#205: A Brain-Based Approach for Optimal Performance with Dr. Heidi Hanna

Are you a stressaholic? I was for a long time. And I can tell you that it's no way to live.  Instead of managing stress you need to master it. Dr. Heidi Hanna is my guest on the new #RenegadeRadioPocast and she's gonna show you how to do just that.  Listen as Dr. Hanna reveals her brain-based solutions for improving your performance. She shows you how to use stress to fuel positive changes in your life.  You'll learn the most effective methods to reduce anxiety and overcome depression. Dr. Hanna shares simple strategies to optimize focus, creativity, and resilience. We discuss fitness, nutrition, using humor to become happier, and much more. Heidi is the CEO and founder of Synergy, a coaching and consulting company that specializes in customized health and wellness solutions for individuals and organizations.  She has trained thousands of people on practical ways to incorporate fitness, nutrition, and positive psychology strategies to improve productivity and performance.  Heidi is also the author of many great books including the NY Times best-seller "The Sharp Solution: A Brain Based Approach for Optimal Performance," "Stressaholic: 5 Steps to Transform Your Relationships With Stress" (Jan 2014) and "Relax Your Fat Off".  Topics Include: Brain based performance and the role that stress plays in peoples' lives.  7:59 Heidi's' struggles with anxiety and depression at only 10 years old.  10:02 Are your high-stress levels genetically imprinted on you while in utero?  11:57 How Heidi's struggles led to her current expertise and career.  15:57 The "ah-ha" discovery that became a game changer for Heidi.  17:39 Why you should STOP hacking and START healing.  20:04 How to use stress to fuel positive change.  22:29 How the words you speak can change everything.  23:12 Why "take a few deep breaths" isn't always the best advice for dealing with stress.  26:04 How to keep negative people from bringing you down while lifting them up at the same time.  29:21 Why making your mind feel "safe" will help reduce stress and optimize your performance.  34:01 Techniques Heidi uses to deal with social anxiety.  38:20 Optimizing energy levels with "oscillation patterns" and proper nutrition.  40:07 Should you avoid intermittent fasting if you're dealing with high stress, anxiety or other similar issues?  42:51 Why learning to relax is often more uncomfortable for people than going to the gym.  44:56 Meditation tips for newbies.  45:41 Why social support and accountability are so important for learning meditation and relaxation therapies.  47:56 The negative effects of stress on fat loss and overall health.  48:42 How to relax your off, and why less is more when it comes to exercise.  53:21 Heidi's 3M fitness routine in "Prime Time".  55:17 How humor can change your life and how to add it to your morning routine.  57:51 The 3 elements of her daily routine which she calls "medicine with no negative side effects".  1:00:41 The Positive Psychology Movement for serving others and how adopting this mindset can radically change your brain chemistry for the better.   1:01:41 Connect with Heidi online: Website My Stress 360 Listen to Renegade Radio: To listen, you can either hit the flash audio player below or browse the links to find your preferred format … Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to listen on SoundCloud Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Right-click here and choose "Save As"to download this episode This episode is brought to you by ButcherBox You guys know by now the importance of high-quality grass-fed grass finished meat. Go to www.butcherbox .com/Jay to get your free ribeye steaks. That's two 10 oz ribeye steaks for free, plus, $10 off your first order and free shipping. You can get everything from sausages, burgers, steaks, chicken, lamb, you name it. It includes: 100% Grass-fed beef Free range organic chicken Heritage breed pork Delivered for free to your door for less than $6 a meal. You cannot beat that with a bat. Go to www.butcherbox.com/Jay to get yours today. This episode is also brought to you by Four Sigmatic. What is Four Sigmatic? It's mushroom coffee made with the active ingredient Lion's mane mushroom (also known as "smart mushroom"). Lion's Mane has long been used by Buddhist monks for better focus during meditation for years. I know you're going to say you don't want to drink coffee that tastes like mushrooms, but it doesn't. For those who are getting stomach pain from coffee drinking - Mushroom Coffee is a gut-friendly coffee option. It gets you cranked up for your day, but not like regular coffee. Comes in handy packets that you just mix with hot or cold water. Takes just a second to prepare. You can use it pre-workout. Go to  http://www.foursigmatic.com/jay and use the code JAY to get 15% discount. If you have questions, use the hashtag #RenegadeRadioPodcast and shoot them my way on Twitter or Instagram or email [email protected] Thank you for tuning in and subscribing. I appreciate every one of you that takes the time to listen.