Rally Call – Players and Sponsors Needed for New Social Media Weight Loss Game

 It's called Rock, Paper, Caveman.  It's a social media game involving up to 99 players who are competing to see who will lose the most weight by Valentine's Day, 2016.  First place wins $100.  I'm asking my friends to donate door prizes.  This is the game that may save someone's life – maybe your own.  The rules are simple:  Every time you eat you pick rock, paper or caveman.  The rock is your choice to keep eating the same way you always eat.  No food changes means no weight loss.  Choose the rock too often and you won't lose much weight.  Your second choice is paper.  Your meal choices are based on the commercials you watch on TV sponsored by companies who have something to gain or the latest fad diets you read about.  You're taking your chances when you choose paper.  Your third choice is to eat like a caveman.  I started eating this way near the end of summer as a food experiment.  I'm 32 pounds lighter as of today.  I lost 4 and a half inches off my waist.  My blood pressure and cholesterol readings are now in the ideal range.  My food choices include unlimited fruits and veggies.  I also eat nuts.  I did this for 45 days.  It changed my life.  I believe if you eat like a caveman for 45 days you will have the best chance to be the biggest loser.

Now is the time to rally your friends who want to lose weight and have fun at the same time.  The food game begins tomorrow on New Years Day.  Email me if you would like to play or if you're interested in becoming a sponsor.  Have a great day.

Review the Old Slate Before You Begin the New Year with a Clean Slate

Before you start your New Year with a clean slate, take a look at the past year and see what you can learn from it.  This is the best time to review what worked and what didn't.  Did you start 2015 with bold plans?  Were you consistent with your goals or did they fizzle?  How did you handle unexpected obstacles?  What are you going to do differently in 2016?


One of my biggest surprises this year was dealing with two major goals that didn't seem to get along with one another.  If these goals were singers, each had their own tune.  I couldn't find the harmony.  The rhythm was off.  It was like watching two dancers on the dance floor fighting over who should lead.  I'm referring to my life as a writer and as a person who desires to be healthy.  My challenge was that the more I wrote, the less I exercised.  I didn't realize how conflicted I was until I visited my siblings on a family vacation in late August.  That's when life got interesting.  The lesson I learned is that aligning your goals is like playing the piano.  When the left hand and the right hand cooperate, you can play beautiful music.  You can have an amazing life.  So that's what I'm doing in the New Year.  I'm building on the lessons I learned in 2015.  How about you?  Remember, you have a clean slate.  You already know how to create based on years of experience.  Use your favorite colors from your past and maybe mix in some new ones to paint your best picture ever in 2016.  Have a great day.

Introducing Rock, Paper, Caveman – A Food Game

Rock, Paper, Caveman is a food game that may save your life.  It started out as an experiment.  The rules are simple – give up processed foods for 45 days and choose fruits, veggies and nuts at every meal.  I'm seeking 99 contestants who will weigh in on Jan 1, 2016 and play the game until 12:00 noon on Valentine's Day.  The player who loses the most pounds wins one hundred dollars.  I'm working on some other prizes from sponsors.  Here's how it works:

Every time you eat, you have three choices.  Your first choice is to pick "rock."  This choice is based on your past food habits and your upbringing.  It's the status quo.  Consider how this choice is working out for you.  Is your waistline out of control?  How is your cholesterol?  Do you need blood pressure medicine?  How many times per week do you eat fast food?

Your second choice is "paper."  It represents the media.  There's lots of conflicting reports about what foods are best.  If you're trying to base your food choices on the latest fads reported in the news, you may find yourself confused.  It's challenging to discern the best food moves when the food charts you study in school are sponsored by people who have something to gain. 

Your third choice is "caveman."  It's your choice to eat the way your ancestors eat.  Cut out any foods with a label every time you shop.  Processed foods are silently killing you.  Your body doesn't know what to do with genetically modified foods.  Skip out on fast foods.  Give up pop.  Eat like caveman for 45 days and avoid the rock or the paper.

After you've been playing rock, paper, caveman for a while, your friends may notice your appearance changing.  Be careful.  They may try to beat you up with their rock when you tell them you're eating like a caveman.  They may pull out a book that challenges the caveman theory.  Your best answer is to tell them it's only a game and your trying to win one hundred dollars.  I'm not forcing you to pick the caveman every time you eat but I do believe those who choose the caveman most often will probably lose the most weight.  Let's see what happens when the game ends on Valentine's Day.  Do you want to play?  The first 99 players who sign up are eligible to win prizes.  Click here to email me and enter "sign up" in the subject line.  Don't forget to weigh yourself on Jan 1.  Have a great day.

Rock, Paper, Caveman – A Food Game You Can Master in 45 Days or Less

Did you ever figure out how to win at rock, paper, scissors when you were growing up?  Everyone has their own theories.  It's just like your food choices.  Consider your "rock" as your choice to keep eating the way you always eat.  Your "paper" choice represents your food picks based on what's in the news or the latest fad diet.  Everywhere you turn, there's a new diet to try.  Your third choice is the Caveman Food Experiment.  No rock.  No paper.  No phony food pyramids sponsored by people who profit by feeding us their artificially sweetened garbage.  The idea is to eat like a caveman for the next 45 days.  Your ancestors never ate processed foods.  They never drank pop.  Genetically modified grains weren't on their menus.  Your ancestors never worried about heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  They didn't play games with their food because they only had one choice – to hunt and gather enough food to survive, one day at a time.

Do you want to play rock, paper, caveman?  Do you want to master the game?  If you're willing to give up your rock and your paper and stick with the caveman for 45 days, beginning January 1, 2016, there's something in it for you.  The first 99 players who sign up will be eligible for some prizes.  Details will be announced before the game begins.  Stay tuned.  Please share this with anyone you know who may be interested in participating.  Have a great day.

Seeking 99 Contestants for Food Challenge Beginning 1/1/16

Do you like competition?  I'm hosting a new social media game limited to 99 players that begins on January 1, 2016.  Contestants will be playing for prizes and a chance to be featured in my next book.  Will you be the biggest loser?  Bookmark this blog and make sure you record your weight when the game starts on New Years Day.  You can reserve your space today by sending me an email with your name and email address.  Have a great day.

Introducing a New Food Game You Can Play to Lose Weight and Win Improved Health

Did you eat too much yesterday while you were celebrating Christmas with your family?  Are you sick and tired of that over-sized belly?  What about all your other health concerns?  Are the ghosts of your Christmas's past still haunting you about all those resolutions you broke year after year?  Maybe you need to stop making resolutions and start playing more games.  Yes, you can have fun, lose weight and improve your health in 45 days or less.  I need 99 players.  Winners will be featured in an upcoming book along with before and after pictures.

