Michael Mantell, Ph.D. – Cognitive Behavior Transformation Coach https://drmichaelmantell.com Michael Mantell, Ph.D. - Cognitive Behavior Transformation Coach Sat, 07 May 2016 19:39:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.3 Dr. Michael Mantell Shows How to Deal with the Three Nightmares at Work and at Working Out https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/dr-michael-mantell/dr-michael-mantell-shows-how-to-deal-with-the-three-nightmares-at-work-and-at-working-out/ Sat, 07 May 2016 19:39:34 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=482 When Michael Mantell, Ph.D. goes to the gym to workout, he wants to untie the knots and jelly beans in his back and shoulders, unhook from the day’s residue of stress, release his brain’s “feel good” chemicals and build all-over body muscle power. He don’t want to deal with difficult people. Do you? When you […]

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When Michael Mantell, Ph.D. goes to the gym to workout, he wants to untie the knots and jelly beans in his back and shoulders, unhook from the day’s residue of stress, release his brain’s “feel good” chemicals and build all-over body muscle power. He don’t want to deal with difficult people. Do you?

When you go to work, it’s the same thing. You don’t want to have to deal with pain in the neck, distracting co-workers. You want to produce, serve, sell, manage, create, repair or whatever it is you are getting paid to do and are passionate about.

Throughout many years coaching people on how to get their minds right to derive the maximum benefit they can from their physical workouts, and at work to perform at a superior level, one of the more common questions I’ve gotten is, “Michael, so and so is killing me and ruins my workout—or is so disturbing while I’m trying to work. Help me deal with her or him.”

I’ve culled my files and have picked out what I consider to be three of the most annoying co-workers or fellow gym goers. These three types cause unnecessary stress and disruption, and need to be dealt with wisely. Never, ever, let these people take up space in your heads though. They aren’t paying rent there, and you have no obligation to include them in your life.

  1. The Covetous Comparers

These green-eyed, jealous and envious, insecure and often fearful people “should on themselves” and others constantly. “I should have what you have!” is their most common mind-echo. You do three more heavy reps, they are pissed-off as much that they can’t, as that you can. Getting a promotion? Same thing. They believe it “should” be theirs, not yours.

What do you do? Think of them like you might a follower on Twitter. Nothing you can do about what they tweet. You can either continue to follow, or not. Don’t take their bate. It’s not your monkey, and it’s not your circus. It’s their resentment. Stay professional, pleasant, and don’t defend or offend.  Don’t fuel the flames, certainly, and stay unflappable and polite.

  1. The Prying Pests

You’d think they have no plan to workout, or in the workplace, to work. It’s as if their only task is to watch you, meddle in your business, be a nuisance and a pest. These are the “experts” who don’t mind telling you how to squat or life with better form, know all about how to do your job responsibilities better and more efficiently, and are continuously chattering away about their accomplishments and the deficiencies of thers while all you want to do is get your work, and your workout, done.

You might suggest to this person that you find it easier to focus on your workout, or work, with less distraction, let her/him know that while you appreciate their input and know they are well meaning, you are comfortable with your approach, thank them and turn away. Offer to talk with him/her later, when you are not so focused on your task and time at hand.

  1. The Whining Wailers

Is anything right at the gym, the locker room, the office, the parking lot, the cafeteria, the rest room or the computer system? Anything??? These folks can’t walk by you without objecting about something and commenting on the negative. I swear, these people can turn a rainbow gray. They rarely have solutions that would realistically work, complain that nobody ever listens to them, and yet are filled with so many grievances, criticisms, grumbles and moans that it’s surprising they ever get anything done. Perhaps they are just perfectionists? Nope. They are unhappy, picky, disgruntled folks who feel inadequate to the core. Who wants to hear what’s wrong constantly?

Don’t waste a moment trying to convince them of anything. It won’t work. Listening to these protesters is bad enough, but avoid any comment that might sound like you agree or disagree. Ask them if they’ve spoken to management and you’ll surely hear, “Ahhh, that doesn’t work—they don’t care.” You might—might—want to consider a one-time, “You know you don’t want to be known as a complainer do you?” Problem is, you’ll likely get back, “Hey I stopped caring about that long ago—they don’t obviously care about what I think so I don’t care what they think.” See? Hopeless. Best you can do is to let them know that you choose to see the positive in your gym or office. All else fails, speak to management and let them know about this distraction.

