My Hello World Moment: JordanParisHealth.com

Don't make a living, design a life

12/2/16

It's a Lifestyle

Over the course of the past year, most people who I meet want to know about everything I do to look and feel the way I do. More recently, I have been encouraged by my mentor and celebrity trainer Steve Jordan to share my knowledge and start blogging. At school, I have been asked countless times by my peers what my “diet” is like on a daily basis, what I do to “workout”, and lolhow I have become so strong mentally to never slip up. The reality is that I do not “diet” and I do not “workout”. Rather, I nourish myself and I train. I live. I maximize my potential. This is a lifestyle and I am super excited to spread my positive energy and knowledge with all of you. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and like "us" lolus on Facebook!

Jordan walking into the surf with a board, above photographs of paddleboarding and kayaking. — the OG "It's a Lifestyle" photo

12/10/16

The Mind-Body Relationship: A Dancing Act

If you want to maximize your health, realize that the mind-body relationship is real and potent. A very basic example that some may have noticed before is the difference in the amount and odor of sweat when you are stressed versus when you are not stressed. This is no coincidence. According to Pilar Gerasimo on experiencelife.com, the emotions we experience on a daily basis trigger the release of information-containing molecules known as peptides that link up with receptors throughout the body to deliver messages that directly impact our physiology, which is the way a bodily part functions. The power we hold over our physical bodies is simply astounding. We all have the power to heal through positive thinking. Research has shown that breast cancer survivors who practice mindfulness meditation maintain the length of their telomeres – the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes – while they shorten in survivors who do not meditate. It is also widely known that cancer patients with positive outlooks have higher chances of survival than those who take on a defeatist attitude. If you want to heal, you can, you just have to believe it. Notable physiological changes have been noted in people with depression. It is known that it can weaken your immune system as well as cause various aches and pains. More severe, depression causes blood vessels to constrict, which, in turn, leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Now, if you’re suffering from depression, you may be wondering, “what can I do?”. 9 years later, "what can you do to feel better right now/today?" is still one of my go-to questions if/when my advisory clients come in overwhelmed. And in my own life, when I walked through the fire of what was the most challenging time of my life, going to the sauna and cold plunge studio was a religious experience for me. I relied on it to feel better. I needed it. I'd tell my girlfriend "I'm going to temple." First, I would stretch out the demons as I did my stretching routine on the floor for a few minutes. Then I would move with the demons as I did my 3-4 minute yoga flow. Then I would sweat out the demons in the 194-degree sauna. Then I would freeze out the demons in the 38-degree cold plunge. It worked. I never left there feeling bad. Same with swimming in the ocean - are you ever sad while swimming in the ocean? I found that even on the darkest days, I smile and laugh with glee as I approached the shoreline. Your phsyiology is a powerful tool to change the way you feel. Use it when you need it.The solution is simple: MOVE. Go for a run, go to the gym, use physiology to your advantage to create the positive energy and emotions to dig yourself out of the hole. Movement is medicine for the body and the soul. The mind-body relationship works both ways; Not only can our emotions impact our physiology, but our physiology can impact our emotions. The script can be flipped. It is known that exercising is one of the best treatments for depression. Don’t feel like exercising? Even doing something as simple as smiling inspires feelings of happiness. Make a conscious effort to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. Additionally, the way you move during the course of a day impacts how you feel. Our motions are a guide to our emotions. As Tony Robbins, one of the nation’s leading psychologists, suggests in his book Awaken the Giant Within, we should “create patterns of movement that create confidence, a sense of strength, flexibility, a sense of personal power, and fun.” Ask yourself, “in order to feel this way, how would I walk, talk, and breathe?” The mind-body relationship and the biochemistry involved is a "crazy" wow great adjective lol. To call something crazy is lazy. Come on; you have better words than that.crazy dancing act. The door swings both ways in terms of emotions and physiology. We all have the power to take control of our lives. We can control how we feel at all times by taking advantage of our own physiology, or, vice versa; we can control our physiology through our emotions. Realize also that you are the source of your emotions and can control them at any time. So don’t worry, be happy, and harness this great power we have been given. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and like us on Facebook! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris

Jordan reading in a patterned armchair beside a stone wall. — the "Mind-Body Relationship" photo

1/13/17

Why New Year Resolutions Almost Always Fail (And What You Can Do To Reach Your Goals)

It "all" - totalistic. Like it's that simple. No, this is just one view.all boils down to motivation.

It's external motivation versus internal motivation.

A new year resolution is an external motivator. We attach a meaning to the new year like "oh, I'm going to get a 6-pack, I'm going to eat healthy, and I'm going to end this toxic relationship." People are saying "Happy New Year" and the air is filled with hope and excitement. The motivation to achieve your new year resolution is probably only going to last as long as the celebration that night. It's January 13th today, what does that resolution mean now? What's it going to mean on February 13th? All the sudden it's March 13th and you're sitting at a burger joint chowing down, no 6-pack, no healthy eating, sitting across from the toxic person. You forgot all about what you were trying to do because the external motivator (the new year) is gone now. Nobody is walking around on March 13th saying, "Happy New Year!" The external motivation of the new year pushes us; never push through anything. Rather, find deep inside yourself the internal motivation to pull you toward the successful completion of your goals. Visualize the successful completion of your goals. Think about how you would feel accomplishing these goals, all the emotions. Imagine how every aspect of your life would be different at the successful completion of these goals and you will find the internal motivation to pull you through very quickly. Do this, and soon you'll want it bad enough that you cut yourself off from any other option. And don't just do this at the start of a new year; do it any day of the year. Anytime you want something, figure out what it's going to take to get it, Plans are good. Visions are real.develop a plan, and visualize the successful completion of that goal, feel it. Go even further and realize the emotions behind the reason you want to change. For example, if you're obese and want to lose 50 pounds, what's going to happen if you don't change your lifestyle? Well, simply put, you might die a lot sooner than you expect and you might not get to live for certain things you've been waiting for. You want to be able to follow through and promise from within yourself that you will achieve your goals. Do that, and I promise you will follow through. Ok broThe truth hurts, but it's what we all need to hear, in any situation in life. If you appreciate hearing the truth, share this out to your friends on Facebook and check out my complete online health and fitness programs to jumpstart your health this year. Cheers... and to maximizing health, of course, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan's early fitness portrait, with the photographer's watermark. — personal trainer guy!

2/16/17

Water pH Matters!

Funny way to put it. Today I'd say it's less so about pH - doesn't matter much, to my knowledge. What matters is the cleanliness of the water. Tap water has traces of all sorts of nasty stuff like chlorine, fluoride, birth control, blood pressure medication, and whatever else gets into our water supply. Not to mention the city pipes it runs through to get to you, and if you live in an old home, those pipes probably aren't great either. As of today, I don't drink tap water unless I'm traveling. When I'm home, my Whole Foods has a FreshPure machine that reverse osmosis filters the water, which strips it of 99.9% of everything, including the good minerals you. need for hydration. So then it remineralizes the water. I'm not 100% sure of the pipes in Whole Foods nor the exact remineralization process, but my hope - and I feel pretty confident - is that it's a heck of a lot better for my body than tap water.Believe it or not, some of the water we drink can be deemed "unhealthy." Why? Well, a healthy body needs to maintain a pH (potential of hydrogen) of about 6.3-7.3, which can be incredibly strenuous on a body that consumes an acidic diet. What it means for your health An acidic body leads to disease and an overall poor quality of life. Acidosis, an excessively acid condition of the body fluids or tissues, leads to weight gain and diabetes, cancer and other crippling diseases, immune deficiency, hormonal problems, premature aging, chronic fatigue, aching muscles, headaches, vulnerability to infections, dry and pale skin, dull hair, cramps, and... you get the point. When a body is consuming an acid-forming diet, calcium from the bones is used to neutralize the acidity, resulting in weak bones. Check out the acidosis cycle from perque.com below: The culprits Much of the water we drink in our everyday lives, such as Garbage water. Yeah, I'm a water snob lol.SmartWater, Dasani, Aquafina, and Poland Spings, can be classified as acidic. Don't be fooled by SmartWater, there is nothing smart about it. In fact, it's owned by Coca-Cola... that explains it. Not to mention, Dasani is a Coca-Cola company as well, while Aquafina is owned by Pepsi. Avoid these water bottles at all costs, as they have a pH of 4.0, which is disgusting. Instead, aim to drink Fiji water (pH of 7.5), Florida water. Unsure of cleanliness.Zephyr Hills (7.5), or Arrowhead water (7.0). Check out this chart from fit4maui.com to find healthy water below: What should we do? Do your best to maintain the balance between acids and bases. Adding Himalayan pink salt (which I will be writing about in the coming weeks) to your food and water can go a long way in creating a healthy pH balance. If you'd like to test the pH of you're own body, you can: https://www.amazon.com/pH-Strips-testing-increased-accuracy/dp/B00M4X5J20 If you found this useful, subscribe to maximize your health, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

3/16/17

Here's Why You SHOULD Eat Organic Foods

added 8/23/26 · 9 years later This was a 5-paragraph essay I wrote for one my English class haha. Probably the first time I really hit flow writing and felt my words could be powerful. I remember feeling strong writing this.The importance of eating organic foods is overlooked by far too many. It is an issue that I believe is one of America’s largest and is something I am extremely passionate about. Most of us consume conventionally-grown crops, factory-farmed meat, and overly processed foods that are harmful to our health, the environment, and are not ethical.