The rules of the game are simple and the game starts on January 1, 2016.  Take a "before" picture anytime before January 1 and save it for later.  Get on the scale and record your starting weight.  Check in with your doctor and let him or her know what you're doing.  Although you will be competing with up to 99 other players, your greatest competition will be yourself.  You must overcome the temptation to give up.  Here's what you'll be eating and drinking until 12:00 noon, on Valentine's Day, 2/14/16:

• Fruits (unlimited)
• Vegetables, especially the green ones (unlimited)
• Nuts  (Don't overdo it.  You are what you eat!)
• Water
• Wine (Limit:  2 glasses per day)

Here's what's not allowed:

• Processed foods (anything with a label)

The game is limited to 99 players.  New players may join the game at any time but the odds of winning are greatest for players who enter on the first day of the competition on 1/1/16.

Players will be able to track their performance and monitor the competition weekly on a social media page.  There will be some fun prizes awarded at the end of game.  Top 10 finishers have the option to publish their pictures and success stories in my next book, to be released on 5/1/16.  Bookmark this blog and come back on January 1 to enter.  Share this with your friends.  Have a great day.

Merry Christmas – 2015

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6

Our Father in Heaven likes to keep things simple.  He sent his only Son to us in a place far off with no electricity or running water.  It's so easy for us to forget what today is about because there's so much clutter in the word.  It's not supposed to be so complicated.  Keep it simple.  Remember, you're celebrating a birthday today.  Merry Christmas!

A Christmas To Believe In

Here's a Christmas video by Matthew West to help you get in the Holiday mood.  May the Spirit of Christmas be upon you.  I dedicate today's post to all the families out there who may be missing a loved one at the Christmas table.  Peace be with you.  Merry Christmas.

Confessions of a Food Dummy

I have no one to blame but myself for my food dumbness.  No one forced me to make all the wrong food choices that caused my insides to inflame and my blood pressure to spike.  I'm waiving my Miranda rights here for the benefit of others who may be unaware that certain foods they're eating may be silently killing them.  Here's my confession:

"Bless me Father, for I have committed numerous food sins.  This is my first time admitting to you I'm a food dummy.  I listened to the false prophets who tempted me in the classroom with their phony food charts.  I became addicted to processed foods and hoarded enough dairy to put a cheese head on every Green Bay Packer fan in Lambeau Field.  Thank you, Father, for the angels you sent me to help me see the errors of my ways.  My act of contrition is to help others make smarter food choices not so much by words but by my actions.  Please forgive me for all my food sins and help me to be a better reflection of you in all the years to come.  Amen."

Please join me on New Years Day, 2016 for details about Phase III of the Caveman Food Experiment.  Have a great day. 

Congress Repeals COOL

My food motto lately has been, "if it has a label on the package, don't eat it."  Soon there will be one less label to read.  Congress just repealed a law requiring countries to put COOL (country of origin labels) on all meats.  Countries outside the US fought the law and the World Trade Organization threatened sanctions.  No more COOL.  This may look bad for consumers but I believe local farmers can still get a win.  Why not put a voluntary label on the package touting the local farmer?  This is one label I would be happy to read, especially if "grass fed" is on the package. 

What do you think about COOL?  Does it matter to you where your meat comes from?  Do you pay attention to the food labels when you shop?  If you're considering joining me in the "no label" food experiment starting January 1, 2016, please bookmark this blog and come back for an adventure.  I'm seeking 99 volunteers to join me in the next round of an amazing food journey.  Please pass this story along to a friend who may be seeking a new approach to healthy eating.  Have a great day.

Find Your Purpose and Everything Else Will Find You

Are you having trouble coming up with goals for the New Year?  Maybe it's because you haven't found your purpose – the meaning of your existence.  I sometimes found myself so far off the trail that I lost my bearings and wandered around in circles.  For me, this last year has been the year I found my purpose.  It's to help others find their way.  I have one major goal for 2016 – to help others rid themselves of all the foods in their lives that are causing cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other food-related diseases.  This is my purpose.  What's yours?  If you're not sure, consider these questions?

• What do others say your gifts are?
• What comes naturally for you?
• What are your happiest moments during your week?
• If you were given 24 hours to do anything you wanted to do with no outside interruptions, what would you do?
• What do you want to be remembered for when you die?

Write your answers down and use them to help you find your purpose.  Before this year is over, use your answers to help you set goals for 2016.  I already know I will need 99 volunteers to help me achieve my primary goal next year.  Stay tuned for the details.  Have a great day. 

Would you like to have a food epiphany in the New Year?

My next project is specifically for those seeking a mulligan on their food habits.  Resolutions are being replaced with something better – a food experiment.  This is no ordinary trial or observation.  This adventure will be set up as a social media game that begins on January 1, 2016.  Interested?  Stay tuned.  I'm working on the details.  Please share this with anyone you know who wants to try a new approach to healthy eating.  Here's a checklist to help you get ready for some New Year fun:

1. Take a "before" picture and save it for later.
2. Get a blood pressure monitor so you can monitor any changes during the experiment.
3. Get a digital scale for accurate weight monitoring. 
4. Notify your doctor that you are making food changes if you're on medicine in case your needs change during the experiment.
5. Get a food journal for daily tracking and note taking.

Have a great day.  

'Twas the Last Weekend Before Christmas

'Twas the last weekend before Christmas
and all through the malls
all the shoppers were stressing
Stop! Stop! Stop!
This is not how the story goes.
Rewind.
'Twas the last weekend before Christmas,
the weather may not be what you expected,
but a baby boy is coming soon,
and he's the reason for the season.
Have a happy weekend.

Seeking 100 Volunteers for 21 Day Food Experiment

Forget making New Year's resolutions this year.  I have something better to offer you and it will only take 21 days to complete.  You can label it whatever you like, food experiment, food challenge, etc.  The idea is to study 100 people willing to give up processed foods (anything that has a label on the outside) for 21 days while restricting their food choices to fruits, veggies and nuts.  Up to two glasses of wine per day is okay.  Participants on medication are asked to check in with their doctor.

If you have a history of heart disease, high cholesterol or high blood pressure in your family, this experiment may be of interest to you.  Bookmark this blog and come back on January 1 to begin.  Please share this post with anyone you know who may be willing to give this experiment a try.  Have a great day.

