Optimize Your Health for Better Blogging

This guest post is by Joey and Chris of versatilehealth.com.

So you want to be a blogger? Or maybe you’re already an established authority in your niche, with a great following and a nicely designed website—congrats! Your contribution to the wonderful world of sharing knowledge and information is much appreciated.

There is no doubt that the blogosphere is a giant place that’s loaded with some very awesome people, but let’s face it: us bloggers have a huge downfall, and very few of us actually realize what’s going on here. The simple truth is that a lot of bloggers do not take care of their bodies the way they should.

What many people don’t realize about blogging and running a legitimate website is the constant toll it can take on one’s body. Coding, typing, sitting, posting, responding, marketing, designing, being stagnant for long periods of time … sometimes, it’s all just too much to deal with! But we’re a passionate bunch of people, and we love what we do, right?

The trick here is to optimize everything (body, mind, and environment) so we can keep on doing what we do, to the best of our abilities. Let me explain…

A blogger’s beginning

We’re all very eager to get our blogs up and running, and performing at their peaks, as soon as possible. However, before pressing forward, it’s important that you know and fully understand the journey that you’re about to take.

Now I’m definitely not trying to discourage anybody here (quite the opposite)—I’m simply preparing you for what is to come.

Maybe you already have a normal nine-to-five job and blogging is just a pastime for the moment. Awesome! But maybe you’re trying to make some real money online, and you actually see the potential that running a website possesses—even better! Whatever the case may be, I have some expert health advice that has helped me to create a successful blog myself. So sit back and take some notes, because I’m about to let you in on some insider secrets.

A common entrepreneur’s downfall

Time and time again, I see entrepreneurs (bloggers, online marketers, and others) fueling their bodies incorrectly. Even at some of these top-notch online marketing conventions that are hosted throughout the country, I meet people who are very successful, but are also leading extremely unhealthy lives. It’s sad to say, but I see this all the time.

I need you to think about this for a second. Lots of online entrepreneurs are tremendously prosperous, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate that they’re doing everything correctly. In many cases, online professionals are not living up to their full potential. They could be reaching even greater success if they were in tune with their overall health!

Think of it as fine-tuning the body for maximum output. See where I’m going with this? It’s like taking something that works decently and supercharging it to the fullest! Those whom I have had the pleasure of meeting at these conferences are doing great things; yet, they’re limiting their true abilities.

Why is this so important to realize?

Think how much more these people could be doing for their respective businesses if they took their health to an entirely different (and better) place. Let’s face it—a blogger’s mind and body are his or her main weapons for success. Without them in check, the blogger will find—and possibly even create—more obstacles to overcome than they might otherwise.

Many online entrepreneurs I come across are loaded with stress, fatigue, weight issues, heart problems, depression, and other debilitating ailments. In other words, they’re sacrificing their health for money. Does this seem like a fair exchange? I wouldn’t say so! When has it become acceptable to go about business in this fashion? I personally can remember (from a very early age) how my father used to emphasize the importance of health in order to make money and be successful, and it truly does make sense. This is something that has stuck with me through my entire life.

With that said, I hope you can find that proper balance that’s required for maximum output so you can take your business to the next level. That balance is different for each person, but right now, I want to dive into some foods I recommend avoiding if you are to achieve this equilibrium.

Foods to avoid for optimal blogging

To clarify from the start, I have loads more foods on my don’t-eat list, but I’m not going to cover all of them today. Rather, I’ll be going over a few that I feel it’s imperative for you to avoid if overall health is a goal of yours.

Sugar and energy drinks

Let’s start off by saying you have to toss these sugar-laden energy drinks! I know it sounds different than what you may have been told in the past, but please trust me when I say that they’re not safe (or smart) to consume in any amount.

Here’s why. Most of the drinks you see advertised for energy are overloaded with sugar, which can cause a whole bunch of nasty issues to take place.

Studies show that sugar has the power to influence some really debilitating health issues if levels are not watched and/or regulated adequately.

• Sugar promotes inflammation.
• Sugar can lead to insulin resistance.
• Sugar can lead to severe liver issues.
• Sugar can severely hinder one’s immunity.
• Sugar influences obesity.
• Sugar may be connected to cancer and its development.

