Everyone faces constant struggles with life, relationships, and other, but though we all face the same battles, we all respond differently to the situations. For some find solace with food, others head right to the bar and tavern, but for me, the moment I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders I head right for the gym or the track. My “coping” mechanism is to use exercise, rather than to use a substance or a vice. I luckily turned what could easily be a negative habit, into what has become a positive. Without failing, the moment I feel stressed or overwhelmed with life and RELATIONSHIPS, I instinctively get into my car and head to the gym or to the track, and relieve that stress in the healthiest and MOST EFFECTIVE of ways; by exercising. Nothing helps me clear my mind greater than the feeling I get after an “angry” or “frustrated” workout or run. All the testosterone that is raising my anxiety and blood pressure dissolves with each set or lap. If you tend to turn to cigarettes, alcohol, or even food to provide the feeling of euphoria which you may momentarily receive, it only takes a few days to turn what is a harmful reaction to a positive reaction. It will initially take a conscious effort at first, but I promise you, like me, you will soon turn what could be potentially a destructive habit into a healthful and beneficial habit. Before you reach for the cigarette or the beer, or the ice cream, take a deep breath, put on your sneakers and head to the gym or the track.

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I recently spent a wonderful week in Los Angeles for both professional and personal reasons. During my time there I have come to one profound epiphany when it comes to our nutrition and eating habits: we treat holidays and vacations as most adults treat Vegas. We are under the impression, that what we eat there or then, stays there or then… unfortunately it is not the case. I find it so much easier to disregard all our nutrition strategies and goals when we are celebrating a holiday, but most importantly, on vacation or traveling.

The only problem is if you decide to put all your hard work and good habits aside for a few days or even a week, the result and extra pounds will not be staying behind at your vacation location. It will be with you when you return and probably put you a few steps back from where you previously where. I am by no means telling you to not enjoy yourself when you are away or on vacation… I am just saying you shouldn’t disregard all your hard work for just a few days. While I was in LA I did enjoy some fine foods and dining, but I also had my Designer Whey protein with me to maintain my eating habits at the same time. It is not difficult to eat healthy in this day and age. I was able to pack my protein without putting my luggage over the weight limit.

Holidays tend to be a little less of a problem, as long as you know it’s a one day affair and a not week long of binging. Another thing I have come to find is people tend to crave something only when they tell themselves they can’t have it. You may not desire or even be thinking of having ICE CREAM, but if I were to tell you that YOU CAN’T HAVE ICE CREAM you would immediately desire it. So rather than tell yourself you CAN’T have something, just tell yourself you CAN, but you just choose not to. You may go on vacation, but your health and habits should never. Do not treat your health like Vegas, because regardless of where you devastate your diet, the results will follow you home.

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Many of us tend to have a “Seasonal” mentality when it comes to fitness and nutrition. As if we are bears who are awoken from hibernation and join the gym, and eat healthy. If life is not a seasonal practice, then fitness and nutrition, which is so pivotal to our lives, can not be a seasonal way of life. Our relationship and commitment to our health is reflective to our lives, and therefore by making year around changes, our lives will be changed all year.

If doesn’t even have to be a dramatic change; replacing one meal a day with a protein shake, working out a few days a week all year long are not going to cause you to completely alter your daily routine. Another thing many of us hear and say far too often is “I just don’t have enough time,” and if that is something you say routinely it’s not that there isn’t enough time, but that you rather not workout and eat healthy. Why? Because we have the ability to make time for things when we view them as important.

Being a high school teacher, who also wears numerous other hats, I can easily say I don’t have enough time and it would be warranted… but, I have found the time and turned it into a habit rather than a sporadic ritual. There is always time. We just have to WANT to do it. Because if you haven’t figured it out already; life is never easy and there is never enough time in a day. As Ben Franklin said “Small strokes fall great oaks.”

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As a teacher I am never shocked by what I hear my students say, but sometimes they do catch me off guard. I had a student hold up french fries during lunch and say, “Mr. Ferroni, is there any protein in fries?” I was taken aback, not by the fact that he didn’t know, but the fact that he is a young adult and we have yet to educate him in proper nutrient breakdowns. So, I sat down at the table with my student-athletes and gave them a quick breakdown of fats, carbs and proteins, and which is a component of the items on their trays. It’s not the end, but just the beginning of their nutrition education…and the funny thing is I teach History. Now I have a group of six students, who stop by my class prior to lunch in order to get a scoop of Designer Whey in order to get their protein. Baby steps.

Besides realizing that the youth of America is truly lacking in an understanding of food and nutrition, I have also came to one certainty about my recent travels to Los Angeles; people on the West Coast are far more healthy when it comes to nutrition than people on the East Coast. Again, I am not saying everyone on the East Coast is not healthy, I’m just saying on the average people who live in weather that is nicer all year around tend to be healthy all year around.

On the other hand, many people who live in very seasonal locations that have winters, tend to be more lenient during the colder days and regroup when the weather warms up.  A healthy lifestyle is NOT a part time thing, it’s an all year around thing. It’s a way of life, not just a three month situation. And regardless of popular belief it’s NOT as difficult as many think. Nutrition is not an all or nothing way of life, it’s a moderation way of life. Minor changes go a long way. For example, one adjustment that will deliver amazing results is simply replace your last meal of the day, which is usually after dinner, and a few hours before bed, with a high protein shake. I religiously have a shake with two scoops of Designer Whey every night before bed. It is so minor, yet so beneficial. End your day with a high protein shake, not a high fat and high carb meal, and you will see drastic changes. It is really that simple.

Note: Nick received free Designer Whey products in exchange for his blog

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Designer Whey is excited to welcome Nick Ferroni to our team of bloggers. Nick’s goal is to be an example to everyone he comes across, especially his students. He teaches them that it is never to early to establish a healthy lifestyle. He shows them what to eat and doesn’t just tell them what they shouldn’t.  Most importantly, he wants to help educate the body and mind of everyone he meets.

Nick left a soap opera and turned down numerous entertainment opportunities to become a high school History Teacher. He still acts and writes and will be hosting two TV shows, and recently sold two shows and a feature film. Not only does Nick educate the hearts and minds of his students and involve them in his professional endeavors in the entertainment industry, he trains them at the gym and shows them how to lead a healthy lifestyles. He keeps Designer Whey products in his desk specifically for his students, who are very proactive about their health and often involved in sports. In an urban school where students often fall through the cracks, Nick gives his heart and soul to his students, and even helps assist former students with college tuition and gym memberships. He will also be doing two feature films this spring, both which he involved two of his former students in. He is also in the process of developing a “Nutrition Survival Guide” for high school students in order to help them make healthy choices in school cafeterias.

Note: Nick receives free Designer Whey products in exchange for his blog.

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