Novak Djokovic shares gluten-free diet secrets in new book

Novak Djokovic shares
gluten-free diet secrets in new book

Novak Djokovic Book: Serve to Win: The 14-Day Gluten-Free Plan for Physical and Mental Excellence

Novac Djokovic became the No. 1 tennis player in the world after switching to a gluten-free diet three years ago. Djokovic, 26, is revealing his diet and training secrets in his new book, "Serve to Win: The 14-Day Gluten-Free Plan for Physical and Mental Excellence."

In the book, Djokovic revealed that he follows a gluten-free, low-sugar diet and even abstained from chocolate for a year and a half.

In the tome, Djokovic expounds the virtues of the gluten-free, dairy-free and low sugar eating plan he adopted three years ago.
"My life changed because I had begun to eat the right foods for my body, in the way that my body demanded," he writes.
"Every morning I wake up, I drink a glass of water and do my stretching, maybe mixed with some yoga or tai chi, for 20 minutes.
"I eat a breakfast perfectly calibrated to my body for the day ahead — the same breakfast almost every day of my life."

His other nutrition secrets include the following (via the Wall Street Journal July 30):

• Drink plenty of warm water throughout the day;
• Avoid dairy, caffeine and alcohol during tournaments;
• Consume shakes made with pea-protein concentrate;
• Eat lots of avocados and cashew butter;
• Drastically cut back on sugar consumption;
• Eat manuka honey from New Zealand.

"The first thing I do out of bed is to drink a tall glass of room-temperature water," Novak wrote in "Serve to Win," which comes out Aug. 30. "The second thing I do might really surprise you: I eat two spoonfuls of honey every day."

The Serbian tennis phenom said warm water is better for digestion and muscle replenishment than cold drinks. But by far, the biggest change in Djokovic's diet has been eliminating gluten.

In 2010, Novak hired a nutritionist and was tested for food intolerances, which indicated he was allergic to wheat and dairy. Since then, Djokovic has followed a high-protein, gluten-free diet and has been dominating on the tennis court. He now avoids most starches, including pizza and pasta.

Djokovic credits his transformation to Dr. Igor Cetojevic, a "skinny, grayhaired, mustachioed" Serbian nutritionist living in Cyprus. Dr. Cetojevic persuaded the tennis star to give up gluten by administering a simple test: He told Djokovic to put his left hand on his stomach, hold out his right arm and resist as the doctor pulled down on his arm. Then Dr. Cetojevic gave Djokovic a slice of bread and told him to hold that against his stomach and repeated the test.

"This seemed like madness," Djokovic writes. "And yet, there was a noticeable difference."

When an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test showed Djokovic had a strong intolerance to wheat and dairy, he went without gluten for 14 days and felt great. Then the doctor asked him to eat a bagel. "I felt as though I'd woken up with a hangover," he writes. Djokovic swore off gluten for good and ended up losing 11 pounds. He says he feels faster, more flexible and better able to concentrate.

Since he started his new diet, he writes, "My allergies abated; my asthma disappeared; my fears and doubts were replaced by confidence."

He adds: "I have not had a serious cold or flu in nearly three years."

The 6-foot-2 Djokovic, who weighs around 176 pounds, initially lost weight after cutting gluten out of his diet (a result he was not trying to achieve), but insists it has only helped his game.

Since going gluten-free, Novak has experienced improved overall health. "My allergies abated; my asthma disappeared; my fears and doubts were replaced by confidence," he wrote.

Djokovic's other training secrets include:

• Doing yoga and tai chi;
• Meditating;
• Taking melatonin supplements;
• Sitting in a pressurized CVAC pod, which simulates high-altitude training;
• Getting seven to eights hours of sleep every night.

Djokovic also discusses his devotion to the teachings of Eastern medicine and philosophy. One of his favorite demonstrations, he says, involved a researcher and two glasses of water. The researcher shared positive energy with one glass ("love, joy, happiness"). He shared negative energy with the other and swore at it ("anger, fear, hostility"). After several days, the negative water was tinted green, and the positive water was still clear.

SEE YOUTUBE VIDEO : Water, Consciousness & Intent: Dr. Masaru Emoto

"Sounds crazy, right?" Djokovic writes. "But to me, that test is proof that every single thing in the world shares the same kind of energy—people, animals, the elements, everything."

