Strength for Life

A Colorado White-Out Christmas…

I love Colorado…even when the weather unloads on us like it has for the last 24 hours.

When you grow up here, as I have, you develop a real soft-spot for the occasional “big-one.” Yes, it’s a mess and certainly dangerous but it’s also a great adventure. And I truly enjoy driving in the snow – it’s fun, really. One need only fear some of the other drivers on the road.

Unfortunately, our business doesn’t close like a school – no “snow day” for me. Darn it.

Actually, no one could get in to the office today and I spent the majority of the day digging out but still there’s much (so much) to do. What a time of year to be stranded. I worked from home on the breaks from shoveling and yes, one or two runs down the sledding hill. :-)

It’s easy to forget that the rest of the country is moving along, business as usual, when you're stranded like this.

If you’re any where in the US you’ve likely heard about the blizzrd here. The Denver metro area and most of the front range is shut down. The Governor declared a state of emergency yesterday. The national guard has been out rescuing people from stranded cars. Nearly every business is closed – yes, even the shopping malls! Imagine that… three days before Christmas and every mall is closed for two days!

Speaking of closed, the US Mail stopped yesterday, UPS is not running and even FedEx is closed. What you expect I guess… given the airport has been shut down for nearly two full days! That’s got to be a record.

Myself, I’m waiting for the delivery of some precious gifts so it’s a bit disconcerting. And speaking of precious gifts, I want to apologize to all those who are waiting for their regular shipment of Full Strength – as you’ve likely assumed by now there’s no strength leaving our office yesterday or today.

Personally, as much as the holidays are a time we often relax our healthy eating practices, there are few times where I find Full Strength more empowering. At the very least, I make sure I start every day with my Full Strength and it sets me up for success. Heck, even 10 hours later I’ll find myself eating dinner with less cravings and in more control than I could have dreamed of.

And talk about FREEDOM! There are few definitions of freedom more appropriate than the feeling of being 100% free from my sweet tooth this time of year. Sure, I like a few treats but when I’m running on high-octane nutrition I just don’t get the craving spiral going – and I find I can easily eat in moderation; even the most decadent of foods.

Well, I’m heading back out to grab my shovel and put a few finishing touches on the driveway before the sun sets. It’s been a stressful few days but I’m very happy about knowing we’re now guaranteed a truly white Christmas.

My your holidays be bright!

(follow the link below for more photos of the great blizzard of 06)

Fit...Fat...Fatter 45 Years After

The Shape of Things That Came…

Man walking on the moon was still a fantastic dream when our youngest president, alarmed by the plummeting state our American’s health and fitness, set forth a vision for a stronger, healthier and fitter America.

The president you may have heard of… JFK were/are his initials. The initiative he launched would become known as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. Perhaps you’ve heard of that as well. I know I still have a few of those coveted badges from the grade school years.

President Kennedy had a quite the vision… he ignited the energies which would put man on the moon within the decade and he seemed to peak into the future with his concern for the health and fitness of this country… among many other things, of course.

Well, one of out two aint bad! (click here for a little pure JFK inspiration!)

I say that tongue-in-cheek but there’s nothing really that funny about it. Here’s evidence that a real leader say what was coming and yet 45 years later we talk about this still rising health and obesity issue as if it snuck out of the hedges behind the neighbors house an hour ago.

The 1961 campaign above asks, “Is This The Shape of Things to Come?”  At least we now know the answer to that, certainly. Yes! Unfortunately, 45 years later the reality is by in large much worse. That image is now “the shape of things that came.”

What happened? How do we change it? And honestly, how many of us really even care?

More to come on this dialogue... as we look at the current state of our country's health and how we can go about once again becoming the strongest country in the world.

Check out the JFK Library online...it's an amazing resource!