Strength for Life

The Top 7 Most Common, Energy Draining, Life-Robbing Errors

In my decades in fitness and nutrition, I’ve seen more diets come and go than I can count, experienced nearly every type of workout you can imagine, worked with all types of people; from those who were hundreds of pounds overweight to world champion athletes, the Hollywood A-list, Fortune 500 CEO’s, Moms, Dads, Sisters, and Brothers…you name it, I’ve seen it, felt it, touched it and may even have tasted it.

What I’ve discovered from all my years may very well come as a surprise to you. In fact, I fully expect most people to dismiss what I’m about to tell you...

In my 23 years of experience the #1 most common road-block to people enjoying robust physical energy, stunning mental clarity and abundant vitality is…improper, out of balance, inconsistent, excessive and downright devastating eating.

Sure, you know exercise is important (or better yet “training”) but you can’t out train poor nutrition. And no, the problem isn’t that people are missing some magic pill or miracle diet. In fact, the way most people undermine their energy and well-being is as ordinary as ordinary gets… most of the errors are seemingly small things repeated day after day.

The Top 7 most common, energy draining, life-robbing errors:

1. Skipping meals to save time because you’re “too busy”
2. Eating too much at one meal and not enough at the next
3. Eating everything on your plate without regard to portion
4. Consuming “fast-drive-thru-food,” loaded with fats and carbs
5. Hidden sugars in many “sports drinks” and juices, smoothies
6. Chronic snacking on junk foods, sweets, chips and …
7. Unconscious reactive eating when you’re too hungry to choose a healthy meal.

I am sure you’ve seen others make some or all of these mistakes and know some from personal experience. They are real and they are serious. Do any of these and you are literally pressing the “early exit” button on your life.

I’m not suggesting that you’ve got to tow a perfect line or that you can’t afford to miss a meal now and then. The real question is: “How do eat 80% of the time?” Are you fueling your way to wild success or feeding failure?

If you’re seeking a quick, easy and insanely delicious way to fuel your success, consider giving the world’s finest total nutrition shake a try. Clinically proven to increase fat-loss and add lean muscle in addition to lower cholesterol and elevate energy levels by over 40%, Full Strength may be the best thing you can do for yourself in the lest amount of time.

The Strong Forge on Fueled by Belief, Passion…

In this lifetime you will come across an infinite number of easy roads, you will be offered millions of short-cuts, easy ways… there’s always another one promising you a way around the real hard work that stands between you and your vision or dream.

And guess what? You got it… take any of them and you’ll find yourself back to square one eventually, hopefully wiser, certainly more exhausted.

In order to achieve anything worthy of your valuable time on earth you will find passion and purpose indispensable co-pilots. Only when you’ve found a vision, have a purpose and are filled with passion will you have a chance in hell of making it through the long road to a worthy achievement.

When I built the world’s first and only true premium nutrition shake I never fantasized that there would be anything easy about sharing it with others. I recognized in a time when MRP’s and numerous average nutrition shakes have become an interchangeable commodity and people have learned to buy price alone, that creating a off the scale top-end passion driven product was anything but a wise business move.

The Mythic God of Mediocrity

Apollo, Aphrodite, Hercules, Zeus,… the Greeks revered their many, mighty, mythic gods. For all that our modern lives owe to this fertile civilization it’s not a stretch to assume that the heroic tales of these iconic gods may have provided the people with an inspiration for excellence. 

Today, in America, it seems that we’ve taken to aspiring to the mythic god of Mediocrity—the patron saint of “good ‘nuff.”

You see it everywhere you look… it’s in our food—nearly every restaurant a chain, it’s in our clothes and same stores in every mall, in our media; magazines, news, movies, it’s even in our water (take a good look and taste of the largest water brands and you may go back to your own tap). 

It’s this dilution of nearly everything, the copy-cat, me too, average, vanilla world product offerings that marketing guru Seth Godin so eloquently captured in his blog, “Dumbing Down.”

Feel the Freedom of Strength Effortlessly Control Your Calories

For all it can do for your strength of body and mind, for the boost of energy and focus, perhaps the most coveted benefit for committed Full Strength-ers is this FREEDOM it brings to your life.

For myself and nearly all those who have I’ve known to make it part of their lives, Full Strength is freedom – in so many ways. How it will bring freedom to your life is something you must discover for yourself.

But here are some examples…

Full Strength frees you from the draining effort of self-discipline – no pushing yourself away from the table, no resisting the enormous portions in advance, no pulling back, stepping back, walking back, stumbling over…with Full Strength you simply open it, add cold water, 4 ice cubes… blend and enjoy!