3/18/17

3 Easy Ways To Maximize Your Personal Growth

They say that you're an average of the five people you spend the most time with... If you're the smartest person in the room, change rooms. Surround yourself with people smarter than yourself, people that have what you want. If you tell yourself things will never get better, they won't. If you tell yourself you can't do something, you can't. If you tell yourself you don't have what it takes, you don't. There are seeds of greatness in all of us. However, there are weeds as well. We must consciously choose to water our seeds of greatness and not our weeds. In simpler terms, choose to dwell on the positive and what God says about you. God says "you're beautiful, you're talented, you're intelligent, you have what it takes, you can do it, and things will get better because I've planned a life filled with victory for you." All we need to do is wholeheartedly believe all of it. Forget what anyone else says because it doesn't matter. If someone tells you that you can't do something, you can hear it, sure, but don't dwell on it. Many years later I would read the wonderful prose of James Allen in As a Man Thinketh likening the mind to a garden. Essential little 100+ year old book, by the way.Think of a garden. You wouldn't go watering all of the weeds because that just wouldn't make sense, nobody does that. Plus, you don't want those in your garden. You would water all the beautiful plants, blossoming flowers, and potential-filled seeds that are waiting to flourish. Do this, and one day, you'll walk out to your garden and there won't be any more weeds because what you don't water will die. The same goes for the mind: what you don't give attention to will eventually fade. The only thing that keeps a belief or event part of your life, the only thing that keeps that toxic neural pathway alive is that you keep thinking about it. When you have a negative thought or you hear something negative about yourself, don't water it, don't give it any attention. In response to it, say "no, thanks. I know who I am, what I can do and what I can become. I have seeds of greatness in me waiting to flourish. I am talented, I have what it takes. The Creator of The Universe is on my side." Your mind is a garden. Water it wisely, and eventually there will be no more weeds, no more negativity, and you'll be happy for no reason at all, like a child. Surrounding yourself with intelligent people and dwelling on thoughts of victory are both highly impactful means of growth. Now, If you really want to take your growth game to the next level, start feeding your mind every day. Read inspiring and informative books, listen to podcasts, meditate, go outside to observe and connect with nature, write down 3 things you're grateful for, and train (training has amazing mental health benefits). Checkpoints

1. Surround yourself with people smarter than yourself, people that have what you want.

2. Dwell on positivity only.

3. Feed your mind.

Who you surround yourself with, the thoughts you dwell on, and what you feed your mind with ultimately play a large role in determining who you become. Well, yes.If you try out some of these tips I guarantee you'll be creating momentum towards a compelling future. If you found this useful, subscribe to maximize your health, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

A sunrise photograph with the original words ‘In my own world’ and a 7:53 AM clock. — The first time in my life I really got to be alone. Spring break, 2017. Everyone left campus. I stayed because I was an athlete. I really dug into some treasures within. Corners were turned.

A saved image of grass bearing ‘I THINK, THEREFORE I AM’ and René Descartes's name. — saved, March 17, 2017

3/26/17

There Is No Profit In Good Health (SEE WHAT THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY HIDES!)

added 8/24/26 · 9 years later I believe this was another English class essay. The human body has such powerful defenses to the point where cancer is impossible. In a normal and healthy body fueled by organic food, cancer, and other chronic diseases cannot and will not exist. Additionally, an organic diet in which foods are eaten in their simplest form reverses these diseases. So why do 591,00 people in the U.S. die from cancer each year? Answer: Because there is no profit in good health. Cancer is a 200 billion dollar industry. These drug companies do not exist to make drugs; they exist to make money. Nobody needs these drugs! we need nutrition! Two handfuls of cashews contain the therapeutic equivalent of a dose of Prozac, which is used to "treat" depression. If cancer disappeared tomorrow, millions of people would be out of jobs. So the government makes it illegal to treat cancer with nutritional therapy, which is precisely the therapy we need. Instead, the only legal treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation (which are carcinogens themselves). We're entering the boxing ring with a heavyweight champion (cancer) with one arm tied behind the back. Additionally, the doctors that prescribe drugs and treatment have very little education on nutrition. Only 6% of graduating physicians in the U.S. have ANY training in nutrition. They don't know any better than to prescribe these harmful drugs and treatments. The drug companies are the ones funding the people that license their product to be marketed and the people who research it; Highly questionable if you ask me. This industry is sick. These drugs are making people sick and even killing them. The Journal of the American Medicine Association published papers saying about 106,000 Americans die from pharmaceutical drugs every year. These are drugs that are properly prescribed, the people experienced normal side effects, and took the medication as directed... 106,000 people die from normal, expected side effects from drugs each year... Disgusting. That means that over 2.4 million people have died from the proper use of pharmaceutical drugs in the last 23 years while TEN supposedly has died from vitamins. Not enough people take nutrition seriously. 13% of American women will get breast cancer while less than 1% of Japanese women get it. Why? Because the Japanese consume diets largely of fish and vegetables that are high in anti-cancer elements like zinc, selenium, and omega 3's. They don't eat the processed, chemical-laden, heart-clogging garbage that we consume on a daily basis. As a college student, I walk around campus and the most common thing I hear is "I'm so tired" and it'll be 2 pm... We shouldn't be feeling this tired in the afternoon! It's not how humans are supposed to function! If we were eating right we would feel vibrant, full of energy, and ready to conquer the rest of the day. If you check medical literature there are thousands of papers reporting that high doses of nutrients reverse cancer. But we don't get to read these papers because they were published in medical journals that the United States National Library of Medicine refuses to index. In other words, these papers are blacklisted. People need education, not medication. They don't need access to the healthcare system that clearly only looks after itself. They need to be made aware of the great benefits of vitamins and nutrients. Sure, the medical profession is brilliant at putting us back together after a traumatic car accident. But in terms of treating disease, it is a bit pathetic. You are what you eat and the choices you make on what to eat DIRECTLY impact the outcome of your life. The lesson learned here is that if you want something done right then you have to do it yourself. You have to seek the truth behind all this crap by doing the reading, you have to eat the raw, organic vegetables and superfoods, and you have to take the vitamins. Only then will you live a long, happy, and extraordinarily healthy life free from suffering. The cures for chronic diseases are here and they have always been here. Let's take control of our lives. Let's all become aware. If you found this useful, subscribe to maximize your health, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

4/6/17

Happiness Solved

For many, happiness can be painfully elusive. Here's my take on it: Happiness is just a collection of many joyful moments over a lifetime. That is, if we can learn to appreciate the little things in our daily lives, we can achieve happiness. We need to bring attention and joy to the little things, such as the miracle of breathing, the gratification of the first bite of food at a meal, the warmth of the sun's shining rays, or the pleasure of the water in a hot shower touching your skin. Appreciate these little things, get lost in them, and notice the joy that arises from it. In short, I believe it all comes down to one simple formula:

Joy + Joy + Joy = Happiness

Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan and his mom smiling together in a restaurant booth. — I like this picture of my mom and I. April 2017. In Wendy's, where I spent a lot of time growing up. I can tell by my smile and body language I was getting much more comfortable with myself. It was really the first time this energy started showing up in photos.

4/16/17

Quality Questions = Quality life

Whenever we ask ourselves a question, our brains will inevitably come up with an answer. If you habitually ask yourself "why me?" then your brain is going to come up with a disempowering answer. On the contrary, if you ask yourself a better question in a tough situation, like "what's great about this?" or "what can I learn from this?" then your brain is going to come up with a much more empowering answer. Bottom line: Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, receive better answers. They receive answers that tell them exactly how to persevere in the face of adversity. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT added 8/23/26 · 9 years later Truth. And the more specific the question, the better. Tony Robbins material.

