6 ways to get more clients /customers ASAP...

1. Email all of your current clients/customers and tell them you appreciate them and it's a pleasure working with them.  
 
Towards the end of the email slide in something along the lines of "Any referrals that you could give me would be greatly appreciated".  It's subtle and smooth and you are making a suggestion rather than making a command so they won't feel like you are bossing them around.  
 
2.  Email all of your former clients/customers just to check in and say hello.  Ask them if they are happy with their current product /service and ask if they need anything weeks you have to offer.
 
3.  Do the same thing with prospects that you haven't seen in a while.  Just because you didn't get them the first time doesn't mean you won't get them the next time.  Sooner or later they will want/need you.  Always maintain positive relationships with everyone.
 
4.  Facebook is one of the best ways and easiest ways to convert prospects into client/customers .  Use Facebook on a daily basis and interact with people.  The best way to convert people from FB to clients is to use some type of call to action with a sense of urgency.  Make sure you tell them to call or email you for details.  And then provide your contact info.
 
5.  "Shake hands and kiss babies" was what one of my former sales coaches used to preach to me.  Get out in the community, break out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to meet some new prospects.  Give them one of your business cards and write on the back of the card "Free insert your business "  Pick a date within the next two weeks to be your "if used by..." date.  
 
Give away something of value for free and give it an expiration date because the longer someone waits to come see you, the less likely they are to ever come see you. 
 
6.  Pass out personalized cards to your existing clients that say thank you and include a "buddy discount" that they can give to one of their colleagues to contact you. 
 
People will take this approach more seriously than just asking them for referrals because you are actually handing them something to give to other folks.  The "thank you card" is just a nice touch that people will appreciate.

If you are not making enough money, why is that?

Before you blame the economy, your parents, your community or anything else I would highly recommend that you look in the mirror first.  
 
The overwhelming majority of our problems and success can be directly linked back to choices that we make every minute of every day. 
 
If you are not making enough money, chances are you may be choosing bad work habits, choosing to hang out with people that are negative influences or you choose to lack personal conviction.  
 
First off, you need to believe that you are not only capable of achieving massive levels of success but you also deserve it. 
 
Did you know that more people fear success than they fear failure?  
 
It is about a 3 to 1 ratio actually and that is sad.  Self doubt and lack of self confidence are two of the primary reasons that hold us back from achieving our goals.
 
If you want to get more out of life and out of your business you have to be willing to put more into it.  Whether it's more energy, more money, more intelligence or whatever, know that you have to give in order to receive.  
 
Complaining about your parents, the economy, your boss, your spouse or anything else is not going to make your business any stronger.  Do not focus on what you do not want or what is wrong! 
 
Do focus on what you do want and what is right. 
 
Complaining, feeling sorry for yourself and any other negative minded activities will only hold you back from achieving your goals.  In order to be successful, you must think with an open mind, focus on positives, and make a commitment to be successful.  Also, there is some risk involved and you have to be willing to take some risks.
 
Today is your day to take control of your life, your business, your finances and your success!  It all starts with a belief and then you need to follow through with the action steps needed to succeed.  
 
Do you need marketing because your business isn't where you want it to be?  Then start marketing!  
 
Do you need to talk to more people to get your name out to more people?  Then start today!  Don't wait until tomorrow because that is a slippery slope.
 
If you want success, take it upon yourself right here right now to make it happen. 

Holiday shopping credit card tips

The holiday season is a festive one, but it’s also the time of the year for holiday shopping and peak consumer spending.

Just as they do the rest of the year, credit card users rely on their cards to complete transactions and to finance purchases. This year, keep in mind these credit card tips while holiday shopping:

Because it’s so easy to process a transaction with a credit card, cardholders can forget about how much they are spending. In fact, credit card users need to always be conscious of their balance and the consequences for over spending.

Cardholders need to set a limit on their holiday spending that is consistent with their personal finance goals. For example, people who are carry a balance should restrain their spending sufficiently to keep paying down their balance.

Those who are not in debt should limit their purchases so that they can continue to pay their monthly credit card statement balances in full and on time.

Credit card users who will need to carry a balance on their credit cards can avoid interest charges by opening a new credit card account with a 0% APR promotional balance transfer offer.

These offers, which can extend for six to 18 months, can apply to new purchases, balance transfers, or both.