Bottom line is to remain optimistic, upbeat, non-judgmental and positive. Your task is to stay hovering above their expressions of personal unhappiness. Set boundaries for yourself with headphones, immediately say you are sorry but “can’t talk now,” staying away from the “water cooler” (or wherever these types hang out), and learn to continually deflect. Your goal is to free up from drama.

Mother Teresa observed, “Peace begins with a smile.” Keep that in mind next time one of these three step into your space.

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Dr. Michael Mantell’s How To: Defeat-Proof Your Mind https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/michael-r-mantell-phd/dr-michael-mantells-how-to-defeat-proof-your-mind/ Wed, 16 Mar 2016 00:33:09 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=477 Dr. Michael Mantell’s How To: Defeat-Proof Your Mind Michael Mantell often hears how it took quite awhile to earn that degree, to go on for graduate studies, to land that impressive job. And somehow, for many of his power coaching clients, it’s still leaving you with thoughts of defeat, of fear and worry. Or perhaps […]

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Dr. Michael Mantell’s How To: Defeat-Proof Your Mind

Michael Mantell often hears how it took quite awhile to earn that degree, to go on for graduate studies, to land that impressive job. And somehow, for many of his power coaching clients, it’s still leaving you with thoughts of defeat, of fear and worry.

Or perhaps that degree and job hasn’t happened for you, it’s not where you put your skills to work. Perhaps you’ve suffered while “functioning in your dysfunction.” Maybe you believe you are in a tough spot and can’t see a way out of it. The link is entirely what you think. You are not in a tough spot at all, it may “seem” that way and you may “think” there’s no way out, but that’s just some bad programming that you’ve filled your thinking with, defeatist and “valley thinking.”

It’s time to figure out how to guard your thinking, your mindset, pack up your possessions and can climb out of that valley you erroneously think you are in.
After all, who are you? Are you what you’ve allowed your programmers to say you are? Your parents, your teachers, your coaches, your co-workers? No. You are not what these negative, envious, sometimes cruel and often dysfunctional people say you are. You are, if you are a believer, who God says you are, and if you aren’t a believer, then at least you are who you say you are.
It’s time to grasp this mindset control lever fully, delete your mental computer, your thinking center, avoid the mental concussions that you’ve allowed life to create, and stop feeding the wrong messages. Put on a Helmut and guard your mind.

This means, stop blaming others for how you feel. They only try to plant a thought in your vulnerable mind. You’re the farmer who brings it into your mind, feeds it, sows it and make sure it grows. Now just how irrational is that, creating a storm and then being depressed, worried or angry because the weather is bad???
So perhaps it’s time to try a simple, yes, even somewhat silly experiment based on the well-known “ear lobe theory.” Well, it may become well known now. In any case, try this. First, ask yourself why you even have two ear lobes? C’mon, they were not given to each human to help sell earrings. Not that there’s anything wrong with wearing earrings. But perhaps there’s another reason for having ear lobes.

Do this. Pull gently and slightly down on each earlobe, and then gently pull them up to cover your ear canal. Get it? Your thumb may help hold it there. Next time you hear negative words about yourself, simply pull up on your ear lobes and shut out those limiting, negative, critical voices.
Just like the great Olympian Carl Lewis did who was repeatedly told he couldn’t jump over 30 feet but did and broke the world record. Or Ray Charles who was blind and was told he couldn’t play but filled generations with terrific music. Or FDR who was told he couldn’t walk, but he ran, and won.

We now have the ability to alter the expression of our genes, through the science of epigenetics. ThEaMo will do it. Thinking well, Eating well and Moving well are the core of the most exciting scientific advance in this century. We can control the physical expression of our genes and just because diabetes, heart disease and depression run in a family, doesn’t mean that must be your destiny. Thinking it is, will only grow those thoughts.

