Blog Posts by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance

All of us, at one point or another, have seen the glass half empty rather than half full, but if we continually surround ourselves with half empties, we inevitably start feeling…well…empty. In pure mathematical terms, 1/2 empty + 1/2 empty = 1 empty. Now, if you have a lot of 1/2 empties in your life…you inevitably end up with an infinite empty glass. But, I digress.

We all have negative moments, but those individuals who are constantly negative and never see the positive can bring us down and drain our energy. Whether a child, a spouse or a co-worker is fraught with negativity, we are most benefited by being positive ourselves. When we are surrounded by negativity, however, it can be especially challenging. As a result, use some of these tips in dealing with the negativity that effects you:

1. Don't Argue: People who are generally negative do not respond positively to arguing. Instead of seeing your point, arguing will only reinforce an already bad attitude. They tend to see a

At this point, you've probably heard that antioxidants are good for you and promote anti-aging. But did you know that they come in many forms? That's right. You can get these powerful anti-aging agents from a whole host of food sources, meaning that you can fight aging non-stop if you so choose.

Each antioxidant offers different benefits, so to look your best, it pays to know what each does. Navigate through the world of anti-aging superheros and their benefits by checking out our guide below:

If you are tired of the gym, don't have money for the gym, or don't have a decent gym nearby, you might be left wondering what the best strategy is in regards to getting in a decent workout. I've got some good news: Believe it or not, your body can be its own gym. This is exactly the premise of Mark Lauren and Joshua Clark's new book You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises for Men and Women.

Strength and resistance training, by far, are the best ways of getting into shape, boosting metabolism, and increasing muscle mass and bone density. Moreover, strength training is key to sustained weight loss. You Are Your Own Gym, demonstrates that the gym, however, isn't a must to see these benefits. Instead, the book advocates that you use your own body to get the workout.

The Concept: It is a simple, 10 week program, which requires that you workout 30 minutes, 4 days a week. The exercises only require you and your body. You don't need equipment, dumbells, barbells, etc.

As a kid, snack time was by far one of my favorite times of the school day. Snacks would usually come from the variety snack packs that included Cheetos, Doritos, Potato Chips, Pretzels etc. Since then, the snacking industry has come a long way. There are some great healthy school snacks that provide greater nutritional benefits than the ordinary potato chip. Unfortunately, healthier school snacks can become prohibitive from a budget perspective. So, we hunted down some delicious and nutritious snacks that won't break the bank. Each of these cost less than $10 a week per snack. They are listed in order of price and start with the cheapest:

Snack	The Scoop	Cost	Buy
Stretch Island Fruit Company	Even as an adult, I love Stretch Island's Fruit Leathers. Although it is much like a fruit roll-up, this healthy school snack is the best "fruit snack" on the market. Compared to other fruit snacks, it

Getting your children to eat healthy at home is challenging enough, but to get them to eat healthy in school can seem virtually impossible. You have no idea what is going on in the cafeteria…lunch swaps…trashcans…the team mascot…you name it. If a child doesn't want to eat what is in their lunchbox, they won't.

If getting your kids to learn healthy and nutritious habits is important, it pays to find creative ways to get them to "buy-in." Here are some tips:

1. Set an Example: Kids are smart. If you don't eat healthy, they won't see why they should eat healthy. Set an example by eating healthy at home. A few things to keep in mind:
   • Don't keep a lot of junk food in the house. Instead, keep fruit, nuts and other healthier foods in the house. The less unhealthy foods they have at home, the less they will look for them outside of the home.
   • Don't reward good behavior with treats and don't punish bad behavior by withholding treats. Treats should be enjoyed independent of

Friendships exemplified on favorite television shows cause me to wonder just how realistic they are. Those on Friends and Sex and the City offer up the kinds of friendships I know I yearn for: They last for years, they make it through thick and thin, they see one another on a regular if not daily basis and the characters are honest with one another, even when it means saying something the other person doesn't want to hear. In a way, I feel like these portrayals create the illusion of a Prince Charming of friendships.

Close friendships take tremendous work, dedication, and effort from all parties involved. Similar to romantic relationships, when we let our own issues and baggage get muddled into the picture, our friendships can become strained and suffer as a result. No one is perfect, and although there are certain traits we look for in a friend, there are definitely dynamics that can be very detrimental:

1. Jealousy: It is natural for every one of us to be envious at one

A day at the beach can mean soaking up rays, but it can also mean getting in lots of fun activity! This weekend when you head off to the beach, consider doing some of the following activities to get in your exercise for the day:

1. Paddle Ball: You can play Paddle Ball for hours and not even realize you are getting any exercise. Make your partner run to get to the ball instead of lobbing it directly to them and have them do the same for you. For a little extra intensity, take it into the water. A great paddle ball set on Amazon: Franklin Paddleball Set.
2. Body Surfing: Body surfing challenges you in a lot of different ways. First, you'll have to swim out far enough to catch a wave and will battle the incoming waves to do so. Second, because of the unpredictability of the waves, you'll get tossed around causing you to use your muscles in ways that you wouldn't normally. Third, you need to keep moving to stay afloat. The great thing too is that you don't need a surf-board or

Do you have a special occasion this weekend but haven't been as religious as you've wanted in going to the gym? Do you have an all day beach party to attend and want to look your best? Although there is honestly no substitute for a regular workout program that comprises strength training, there are a few tricks you can use to muster up a sleeker looking you within a few days of a big event:

Starting 3 days before:

1. Cut out Salt: Salt causes us to retain water, which can easily add a few extra pounds of weight and make you look "soft" or bloated. Cut out salt for a few days before your big event. Also, avoid Asian food, salty condiments such as ketchup, A-1, and barbecue sauce, and canned or processed foods. These contain high amounts of salt or sodium. Also, cook without salt and avoid fast or fried food. If you eat any packaged foods, choose those that are low-sodium or sodium-free.
2. Drink up: Drink a minimum of 8 8 oz. glasses of water a day. This will help flush out