Since balance transfer offers almost always require a 3% balance transfer fee, credit card users can avoid that fee by receiving a promotional financing offer on new purchases, rather than performing a 0% APR balance transfer later.

Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all of the other holiday promotions, it can be easy to get too excited and make unnecessary purchases during your holiday shopping.

Remember, even at a steep discount, an unnecessary purchase is still a waste of money.

The checkout counter might be the worst place to make an important financial decision, yet nearly every retailer will offer shoppers a discount with their store credit card application.

It’s hard to say no to these discounts, but they are rarely worth the hundreds of dollars of points, miles, and cash back offered by other, more competitive credit cards. In addition, retailer’s credit cards often feature higher interest rates and less attractive promotional financing offers.

Your loved ones will always appreciate a personalized, thoughtful gift more than a generic, but expensive one.

Take the time to consider what gifts people will truly appreciate, and don’t try to impress others just by spending extravagantly. Both the gift recipient and your budget will thank you.

It can be too easy to get into trouble with your credit cards while doing holiday shopping. By using your credit cards wisely, and keeping your budget in mind, you can enjoy the holiday season and keep your finances intact in the new year.

How to Sleep Easier

Counting sheep to calm that racing mind? Time to set a New Year’s resolution for better sleep!

For the best result, it’s going to take a holistic, whole-body approach that targets brain health! So, how can you sleep easier? Here are our top tips for better sleep:

1. Hit the Pavement Daily. One of the best ways to encourage better sleep is by exercising daily, especially in the morning. Morning exercise can relieve stress and improve mood, which indirectly improves sleep. Additionally, exercise reinforces your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Sleep is critical for optimal muscle recovery after exercise along with a diet that includes high-quality protein. Hit the gym in the morning and have nutritionally dense meals to rest soundly and recover at night.

2. Take Your Vitamins. It’s tough to fit in all of the vital nutrients you need on a daily basis, including those that can assist with proper sleep, such as magnesium and niacin, so supplementation is a MUST.

3. Get Your Brain Boost. Feed your brain what it needs with the right nutrients. Contrary to what you may think, sleep is a very active process. It is a time for your body to repair, grow, and develop. That is why poor sleep quality can result in accelerated aging of the body, including the brain. Choose Brain Boost & Renewal to promote greatest neural support, as well as focus, concentration, and memory. Your brain with thank you today and tomorrow!

4. Ease Your Way Into Dreamland. Turn down the lights, power off the electronics, and get your melatonin! Research shows that artificial light can sabotage sleep by decreasing the body’s natural production of melatonin; in addition, natural melatonin production declines with age.

5. Improve Your Cash Flow. Is stress about money keeping you awake? The best way to lay that worry to rest is by stimulating an extra cash flow with residual income.

Transform your sleep (and your life!) today.

Set up a healthier home environment

• Plan healthy, tasty breakfasts. Offer children a lean protein at breakfast such as eggs, string cheese, Canadian bacon, turkey bacon or hummus, Sothern says. Serve them fresh fruit such as berries. Or whole-grain cereal with nuts is another option. Top off the meal with a glass of fat-free or 1% low-fat milk or a carton of low-fat yogurt, she says.

• Discourage mindless munching. Don't let kids eat in front of the TV or computer and gradually restrict all eating and drinking, except for water, to the kitchen counter, table or dining room, Sothern says.

• Get them involved. Take kids to the grocery store. Skip the soda, cookie and candy aisles and have children select one fruit and vegetable to try each week. At home, include children in lunch and dinner preparation, Sothern says.

• Reinstate family traditions. Insist on family dinners, set the table with real cloth napkins, light candles and play soft music in the background to encourage discussion. Compliment the children on their healthy food selections, cooking and manners, she says.

• Get some shut-eye. Allow kids no more than one hour of media time before bedtime. Try to make sure they get the required 9 to 10 hours of sleep a night. Research shows that lack of sleep equals unwanted weight gain, behavioral problems and difficulty concentrating the next day, Sothern says.

• Offer a nutritious starter course. Pennsylvania State University research shows that adults who eat a broth-based bowl of vegetable soup; a large, low-calorie, lettuce-based salad; or an apple before a meal consume about 110 to 190 fewer calories at the meal, including the calories in that first course. The same idea could work with kids, says Barbara Rolls, a professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State. They'll not only fill up on fewer calories, but they'll be eating a healthy first course.