Queen of Hearts

I'm feeling a lot like that poker player who nearly lost it all in the early rounds and stayed in the game long enough to find new life.  There's wisdom knowing when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.  You can't win unless you learn to let go of things.  Four years ago I looked at my cards and did my best to keep a poker face on in spite of a losing hand.  The sharks smelled blood in the water.  The queen of hearts appeared to be smiling back at me.  A tiny voice inside my head said "discard everything but your queen of hearts and go all in."  I listened.  It was a gutsy move. 

My queen of hearts is still smiling.  We have much to be thankful for.  I appreciate all the people in my life, especially my wife, who encouraged me when the chips were down.  Don't ever give up.  Life is good.  It's like a fine wine that gets better with age.  And the best is yet to come.  I'm a believer.  Have a great day.

What's in Your Forecast for 2016?

I'm surprised how the weather patterns changed late in the year.  My friends in Arizona and California are dealing with snow and cold weather while I'm enjoying the green grass here in the Midwest.  Our attitudes are like the weather – they don't always match our expectations.  They start out sunny and bright in January but turn cold when the fog rolls in and we lose sight of our goals.  Some have failed so terribly at predicting their achievements for each new year that they don't even try.  I have an idea to help you make 2016 your best year ever.  Ready?  Here goes:

1. Expect storms.  Either you're already in one or there's one just past the horizon.  It doesn't matter where you live.  When a storm hits, you're not going to be the one with that deer in the headlights look.  You're the one who stays focused on getting through the storm and you have a plan.  You're thankful you avoided credit card spending during the sunny days.
2. Your attitude forecast isn't tied to the weather.  I'm having the time of my life right now because I set up an exercise program that works even in stormy weather.  While many others are hibernating this time of year,  I'm swimming and playing tennis indoors.  There is no way Mother Nature can ice my plans to reach my fitness goals.
3. The only goals you can't reach are the ones you don't set.  Don't let your past blunders stop you from trying again.  For example, if you failed in the past to reach your weight loss goals, instead of giving up, why not try a different strategy?  Don't call your weight loss target a goal.  Make it a food experiment.  Give up processed foods for 21 days, drink one or two glasses of wine a day and fill your shopping cart with fruits, veggies and nuts.  All you have to do is shop properly for three weeks and you will drop pounds without even thinking about it.  If the food experiment works for you, keep doing it for the rest of the year.

Have a great day.  I hope you feel good about your outlook for 2016.  I'm betting you're going to have your best year ever.

Get the Monkeys Off Your Back, One at a Time

This is going to be one of my most memorable years ever because I stayed in the game long enough to get some pretty big monkeys off my back.  Some of these monkeys have been in my family so long I thought they were never going to leave.  It's especially challenging when they gang up on you and pin you down.  In the spirit of my new home state where wrestling is the number one sport, I learned some great moves, like the escape and the reversal.  Here's how it works:

1. Focus on one monkey.  Go after him.  Let him know you are focused and you're not going to give up until he's off your back.  Block everything else out.
2. Once he's gone, be watchful that he doesn't sneak back into the arena.  This means staying away from the old habits that got you in trouble.
3. Pick your next monkey.  Take on the weakest one to help you gain confidence and build momentum.  Go all out.
4. Keep going until all the monkeys are off your back.
5. Create a monkey-free zone in your life.  For example, it means using the cash envelope method to pay in advance for vacations in order to avoid vacation hangovers.

Here are the retired monkeys in my life:

Lazy Larry. Free spender Willie.  Credit card Carl.  High blood pressure Bobby.  Chronic cholesterol Charlie.  Worry Wally.  Stressed Out Sammy. 

You can do this.  If you need help in the kitchen with some new food ideas that will help you get healthy, bookmark this site and come back in time to try the Caveman Food Experiment.  If you try this for 45 days, you will get some big monkeys off your back.  Have a great day.

Daily Effort is the Secret Ingredient in Your Life Recipe

Want abundant life?  Daily effort is the secret ingredient most people lack.  They are usually the ones most eager to close out a bad year and start over with high hopes for a different outcome once the calendar flips on January 1.  A year is composed of 365 days.  Daily effort is necessary all the time, from beginning to end.

I'm satisfied all my goals for 2015 are complete and I'm already putting a plan together for next year that will push me to maximize the opportunities ahead.  When others ask about my New Year's resolutions, I'll answer with this:  "I want to change the world."  It requires daily effort all the way until the last day of 2016.  It will be something I work on every year I remain on this planet.  The plan is simple – raise awareness about all the foods we eat that are killing us and persuade others to try a food experiment designed to help them recognize they can look and feel better, live longer and eliminate most diseases like heart attacks, strokes, diabetes that are mostly food related.

A gentleman I met last week told me last night as he was packing his bags he is going to try the Caveman Food Experiment on January 1.  He's going to see for himself if foregoing eating processed foods for 45 days while concentrating on fruits, veggies and nuts will help him drop his blood pressure from 215/120 to the healthy range.  He told me he would also give up smoking during the experiment.  There are more people like my new friend suffering from food related health issues.  I'm going to keep reaching out every day to help them.  Will you help me?  Consider how you're going to use your secret ingredient to help others.  Share your life recipe with anyone you meet who hungers or thirsts for something you have that can help them have a better life.  Have a great day.

Don't Let Peer Pressure Raise Your Blood Pressure

There's one thing I won't be bringing with me on my trip next month to visit family members – 33 pounds of weight I lost when I participated in a food experiment set up to lower my blood pressure.  The experiment was a huge success.  I would label it life-changing.  It turns my body responds negatively to certain foods, causing my cholesterol and blood pressure to spike.  There now remains just one challenge on my food chart – peer pressure.  What do you do when a loved one presents you with a labor of love all wrapped up in ingredients that will kill you if you devour it on a regular basis?  It's the classic Kobayashi Maru, a science fiction no-win scenario.  Beam me up, Scotty.

The last thing I want to do is offend someone because I'm rejecting their cooking.  Most people don't understand the ugly truth about processed foods.  One of my friends told me it's almost impossible to live in America and avoid processed foods completely.  And if you have friends who try to bully you into eating the American way then you can relate to how I feel.  Here's my response the next time someone tells me, "come on, have a small piece.  A little bit isn't going to kill you." 

"No thanks.  Your cooking is so tempting that if I cave in to my desires, I may not be able to stop.  I may become a food addict and eventually die from diabetes, a heart attack or stroke.  I know what happens to me body when I eat what you're offering me.  Thank you for understanding my situation."

My food experiment is now evolving into a social media experiment.  Is it possible to convince loved ones to change their ways?  The real test for me is in January.  Have a great day.

