Coach RJ Health e

Coach RJ Health e-News!

April.2008

"Preservation of health is a duty. Few people seem to be conscious of such a thing as physical morality." --Hippocrates

Ron Jones, MS-LLC

Corporate Wellness. Consulting. Health Promotion.

It's a dynamic time to be in the wellness business--and a scary time for American health. We are at a tipping point--we either get our health acts together, or fail as a nation. Think it's just me yapping? While in Washington DC last December for the Consumer Health World Conference on Healthy Policy, David Walker, the U.S. Controller General, made this statement in his keynote while I listened intently: "We're betting the farm on healthcare reform...we have about ten years left, if we don't change, we will be going bankrupt." So who's David Walker? Basically the "CPA" of the United States. Last week, I attended the annual American College of Sports Medicine Summit where the same was echoed about the U.S. getting serious about health. I'm ready. Are you? Join the Revolution--while you still can. Hold on--we are going to accelerate hard on this one! For more details, read my "State of the Nation" article below--then get MOVING for Health!

Ron Jones 'Move Better' U.S. Tour 2008!

Next stop Atlanta on Saturday, April 5th. My focus in ATL is on Back Pain Prevention and building a solid foundation of movement. I'll be covering these topics in ATL:

Dynamic Warm-Ups
Core Training

Why waste more money on drugs, surgeries, and treating symptoms instead of root causes? I've fixed most clients' back pain in MINUTES per week with body weight only. Show up in Atlanta, and I'll teach you how. Get Atlanta Workshop Info.

Today's News: "Breakfast, McGlobal Sales, KFC Grillin', Senior Cars, Rx Sales Down!, & Walgreen's Corporate Fitness"

Recently, The Today Show highlighted the other week that just by eating breakfast you can boost your metabolism by as much as 10%! I read yesterday that people that do NOT eat breakfast increase their chances for becoming obese by up to 50%! Still don't have time for breakfast? Think again!

McDonald's stocks are up again globally. Why? Is it their shifts towards healthy foods or some of the new unhealthy foods they slipped in right after the big health push a couple of years ago? I'll let you chew on that one a while...

KFC announced they will be adding "grilled" chicken to menus in select markets due to increasing customer concerns over fatty fried foods. Corporate America listens--TO MONEY! Refuse to eat crap, and fast food as we know it will change at the speed of light!

I watched a TV news show last month about cars being redesigned for "seniors." The cars take into account decreasing mobility, poor vision and movement capability, and soaring obesity i.e. fat asses! Funny thing--Jack LaLanne drives a new Corvette. Even better--no one has to help him get in or out of it! How about this concept? We redesign PEOPLE so they can drive what they want, walk, or ride a bike instead of giving into to more "engineering movement out of our society."

Prescription drug sales are down. Is this more signs of the tipping point where people have decided enough "sick" care and now opting for more wellness and less reliance on drugs and clinical interventions? Let's hope so.

Walgreen's just rocked the stock and healthcare world by buying into corporate health with 278 million in acquisitions that positions them to manage health centers and pharmacies at large company worksites in 40 states. The inside buzz with the fitness world? We are not sure. It might just be a move to get the inside track to increasing prescription drug sales that have been sagging? It could also be Walgreen's recognizing that the future needs to be preventative health as opposed to disease management. According to David Walker, we have about ten years to find out!

Gut Check! "Bread & Whine"

This month's article by Kevin Rail is an expose' on bread. Get ready for some old school bread bashing, but fear not! Kevin's got some awesome HEALTHY bread solutions for us from bagels to English muffins! Next month, Kevin's on to soda then in May he's covering yogurt. Does this Health Avenger of Rock 'n Rail ever stop to allow for food duping in America? NO!!! Enter Kevin's NO Bread BS Zone!

Fit-4-Life Kids: "School Sport Fees"

There is a disturbing movement in this country to make school sports "pay to play" ONLY. In the age of soaring child obesity, this is a huge mistake. Our kids with the worst health statistics are from the lowest socioeconomic groups. These kids don't have hundreds of dollars per season to play sports--nor do many middle income families these days. Many children need a positive place to stay physically active such as with sport programs. Even with a soft economy, we are still the richest country in the world. What a shame we cannot back our kids with free sports in public education. It's an investment in our future! Speak up in your communities for affordable public sport programs. Our kids are worth it. And while you're at it, get the schools to put "Physical Education" back into education--what a concept!

WellPRO: "Tyler Saso"

This month's WellPRO is someone really special to me named Tyler Saso--my former intern and now current colleague. I'm excited to highlight Tyler this month because I feel Tyler, and young professionals like him, are a huge part of the solution for America's ailing health today. This guy is on fire for health and fitness and is a wellness person to the very core. We need this guy and others like him NOW! Read Tyler's Full Story.

Fat Attack: "Honey, We're Killing the Kids with Mac 'n' Cheese!"

