their nutrients. However, that can actually contribute to bad eating habits because you start to think, "Well, it's ok if I didn't eat all my vegetables today because I took my vitamin."

Furthermore, recent research shows that for healthy people there is no clear benefit from taking vitamin or mineral supplements! (For people with specific deficiencies or diseases, that may be a different story.) See this LA Times article for more details.

Besides the isolated vitamins that are in your multi-vitamin pill, whole foods have SO MUCH more to offer. Scientists don't even know what all the phytochemicals in food are! Those phytochemicals are not only beneficial in themselves, but when they interact with the other phytochemicals in your food, they provide even more benefits.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Nothing beats having a healthy, whole, balanced and varied diet! With that said, however, we know that most of us do not ALWAYS get ALL the nutrients we need. Here's your chance to ask for help:

Post your comment here to let us know which vitamins or minerals you think are lacking in your diet, and we'll give you tips on what foods to incorporate into your eating habits so that you can more easily get all the nutrients you need.