An illustrated island above a Seth Godin quote: Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don't need to escape from. — Don't make a living design a life was/is the way. I would end up interviewing Seth a number of years later.

4/18/17

Living in the Moment

Be present. Take it all in; the sensations, the sights, the sounds, the life that surrounds you right now, in this moment. Meditate (focus) on it, and realize the sense of calm and subsequently, the joy that arises from that. Create a happy life by compiling many joyful moments. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

A figure on the beach as the sun sets over the Gulf in Naples. — a lovely sunset in Naples, February 9, 2017, 8:03 PM

Foundr artwork quoting Steve Jobs on doing great work and loving what you do. — Steve Jobs on lifestyle design

4/26/17

The Magnificent Obsession: a Compelling Future

The reason you hear about people with all the fame and fortune in the world being miserable is that they outrun their dreams. They achieve their goal and then they think "ok, that's it," and they lose their fire. The lesson: You have to have something that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning, something that gives you that zest for life, that fire; and there is nothing better to produce that exact result than a big, inspiring goal. Setting goals one after another will keep your fire lit for a lifetime because a compelling future is key for a happy, healthy life. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Sunlight shining through a tree beside Jordan on a Naples sidewalk. — the light in this photo is crazy, and I was getting jacked for the first time. The caption was "Just some picture perfect day to last a whole lifetime." ... literally. February 24, 2017

5/6/17

The Past Does Not Equal the Future

The past is the past and there is nothing you can do to change it, so don't worry about it. Today is a new day to create the tomorrow you are committed to, so make the most of it. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

JP Health artwork with a climber: When life puts you in tough situations, don't say Why me, say Try me.

5/18/17

The Seasons of Life

added 9 years laterDualityNight is always followed by day. Winter is always followed by spring. No matter what you are going through right now, you are about to come into a new season; a season of possibility, a season of victory. If you are in the harsh winter at the moment, worry no more - spring is coming. You are alive today because you have another victory in you. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

JP Health artwork reading 'Adversity, meet persistence', over a figure pushing a boulder.

6/13/17

The 24 Hour Rule

There's this one rule I have for myself that drastically changed my life for the better once I put it into place; I call it "the 24 hour rule." It all started towards the end of high school when I played baseball because I would get so upset on the occasions that I would strike out, even if I'd just smacked a double, stole a base and scored a run just 30 minutes earlier. If I had 1 bad game I would be upset all the way up until the next game and it affected my performance negatively. This rule is quite simple, really. When something rather negative occurs in my life, I allow myself to get as upset and mad as I feel like... but after 24 hours, I MUST get over it and start seeing the bright side or that would mean I broke the 24 hour rule. In fact, I got put to the test yesterday. I was upset for a few hours but by the end of the day I was back to feeling like I'm on top of the world Why not just start seeing the bright side right away? Well, with the unpredictability of life, sometimes that is not reality. Sometimes I am successful in doing this right away and that's great but nobody is perfect (striving for perfection is exhausting and unattainable anyway) . So, don"t be too hard on yourself, take 24 hours. It's all good. Using this rule gives you the power to get past any and every difficulty that's thrown your way. If you found this useful, subscribe to maximize your health, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan airborne above the basketball court during a cheer performance. — floating

6/17/17

How To Win the Game of Life

It all comes down to your "rules." Your rules are beliefs about what has to happen in order for you to feel good. In reality, nothing has to happen for you to feel good. You can feel good simply because you are alive! However, most people have created numerous ways to feel bad and only a few ways to feel good. You could be winning and feel like you are losing because the scoreboard and rules you are using are unfair! Set up the game so that you can win easily. If you don't want to see yourself winning, then I can't help you. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan and Steve in white robes beside an open cryotherapy chamber. — Steve and I at cryotherapy

7/21/17

YOU Are the Inspiration

Keep going. All your hard work, blood, sweat and tears, just keep going because you never know who's watching you. You are the inspiration. There are people in the world watching you, becoming inspired by you right now! When people tell me that they look up to me, that they want to do what I'm doing, that they are inspired by me I'm absolutely humbled. I'm caught off guard. When this happens, I'm reminded that people are always watching and because of this, I have to always do my best. I must keep dreaming, believing and achieving. You lead by example, so be the best example you can possibly be. So, how does it feel that you are the inspiration, that you empower others to do more? Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPTadded 8/25/26 · 9 years later Be a positive ripple.

Jordan in an orange shirt training with a cable machine in a gym. — building, in more ways than one

7/30/17

4 Reasons You Should Take Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against free radicals and toxic chemicals and it is always the first vitamin/supplement that I recommend to my clients. The health benefits are endless and it seems like this vitamin is the "magic pill." Here are just 4 of many reasons you should be taking Vitamin C 1. Healing & Beauty - Vitamin C is necessary for tissue repair and growth and is vital to collagen production. Collagen is an important protein that makes skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.¹ 2. Protective - Vitamin C can kill cancerous cells.² 3. Stressed? - Vitamin C can actually is sensitive to stress; It is the first nutrient to be depleted by smokers, alcoholics, and obese individuals.³ 4. Miscellaneous - Vitamin C reduces the effects of macular degeneration, reduces inflammation and reduces the risk of numerous diseases, like cancer and cardiovascular disease.³ How do I get my Vitamin C? I take 2000 mg per day as a supplement in the form of ascorbic acid as well as through various vegetables at each meal and sometimes kiwi. If you found this particularly helpful and inspiring, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! If you are looking to maximize your health check out my complete health and fitness programs. To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT (pdf-embedder url="https://jordanparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LIFE-Diet.pdf" title="LIFE Diet")

8/10/17

Happiness Before Money

Happiness must come before money.

Why? Because money magnifies. It does not change people. It cannot make someone happy. Rather, it magnifies who they already are. If you are mean and have a lot of money, you just have a ton more to be mean with. On the flip side, If you are a nice and generous person, you have a ton more to be nice and generous with. Then, naturally, you will give even more freely. So, do the world a favor and make happiness your prerequisite for success. If you found this particularly helpful and inspiring, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan and Patrick shaking hands on a palm-lined street in Naples. — my best friend Patrick and I in Naples

8/14/17

The Definitive Guide To Healthy Hair & Skin (Men & Women!)