Guess what? You can do the same thing, change the negative expression of what others wish for you, your harm, by reprogramming your mind. Stop circling with the same thoughts while expecting different results. You cannot wake up and predict you’ll have another crappy day and hope to see advance in your life. Keep accepting this negative history of defeat, despair and depression and nothing will change.

I have found that “I can’t….” accompanies more people into therapy than most any other two words. People I see for coaching however, in person or over the phone/Skype, begin with “My goal…” See the difference? Those who carry negative seeds planted by others, who focus on them daily, often live with symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or anger. Those who carry thoughts of what can and will go right, who seek coaching to enhance life, to design a more successful future, are commonly free of these negative, defeatist symptoms.

So it’s time to stop looking at the dirt on the windows in your mind and begin seeing what’s out there beyond the spots on the glass, that’s so beautiful. False beliefs hold you back and limit you in life. It’s time to create auto-reactions to check your perceptions, your thoughts, and be sure they are true, helpful, inspirational, necessary, kind – T.H. I. N. K. When you check these perceptions and beliefs, your thoughts, create an opposite thought that you’d prefer to live with, seeing how it can bring wellbeing, increase and promotion in your life. Perhaps it’s time to visualize, meditate and dream for it – not trying for it, but creating it. Repeat these healthier thoughts throughout the day. Say it out loud. Be sure the people you surround yourself with are promoters but if not, remember those ear lobes. Be a person who says “Thank you” for something, perhaps even before you even have it—that’s why gratitude journals are so helpful in creating a more positive and healthy mindset. Finally, the more active you are, the healthier your chemistry will be and will be of help in your goal of guarding your mind.

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Michael Mantell’s Valentine’s Day Advice: Catching Your Eye is One Thing, Catching Your Heart is Another https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/michael-r-mantell-phd/michael-mantells-valentines-day-advice-catching-your-eye-is-one-thing-catching-your-heart-is-another/ Wed, 16 Mar 2016 00:30:31 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=475 Michael Mantell’s Valentine’s Day Advice: Catching Your Eye is One Thing, Catching Your Heart is Another Dr. Michael Mantell believes that Valentine’s Day may well have started as the Roman version of “match.com.” Young single men and women placed their names in a box, names were drawn randomly and couples were put together as partners […]

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Michael Mantell’s Valentine’s Day Advice: Catching Your Eye is One Thing, Catching Your Heart is Another

Dr. Michael Mantell believes that Valentine’s Day may well have started as the Roman version of “match.com.” Young single men and women placed their names in a box, names were drawn randomly and couples were put together as partners for a year. After that it was up to them.

Robert Browning pointed to the essence of the foundation of Valentine’s Day when he said, “Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.” And as my teacher and mentor, Albert Ellis, Ph.D. liked to say, “The art of love is largely the art of persistence.”

For millennials, relationships appear to be taking on a new lustre. In a recent survey of 1,000 people, the researchers found that about 53% of millennials believed “till death do us part” no longer applies. Instead, “beta marriage” should the new normal many millennials believe. Despite being the “hook up generation,” cautious with commitment, wanting to postpone relationships until they’ve achieved a more stable career, being concerned with looking too clingy, being unwilling to “settle for less,” or just liking the “let’s test this marriage”model, still 69% of millennials want get married, but also want the option of rethinking the rules.

Despite these stumbling blocks, there are ways to turn them into stepping stones for a long-term, healthy and rewarding relationship. Use these tips, persistently, with your hearts and minds anchored in forever, and you’ll be celebrating many, many Valentine’s Days together…in genuine love.
• Offer large doses of respecting him and cherishing her (yes, of course it’s important the other way around as well). Express fondness and admiration daily.
• Become genuinely BFFs by demonstrating that what’s important to your friend’s happiness is essential to you, and delivering your best self to each other. Turn towards each other, not away from each other.
• Avoid the endless cycle of arguments. Be each other’s “defense attorney,” not “prosecutor.” Listen carefully to each other to create “win-win” solutions by putting conflict in front of both of you, not between you. Don’t compromise! Instead, find a third solution that isn’t his or hers, but a consensus you both agree on and enjoy. Make excuses for each other.
• You aren’t likely to be a star in more than one arena of your life—make it your relationship by clearly putting each other before anything else, including work, children, hobbies, parents and friends.
• Be sure you indulge and nourish each other with everything you are in the language the other desires and understands—and do it daily.
• Ultimately it’s all about KINDNESS. Deliver it daily at a ratio of 5 positive interactions to every negative interaction and you’ll be celebrating your love for decades to come.
• It’s not just what you say to each other, it’s how you say it that matters. But however you say it, avoid saying things like:

“What the heck is wrong with you?”
“Never mind! I’ll do it myself…I don’t need you to help me.”
“Why can’t you ever________?” “Why do you always________?”
“Why can’t you be more like______?”
“Whatevvvver” (instead of actually engaging in conversation)
Keep your promises…to do your best to surprise each other, to smile often, to look at each other tenderly, to ignite sparks in each other’s eyes, to inspire and motivate each other for good and health, to never let the excitement fade, and to hold each other’s hands with the same anticipation, pleasure and enthusiasm when you reach 75, that you did the very first time you ever touched each other.

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Dr. Mantell on Active Aging https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/dr-mantell-on-active-aging/ Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:05:33 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=415 My heart was touched recently in my favorite local deli in San Diego. No, it wasn’t the Reuben sandwich I treat myself to once a month, nor was it the sour pickles. It was an unexpected birthday party that I found so moving. “Would everyone please join us in celebrating Mary’s 102nd birthday?” the hostess’s […]

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My heart was touched recently in my favorite local deli in San Diego. No, it wasn’t the Reuben sandwich I treat myself to once a month, nor was it the sour pickles. It was an unexpected birthday party that I found so moving. “Would everyone please join us in celebrating Mary’s 102nd birthday?” the hostess’s voice sang out. I looked up and there was Mary, sitting next to her husband and beaming with excitement, joy and fulfillment. Her children were gathered around their own children and grandchildren, and for a moment, the entire restaurant saw what life was supposed to be. Longevity, health, well- being, happiness and family—what The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily represent those of the Publisher. more could Mary have imagined in her life?  I could not resist chatting with Mary when the festivities quieted. Of course, I asked her what she called “the million-dollar question”: “What’s your secret to your longevity and obvious happiness?”  Anyone whose passion lies in active aging could have predicted the answer.  “Son,” she replied, “I choose to be happy, and regardless of any interferences, I’ve always been active.” That sums it all up, doesn’t it?

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Prepairing for the Rock and Roll Marathon https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/prepairing-for-the-rock-and-roll-marathon/ Mon, 03 Jun 2013 01:50:08 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=405 [hana-code-insert name=’marathon’ /]

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Why and How to Trust Your Personal Trainer https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/why-and-how-to-trust-your-personal-trainer/ Thu, 23 May 2013 21:14:02 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=402 Here are some striking research findings: Children as young as 14 months can differentiate between a credible person and a deceitful one. And even as we get older, all it takes is 100 milliseconds of exposure to a person’s face for many people to judge trustworthiness or deception. In the key relationships in our lives, […]

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Here are some striking research findings: Children as young as 14 months can differentiate between a credible person and a deceitful one. And even as we get older, all it takes is 100 milliseconds of exposure to a person’s face for many people to judge trustworthiness or deception.

In the key relationships in our lives, trust influences whether we feel comfortable being our vulnerable, genuine selves or whether we feel defensive and guarded, anticipating harm. Trust is tricky and all-powerful, as it determines how we feel while making all kinds of decisions — accepting a dinner date, riding in a cab, heeding a doctor’s advice, hiring a babysitter, buying a certain product, or signing on with a personal trainer. We can perform these actions with ease and comfort, or with stress, fear, and anxiety — and trust makes all the difference.

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Dr. Mantell’s interview on CNN Radio https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/dr-mantells-interview-on-cnn-radio/ Sun, 17 Feb 2013 05:22:49 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=364 Click here for CNN’s Barbara Hall recent interview with Dr. Mantell.

