Three Wise Men

In the past few weeks I have had the privilege to hear three inspirational men speak.  They were the sort of speeches that make you stop in your tracks and think differently.

Geoff Thompson with BAFTA

The first speaker was Geoff Thompson.  Geoff was abused as a child and became a violent young man.  The turning point in his life came when he realised that he might lose his wife and his children because of his violent acts.  He has gone on to become a world famous martial arts teacher, a coach and inspirational speaker.  He has channeled his experiences into writing.  He has written forty books, five award winning films and three stage plays. 

At the start of his speech, Geoff passed around his BAFTA award and invited us to feel the weight of it – surprisingly heavy.  He said that this was the weight of the fear he used to carry around within himself and his way of exorcising that weight is through writing and sharing what happened to him.  Turning fear into art is an amazing alchemy.

The second speaker to inspire me was James Lafferty, a CEO at Coca Cola.  Apart from being a senior executive in some big brand multinational companies and working in some of the most challenging countries in the world, James has had some amazing life experiences.   He is someone whose inner strength is obvious and comes from his complete congruency with his beliefs and values.

James says ‘A principle is not a principle until it costs you something’.  We can all say that we believe strongly in a certain principle but when push comes to shove, how much are we willing to stand up for it?  If you say that you are anti-racist or anti-homophobic, what will you say if a friend or colleague makes a racist or homophobic comment?  How much do you value your principles?

I have to confess I have not met my third speaker, the designer Paul Smith, but I saw an excellent documentary about him.  I loved his energy, his humour and his creativity.  The phrase he used that struck me most was “There is inspiration in everything, if you can’t see it you’re not looking hard enough”.

Wishing you an Inspirational Christmas and a Creative New Year

Top Tips for Healthy Eating at Christmas

Top Tips for Healthy Eating at Christmas

Tip 1 – Eat slowly

Eating at Christmas is about socialising with family and friends.  It is not a contest for who can eat the most the quickest!  Watch your portion size and then eat slowly, really enjoying your food.  Stop when you are satisfied.  There are always left-overs at Christmas and nobody will notice if you leave something on your plate.

 Tip 2 - Eat your big meals as early as possible

The best time to eat a big meal is just after noon.  At that time your metabolism is working faster and you have the rest of the day to burn off the calories.

Tip 3 – Have a break before you eat your dessert

If you load Christmas pudding, trifle or other sweet things on top of your turkey and gravy it will take much longer for the sugar to digest and pass through your stomach.  During that time, the bacteria in your stomach will cause everything to ferment causing bloating, heartburn and wind.  Take time out to clear the table, have a walk, play a game or something else to let your dinner go down for at least an hour.

Tip 4 – Watch your alcohol intake

There are two problems with drinking alcohol.  The first is that the alcoholic drink and the mixers are empty calories – they are not giving you any nutrition.  The second problem is that alcohol acts as a dis-inhibitor.  After a couple of drinks you notice less about what you are eating and drinking and therefore you tend to eat more than you normally would. 

To avoid these problems drink plenty of water so that you are not thirsty.  Have a glass of water before you sit down to eat your Christmas meal and have a water ‘chaser’ if you are drinking in the evening.

Tip 5 – Be careful when you eat out

Eating out can be a challenge when you are establishing new, healthier eating habits.  There are some simple ideas that can help you.  Firstly, push away the bread basket and resist the temptation to eat before your meal arrives by sipping water.  Next, trade potatoes for another vegetable you enjoy.  Ask for sauce or gravy separately so that you can have a smaller amount.  Finally, don’t over-order or overload your plate.  If you are satisfied before your plate is empty either leave it or ask for a doggie bag.

Tip 6 – Take opportunities to exercise

The Christmas break can be a great time to get out for a walk with friends or members of your family.  Getting outside during the middle of the day is a great way to burn off some calories and boost your levels of vitamin D.  If the weather is not so kind, you could play a physical game indoors.  There are plenty of computer games that are fun and involve physical activity.  Or you could dig out that old game of Twister from the back of the cupboard.  Or how about just having a dance to some music?  If you’ve got young children they will love it.

Tip 7 – Enjoy yourself

Eating healthily over Christmas is not a punishment – feeling bloated and overweight in the New Year is!  The holiday period can be an opportunity to take time to cook and eat good quality food.  Enjoy it!

Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year!