Welcome to The Definitive Guide To Healthy Hair & Skin (Men & Women!). I think we can all agree that there is an abundance of options when it comes to shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotion and more. We see commercials for Pantene, L'Oreal Paris, and Dove all the time, and they do a great job of making their products look great and glamorous. But here's the deal: Many of these big companies use harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, parabens (mimics estrogen) and surfactants (chemical foaming agents) that can cause a wide range of health problems, like cancer, and leave your hair and skin itchy and dried out. Here's an example: Go to your shower and check out the list of ingredients on the back of your shampoo bottle. I bet that one of the first three ingredients is either sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate (SLS). This is where you say, "wow Jordan! How'd ya guess that??" Well, I'm no magician, but I do happen to know that it is a cheap surfactant that many shampoo and soap companies use to make you feel like you are getting clean. But there's a catch: SLS is the main component of garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers that causes skin irritation and corrosion causes rough and flaky skin, corrodes hair follicles (and even impairs growth) and causes biological dysfunction of skin. And that's not all: It's is flammable and emits toxic fumes when heated, like toxic sodium and sulfur oxides. This makes a hot shower seem scary. SLS is also found in toothpaste, laundry detergents and stain removers, body wash, mouthwash, lotions, shaving cream, carpet cleaners and a host of other personal care products. Behold, the healthy solutions: Shampoo - Dang yeah, that Rahua shampoo was some good stuff. I'm going to have to get it again. I'm not so sure about drinking it though - would not advise.Rahua is the key to beautiful, hydrated hair. It's made with 100% natural and organic ingredients. You could drink this and be fine, that's how clean it is. It's about $30, but I've been on the same bottle for almost 2 years now. Worth mentioning: John Masters Organics shampoo, Nauture's Gate shampoo/conditioner. Body Soap - Kiss My Face bars of soap are free on any synthetic ingredients, they come in packs of 3 for about $4 and the bars last about 2 weeks. That's $36 per year. Worth mentioning: The soaps at Whole Foods are AWESOME! Face Wash - GR8 SKN Clean. It's sulfate and paraben free with all natural ingredients that cleanse without stripping the skin of natural moisture. Toothpaste - Xyliwhite. No SLS, flouride or parabens. 100% clean and made with natural ingredients that will whiten your teeth. Worth mentioning: Earthpaste (5 ingredients!). Shaving Cream (or butter?!) - Dr. Carver's Easy Shave Butter. It's free of harsh chemicals and provides a super smooth shave. It's $8, but a little goes a long way; I had the same bottle for a year (shaving every other day) and was only halfway through it before it got taken at the airport. This product has nearly 5,000 5 star reviews, a must-have. After Shave - Pacific Shaving Co. Caffeinated After Shave. Caffeinated? Cool concept, it gives the skin a cool sensation. It's made with organic ingredients and hydrating oils. About $6. Again, a little goes a long way here, I'll have the same bottle all year. Lotion - GR8 SKN Hydrate. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, combined with green tea, honeybush tea, and olive extracts. This lotion moisturizes without clogging pores. Worth Mentioning: Coconut oil and olive oil are the perfect moisturizers. Exfoliators - No.Lush products, good stuff. I believe they might have some products with SLS but most are made with organic ingredients. Every Man Jack has a great line of hair styling products.Hair Stylers - John Masters Organics has 2 great products here: pomade and hair texturizer. They are made of a variety of different oils and fruits. They smell absolutely delicious and this is another product that you could actually consume and be totally fine (it's made from things we eat anyway). Worth mentioning: ha, yes, I was using hair spray back then.Pureology hair spray. Tom's is good.Deodorant - Kiss My Face Worth mentioning: Every Man Jack Seaweed Bath Co. is what I use now.Sunscreen - Organic Goddess, Elemental Herbs, Aruba Aloe I try to tell everyone to get a Function Health blood test. Tests for much more than your average insurance blood panel. For $365, you get two tests per year and a dashboard of everything where it charts your data over time. If you want to stop guessing at what nutrition and supplements and actually figure out what's best for you, this is the way - https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=JPARIS15&_saasquatch=JPARIS15&d=FHREF25Taking it to the next level: Proper nutrition plays a large role in the health of your hair, skin and nails. Don't miss out: 1. Collagen - Regenerates skin, hair, joints, bones, tendons and more. 2. Vitamin C - Increases your body's collagen production and neutralizes free radicals in the skin. 3. Vitamin E - Treats wrinkles by speeding up skin cell growth and regeneration. 4. Vitamin A - Encourages healthy skin cell production and stimulates fibroblasts (keeps skin firm). 5. Biotin - Increases hair, skin and nail growth 6. How to make your skin glow: 7. Drink lots of water! - Rids the body and skin of toxins. 8. How to hydrate your hair, skin and nails from the inside out: 9. Consume lots of healthy, stable fats (cold-pressed, not cooked at high heats, heat damages fats and turns them into free radicals). 10. Cold-pressed, unfiltered added 9 years laterNot advised if you have high cholesterol.coconut oil 11. Cold-pressed, unfiltered olive oil 12. Grass-fed, pasture-raised organic added 9 years laterLimit if cholesterol is high.butter 13. Avoid: Gluten and sugar!

Well, there you have it: Your Personal Care Bible!

Did I leave something out? What do you use? Leave a comment below! If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

8/29/17

4 Simple Ways to Detox the Mind and Body

Stressed? If so, I've got just the thing for you: 4 simple ways to detox the mind and body! Let's hit that reset button:

1. Meditate

Taking just a couple of minutes each day to sit back, relax and meditate is a great way refresh the mind. It's an opportunity to let go of all obligations and stressors. In fact, meditation is thought to have highly beneficial effects on the mind and body.¹

2. Read

There's nothing quite like the feeling of getting lost in a good book! Daily reading is another great way to refresh the mind, and you might even learn something new!

3. Sleep

Sleeping in accordance with your circadian rhythm (added 8 years laterNot necessarily these times exactly. More just in accordance with the rising and setting of the sun.10pm to 6am) is naturally refreshing. Try it, you'll like it!

4. Drink Water

Drinking water is one of the most detoxifying things we can do for our body. It can literally flush out the toxins in our bodies. Think about a dirty sink with food particles all over it. When you turn on the water, all of those food particles go down the drain, and you're left with a clean sink. In a way, this is what happens when you drink water! If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! If you are looking to maximize your health check out my complete health and fitness programs. To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Three photographs of Jordan demonstrating an exercise with a stability ball on a blue mat. — The online fitness program called Under 30 (minutes) I created and released in the summer of 2017. My first online product.

9/4/17

5 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Personal Trainer

added 8 years laterWhat beautiful prose!When it comes to finding the right personal trainer, you want someone who can align with your goals while simultaneously giving you the most bang for your buck, because it ain't cheap! Here are the 5 questions that you should ask any trainer you might hire:

1. Ask what their health and fitness philosophy is

You want to make sure of a few things here: 1) Their philosophy aligns with your goals (you don't want a trainer that only focuses only on long distance running if you are trying to build size), and 2) They have a solid knowledge base.

2. Consider the following: Do they practice what they preach?

You lead by example, and what good is a trainer telling you to eat a certain way or exercise for a certain amount of time if they themselves do not even follow their own advice?

3. What are their certifications?

It goes without saying that someone with a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certification and/or a college degree is far more certified than someone who got certified through their school gym.

4. What's the plan? How can they help you to reach your goals a few months from now?

Figure out if they have a specific actionable plan for your unique goals or if they are just winging it.

5. What's the cost?

Ask this last. Show the trainer you are committed to your goals first. Get them excited about wanting to work with you! There's nothing worse than a contact form that comes through and all it says is, "what do you charge?" By the way, feel free to ask me some of these questions! (hint, hint) If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! If you are looking for widely accessible and affordable personal training, you're in luck; Check out my complete health and fitness programs that can be done anytime, anywhere, all online. To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan's handwritten exercise notes on JP Health stationery, with the phone number covered.

10/19/17

added 8 years laterOne of the few good posts from this era.Words Shape Our Reality

By changing the words we use to describe our emotions and experiences, we can instantly change how we think, feel and live. If we want to change our lives and shape our destiny, we need to consciously select the words we're going to use, and we need to constantly expand our level of choice. People with rich vocabularies have a multi-hued palette of colors with which to paint their experience. We must get rid of disempowering words by replacing them with new words that break our negative emotional patterns. For example: "I hate" becomes "I prefer other things" "Frustrated" becomes "challenged" "Confused" becomes "curious" "Overwhelmed" becomes "maximized" "Stressed" becomes "busy" "Disappointed" becomes "underwhelmed" "Determined" becomes "unstoppable" "Problems" become "action signals" Furthermore, we can use "softeners" to lower the impact of negative experiences. Instead of saying "I'm absolutely destroyed", we can say "I'm a bit challenged at the moment" One's choice of vocabulary may very well be the difference between misery and happiness, so choose wisely! If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT Update, June 9, 2018: As soon as I published this article, I started complaining to my Uncle Brian about something over text, using many of the disempowering phrases above. He said, "re-read your latest blog post." Lol, true.

Jordan standing in front of a colorful mural in Naples. — such a cool mural wall on Naples 5th Ave that's unfortunately gone now!

10/22/17

Top 25 Inspirational Quotes

In a world where there is an abundance of inspirational, motivational and educational quotes, I boil down to the top 25 (in no specific order) that have inspired me to live the wonderful life that I live today. Save these for when the going gets tough: 1. "We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish." - Tony Robbins 2. "Truly powerful people are not concerned about their power, but about being in a position of being able to empower." - Nadja Swarovski 3. "A goal without a plan is just a wish." 4. "To be in the 1% you have to do what 99% won't." - Noah Kagan 5. "Every problem is a gift. Without problems, we would not grow." - Tony Robbins 6. "I'm a great believer in luck. And I find the harder I work the more I have of it." - Thomas Jefferson 7. "A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no new action, you haven't truly decided." - Tony Robbins 8. "Knowledge is only potential power. Action is power." 9. "Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings." - Salvador Dali 10. "Success is being in charge of your lifestyle and creating something you're proud of, surrounded by people you love." - Troye Sivan 11. “In life, people tend to wait for good things to come to them. And by waiting, they miss out. Usually, what you wish for doesn't fall in your lap; it falls somewhere nearby, and you have to recognize it, stand up, and put in the time and work it takes to get to it. This isn't because the universe is cruel. It's because the universe is smart. It has its own cat-string theory and knows we don't appreciate things that fall into our laps.” - Neil Strauss 12. “Beauty is common but what’s rare is a great energy and outlook on life.” - Neil Strauss 13. "Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art." Don Miguel Ruiz 14. "The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment." - Tony Robbins 15. "A rich man doesn't need to tell you he's rich." - Neil Strauss 16. "You are more powerful than you think you are. Act accordingly." - Seth Godin 17. "We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." 18. "Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." - Albert Einstein 19. "Building a lifestyle is cumulative. Everything you do counts and brings you closer to your goal." - Neil Strauss 20. "Think better, live better." - Joel Osteen 21. "What you love, you empower. What you fear, you empower. What you empower, you attract." 22. added 8 years laterYour visions are real."Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions." - Albert Einstein 23. "Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start being excited of what could go right." - Tony Robbins 24. "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." - Nelson Mandela 25. "My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time." - Steve Jobs If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

JP Health artwork over clover leaves: I'm a great believer in luck. And I find the harder I work the more I have of it. The image attributes the quote to Thomas Jefferson.

