10:10 Talk

10:10 Wellness Saturday 11-14-09

Thanks to everyone who made it to the Lazer Us gathering Friday nite.  After some great bread and cheesy dip from Marilyn, we enjoyed some chicken and burgers and salads - followed by some great deserts from Pam and Josh.

After dinner we discussed a bunch of upcoming activities and races.  The Turkey Trot, Jingle Bell Run, hiking in Myaka, camping on the Suwanee, and full moon kayaking.  You can find links to the races at the 10:10 Wellness website "What's Happening" page.

Saturday greeted us with the the best weather of the year!  And two new walkers:  Cindy and Terry.  Here's our before picture on the new brick road:

 Julie, Cindy, Terry, Chris, Jackie, Cheri, Pete, and  Josh

The walkers headed to the Osprey Trail while the runners stayed on the main trail - with the camera.

Josh performed his first push-up trick:

Because of our extended workout time of 60 minutes, we decided to explore the Tern Trail.  It's an out and back trail through the mangroves - total canopy, and totally cool.

There's a small boardwalk:

 
Pete did his hang by his head from a branch trick:

 
Josh discovered a wonderful aroma from this old crab shack:

While there are a lot of obstacles, credit the park staff with high-lighting all of the worst ones.  Didn't keep me from sticking my Five Finger "shoes" into a root for a meeting with the ground.  Sorry, photo unavailable.

There's a marker at the end of the trail:

We encountered George on the way out.  He hasn't burned Saturday at 8am at the RP (Robinson Preserve) into his brain yet.

We made the way back to the main trail to find the walk crew cruising in:

Afterwards we discussed the next chapter of Fit or Fat and "Our Correct Weight".  The formula can be found at the bottom of the Personal Biography.  After calculating our body fat percentage, determine your fat pounds number, subtract that from your total weight to determine your lean body mass.  Then girls divide that number by .78, boys by .85.  The final number will be your correct weight. 

This is a better way to approach weight management than an arbitrary weight loss goal.

Our scripture for today:  Psalm 139:14

"  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well. 

  

 

The Currency of God's Economy

I got a call at 7am last Tuesday from one of my business partners.  At the time, I was luxuriating on the couch at a Starbucks in Ormond Beach, Fla., surfing on the Death Star, and enjoying the Frank Sinatra track that was playing.  I was singing in the rain when the unexpected call came in.

 

"Did you get the email last night?" he asked.  I hadn't and I told him so.  He and another of my partners were being called into the corporate office.  Apparently a reorganization is underway.  Later in the day we learned that one of our inside guys was let go.  I hate to sound dramatic, but for some in our organization, a panic had erupted.

 

It's pretty hard to focus, to go about your everyday tasks and responsibilities, when such a cloud is looming.  I sure wish I could remember which recently read book gave this advice, a reminder here that nothing I write is original, but the best thing to do in such a situation is to consider the worst case scenario.  That would be losing my job.  I expect some of you have already experienced that reality at some point in your career.

 

OK, then what.  Well, I could choose to spend my savings to maintain my standard of living, or I could radically downsize.  I liked the latter option.  Though it's not a good time to be job hunting, I have enough skills that I could find something to generate income.  I won't bore you with all the potentialities in my life that would have to be considered if I lost my job.  But I will tell you that after I mentally walked through them, I realized that life would be just fine.

 

Of course, I wouldn't have as much stuff.  It takes money, and a lot of it, to maintain the American lifestyle; but I wouldn't have lost anything that really matters.  Did that ring a bell?  If it didn't, you didn't read Alex Green's piece The Only Thing That Really Matters.  In it, you'd learn about a long term study of a bunch of Harvard grads who discovered, after nearly a lifetime of experiences, that "the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people".

 

The 7am phone call from my partner forced me to consider what could happen in the world's economy if I lost my job and my income.  It also reminded me that there's another economy in our lives - and it's the one that really counts:  God's economy.  The currency for His economy isn't counted in dollars - it's counted in people.  The richest people in the world are the one's who enjoy the most relationships.

 

When you think about it, relationships are a lot like money.  You have to invest in them to make them grow.  What do we invest in our relationships?  We invest our most precious commodity - time.  The beauty of such investment is that it can never be taken away.  That's not to say that our relationships won't have ups and downs - they will.  But like a well-managed mutual fund, our relationships will grow in proportion to how much we invest in them.