If you take the family to Romano's Macaroni Grill, be careful what you order for the kids or you might meet the EMTs outside after dinner! Their Kid's Double Macaroni 'n' Cheese meal has an obscene 1,210 calories, 62 grams of fat, and 3,450 mg of sodium for crying out LOUD! A better choice is their Kid's Spaghetti & Meatballs with Tomato Sauce @ 500 calories, 20 grams of fat, and "only" 1,520 mg of sodium. Or better yet, cook for them at home!

Nutrition Nibble: "Iron Absorption & Vitamin C"

Eating foods high in vitamin C with foods high in iron content will enhance the iron absorption into your body.

Mental Skills Training: "Joy of Movement"

Last night, I watched our 4-year old twins' sheer joy and exhilaration as they sped down a small hill on their little bicycles with training wheels...it got me to thinking...as an adult, do you want to build a champion youth athlete or create a person in your child that loves physical activity? Then teach your children the "Joy of Movement." Ideally, you teach Joy of Movement not for trophies or championships, but to create better and more balanced citizens. From this joy, comes athletes that can experience "Flow" in "The Zone" or adults that stay physically active and healthy just because it's pleasurable and the right thing to do. After over a decade of studying sport and exercise psychology, "The Joy of Movement" keeps coming up over and over again--and it's true. When I've worked with athletes that have lost their edge, they lost the Joy of Movement itself--there was no fun or enjoyment in their activity anymore. You can only fake it so long before you crash and burn. Want performance? Enjoy what you do and how you move. To learn more, check out my Mental Skills Training Workbook or Workshops.

Amazing Body Fact! "The Nose Knows!"

I had a horrible sinus infection recently and found a new appreciation for my nose! The nose can sense 2,000-4,000 different odors. The hairs in your nose trap particles from entering your lungs. As air enters your nose, turbulence is created to slow and direct odors towards receptors that interpret molecular input for the brain. Air temperature is regulated by the nose. Air can be warmed and humidified. Moisture is also reabsorbed before exiting the nose, so next time you complain about your nose--don't!

Wellness @ Work: "Rules of Engagement"

As recent as 2006, a "successful" corporate wellness program was said to run around 20-30% participation--or engagement. Because of soaring healthcare costs due to obesity and other lifestyle diseases, new startling recommendations are being given. Hold on--this is extreme. For America to go "Zero Trend" which means we don't get any fatter but are not actually "losing" weight, we need 90-95% engagement with worksite wellness programs with 70-75% being at "low risk." There is increasing pressure to keep low-risk employees at low-risk. The most healthcare cost increases in the next 2-3 years for employers will come from psychology--or mental health claims. Another good reason to think of holistic wellness and not just fitness! Bottom Line Corporate America? Six Sigma. Fix the system, which in this case, is the breakdown in human capital. Wellness is good for business. "Think Root Cause. Act Prevention." --Ron Jones

ECO Health: "Bag Culture Change"

More on my plastic bag theme...there seems to be a "culture change" beginning in America. About 50% of the time when I say I don't need a bag, the cashier "gets it" and smiles in support of my conservation efforts. The other 50% of the time, they look at me like I'm a moron. I've been thinking a lot about this bag issue lately...I bought a small dispenser of cellophane tape last month. The whole thing fit into the palm of one hand. The cashier threw it into a plastic bag big enough for a weekly grocery trip. WHY? It's stupid. I don't need a huge bag for a fraction of an ounce. Think about it. We need to stop being so wasteful! Carry it if you can or use a reusable shopping bag. Ireland has already experienced a bag culture change--they made people pay for them! It's amazing what .33 per bag will do for motivation! Now the Irish are glad to be in the "post-plastic-bag era", and they can really celebrate green on St. Patrick's Day!

Health & Hygiene: "Gym Hygiene"

Many schools have now mandated that ALL gym clothes and sport clothes go home EACH night to be laundered properly. Towel and athletic equipment cleaning policies have been significantly updated. Commercial gyms and worksites are also gearing up hygiene regulations. Why all these changes? MRSA--the staph bacteria superbug. MRSA can potentially disfigure, take a limb, and even kill. No need to panic--at least as long as you're educated on MRSA. My MRSA section is one of the best on the web and now being used by schools, sport teams, and corporate groups. For the latest, go to my MRSA Superbug section then download my handout. Take home points? Education and Hand Washing!

State of the Nation...or What's Left of It!

I do my best to stay AHEAD of the curve, if I'm not, I'm too late. I've attended a few amazing health and fitness conferences the last year that exposed me to some "behind the scenes" strategizing on health policy reform and our health horizons. Allow me to continue what I started with my introductory comments on David Walker--US Controller General.

At this same Washington DC Conference where I heard Walker, Newt Gingrich was also a key note speaker. Gingrich had an interesting point--we are "uninsurable" as a nation. He explained that our country's insurance system was never designed to insure so many people refusing to take personal responsibility for THEIR OWN health. I found this fascinating--and couldn't agree more.