You've absolutely must try it to beleive it.

How to Stay Strong and Toasty Warm Inside…

The snow is coming down here in Colorado… Winter has arrived!

Just like Colorado, it was mid 70’s this past weekend and it’s in the teens outside now. Wild stuff. When it gets cold out it sure feels good to warm up from the inside with some hot soup and a home cooked meal.

And for some the chill in the air can cut into the daily Full Strength Shake Break ritual. You know.. it’s the old “shakes are for summer” programming we picked up as a child.

We’ll I’m here to tall you, “it just aint so…”

I’m as prone to the chill as anyone (well, not as my wife but I do get the chills) and as much as I love Full Strength at times I’ll find myself both satisfied and feeling great and a little chilled. So if you’ve experienced a slump in your strength from the winter chill, try one of these two simple tips:

>> Chase your strength with a hot green tea or even a fresh Starbucks coffee <<
This is what I do… I’ve learned to enjoy my Shake Break, and then follow it up with a warm cup of green tea. It’s a terrific, healthy energizing combination and the warmth of the tea combined with the rich nutrients in Full Strength has my body glowing in minutes.

>>  Enjoy a Full Strength Hot-Chocolate  <<
I just received this tip from my neighbor...It’s great!

Evidently my neighbor, Scott, had been out for a run in the chill and come back looking for that Full Strength “lift” he’s come to enjoy – and he was chilled to the bone from being out in the cold. So, rather than compromise he just took his chocolate Full Strength and added hot water and stirred.

Viola! Delicious power hot chocolate!

Here’s the email from Scott that explains a little about his technique: 

"I’m sure you’ve probably tried this already but… FullStrength with hot water (use less FullStrentgh/more water) tastes great after a run on a cold day.  Still get the same benefits – clarity, energy.  Try it. "

Give it a try and let me know how you enjoy it.

How I Plan to Eat Everything I Want and Still Feel Great!

First let me say, I don’t plan on losing one single pound this Thursday and I sincerely hope you don’t either. Your body, as is your life, is a reflection of what you do consistently, day in and day out, not the exceptions.

For me, the idea of testing my strength and willpower against a holiday of such abundance as Thanksgiving is nonsensical. It’s like wrestling a tiger - should one live, it’s a great story to tell your grandchild but let’s face it, the odds are with the tiger.

My Thanksgiving Day Schedule

~ 6:30 am ~
First thing I’m going to do after I awake is workout. I know many people like to take holidays off but I find them the best days to train. This is especially true for Thanksgiving. It's a great day for energizing your body and mind with exercise as it invariably turns into a long day with a lot of eating and sitting. It helps to be clear and focused for the day ahead.

If you train at a gym you may not be so eager to take the drive – I understand that. Although when I was growing up the holidays were the best because so few people would come to the gym we felt like we owned it. It was nice. But that was then. If you can’t make the gym, then start with a brisk walk… just get at least 20 minutes of movement in. Do some pushups, sit-ups, deep knee bends or even some yoga to get your body moving.

~  7:30 am ~
After training I’ll set my day up for success and start strong with my favorite breakfast, a nutritious delicious Full Strength. This is my insurance policy for the day. Rather than pretend I’m going to be on a diet or even worry about what I will or won’t eat, I’ll have a Full Strength first thing in the morning. As a result, I’ll enjoy total freedom and still eat less without effort.

I know when I start with a Full Strength I effortlessly eat less all day. Maybe it’s the satiating power of the ultra-premium proteins, the lasting energy of the sustained release carbs, the cognitive boost or the full spectrum of nutrients or most likely the perfect synergy of all the above but what I know is that it delivers a new level of freedom. After starting my day with one Full Strength I simply don’t eat as much throughout the day nor do I crave sweets.

When I start my day with a Full Strength I can actually eat ALL I WANT freely because I simply want less. I eat from a rational place and feel in control. If you've tried it, you know. I not, you've got to feel the difference.

There’s ample science that explains how the premium blend of nutrients provides a boost of energy and such phenomenal lasting satiety but what’s even more amazing to me is the feedback I just received from a few hundred regular Full Strength’ers. When asked “What food did Full Strength replace in your day?” the #1 answer was:

“None… I simply eat less of everything when I have a Full Strength every day.”

I know this is absolutely true for me. And if you’ve never experienced the remarkable lift and sustained energy Full Strength provides, now is your chance. We’ve just received a new vintage and that means we have FREE trial samples in again.

