You wouldn't believe some of the things I have heard when it comes to reasons why getting healthy is so hard.  From I am too tired to I get home too late to I don't know what to do, it's all been heard.  Heck, in fact, I've probably said them all before.  But oftentimes, the easiest solution is right outside our own door.  Take a 3 minute journey with me and help uncover some of the hardest mental obstacles to overcome in your journey to better health.  

Bonus:  As someone who believes foods should work hand in hand with your exercise routine, the hardest part is actually knowing what to make.  I know what it's like to want to free up more time that is normally spent wondering what to make for dinner.  (Click here for my recipe time saver).  

I recently read an article entitled "The 5 pillars of High Performance" by Brendon Burchard.  It was a great read in that one of his "pillars" was Energy. In the article, he was referring to the energy and power of the brain when he said that high performers have a lot of energy.  He said, "The power plant doesn't have energy, it creates energy.  Energy isn't something you have.  It's something you are creating in the moment based on how you think." He's saying we have the ability to create usable energy simply by our will to think.

When I read his article, I was in the mind set of trying to be more energized about my business.  It was 5:30 am on a Sunday morning.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it actually is also (if not more) appropriate to use this analogy as it relates to our physical energy or lack thereof throughout the day.  Could that same principle be applied to our physical energy?  ​

I have found the quickest way to derail any plans to achieve better health through foods has been in the inability of people to regulate cravings.  These cravings comes from an overabundance of consuming too many starches and not enough proteins.  Protein snacks are the perfect way to fill up just enough, and give us longer-lasting energy than the usual, carb-heavy options. In my video blog, I give several snack ideas to ensure that you keep you going all day long.

​(Bonus:  If you like to make easy meals and are looking to begin incorporating fermented foods into your family's diet, I've included a HUGE list of recipes of probiotic foods that take less time than it took you to watch this video).  

People often ask me why I am so adamant about having food serve as your medicine to better health. First, let’s get some things straight. I am not against doctors, nor do I think that conventional medicine is evil. I find flaw in that most doctors prescribe medicine to treat the symptom, instead of digging deeper to find the root of the problem.

I've found that the hardest part of "eating healthy" is that there are too many temptations with the foods we know we shouldn't be eating.  But what if I was to show you that there are several ways to incorporate easy meals with inexpensive items?  G.I. Joe once said "knowing is half the battle", and I would agree.  I'm all about efficiency, and it applies even more when I don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.  In my latest video, I put together a couple of quick meals while not breaking the bank.

​Bonus:  If you like to make easy meals and are looking to begin incorporating fermented foods into your family's diet, I've included a HUGE list of recipes of probiotic foods.  I guarantee you can find something that you will like to make.  (Click here to download). 

I love to write about something food, fitness, health, or wellness related, but I also enjoy writing about how people can make new and exciting changes in their lives.  So, it probably comes as no surprise if I was to say that I understand that most feel overwhelmed when it comes to making changes to a new fitness or health program.  That can be a bit daunting, right? 

Talking with people about my passions surrounding digestion, health, foods, sodas and popsicles, and the like, I can honestly say I love it. I speak about it with a passion because it's something that I believe in whole-heartedly; I live it. But many times, when I talk to people, unfortunately, that passion and excitement causes me to tend to be a "regurgitator". Now what is a "regurgitator" of health information? A regurgitator is someone who tends to give a lot of information out sometimes without rhyme or reason. Now, I certainly believe there is a rhyme and reason to what I say (at least in my own head), but I realize I tend to give out a lot of information, whether it's on social media networks or in person. And as a result, when I do have that opportunity, some people say, "Ok, Jared.  That's great.  Now, what do I do? I feel a little bit overwhelmed." I apologize first, of course, but I then say I understand fully that they've had that "A-ha" moment; a decision to make changes has been made.  So, make it easier on yourself.  Why not make those changes simply by picking something and doing it for 2 weeks? Try something new for two weeks whether you want to make some changes to your diet, you want to exercise a bit more or something more elaborate, but for two weeks, all you have to do is focus on that one thing for two weeks.

Now what could you do? If you are a coffee drinker, and you drink a pot a day. Instead of saying, "I'm going to give up all coffee" (which I think everyone should do or try for a period of time), maybe reduce it down to a cup or 2. What about if you have a sweet tooth? Many times people say they have a sweet tooth and don't think they can give that up. Ok! Fine. You have a sweet tooth. Instead of saying, "I'm going to give up all sugars" (here's my take on why refined sugars are bad), why not say, I'm not going to eat anything out of a box or out of a package for 2 weeks.  Try it for two weeks and see how you feel. Then at the end of two weeks, evaluate it. Was it easy? Was it tough? And then from that two weeks, try something else for two weeks.

So if you focus on two weeks at a time (and again, there is no rhyme or reason for picking two weeks. It's just an arbitrary time I choose), I think it's a perfect opportunity time-wise, to make certain changes. Within those two weeks, you're going to see significant results possibly physically, but you will probably feel better mentally and physically. Getting control of your eating habits, or getting control of your health and wellness is so important, because it puts you in charge of an accomplishment.