JP Health artwork: Good things come to those who work their asses off and never give up, with 'Good things come to those who wait' crossed out.

JP Health artwork with a football player and the words I WILL WIN. — the conviction

11/10/17

Overcoming Weariness

The other day, I went to start my car but it wouldn't start. I kept on turning the key, as far as it would go, pushing it to it's furthest point and holding it there for long periods of time, but it just would not start. I called AAA and they sent out a man to help me get it started. As it turns out, the battery was dead and it needed to be replaced. He told me they usually last 3 to 5 years and it had been 4. The new battery was inserted in under 5 minutes and all of a sudden, my car started better and faster than ever with a loud roar. It's the same principle in life; Sometimes we're stuck in a rut. It's tough to jump out of bed in the morning. We don't live with the same excitement that we used to. We've had some bad breaks and all we want to do is retreat further into ourselves. We're pushing ourselves hard but not seeing any results. When we keep pushing, we grow weary. Does your battery need to be replaced? Are you due to set some new, fresh goals? Is it time for you to take a new action, make a new decision, dream a new and more inspiring dream? All through the day, declare victory over your life: "Today is a new day, today is going to be a great day. I've got a fresh start, a smile on my face, a spring in my step." Take that momentum and go write down some new short and long term goals for your life. Set goals that make you want to jump out of bed in the morning with excitement, ambition and a lust for life. Set goals so big and so inspiring that they provide a sort of gravitational pull that wills you closer to your goals each and every day. No need for pushing. Forget added 8 years laterTony Robbins was the operating system of the day.the past, it's a place of reference, not residence. Replace that battery with a new, more powerful one and you'll live with more passion than ever before! If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

JP Health artwork reading ‘Passion is the genesis of genius’, with a crowd photograph inside the letters. — Passion was the word of the times

12/7/17

Mixed Messages = Mixed Results

If you don't get clear about what you want and you keep sending your brain mixed signals about what will create more pleasure or pain in your life, you are going to become overwhelmed and confused. This is the kind of self-sabotaging behavior that stops any momentum and power in its tracks. Don't be the victim of mixed signals. Instead, we must creatively and effectively harness the great and infinite power of decision in order to shape our lives, be who we want to be, and do what we want to do. Doing this will enable you to design a life that minimizes pain and maximizes pleasure. Don't fall into the trap. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

JP Health artwork over a starry sky: You won't become all you were created to be if you are wasting your emotional energy on things that don't matter. — directing my focus/energy very intentionally. Still do.

12/8/17

Marijuana and its Effects: Good or Bad?

12/9/17

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. In life, it's not enough to just go with the flow and plan for the future "tomorrow". We've got to see the big picture. Far too many people suffer from the "Niagara Syndrome". People with Niagara Syndrome are suffering every day from problems that could have easily been prevented by better decisions upstream. They simply went with the flow, and by the time they realized they had messed up, it was far too late; they had gone over Niagara Falls, falling hard and fast to their eventual suffering. Friends, don't go with the flow. Make better decisions upstream so that you do not have to deal with the consequences of mediocrity at a later point when in reality, we all have the potential to be great.

an evolution on the brand

12/16/17

Ignorance isn't Bliss, Ignorance is Ignorance

Ignorance is defined as a lack of knowledge or information. Some people take offense when being referred to as ignorant because they confuse the meaning with "stupidity" or "being unintelligent", when in reality it is simply a state of unawareness. For example, I am completely ignorant to oceanography, which is the study of marine science. All too many are ignorant of the impacts of food on their bodies. These are not stupid people; rather, they are simply unaware. I am a believer that we must continually empty our minds, pretending that we know nothing in the name of constant and never-ending improvement. We must always learn and adapt over time. Our very existence has depended upon this principle. If we go around thinking we know it all and that we have it all, then there will never be any room for improvement and this is why we should at least pretend as if we know nothing when given the opportunity to learn. The following are some of my favorite quotes which illustrate that ignorance is definitely not bliss: 1. "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." - Derek Bok 2. "It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument." - William G. McAdoo 3. "If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?" - Thomas Jefferson 4. "The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about." - Wayne Dyer 5. "Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge." - Alfred North Whitehead 6. "Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is poverty. Ignorance is devastation. Ignorance is tragedy. Ignorance is illness. It all stems from ignorance." - Jim Rohn 7. “There is no worse blind man than the one who doesn’t want to see. There is no worse deaf man than the one who doesn’t want to hear. And there is no worse madman than the one who doesn’t want to understand.” - Ancient Proverb 8. "The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates 9. "Ignorance is not bliss. Bliss is knowing the full meaning of what you have been given." - David Levithan 10. "Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn." - Benjamin Franklin 11. "Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Lean from others' mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman Rickover 12. "Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion." - Philip Wylie 13. "Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth, for being correct, for being you. Never apologize for being correct, or for being years ahead of your time. If you’re right and you know it, speak your mind. Speak your mind. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth." - Mahatma Gandhi 14. "You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant." - Harlan Ellison 15. "Ignorance is not bliss, ignorance is ignorance." If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

12/21/17

Is Fruit Making Us Fat and Causing Disease?

Public Service Announcement: Fruit is not a health food.

Our ancestors ate fruit when it was in season (once per year, in summer) mainly to fatten themselves up for the winter, when calories would be harder to come by. Now, fruit is available to us year-round. This infinite availability is making us sick and overweight. Some might say that the sugar in fruit is "natural", and that makes it healthy. Unfortunately, this is a myth because sugar is sugar and the fructose in fruit sends a chemical message to your genes and brain to store fat for the "winter".

Fruit and Cancer:

Cancer cells generate ATP (cellular energy) through sugar fermentation, and they need 18x the amount of sugar compared to normal cells to be able to grow and divide¹. What's more? Cancer cells prefer to ferment sugar in the form of fructose². So, if you or someone you love has cancer, you can starve these cells by eliminating fruits and shifting metabolism to ketones (cancer cells cannot grow when your metabolism shifts to ketones as a source of fuel, as they are designed to feed off glucose for growth)³.

Fruit and your Kidneys:

Fructose in fruit causes your kidneys to swell and suffer injury, which can ruin them⁴. Next time you want to be "healthy" by eating a platter of fruit, you might as well reach for the skittles instead because it's similar crap. But really, eat vegetables, or anything on my list of acceptable foods from my LIFE Diet, which I offer at no cost to you just for being awesome.

Bottom line: Give fruit the boot, my friends. Do it for your health.

If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

An orange convertible beside the water, with 'Stop wishing, start doing' in JP Health artwork.