• Trick their tummies. Add their favorite fiber-rich vegetables — such as spinach, zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots, peppers and onions — to lasagna, casseroles, pasta dishes and pizza. The veggies lower the calories and increase the nutrients in each bite, Rolls says. Also increase the proportion of vegetables in stir-fry dishes, broth-based soups and stews and extra vegetables to sandwiches. Substitute vegetable or fruit purees for half or even two-thirds of the added fat in quick breads and muffins, she says.

• Use smaller plates. A study of first-graders showed that most kids served themselves more at lunch (about 90 calories more) when they used adult-sized dinner plates compared with using child-sized plates, which is about the size of an adult salad plate. "We know that adults over-serve themselves with larger plates, and this study says the same holds true for children. Using smaller plates at home may promote healthy child portion sizes," says Jennifer Orlet Fisher, an associate professor of public health at Temple University in Philadelphia.

• Teach kids to dance. Tell them you're playing Dancing with the Stars and let them waltz, do the cha-cha-cha or swing dance, Sothern says. This active time will burn four to five times more calories than sitting and improve their overall health.

• Swap sedentary time for active time. Kids only burn 30 to 50 calories when they are sitting for an hour, but they burn 400 to 500 calories in an hour if they are playing tag, dancing or doing field sports, she says. The government's physical activity guidelines say children and teens should do an hour or more of moderate-intensity to vigorous aerobic physical activity each day. Sothern recommends they do at least two hours of physical activity a day.

• Play outside with your children. Moms and dads should teach their kids to throw, pitch, catch, pass, jump and ride a bike because their kids may not be learning these important skills at school.

• Encourage physical-activity breaks. "There is a lot of evidence that kids should not sit still for more than 60 minutes at a time," says Penny Gordon-Larsen, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. When kids are doing their homework or on the computer, they need to get up regularly and move around or consider standing while they are working, she says. Every little bit of activity counts. Have them do at least 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity after school, such as shooting hoops, biking, playing soccer, jumping rope, dancing, walking or playing a fitness-related video game, Gordon-Larsen says.

• Steer clear of sugary drinks. This includes regular sodas, sweet teas, high-calorie specialty coffees, energy drinks and juices, Gordon-Larsen says. "It's such an easy way to cut out excess sugar and calories," she says. Instead offer water and low-fat milk, even low-fat chocolate milk.

Are you an impulse buyer? Here are 3 areas to watch out for.

1. You constantly wish for “just a little bit more.”

Do you find yourself constantly wishing for more? Is it hard for you to watch others upgrade to nicer cars, bigger homes, better furniture or even pricier, more prestigious private schools for their children? If you’re quietly saying "yes," then your discontentment may be driving you to impulse financial decision-making. Reflect on your spending habits and evaluate whether many of your purchases are done out of true need or out of a need to fill in an internal void or social pressures. Decide today that you will no longer live to impress others by spending money you don’t have on the things you don’t really need.

2. You use and abuse credit on a regular basis.

Credit has become so accessible that any college student who does not have a steady income is bombarded with offers of easy money. Do you have a revolving balance on your credit cards? Are you using one credit card to pay off another one? Is your monthly credit card balance growing instead of declining? If the answer is "yes," then you are most likely financing a “beyond your means” lifestyle.

Take the next few days, look over your credit card purchases and see exactly what you are buying. Is it expensive clothing? Maybe its time to move to a cheaper clothing line or to live out this famous great depression motto: Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without. Have you fallen for the "buy now and don’t make any payments until who knows when" offers? Now that the payment time has come, are you struggling?

Whatever “it” is that you are using credit for, first make a decision to stop using plastic. Create a realistic debt repayment plan and do not pick up a credit card until you have paid your balances off and are ready to be a responsible consumer.

3. You aren’t saving at least 10% of your gross pay.

Saving is truly the foundation of healthy finances, yet so few of us actually save. Do you find yourself saying "yes" to instant gratification while ignoring the need for having financial reserves? If so, track your spending for the next 30 days and you’ll clearly see where your income is going.

You goal should be to set aside at least 10% of your gross annual income. A portion of it may go into a retirement fund while the rest to a regular savings account.

While setting saving goals, focus on both short-term as well as your long-term goals. Short-term should include having an emergency fund, 6 months of living expenses, a vacation fund, a Christmas fund, etc. Your long-term goals should focus on retirement, a car replacement fund, and college funds for your children, etc. Use an online budgeting software to help you create a budget and manage your spending as well as saving.