Now for those that will say you can't give anything up. I've got a solution for you. Why not add something? I know you're thinking, "Ok, Jared. What the heck are you talking about, 'adding something. That's what got me into this mess in the first place....adding something.” Why not add something like a serving of vegetables to every single meal you eat? That's certainly tough, but it can be done. Or maybe say to yourself you are going to drink 48 ounces or 64 ounces of pure water every single day. That's it. Add something...take it away, but just try doing that one thing for two weeks at a time. Within two weeks you are going to see some miraculous results and possibly see something you can feel good about knowing you succeeded at something that was on your journey to being healthy. And being healthy is all about a series of steps taken, often times simply 2 weeks at a time. 

Bonus:  If you are interested in doing what I suggest, which is beginning a program of taking probiotics for two weeks. I've created a checklist of things to look for when buying your next probiotic supplement.  (Click here to download).  

Jared Toay, aka. the "Popsicle Dude" or the "Mad Scientist" has actively been promoting the importance of gut health and digestion for more than 5 years. A weight loss researcher, bodybuilder, and creator of Jared's ProPops and Probiotic Foods, he has had a lengthy journey on his way to healthy living. An accomplished author and speaker, he would love to help you begin your journey to better health by sending you a coupon for a free ProPop.  Simply  join him on his "Jared's ProPops" fan page on Facebook or google "Jared's ProPops" to learn about his revolutionary and one-of-a-kind probiotic products.

​I know this is page about sodas and ProPops, but the foundation for those wonderful treats are rooted in the desire to do something better with your health.... To make some change about becoming healthier or feeling better on the inside. 

And on the inside of all of us is our gut.... If you are on a journey to better health, in order to make your journey meaningful long term and have the right mindset, it is important to "Go with your gut, not your logic"..... My philosophy has always been in order to make long term changes health wise, I believe your gut (and digestion) control your success more than your head.  

Now granted, if you say you won't succeed, you generally won't, but I'm going to make the assumption that you are wanting to succeed.  What I am referring to is paying more attention to your insides and how they would or would not appreciate better health more than what your mind tells you is better health.  

A great example is how and what you eat for breakfast. You get up in the morning and debate whether you should have cereal with toast, go out to eat at IHOP with your family, make an omelette, or just not eat.  Our mind tells us that those are the things that we should be eating for breakfast.  That's what you ate as a kid, that's what you read about..,, that's what our brains tell us to eat.   Digestively, many of those "breakfast foods" are not exactly what our bodies need to become healthy.  To reiterate my point, picture how you'd feel after eating 2 "whole-wheat" pancakes, an egg, a piece of organic, grass fed sausage, a glass of orange juice, and 2 cups of coffee.  Our head says, "that was exactly what we needed to start our day."  But I can bet that many of you are thinking about how you'd be so full and/or how you'd spend most of the day in the bathroom or feel bloated most of the morning.

My point is, our head dictates most of what we eat.  What looks good? What did you see on The Food Network? What do we have in the cupboard.  But, longer term health and success comes from listening to what our gut says about what is good for us..... What will we digest and appreciate and utilize more efficiently?

As an example, this morning I was debating whether to have cocoa cereal and toast or just fast till lunch because I didn't feel like cooking.  That was until I saw a huge salad in the back of the refrigerator a friend made for me.  "WTH", I said, and at 7:00 this morning, I ate a salad with too many wonderful  vegetables to mention and slices of grilled chicken.  My head asks what am I doing, but I am completely confident my gut and my energy levels today will be much more appreciative that I made a choice to listen to my gut, not general logic.  

Choose something new today to eat that maybe your head has told you, "that's gross" or "you can't do that now", but you know would be a gastronomic success.  Long-term health comes from listening literally to your "gut instinct" more than your logic.    
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Bonus:  If you want to know how to have better gastronomical success, click here for a free eBook on how and why enzymes play an important role.

Jared Toay, aka. the "Popsicle Dude" or the "Mad Scientist" has actively been promoting the importance of gut health and digestion for more than 5 years. A weight loss researcher, bodybuilder, and creator of Jared's ProPops and Probiotic Foods, he has had a lengthy journey on his way to healthy living. An accomplished author and speaker, he would love to help you begin your journey to better health by sending you a coupon for a free ProPop.  Simply  join him on his "Jared's ProPops" fan page on Facebook or google "Jared's ProPops" to learn about his revolutionary and one-of-a-kind probiotic products.​

Oftentimes, when someone makes a decision to get on the path to better health, the first step for most people is to eliminate things to eat, 'unhealthy things'.   But what if I tell you that my first suggestion is to actually eat more?  In this video, I give many examples as to why your body responds better to "stoking the fire" through the eating of foods than by letting it "die out".  Watch the video to see how and comment below to get a list of foods I say to add rather than subtract. 

Bonus:  After you watch the video, download a free eBook on how enzymes play an important role in ensuring the best digestion of the healthy foods you eat.  (Click here).

Jared Toay, aka. the "Popsicle Dude" or the "Mad Scientist" has actively been promoting the importance of gut health and digestion for more than 5 years. A weight loss researcher, bodybuilder, and creator of Jared's ProPops and Probiotic Foods, he has had a lengthy journey on his way to healthy living. An accomplished author and speaker, he would love to help you begin your journey to better health by sending you a coupon for a free ProPop.  Simply  join him on his "Jared's ProPops" fan page on Facebook or google "Jared's ProPops" to learn about his revolutionary and one-of-a-kind probiotic products.​​