3 Ideas to Consider for New Years Day

Are you looking for a great way to start your New Year?  Here are three ideas to help you get off to a great start:

1. Watch the Rose Bowl on January 1.  My hometown team from Iowa is making its first appearance in 25 years.  At an average asking price on the resale market of $900, it's the hottest ticket around.  I'm a value guy so I'll be watching at home with my family.  This game epitomizes what happens when you unite a bunch of people with above average talent in pursuit of worthy goals.  This is entertainment at its finest.
2. Take a walk.  I don't know what the weather will be like on New Year's Day but it won't stop me from taking a stroll with my wife.  Add this to your daily regimen and your body will thank you.
3. Try the Caveman Food Experiment.  This is especially for you if you're one of those people who has trouble keeping resolutions.  Participate for just 21 days and your done.  The experiment is to help you discover what happens when you focus on fruits, veggies and nuts for 21 days while refraining from any processed foods.  I believe if you do this you will be on your way to your healthiest year ever.

Bookmark this blog and come back on New Year's Day.  I'm seeking 100 people who want to try a new approach to healthy eating.  Have a great day.

Reduce Your Worries in Five Minutes

Worry – a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.

You can't make your problems go away unless they're self-inflicted and you're willing to make changes in your life to eliminate the root cause but you can reduce your worries about the problems in five minutes.  Ready?  Here you go:

1. Make a list of all the things you're worried about.
2. Put a yes next to the worries on your list you have control over.
3. Put a no next to the worries on your list you have no control over.
4. Set the timer for five minutes and use that time to decide what changes you're going to make for any worry marked yes.
5. When the timer goes off, get busy working on your list of changes.  Tell yourself you don't have time to dwell on any worries marked no.  The "no worries" are preventing you from the "yes challenges."  The yes challenges lead to solutions.  

Spend five minutes every day going over your yes challenges in your mind.  The more you work on these, the more uncertainty you will remove from your life.  Eventually the no worries will drift away and your anxiety will be reduced.  Try it.  Have a great day.

Hail Mary Food Play Extends Season

Two men from California with the same last name made history recently with an amazing Hail Mary play and it happened with no time left on the clock.  The Green Bay Packers were granted an untimed play thanks to a penalty.  Click here to see the video.  The announcer called the play a rainbow of a prayer and it was answered in the end zone in a sea of Tiger opponents against all odds.  The play reminds me of a similar Hail Mary pass involving two players in the game of life also with matching last names.  Dr. Mulligan huddled with his lab rat and told him to go long.  His receiver limped into the end zone.  Touchdown!  The play granted new life to the lab rat.  It was a game changer.  The opposing team was stunned.  They had no idea something like this could happen.  Here's what Dr. Mulligan told his receiver in the huddle:

"The other side is going to be all over you.  They're going to try to smother you with their overweight bodies.  Don't freak out on me.  Remember your training.  Your plant-based diet you've been on these last 45 days is going to make the difference.  Your blood pressure is normal.  Your cholesterol readings are normal.  This Hail Mary is for you.  Don't let anyone take the ball away from you.  I expect you to stay in this game for a long time.  You can do this."

Special thanks to the quarterback who believed in me.  My season has been extended.  I will use the extra time on my clock to help others turn their game around.  It starts with the training.  Fruits, veggies and nuts for at least 21 days.  Fluids should be restricted to water and wine.  Up to two glasses of wine per day is fine.  No processed foods.  Find the end zone and jump for the ball when it's thrown to you.  The next food experiment begins on New Year's Day.  Will you join 100 players in the next huddle?  I hope you answer the call.  Have a great day.

The Processed Food Jig is Up

I met a young man yesterday who is in eminent danger of sudden death.  He refuses to get help even though his last blood pressure reading was 220/115.  He won't quit smoking.  I looked directly into his eyes and told him, "you're going to die.  You must change your ways immediately."  He fired back a list of excuses.  His dad had open heart surgery at age 21.  His brother died suddenly.  "It's my genes," he answered, exposing his perceived hopelessness about his situation.  That's when my adrenaline kicked in.  I knew it was my turn to be an angel in this man's life and I wasn't backing down.  I shared my own blood pressure success story and offered him hope.

Food awareness is the key.  My actress friend who is dealing with cancer wrote in a blog story, I avoid certain foods now because I know they feed my cancer.  Most of us have been duped by the supposed food experts who trick us into believing processed foods are safe.  We're dying in record numbers.  This doesn't have to be our reality.  All we need to do change our ways, give up processed foods and make healthy food choices.  The processed food jig is up.  I'm not backing down.  Please share this story with your loved ones.  Have a great day.

Angels Among Us

I met an angel yesterday at my day job.  They sometimes disguise themselves as humans so they don't frighten us but I knew almost immediately something special was happening.  I felt uplifted.  My challenges seemed less overwhelming.  The timing of the conversation was perfect.  There was a special gleam in her eyes near the end of the conversation when she said, "Merry Christmas," before disappearing into the crowd.

If an angel shows up in your life when you need one the most, don't be startled.  They are intuitive creatures who somehow know exactly what you need to get back up after a fall.  They may go by familiar labels such as cousins or coaches but I know there's some kind of super power inside them that sets them apart from others.  Today I want to send out a big thank you to all the angels in my life, both past and present, who help me navigate this most awesome challenge course I call life.  Thank you.

Read This When You're Having a Bad Day

My heart aches today.  One of my high school buddies reported tragic news about his daughter yesterday.  She passed away several days ago from injuries sustained in a car accident.  Another friend is dealing with breast cancer.  There are other situations that I cannot share here for privacy reasons but they fall into the category of things that trouble your heart.  For all the people in the world who are struggling with loss or difficult situations, this post is for you.  I'm sending you prayers for comfort, peace and strength.

The shortest verse in the Bible is two words – Jesus wept.  It didn't matter Jesus is the Son of the Most High God.  Nothing can stop Jesus from feeling the pain of loss.  If there is any comfort today, it's the comfort of knowing Jesus will do everything in his power to draw us closer to him, especially in our darkest moments.  He taught us to pray "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done."  It seems like an impossible request when we're faced with something like the death of a child.  Those who precede us in death are already in the Kingdom.  We are the ones who are on the outside.  We need our Daily Bread to make it through our challenges.  That empty seat at the table is only temporary.  The bad days will not last forever.  Jesus is the solution.  He is our hope.  He feels our pain.  God is with us – Immanuel.  May you feel his presence during your time of struggle.  Peace be with your Spirit.

