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Motivational advice from CEOs leading an active, fit lifestyle

January 19, 2021 By Jefferson Chamber Staff

1)    What inspired you to stay healthy and fit in the first place?

Three years ago in August, I turned 39 years old. I was walking up the stairs when I realized my knees were really hurting… and then out of the blue, it hit me – I am a hot mess and I’m going to be 40 in a year: I was 100 pounds overweight, working 70 hours per week, smoking like a chimney, and constantly worried to the point that I needed Ambien on an almost daily basis.

While I had a successful software development company, I certainly didn’t feel like a success. I felt empty and anxious. I was burnt out and exhausted.  I knew it was time to make a change. I needed more than a quick fix. Surface-level changes – temporary diets, new workout fads, etc. – weren’t going to cut it this time.

It was time to reprogram myself in order to tap into my full potential and experience authentic success along with a deep sense of fulfillment.

I found mentors in the form of trainers and peers who were successful and fulfilled. I used my time in my EO Forum to focus on personal growth. I read voraciously — from “Man’s Search for Meaning” and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Total Recall” to “Tools of Titans” and everything in between.

One by one, I applied new “processes” to my life – early morning workouts, reading instead of watching TV, daily gratitude and goal setting, meditation, and intermittent fasting.

Today: 

  • I’m at a healthy sustainable weight
  • I’ve quit smoking, 
  • I generally work no more than 50 hours per week, 
  • and I sleep like a baby. 
  • Best of all, I’ve managed to find happiness in the now, while still actively pursuing aggressive professional and personal goals.
2)    How has an active lifestyle influenced/changed the way you work?

It’s changed everything. 

  • Because I work-out early I have time before the day starts to actually plan it.
  • My energy levels are high and my mood is even, therefore I make much better decisions
  • I’m much more focused on doing one thing at a time to completion instead of spreading myself too thinly
  • I lead people with much more patience and clearer direction
  • I inspire my people to get more work/life balance including wellness
  • My business has doubled in revenue, headcount is up 50%, and employee satisfaction is 9/10 (it was 6/10)
3)    What sports activities do you participate in?
  • Compound weightlifting 3 days per week (1 hour)
  • Cardio + ROMWOD 4 days per week (1 hour 10 minutes)
  • Daily Meditation (20 min, 2/day)– which I consider weightlifting for the brain
4)    How much time per week do you spend working out/staying healthy?
  • 12 hours / week
5)    Many CEOs/leaders say they lack the time to stay fit. What motivational advice can you give them to get started (based on your experience)?

A couple points here:

  • The time you invest in fitness is nothing compared to
    • The efficiency of the time you work
    • The financial impact of you making better decisions
  • There’s no point in being successful if you can’t enjoy it because
    • You have no energy for your home life
    • You die or are incapacitated early because you let your health slide
  • Start small. One habit at a time.  Do it for 30 days, and then once it doesn’t take any willpower to do, add another habit.  Remember, if you add more than one at once you’re more likely to give us.
  • Visualize a Heaven and Hell
    • Heaven: what your life looks like in 5 years if you get fit – e.g. “I have a ton of energy, my kids have a role model, my spouse finds me attractive”
    • Hell: what your life looks like if you don’t – “I’m obese, my knees hurt.  I have no energy and cope with alcohol and food.  Kids learn bad habits from me.”
    • If you have a clear vision of the outcomes, then you’ll be able to find time to get fit!  Mentally and physically

Written by: Neel Sus, CEO, Susco
Neel is a believer in conscious leadership who’s mission is to help people lead more fulfilling lives.  As the CEO of Susco, his company achieves that mission by creating business software and mobile workforce apps for mid-market organizations that their employees actually enjoy using while being more productive

Filed Under: News

5 Tips for Mindful, Healthy Holiday

December 18, 2020 By Jefferson Chamber Staff

Tis’ the Season to Indulge: 5 Tips for Mindful, Healthy Holiday

Content brought to you by the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association has published the following resources to make sure you can enjoy delicious food this holiday without overindulging.

DECEMBER: Holiday Healthy Living and Giving

  • Holiday Healthy Eating Guide
  • How To Eat Healthy Over The Holidays: 6 Strategies From The Aha For Holiday Healthy Eating
  • 7 Excuses To Overindulge, And How To Take Control
  • Holiday Eating Can Stay Under Control With Simple Strategies
  • 8 Ways To Hack Your Holiday Recipes

Filed Under: News

How to Deal with End of Year Holiday Stress

December 18, 2020 By Jefferson Chamber Staff

Think about how to make your life simpler on the home front.

1. Get that shopping out of the way early. Make a list of everyone in your life, check it twice and buy in the fewest trips to the store. Shop locally, if possible, at a deserving business and tell them what you are looking for when you walk through the door—or give them a call ahead.

