FOOD IS FUEL EVERY TIME

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. You and I know what we consume is usually of plant or animal origin and does contain essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. Some years ago when I had the privilege to share the platform with my mentor, role model-Dr. Myles Munroe after a beautiful leadership conference with over 5,000 people and professionals we went to have lunch.
He looked at me during the time together that terrific thursday two years ago and said; “food is fuel.” First time I will ever hear those true words. Some weeks ago as I touched down Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania in East Africa all in a bid to take on Africa’s highest peak putting my body under real pressure everyday for approximately six hours, sure reminded me food indeed is fuel.
You know water is life, which our body needs daily. Do you know what you invest in you reflects sooner or later in the day, with water drank daily on Kilimanjaro 4-6litres every day, even when I have had little or no food, drinking water releases some life-locking within me a will to go further regardless of how I felt.
Truth is strength I had day expedition up Kilimanjaro began was as a result of fibre based breakfast that included ;“corn flakes” eggs, passion juice (from Tanzanian grown passion fruits)blended daily at Mount Kilimanjaro mountain resort.
The nutritionist that took care of me, mountain guide and porters on the mountain made fresh soup every day, every meal started with some soup including pumpkin soup that had: 645kj of energy, 7.0g protein, 4.5g of fat, 19.7g carbohydrates, 12.4g sugars,1.8g dietary fibre, 30.3ug fiolate, 351 mg sodium, 518mg potassium and 103mg phosphorus locked inside every serving.
So much as I lost appetite as we ascended higher up Kilimanjaro one thing I didn’t toy with was soup servings since I knew and also understand the impact what taking a meal can do for me, you, your body and health no matter what this week.

ATTITUDE ON ALTITUDE

Attitude is defined as one’s mindset, approach while Altitude is said to be height above sea level. Let’s start by bringing those two words together.
One’s mindset or approach, height above sea level; leading to one experience I had aboard my Kilimanjaro bound flight last week. We were approaching Arusha a nearby town of Tanzania as the Pilot announced, “Anyone interested may want to take a look at Mount Kilimanjaro on the left side of our plane”. Everyone hurried towards the wing where I was seated.
David who was sitting behind me, quickly said hello to Sarafina who was seated beside me both Kenyans (sadly the weather wasn’t good enough to catch a view of Africa’s highest free standing mountain) making passengers pass comments.
Since we can’t catch a view of Kilimanjaro maybe Mount Kenya won’t be a bad idea said someone. I laughed as Sarafina announced she had tried to climb Kilimanjaro once and didn’t make it to the top. I asked her why she hasn’t tried again and she said it’s not her type of thing.
I told her that I was going to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro then she said take photos, shortly David said; if you’re going to climb it, then I can do it too. I told him there’s need he prepared himself for it.
He said if you are about to do Kilimanjaro Joshua am sure I can do it also. As I laid in the confines of my Karanga Camp at 3930 metres tent, the attitude David had in-flight truly is one attitude many have on altitude above Africa’s highest free standing mountain, not considering challenge the expedition requires.
Since the expedition up Kilimanjaro started a couple of days ago for me from umbwe gate with my chief guide Ien and a nutritionist-chef, waiter and five porters passed through the tropical rain forest, grassy moorland to barrancho camp and write this piece up the mountain, we all must have the right attitude to successfully attain the altitude we want in life-best by patiently preparing for the peak.

PATIENCE PAYS!

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance, anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity.
Yes it’s not news several brands said no to sponsor “Summit up Kilimanjaro” that will lead to the hoisting of Nigeria’s national flag for the very first time atop the roof of Africa.
As specialists say successful summits to the top of Kilimanjaro only comes through patience otherwise known in Swahili an eastern African language as “pole, pole” slowly, slowly words which mountain guides say over again on the way up.
A couple of friends showed support towards the expedition some part of the expedition experience I will live to treasure as long as I live to tell the story. Some days ago a drama unfolded in my very eyes. A young man possibly not up to 25years old showed up with a cheque leaf; one out of five that had gone missing from a small business owner’s cheque book, as if that wasn’t enough the signature of the owner was forged.
We eventually found out the identity card the young man presented was fake as it carried the name of a major supplier of the small business owner whose cheque leaves were missing. The bank however contacted their customer who made it known the signature wasn’t his and he was saddened his account clerk could do such a thing, who he employed because of the father.
I left the bank thinking “Patience Pays,” as much as I desire to have every budget, bill(s) met towards the expedition amongst others seeking for my attention “I WILL NEVER ROB A BANK” or defraud someone’s business-signing a cheque that’s not mine because of money. Moral of the story is “patience pays.” Someone possibly will be reading this as I fly off to commence expedition Up Kilimanjaro, one mountain many still see as impossible. Patiently work it out, there’s no mountain someone hasn’t summit before.