Give This Christmas Away

Want to make a difference this December?  Listen to to the words in this Christmas song and consider giving this Christmas away.  Have a great day.

It's okay if you don't get many things right the first time

The first time I played tennis the balls were flying everywhere except over the net.  And the first time I tried to sell a tennis membership in my first job out of college, my voice raised an octave when I asked for the sale.  I told my boss I would do better.  I've been married for more than a quarter of a century and I'm still working at mastering the art of love.  Maybe that's why Ben Fold's song, "The Luckiest," resonates so much with me.  I can relate.  The lyrics start out like this: 

I don't get many things right the first time
in fact, I am told that a lot.

Sound familiar?  Don't give up.  I'm going to share more about why I feel like one of the luckiest people on the planet soon.  For now, take a look at this YouTube video and use it to motivate yourself to keep practicing.  In the end, what matters is that you remain committed to your goals and that you refuse to quit no matter how many times you fail.  Have a great day.

What do you say or do when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer?

Her line in the sand is 2.6 years.  I found out about it last evening when I read her birthday post on her blog.  Our children will always remember her as Glinda, the witch of the north, pictured above.  I wish Glinda, aka Erin, could magically appear and click her heels three times to make her cancer go away.  That's not how cancer works.  There are no magical ruby shoes to click.  There's no wizard.  What do you say?  What do you do?

Erin offers answers in her blog.  Read what she has to say about her feelings.  Don't be a cowardly lion.  Be a friend.  Cancer sucks.  Please keep my friend in your prayers.  The world needs more people like her.  

Erin, I confess, I really don't know what to say or do.  I struggled to find words when I sat next to my dad in the doctor's office and heard the c word for the first time.  Dad's line in the sand was 35 days.  It hurt.  My mother-in-law crossed the line in the sand shortly before Christmas the first year I got married.  Everyone has their own line in the sand.  For cancer patients, it's more visible.  Maybe you can pull your wand out of the closet from your time in San Diego and grant me one wish:  appear here on this blog as my guest and help my readers learn what to say or do when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer?   Good luck tonight.  Love from the Mulligans. 

What would you do with your Mulligan?

A mulligan is a second chance to perform an action, usually after the first chance went wrong through bad luck or a blunder.
 
If someone gave you a second chance to something different with your life today, what would you do with your Mulligan?  I got one of these gifts at the end of August from a doctor named Mulligan.  He asked me to be a lab rat in his experiment and I said yes.  This mulligan is life-changing and I'm using it to pay it forward so others may get a second chance with food related challenges they may be going through.  Thanks to my mulligan, I no longer have blood pressure issues.  My cholesterol numbers are in the normal range and I lost 32 pounds of fat.   Anyone who wants a mulligan can have one.  That's what the next phase of the experiment is all about and it starts on New Year's Day, 2016.

If you're struggling with your weight or other food related issues, sign up for your mulligan today and join 100 participants in a 21-day experiment that may restore your health.  All you need to do is give up processed foods for 21 days and restrict your diet to fruits, veggies and nuts.  It's worth it to have a second chance on new life.  Let me know if you're in.  Click here to sign up.  Have a great day.

Food Sacrifice

Your health is your most valuable asset.  When it declines, it becomes a liability.  If this happens to you, don't fret.  There's hope.  You can turn things around but it requires a sacrifice.  You must be willing to give up certain foods in order to attain something of greater value – a healthy body.  Most people aren't willing to make a food sacrifice if requires too much effort or time.  Ask yourself how long it took for you to gain all those extra pounds you're carrying around every day.  It didn't happen overnight, did it?  Would you be willing to make a food sacrifice that's only 21 days long?  If the answer is yes, read on.

I'm looking for 100 people willing to make a food sacrifice for 21 days.  It's phase III of the Caveman Food Experiment.  If you decide to participate, you will be asked to sacrifice all processed foods and concentrate on a diet of fruits, veggies and nuts.  Avoid eating anything that walks, swims or flies.  Skip the salad dressing.  Pass on dairy products.  Wine is okay but no more than one glass a day for ladies and two for men.  Phase III starts on 1/1/16.  The sacrifice you make for 21 days may change your life.  This happened to me when I gave the food experiment a try.  Now it's your turn.  Email me and let me know you're in.  Your body will thank you for the food sacrifice.  Please share this story with a friend.  Have a great day.

The Best Way to Deal with Fear of Change

Are you one of those people who fear change?  It made the list of top regrets dying people have.  They regret how fear of change kept them from doing things they wished they attempted.  Please don't wait until you're on your deathbed to confront your fear of change.  I have a solution for you.  Ready?  Here it is:  Change your life right now.  It begins with your decision to confront your fear of change and simply change.  This means saying good-bye to the same old routine that's getting you nowhere and saying hello to a new life filled with limitless possibilities.

I know one thing for sure about my deathbed.  There won't be any regrets there.  Not a single one.  This is because I'm not afraid to look at my life, see what needs attention and then make the necessary adjustments to improve.  It means letting go of some things and embracing new ideas.  It means looking in the mirror.  It means asking questions.  What's holding you back?  Give change a try.  Your new life is waiting for you.  Have a great day.

Eliminate Your Off Season and Avoid Slip-ups

You had a great Spring.  You worked out at regular intervals.  Your Summer was amazing and you were in peak shape.  Winter arrived.  You cancelled outdoor activities.  You gained weight.  Your self-confidence dropped.  That was last year.  This time it's different.  All you need to do is eliminate the off season and you will avoid slip ups.  Here's how it works:

• Stop telling yourself there's an off season.  Make every month count regardless of the weather.
• Commit to activities that aren't weather dependent.  I'm staying in shape by playing indoor tennis and swimming indoors.
• Surround yourself with like-minded friends who wish to remain active during Winter.  Your friends will help you stay motivated when you feel the urge to skip a workout.
• Try the Caveman Food Experiment.  Phase III begins on January 1.  If you can handle three weeks of fruits, veggies, nuts and no processed foods, your off-season will become prime time.  Your past broken New Year's resolutions will stop haunting you and you will be in the best shape of your life, ready to have your best year ever.
• Send me your naysayers.  I want all the excuse makers and other negative people in your life to visit this blog and discover why they should be in the food experiment.  These people are capable of destroying your plans to eliminate your off-season because they're afraid if you change they may have to as well.  You can let them beat you up and possibly take your eye off the ball or send them to me and let me have a shot at helping them improve their health.  I truly believe I can handle those who lost hope because I've witnessed first-hand how easy it is to eliminate the off season when you make some changes to your food plan.