 

Do you know someone who's rich in God's economy?  I know Frank from my soccer team.  He recently presented me with a get well card, signed by my teammates, after my little cycling incident - but he does stuff like that all the time.  Frank's rich.  The hot brunette, while she takes good care of me, invests a lot of her time taking care of others.  The abundance of phone calls, text messages, and cards on special occasions validate it - she's rich.

 

I could certainly add to this list, but the point is it's in relationships where we experience the most wealth.  Let's remember to invest daily. 

10:10 Wellnes Saturday 10/31/09

A late recap is better than no recap I always say.  Our tight crew enjoyed one of the last warm (ok, hot) Saturdays of the year.  Our before picture includes the park's new water fountain, a remarkably sturdy addition complete with a doggie spout, and two of the parks volunteers.  The first person to name those volunteers wins all my leftover Halloween candy.

The 10:10 crew split into two "discipline groups".  Our walkers, Nicole and Cheri flanking a Moonwalking Sean:

And our runners:

What's with the guy in the middle?  Is that a "Handyman" imitation or something?  Props to Pete for his running progress.  He was able to run the Osprey Loop (3 miles) with just two stops to bring his heart rate back into target zone (and allow the photographer with sore ribs to rest).  A few more run action shots:

And the runners finally connected back to the walkers - Cassidy in tow:

The weather and bugs were condusive to a table talk so we sat and reviewed 4 chapters from the little book "Fit or Fat":  Covert's Experiment, Why People Get Fat, Never Say Diet, and Body Fat Percentage - What's Normal.

We overlayed this discussion with scripture:

Exodus 15:26 (NIV)

²⁶ He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

As we progress in 10:10 Wellness, I expect we'll realize the wisdom God gave us to live most abundantly! 
 
 

My Addiction Confession

An article in my local paper (which is getting conspicuously thinner btw), has compelled me to make a public confession.  The local section cover story described how a recent tobacco-free policy at area hospitals was forcing workers and patients to go off campus for their fix.  One woman, who two days earlier delivered a son via C-section, would trek across the street to a line of trees along the Manatee River for a smoke.  She took the trip with 14 staples in her belly, and continues to make the walk daily as she visits her son in the neonatal intensive care unit.

 

As sad as this situation sounds, my situation may be worse.  I hope you'll display some compassion and empathy as I describe my condition.

 

If you've been reading this blog for a while you probably already had your suspicions.  In many of my posts, I've "beaten around the bush" but it's been too difficult to admit.  The only solace I have is that I know some of you have the same addiction.  So, let me just say it:  I'm an outdoor exercise junkie.  Clinically speaking, I suffer from a condition called "Obsessive Outdoor Predisposition Syndrome" or OOPS for short.  Thankfully big pharma is working on a treatment protocol (drugs) that I hope will alleviate my symptoms.

 

Can you imagine how freeing it was for me to discover my condition had a name?!  Now I understand why gyms don't excite me.  My desire to disappear into the woods for a run or backpacking trip - it's not my fault!  My backyard hammock, the adirondack chairs, and my bar-b-que grill, all placed under the open sky, are just some of the outward displays of my disorder.

 

I've always wished I could get stoked about running in an air conditioned building on a device that to me resembles my childhood pet hampster's running wheel.  I see people lined up on these "flabitrails" and I utter to myself "why can't I get excited about that?"  They get to watch TV with earphones and avoid that pesky small talk behavior demonstrated by outcasts like me who don't have earphones.

 

The danger of OOPS reared its ugly head last Thursday, only two weeks since my bike accident.  Despite a sore and stiff back, I was drawn to the open road like a crack addict to his fix.  "Honey, are you sure you should be running again so soon?" the hot brunette asked.  "I can handle it babe.  I'm just gonna go for a short one" I assured her.

 

Short one my butt!  Once I got out there, under the colorful morning sky, I couldn't help but become overjoyed with the exhilaration of the outdoors.  The fresh air, the calm, the quiet - I gotta have more!  Not far from home, I passed a couple grazing horses.  I was so excited I wanted to jump the fence and kiss them on their horse lips.

 

 
I continued my run to frolic in the majesty of the 487 acre Robinson Preserve. 

 

In the park I cruised past the tower,

 

over the boardwalk,

past the river,

and along the mangrove trails.

 
I saw birds, and fish,

and crabs,

and more birds, and more fish.

 
When I got home, I paid the price.  My aching back let me know it wasn't ready for this amount of activity.  But it was worth it - I got my fix!