While Djokovic admits some of his fitness secrets are unconventional, he said incorporating different ideas into his training has been a boon to him physically and psychologically. "What matters is not whether you believe in or follow these particular approaches," he wrote. "What matters is that you are open-minded."
  
SOURCES: examiner.com July 31, 2013 - The wall street journal

The Power of Thought

The Power of Thought

Lecture by Charlie Lutes (2/2/90)

"Mental toughness does not only make a player strong enough and confident to play well and win matches under stress and difficult conditions but his mental power will eventually create and attract to himself circumstances and conditions which will make it possible for him to manifest his thoughts into action.

"  Nityamuktananda

How one thinks and what one thinks about is very important because thoughts going out have power; they are emanations which are minute particles going out into the atmosphere. These thoughts, after the initial force of projection is expanded, float along like clouds mixing with other thought waves of the same character, and these in many cases extend to far distant parts of the earth. Some thought emanations remain close to where they were sent forth, and unless they are disturbed by other strong thoughts of a contrary nature, they will remain slightly charged for many years.

Thoughts sent forth with a definite purpose, or under a strong desire, emotion or passion will go forth rapidly toward the objective or individual to whom they are directed.

Charlie Lutes

Very few persons put any force or power into their thoughts, and their thinking becomes a mechanical process. And, their thoughts do not travel anywhere to speak of, unless they are drawn by someone of a similar nature with similar thoughts who attracts them to himself. Some people spend their entire lives avoiding thinking; they only think in cases of emergency and they spend most of their lives trying to avoid an emergency.

Thoughts are really things just as much as light, heat, electricity, and so forth, are things. Also, thoughts can be seen by psychic sight, and they can also be felt. Thoughts going out also carry the color belonging to it, such as anger which is dark red, murderous thoughts as dark muddy red, and so forth. Thoughts have power and they affect people. Thoughts going forth with strength, in most cases carry with it a certain amount of prana, and this gives them additional strength and power, and often produces startling results.

Prana has the ability to vitalize thoughts and, in some cases, makes it almost a living force. Again, to produce certain results depends upon the strength with which the thought has been projected. There is another element of strength which also allows thoughts to manifest power and that is that thoughts have the tendency to attract to themselves other thoughts of a similar nature, and thus combine force. Similar thoughts have a tendency to flock together, or to coalesce, or blend with each other. Mob psychology is an example.

The average thought-atmosphere of a community is the composite thoughts of the people living in that community. So places, like people, have their peculiarities, their characteristics, their strong and weak points, or their prevailing atmosphere. People coming to such a community, either find themselves in harmony with their own mental character, or they don't, in which case they feel uncomfortable and soon leave the place if it is possible. It is also true that a person new in a place may not be in harmony with the prevailing thought-atmosphere. Yet, if he stays there a charge begins to be manifested in him and he rises or, as the case may be, sinks to the level of the prevailing thought of the area or community.

The thoughts of one strong thinker will overcome the weak meaningless thoughts of a great number of people who send forth only negative thoughts. Hence the saying, to accentuate the positive and not the negative, for the positive is a sure antidote for the negative.

The spirit of a nation is a composite of the spirit of its people and the leader of a nation is the voice of the thinking of the people. Strong thoughts or positive thinking produces a strong nation, and visa versa. The collected thinking of people form thought strata in the astral, the same as clouds form in groups of clouds in the sky here on earth. On the astral each stratum of thought does not occupy a certain portion of space to the exclusion of all other thought clouds; rather, these thought particles forming the clouds are of different degrees of vibrations. So, the same space may be filled with thought matter of numerous kinds, passing freely about and interpenetrating each other without interference with each other.

Another great truth is that you are as you think. If one thinks in a positive manner, one then attracts unto oneself thoughts from a positive cloud mass, and visa versa. Hate groups are formed of persons who have harbored thoughts of hate or malice for some time and eventually they are attracted to each other, and as a group are given an opportunity to manifest these thoughts into action. This same procedure produces wars, which start with great energy, are exhausted, and many lives are lost.

Now is the time when we have the opportunity to move into much higher thinking of peace, sharing, harmony and love in this world. As we think this way we will draw on higher and higher thoughts and in turn we will become cosmic.

If one continues to think in a certain vein, he will eventually attract to himself circumstances and conditions which will make it possible for him to manifest his thoughts into action, and to make use of the thoughts he has been harboring, good bad or indifferent.

