Top Wellness Articles

20 Health Benefits of Fasting

author Dan Riefstahl date 04/18/2018

Fasting has been recognized for its many health benefits dating back to Hippocrates. These benefits extend to everything from better weight management, improved cardiovascular health, healthier blood composition, and better cell recycling, among many others.

Although there is not an abundance of research on fasting in humans, a growing number of health experts believe that the results of fasting from animal studies hold great promise for human health and future research efforts.

There are many different types of fasts you can choose from, and they differ in their results and difficulty. Much of the research included here comes from studies on caloric restriction and intermittent fasting. One conclusion is steadfast, fasting remains one of the most effective means of detoxifying your body and resetting your system for better overall health.

20 Health Benefits of Fasting

Read More

The path to emotional wellness

author Dan Riefstahl date 04/07/2017

Being emotionally well is more than just handling stress. It also involves being attentive to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, whether positive or negative.  Emotional Wellness implies the ability to be aware of and accept our feelings, rather than deny them, have an optimistic approach to life, and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations.

If you are a person engaged in the process of emotional wellness, you are willing and able to:

  • Arrive at personal choices and decisions based upon the synthesis of feelings, thoughts, philosophies, and behavior.
  • Live and work independently while realizing the importance of seeking and appreciating the support and assistance of others.
  • Form interdependent relationships with others based upon a foundation of mutual commitment, trust and respect.
  • Take on challenges, take risks, and recognize conflict as being potentially healthy.
  • Manage your life in personally rewarding ways, and taking responsibility for your actions.
Read More

15 fitness tips

author Dan Riefstahl date 03/31/2016
  1. Small steps
  2. Find short-term rewards
  3. Track your progress
  4. Enjoy yourself
  5. Never ever give up
  6. Get a workout partner
  7. Vary your workouts
  8. Focus
  9. Rest is important
  10. Focus on long term
  11. Focus on your diet first
  12. Find the exercise that works for you
  13. Learn to be present
  14. Don’t let your body adapt too much
  15. Get inspired

source

Read More
April 18, 2018

Snake Diet Begins

I'm back! I look like shit. I'm a fatty!

Why? Because I stopped caring about my health and fitness. I went back and forth and at my best I got down to 207 lbs. At my worst (many years ago) I was pushing 245. Currently I'm around 220ish. When i was down to 207, I felt good and then life happened. I started eating poorly again and not paying attention. Excuses, holidays, laziness and addiction. Mad addiction. Sugar is so addictive. More addictive that cocaine many experts believe.

I decided it was time to make a HUGE change. In the past several months, I have been experimenting with intermittent fasting. I have had great results and saw a ton of potential, but it was not enough. After reading and watching lots of You tube videos, I stumbled across the Snake Diet by Cole Robinson from Canada. I have started my journey and am now about 4 days in and am feeling great. It's not easy at all and not for the faint of heart.

Starting weight was 223 (4/16/18-pics below). Goal weight is 185-190. I will post pics and updates weekly for accountability.

front side back

Damn! That is what I look like from behind? What a fatty. Those love handles are going away! I am motivated.

What is it?

The Snake Diet was named this because of the way many animals in the wild eat, including snakes. They pound a big meal and then often don't eat again for days. The snake diet is actually a lifestyle more than a diet. It is a plan focused on the benefits of fasting. Like any "diet" it has to become a way of life to be successful. Most people hear the term "diet" and think things like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. Yes these are diet plans, but "diet" broken down to it's simplest form is what we eat everyday and more importantly when we eat it.

How Does it Work?

The basis of the snake diet is fasting. Fasting as long as you can. Days, weeks or even months. Sounds nuts, right? Maybe it is. Maybe you need to go a bit crazy to achieve your goals. That fat gut you have been carrying around for 20 years isn't magically going to disappear without effort. Fasting is the most effective way to burn 100% body fat. Plain and simple. There are lots of opinions on the topic and many would see this as a huge health risk and a very unhealthy way to lose weight. But you got fat from being unhealthy. You are already unhealthy. Right now as you read this, you are unhealthy. Fasting has loads of health benefits that many people don't know about.

  • Improves Body Composition and Fitness
  • Boosts Your Metabolism
  • Supports Fat Loss and Ketosis
  • Encourages Better Insulin Sensitivity
  • Improves Cardiovascular Health
  • Lowers Blood Pressure
  • Promotes Heart Health
  • Slows Aging and Enhances Longevity
  • Decreases Inflammation

Learn more about the benefits of fasting here.

Why I am doing it and what I have learned

Sounds crazy and unhealthy right? I thought so too until I tried it. Cole is very motivational, but he is not for the faint of heart. He is more drill seargant that motivational speaker. He will hold your hand if you ask, but he will also kick you in the ass while pointing out that your ass is fat. He is not so politically correct and swears like a sailor. But you know what? I like it. e makes me laugh. He is honest and sincere. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. Do I agree with everything he says. Of course not, but everyone needs to take away what they find valuable from any situation. Yes, most of it is a persona. He is "on" for the camera.  I am sure he is a not a total dick in real lfe. Then why does he do it? To get results. He doesn't listen to excuses. He will call you a pussy and a fat ass. In fact, he almost always open his videos with "Hey Fatty!" But Cole cares deeply about your success. He motivates. He puts out loads of video and will even coach you individually. All for FREE. Yes, you heard me. He will coach you for free. He is a passionate dude that has helped me see a new way. I have watched over 10 hours of video and subscribed to the Snake Diet Motivational group on Facebook. I even interacted with Cole in a live stream where he answers the communities questions. He does the live strean every Sunday night.

 My take aways and why I started extreme fasting

  1. Get over my fear of not eating. I'm not going to die from fasting
  2. I want to be lean and in shape
  3. The health benefits of fasting are undeniable
  4. Break my addictions. Sugar, caffeine
  5. Fastest way to burn fat
  6. Fasting is not starving yourself. (Think of this way. If you're fat, it's like having hundreds of granola bars strapped to your body)
  7. You are eating the food that is "on" you instead of the food you put "in" you

Here is alink to my accountability post number 1 on Facebook. I polan to check in on this blog and the group every 7 days to track my progress. I started with a 48 hour fast. Drinking only Snake Juice (water plus salt and potassium. Same thingh as IV for hydration in hospital)  The additives in the water keep you from getting headaches and feeling like garbage as your body detoxes years of shit you put into it. I ate a nice meal. 4 to 1 veggies to protein ration. I hacve a huge salad with all kinds of veggies and about 4 ounces of meat. I wasn't even that hungry and I couldnt even finish it all. I broke my initial addiction to food in 48 hours. No cravings for sweets. I feel fantastic. I am now doing another 48 hours fast and am 18 hours in and feeling strong. Why so extreme? Because I need to see rapid results to stay motivated. I have tried lots of things before. Nothing has worked in the long term. I was additcited to food. Sugar especially. Break that fear of not eating. you won't die. I promise. You will be amazed at what your body can do.

Tagged under
back to top