Despite the recent news about this being the first generation of Americans predicted to not live as long as their parents because of epidemic obesity, McDonald's was able to encourage 27,000 Florida elementary school children to eat fast food as a reward for good grades by inserting messages into report cards.  Let's think it over!  Get good grades, get good SATs, get into a good college or get a good job, then get diabetes and other health problems from being obese and eating junk food!  McDonald's gave free "Happy Meals" to kids with good grades, good behavior, or no more than two absences.  How and why?  Schools wanted help for report card printing costs and McDonald's wanted to help "support" community schools.  The McDonald's spokesperson said, "McDonald's does not advertise in schools."  My thought?  "McBogus!"  By the way, what is so "happy" about the fattest generation of American kids that are facing lives of serious health problems, disease, and pain? Come on adults!  Surely we can do better for the next generation. Getting ALL fast food off the report cards is a good start and more digestible!

There was a major movement back in the early 20th Century called "Physical Culturism."  The physically fit life was the way to live.  For years, I've been trying to reignite this seemingly lost culture.  Jack LaLanne and others were a major part of this movement.  By having your kids exercise with you, or watch you workout, you are creating a "health culture" in your family which is a lot better than the fast food and sedentary culture in most homes that is killing our kids!  Our twins have grown up this way--hiking, biking, walking, hanging out in the gym "playing" with balls, bands, little dumbbells, etc.  Go after the Physical Culture in your home and community.  Make it happen because health is ALL GOOD, and we need it now more than ever!

There are precious few people in America that are as passionate about health as my Wellcoach and fitness training Bro Kevin Rail.  I haven't spoken to anyone as fired up about saving America as Kevin since interviewing Jack LaLanne for my master's thesis.  Kevin's got enough one-liners to get you moving for health that would even make LaLanne proud!  I get fired up around people like Kevin.  He inspires one to do more with his enthusiasm and common-sense approach.  Rail is bringing the noise in 2008 as a freedom fighter for fitness and health.  Care to join the new Health Revolution instead of following the Fast Food Nation?  Read on to hit the red line with Kevin's RAILroad!

Thinking about the Awesome Blossom for starters at Chili's?  Think twice--then run!  This deep-fried onion and sauce packs 2,700 calories--and it's just an appetizer!  Rack up the bread, entree, dessert, sodas or booze, and you're talking an easy 6,000-7,000 calories at just ONE MEAL!  Ever wonder about the root cause of the obesity epidemic?  It's not rocket science, but it might in part be this appetizer!  Butt Removal?  4.5 hours "if" you can burn 600 calories per hour which is what the average "fit person" does when working out HARD for 60 minutes straight.  So how awesome is that?  NOT.

Little changes can make a big difference in health and nutrition.  I've had clients lose dozens of pounds just by eliminating sodas. My RD friend Tricia Bland explained it to me last month...Let's do the math!  One 12 oz. soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories (along with other unhealthy ingredients).  Many I know drink "at least" 2 sodas per day.  If you cut "just one" of your sodas per day, you'd save 54,750 calories of sugar intake in one year!  In fat pounds (1 pound fat=3,500 calories), this 54,750 calories would be 15.6 pounds!  Just think about how many people you see drinking 64 oz. sodas or more!  And then they don't exercise!  Do the math.  Think about it.

One of the major strategies for sticking with exercise is Performance Mastery.  This is the "hands on" learning through personal experience.  I spend a lot of time setting people up the right way so they can not only exercise safely with control, but also "master" the exercise movements.  It feels good when you exercise right--it makes you want to keep doing it.  When it's wrong, it doesn't feel right, and you might not want to come back.  Master the movements by mastering mental control then physical will follow.  I slow people down at first so they can think about the different movements involved and learn them.  Think about what you are trying to do and why--then do it well.  And keep coming back--for life!  Learn more on Mental Skills Training.