You have 31 days to decide if you want to eliminate your off-season.  Come back on January 1 and let's get started.  Your 21 day commitment to the Caveman Food Experiment will help you live healthy full time and avoid slip-ups.  Send me an email to let me know you're in.  Have a great day.

The Best Time to Beat Cancer and Other Diseases

Phase I of the Caveman Food Experiment changed my life.  Phase II changed the lives of my loved ones.  Phase III may change the world.  I'm referring to cancer and other diseases that are killing us at an alarming rate because we are eating the wrong foods.  Imagine a world where all these diseases are beaten BEFORE they attack.  Heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes – gone.  Can this be as simple as giving up unhealthy food and eating healthy food?  I believe the answer is yes and I need 100 volunteers to give up processed foods for 21 days, commit to a diet of fruits, veggies and nuts,  and prove that the American diet is responsible for our poor health.  The best time to beat cancer and other diseases is today but I'm going to wait until the Holidays are over and all the excuses for trying the Caveman Food Experiment are gone.  Will you help me?

The experiment is simple.  You can eat as many fruits and veggies as you want for 21 days.  Don't buy any food with a label on the package.  Nuts are okay.  Wine is fine as long as consumption is limited to one glass per day for ladies and two for men.  Measure your weight once a day and record it.  Have your blood pressure checked before starting and consult your physician if you're taking medication.  Measure your blood pressure at the end of 21 days and send me your results.  Note any other changes you observe during the experiment.  I will publish the results here on this blog.  Please share this story with anyone you know who may be interested in participating.  Thanks for your help.  Have a great day.

5 Longevity Tips for Fast Food Lovers

If you're one of those people who live in the fast lane, I'm asking you to consider moving over and slowing down.  Your food choices are sending you to an early grave.  Put the brakes on your processed food and you will live longer.  The World Health Organization said recently eating processed meat such as sausages and ham causes cancer while unprocessed red meat may also be carcinogenic.  Don't fret.  You don't have to go cold turkey on red meat to live longer, but these tips may be your ticket to forestall your appointment with St. Peter at the Golden Arches.

1. Special orders won't upset your stomach.  If you aren't ready to give up fast food, order a salad and drink water instead of a burger, fries and a soda.
2. Plan your meals ahead of time and keep a food emergency kit in your car.  The next time you're in a hurry, reach for that bag of nuts and raisins instead of visiting your neighborhood fast food hangout.
3. Start your day with a morning fruit and veggie smoothie.  This will fill you up and take away your hunger pangs.  Click here for my favorite Mulligan Big Cup.
4. Go big on your greens.  You can eat unlimited amounts of veggies and not gain weight.  In fact, if you stay away from fast food and eat more fruits, veggies and nuts, you will lose twenty pounds or more in just thirty days.
5. Cut the cheese and other dairy products.  The purpose of cow's milk is to add about 400 pounds of weight to a calf in its first year.  Your body doesn't know what to do when you overload it on dairy so it stores the fat in your belly area.  Give up that milkshake and watch your belly shrink.

If you need a little extra incentive for cutting back on fast foods, keep this in mind – nearly all heart attacks, strokes, cholesterol and blood pressure problems are food related.  Choose wisely.  Have a great day.

Got Spirit?

For some, Black Friday started yesterday on Thanksgiving as soon as they loaded the dishes in the sink and rushed to the shopping malls.  While I slept quietly in my bed this morning, shoppers battled one another for something bigger and better to replace last year's relics they acquired at the crack of dawn same time last year.  Maybe the quote above was written specifically for those of us who could use more self discipline with our spending during the Holidays, more love for the unfortunate, more power to stand up for what really matters in society, and a lot less time shopping for useless stuff we really don't need.

Spend some time today listening to Christmas songs on the radio.  Allow the words to soak into your soul.  The child inside you wants to come out and play.  Today is a good day to experience the Holiday season and the true meaning of Christmas.  Let your spirit soar on wings like eagles.  Show the world you've got a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today's story is dedicated to the military men and women, past, present and future, who make days like today possible.  You sacrifice so we may have peace.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.  Your empty seat at the table is only temporary.  May God Bless you and keep you safe from harm.  Happy Thanksgiving.  We love you!

Day 90 Update on Food Experiment

It's been 90 days since I volunteered to be a lab rat in a life-changing food experiment.  The first 45 days was amazing and I discovered what happens when you eliminate processed foods from your diet – visceral fat disappears, cholesterol drops and high blood pressure returns to normal.  My body fat dropped from 30% to 20% in six weeks.  Here's a day 90 update for those of you following the experiment:

• Weight is holding steady at approx 153.6 pounds.
• Blood pressure remains constant at 115/70.
• No desire for snacks for 90 days due to no hunger.
• New foods (eggs, chicken, turkey, bison, fish, beans) introduced to diet in small quantities are not impacting blood pressure or weight.
• No snoring.
• No headaches.
• Energy levels remain high.

Phase II members are all reporting weight loss in the seven to fourteen pound range.  Phase III will begin on 1/1/16 and is open to anyone interested in participating.  The experiment is flexible.  The only requirement is that anyone on medicine check in with their doctor first as food changes may reduce the need for medicine.  Please send me an email if you would like to be included in Phase III.  Have a great day.

A Food Message from the Chickens

These chickens have an important announcement.  They want you to know eating kale is good for you.  I agree.  Ever since I added kale and other greens to my diet, reduced my animal products consumption and cut out all processed foods, my body weight, cholesterol and blood pressure numbers all returned to the healthy range.  My favorite way to eat kale is to blend it up in my morning smoothie.  Add half an avocado, a handful of spinach, a couple of stalks of celery, a banana, an orange, a half cup of water and your favorite frozen fruits and you will have more energy than ever.  I think these chickens are on to something.  Let me know what you think about adding kale to your diet.  Have a great day.

Here and Now

How are you doing living in the moment?  If you're feeling anxious about a future event or guilty about something that happened in the past, you may need some help getting yourself to the here and now.  I'm finding much joy and happiness focusing on today.  My meals taste better.  I appreciate the people I'm with.  Each season has something to offer when I enjoy all that it has to offer in the present moment.

Please don't ever defer your happiness.  Live in the here and now.  It's a gift.  Savor it.  Have a great day.

How to Beat Your Brain in the Negativity Game

Negativity doesn't have to be permanent.  I have a little trick up my sleeve that fools my brain every time it sends out negative messages.  I close my eyes and relive the moment I goofed but paint a positive picture of the event in my mind rather than the mistake.  My brain doesn't know what to do with the mixed messages.  After a while, my brain only remembers the positive image and the negativity stops.