10 Ways to Avoid the Post-Holiday Weight Gain & Look Fabulous By New Year’s

You know the cycle at this time of year: Indulge in the treats that float around the office; enjoy just one more helping of that delicious meal; cozy up in a sweater on the couch and watch a movie or TV all day and simply relax.

After all, there’s always New Year’s.

Break the cycle and start the new you TODAY!

Stop giving into the temptation of calorie- and sugar-laden treats and discover how good it feels to be active, have energy and feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what time of year.

For many of us, the biggest eating holidays of the year are quickly approaching and rather than feeling guilty and unhealthy going into the New Year, you can embrace healthy habits and start feeling good now.

Here are 10 ways to avoid the post-holiday weight gain and look fabulous by New Year’s:

1. Get goal-oriented. Take 30 minutes and consider what you want to achieve and be specific! Do you want to exercise three days a week? Run a 5k? Fit back into your favorite jeans? Write it down and post it somewhere you will see it every day, like your bathroom mirror or your refrigerator.

2. Push “restart.” Maybe bad habits already got the best of you. That’s okay! Push “restart” by getting a plan together. Fasting is known to provide your body with immense benefits so start there. Build in one Cleanse Day a week to break bad habits and flood your body with nutrition. Mondays are great because they can help you re-center prior to the start of the week so you can keep your healthy ways going.

3. Start small. You don’t have to overhaul your entire routine and diet all in one fell swoop. Those who create true lifestyles take small, healthy steps and keep pushing forward a little at a time. So you don’t exercise right now—take a walk tonight! Even if it’s 15 minutes, just chip away at it. There’s a reason the Tortoise and the Hare fable resonates with all of us: slow and steady truly does win the race.

4. Get balanced. Maybe your diet is a bit out of whack with a little too much sugar or a little too much processed. Substitute breakfast with a healthy, nutrient-dense protein shake such as Isagenix® IsaLean® Shake, some water and your vitamins; take the processed foods with zero nutritional value out of your daily routine and see how you feel.

5. Think ahead. Studies show that those who work out in the morning, stick with it longer and even reduce their motivation for food. Studies also show that those who bring their lunch to work rather than eating out at lunch time are actually more productive than their counterparts. So, plan ahead! What will you do tomorrow? Lay your workout clothes out the night before and pack your lunch the night before. Think about that family gathering coming up and ask what will be served so you can bring a healthy side dish or determine what you will enjoy at the meal and how much. Just a little bit of focused time will help you develop those new habits you need to get on the road to success.

6. Give it time. Change takes time—you may or may not see the scale drop dramatically in your first week. That’s okay! It takes at least 27 days to develop a new habit, and new habits lead to real change, so commit to at least a month. Ultimate goal: aim for January 1 so you can inspire others to start a healthier lifestyle!

7. Get accountable. Don’t just keep your goals to yourself—share them with a friend and ask them to talk to you about them often. Or, better yet, ask them to join you on your journey! Having a buddy change their habits will give you a built-in support system on the days you just don’t feel like sticking with it.

8. Drink water. Most of us don’t realize how many calories we consume when we reach for something other than water. Fruit juices, mass-market energy drinks, alcohol and daily consumption of designer coffees are often repeat offenders for driving up your calorie intake. Replace those deterrents with water and give your body what it truly needs without the “extras.”

9. Don’t skip sleep. It’s often a battle, but sleep is one of the most crucial elements of your schedule that has to solid if you want to get healthy or lose weight. Here’s why.

10. Forgive yourself. Have a not-so-great day? Forgive yourself and start over! Don’t throw in the towel and focus your energy on negative thoughts that often begin with “I’ll never…” or “This is too hard…” You are WORTH IT and deserve the fun, vibrant life ahead of you. Forgive the imperfection and make a better decision the next time.

20 Exercise Tips

Try these ideas for fitting more activity into your day—and for getting more out of your daily activities.

1. Choose activities you like. A lot of different things count as exercise: dancing, walking, gardening, yoga, cycling, playing basketball. To make it easier to get moving, choose whatever gets you moving. Also, choose an activity that fits your self-identity. Do you see yourself wearing attractive clothes and bicycling comfortably to work, or wearing workout gear at the gym?

