Archive for: April 2008

“Sustainability” is the current favorite buzz word of the environmental movement. But what if you applied the concept of sustainability to your weight-loss and health-improvement efforts?

The results would be life altering, says Joe Dillon. And Joe should know. He has coached 22 Olympic Gold Medal Winning athletes. Since 1979, Joe has coached literally thousands of one-on-one clients from athletes to doctors to CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies. An inspirational speaker, Joe has spoken to millions of people including national sales meetings, all the major dental meetings, medical schools and was Speaker of the Year for Vistage, the world’s largest organization of CEO’s. Born in 1944, Joe is 7 percent body fat with a resting heart rate of 40. Dillon clearly walks his talk.

“Health and fitness are attainable at any age, no matter how busy you are,” says Sandy Terrien, Dillon’s business partner and a nationally recognized speaker and certified personal trainer and fitness consultant. Born in 1957, Sandy is 10 percent body fat with a resting heart rate of 42.

“Improving our health – and in direct correlation, our lives – is a prime objective for many of us,” Dillon says. “Occasional diets and sporadic exercise, fads or ignoring the problem, won’t get the job done. What’s needed is a fully-aware, whole-life approach.”

If you’re considering taking steps to alter your health and change your life, evaluate any fitness plan on the following points, Dillon advises:

Sustainability

“There’s no quick fix,” Dillon says. Optimal health is a way of life. “We live and teach a practical, sustainable lifestyle. Our program works at home, at the office, on business trips and even on vacations.” Joe travels over 300,000 miles a year. Whatever you do counts. “Our program is about progress, not perfection,” says Joe. “It has to work for you and in your life.”

Safety

“Our number one rule is: ‘First do no harm,’ ” Dillon notes. “Our program is safe and optimal for pregnant women, lactating women, new born infants, as well as both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. “

Scientific

Is your new plan based on consensus science and the most current research available? Programs like The Joe Dillon Difference, that are based on empirical research and proven science, provide maximum opportunity for success and also allow flexibility to evolve as new information becomes available. Apply empirical principles to your own progress, as well self measurement, annual blood tests and physicals to measure and substantiate your results. “Listen to your body is what we teach,” says Dillon. “We encourage you to pay attention to the feedback your body gives you and we teach you how to tailor our program to exactly meet your body’s needs – all based on empirical scientific evidence.”

Simplicity

“We all have busy lives,” Terrien says. “We believe a healthy lifestyle should be simple and practical enough to work in the real world.” Complicated systems and unrealistic goals make it harder to achieve life-changing results. “We will teach you 4 simple principles that are safe, scientific, effective, and life changing.”

Self-Responsibility

“There is only one person who cares about your health. You. If you don’t care, no one cares,” Dillon says. “Your health is your choice. Actions, like the food you put in your mouth, have consequences. All change is internal. We will teach you how to transform your life. And always remember: You are worth it”

How much would you be willing to pay to avoid having your life cut short by a terrible illness? Most people would say, “Anything!”

Jeff Bucher of Fond du Lac, Wis., believes the $1 a day he began spending a little over a year ago saved his life.

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Bucher’s narrow escape began in November of 2006, shortly after his 41st birthday.

“I realized I was huffing and puffing every time I went up the stairs,” Bucher says. “Finally, I decided enough was enough. It was time for me to join a gym and get in shape.”

Bucher found the help he needed at an Anytime Fitness club near his office – and exercising quickly became a habit. The fastest-growing fitness club chain in America, known for its 24-hour gyms in small towns all over the country, offered precisely the amenities Bucher was looking for.

“The gym was quick and convenient for me,” he says. “It had all sorts of free weights and treadmills, as well as elliptical and exercise machines, and dues were very affordable. After years of doing nothing, exercising just felt good. I found myself thinking about it all the time.”

Weight loss helped detect cancer

In less than a year, Bucher lost 40 pounds of fat and gained 10 pounds of muscle — and because he also acquired a new awareness of his body, he noticed an unusual growth in his pelvic region.

“My doctor diagnosed me with follicular lymphoma and said I was lucky,” Bucher recalls. “Most people with my type of cancer don’t realize they have it until it’s stage three or four. By then, their prognosis is not good. My cancer was caught during stage one.”

Bucher immediately began radiation treatments and within five weeks was cancer free.

“This case is a dramatic example of how becoming physically active can save your life. But for most people, exercise is a great way to prevent problems from cropping up in the first place,” says Dr. Marc Manley, vice president and medical director for population health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

“Being physically fit helped me endure the side effects of my treatment,” Bucher says. “Now, more than ever, I’m determined to stay in shape, so that I’ll notice any changes right away if the cancer returns.”

Many insurance companies now offer their members an incentive for living healthy lifestyles. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, for example, reimburses $20 of the monthly membership dues for members who work out at a qualified gym at least 12 times a month.

“The health benefits of physical activity are well-documented. People who exercise are more likely to maintain a lower weight, and our research shows they have lower health care costs than those who don’t exercise regularly. So, from a business standpoint, it only makes sense to encourage people to exercise,” says Dr. Manley.

According to the American Heart Association, regular physical activity has many health benefits. Working out regularly can:

* Help to maintain a healthy weight;
* Reduce the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease and other conditions;
* Reduce the risk of developing diabetes;
* Reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure;
* Reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure;
* Reduce the risk of developing colon and breast cancer.

“I can’t say enough about the importance of physical activity. People need to realize it’s like the fountain of youth,” says Dr. Manley.

Bucher is a true believer in that concept. “As soon as doctors told me it was okay for me to return to the gym, I couldn’t wait to get in there and do some bench presses and lat pulls — anything to release some endorphins. I just wanted to beat up the cancer.”

“Exercising is the least expensive thing you can do to improve the quality of your own life,” says Mark Daly, Anytime Fitness’ national media director. “Our clubs don’t have pools, racquetball courts, or saunas, but we do feature all the top-notch exercise equipment most people need. At Anytime Fitness, we’re all about providing convenient and affordable fitness options for busy people who just want to get in, work out, and get on with their lives.”

As for Jeff Bucher, he says his medical scare reaffirmed for him what’s really important in life – his family and his health. That’s why he recently expanded his Anytime Fitness club membership to include his wife and their four daughters. These days, it’s not uncommon to see the entire Bucher family working out side-by-side on elliptical machines.

Seniors flaunt their muscles (and Speedos) at drug-free events.

In about half the cases of stillbirth there are no answers, and couples cannot be sure this tragedy will not repeat.

People with a large pot belly in midlife are at increased risk for dementia in their later years, according to a new study.

An old wives? tale says a feverish baby is not always a cause for concern.

Is singing exercise? Could I lose weight by vocalizing?