A person possessing power or a strong will, will send forth a powerful thought and with it a supply of prana in proportion to the power or force of the thought. Also, a powerful thinker, whose thought is charged strongly with prana, often creates thought forms, that is, thoughts having such vitality that they become like living forces and they possess nearly the same power that the person creating them has. The higher the order of thought, the stronger it is.

There are many thought forms sent out of all descriptions, low and evil, or high and loving. However, as long as one maintains thoughts of love and God, he will repel the strongest thought-wave which may be directed against him, or which might be encountered in the astral, and he will only respond to thoughts coming from a very high source, which will greatly benefit him. Low thoughts, aims and ambitions come only from those of low consciousness and through selfishness; such cause most of the trouble that exists in this world.

Again, those of high spiritual development are constantly sending forth thought waves of love, strength and help. They are forever dedicated to helping humanity, and those who need help receive it if they are sincere.

Those who send forth thoughts of evil and destruction, or desire to injure someone, are usually injured themselves. For evil thoughts sent to someone who is spiritual rebound back to the sender. This is why it is said that if someone would harm you, do not respond, as that has already been taken care of through the immutable law of cause and effect.

Releasing emotional stress in tennis with Bach Remedies by Nityananda Atman

Releasing emotional stress in tennis with Bach Remedies 

 Bach’s flowers are a very effective mean that heals emotional and mental imbalances and weaknesses. Bach's remedies contain the vibrations of flowers that have been exposed under the sun for some time. They haven’t side effects and other negative reactions that may harm the body and mind as all allopathic medicines do.

In fact they heal by bringing in our mind and energy body positive vibrations that counteract the negative mental and emotional energies. Moreover they help us to be more aware of ourselves and facilitate the communication of the mind with the real self or (Soul) within. When the mind is fully aware of its source (Soul) and all negative energies are eliminated from our psych then we are really healed and we can express fully all capacities that until now were dormant.

Tennis players are human beings and as all other people they need support and training in order to overcome negative emotional states and develop positive ones.

Some of the Bach’s flowers can be very helpful to tennis players by alleviating the negative emotions and mental states such as fear, anxiety, anger, pessimism, lack of confidence, impatience which create troubles even to professional players. 

 Bach's flowers are a very simple and positive method that can help tennis players for this purpose. Dr. Bach wanted this method to be very simple in order to be easy for everyone to use them as home remedies. With little training the player can use by himself the remedies.  In the beginning he will need a little help from some practitioner of Bach remedies and later he will be capable to use them by himself. 

Two things are important for the use of the remedies:

 

First it is necessary a basic knowledge of the qualities of the remedies; viz. which remedy is for each emotional state. There are many books and websites that give a brief description of the remedies easy for everyone to understand.

Secondly it is necessary the player to develop self- awareness in order to be able recognize his  emotional states within himself.

Some very important remedies for tennis players

Let see first a very important one the Rescue Remedy. This remedy is can help players to get rid very difficult situations of emotional crisis. 

A very good example to understand when this remedy is used is the women's final Wimbledon 2013.

Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki

 Sabine Lisicki was in a deep emotional crisis during the entire match. She couldn't play her level of tennis at any moment of the match. She tried to get rid of this emotional state but she finally was not able to succeed. It is very difficult for everyone to get rid such an emotional state.
In this case the Rescue Remedy could give her a great help indeed. Some drops of this remedy sometimes can do miracles.

Also when a player is emotionally frustrated  Rescue Remedy gives a great help. During the breaks can drink with water some drops of this remedy.

 

Holly   - Anger, irritability

Holly is a very useful remedy because has the potential alleviate the anger and irritability which is a common phenomenon to all tennis players. Almost in all professional players in all matches anger is activated. For this reason it is necessary for all players to take this remedy for a long time and of course during the matches. 


Mimulus - fear of known things

After anger fear is the emotion which is almost always present in the psych of players. Mimulus is the remedy that is related with fear. Whenever you are frightened or anxious about something, and you can say what that 'something' is, then Mimulus is the remedy to take. 

Mimulus brings out the quiet courage and strength that lies hidden in all of us, so that we can face the everyday trials of life without fear.

 If the fear is overwhelming then Rock Rose  can be also be taken.

Where the fear is vague and there is general anxiety and apprehension without a specific named cause, there Aspen might be a better choice.

If two or all three kind of fear are present then a mixture of the above remedies can be taken.