2. Piece your workout together. You don’t need to get all your exercise at one time. Ten minutes morning, noon, and night can give much of the same benefit as 30 minutes all at once.

3. Exercise with a friend. Finding a workout partner can help keep you on track and motivate you to get out the door.

4. Keep it brisk. When you walk, make it brisk, since this may help control weight better than walking at a leisurely pace. What is brisk enough? Walk as though you are meeting someone for lunch and you are a little late. You can also time your steps for one minute: 120 to 135 steps per minute corresponds to a walking pace of 3 to 4 miles per hour, a good goal for many people. If your steps are not quite that quick, trying picking up the pace for short bursts during your usual walk, on different days of the week. Over time, you’ll stride your way to a faster walking pace.

5. Take lunch on the move. Don’t spend all of your lunch time sitting. Hit the gym or go for a 20-minute walk with coworkers, and then have a meal when you are done.

6. Try a pedometer. Step-counters (pedometers) are cheap and easy to use. Best of all, they help you keep track of how active you are. Build up to 7,000 steps a day—or more.

7. Take the stairs. Use the stairs instead of elevators and escalators whenever possible.

8. Turn off the TV, computer, and smart phone. Cutting back on screen time is a great way to curb your “sit time.” Trade screen time for active time—visit the gym, or even just straighten up around the house.

9. Walk an extra stop. During your bus or subway commute, get off a stop or two earlier and walk the rest of the way.

10. Hunt for the farthest parking space. If you drive to work or to run errands, purposefully park your car a little farther from your office or the store. It may not seem like much, but over weeks and months, these minutes of exercise add up.

11. Make it your own. Consider buying a piece of cardiovascular equipment for your home, such as a treadmill, stationary bicycle, or elliptical machine. Home models can be more reasonable than you think, and you can’t beat the convenience. Keep in mind, though, that cheaper models tend to be less sturdy.

12. Make it fun. Try a new sport like tennis or rollerblading. The more that you enjoy exercise, the more likely you are to stick to it.

13. Make it social. Walk with a friend, your spouse, or your family in the morning or evening.

14. Sign up for a class. Check out the fitness course schedule at your local gym or community center, or the dance or yoga class schedule at a nearby studio. You may find that having the structure of a class helps you learn a new activity and keeps you on track.

15. Turn sit time into fit time. When you get busy, try to combine your cardiovascular exercise with a sedentary activity that you do already. Hop on that piece of home equipment while watching TV, reading, or returning phone calls.

16. Keep an exercise log. Monitoring the amount of activity you get each day will help to make you more accountable.

17. Walk or bike for errands around town. Leave the car at home for trips that are less than a mile or two. Cross something off your to-do list while getting in your physical activity.

18. Ask the experts. Hire a personal trainer for a session or two to help you with your weight training and flexibility training. Then you’ll have the confidence to branch out on your own.

19. Plan exercise into your day. Set aside a specific time in your schedule to exercise and put it in your planner.

20. Reward yourself. Set short-term goals—and reward yourself for achieving them. Try targeting a specific event, such as a road race or a walk-for-charity, to participate in—this can help keep you motivated. Choose fitness-focused rewards for reaching your goals, such as new workout gear or a heart rate monitor.

Raising a financially faithful future generation

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from It.” – Proverbs 22:6

As parents we have a God-given responsibility to steward the lives of our children in a way that teaches them to honor, love and obey Him. Since money is one of the greatest competotors for Christs affection in our lives, how are we doing in helping our children to love God more than loving any other material posession? Here are 4 simple ways to help our young ones learn what it means to be a good steward of God's resources.

First things first. Generosity is one of the best ways to gain a proper and balanced attitude towards money. Honoring God with first fruits, not just as a habit, but also as a way of showing gratitude, will help your children understand that all things come from God. So every time they earn an allowance teach them to set aside a portion for the Lord.

Let them earn it. Teaching children, even as young as four to six years old, to work for their allowance is a great way to teach them a good work ethic and to have an appreciation for the money they’ve earned. Create a “job” list, name the price for each job and let them enjoy earning the money.

Teach them to save. This is your opportunity to help them learn delayed gratification. Label three jars as Give, Save, Spend. Every time allowance is earned or birthday money is received, teach them to save a portion of that income. Savings can be used to purchase bigger items they really want but require a much larger sum of money. It can also be used for teaching investment principles.