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CNN Radio News

Click here for CNN’s Barbara Hall recent interview with Dr. Mantell.

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https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/317/ Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:05:39 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=317 “It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”?— W. Edwards DemingMovies, television shows, lyrics, books, radio programs, sports, software, news—in other words, just about everything these days is available “on demand” or features an on-demand component. You can have whatever you want when you want it.  Click here to read more.

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“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”?— W. Edwards DemingMovies, television shows, lyrics, books, radio programs, sports, software, news—in other words, just about everything these days is available “on demand” or features an on-demand component. You can have whatever you want when you want it.  Click here to read more.

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How to Connect with 80 Million Potential Clients https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/how-to-connect-with-80-million-potential-clients/ Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:30:17 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=314 An estimated 51.4 million Americans belong to a health club and, according to IHRSA’s latest data, 12.5 percent use personal-training services. But what about the rest of America, especially the growing overweight and obese population? Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese (Flegal et al., 2012), which means that 78 million adults, and more […]

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An estimated 51.4 million Americans belong to a health club and, according to IHRSA’s latest data, 12.5 percent use personal-training services. But what about the rest of America, especially the growing overweight and obese population? Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese (Flegal et al., 2012), which means that 78 million adults, and more than 12 million children, are obese. This epidemic, costing the U.S. approximately $147 billion per year, feeds a $60 billion industry of products, services, diets and foods—all designed to help people lose weight. With the wave of diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic and other ailments linked to unhealthy weight, the American population is indeed in need of help.

Health coaches know how to help. But do you know how to reach those who aren’t among the 51.4 million who show up in gyms week after week?

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Why the Answer to Motivation Is You https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/why-the-answer-to-motivation-is-you/ Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:32:15 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=306 When it comes to belly buttons, having an “inny” or an “outy” has no real effect on health.  When it comes to motivation — especially for health and fitness goals — being an inny or an outy can make all the difference.

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When it comes to belly buttons, having an “inny” or an “outy” has no real effect on health.  When it comes to motivation — especially for health and fitness goals — being an inny or an outy can make all the difference.

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Middle-Age and Not Yet Fit? Uh Oh. https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/middle-age-and-not-yet-fit-uh-oh/ Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:59:40 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=294 Depending on who you ask, it seems almost everyone these days is “middle-age.” The US Census says it’s basically between 35-54 years old. Some say between 45-60, and others say it extends to 65 years old. Point is the idea of “middle-age” covers a whole lot of people, including a lot of members of The […]

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Depending on who you ask, it seems almost everyone these days is “middle-age.” The US Census says it’s basically between 35-54 years old. Some say between 45-60, and others say it extends to 65 years old. Point is the idea of “middle-age” covers a whole lot of people, including a lot of members of The Sporting Club.

The visible signs of aging, including loss of skin elasticity, graying of hair, 10-20 lbs. accumulation of body fat, decrease in aerobic performance, maximal heart rate, strength, flexibility, and fertility, and of course, menopause, to name just a few of the common “ills” middle-age can bring, are seemingly universal. But the chronic health conditions associated with older age are more troubling.

Well, guess what? If you are somewhere in the middle-age range of life, you can not only foil these mid-life widespread conditions, but perhaps even more important, you can help reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses up to twenty years later! Want to delay biological aging by more than a decade?

Click here for the full article.

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RIP Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Rihanna: The Celebrity Death Hoax Fad https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/rip-bill-cosby-eddie-murphy-rihanna-the-celebrity-death-hoax-fad/ Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:06:49 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=289 It all started with Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. After the singer’s shocking death followed by the death of the actress a day later to cancer in August 2009, Twitter users started claiming other celebrities were dead too. Britney Spears. Sean Combs. Paul McCartney.Why are people motivated to start such rumors for sheer sport? San […]