10:10 Wellness Saturday 10/10

I arrived at my usual time, about 7:45am, to find volunteer Wayne at his "post" with the telescope-thingy he uses to observe the eagles.  Can you tell how enthused he was to have his picture taken?

He's a very nice man, a noble volunteer, and an avid bird watcher.  If you want to know about the eagle community in the Robinson Preserve - ask Wayne. 

By 8am-ish our star-studded crew made it to the Preserve for one of the last few insect-enhanced, sauna workouts we'll have this year.  Still not sure if the longest travel is for Lisa or for Barkley & Pam.  Regardless, the group is blessed to have you guys, and thanks for making the trip.  I chose a new camera stand this week - the ground.   Someone suggested we'll look taller.  Whaddayathink?

Because I was in the smaller biking group, I gave the camera to Pam to catch some shots of the walking crew.  Which BTW, I heard we had a couple of break-away runners.  I'm sure the boys (Barkley and John) were just seeking a little privacy so they could discuss something (anything) other than the girl talk.

Here's Pam's photos:

Either Pam figured out my timer, or she got a little help on that one.

Isn't that boardwalk (and the whole dang park) amazing?!

I think Pam's a bird lover.  Pete is too, but he makes the birds stand at attention (from 3 weeks ago):

Here's our crew goofing off, cooling down, chillin', as the photographer strolled in:

The boy bikers posed for this shot.  Did photographer Pam prevent Barkley from punching me or Pete?

Our post workout huddle under the trees included a 10:10 Wellness product giveaway (as I'm liquidating all 10:10 Wellness stock) and a quiz for the boys and girls.  The question:  what's our healthy body fat % target number for women and men?  Answer:  22% for women, 15% for men.

I introduced a couple more "strong suggestions":

1.  Start your day drinking a glass of water.

2.  If you leave the "playground" (bikers), make sure someone has a cell phone.  And wear a helmet (although that's already on the list).

Finally, I'll email you with the personal biography & goals page.  Have a great week!

  

Dream 4

I was preparing to use the date of October 10th to make an announcement about my dream.  The announcement would outline how "we" (meaning you and I) were going to take the 10:10 Wellness brand to the next level.  Problem was God had another plan.  He woke me at 2:46 AM Thursday morning to remind me of that.

My plans to build the business collided with His plan to expand the mission.  So I wrestled like Jacob for darn near two hours tossing and turning in bed.  I finally got up a little after 4 to medicate my insomnia with a PB & J and a glass of milk (raw of course).  After some more pondering and observing my moonlit backyard, I fell asleep knowing that my plans were rubbish.

 

So instead of describing to all of you how we're going to change our worlds by creating networks of 10:10 Friends and Instigators, I'm here to say that 10:10 Wellness is going to be a "not-for-profit".  While I may pursue the 501(c)(3) non-profit status as regulated by the IRS, for now I'm simply wanting to disconnect the 10:10 Wellness name to any money-making activity.

 

We'll liquidate all the 10:10 Wellness product inventory, make changes to www.1010wellness.com, and we'll continue to use that website to further the mission:  lead people into healthy lifestyles and activities they can get excited about.  I hope to create resources on the site that will encourage and facilitate others to initiate 10:10 Wellness small groups in their community. 

 

As for the product lines sold at the 10:10 website, to which some of you (and me) are helplessly addicted, we'll soon create a new website and storefront.   

Dream 3

More thoughts about my dream:

 

My dream helps me prioritize.  Some of those pesky, but urgent chores lose their power when my dream is in sight.  All those little urgencies can add up to a lifetime of futility if I'm not diligent.

 

My dream gives me hope.  Probably my all time favorite movie (and I know for many of you too) is "The Shawshank Redemption".  The lead character, Andy Dufresne, is wrongly convicted of murder and spends the next two decades within the confines of the Shawshank State Penitentiary.  While some of the other characters succumb to becoming "institutionalized" and lose their desire for freedom, Andy remains a symbol of hope though considered a dreamer by his friends.  His efforts, i.e., his service, brings significant progress to not only the inmates but to the guards and warden as well.  Despite horrendous suffering while serving his time, Andy confides to his closest friend Red of the hope he still had.  In the end his ultimate dream is revealed and realized.  Great fiction.

 

 "Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free"

An even more horrendous story, but a true one, comes from Victor Frankl's book "Man's Search For Meaning".  This classic work that I've heard mentioned many times was displayed on a table with other classic reads at the Barnes & Noble on Glades Rd. in Boca.  We were doing some last minute school supply shopping for my baby, who's now a freshman at FAU, when I spotted the table.  BTW, if you like bookstores, and you're in the Boca area, check this place out!  It's pretty freakin' amazing.