Let me ask you something: do you think running a company/website will be achievable, or come easily if one has these draining issues bogging them down every day? I don’t think so. What I’m getting at here is how harmful substances (like sugar) can be to your body—the studies listed above reflect this.

It’s time that you start assessing your daily sugar intake—the more you monitor it, the better you’ll feel. I guarantee that this is a great tactic in improving overall health.

Why the zero-calorie substitute is no substitute

The zero-calorie issue isn’t widely discussed, but it should be! I call drinks that carry these fake sweeteners “the cancer creators,” because that’s exactly what they do! A lot of the studies I’ve come across have been able to shed some much-needed light on this topic.

Because these drinks are so controversial in nature, I strongly advise you not to take any chances with them. I speak of this subject for a very specific reason: most, if not all bloggers and online tycoons I’ve met over the years consume this stuff on a daily basis. Many associate these zero-calorie energy drinks with productivity and efficiency, while others simply enjoy the temporary high that they may experience while using them. Whatever the case may be, these foods should be avoided at all costs, and here’s why:

• Artificial sweeteners can contribute to inflammatory bowel disease.
• Artificial sweeteners can alter gut function.
• Artificial sweeteners may induce weight gain.
• Artificial sweeteners may be tied in with heart disease.
• Artificial sweeteners may cause cancer.

Scary stuff right?! What I find troubling is how this information is not widely distributed; rather, it is, in a sense, swept under the rug for few to uncover. But I’m trying to change all that. It has become a goal of mine to inform as many as I can about these dangers.

Get rid of grains

I know, I know, this sounds even scarier! But I wouldn’t recommend it if it weren’t the truth. Grains (wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice) are loaded with no-nos. Let’s take a quick look at why grains can be so bad:

• Grains can cause or worsen bowel issues such as diarrhea, constipation, spastic colon, or Crohn’s disease. This is often caused by one’s sensitivity to gluten.
• Grains can influence celiac disease.
• Studies show that the absence of harmful proteins (as those found in grains) can allow one to return to normal gut function.
• Grains can cause intestinal permeability, which can lead to a variety of very harmful conditions.

Wow. That’s a whole lot of bad, if you ask me! And the worst part about all of that is how it’s just the tip of the iceberg in regards to grain consumption. The truth is that I had a bunch of health issues going on in the past. I was feeling very tired and unmotivated all the time, but once I cut the sugars and grains from my diet, I started feeling a lot better. It’s really amazing how this works—I strongly encourage you to try it out.

It doesn’t take a genius to thoroughly understand that if our health is heavily impacted (as demonstrated by the studies listed above) by what we eat, we won’t be as productive. Being physically fit and well is a main component for long-term success.

Understanding the Credit System

What is the Credit System? To put it simply, you must look at what you put in your body as a charge—like on a credit card. Some people are stacking up charges because of the horrid choices they’re making. In other words, those who take less care in their daily choices (foods, products, drugs) will be paying the price sooner than those who keep their balances low or on more manageable levels.

By looking at lifestyle choices in this manner, a person can start to accurately assess their daily decisions more efficiently.

This system (one which I have used on many clients) allows people to see the obvious threats that are presented by living a conventional existence. The message is obvious: the more purely one lives, the better they’ll feel. It’s as simple as that!

Cut out all of which is hindering your body, and you’ll perform better. This is so important for bloggers (or future bloggers) to realize. If you’re truly striving to run a website and be successful, you must take all of this into account. It has helped me build my business, and that’s why I’m sharing it with you.

The goal here is to get the body in a balanced state so it can be productive. In other words, if you can do this, your body will be in-tune to make all the right moves. And if you’re making the right moves, you’ll make money! Sounds good, right?

Have you noticed how the foods you eat impact your ability to perform as a blogger? Share your experiences with us in the comments.

Versatile Health is all about delivering hidden health and wellness information to the masses, with a message of simplicity, fun, and overall awareness. In a nutshell, we’re two guys with a story to tell. Our past health issues have pushed us to discover new ways of healing outside of traditional medicine – this is what we share with our following. You can download your free copy of our ebook here: 100 Ways To Wellness.