The Come Alive Project

Tag: Physical energy

  • Energy Bite 402 – The Root Source of Your Energy

    “What I want to share is that there’s a lot of Energy
     available inside if you know how to find it, fan it,
    and keep some oxygen on it.” 
    — Tim McGraw, from Introduction to Grit & Grace

    Energy production in the body can be a complex subject that uses a lot of technical language. I want to keep this as simple as possible so I will try and use only two technical words: Mitochondria and Adenosine Triphosphate which is commonly referred to as ATP. As for the use of the term Energy in this article, I will be referring to primarily as Physical/Biological Energy. This article is about the source of the physical energy available to you in your body.

    The field of study about the biology of energy transformations and exchanges within the body and between the body and the environment, is called BIOENERGETICS.

    Energy is your body’s capacity to do the things you want it to do. No matter how powerful your motivation or how strong your self-discipline, if you don’t have the CAPACITY to do those things you want to do, they won’t get done by you. So If you master your ability to produce energy, you will control your experience of aging and of feeling alive!

    So what is the process of producing energy? Your body has an incredible system that converts the fuel you give it into pure biological energy.

    In every cell of your body, there are tiny “furnaces”. These “furnaces” are called Mitochondria. You may have heard the term in High School Biology Class, and you may have heard the term in advertisements for supplements and other products that allegedly turn on your Mitochondria to fire up more energy.

    The primary role of Mitochondria is to break down nutrients to generate an organic molecule called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). ATP is produced by the conversion of the nutrients in your cells based on the fuel you have consumed. The ATP is a cellular structure that supplies the energy for many biochemical processes such as muscle contraction for body movement and other cellular processes.

    ATP is renewable based to some degree on the rate you use oxygen in your physical activities. It is continually being produced.

    Short Version

    Food > Digestion > Bloodstream > Cells (Mitochondria within cells) > Converted to ATP for Biological Energy storage and use for bodily functioning.

    Mitochondria and Aging

    According to Dave Asprey, creator of Bulletproof Coffee and author of The Bulletproof Diet, when mitochondria don’t make as much energy (ATP) as they should from food and air, it is called Mitochondrial Dysfunction. He goes on to say that if you are over age 40, you have Mitochondrial Dysfunction — He says it’s called AGING.

    But Asprey says that your mitochondria “listen” to the environment around you. He says that if you can “change the signal” they get by MOVING MORE, SUNSHINE, AND EATING FAT FOR FUEL, “you can change the way your cells make energy — which changes the energy you have to be you.” What a great way to say it. The FAT FOR FUEL part may not suit your nutrition mindset, but a balanced diet including lots of protein and some fats are certainly a consideration.

    I hope the above has helped you understand where your energy comes from. It should make clear the importance of moving your body, eating right, and otherwise taking care of that body that “is you”. If you have comments, questions, or even a differing opinion, feel free to email me at bob@thecomealiveproject.com.

    Thank you for reading.

  • Energy Bite 352 – Communicating Positive Energy

    What kind of energy do you communicate to yourself and to the people around you?

    Are we old curmudgeons with an old person’s attitude toward life, or are we healthy, vibrant seniors with a vitality and zest for living our lives? Do you look forward to getting up in the morning, or do you roll over and mentally project how miserable your day is going to be? Do you drain energy from others, or do you communicate positive energy to them.

    By “Energy”, I am referring to that “life force” within us that makes us feel good, propels us forward, and makes us “come alive”.

    All too often, we let our age define who we are. Do you? Do you look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are looking older? When you think of yourself as getting old, do you project that energy to others through your voice, your posture, your bearing, your movement, and your attitude about life. How do you come across to others?

    Charles Fillmore, a spiritual leader of the early 20th century woke up one morning at the age of 93 and said out loud, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and I spring forth with a mighty faith to do the things that ought to be done by me.” Now that’s Positive Energy and a Come Alive Attitude.

    Do you think yourself old, or do you have a “Come Alive Attitude” toward your life as it is? Do want to stay like you are, or do you want to try new things and experiment with life? Are you looking forward to your future or are you dreading it? Are you buried in the past or are you willing to accept inevitable change in the real world as time marches on?

    Is your physical body up to the task of living a long and active life, or is it weak and filled with aches and pains? Is your mind dreary and filled with dread for your future?

    In his book of inspirational essays, Celebrate Life, Rev. Eric Butterworth said, “The effects of the years upon the physical body depend not upon the physiology but the psychology involved.” 

    Butterworth goes on to say: “Living longer, of itself, is not the answer. We must know ‘what for’. What are we living for?” And he says that more important than living long is living “deeply”. He quotes an old Scotsman’s prayer: “Oh Lord, keep me alive as long as I live.”  Well said, Rev. Butterworth.

    It’s mostly a matter of self-awareness and self-care — taking responsibility for your own mind and body and doing something to build and maintain your own health, vitality, and personal energy. Yes, that includes exercise and eating right, and every bit as important — the mental attitude that goes with it.

    So, does your age define you, or do you define your age? In the former, you let life dictate the terms. In the latter, you dictate the terms of both your present and your future. Can you completely control your future? Of course not. You could get hit by a truck tomorrow. But you have the responsibility to take control of your own health and fitness, along with the mindset that encourages you do it.

    It’s up to us to define who we are and how we project our energy to the world. We are able dictate the terms. We know what to do. Will we do it?

    “Fitness and health is within reach of anyone who wants it. The question is, who will reach?”

            — Jim Rohn

    Thank you for reading.

  • Energy Bite 342 – Your Physiology and Your Energy

    Tony Robbins, the Personal Development Guru says, “Your Physiology determines your ‘state’”. He’s right for the most part. Your physiology can indeed determine the way you feel and contributes mightily to your attitude abut life. A depressed stance is bent over, shuffling along, head down. An upbeat attitude occurs when you are standing straight with good posture, head, neck and shoulders up, and looking like the world is yours.

    “It’s difficult to feel down when you’re looking up.” — Me.

    Physiology is your posture, breathing pattern, facial expression, the way you move, etc. You have complete control over your physiology.

    It’s true. Try it. When you are feeling down, deliberately straighten your posture, hold your head high, pull in your stomach, and put a smile — better yet a grin — on your face. It’s hard to feel bad when you do that. You’ll find your mood improves immediately. It won’t last forever, but it’s a start.

    You can’t maintain that physiology for long without physical energy. Your body will revert to it’s original slump if you don’t have the energy to maintain your posture and bearing. And as a senior, it isn’t always easy to do anyway.

    The better physical condition you are in, the easier it is to change to a positive physiology. If your core is weak, you can’t hold your posture. If you don’t breathe deeply and move, your circulation won’t rush the blood and oxygen to your cells to provide you with the physical energy you need.

    And the exercise it takes to get into that kind of condition releases all those endorphins and “feel good chemicals” into your body and you can’t help but improve your overall attitude toward life. Your physical movement, how you breathe, what you eat, and how you stand, all affect your view of the outside world. It also affects the way the outside world views you.

    People can transform themselves through a change in physiology. A change in fundamental physiology will do wonders to help discover the Fountain of Youth within each of us. Some will do it. Some won’t. Stand up straight and move your body. Your world will be better for it. So will ours.

    Thank you for reading.