~ 8:00 am and Beyond... ~
With my workout in, my energy high and fully fueled with a Full Strength, I’m ready for a terrific Thanksgiving. From this point out it’s no-holds-barred holiday. At this point I refer back to my opening post about how to enjoy the holiday, A Day of Thanks and Freedom. Having set myself up for success, I won’t worry about trying to control or limit myself – I can fully and freely enjoy the holiday, food, family and all.

However you choose to enjoy your Thanksgiving may you have a warm, wonderful and memorable holiday with your family and friends.

A Strong Mind in a Strong Body

Love the Greeks!

Not only is it the birthplace of western civilization, medicine, mathematics, written language as we know it, the Olympic games... it's also the birth place of my wife's father.

Yes, my wife Angie is Greek and that makes my son part Greek too. Nice to have a connection to that amazing civilization -- there ample reason to have loads of pride for all Greeks.

But that leads me to share today's mystery... have you seen the following quote or reference?

“mens sana in corpore sano”

You probably know it's translation as "A sound mind in a sound body" or perhaps the other popular version, "A healthy mind in a healthy body."

Well, I know the quote is in Latin but everything I'd ever read attributed the origin as Greek. So, I've been living for years with the belief that it was the Greeks, at times even believing it was Socrates who said it...

Now I come to see that perhaps it's not from the Greeks! Hummm... Wikipedia is attributing it to a first century Roman poet, Juvenal.

Well, I liked it better when it was of Greek origin... and who knows, one can hope this is inaccurate but likely not. And heck, isn't it all pretty much of Greek origin any way... Either way, there's no doubt that the Greeks lived to this philosophy - they knew that a strong mind could only be found in a strong body.

Yes, that's my version of this still ancient quote, A Strong Mind in a Strong Body.

The time when health was enough has passed... if you want to excel, to achieve, to contribute in this world today you need more than passing grade of health -- it is a time for strength!

A Little Greek History

The word gymnasium is derived from gumnazo, meaning exercise, and gumnos, meaning naked or loin-clothed. The gymnasia were the ancient Greek equivalent of a sports centre, and several were located just outside Athens' city walls. The ancient Greeks regarded a healthy body almost as highly as a good education, and young men of wealthy background would spend a good portion of each day exercising there. Favourite sports included wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, and boxing.
For more Greek History from PBS, click here

Until next time... carpe diem!

In Search of Excellence : Beyond The Best (Part 2)

In Part 1 of “In Search of Excellence : Beyond The Best," we talked about how our minds create reference points, markers to experience which can prevent us from breaking through and appreciating a new reality. Did you reflect on and perhaps recognize any places in your life where you may be missing out on something greater?

We also talked about how, for many, the simple and yet extraordinary experience of Full Strength has been an eye opener and mind expander. It’s this important, potentially transformative side benefit to the Full Strength experience and how it quickly alters your “best-ever” limit that I will expand upon here in part 2.

Blasting through a preset limit (limiting belief) can literally awaken your mind to new possibilities in all areas of life… It’s really pretty simple how it works. When you see (or experience) that something you’ve adopted as “absolute truth” is blown away – it can be an opening, one where you begin to see all sorts of ways possibilities for next-level moves.

It works in much the way that breaking of the four minute mile did. Four minutes was a mental limitation, an impossible feat until Roger Bannister accomplished the impossible on May 6, 1954. Once the four minute barrier was broken, within the next 30 days it had been bested four more times.

Similarly, being a cycling fan, this last week I watched in shock as Floyd Landis dropped a colossal 10 minutes while leading the Tour. I could hear my own voice, loud and clear… “I know enough about cycling and the history of the Tour de France to KNOW, absolutely KNOW that it was impossible for him to make it up.. no way it could be done.”

Guess what? So did his competitors…I think they knew it was so impossible that they could not fathom it – seems they could not comprehend it even after he’d made up nearly all of the time he’d lost in one stage of the race in what has been called by many, “the single greatest single day ride in the stage of the tour, ever!”

The correlation, can you see it now? That’s right, like most of us there’s a number of areas in your life at this very moment, where “best-ever” or “as good as it gets” is quietly limiting possibilities and holding you back.

The “as good is it gets” is a false summit, an entrapment by a silent mental position. It need not be if you’re willing to look deeply and accept that you never know what is truly possible – and also “get” that you will never know for sure what is possible but only what was achieved… which, wonderfully, is really only a matter of what you are courageous enough to allow yourself to believe.