1/1/18

Action is Power

You think you need to feel confident or motivated to get started on the dream of your life. But you don't, that's a myth. You just have to start. Lying in bed just hoping that you wake up one morning with the motivation to change and to follow your dreams is not the answer. You have to learn how to just do it. You have to learn how to leverage the immense power of your decisions and you have to learn how to take action even when you don't feel like it. You just have to do it amidst all the doubt, uncertainty, and depression Even with all the problems you are dealing with, you probably know what you want. You know you want to follow your dreams, be happy and be successful. But there's a difference between knowing and doing, and just knowing is not enough. We can lay in bed at night and tell ourselves "Tomorrow, I'm going to meditate, exercise, read, make that phone call, and I won't hit the snooze button." The morning comes and you hit the snooze button. Unfortunately, we don't make decisions based on our goals or with logic most of the time. Rather, we make decisions based on how we feel in the moment. Do we feel like getting out of bed? Probably not. Do we feel like doing that fourth set of reps in the gym? Probably not. Do we feel like ending that toxic relationship? Probably not. Do we feel like making that follow up call after applying to a job? Probably not. This problem is robbing us of our joy and we are completely oblivious to the fact that the way you change your life is one decision at a time. Don't even think about it, just do it. The next time you hear that negative voice in your head that discourages you and gives you an excuse not to do something... just shut it off. "No thanks, I'm good" Then just do it. If you leverage the power of decision, then you have the power to change any and every part of your life. Don't wait until you feel confident. Just do it. And guess what? Building a lifestyle is cumulative, so along the way, your brain will develop that confidence, motivation, and courage. In moments of hesitation, we have great power because we have a decision to make: are we going to do the thing we know we should do or are we going make an excuse to put it off for "later"? If you found this particularly helpful, subscribe for more, share to help others, and connect with me on social media! Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Jordan wearing a gray shirt with his arms folded in a studio portrait. — my first headshot

1/20/18

added 8 years laterNo.Vegan, Keto Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (You have to try this!)

I love ice cream. I grew up eating ice cream every night, completely oblivious to the negative health side effects. added 8 years laterNow I do what I want.Now, I am well aware, so I no longer touch traditional ice cream. Recently, I purchased a food processor and I've been getting pretty creative with it, making all sorts of protein bars and ice cream. So today I'd like to share a delicious, vegan, ketogenic, ice cream recipe that tastes better than anything you'd find in a store (and it's super healthy, of course!). This stuff is unbelievably filling and it complies with my LIFE Diet. Prep time: 10 minutes Chill time: 2 hours Meet your ingredients 1. 10-15 oz can of full fat coconut milk or coconut cream (BPA-free) 2. 1/3 cup of Swerve 3. 2 tbsp mold toxin-free, lab-tested cacao powder 4. One bar soy-free 85% cacao dark chocolate (chopped, set half aside to mix in at the end) 5. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 6. 2 Hass avocados, peeled and pits removed 7. 3 tbsp chopped fresh mint and/or 5-10 drops SweetLeaf Peppermint Stevia How to make it 1. Pour the coconut milk, Swerve, cacao powder, and half of the chocolate bar into a saucepan. Use medium heat and whisk until the mix is blended (just 2-3 minutes). 2. Pour the mix into your food processor. Add the avocados, vanilla extract and mint. 3. Blend until smooth. Then pour the mixture into a container, preferably glass (f**k plastic! Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Chemicals). 4. Once in the container, add the chopped chocolate that you set aside earlier and mix it in. 5. Cover the container and place in... 6. The fridge for soft-serve ice cream (at least 2 hours) 7. The freezer for firmer ice cream (at least 2 hours) 8. Enjoy :) You may have questioned one of the ingredients... "avocados?!?" Yes, avocados! Your ice cream won't taste anything like an avocado - they are just included to produce a creamy, rich texture. Also, don't be afraid to mix it up! Get creative! Make ice creams with green bananas, shredded coconut, almonds, macadamia nuts, etc. If you enjoyed this or found this particularly helpful, then subscribe for more, share with friends and family (it means the world when you share!), and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

1/26/18

DIY Protein Bars (Cheaper, Tastier, Healthier Than Anything Store-Bought)

People ask me all the time what protein bars I recommend, or they tell me they've been eating a certain protein bar, thinking they are impressing me with their "healthy" eating. I always feel stuck when this happens. If only there was an awesome recipe for DIY Protein Bars ...

I have problems with protein bars, a.k.a glorified candy bars:

1. It's processed, unhealthy junk food 2. Some contain funky chemicals 3. Many contain soy 4. Many contain dairy 5. Many contain peanuts 6. Almost all contain at least 1 or multiple lectins; a type of protein that will suck your energy, make you weak, fat and destroy your gut, which is the root of most disease.¹, ², ³ 7. Probably 99% of vegan bars use some combination of pea and soy protein 8. Some are a sugar oasis 9. Most are too expensive There's a better way: I've created my own protein bars that you can make in just 10 minutes at home, I skip the added protein though so I just call them Nut Butter Bars. I always go light on protein because I am of the opinion that we're protein-aholics nowadays, and there is substantial evidence in numerous studies that point to too much protein causing coronary heart disease, cancer, and shortening of the lifespan⁴, but we'll talk about this in a separate post later on. I like to make a bunch of different varieties of this bar, but for now I'll just reveal two of them.

1. Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Bar

10. 1 cup of raw organic almonds 11. Himalayan pink salt, to taste (I do 5 full cracks) 12. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 13. 3 tbsp avocado oil OR 1 tbsp avocado oil + 2 tbsp Brain Octane Oil 14. Cinnamon, to taste 15. 1/2 green (lower sugar content, higher resistant starch) banana 16. Shredded coconut, to taste 17. 1 tbsp hemp seeds 18. 2 tbsp mold toxin free cacao powder 19. 1/4 soy-free 85% cacao chocolate bar 20. 1/4 cup organic full fat coconut milk 1-2 tbsp Swerve Yields 6-9 medium bars

2. Candied Pecan Butter Bar

21. 1 cup of organic pecans 22. Himalayan pink salt, to taste 23. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 24. 3 tbsp avocado oil OR 1 tbsp avocado oil + 2 tbsp Brain Octane Oil 25. Cinnamon, to taste 26. Shredded coconut, to taste 27. 2 tbsp flax seeds 28. 1/4 cup organic full fat coconut milk 29. 2 tbsp Swerve Yields 6-9 medium bars *As with many of my recipes, feel free to get creative! Try making different versions of these bars with macadamia nuts, pistachios, walnuts, and hazelnuts. If you must, add a bit of hemp protein to keep these bars vegan, or some collagen protein if veganism is not an issue. How to make the bars 30. Place the nuts in your food processor 31. Chop for 1 minute 32. Add all other ingredients, Chop until blended (another minute) 33. Place in snack bar mold (I use this one) 34. If the texture is too liquid, then freeze for 2 hours (shouldn't be an issue) *Keep bars refrigerated If you enjoyed this or found this particularly helpful, then subscribe for more, share with friends and family (it means the world when you share!), and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT p.s. these are very similar to Bulletproof bars.

2/1/18

Cocky or Confident - A Personal Account of My Struggle

The struggle to separate my cockiness from my confidence has been one of the most challenging struggles of my life. I've said and done some things that - in hindsight - I've realized come off extremely cocky, some instances as recent as last week. They have been embarrassing, face-palm worthy realizations, but I learn from everything. It's a process. I'm working diligently on it, constantly evaluating my actions and my words to make sure I'm on the track of confidence, not cockiness.

Exposing Cockiness

Cockiness is a mask. I, and others, wear this mask to cover up insecurities and a need to prove to others how great we are. Cockiness is fueled by conceit. Cockiness is fragile. Often times, external happenings will feed my conceit. This happens when I get a media feature or when I have a great day of sales or when I hear people that don't even know me raving about me - all of this feeds my conceit. Consequently, my cockiness soars to dizzying heights. At this point, all seems well and good, but as soon as I experience even a mild failure, my cockiness comes crashing down and the feeling of pain is proportional to the height it once reached. Cockiness is inauthentic. When I'm feeling cocky, I feel like I have to put on a show for the world to see how great I am, when in reality all I really feel is insecurity and anticipation of my next crash.

Dropping the Cocky Mask - This is Confidence

Confidence is sustainable because it is not dependent upon any successes or failures. It is detached from outcome.

Confidence is a stain they can’t wipe off https://t.co/W7wlo3eQzc
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) January 21, 2018

Confidence is authentic because it involves seeing things as they are. Confidence arises from knowing, equanimity, and resilience.

Confidence from knowing

1. Knowing your stuff - This is a simple one; If you walk into a room to talk about a specific topic and you are familiar with the material, then you walk into that room with confidence. For example, I'm confident when speaking about anything that has to do with health and fitness. 2. Knowing yourself - Knowing yourself means you have a strong self-awareness. You know how to play to your strengths and you know how to compensate for your weaknesses. Knowing these allows you to navigate through most situations skillfully. You are comfortable in your own skin and that kind of stuff shows in a sort of quiet confidence that presents itself no matter where you go. 3. Knowing you can know - If there is something I don't know currently, I know I can learn it. There seems to be an endless amount of books and podcasts on just about any topic you can imagine. I can learn something, apply it to the real world with consistent action, and master it over time.

