With the Fourth of July holiday almost upon us, I know many of us will have food on our minds. It’s a great day for sharing delicious–if not necessarily nutritious–food with family and friends.

During an interview the other day I received a question that is particularly relevant to this upcoming day of celebration. The question was, “How strict does a person really have to eat to lose weight and get fit… and what I do think about cheat days?”

I enhanced my answer here with my favorite drawing board. If you’ve been developing your Nutritional Freedom, I think you’re going to like my answer here. If not, if you’re still eating more than your eyes can track, well… this may help you make the leap to freedom.

I hope you enjoyed this explanation. Comforting to know that you don’t have to live by the strict hand of a diet for LIFE. Now you get that there is a better way to life–a way of fueling your greatness that is not diet but LIFE-style.

Please take 2½ minutes to learn more about “Cravings to Consumption” from Strength for Life–it’ll open your eyes to a whole new way to think about nutrition.

Now get out there and enjoy the holiday!!!

Until Next Week…

Stay Strong,

Shawn

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

About the Author
	Author, innovator and respected expert in "body-mind fitness" for over 20 years, Shawn Phillips is an icon in fitness world. Along side his brother, Bill, he helped create EAS and is currently the creator of the clinically proven Premium Nutrition Shake, Full Strength . Preview of his acclaimed new book, Strength for LIFE, called by Next-Level in Transformational Fitness, Here.

5 Dad’s Win FREE Full Strength Instantly >> See Below for How

Yesterday was father’s day—a holiday I used to resist. I thought it a bit unnecessary. “Why dedicate one day to showing our father’s we care when we can do it 365 days a year?,” I reasoned.

Well, now that I am a father my view on this has made a 180. I still remember my first father’s day 5 years ago, surprised I was by how great it felt to belong to the category of fathers. It was also special because my dad, BP, was alive and we both got to share the day.

Yesterday may well have been my best father’s day since.

Sure, it’s great to get gifts and just be recognized but what struck me is how much better I am with self-care, with putting myself near the top of the list on this one day. In my experience this is a place where most father’s struggle—finding time for me.

To all those father’s out there: I hope that you too enjoyed a day where you were the featured attraction. And perhaps were able to anchor the feeling and recognize that while the family will always be first in mind and heart—taking care of self enables us to be more and give more to our children and spouses.

Riding my bike through the stunning Colorado mountains yesterday I was contemplating the best things about being a dad. What follows are the highlights.

If you’re a dad, you need only skim these as I am sure you’ll connect with them instantly. At the end there’s a space for your story. I’d love to hear your favorite thing about being a dad. Whether it’s already on my list or not, share yours and I’ll make it worth your time, promise. (see my enticing Free Full Strength for Dad’s Offer below).

The 10 Best Things About Being A Dad

1. You finally know how your dad feels about you.
Regardless of the circumstances of your childhood, the moment you go from being “a guy” to being a father you “get it.” That is the feeling of what it is to love something more than life itself. I recall how my view of my father transformed in an instant. For I knew, no matter what he ever did or said, he too had felt “this” for me, my brother and sister. It’s not an optional feeling.

2. You know what it means to love something more than yourself.
Let’s face it, for all guys call sacrifice and profess to “give it up for,” not until we have a child do we really truly get what it is to hold something or someone else more important than self. And I believe this is a vital, transformational experience in life.

3. Whatever your age, kids make you young again.
If you’re a father you get this—if you’re not there yet, trust me on this. It’s so true. Your kids energy doesn’t wait on you. You get moving whether you want to or not. And they keep you playing more and seeing the world through the eyes of innocence that we’ve all worn once.
(more…)

About the Author
	Author, innovator and respected expert in "body-mind fitness" for over 20 years, Shawn Phillips is an icon in fitness world. Along side his brother, Bill, he helped create EAS and is currently the creator of the clinically proven Premium Nutrition Shake, Full Strength . Preview of his acclaimed new book, Strength for LIFE, called by Next-Level in Transformational Fitness, Here.

Americans have, by and large, distorted the golden rule of three square meals-a-day beyond recognition.

We skip breakfast, eat quick lunches, slug down coffee or energy drinks, snack throughout the day to compensate for the poor start, and then consume more than half of our daily calories in one meal: Dinner.

This is a perfect meal plan, if you’re looking to slow your metabolism to a crawl, stunt your cognitive performance, and pack on body fat at record speed.

There is a better way.

First, Learn How to Build a Balanced Meal:

Eat sensible, nutrient rich meals, with the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates and essential fats:

When you set out to build a balanced meal consider these simple guidelines: Don’t get all caught up in counting calories. Instead I suggest you focus on portions. A portion, one serving, should be about the same size as the palm of your hand.

Step 1: Select a quality source of lean protein.

Step 2: Balance it with an equal size portion of a complex carbohydrate.

Step 3: Eliminate bad fats, add some good (essential, non-saturated) fat in your day.

Step 4: Add at least one serving of vegetables twice daily. Enjoy fresh fruit often.

3×3, 5×9

Now that you know how to build a meal, you’ll want to follow the formula throughout the day. Eating five compact meals approximately every three hours is the absolute best and most efficient way to stoke your metabolism, keep your energy high, body strong, and mind alert.

Start your day strong with breakfast, then eat two more meals before 3 p.m.—one of which is a smaller in-between meal, meal, as I call it in Strength for Life.( I’m not fond of the word snack as I think that’s something you feed the dog). Next up, eat two more balanced meals before 9 p.m., again one of which is the smaller meal.

Eating more often is not only better for your waistline but keeps your blood sugar stable, your metabolism humming steadily, and helps you avoid the urge for the quick “pick-me-up” candy, soft drink, or energy drink. With 5 circles, you’ll be stoking the fires of your metabolism, helping you build and maintain a lean, strong, sexy body.

Until Next Week…

Stay Strong,

Shawn
Follow Me: Twitter.com/shawn_phillips

About the Author
	Author, innovator and respected expert in "body-mind fitness" for over 20 years, Shawn Phillips is an icon in fitness world. Along side his brother, Bill, he helped create EAS and is currently the creator of the clinically proven Premium Nutrition Shake, Full Strength . Preview of his acclaimed new book, Strength for LIFE, called by Next-Level in Transformational Fitness, Here.