As the brilliant Dr. Wayne Dyer says in a title of one of his many books, “You’ll See it When You Believe It.” All you have to do is make it real in your mind first and so it shall be so.

With Full Strength it’s easy to obliterate the past-based limiting beliefs for it’s a tangible, dramatic an real experience that will wipe away all previous best-evers in a few minutes. It will not be as easy in other areas of your life where you may be being held back – but try it for a while and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you elevate and find a new level…

I’ll leave you with a classic line on manifesting from one seriously great movies, Gladiator. Early on the movie, addressing his army just prior to battle, Maximus says, “…three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops, imagine where you will be and it will be so.”

Imagine your life, see it vividly and it will be so.

In Search of Excellence : Beyond The Best (Part 1 of 2)

What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen? How about the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Or how about the best meal you’ve ever had; the most amazing sunset ever; or the most exciting sporting event?

If you’re like most people, you may find it hard to remember what you had for dinner last night but have no trouble sharing striking details about an event that you attended 20 years prior. Why is this? Because your brain is remarkably adept at storing experiences and keeping order by creating meaningful reference points and there’s few points more imprinting than “best ever.”

While this nifty adaptation allows you and I to cope with the complexity of our lives, what you may not know is that beyond your stored points of reference it’s all Greek to you – for you simply don’t know what you don’t know.

Any even reasonably good experience is instantly cross-referenced against your “best-ever” – further cementing it’s lock on the top. Makes good sense…most of the time. But every now and then this system fails for its prone to “normalize” everything.

I can recall a time when people thought the idea of great coffee was absolutely nuts! What’s the matter with Folgers and Maxwell House… are you kidding? If it aint broke, why fix it? Seriously, “this Starbucks thing,” was about a silly idea. Who needs it? Well, evidently damn near everyone once they’ve retuned their senses to enjoy real, true quality – a product made with higher intention and passion and quality.

That’s the way it went until you actually experienced Starbucks premiere quality – and even then it usually meant more than a couple visits. For at first, great coffee can taste horrible to taste-buds that have been conditioned to enjoy "burnt buffalo dung."

Starbucks could have screamed, “Great coffee drinks!,” all day and night long and it would not have meant squat if people didn’t go out, try it and find out the truth for themselves. Prior to their experience, for all the pointing and gesturing of “greatness” most people still held some Folger’s like product as the reference point for great coffee… thus the words had no meaning. Yet.

I relate to the struggle Starbucks endured for I’m quite aware of a similar challenge with Full Strength, the world’s first performance fast-food. If you’ve ever enjoyed a “vintage” nutrition shake, like Myoplex in it’s heyday…you’re the proud owner of a reference point titled, “best nutrition shake ever” somewhere in your brain’s archives. It may not even be that great but when you read or hear anything about a nutrition shake, even a next-level, breakthrough like Full Strength, you brain will still use that point of reference – in fact you’ll use whenever your seeking to assess that category.

So here I stand, looking the part of some damned fool screaming “dig this a-ma-zing Full Strength, it’s the best…” and there’s a good chunk of people who may be listening who have what can only be called “faulty decoders” for the message. For all “the best” talk simply calls upon their reference point leaving them (however unwittingly) closed to experiencing the next-level – for it’s beyond what you know, in the “don’t know zone.”

Your brain swiftly accesses your past experiences, chooses the reference for “best” and then projects your past into your future. All which happens so fast you never, ever even suspect. There’s no cool breeze or even subtle flag, it’s all done in a flash once it’s locked on and believes it knows the facts. 

And that’s how it all remains; you, never knowing yet thinking you do. That is, unless you’ve tried Full Strength. Only then can you know how amazing, great tasting, enjoyable and energizing this vibrantly healthy, balanced super-nutrition-shake is. But your clever brain doesn’t know that you don’t know – it knows what only it already knows. No more…

Even if I were to succeed in inspiring you to stretch far beyond what you’ve previously accepted as possible, you’ve no map for that territory. Once past your best-ever mark, it’s a bit like voyaging beyond the solar system. There’s simply no reference points you just seem to be floating in the infinite black ether.

I understand the challenge facing anyone who is seeking to go beyond the confines of “average” or normal. This is why I’ve been so steadfast in the message that you’ve got to experience Full Strength before you can know the truth. For I know it is only through the experience that you will come to know the what I say is the truth. Once you have actually enjoyed this next-level experience – you will have a new “best-ever” reference point.

This is one reason why Full Strength is rapidly building a following of truly raving fans – for it’s nearly impossible to fully anticipate just how differently this “performance fast food” will impact you. Even if you think you are ready, it’s likely to rock your current reality especially should you compare it to the mediocre, outdated “protein shakes” which occupy the dusty shelves of GNC.

