Hopefully this is the effect this years Victoria Derby horse race will have on all women

To introduce you to the world of horse racing and the Victoria Derby it is a very prestigious race run right in the middle of the Melbourne Cup spring racing cup carnival. It has been run for something like 153 years and today was the first time in the races history a female jockey piloted the winner over the finish line. A truly historic event that will etch Clare Lindop's name in the history books.

It is very rare for female jockeys to compete at the top level of competitive horse racing. It is a very cut throat industry where money isn't scarce. Jockeys have the opportunity to earn the sort of money that can guarantee a life of abundance for them and their families. On the other side of the coin one mistake can be fatal for them and for their counterparts.

Clare Lindop's historic win is significant for women in more than one way. Firstly it proves that the girls can mix it with the boys. What I predict is the increased prevalence of winning female jockeys in big Group races. Efforts like the one from Clare breaks the ice and shows other females that they can achieve these types of successes. It was the same as when the one minute mile was achieved, the 10 second 100m and so on. Women now have evidence that winning top group 1 horse races can be done. Women no longer have to manufacture vision that the feat is achievable, they will read about it and watch it everywhere.

Take away point of all this is how powerful our minds are. Removing restrictions can come in all forms. It isn't the fact that it is too hard for women to ride horses as well as the men but it is the fact that their mindsets and the racing population tells them this is so. The top owners only use the girls at last resort and punters don't make women driven race horses favourites do they? Hopefully women start winning more and more big horse races and show us all that we can do anything if our minds believe it so. If you can't concieve you'll never achieve. If you have dreams and passion mix persistence with it and you will have a winning formula.

Investing isn't for the faint hearted.

A while back I wrote about value and how once you have started to change your mindset and start removing restrictions from your life you would be well served to realise your true value first. Now that you place a greater value on yourself and are more aware of what is most important to you and your world. I reckon it's time to start initiating some investment action. Not the financial type but the mindset type. It will be more valuable than any other investment you've ever had.

For example a mate of mine was looking at becoming a better businessman and was tired of making do with what he had. So he changed his mindset as much as he could but he needed to invest in himself. In terms of time, money, effort and persistence to name just a few. We chatted and it was easy to see from an outsider looking in he needed help to raise the level of his own self valuation. He read and took courses and sucked up all of the information he could possibly find. Then he took a giant leap and contacted a business coach. After chatting briefly he was told to book in for two workshops and he would get a free hour with this guru coach. The catch was it was in Sydney and on a Friday we are on the other side of Australia). Instantly he replied that he couldn't lose a days income as Friday was an alright day for him monetary wise. Expecting to hear sympathy and understanding he was met by a short but sharp reply of, 'do you want to stay where you are, earning what you earn for the rest of your life'? Needless to say he went to Sydney but was almost physically sick that night as he had been pushed way out of his comfort zone mentally, financially and routine wise.

Getting to the point he initiated some investment in himself. Although forced he did it. He is now doing well and looks destined for good things. Most importantly he's loving the new him. If you want betterment in any area of your life, not just business, try these 3 simple steps to set you on your way.

1. Question yourself and if you are happy with who you are and where you are headed in your area of concern. If not move on, if you are happy stop here.
2. Ask for assistance from an expert. Save yourself time and effort because your time is valuable right? The quicker you initiate and conquer this investment the quicker you can move on to another restriction busting investment.
3. Trade something you are currently doing for something you feel you need to do and will help you get what you desire. It may be trading sitting on the couch after work for going for a walk or a run. You won't feel entirely comfortable about it but that's the trade off. Your trustworthy expert will guide you, you will have to follow through.

What are you waiting for get investing in you. If you won't invest in yourself you are a bad investment right?

You have the choice - responsibility or excuses.

We all have these really bad days or really bad weeks where everything goes pear shaped. Stress takes over and before you know it your mind is a bubbling inferno of anger, resentment and bitterness. Loved ones who come in contact with you are on edge because your body language tells them to beware. Not to mention all of the other big rocks that are important to you in your life get neglected if not forgotten completely. You are living in what I call a stress halo. Because you are the angel who is never wrong but is always stressed!!!