Confidence from I had no understanding of equanimity back then.equanimity

Equanimity is the ability to maintain calmness and composure even in the midst of a difficult situation.

Confidence from resilience

When knowing and equanimity fail in the midst of a tough challenge, confident people know they can bounce back. Confident people don't suffer from the crippling fear of failure because they are aware that they can fully recover. If there is any aspect of confidence that I feel I'm good at, it's this. My resilience gives me the confidence to live life to the fullest.

Ego

Confident people hold their ego lightly. I've learned a ton about ego from my best friend Patrick; he believes ego is the enemy.

There is nothing more irritating than someone’s big Ego. You should strive to deflate your ego everyday
— Patty Ice (@PatSoIcey) December 8, 2017

I keep my own ego in check with one simple fact: One day I, and everyone I love will eventually be dead. Mindfulness of death helps to put everything into perspective and keeps the ego in check. The ultimate deflation of ego is when you can walk into a room and not have to say to anyone "do you know who I am?" I cannot lie, I have said this in the past - a shameful admission, I know.

A rich man doesn’t need to tell you he’s rich
— JP (@J__Paris) January 10, 2018

Friends, if you appreciated my vulnerability and this message struck a chord with you, then I encourage you to subscribe and share this message with friends and family - it means more than you know. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Society is being desensitized and sensitized all at the same time. People are being desensitized to their natural compassion and human nature, yet their egos are increasingly becoming sensitive which is why people are so reactive to every little thing nowadays.
— Patty Ice (@PatSoIcey) January 4, 2018

Jordan and Patrick together beside the Naples mural. — Patrick and I

2/6/18

What Defines You - A Tale About Money

Take a 20 dollar bill and go to the closest public transportation stop. Walk up to someone and say "I'll sell you this $20 bill for $1". Nobody will buy it from you. There are some reasons for this: 1. Nobody hopes to complete a financial transaction at the bus stop. 2. Only a crazy person would sell you a real 20 dollar bill for a dollar, and dealing with crazy people is tricky, so this must not be a real 20 dollar bill and you should just walk away. Now here's another story: Put a 20 dollar bill in your neighbor's mailbox and walk away. Do this 4 days in a row. On the fifth day, knock on your neighbor's door and say "Hey, I'm the one that's been putting $20 in your mailbox, here's another one, wanna buy it for a dollar?" You'll sell it. Because your neighbor knows your crazy, but crazy in a very special way. And you've earned their trust. They know it's a real 20 dollar bill. In our minds, we go along assuming that $20 is worth $20. But that's not true. It's a mutual belief and if the belief isn't present, then they are worth nothing. Is money a reflection of your worth as a human? That number you see on a screen, does that define you? If you ask me, I'd say 2 things define you: 1. The value you've contributed to the people who you share this great Earth with. 2. How successful you are. And by successful, I mean happy. Don’t overthink life Don’t sweat the small stuff Be who you want to be Do what you want to do Live for now, in the moment

Just live life man, do it for you but live for others too. Give back, add value, serve others - I think that’s what gives life depth and meaning
— JP (@J__Paris) January 11, 2018

Friends, if you appreciated this perspective and this message resonated with you, then I encourage you to subscribe and share this message with friends and family if you think someone near and dear to you could benefit from seeing this - it means more than you know. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

2/10/18

Intermittent Fasting - What You Need to Know

Intermittent fasting has become a popular trend in health and weight loss circles the past few years.

What is intermittent fasting?

Put simply, it's cycling between periods of fasting and eating, like fasting for 16 hours at a time while eating all of your food within an 8-hour period each day. When we eat all day every day, our bodies burn glucose for energy, which is not efficient and our mitochondria become exhausted from constantly having to produce energy to process food. Normally, our regular consumption of food provides the brain with glucose for fuel. In between meals, our brains are supplied with this glucose by breaking down glycogen from the liver and muscles. However, glycogen stores run out eventually. Our metabolism shifts and we create new molecules of glucose through amino acids of protein in our muscles. This process is called gluconeogenesis. Sure, this might create new energy for your body, but it comes at cost: breaking down muscle. On the flip side, when you go long periods without eating, your body turns to fat for vital fuel (meaning you burn fat for energy). Your body breaks down fat into specialized molecules referred to as ketones. Among the various types of ketones, there is beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HBA), which is far superior in terms of energy production when compared to glucose. In fact, beta-HBA improves antioxidant function, increases quantities of mitochondria, stimulates the growth of new brain cells, and suppresses inflammation¹. Think of ketones as super fuel. What’s even more incredible is that tumors cannot grow when your metabolism shifts to ketones as a source of fuel, as they are designed to feed off glucose for growth². For this reason, it is a good idea to go 16-18 hours without eating every day. You're essentially training your body to burn fat just by being strategic about when to eat. Now I know what you’re thinking… 16-18 hours is a ridiculously long amount of time to go without eating! Actually, it’s not, think about it like this: if you have dinner at 5:00 pm, then that means you shouldn’t eat again until 9:00 am… that’s not so bad! In addition to an increase in energy and a decrease in body fat, my father, a doctor, has observed in his patients throughout his career that those who use the digestive system the least, or eat less often, generally live longer than those who continuously pound food down. In fact, studies prove this in dramatic fashion - in one of them, rats that fasted every other day lived 83% longer than rats that did not fast³. I’m not saying you should restrict calories too much, but just be mindful of when and how often you eat; don’t count calories, just eat the right foods at the right time and you will thrive. Fasting for just 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window for as little as 8 weeks has been proven to decrease fat mass, maintain and build muscle mass, and increase some critical biomarkers of overall health when paired with resistance training⁴. No, this does not mean you can eat burgers, fries and the like within that 8-hour window; this only works when paired with the right diet. Fasting decreases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's⁵,⁶,⁷. Further, in a study, short-term fasts helped to significantly reduce Alzheimer's symptoms in 9 out of 10 patients⁸.

Intermittent fasting may also help prevent cancer⁹,¹⁰,¹¹,¹².

2/15/18

Inspire the World To Go For It

The vision: Let's put the excuses aside. Let's put the competition aside because it's not a race. Let's just go for it all, let's do it, what do you have to lose? Let's chase the dream, let's build that dream, let's create a life and a legacy that matters, let's do that thing we've been meaning to do. What have you created in the past year? What do you want to create moving forward? Who do you want to be in this world? How will you be remembered The things we have and the things we do are fleeting, but who we are and how we make others feel is what creates a lasting impact and it's what people will remember about you. My intention is to inspire action and enroll people in my vision where the vast majority of people take control of their lives and feel inspired each and every day. Everybody should be able to say they at least went for it. Everyone should be able to say they really LIVED. I want to share the growth mindset with the world and I want you to share it with the people that matter most to you as well. The only way we grow is when you share the message of inspiration. Whoever you can think of - maybe it's a colleague, a good friend, a family member - share this out to them. To me, inspiration is worthless unless you spread it with those around you. It's infectious and we need to infect everyone we encounter because it seems so many people are walking through this world feeling broken and just "fine". Let's change that. Let's INSPIRE! If you got anything of value out of this, please consider sharing and subscribing below. It helps us spread our message.

JP Health artwork with a mountain horizon and the quote: Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art. Don Miguel Ruiz.

2/16/18

How to Turn Nervousness to Excitement

Let's begin with a simple evaluation: What are the signs of nervousness? 1. Increased heart rate 2. Breathlessness 3. Sweaty hands 4. Playing with the hands 5. Cortisol (stress/awake hormone) increases What are the signs of excitement? 1. Increased heart rate 2. Breathlessness 3. Sweaty hands 4. Playing with the hands 5. Cortisol (stress/awake hormone) increases Nervousness and excitement are strikingly similar, with one key distinction:

Successful people interpret nervousness as excitement.

When these signs bubble to the surface (sometimes in overwhelming fashion), it's up to you how you choose to utilize them. Successful people get all the same feelings that you do before speaking publicly or any situation that evokes nervousness/excitement as ordinary people. They feel these feelings and they say "oooo, I'm excited!" This concept is referred to as reappraising arousal, and it's been proven in a Harvard Study. The study found that re-framing anxiety as a positive resulted in an increase in the math section of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Standardized Test. Fascinating. The ball is in your court. Friends, if you appreciated this perspective and this message resonated with you, then I encourage you to subscribe and share this message with friends and family if you think someone near and dear to you could benefit from seeing this - it means more than you know. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

2/20/18

The Dynamics of Posture

Poor posture seems to be an epidemic nowadays. In this Ted Talk with Dr. Brian Paris (my uncle), you'll learn how posture affects you, your emotions and what you can do to start standing up straighter today. He's helped me with my own poor posture for as long as I can remember and I've probably heard this stuff 20,000 times over the years! Posture is often overlooked and it's quite important, so I encourage you to watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VEH8u4eI0A The 7:48 mark is when he shows you what perfect posture should look like.