Also at this DC Conference, was the joint conference on "Health Tourism." Most of you have never heard of health tourism, but it's a multi-billion dollar business that is going to eat our healthcare lunch. Here's how it works--foreign countries have launched top tier medical facilities that are competing with U.S. hospitals for surgical procedures. Did you know you can actually within hours get a foreign hospital's infection rate and specific cost for everything from a hip replacement to lyposuction? Try to get that in America in a week, or a year, or at all--HA! You'd probably die waiting! Hospitals only make money on a handful of procedures. What happens if these high-yield procedures go overseas? They already are. You can literally fly overseas, get a surgery, rehab in a great resort area for 7-10 days, then fly back and save tens of thousands of dollars and even get better medical care! Some U.S. corporations and insurance companies are already promoting and supporting health tourism. Can this be the beginning of the end, or the beginning of a healthcare Pearl Harbor for America? We'll see. Optimists say this will revolutionize healthcare the way Japanese auto makers forced American car manufacturers to optimize assembly processes. Let's hope the optimists are correct! I'll write more on this topic next month.

Now for the "bad" news: Over 70% of Americans are not physically active. A recent student study found that students 8-18 spent about 7 hours a day "outside" school being inactive with technology. Healthcare costs for the physically inactive in America is already at least 150 billion per year. Sedentary people have an increased prevalence of 25 diseases! Our fastest growing BMI category? The morbidly obese with BMIs over 50! By 2015, Americans are predicted to spend one out of every five dollars on clinical healthcare--or rather "sick" care. For every one of these dollars spent on "sick" care, .75 will be spent on "lifestyle" or PREVENTABLE diseases!

I'm no financial strategist or accountant, but this is fiscal suicide people! So again, are we finally at the tipping point for change? How much more proof do you need to get your health together and SAVE America?

Product RV: Egg Whites International

I've VERY picky about recommending products whether it be fitness or nutrition. Some of my fitness friends have been using this pure protein product called EggWhites for years. It's 100% pure pasteurized (not raw!) egg whites--very simple and "real" food. I've been using it since last year with great results. It will last for months in in the refrigerator and is shipped completely frozen. Thaw for a couple of days in the fridge then you're good to go! It's really EASY to use. You can mix it into just anything with no funky taste and use it to cook and make healthy omelets. If you're searching for a healthy way to increase bioavailable protein with natural food, I recommend you check into this product. Check out more info on EggWhites International.

Cool Tool: "Exercise Tubing/Bands"

I've been using exercise tubing (also called bands) for years with all my people from youth to senior and from corporate to athletic. I use one specific type of tubing called JC All-Purpose Bands that can be purchased on-line from PerformBetter. The JC Bands rock and are the safest and best designed bands you'll ever find. PerformBetter is the main company I use to order functional training equipment. Check out my Exercise Tubing Section. To get your own JC Bands, click then hang on tight!

On the Road with Coach RJ

I co-presented last month in California for the American Society of Safety Engineers at one of their regional conferences. Our topic title was "Simple Solutions for Complex Issues." When I tell people I'm fixing MAJOR injury and movement problems in a few minutes per week, they don't believe me. The people that have been on the receiving end of my programs and protocols--DO believe. I hope some got this message clearly at ASSE. I also hit the ACSM Health/Fitness Summit in Long Beach in late March where I got the latest updates on worksite health, health trends, sports medicine, and beyond. Connected with many of my fellow Wellcoach colleagues--the best folks to have in your behavior change corner! Next stop--back home in Atlanta for my next workshop on April 5th. "Move Well in ATL!" If y'all are at my workshop, you will!

Next Month...May.08!

The latest food trend in America--all you can eat junk food sections at ballparks--the perfect storm for heart attack and all in one sitting! More on how hiking has changed the lives of my corporate clients--for the better! I'm also diving deeper into the emerging Health Tourism industry. See y'all in May which is also National Bicycle Month and the big kick off for the "Exercise is Medicine" initiative. Health--it's ALL good. Keep moving.

Please pass along my Coach RJ Health e-News to people interested in High-Performance Health.

In Life-Long Health--ALWAYS!

Ron Jones, MS-LLC
Corporate Wellcoach

Atlanta-Los Angeles

In This Issue

Coach RJ Move Better Tour

Today's News!

Gut Check!

Fit-4-Life Kids

WellPRO Tyler Saso

Fat Attack!

Nutrition Nibble

Mental Skills Training

Amazing Body Fact!

Wellness @ Work

ECO Health

Health & Hygiene

State of the Nation

Product RV: EggWhites

Cool Tools

On the Road with RJ

Next Month

Fast Fitness!

"Tubing Row"

It's hard to find a better mid-back exercise than the old-school back row. An easy way to row is with tubing. 30 seconds with the right resistance will help your back strength and posture!

Go to Tubing Row

Ron Jones Links

RonJones.Org

Mental Skills Workbook

Dynamic Warm-Up DVD