Here are practical strategies for instilling confidence in children by embracing failure, addressing fears, and praising effort over outcomes. The article emphasizes the importance of changing perspectives on failure, making it a teachable moment for problem-solving and resilience. It encourages open conversations about fear, fostering emotional intelligence. Effort-based praise is highlighted as crucial, promoting intrinsic motivation and resilience. Believing in children, making them feel valued, providing autonomy, and teaching problem-solving skills contribute to their confidence. The article also underscores the significance of establishing a secure attachment through responsive and empathetic parenting, fostering long-term positive development.

When it comes to healthy footwear, minimalist shoes have emerged as a distinctive choice, challenging the conventional norms that have shaped the design of shoes for decades. Often referred to as barefoot shoes or zero-drop shoes, these alternatives discard the elevated heel and narrow toe boxes commonly found in traditional footwear. Instead, minimalist shoes aim to mimic the sensation of walking barefoot, emphasizing a more natural connection between the foot and the ground. This paradigm shift in design, accompanied by a wider toe box for natural splaying, has garnered attention for its potential rehabilitative benefits and its alignment with the principles of natural movement. The benefits of minimalist shoes include improved sensory feedback and proprioception, better foot strength, reduced risk of falls and ankle sprains, improved posture, a more natural gait, and even reduced pain.

I’ve long been an advocate of minimalist shoes for myself, my patients, and now my kids. My advocacy stems from both personal experience and a commitment to a more holistic approach to health. This guide will delve into the scientific underpinnings of the rehabilitative advantages of minimalist footwear, offering practical insights into transitioning seamlessly. Additionally, I'll share a curated selection of my preferred barefoot shoes tailored for diverse occasions—ranging from everyday wear to formal events and even to sandals

Dr. Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine and the visionary behind The Wahls Foundation and The Wahls Protocol, a strategy I've talked to countless patients about. She'll share her incredible story early into this podcast and provide some pretty powerful insights into how she went from bed bound to now jogging.

Childhood is a critical period for growth and development, which is why it’s important to establish healthy eating habits early. A nutritious diet significantly influences cardiovascular disease risk, obesity, metabolic function, and cognitive development. Recognizing factors such as parental role modeling, peer influence, and food accessibility is a good start.

Life is just a collection of moments. You could use these moments to make as much money as possible, cure diseases, watch more Netflix than anyone else, or maybe achieve enlightenment. There is no right or wrong way to spend these moments but collectively using them with purpose is important for a good quality of life.

I want to spend my finite moments with a sense of purpose to help others and to build and maintain strong relationships while sustaining a strong mind and body. I want to do this all while finding happiness in the simplicity of life for as many healthy years as possible.

It would be nice if some days that my life goals just happened but it not only takes effort, it takes a consistent amount of effort in order to create habits and routines.

Enter non-negotiables.

Doing consistent daily habits and routines that are important to you (non-negotiables) builds momentum and with this momentum, the moments of your day are on autopilot toward your tropical destination. These days of positive habits fashion the life you want and “suddenly” you are happier and more fulfilled. As Annie Dilard said,

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. “

Part 2 of the best tips to lower your body fat percentage.

If you look at the top goals for people’s physical health, number one is typically fat loss, and justifiably so.

The goal of "losing weight," however, is a bit of a misnomer. For most people, the goal is more specifically to lose fat and to gain muscle, a trendy term called body composition.

I've written about how to build mass so today I'll discuss the other component of body recomposition: fat loss.

The purpose of having a healthy body fat percentage goes well beyond aesthetics. Excess body fat can increase the risk of health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. High levels of body fat can also lead to decreased mobility, increased joint pain, and decreased energy levels, among other negative effects. By contrast, maintaining a healthy body fat percentage can improve physical performance, enhance mental clarity and focus, and promote longevity.

Let’s dive in.

Of course, we know that walking is linked to various enhancements in biomarkers such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol, along with improved mood. Surprisingly, despite these benefits, the average American takes fewer than 4,000 daily steps. Through research, we can ascertain the minimum effective dose of walking needed to experience these health advantages. Here's a hint: it's not 10,000 steps.

Episode 1! Learn what The Growth Kit podcast is all bout.