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Every few days, another celebrity like Justin Bieber or Eddie Murphy has to deny rumors of his death, started by Twitter twits. How can we stop them? It all started with Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. After the singer’s shocking death followed by the death of the actress a day later to cancer in August 2009, Twitter users started claiming other celebrities were dead too. Britney Spears. Sean Combs. Paul McCartney.Why are people motivated to start such rumors for sheer sport? San Diego-based clinical psychologist Michael Mantellsays while the technology is new, the human motives behind the hoaxes are as old as the “Martian panic” created by Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” radio show in 1937 and the boy who cried wolf.“Twitter allows liars to creatively manipulate a sense of power over tens or hundreds of thousands of followers. The power they wield works because they play on our adoration of the stars they write about coupled with our emotions upon hearing of a “death” or tragedy occurring to them, blinding our rational thinking and normal skepticism,” explained Dr. Mantell. “They want us to feel emotion instead of use our critical thinking.

“It builds the sense of power in the perpetrator of the hoax, but only temporarily. He/she must do it again to keep up their otherwise failing and false sense of power. They do it to build up their own sense of poor self-esteem that borders on self-loathing.

“There is also the “I want to be first to spread the news–makes me feel important–I’ll tell my friends before anyone else does.” This helps cement the erroneous belief we hold onto. We believe things more when we spread them to others,” said Dr. Mantell.

But now that we all know about the celebrity death hoax phenomenon, why aren’t we more skeptical? Why don’t we stop to check these reports out first since so many of them, especially on Twitter, turn out to be completely false?

“We have always been able to put our critical reasoning aside. We are physiologically built to focus on what’s alarming and dangerous, and the media knows this well,” explains Mantell. “Social media also allows us to see immediately a large number of others who “believe the hoax” by the sheer outpouring of grief, shock and wailing, which we instantly believe must be true if everyone else is believing it. We think, “If so many people are reacting, it must be true.”

Photo: Rihanna/Bill Cosby/Eddie Murphy

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Is There Psychology Behind Healthy Eating? https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/is-there-psychology-behind-healthy-eating/ Fri, 07 Sep 2012 02:58:06 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=284 Food has come to have meaning, and perhaps that’s the problem.  Isn’t food just fuel for a healthy body?  When did food become more than just nourishment? Doesn’t healthy eating mean eating the necessary food groups in an enjoyable way to maintain a normal, stable weight? Isn’t it just food? Psychologically healthy eating means “eating […]

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Food has come to have meaning, and perhaps that’s the problem.  Isn’t food just fuel for a healthy body?  When did food become more than just nourishment? Doesn’t healthy eating mean eating the necessary food groups in an enjoyable way to maintain a normal, stable weight?

Isn’t it just food?

Psychologically healthy eating means “eating without meaning.”

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Dr. Mantell’s latest radio interview: 3 Crazy Notions that Prevent You From Getting Fit https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/dr-mantells-latest-radio-interview-3-crazy-notions-that-prevent-you-from-getting-fit/ Tue, 14 Aug 2012 01:25:28 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=271 We operate from three basic emotions — all negative.  Without awareness, these fundamental emotions have the potential to derail us on our path to a happier, healthier life. Click here if you are ready to shift from a negative to positive state and achieve your fitness goals.

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We operate from three basic emotions — all negative.  Without awareness, these fundamental emotions have the potential to derail us on our path to a happier, healthier life. Click here if you are ready to shift from a negative to positive state and achieve your fitness goals.

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10 Minutes Before You Exercise https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/10-minutes-before-you-exercise/ Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:07:51 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=190 Ever wonder what world-class, elite level athletes do before they get on the field? They do the same thing that well-informed fitness enthusiasts, celebrity trainers and leading coaches do. They use relaxation and visualization techniques to boost their performance.

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Ever wonder what world-class, elite level athletes do before they get on the field? They do the same thing that well-informed fitness enthusiasts, celebrity trainers and leading coaches do. They use relaxation and visualization techniques to boost their performance.