Let them decide. This is a hard one—allowing your children to make decisions with their earned money. This is only half the battle. You must also allow them to experience the consequences of bad financial decisions. No bailouts allowed! If your child wants to spend their money on a silly toy just because they have to have something now, let them, but also teach them that the toy they really wanted can’t be bought until they save for it. This is the only way to help them understand that in life we make choices, and those choices have real consequences.

What Causes Age-Related Belly Fat?

While it may seem inevitable, there are some things you can do to fight age-related belly fat.

Do your birthdays coincide with an extra notch added to your belt? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, many of the culprits that contribute to weight gain increase with vengeance as we age. Even worse is the accompanying muscle loss.

Research shows that weight and BMI gradually increase during most of adult life, reaching peak values between 50 and 59 years of age in both men and women (1;2). Along with an increase in weight—mostly from fat—there’s a decrease in fat-free mass, also known as lean mass and it’s mainly composed of muscle tissue. Some evidence shows that lean mass, and the muscle that comes with it, can decrease by up to 40 percent from age 20 to 70 (3). This loss of muscle may contribute to the redistribution of fat seen in older adults with a greater increase in belly fat accumulation (clinically known as visceral fat) and increased risk for disease.

Weight gain culprits 

Poor diet: This may seem like a no-brainer, but eating a poor diet is a major contributor to weight gain. Not only are adults eating too many calories, but they’re also eating the wrong kinds of calories. In fact, research suggests that US consumers meet dietary guidelines on average just seven days out of 365 (4)—that’s less than 2 percent of the time!
One of the most important nutrients for fueling fat loss and stimulating muscle growth is protein. As people get older, consumption of protein tends to decrease. One study found that about one third of older adults eat less than the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for protein and about 15 percent eat drastically less than recommended for protein (5). New research proposes that older adults actually need up to double the amounts of protein than the current RDI, especially when attempting to lose weight (6).

Decreased energy expenditure: Body fat mass is largely dependent on what you eat and how much of that energy your body uses. A decrease in how much energy is used by the body—also known as Total Body Expenditure—is an important contributor to age-related weight gain.
Total body energy expenditure is dependent on three main sources of energy use. First, resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the energy the body needs just to stay alive and accounts for about 70 percent of the energy used by the body. The second source of energy expenditure is called the thermic effect of food, or the energy needed to breakdown and absorb food. Lastly, physical activity is a source of energy expenditure.

Unfortunately, all three sources of energy expenditure decrease with age. Studies have shown that our RMR decreases 2 to 3 percent every decade after age 20 (7). Most of this loss can be attributed to having less lean mass and muscle. Additionally, the thermic effect of food has been found to be 20 percent lower in older men than younger men (8). On top of that, older adults tend to perform less physical activity.

Reduced physical activity: Researchers estimate that reduced physical activity accounts for about one-half of the decrease in energy expenditure that occurs as we age, leading to increased waistlines over time (9). Reasons behind aging adults getting less physical activity range from lack of time to an inability to exercise due to ailments or immobility. Not getting enough physical activity not only contributes to belly fat, but it also can lead to reduced strength, increased frailty and susceptibility to injury, and a lower quality of life.

Hormonal changes: Hormone alterations are another cause for concern when trying to tackle age-related weight gain. Aging is associated with a decrease in growth hormone, which directly affects the muscle-making process. Additionally, resistance to the hormone that regulates appetite, leptin, could blunt feelings of fullness and lead to overconsumption.

The solution
While it may feel like your body is working against you, there are some things you can do to avoid age-related weight gain and muscle loss:

• Eat a balanced diet with high amounts of quality protein. There are many studies that show diets higher in protein fuel weight loss while maintaining muscle mass. In fact, one study found that older adults who had higher intakes of dietary protein lost 40 percent less lean mass than those who had a low protein intake (10).
• Engage in aerobic exercise and resistance training. The key to healthy weight management as we age is to combine a healthy diet with exercise. A randomized controlled trial found that those who managed their diet and exercised regularly maintained muscle mass compared to a group who just managed their diet (11).
• Supplement the body with proper nutrients including vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3s. One of the greatest causes for concern for adults when engaging in weight loss is the effect on bone mineral density. By supplementing the diet with adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium, bone mineral loss can be minimized. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids may help preserve muscle mass (12).

Fight back against the belly bloat as you age by sticking to a balanced diet, eating adequate amounts of high-quality protein, engaging in daily physical activity, and supplementing the body with the nutrients it needs.