2/26/18

I Know Nothing

Two ears, one mouth.

I should probably keep that in mind more often. Sometimes I feel like I need to prove I know it all or have something to say. It's a void I fill with the sound of my own voice. In reality, if we can be honest, we'll admit that none of us know what we're doing. Everybody is just winging it. I know a good amount about the science behind the human body and optimal health and fitness. But when I think about it, the only time I've ever learned anything is when I've kept my mouth shut, when I've listened to others, and when I've read others' work.

Two ears, one mouth.

Do you know a know-it-all? Here's what's funny about them: They have the toughest time persuading even though persuasion is all they're looking for. They make others feel silly, but in reality, they are the silly ones because they are closed off to new learning opportunities. "I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." - Galileo

"Every man I meet is in some way my superior; and in that I can learn from him." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be open to what others have to say, be open to new experiences; You'll become wise. If you walk around with your cup full all the time, you can't fill it with anything new. What am I saying? I mean you think you know it all, then you'll never learn anything new. You'll be stuck with what you've got and you'll become complacent. Complacency kills. We have to have the courage to be able to say "I don't know" sometimes. When we can say that, we are being genuine, and everyone likes a genuine person. We can't connect with or relate to someone who is perfect. Trying to be perfect is exhausting and it's not worth it because usually these people reek of desperation. Sometimes I feel this way.

Stop thinking so much, it's ok to not have all the answers. I certainly don't have it all figured out, and I'm ok with that.
— JP (@J__Paris) November 15, 2017

Humility is the path to becoming wise. Stay humble, my friends. Friends, if you appreciated this perspective and this message resonated with you, then I encourage you to subscribe and share this message with friends and family if you think someone near and dear to you could benefit from seeing this - it means more than you know. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

Steve beside his white Porsche, in black and white. — Steve's Porsche Cayman photo he posted on Facebook with the caption "Dreams can come true!" I always dreamed of having a white Porsche since I was probably 10 yrs old. 30 yrs later it's a reality. **#workhard**-playhard This resonated with me deeply. And not just because the car.

Steve Jordan smiling with his arms folded. — Steve

2/28/18

Are Açaí Bowls Making You Fit or Fat?

Açaí bowls are making you fat, despite the popular notion that they are healthy. Sad, I know. I wish they were healthy just as bad as everyone else because they taste great, but science says otherwise. Let's explore why açaí bowls might not be as great as some make them out to be:

1. They are loaded with sugar, which leads to disease and weight gain

The average açaí bowl has around 50 to 90 grams of sugar, a toxic amount for any human to consume in such a short period of time, especially when you consider that the American Heart Association recommends no more than 36 grams per day for men and no more than 25 grams for women.¹ Yes, this is "natural" sugar from fruits, but I dug deeper the other week when I wrote about fructose in fruits: Some might say that the sugar in fruit is "natural", and that makes it healthy. Unfortunately, this is a myth because sugar is sugar and the fructose in fruit sends a chemical message to your genes and brain to store fat for the "winter". Fruit and Cancer: Cancer cells generate ATP (cellular energy) through sugar fermentation, and they need 18x the amount of sugar compared to normal cells to be able to grow and divide.² What's more? Cancer cells prefer to ferment sugar in the form of fructose.³ So, if you or someone you love has cancer, you can starve these cells by eliminating fruits and shifting metabolism to ketones (cancer cells cannot grow when your metabolism shifts to ketones as a source of fuel, as they are designed to feed off glucose for growth).⁴ Fruit and your Kidneys: Fructose in fruit causes your kidneys to swell and suffer injury, which can ruin them.⁵ Next time you want to be "healthy" by eating a platter of fruit (or an açaí bowl), you might as well reach for the Skittles instead because it's similar crap. The Skittles will save you time and money.

2. Granola - the Whole Grain Truth

Granola is rolled oats (oats are grains), usually drowned in honey or some sort of sugar and is found in your typical açaí bowl. Why are oats and other grains so bad? Grains contribute to chronic inflammation, leaky gut, and autoimmune diseases. Intestinal permeability (gut destruction) and immune reaction have been confirmed in humans with the following molecules found in grains: gliadin, wheat germ agglutinin, prolamins, and lectins.⁶ We won't dive into these, but when you consider some açaí bowls are made with soymilk, peanut butter, and more toxic add-ons, they become increasingly unhealthy. My friends, the truth may be hard to swallow, but it's the truth and you can do better than settle for a $10 açaí bowl that is making you fat and sick. Instead of a health food, view it as an occasional (once per month?) treat. References: 1. http://www.newhealthguide.org/How-Many-Grams-Of-Sugar-In-A-Teaspoon.html 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849637/ 3. https://www.reuters.com/article/cancer-fructose-idAFN0210830520100802 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4235292/ 5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17670904 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705319/ If you're a truth seeker and you appreciate hearing this, subscribe for more, share to spread the truth to your friends, and connect with me on social media! To maximizing health, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT

It's a Lifestyle

The Mind-Body Relationship: A Dancing Act

Why New Year Resolutions Almost Always Fail (And What You Can Do To Reach Your Goals)

It's external motivation versus internal motivation.

Water pH Matters!

Here's Why You SHOULD Eat Organic Foods

Produce

Meats

Processed foods

To Summarize

3 Easy Ways To Maximize Your Personal Growth

1. Surround yourself with people smarter than yourself, people that have what you want.

2. Dwell on positivity only.

3. Feed your mind.

There Is No Profit In Good Health (SEE WHAT THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY HIDES!)

Happiness Solved

Joy + Joy + Joy = Happiness

Quality Questions = Quality life

Living in the Moment

The Magnificent Obsession: a Compelling Future

The Past Does Not Equal the Future

The Seasons of Life

The 24 Hour Rule

How To Win the Game of Life

YOU Are the Inspiration

4 Reasons You Should Take Vitamin C

Happiness Before Money

Happiness must come before money.

The Definitive Guide To Healthy Hair & Skin (Men & Women!)

Well, there you have it: Your Personal Care Bible!

4 Simple Ways to Detox the Mind and Body

1. Meditate

2. Read

3. Sleep

4. Drink Water

5 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Personal Trainer

1. Ask what their health and fitness philosophy is

2. Consider the following: Do they practice what they preach?

3. What are their certifications?

4. What's the plan? How can they help you to reach your goals a few months from now?

5. What's the cost?

added 8 years laterOne of the few good posts from this era.Words Shape Our Reality

Top 25 Inspirational Quotes

Overcoming Weariness

Mixed Messages = Mixed Results

Marijuana and its Effects: Good or Bad?

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

Ignorance isn't Bliss, Ignorance is Ignorance

Is Fruit Making Us Fat and Causing Disease?

Public Service Announcement: Fruit is not a health food.

Fruit and Cancer:

Fruit and your Kidneys:

Bottom line: Give fruit the boot, my friends. Do it for your health.

Action is Power

added 8 years laterNo.Vegan, Keto Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (You have to try this!)

DIY Protein Bars (Cheaper, Tastier, Healthier Than Anything Store-Bought)

I have problems with protein bars, a.k.a glorified candy bars:

1. Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Bar

2. Candied Pecan Butter Bar

Cocky or Confident - A Personal Account of My Struggle

Exposing Cockiness

Dropping the Cocky Mask - This is Confidence

Confidence from knowing

Confidence from I had no understanding of equanimity back then.equanimity

Confidence from resilience

Ego

What Defines You - A Tale About Money

Intermittent Fasting - What You Need to Know

What is intermittent fasting?

Intermittent fasting may also help prevent cancer⁹,¹⁰,¹¹,¹².

Inspire the World To Go For It

How to Turn Nervousness to Excitement

Successful people interpret nervousness as excitement.

The Dynamics of Posture

I Know Nothing

Two ears, one mouth.

Two ears, one mouth.

Are Açaí Bowls Making You Fit or Fat?

1. They are loaded with sugar, which leads to disease and weight gain

2. Granola - the Whole Grain Truth