During my years on Wall Street, I was constantly in training at the Downtown Athletic Club. This training was an all around program I designed to get into top physical shape. Every year (for 5 years) I did a “sit-up-athon” to raise money for terminally ill kids affiliated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I would do these sit-ups and would get others to do them as well and we would get individuals and companies to pledge money for every sit-up achieved. Thanks to the generosity of the folks on Wall Street we were able to raise quite a bit and every penny went to the kids wishes. This actually started my speaking career, mostly to athletes, when I set a World Record for consecutive sit-ups (20,100 in 11 hours and 32 minutes).
Anyway, people always asked me what I ate while in training. I probably consumed 5000 calories a day, but also burned 5000 calories a day, which meant my weight did not change. One of the primary staples of my diet was PASTA. I have attached a great article by Lucy Danziger that is quite good, please enjoy.!!!
Eat Pasta, Drop Pounds!
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief
Ever tried to avoid carbs in order to lose weight and found they still follow you everywhere you go? At my favorite restaurant, the fettuccine on the menu taunts me; at my friend’s baby shower, the sandwich platter beckons much louder than the mixed greens. And in a business meeting, the cookies distract me. Whether it’s a basket of warm bread, a tasty pasta or tantalizing desserts, carbs can be hard to quit.
Thankfully, you don’t have to. Despite their reputation for helping pack on the pounds (remember Dr. Atkins?), certain carbs can actually help you feel fuller longer and fight fat. The key? Fiber—found in whole grains, oats, certain legumes and even popcorn! When people follow a high-fiber diet—at least 34 grams of fiber a day—they absorb up to 6 percent fewer calories, research shows.
Before you raid your breadbox, learn these two simple carb commandments to enjoy pasta and all your fave carbs and still peel off pounds.
Carb commandment #1: Look for whole grains. Unlike their white counterparts, whole-grain versions of rice, bread and pasta are high in satiating, fat-fighting fiber. Opt for whole-grain pastas and replace your usual loaf of bread with one that offers 4 to 5 g fiber per slice, says SELF contributing editor Janis Jibrin, R.D. For breakfast, nibble on whole-grain waffles. On pizza night, try whipping up a whole-wheat crust at home. Order brown rice with your Chinese stir-fry, and use whole-wheat tortillas on Mexican Mondays. These subtle (and scrumptious!) swaps will help you slim!
Carb commandment #2: No need to pig out—even on whole wheat! As with every nugget of nutrition advice, moderation is key. Fortunately, whole grains contain the same number of calories as refined or white carbs, but they serve up more fiber, so you’ll be satisfied with a smaller portion, says Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D., author of The Real You Diet (Wiley). Go ahead and have your Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Pasta, but serve it in a cereal bowl rather than a Frisbee-sized dinner plate and stick to a 1-cup serving. Mangia!
Now that you’ve swapped your default fettuccine for whole-grain and brown rice for white, check out this list of amazing grains on Self.com for more ways to fill your cart smart.
Employing teens has always come with challenges, and that’s more true today than ever! Raised while multi-tasking on life’s super technology highway, they can confuse, complicate and, at times, consternate.
The truth is every generation thinks higher of their own performance of when they were teens. How soon we all forget. Still, the reality for many businesses is teens are the employees closest to the customer… the face of their company! To remain competitive and maximize profits, it’s essential that employers capture, leverage and contribute to the skills that teens can bring to the workplace. But that requires change on the employers’ part.
This is an age group, most born since 1990, whose entire lives have been enveloped in a world of technology, information and communication change, as well as major cultural and societal shifts. Less attention has been given to personal responsibility, and basic work ethics are not taught in school or at home. They simply have never heard about the importance of being on time and in uniform, giving respect to a supervisor, communicating clearly, making eye contact or job commitment significance.
So what’s an employer to do? Plenty! The following are guidelines to an effective strategy to working with teens. We call it catching “WAVES.”
Way of life: This is about improving the workplace environment. Appreciate the fact that young staff members are the way they are. It’s not wrong, it’s not right, it just is. Meet them where they are. Allow some failure. Don’t focus on what they’ve done wrong. Build your relationship by encouraging them on what they are doing right. They can become fiercely loyal if they are taken seriously and treated with respect.
First impressions mean everything. Be welcoming, provide social events and emphasize fun. Celebrate their successes, not those just from the workplace, but learn where they excel away from work. Make a connection with their parents, families and friends.
Attitude: They come with an attitude of independence and “what’s in it for me.” If you learn how to feed this you’ll find highly motivated teens. Provide flexible scheduling and provide incentives for performance … and don’t make them wait. Instant prize programs are best. Recognize positive behaviors and catch them doing something right. Promote strong performers quickly and give them more responsibility. Patience is not a virtue with teens, so provide variety in job duties. Establish goals and empower them to come up with the answers. You’ll be surprised.
Since we are talking about attitude, what about yours? A condescending and inconsistent attitude from leaders at work will send your teen employee out the door and working down the street.
Verbal, video and visual: This age group has watched 20,000 hours of TV by the time they are 18. Over six hours per day are spent in front of a video screen. You need to use this technology to your advantage. Include some examples here, such as create a training video for your staff to watch, use computer programs to train new hires, etc.
Names are important, so use their nickname. Applications should be online and your work schedules posted on your Web site. Don’t print mounds of paper and expect the information to be read and retained. Make handbooks and memos less complicated and smaller, while focusing on the most important items for your business success. Enhance communication by using e-mail and text messaging. Create a vibrant workplace through the use of photos and videos of your employees at work and away from work.
Education … not Just training: If training is the “how,” then education is the “why.” This age group requires to know the purpose, the why, behind tasks. Never assume anything, confirm their knowledge and explain the purpose behind every task.
Parents and teachers used to prepare teens for the workplace. That does not occur at the same level as it once did. Build education into your training process and you will find longer-term, and a more committed young work force. This is the new calling for today’s teen employers.
Style matters: Style is how employees look, the image of your company and how they are treated at work. Teens care about how they look and how they’re treated. Uniforms shouldn’t embarrass your staff, and your grooming policy should be relevant. Be prepared to justify both to your employees.
Be knowledgeable of current teen trends in fashion, music and entertainment, and pay attention to the techniques and strategies utilized by retailers to get teens to spend their hard-earned money. Today’s retailers are very good at motivating teens!
Teens don’t quit companies … they quit people. As a supervisor of teens, how you carry yourself has a huge impact on performance and retention. Every manager or supervisor needs to be on board with the commitment of getting the most from your teens.
These five principles can be used as overview that will help you determine what would work best for your operation. A fresh approach in working with your teens does not mean that you need to compromise the values and principles of your business. Instead, it should provide the opportunity for you to increase your focus.
Teens can be inspired, motivated and productive. Today’s teens are the most knowledgeable and adaptive group ever. Don’t judge them through the eyes of when you were a teen … look through theirs. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and you’ll have a positive impact on the lives of the teenagers you employ.
About the author:
Ken Whiting is an industry expert on providing solutions for entry-level workforce challenges. His WAVES for Success program teaches companies what inspires young adults and teens to participate, contribute and excel at work. His new book, “WAVES for Teenage Workforce Success,” provides insights on recruiting, motivating and retaining. For a free copy of the “WAVES 101 Best Ways to Recruit, Retain, Educate and Motivate Today’s Teens”, visit www.WAVESforsuccess.com. For speaking and consulting, call 831-423-1890 ext.2 or e-mail ken@wavesforsuccess.com.