Strength for Life

My no iPhone Experience: From Raving Fan to Just Raving

I love my Macbook. No big thing until you consider I used to think macs were for artists. I was an engineer, wrote code, never liked Windows but knew how to make a PC work, low-level. So Macs were not my thing.

Then I got one—a new one—and loved it. Still, I miss a few things about my PC’s but overall, no comparison. It’s all Mac, all the time for me.

All good. Then I finally decided to get connected, to get the new 3G iPhone.

Being a busy guy who values my time immensely, I waited until the rush was over. I think it’s way cool (like as in "nuts" cool) that people will stand in line for days to get a phone but don’t think for a moment I’m going there.

Now way, no how.

So, I wait… and wait… then it looks like things are easing up. And it’s my birthday and my wife, Angie has given me a gift certificate to get one a new iPhone, so off the APPLE world I go.

Here’s the really, really short version of my ravingly bad experience. I walk in… no one talks to me. Perhaps I look too old? Who knows… I walk and walk. No one. Then I spot a random, unlabeled line in the center of the store. More people my age standing there. I ask. Yep, this is the iPhone line.

Just 4 people ahead of me. No big thing, right?

The Shape of Dara Torres’ Life

Already the proud owner of 9 gold medals, she went to her first Olympics before the Tiger Woods, of the pool, Michael Phelps was born and now she’s qualified to swim for the US in Bejing by winning both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle—swimming’s premier sprints.

Unless you’ve been away on a very deserted island, your iPhone rendered useless by a spilled pitcher of marg’s, you’ve heard about Dara Torres’ nearly superhuman performances at the tender age of 41. 

No question, Dara Torres is at full Strength

If you’re in your 20’s, it’s pretty cool to see someone “nearly your mom’s age” kicking-ass like this. If you’re in your 30’s her record setting performance may bring relief and hope that 40-something isn’t all “that bad.” And if you’re in your 40’s or beyond, Dara’s strength is elevating, inspiring and perhaps a bit of a wake up call for your own life potential.

For it seems that for many, once across the big 4-0, age becomes the central reason (aka excuse) for why they are struggling to get in (and stay in) shape. I’m not one of those opportunistic hype-sters you often find promising you there’s no such thing as age. Age is real—what’s not is the way it impacts most people, much more rapidly and drastically than it should.

Fact is your

life, my life, everyone’s life has a shape. Unfortunately most people’s lives are shaped like a cross section of a speed bump. They rise up, arch over and through their peak and don’t wake up to their declining condition until they’re well into the descent. It doesn’t need to be this way. You can change it, at any age.

How to Create a New Shape to Your Body and Life

In Chapter 2 of my new my book, Strength for Life, I explain how we’ve been conditioned to accept this early and unnecessary demise—and how you can change The Shape of Your Life, both figuratively and literally, in short order.

How to Stay Strong in a Weak Economy

Are you feelin’ it?

You know, that impending sense of doom, the inner-dialogue that starts every time you look at a gas pump or turn on the news? You know, we’ve had it pretty good for a lot of years and perhaps we’ve taken the good life for granted.

While everyone else is focusing on how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h a dollar or what bus route will get you to Walmart, I’ve got a different bit of advice for you in these challenging times.

Rather than trying to manage your emotions go straight upstream to the control room and take control of your focus—your attention. Stop staring at the gruesome details that cause unrest and stay composed, focused and strong. Know what you are doing and where you are going.

The hidden truth that few realize is that your life is quite literally the manifestation of your belief system. What this means is that if you see the world as a scary place that going to bring you great challenges, then it will be just that.   

Tim Russert: Big Man, Big Loss (and 1 in Half a Million)

As you know by now, we lost Tim Russert last week. A sudden, tragic and painful loss, he will be missed by his family, friends and so many millions.

Tim was a brilliant man with a huge heart whose authenticity and values were clear to see. I appreciated him, along with millions of others, for who he was and the job he did for all of us.

Like all lives, it’s sad when they end but Tim’s passing is further reaching than most for he impacted so many. The good news is he made a difference the bad news is that means all the more people will feel the loss.

[As tragic as Tim’s passing is, it’s important to note what Dr. Oz said: “Of the 450,000 people a year who die of heart attacks in this country, probably half of them never knew they were at risk of a heart attack.” That means Tim, as special as he was in many ways was just 1 in nearly half a million each year who die from heart disease. That seems like too many to me.]

In every major life event, such as death, there are life-lessons to be learned: Allow me to share a few that come to mind in this case.

The first and most obvious is you never know how long you have. Thus it’s wise to avoid things that lesson your odds of seeing tomorrow—like ignoring your health and wellbeing.

Walking the Tightrope of Health?

When Life Calls for Strength—This Father Delivers

Three minutes of prime time TV or the one minutes of the daily news will give one ample reason to doubt the evolving human race. Yet, when sufficiently challenged, even in the least likely candidate a super-hero you may find.

As ordinary as they most often seem, people are amazing. Only we rarely witness a person’s full potential as we tend to keep our inner strength as hidden as Bruce Wayne does his alter ego. At least until… Until life does that thing life does—challenges us. 

The story here is one of those times that forges a hero’s true strength. It’s a story of a father and a son, a story of hope and doing the right thing. It’s a story so real, so raw and so painful it’s beyond most people’s capacity to assimilate. It’s the type of story that you may be inclined to shy away from—thinking of it as that “bad news.” We get enough of that, so I understand not wanting more but this is more than just a great read--it's important. To turn it out is to miss the real story inside the story—the infinite capacity--the true strength of the human spirit.