POINT OF NO RETURN

The point of no return is the point beyond which someone, or some group of people, must continue on their current course of action, either because turning back is physically impossible, or because to do so would be prohibitively expensive or dangerous. It is also used when the distance or effort required to get back would be greater than the remainder of the journey or task as yet undertaken.
Nigeria as a nation historically speaking has a Lagos location in badagry called “Point of no return” where I remember taking an American friend of mine who visited after a medical mission 250 Americans flew into our great country for about a decade ago.
One part of the historical location I will never forget is the “point of no return” my friend I recall began to cry upon seeing photos of the experience millions-men, women both young and old possibly went through as they were sold and shipped away all because turning back was dangerous “as swimming simply meant death on the high seas” sadly in that case they had to continue on their course.
Exactly eleven days away am scheduled to touch down “Kilimanjaro International Airport” sadly a platinum and or gold partner pulled back sponsoring the expedition up Kilimanjaro one opportunity as a ‘brand or business leader’ my business won’t miss for anything regardless of our recent challenge(s) since this is my mindset, the exit of a prospective sponsor really won’t stop “Summit Up Kilimanjaro” come march haven reached the point of no return.
Nigeria’s national flag goes up with GTAssurance (our insurance partner); Golden Tulip Festac, Lagos providing hospitality support; GNLD (supplement partner); Laterna Ventures (literature resource centre) and “Businesday” our official print partner. Retreating isn’t an option now.
When you have a goal, dream; make effort to treasure every moment as they are all-important.
Finally my performance coaching, compeer, columnist and adventurer career has shown me when the distance or effort required in getting back would be greater than remainder of the journey or task as yet undertaken the only way to go is forward.

FIT AND FOCUSED!

Its some 20days to commence expedition up Africa’s highest freestanding mountain and a special interview with Nigeria’s Channel Network News (NN24) has just been done which will be broadcast this week. With my sports physician conducting routine checks on me again and was asked; Doctor is he fit to climb Kilimanjaro? Original definition of the world fit is “to be the proper size and shape”, which was why my fitness physician whose International Olympic Committee (IOC) Certified possibly was asked by lady who interviewed me.
My valentine’s day was spent at the exercise and fitness sports club of Golden Tulip, Festac Lagos as I had to give up an invitation by the hotel to their special valentine event that I declined giving up pleasure-fun so as to stay fit-preparing for a minimum of 2hours.
Someone once said: focus is been blind to other things so one’s eyes, mind and body gets less attention not allowing for distractions.
So for me making my mental and physical fitness goal priority puts me on the path where am able to remain fit and focused on my mountain climbing goal. What simple action could you take today, this week and the remaining part of this month and year that could produce new momentum toward success in your life dreams-personal, physical, spiritual, emotional and otherwise?
A study conducted revealed when you do something consistently for about twenty one days it turns out to become a part of your daily life what we all refer to as a habit. This simply means staying fit and focused definitely can become a choice for as long as we want this to be. Begin now with one goal; live by it, that after twenty one days it turns out to become a law or an ideal in your life as you possibly know ideals are called philosophies. A philosophy is a product of a belief system which comes from law. What have you been focused on that has made you unfit thus far? If you were weighed and measured will you be found wanting? Get fit and focused. To Your Success

LIGHT THE WAY

Thomas Edison was a strange child, from the beginning as seventh child of the family, he remained silent, for which his parents may have later been grateful. Not until age four, did Edison speak something that may or may not have been caused by a partial hearing loss which worsened before he was out of his teens.
However, he did something in common with other children; his most frequently asked question was "Why?" For Edison soon became interested in the working of things that caught his attention. That interest would end his formal education at age seven, after three months. His teacher, frustrated at the constant questioning, sent Edison home, observing that his broad head and jaw indicated a mental defect. When in fact, Edison looked just like his mother.
From that time on, Edison was home-schooled, which wasn’t a new idea in 1854, was certainly not the norm. His mother taught the Bible, and the three Rs, while his somewhat undependable father rewarded him with a dime, for every literary classic he read. By age12, Edison became a mini entrepreneur, running his own printing press and putting out a newspaper he sold on local train runs, while using an empty car for his laboratory, a freewheeling and independent education.
Scarlet fever at 14, and or a cuff on the head from an irate conductor when his experiments set fire to a rail car, robbed Edison of most of his hearing, leaving him with only about 20% in his right ear. Historians surmised that lack of noise-distractions actually helped Edison's mind focus on his theories and premises as he ploughed his way towards fame.
After spending his youth as a traveling telegrapher, Edison's first success as an inventor was a "repeating" telegraph device. Fame swirled around him, but Edison seemed to set himself apart from it. When asked once if he were afraid of anything he replied "I am afraid of the dark." Thomas Edison died Oct.18, 1931, with all the lights burning in his New Jersey home.
Moral of his story: “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel”

HEALTHY YOU

World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Your health is your very first wealth. Without our health we won’t be able to enjoy our wealth which is why we need to take our own health seriously.
Some days ago as part of my Mount Kilimanjaro expedition requirements-spent two hours at the gym giving half of it to tests conducted by my International Olympics committee (IOC) certified sports physician: Dr. Dayo Osholowu, that turned out right ending with a handshake as he certified me fit for the expedition up Kilimanjaro.
One of the questions he asked me as I exercised on the treadmill prior to the tests. He said: “Joshua, how are you getting yourself mentally prepared for the expedition?” Excitedly I responded Doc. Every day I start the exercise, my mind journeys as if am at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro’s rain forest, through Mweka gate geared up in my mountain gear.
I guess my fitness physician asked that question with the World Health Organization’s definition in mind. My mental wellness and hike up in my mind is important towards successfully summiting Africa’s highest mountain.
No one, expedition is complete without a healthy you-complete physical, mental and social wellbeing which are as important as the absence of disease or infirmity.
It was John F.Kennedy that asserted: physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. You undoubtedly can create, experience and also advance in life especially when your wellness is in motion never static, continuously creating room for your rise.
Enjoy your February; your health should benefit from you more attention this week, month and also this year twenty elevation. Ensure you make room for your wellbeing; towards a healthy you. Your vitality and daily energy can only come through having a healthier you: physically, mentally and socially.
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