Larch - lack of confidence

Self-confidence is the perhaps the most important mental skill for a high level of play. All players need to develop self-confidence. A long term use of this remedy will help a lot.

Gentian - discouragement after a setback

For those who are easily discouraged. It happens often players to be disheartened and discouraged after some failures. These emotions can make them not to fight with all their efforts until the last point of the match. The Gentian alleviates these feelings and encourages them to try again with enthusiasm.

If the emotional state is more strong and the player is ready to give up then Gorse is the remedy. 

Olive - exhaustion following mental or physical effort

Tennis is a very demanting game physically and mentally. Some times players are exhausted after long play matches.

The remedy gives us what we need to restore our strength and the faith we need to continue an effort. We may feel energised; or we may at last be able to rest properly.

Olive can be combined with Hornbeam, which is the remedy for tiredness felt before an effort has been made.



 White Chestnut - unwanted thoughts and mental arguments

This is the remedy for unwanted thoughts and mental arguments that intrude into the mind and stop us concentrating. Concentration is the most important mental skill especially for tennis. The mind must be calm and focused. When the mind compulsively do not stop of thinking White chesnut can give a great help.

Scleranthus - inability to choose between alternatives

There are moments that is difficult for tennis player to decide what to do during the match but also there are moments that players have to make mayor decicions such as to change coach or the place of training etc..Taking the remedy helps us know our what we want. We reconnect with our intuition and are able to choose simply and decisively.

Walnut - protection from change and unwanted influences

Tennis players play in different countries all over the world. They play in courts with different kind of surfaces and with players with different kind of play. Walnut can help them to adapt to new situations.
Walnut can also protect them against outside influences in general. For example when the audience of the whole stadium is with the one player the other can be protected of their psychic influences. 

 











 In the man final of Wimbledon 2013 Djokovic had to face not only Murray but all the audience.

Usually all players have to work with the above emotional states. It is possible to be prepared a mixture up to 6 or 7 (NOT MORE) of  the above remedies or some other from the list below and be taken.

More inforamtions about how to take remedies  

CLICK HERE

Follows a brief description of all Bach’s flower remedies; 
By clicking on the name you can read all the description of the flower according the Bach center and what the Dr. Bach himself wrote about:

Agrimony – mental torture behind a cheerful face
Aspen – fear of unknown things

Beech – intolerance

Centaury – the inability to say ‘no’

Cerato – lack of trust in one’s own decisions
Cherry Plum – fear of the mind giving way
Chestnut Bud – failure to learn from mistakes
Chicory – selfish, possessive love
Clematis – dreaming of the future without working in the present
Crab Apple – the cleansing remedy, also for not liking something about ourselves
Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility
Gentian – discouragement after a setback
Gorse – hopelessness and despair
Heather – talkative self-concern and being self-centred
Holly – hatred, envy and jealousy
Honeysuckle – living in the past
Hornbeam – tiredness at the thought of doing something
Impatiens – impatience
Larch – lack of confidence
Mimulus – fear of known things
Mustard – deep gloom for no reason
Oak – the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion
Olive – exhaustion following mental or physical effort
Pine – guilt
Red Chestnut – over-concern for the welfare of loved ones
Rock Rose – terror and fright
Rock Water – self-denial, rigidity and self-repression
Scleranthus – inability to choose between alternatives
Star of Bethlehem – shock
Sweet Chestnut – extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left
Vervain – over-enthusiasm
Vine – dominance and inflexibility
Walnut – protection from change and unwanted influences
Water Violet – quiet self-reliance leading to isolation
White Chestnut – unwanted thoughts and mental arguments
Wild Oat – uncertainty over one’s direction in life
Wild Rose – drifting, resignation, apathy
Willow – self-pity and resentment

The original system also includes an emergency combination remedy. Other pre-mixed combinations are offered by many remedy producers, but they tend to be ineffective because they are not chosen individually.

Dr Bach's crisis formula - Rescue Remedy
This mix was created by Dr Bach to deal with emergencies and crises - the moments when there is no time to make a proper individual selection of remedies. It can be used to help us get through any stressful moments, from last-minute exam nerves to the aftermath of an accident.
The best-known make of the crisis formula is sold under the brand name Rescue Remedy -it is a mixture of 5 remedies from the above list:

Rock Rose
Impatiens
Cherry Plum
Star of Bethlehem
Clematis