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New Year’s Resolutions https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/new-years-resolutions/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:23:43 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=129 [hana-code-insert name='newyear' /]

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San Diego 6 News: Demystifying Age https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/san-diego-6-news-demystifying-age/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:15:01 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=126 [hana-code-insert name='cwage' /]

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Burning Out on Exercise Before the Resolutions Even Take Hold? https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/burning-out-on-exercise-before-the-resolutions-even-take-hold/ Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:40:51 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=117 Does this sound like you? As you started to get dressed to head to the gym this morning, you found yourself spending more time organizing your gym clothes rather than actually putting them on. Then, instead of mixing your protein shake in your typical “automatic” way, you began surfing the web for new shake recipes and didn’t ever […]

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Does this sound like you? As you started to get dressed to head to the gym this morning, you found yourself spending more time organizing your gym clothes rather than actually putting them on. Then, instead of mixing your protein shake in your typical “automatic” way, you began surfing the web for new shake recipes and didn’t ever get to prepare one. Avoiding exercise due to burnout?

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Take a Hike https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/take-a-hike/ Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:45:40 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=115 There’s a Latin proverb that says, “Solvitur ambulando,” meaning “The problem will walk itself out.” Dr. Tad Kostrubala, who was head of psychiatry at San Diego’s Mercy Hospital back in the ‘70s, became famous for creating the stir about “running therapy” by taking depressed patients out for one-hour walk/run therapy sessions. He found in his […]

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There’s a Latin proverb that says, “Solvitur ambulando,” meaning “The problem will walk itself out.”

Dr. Tad Kostrubala, who was head of psychiatry at San Diego’s Mercy Hospital back in the ‘70s, became famous for creating the stir about “running therapy” by taking depressed patients out for one-hour walk/run therapy sessions. He found in his research at SDSU’s Rehabilitation Counseling Department that his subjects enjoyed both psychological and physiological benefits from walking and running in therapy sessions. He understood that people are built for walking.

Believe it or not, many laughed at his approach in those days.

Today it seems that only those who earn their living providing meds for depression are denouncing “running/walking therapists.”

Physically, walking reduces heart rate and resting blood pressure, lowers the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio while increasing the “good” HDL cholesterol, increases insulin receptor sensitivity and glucose tolerance.

On the emotional side, walking clearly leads to changes in the same neurotransmitters that antidepressant medication targets for reducing depression and anxiety. Walking not only improves mood and feelings of well-being, but reduces stress and leaves walkers with a better self-image.

One midwestern medical group, HealthPartners, is so convinced of these findings that their doctors prescribe pedometers to patients who appear with depression. Along with the pedometers, patients with depression are directed to walk for 30 minutes a day, three to five times a week. That’s not meant to replace necessary medication or cognitive behavioral therapy, but it’s a key driver in recognizing the value of walking away your problems.

Locally, we have some awesome walking/hiking trails for you to check out. Here are a few of my favorite mood-lifting paths:

1. Batiquitos Lagoon Trail. 2 miles of trails in Carlsbad

2. Iron Mountain. Get ready for a 7 mile hike up this mountain in Poway

3. Mission Trails Regional Park. This is the king of them all with more than 40 miles of scenic historical trails, lakes, and mountains

4. Torrey Pines State Reserve. If you love the ocean, this is for you.

5. Mission Bay Park. 12 miles of paths for you to enjoy around the Bay

Someone once said, “a pedestrian is someone who thought there were a couple of gallons left in the tank.” Current research tells us pedestrians are those who plan on many more miles left in life, with happiness and well-being.

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Stamp Out ANTS (and get rid of negative thinking) https://drmichaelmantell.com/blog/san-diego-fitness-psychology/stamp-out-ants-and-get-rid-of-negative-thinking/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:08:28 +0000 http://drmichaelmantell.com/?p=104 Need to get moving but find that ANTs are in your way?  Well, not really those tiny, pesky creepy crawlers found on picnic tables everywhere. These ANTs are “automatic negative thoughts” that creep into your thinking, actually affecting your ability to do many things, including being more physically active.

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Need to get moving but find that ANTs are in your way?  Well, not really those tiny, pesky creepy crawlers found on picnic tables everywhere. These ANTs are “automatic negative thoughts” that creep into your thinking, actually affecting your ability to do many things, including being more physically active.

The post Stamp Out ANTS (and get rid of negative thinking) appeared first on Michael Mantell, Ph.D. - Cognitive Behavior Transformation Coach.

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