Corey Stokes

Use hydrotherapy to get you going in the morning

My wife has been using this hot and cold hydrotherapy technique for years as a way to get going and wake herself up in the mornings. Little did I know that this was being used for thousands of years! In Finland, the sauna is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Used as a technique to relax the body to reduce stress 99% of Finland has a sauna in the home.

According to Phil Dumontet there are more benefits to using hydrotherapy which include:

A stronger immune system: Another study found that taking daily cold showers increases the number of disease-fighting white blood cells. In an attempt to warm up, the body speeds up its metabolic rate and activates the immune system, releasing more white blood cells.

Improved blood circulation: When exposed to cold water, our arteries and veins constrict. This temporary tightening allows blood to flow at a higher pressure, which is great for cardiovascular health.

Increased ability to burn fat:Research shows that cold-induced glucose uptake results in the creation of brown fat cells, which create warmth, burn energy and keep you slim.

Aid in battling depression.A 2008 study found that adapted cold showers stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and increase beta-endorphin levels in the blood. They send a high level of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which could produce an anti-depressant effect.

For my wife, her spa treatments in the morning and after her run energizes her body and gets her ready for the day. 30 seconds of hot water, as hot as you can take, and then 30 seconds of cool water opens up the capillaries, increases blood flow and provides an all-around sense of stimulation. But don’t take my work for it, try this out for yourself.

Read Phil Dumontet’s article “How This Showering Trick Can Make You More Energized for the Work Day” on www.entreprenuer.com http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241614

By Corey L. Stokes Buy From Amazon Today!

Run With Me! Getting ready for 2015’s 1st race of the year

Time is rapidly approaching for the first race of the year. With 38 miles under my belt for the month of January and 365 road miles (since I started tracking) I feel I am completely ready for this couples 10K! 1 Week before Valentines day, There will be a Cupid combo Race, what better way to tell my wife that I love her than to complete this challenge together! It is bound to be great way to spend the morning.

I’d like to say that training for this race went as planned, but with the weather, treadmill running, and just plain being tired. I didn’t get as many miles in this month as I wanted to but, there is always next month!

Corey’s Money Tip: Your fun doesn’t need to put you in debt!
I recently read Ramit Sethi’s book “I will teach you to be rich” If you read my review on this book, then it is no surprise that I didn’t particularly care for some of the advice he gave. But I will admit, I did take something that he suggested to use. Ramit says you should put money aside to enjoy life now rather than later. Even Dave Ramsey suggests, that having “money to spend” as a line item on your budget is a good idea. As far as money goes, there is not need to go into debt in enjoy the things you love! What Michelline and I have done is set up a Racing Fund. An account (or an envelope) that we set money aside in, specifically for enjoying what is becoming our favorite pastime.

My Thoughts: I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Corey L. Stokes

This book wasn’t quite what I expected. Starting out, I found the writing style a bit off-putting and almost gave up. However, since it was a priority on my reading list, I pushed through and eventually switched to the audiobook format, which helped.

The book’s layout also felt strange. The early advice on credit card optimization seemed to contradict the later focus on debt-free living and efficient money management. This initial push towards credit cards put me on guard about the rest of the book.

While I agree with the concept of automating finances – I’ve used similar methods successfully myself – the book’s argument for it could have been stronger. There’s also some inconsistency in the message. For example, the author discourages traditional budgeting but then introduces a “conscious spending plan.” Aren’t these essentially the same thing? I found several instances where Ramit seemed to be repackaging old advice with new labels.

The real-life examples used throughout the book were helpful, but some didn’t seem to support the arguments being made. For instance, the book advocates using credit cards for monthly bills and paying them off in full each month. Yet, the examples often included people struggling with credit card debt due to similar practices. Even with potential rewards points, the benefit of using credit cards in these cases wasn’t clear. The advice seems to overlook the risks young people face when managing credit.

There’s also a contradiction around debt and credit score. The book emphasizes staying out of debt, but also highlights credit score as a measure of good debt management. It’s unclear how to achieve both goals simultaneously with a credit card-based financial plan. Personally, I don’t believe using debt is a sound path to wealth.

Despite my reservations, those interested in debt-based wealth-building strategies might find Robert Kiyosaki’s works helpful.

The book does offer some valuable advice on automated savings, finding discounts, and wise spending through automation. These are all positive aspects, but the delivery fell flat for me. If the book had focused solely on these areas, I would have enjoyed it more. Overall, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.