There are no times more taxing, more requiring of strength than the death of a loved on, an immediate member of your family. Having experienced the challenge of summing up my father’s life in eulogy (a story I share in my new book) I can attest to how deeply the moment calls upon one’s inner strength.

Yet, I still can not begin to imagine the pain that must accompany the inverse—when a parent says good-bye to a child. And in the case of this inspiring, gripping amazing story shared by ESPN’s Bill Simmons, a gifted young athlete who was counting the days until he would be able to remove his parents from a life plagued by inner-city terrorism.

Read Bill Simmon's, To An Athlete Dying Young.

May we all learn something from the too short life of Jamiel Andre Shaw II, a kid who did things the right way.

Find a Hero Today

Hero: A person of great strength and courage, often Godlike, capable of remarkable bravery.

This image of Brett Favre amidst the battle during a snow drenched game simply reeks of "hero." It’s hard for me to believe that it's been 8 seasons since John Elway hung it up. Growing up in Denver, Elway was a hero and I had the good fortune to share my respect and appreciation with him during and after his playing days.

During Elway's last few seasons (both which ended in Superbowl victories) he'd become a national hero. You didn’t have to like the Bronco’s to be pulling for Elway. It’s the same way with Favre this year—he’s showing great courage and strength. Favre is simply being a hero and I think that’s a great thing. For we need more heroes in this world today. It’s good for what ails us... all of us.

What makes a hero?

Brady Quinn: Don’t Call Him Dumb

Ill-informed, careless or even ignorant on nutrition, sure… but “dumb” is a little harsh. Even when I know he meant “stupid” not dumb.

If you’ve caught any of the NFL playoffs you may have seen the EAS TV commercial featuring Brady Quinn.

On one hand, I’m happy to see the company formerly known as "the leader" doing something—anything—rather than embrace complete collapse. Still, it feels a bit like a team down by 24 points with three seconds to go  in the game throwing a hail-Mary pass: somewhere between pointless and in denial.

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!

I’m Standing Behind Richard Simmons!

Oops…did I say that out loud

I was six years old when America set foot on the moon so you’d like to think I’d be open to pretty much any possibility. I mean, really... during my years visiting earth I’ve been witness to many of man’s most miraculous achievements.

In addition to the moon voyages, there’s been the personal computer thing followed by some deal called the internet and you can toss in hundreds more from the amazing iPod to the Colts winning the Superbowl (really! Of course that was in 1971) but some how I never, ever dreamed that I’d ever find myself aligned with Richard Simmons.

Okay, you might even say, “backing” the big man.

What’s this all about? Well, seems Richard (or as I like to call him, “Ricky”) is pretty emotional about the lack of PE (a.k.a. physical education or “gym time”) for our kids in America. As you may already know, the increasing squeeze on school budgets over the last few decades has resulted in the cleaving off of physical activities for our children.

It’s remarkable (meaning “really hard cause it's so stupid”) to believe that school administrators, in their infinite wisdom, have decided that it’s cool to neglect our children’s bodies so long as they can still spell. “obesity.”

With the overwhelming scientific evidence that exercise, and activity in general, is good for one’s mental acuity, intelligence, confidence, mood and a list too long to place here. In my view  it’s borderline criminal to ignore.

I was fortunate to be in school during a time when activity was valued or at least promoted. Someone my best memories are of the games, activities and competition of athletics. I still credit my junior high PE teacher with introducing myself (and very much so Bill) to the transformative power of strength training. Mr. Hood was a physical specimen and role model for the life enhancing benefits of true strength.

Enough… Ricky is right on!

Just as I encourage every adult to start strong daily, it’s of the utmost importance that we help our children start their lives strong!

Please join me in supporting this worthy cause. That habits we instill in our youth will either serve us or challenge us for a life time.

>> Please click here to take Richards quick survey <<

Thank you for your support!

Top Food Marketers Leverage “Advergames” to Fuel Kids Hunger

Not that any parent of young children feels completely safe about their use of the web, along comes another reason to be on high-alert. 

Adding new fuel to the controversy over advertising and childhood obesity, a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation released last week details the explosion of advergaming by the top food marketers. The study found that 82 of the country's largest food marketers were operating more than 500 youth-oriented online advergames aimed at increasing brand exposure and desire for their specific food products.

During the study, these 546 unique advergaming sites were visited by over 12.2 millions children, ages 2-11! (Yikes, I’ve got a 2.8 year old myself!) Disturbingly, these sites are referred to as “virtual amusement parks.” It’s important to note that only 18 of the over 500 sites bothered to note, mention or list, “this is an advertisement.”

Personally, I find this a disturbing practice. But I don’t expect anything to change it – except our own freedom to choose. Granted, this is aimed at children who don’t have the capacity to discern that it’s advertising (not that most adults do, but it’s more obvious in this age group). Still, there are things we can do and must do.

Only when we, the people, refuse to be “led to the trough” we things change. Only when it no longer works, which means it’s no longer profitable will this stop. That’s my take on the situation as it stands.

A bonus factoid you might enjoy tossing around during “blender talk” (it’s where we congregate here, rather than the water cooler), it seems that the average child (under 11) is exposed to over 40,000 television commercials each year.

Now you’re free to be afraid. To read the full report, sit down, take a deep breath and click here.