The hearts pumps about 5,000-6,000 quarts of blood each day.  If you joined all the blood vessels used to pump all this blood end-to-end, they would stretch 62,000 miles or 2.5 times around the earth!  Having a healthy diet, good hydration, and appropriate weight saves YOUR HEART a lot of work!  Do something heart healthy today, so you can keep ticking tomorrow! 

To minimize carpal tunnel strain, and have the strongest position, keep wrists straight whether you are using dumbbells, Olympic bars, or other equipment (for most applications).  I see a lot of people compromising wrist positions from excess flexion or extension--OUCH!  Wrist straight--just like a boxer.

There is a huge problem with all the plastic water bottles being thrown away in landfills! Here's a great green tip.  For years I've been using Nalgene brand water bottles. Nalgene outdoor bottles were originally made for backpacking use, but now they come in all sorts of sizes and shapes.  Nalgenes don't leave a plastic taste in your mouth like the disposable bottles or the cheap water bottles.    Additionally, plastic bottles have been in the news about "leaking chemicals" into the water we are drinking.  Nalgenes don't taint the taste of the water which tells me they must be a lot healthier.  Clean the Nalgenes on top rack of dishwasher or with mild soap and water, and you'll be able to use the same bottle for years and save hundreds of water bottles from going into the landfills!  Nalgenes can be purchased at most outdoor stores.  Learn more at: www.nalgene-outdoor.com

I attended an international health conference in DC last month with health leaders and policy makers from all over the US.  It's frightening to hear what is on the horizon.  According to experts, the future of America itself is riding on healthcare reform.  If we don't change, our obesity and illness will ruin us as a superpower--major experts and corporations are saying this--not just me.  The solution is said to be private enterprise and personal health responsibility--not more government dysfunction.  Businesses will have to take care of their own.  The fire of reform will start there.  The message was clear--if you're waiting for the government to fix health problems--don't... and this coming from top government officials like David Walker the US Controller in charge of our national accounting!

Ever stop long enough to really "think about" what we are being told on health-related issues? In the age of our obesity epidemic, I drove by a billboard last month that read, "Dessert is not a treat--it's a necessity."  Think about it.  Do we really "need" more daily dessert?  I'll keep mine in the "treat" status that way I can enjoy them without guilt!

I just wrapped up 365 straight days of DAILY exercise in 2007.  I did not miss one single day.  I exercised at least 30 minutes per day all year.  NO EXCUSES--or at least any that were good enough to take a day off.  This might surprise you, but I had NO plan except doing 30 minutes of "something" each day.  My workouts ranged from a casual walk to vicious strength training or a long grueling bike ride for hours.  My biggest surprise?  How much I did with less.  On most days, I did not want to exercise!  On all days, I was glad I did.  To learn how I set myself up for 365 and why, read my Full Story.

I take a break from saving America by shooting my Nikon.  It allows me to think differently and be creative as an artist.  I enjoy shooting rock bands, nature, hot rods, and much more.  Hobbies and downtime are so important in our over-scheduled lives--very important for health.  See some of my favorite photo images.

BOSUs are balance trainers that look like a stability ball cut in half.  The acronym stands for "BOth Sides Up" because you can either exercise on the half-round part or flip it upside down and exercise on the base.  Most people exercise on the half-round part.  For the extreme challenge, you can exercise off the base with the round part on the ground, but be careful, round part down can be a wild ride--fun too if you can handle it!  The best part of a BOSU is just being creative and playing around with it.  Have fun--Get on a BOSU!  Learn more on BOSUs.

I'm attending the annual PerformBetter Seminar in Los Angeles again this month.  This is a one-day "Learn by Doing" Seminar that splits lecture with participation workshops.  A great place to keep up with all the latest applied research and equipment developments for health and fitness professionals and coaches.

My corporate client Tim Wren came to me a year ago with his wife--both were significantly overweight and concerned about not only their own health, but the examples they were setting for their young children.  Fast forward one year...with simple and healthy changes, Tim lost 48 pounds and his wife weighed less at 5 months pregnant than before getting pregnant!  Yet another great example of High-Performance Health in ACTION!  Get this and more rubber for your health road in 2.08!