2. Share the burden of managing the holiday cooking and events calendar, by delegating to kids, partners, spouses, and friends. Other people can and do cook well, and they’re happy to contribute.

3. Give yourself permission to RSVP “NO.”  Staying home or prioritizing other tasks before social events nets you peace of mind, but it can take practice to deny FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) any real estate in your mind. 

Filed Under: News

No, to tobacco. Yes, to Jefferson Parish.

November 19, 2020 By Jefferson Chamber Staff

The Great American Smokeout (GASO), recognized on November 19, is a national day dedicated to bring individuals together to start their journeys toward a smoke-free lifestyle. This year, GASO is even more significant in the Jefferson Parish community. As Jefferson Parish continues recovery and rebuilding efforts in the wake of an active hurricane season and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we must remain mindful of the emotional toll these disasters have had and continue to have on our community. Too often we see individuals turn to unhealthy behaviors, like smoking/vaping and chewing tobacco as coping mechanisms to deal with stress.

Data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey revealed that 20.5 percent of Louisiana’s adult population smoke, compared to just 13.5 percent of all U.S. adults. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women (in LA). Smoking also causes cancers of the larynx (voice box), mouth, sinuses, pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), and bladder. It has also been linked to the development of cancers of the pancreas, cervix, ovary (mucinous), colon/rectum, kidney, stomach, and some types of leukemia. Cigars and smoking pipes cause cancers, too.

All employers can protect their employees’ health and promote GASO by sharing resources from QuithWithUsLa.org with their employees and encourage healthy, tobacco-free workplaces. Quit With Us, La offers cessation coaching and nicotine replacement therapy. Individuals can enroll by calling 1-800-QuitNow or visiting QuithWithUsLa.org.

Hospitality and gaming industry employers can visit HealthierAirForAll.org for resources on how to create healthier tobacco-free workplaces for their employees, who may have experienced additional stress during this trying time.

For us to rebuild, re-open, and stay open we need to be more strategic and prioritize health more than ever before. The people of Jefferson Parish are resilient, and we can do anything. We can rebuild. We can protect our local businesses. We can even say “NO” to tobacco.

Join the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19 and say “NO” to tobacco and “YES” to a healthier, more prosperous Jefferson Parish.

Read more about Great American Smokeout here.

Learn more about tobacco cessation here.

Learn more about smoke-free workplaces for everyone here.

Written by Matthew Broussard
Regional Manager, Region 1
Tobacco Free Living

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Roadway to a Healthier Jefferson

November 3, 2020 By Jefferson Chamber Staff

During another successful Tour de Jefferson, it was exciting and encouraging to see hundreds of bike riders take to the streets and safely engage in family-friendly, physical activity. Every opportunity for people to exercise helps them to meet their fitness goals and improve their overall health and wellness. It is now more important than ever that people focus on their health. At the American Heart Association, we are committed to our mission of being a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. One of our priority areas is working with local communities to adopt a comprehensive Complete Streets policy.

This policy ensures that street infrastructure projects are designed and developed with safety, equity, and accessibility at its core. Complete Streets benefit everyone whether you are walking, biking, driving, or using transit. These streets built to share ™ will promote physical activity and healthier communities. Sidewalks that connect to parks, protected bike lanes, and streets that accommodate all people will allow people to safely be active and improve our quality of life.

At the onset of the COVID pandemic, the Jefferson Parish Complete Streets Coalition was preparing to host the first annual Walk to Lunch Day in the Metairie area. This program was to highlight the benefits of safe and accessible transportation options that provide walkable communities, promote health, and stimulate economic development. Creating a pedestrian-friendly design with connected walkways as well as business locator maps and mileage trackers would encourage people to walk to area restaurants and establishments and provide greater exposure for local businesses. We are working toward rescheduling this event as we resume our work in this area.

We realize that the road to healthier neighborhoods literally begins with a better road. We are not getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity and our health results are reflective of this reality. The development of a comprehensive Complete Streets policy will eliminate barriers and increase opportunities to be active. If you want to support our work in this area, please reach out to me at Rica.Trigs@heart.org. Let’s work together to adopt and implement a policy that fully addresses the infrastructure and processes that will contribute to a Healthier Jefferson.

Written by Rica Trigs
Community Advocacy Director, American Heart Association

Filed Under: News

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Motivational advice from CEOs leading an active, fit lifestyle

1)    What inspired you to stay healthy and fit in the first place? Three … Read More...

5 Tips for Mindful, Healthy Holiday

Tis’ the Season to Indulge: 5 Tips for Mindful, Healthy Holiday Content brought to you by the … Read More...

How to Deal with End of Year Holiday Stress

Think about how to make your life simpler on the home front.1. Get that shopping out of the way … Read More...

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    • COVID-19 Business Resources
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    • Tour de Jefferson

Motivational advice from CEOs leading an active, fit lifestyle

1)    What inspired you to stay healthy and fit in the first place? Three … [Read More...]

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