The following is an excerpt from an email received here at “Full Strength HQ” less than 48 hours ago. I’ve left the name off so as not to reveal this happy customers secret identity. I like that…it sounds so mysterious but the simple truth is I left it off because I’ve not yet asked for clearance. That’s all…

“Thanks for the reply Jodi. Yes, I did receive the shaker cup and in the words of Peter Griffin, both the cup and the shakes are "Freakin' amazing!"  Ha!  I used Myoplex back in the day before the Phillips bros. left and it was great.  Years passed, and so did the quality, with FS I'm finally getting back on track.  For that, I thank everyone associated with this marvelous product.”

Are you ready to shatter any limiting reference points you may have and set a new “best ever?” Click here to receive your trial of Full Strength today.

Please not that while the deliciously premium samples are free, there is a small fee assessed for shipping and handling. I wanted to let you know that – and you can read my blog on why we do this [here] just as soon as I post it!

FREE samples go fast! We only ship 500 free trials each month on a first come, first serve basis so don’t delay. On average, the 500 samples last less than a week.

A Thoughtful Reply for a Thoughtful Review

The following is my reply to a comment placed on my post : The Real Meal Challenge

Hi Steve,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments.

As I read your words, I can only imagine that perhaps this is what a great artists feels when another truly sees the deepest intention in one of their works.

Simply stated, it feels mighty good.

I empathize with you skepticism of supplements and the continual disappointment with the cheap, sugar laden so-called “meal replacements” that have never escaped the grips of “muscledom.” I find the “industry” frustrating and at times disturbing, as it often seems the most successful strategies leverage ignorance and uncertainty. I know there’s a right way to do things and that the wrong way is often more profitable and easier.

This is unfortunate. It’s also not exclusive to the nutritional supplement industry. One look at the food in most American’s pantries is more than enough to prove this.

This is why I’ve chosen to stay away from all the “known paths.” I know that once you’ve chosen to advertise in the muscle-mags, and sell at GNC you’re caught in the “trap.” No matter what you bring to that game, it’s to be seen through the tainted lenses of that world view. It’s like being in the Matrix… once there, it doesn’t matter what you know to be true. That world has a truth of it’s own.

When I started this journey I knew that coming out with a truly NEXT-LEVEL premium nutrition shake would be one long, hard road. And I also knew or at least allowed myself to believe that I was not the only person on earth valued excellence and who had enough nutritional awareness to know the difference between vanilla flavored cheese by-product with fructose and an scientifically  engineered, fully integrated nutrition shake. Or, as I’m prone to say in private; “the difference between shit and shinola.”

It has been difficult and I have to admit that I’m quite elated by the number of people who can also tell the difference – who, like yourself have learned “see inside” and know what invigorates life and what foods bring them down.

I’m with you – I know the difference in a profoundly sensitive way and I am still, every day, both pleased and slightly amazed that we were able to build a nutrition shake that fulfills on the promise of “The World’s First Performance Fast Food.”

I know that Full Strength is not perfect for everyone…that some people will find fault with it. And I also know it’s the absolute best total nutrition shake in the world – by far. Yet that does not stop me from reaching higher. I have plans and dreams about moving forward. I am very, very proud of this shake – and am committed to staying the high-road.

There is a bright future – not just for Full Strength but for a food that can make a radical difference in the world – that can transform the health and well being of millions of people. And in doing so, elevate the strength of an entire country and world.

If the future of food is going to include a nutrition shake as part of a daily ritual, as I see it (more on this in a blog to come) that change had to come from a higher place – a shake had to fulfill on the potential of the nutrition shake as fast food. A protein boost was not enough to inspirethis world to suddenly incorporate it into their day.

Full Strength is NOT for everyone. It’s for those who can feel the difference and care about the quality of their nutrition and the energy of their lives. It’s not a bargain if you just looking to enjoy the pleasure of hearing a blender run. Face it, some people are “nutritionally tone deaf.” It’s not bad to be tone deaf but if you are, please no singing.

For those who can appreciate the difference Full Strength is a bargain. Certainly more nutritious and energizing than most even moderately healthy, quick food at a fraction of the price.

Well, that’s about all for now… I could go on. That much I promise…just ask anyone in the office whom has to listen to me every day. But for now, thank you for inspiring me to share and helping me to know what it feels like to have one’s work truly seen.

In Strength,
Shawn

P.S. Yes, I do get these . ;-)