5 Habits of Successful Confident People

Here are 5 Habits of Successful Confident People:

1. Take Risks

2. Believe in yourself and know that you are good enough

3. Don't procrastinate because there will never be a "perfect time"

4. Attract Success in your attitude and behavior

5. Stay positive and focused on your quest to success and don't ever give up

3 Steps to Eliminating Price as An Obstacle...

3 Steps to Eliminating Price as An Obstacle...

1. Spell out in detail the value of your services in your marketing. 
Remember that most people aren't buying the features; they're buying the benefits. 

2. Avoid discussing price until prospects have had a chance to explain to you the benefits they want from your service.  
If a prospect wants to know the cost before you've asked them to define what they are looking for, redirect the conversation. Ask them what they want? Get them to tell you the benefits they are looking for.

3. Your prospects want to feel like they have a choice about how much they pay. 
Give them pricing options so that you control the options, instead of having them propose their own.
 

11 Habits That Will Make you a Success...

11 Habits That Will Make you a Success...
 
 
1. Read before you write or work.
Reading a good book will get the creative juices flowing, the brain learning, and your knowledge base growing. Try reading for 30 minutes to start your day.  If you don't like to read, try listening to audio books instead. 
 
2. Always finish your to do list.
Obviously, first you must have a "to do list", which means writing things down.  This may sound overly simple but writing out your "to do list" will help you be a lot more productive every day.  Get in the habit of never leaving anything that you wanted to finish at the beginning of the day, incomplete at the end. If you simply do what you set out to do, it will be hard for success to elude you.
 
3. Keep your to do list small and scaled.
Have 1 or 2 things that are important to finish, and make sure you finish them first. The rest of your tasks should be tended to only after your most important ones have been completed. I like to rank my tasks for the day from most important to least important and I also factor in what I can get done very quickly vs. what is going to take a long time to complete. 
 
4. Wake up early.
You probably do this one already anyway so this should be easy for you.  The list of successful people who wake up before the rest of the world is far too long to list. This isn't a coincidence. Get up before 6 am, 7 days a week and get a head start on your day and your dream.
 
5. Work harder than your competition.
If you work harder than everyone else, success can't hide from you. You will find it. And you will enjoy it.  I know for a fact that there are a lot of people out there that are smarter than me, come from families with lots of money and seemingly have every other advantage in the world but they won't outwork me.  They will quit before I quit and I will beat them by outlasting them.  Hard work, persistence and resiliency are the great equalizers in life.
 
6. Use a big white dry erase board.
Use a big white board to keep your goals visible and close.  You may tell your clients to keep their fitness goals hanging up somewhere where they will see them often so this can motivate them to stay focused.  Your white board is essentially the same thing but from a business perspective rather than a fitness perspective.  This is actually one of my favorites and I would highly encourage you to do this if you want greater success.
 
7. Share your dream.
Get in the habit of talking to others who have a similar dream, even if the similarity is the enormity of your goals, and the audaciousness of your plans. Napoleon Hill coined this relationship "a mastermind", and it's one of the most important factors in your eventual success.
 
8. Only surround yourself around successful people.  
That is, don't have "suckers" in your life - people who will tear you away from your work, and destroy your dream. If you have friends that do this, stop hanging out with them. Are they worth you living a mediocre life when greatness can be in your future? 
 
9. Spend your money only on things that will propel your dream.
Cars and "things" are only good for boosting your image in an effort to impress people who you really don't want to impress. Spend money, instead, on your own development and your business to fuel your growth.  Also, be mindful not to justify purchases of things that you "want" to buy thinking that you "need" them.  No client is going to hire you because of your brand new shoes, your manicure or your flashy workout attire. 
 
10. Make a sacrifice.
Get in the habit of sacrificing things that you may like in your life, for things that will help you become a success. The road to greatness isn't one of excess spending and easy living. Hustle. Focus. Sacrifice. Succeed.  I gave up a social life for the better part of 2 years when I started this business.  Creating my success was worth more to me than going out partying with my buddy's on the weekends.
 
11. Write down 3 things you're thankful for every day.
What you'll find is that success is often in your grasp if you look at it from the right perspective. Study after study has shown that happy people achieve far greater things than pessimistic, unhappy individuals. This habit, combined with hard work, is as simple a recipe for success as you can create.  It's also an effective one.