What is even worst, when these times are with us we look for excuses or someone to blame. It's human nature as we are never wrong. Someone else must have made the mistake that caused my dilemma. I am here to tell you everything that happens to you in life is a direct result of your actions. This may be hard to take but the more I grow and develop I am finding this to be a real truism. Don't judge me as Mr Perfect either because I am far from it. The difference is when things go wrong for me excuses aren't sought. Responsibility is taken as hard as it is sometimes.

Only this week my families life was thrown into turmoil and although not directly responsible My wife and I took responsibility and remedied the stressful circumstance. We didn't get to go grocery shopping, have a day off together as a family, work on my business enough, keep our cool with the kids and there was even the thought of missing out on a training session because of this turmoil. Luckily the exercise was done, the kids were fed and we are now making it up to them in the attention stakes and shopping will be done as soon as this is finished.

My point is we have choices in our lives and we can take responsibility for any negative outcomes that will come our way or we can make an excuse and justify to others why it wasn't our fault. To become a creature of choice and take the weight yourself you need to follow these simple but powerful guidelines.

1. Identify the stressful stimulant and take responsibility for it. What didn't I do that put me in this position. Even if it wasn't your fault you have been affected, do you want it to happen again?
2. Learn from the mistake or the occurrence and take steps to ensure it won't happen again. Remember the definition of a slow learner is someone who doesn't learn from their mistakes.
3. Choose to live your life this way from now on. Vow never to make another excuse again in your life and go the extra step and get a loved one or a significant other to hold you accountable. Whenever you make an excuse ask them to politely inform you. They will be helping you become aware of this stress building restrictive practice of making excuses and helping you improve your health and well being as you will be managing stress not stress managing you.

Now it's up to you; choose to change and take full responsibility for your life or make excuses why life is conspiring against you.

When is Back Pain More Than Just Back Pain

As previously reported back pain is a very serious issue that we have somewhat become immune to. I'm sure the attitude to many is, 'back pain won't kill me'. You're right to a degree but there can be more to just what seems to be a sore back.

Firstly before we go on if you are experiencing back pain the problems that caused it have been building for a fair period of time. Micro trauma after micro trauma have been building up and eventually your abused spine has had enough. Now when is back pain more than just back pain? When other issues become a problem in conjunction with your back pain. Such as psychosocial issues related to their constant chronic lower back pain. This can turn your life into a state of disharmony and poor self esteem. There is also the issue of oxygenation. As a consequence of your constant back ache your posture suffers and your breathing technique can become floored. Leading to poor oxygenation reducing cell metabolism and your bodies natural healing powers.

These are just two of the many problems that can be associated with back pain. It is one of the most common and prevalent lifestyle restrictors around. A 2001 Australian study puts the cost of back pain at $9.1 billion dollars of which $8.1 billion dollars comes from lost productivity at work. Whilst it may not be a life threatening disease; if your life is of any value to you, take these steps to prevent it and if too late alleviate back related disability.

1. Glute up: Learn to activate your butt muscles. Imagine you have a hundred dollar bill between your butt cheeks and you aint letting it out for anyone.
2. Trap up: Learn to activate your mid to lower trapezium muscles so these muscles found between the shoulder blades get stronger and take the weight of anything you lift.
3. Rest up: Turn your lower back muscles off. They shouldn't be used at all when bending or lifting.

Life is too short to have a sore back.

How Will Climate Change Affect Your Health?

Unless you have been in a coma for the last 6 months to a year you would have heard all of the climate change commentary. We can't escape it and what is becoming more evident is it will affect you directly. It will place restrictions on your lifestyle and the generations to follow. It is alright to talk about it but how can you do your bit to help?

That is up to you and I'm not going to rant about how you should be helping. But I am going to illustrate the consequences of yours and my actions in relation to climate change. Firstly if you don't think climate change has already done much damage look at these major occurrences.