Every morning when you wake up it's an opportunity to start over.  Show your brain you are better today than you were yesterday.  Move forward.  Leave the negativity behind.  Have a great day.

Greetings from Mother Nature's Sweet Spot

Mother Nature delivered on her promise last night.  We have six to nine inches of snow on the ground along I-80 where I live.  The weatherman is calling this area the sweet spot because it's in the center of our first storm of the year.  It's time for me to dig out of my driveway and get to my day job.  The change in scenery is the most dramatic I've ever witnessed in such a short period of time.

This may sound strange to those of you who may not live in cold-weather places like Iowa but I'm actually excited about the weather.  For me, it's one more challenge to face.  Mother Nature is simply another opponent in a long list of adversaries I've been dealing with for 55+ years.  I'm thankful for every opportunity I've enjoyed to grow and be shaped.  This is where discipline is developed and character refined.  I'm ready for a great day.  How about you?  Carpe diem.

Don't Let Mother Nature Ice Your Attitude in Winter

It's coming today – about six to nine inches of snow in our first major storm of the Holiday season.  Mother Nature may be chilling the air in the Midwest but she won't be able to ice my attitude.  I have an action plan to keep me focused on my fitness goals for the remainder of the year which include a half-hour indoor pool session once a week and two days per week of indoor tennis.  The biggest challenge is navigating the roads during snow storms.  I chose a health club located along I-80 so I could maintain my workouts even in the worst weather.

Don't let Mother Nature get you down.  Stay busy.  Your attitude during the cold weather months will be the difference.  Fitness is a personal choice.  It requires hard work, especially when you have to dig yourself out of the driveway after a big snow storm.  Have a great day. 

A Food Fight You Can Win in the Weight Loss Battle

It probably sounds too good to be true, but I found I way to lose weight even while eating unlimited amounts of certain foods.  It doesn't require portion control or calorie counting.  I hesitate to call it a diet because it's more of a lifestyle than some fad food program that requires starvation or deprivation.  If you're serious about winning your food fight, all you have to do is go back in time about a hundred years and eat the way your great-grandparents ate, that is three meals a day without any processed foods on the table.  The next time you visit your grocery store, purchase only foods without any labels.  Concentrate on fruits and veggies.  Nuts are also okay.  Eat as many of these foods as you desire.  The end result is weight loss.  You may lose twenty pounds in less than a month.

If you're hesitant to jump into the food fight because the Holidays are coming and you don't want to make your family mad by passing up on all their favorite recipes, I have the perfect solution for you.  Wait until January 1 and then join my food experiment.  100 volunteers are needed to test the theory that you can eat as much food as you want and still lose weight as long as these foods are in the fruit, veggie and nut category.  Bookmark this blog and come back on January 1.  Have a great day.

Help Me Find It

I understand better than most what it means to leave your comfort zone behind.  I remember what it felt like to be a stranger in a sea of unrecognizable faces on my first day of high school.  The opportunity to make new friends outweighed my anxiety about being in unfamiliar surroundings.  The experience prepared me for my biggest test ever – a relocation to the Midwest from California.  Everyone in the family was ready for the experience except me.  I wanted to hold on to the status quo but it was really only a mirage that disappeared as soon as the economy went into a meltdown.  There was no bridge to burn.  All I could do was let go of my comfort zone and move on.

The biggest lesson I learned about change is God's perfect timing.  In fact, while penning today's story, the song Help Me Find It, by the Sidewalk Prophets, played on the radio.  The lyrics mimicked my own prayers for direction the day I left California in search of a new life.  God answered my prayer.  I have a new life.  The truth is, I never really left my comfort zone; I expanded it.  All three of our adult children are doing the same.  That's the lesson.  Don't be afraid.  See the world.  Explore.  And trust that there's a God who will be with you wherever you go.  Have a great day.  Here's the video from the Sidewalk Prophets...

How Far Will You Go to Improve Your Health?

Most food experts agree about the dangers of processed foods.  The challenge most of us have living in America is not the access we have to healthy foods, but the access we have to the unhealthy ones, especially processed foods.  It's almost impossible to avoid them completely.  That's the reason for today's question:  How far will you go to improve your health?  Are you willing to give up processed foods for the rest of your life?

My answer today is different from three months ago when I didn't know I had some major health issues related 100% to my diet.  I entered a food experiment and gave up processed foods for 45 days.  Everything changed.  I'm a new person today.  My risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke is diminished.  There is no reason for me to ever eat processed foods again.  I now know first-hand how dangerous these foods are.  If you're reading today's story and you're not sure you can give up processed foods forever, why not take a baby step first and see for yourself how your body responds?  I'm suggesting a 21-day experiment beginning on January 1, 2016.  Consider it a sprint to your first finish line in the marathon of life.  If the experiment yields a successful outcome, just keep running right into your 60's, 70's and 80's.  Imagine what your life would be like if you could still run in your 90's or 100's, like the 104-year-old in the video below.  Here's some inspiration for you:

5 Tips for Maximizing Your Food Awareness Zone

What you don't know about food may be silently killing you.  It's the main reason I said yes to a colonoscopy exam during my annual physical.  I knew I was five years overdue.  It's never too late to increase your awareness about your health.  My doctor told me it's impossible to know if something abnormal is growing inside your colon without an inspection.  The colonoscopy wasn't the only thing missing in my quest to learn more about my body.  I needed to find a way to get out of the food blindspot.  Here are 10 tips to help you maximize your food awareness zone:

1. Read.  I'm on my third nutrition book this year and each page offers new insight.  I started with The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.  Dr. Joel Furhman's book, Eat to Live, helped me understand what he calls the food equation and Rip Esselstyn shares his own food experiments in The Engine 2 Diet.
2. Measure.  I believe keeping daily logs about your weight and the foods you eat will help you discover what lifts you up and what brings you down.  Keep a record of how you sleep, your moods and any headaches.
3. Experiment.  I discovered my body works better when I avoid certain foods.  I recommend trying a diet of fruits, veggies and nuts for 45 days as an experiment.  See what happens to your body when you avoid any foods with a label.  Track everything so you have a record of your results. 
4. Ask Questions.  I made a list of questions for my primary care physician and my specialist to help me understand how my body works.  Questions help you find answers.  Seek and you shall find.
5. Challenge the Status Quo.  I no longer trust the people in charge of our nutrition guidelines.  Many are influenced by insiders who have something to gain by keeping the public in the blindspot.  Don't let this happen to you.