• European heat wave, 2003: Estimates suggest that approximately 70 000 more people died in that summer than would have been expected.
  Rift Valley fever in Africa: Major outbreaks are usually associated with rains, which are expected to become more frequent as the climate changes.
• Hurricane Katrina, 2005: More than 1 800 people died and thousands more were displaced. Additionally, health facilities throughout the region were destroyed critically affecting health infrastructure.
• Malaria in the East African highlands: In the last 30 years, warmer temperatures have also created more favourable conditions for mosquito populations in the region and therefore for transmission of malaria.
• Epidemics of cholera in Bangladesh: They are closely linked to flooding and unsafe water

Although not solely attributed to climate change the World Health Org predicts that these types of changes and occurrences are expected to occur more frequently due to climatic changes and pressures.

For us here in Australia the Doctors for the Environment Australia have released a Climate Change Health Check 2020 that states by 2020 doctors will be seeing increased cases of heat stress, infectious and allergic diseases, respiratory problems and mental illness associated with prolonged drought and other natural disasters. So next time you hear someone say climate change won't affect them; explain it to them will you - please!!

Eggs are Back!!

Does anyone really know what is good for us or what isn't good for us? I say that because now new research and finding are telling us eggs are good for us. I'm not saying I told you so but if you were sticking to our guidelines that we put out on nutrition you would have been eating eggs anyway. It's food provided by nature in an unprocessed state, something I feel really passionate about. Nature has unbridled forces that we should be utilising more.

These couple of studies erase the info that medico's have been scaring the general population with for years. They cause high cholesterol and they are fattening!!! The reality is most foods fall into this category. Eat too much of something and it's fattening. Anyway here's one of the studies from the Journal of Nutrition. Dr. Robert Nicolosi at the University of Massachusetts said, "Our data show that eating an egg a day isn't a factor for raising cholesterol." And here's another study from San Francisco. A study reported in 2006 that when people ate three or more eggs per day, the amount of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in their bloodstream did in fact increase as previously reported. However they also found that the subjects actually made bigger LDL particles which were less likely to enter artery walls and build up as artery-clogging plaque.
Head researcher Christine Green said that a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that eggs shouldn't be considered a "dietary evil."

So in concluding this egg round up, if you like eggs and enjoy them for breakfast or in omelette's get into them because they are not going to harm you. In fact they will be good for you. They are one of natures best little snacks already packed in a protective wrapping waiting for you to crack them open.

Emabracing Nature Isn't Just for Tree Hugging Hippies

If you are truly serious about losing restrictive practices to improve the quality of your existence, you must embrace nature. That doesn't mean growing dreadlocks, stop showering and move into the forest to live. I'm talking along the lines of aligning yourself and your functioning to take advantage of the natural forces we all possess. To be truly healthy and restriction free nature has to be left to it's own devices. Unfortunately in today's society we have to plan to be natural. Our ancestors would probably laugh at that comment if they were to hear this.

Just think; we have technology to keep us up all night when the natural rejuvenatory and recovery agent sleep should be occurring. Preservatives, colours and who knows what else are put into our food to make it appealing, tastier and last longer!! Activity is undertaken on machines and equipment designed to keep us safe and injury free. Cars take us every where because we don't have time to walk anywhere. And we must utilise every waking hour effectively or you are labeled as a bludger, lazy or an under achiever. High fat content natural foods are seen as a sure fire way to bring on heart disease and other lifestyle related conditions. Now sit back and see how we are travelling in the lifestyle stakes.

We are up sized, depressionalised, chemicalised, heart diseased, diabetisised, cancerised, Maccatized, coca colarised, caffeineitised, materialised and recently creditised and unclimatised. How well are we going? All of the value nature offers us is going to waste. Sunshine, fresh air, natural wholefoods, water to drink, 8 -10 hours of sleep, face to face communication and relationship building, physical activity as a way of life - (transport, gathering food, stress relief and socialising) and using your body as a functional unit not as a shell as most people are doing today.

It is never too late to get natural forces back into your mindset and in turn rejuvenate your whole existence. But it has reached the stage where you have to plan to be natural. Plan to increase more simplicity into your life. Don't fight it, plan it. The beauty of our society now is the abundance of options available to you. In fact if you plan it correctly and you may need assistance initially life can become so much more rewarding because happiness and wellness becomes a constant in your world not just a fantasy. You then start to view all of the superficial forces in our universe as a treat or a bonus.