If you don't want to be alone in your quest for self-awareness, consider becoming a participant in the next phase of my food experiment.  Phase III is a 21 day experiment designed to help 100 people maximize their food awareness zone.  It's part social media, part fruits, veggies and nuts and lots of fun as we journey together in our quest for better health.  Please share this story with someone you love who may benefit.  Have a great day.

Are You Smarter than a Food Dummy?

Here's your chance to show your food IQ compared to a food dummy (me).  Ready?  Here are your questions:

1. True or false, drinking milk regularly reduces your risk of calcium deficiency and promotes stronger bones.
2. If there are 4 grams of sugar in 1 teaspoon and 39 grams of sugar in one 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola, how many teaspoons of sugar are in one can?
3. True or false, spinach contains more than 50% protein.
4. True or false, 74% of men in America are considered to be overweight or obese?
5. True or false, a group of 100 men and woman who avoid eating processed foods for 21 days and restrict their diets to fruits, vegetables and nuts can lose a combined total of 2,000 pounds (one ton).

Remember, I'm the food dummy here, so you don't need to trust my answers.  In fact, I won't even know the answer to #5 until January 21 when Phase III of the Caveman Food Experiment ends.  My theory is that if no one cheats, the group will lose one ton and be done.  Here are my answers:

1. False.  Countries where milk consumption is highest also have the highest level of osteoporosis.
2. 10 teaspoons.
3. True.  Spinach is 51% protein.
4. True.
5. Come back and see for yourself on January 21 when I post the results of Phase III.

If you scored low on this quiz, don't feel bad.  My level of food awareness was below the 5th grade level until recently when I discovered I was at high risk of a heart attack or stroke because of food related inflammation.  That's why I agreed to enter a food experiment.  I have a long way to go in the food journey and now my focus is helping others to get smart with food choices, lose weight and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.  Have a great day.

Phase III Caveman Food Experiment Preview

Phase I changed my life forever.  I had three strikes against me and all of them were self-inflicted because I was eating American style.  Now I'm eating like our caveman ancestors.  Ten of my friends and family members are part of Phase II and nearly all of them are reporting lost inches and lost pounds.  Phase  III expands to 100 participants and begins on 1/1/16.  The 21-day condensed version of the first two phases is customized for the regular person who has trouble with New Year's Resolutions.  In fact, it's so fast and furious it will all be over before the calendar flips into a new month.  I'm looking for 100 people who desire to lose twenty pounds each for a combined weight loss of 2,000 pounds.  Here's the slogan:  Drop a ton and we're done.  Here are the guidelines:

1. Don't eat any foods with a label for 21 days beginning on 1/1/16.
2. Eat as many veggies as you want – no limits.  The greener the better.
3. Eat as many fruits as you want – no limits.
4. Eat nuts.  Walnuts are my favorites.  I never ate them until I entered the experiment.
5. No dairy for 21 days.
6. No animal products for 21 days.
7. See your doctor if you're on medicine and have him monitor you during the experiment.  It's possible your need for medicine may change.
8. Keep track of your weight loss daily and post it on the group website or email me if you wish to remain anonymous.
9. Encourage a friend to participate with you.  It's easier to survive the 21-day challenge if you have a team-mate.
10. Don't cheat.  Do this for 21 days.  The group has no chance of dropping a ton if a few people lose their will power.

Bookmark this site and come back before the experiment begins if you would like to join the fun.  Let's drop a ton and be done.  Share this story if you know someone at risk for diabetes, heart attack or stroke.  Have a great day.

Got Polyps?

There's only one way to know if you have polyps growing in your colon.  That's why I'm having my first colonoscopy this morning.  I want to know if any abnormal growths are inside me.  Polyps can eventually become cancerous if they're not removed.

Anyone over the age of 50 should schedule a colonoscopy.  Have a great day. 

I'm Having My First Colonoscopy in 24 hours

My wife cracked me up with a joke about an 80-year-old who was about to have his first ever colonoscopy.  He told the doctor, "Please go easy on me, this is my first time." 

"Take your pants off," the doctor ordered.  The old man complied.  "Where should I put my pants?"  He asked.

"You can put them over there next to mine," the doctor responded.

The truth is colonoscopies are no laughing matter.  Two things can happen – either the doctor will find something or he won't.  If he doesn't find anything, your next visit won't happen for ten more years.  If he does find something, it's either cancer or it isn't.  If it isn't cancer, your next visit will be in three years.  If it is cancer, the good news is you can get treatment sooner rather than later because you made the appointment.  If you're over 50, it's time to make the call and take your pants off.  Have a great day.

A Word of Caution for Writers

Are you one of those writers who disappears for days to work on your next novel?  Do you forgo daily exercise in order to spend more time in front of your computer?  I can relate.  It's dangerous.  I was so focused writing my last book that my health declined and I didn't even notice.  I was eating all the wrong foods.  My blood pressure sky rocketed and my cholesterol levels entered the danger zone.  Long periods of inactivity combined with poor food choices is toxic and your writing career may end early due to a stroke or heart attack.  Most Americans are already at risk because they don't eat properly.  Writers who spend all their time sitting in front of their computers are in double jeopardy.

The solution is simple if you desire a healthier lifestyle.  Avoid setting overzealous writing deadlines and schedule exercise.  You may find spending time with nature will inspire creativity.  And don't forget to eat your veggies, especially the greens.  Have a great day.

My Two Cents about the Recent Blood Pressure Study

A new study for patients 50 and older is making headlines this week.  The study was cut short because the results were so dramatic doctors wanted the world to know immediately getting blood pressure down from 140 to 120 reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke by 25%.  The only problem I have with the study is in the interpretation.  These patients used three different drugs in order to get their blood pressure down to 120 – usually a diuretic, the first-line choice for lowering blood pressure, plus a drug called a calcium channel blocker and one called an ACE inhibitor.  I achieved the same results without any drugs when I became a part of a lesser known experiment.  My blood pressure averages 115/70 without medicine.

Do you really want your doctor to give you a permission slip to keep eating all those processed foods that are the cause of your high cholesterol, your obesity and your high blood pressure?  We've been duped by our own government into falsely believing certain foods are good for us when they're sending us to an early grave.

The real story is still untold.  Blood pressure below 120 is achievable without medicine.  That's what Phase III is going to prove.  I'll share more about that later.  It's not easy to change the world.  Stay tuned.  I'm betting my two-cent contribution is going to shock a lot of doctors who believe the only solution is prescription medicine.  Have a great day.  And don't forget to load up on your green veggies.  You don't need a permission slip to eat them.