 

 

The book includes Frankl's essay "Experiences in a concentration camp".  During World War II Frankl survived Nazi Germany's largest concentration camp, Auschwitz.  As a trained neurologist and  psychiatrist prior to being captured, Frankl was uniquely qualified to witness the transformation of prisoners.  These prisoners were stripped of all possessions including their name.  Their tatooed numbers became their identities to guards who frequently beat them, starved them, forced them to live in squalor, and pushed them into hard physical labor.

 

 

Frankl discovered that any of his attempts at fighting the camp's influence on the prisoners had to aim at giving them inner strength by pointing out a future goal to which he could look forward.  Instinctively some of the prisoners attempted to find one on their own.  "It is a peculiarity of man that he can only live by looking to the future... And this is his salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence, although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task."

 

Praise God I don't live in a situation where I have to force my mind to the task.  My challenge is simply to avoid the constant distractions of life and to keep my task in front of me.

 

My dream pulls my world together.  Said another way, my dream gives me purpose.  In everything.  I mentioned before that everything counts.  If I generate some extra income, for example, it goes to paying down debt.  'Cause the sooner I'm debt free, the sooner I can experience the freedom of my dream.  BTW, Dave Ramsey's book "Money Makeover" is the best tool I know to achieve that. 

 

In less than a week, it's going to be October 10.  "So?" you ask.  Expressed another way, it'll be 10/10.  I can't let that date pass without doing something!  To give you a clue, I'm going to assemble the 10:10 Dream Team - a relatively small group of like-minded kooks who'd like to spread the mission of 10:10 Wellness.  I'll share more in "Dream 4".

 

10:10 Wellness Saturday 10/3

A noticeably cooler morning greeted us this Saturday - though I think it's too early to count our fall chickens.  Joining our crew for the first time were Janet Deemer, Jenny Koslac, and George Siegl.  Turns out Jenny and I know each other (tho we're not married like Pete and Pam).  Jenny used to live in the same area as we did in Tampa, and our kids dated some.  Now here we are, connected through Bayside!

George is an experienced marathoner and map-maker - a skill I hope I can persuade him to revisit as we begin some road cycling.  Speaking of which, we saw our first road cycling excursion this week.  But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's our before picture:

George, Marilyn, Janet, Jenny (yes we see you), Barkley, Rose (RU hiding 2?), Pete, Cheri, Chris

We learned from park volunteer Wayne (I missed a photo opp didn't I?) that there are some coyotes roaming the park, the eagles are building their nest again, and the blue house will soon become a visitor center complete with bathrooms and running water.  Always something going on at the Robinson Preserve.

As for our ride, George, Pete, Cheri, and I left the confines of the Preserve and explored some of the open road of NW Bradenton.  Being somewhat new to open road cycling, Pete and Cheri got to hear a little bit about bike etiquette from the guy who likes to hit car bumpers with his rear bike tire.  Despite my recent cycling misfortune, I believe a lot of why this was my first incident of any kind, is because I try to follow the rules of the road.  So if you want to join us out there, and you don't have much open road experience, expect a little "coaching" - for safety's sake. 

Here's Pete and George:

Being lead by Cheri (who will admit to a good case of bike legs after our 10+ miler):

I'm sure I missed a plethora of photo opps by the walking crew, but I did capture Rose and Marilyn cruising in - Marilyn with her wine cooler turned water bottle holder slung on her shoulder.

 
We closed with a look at the "personal biography" which I encourage everyone to use as a current snap-shot of some of our physiological inventories.  We'll explore this in more detail as we progress this semester.

Thanks to everyone who was able to contribute to our "grocery fund" for a local family in need.  We may apply this to the Angel Food Ministries food purchase - but whatever the outcome, thanks for your generosity.

See you next Saturday 10/10.  That date sounds enchanted doesn't it?!

P.S.  Though he thought he was home free - away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi - George got "shot" on his way home.  Certainly a happy looking fellow wouldn't you agree?

10:10 Wellness Saturday 9/26

A record turnout?  It may have been.  The small group leader is not a very good record keeper.  Welcome to our new participants, Pam & Barkley Nash (Pam is somehow married to Pete), and Lisa Misiewicz.  And don't let me forget Rose whose been here before but who's now on my email list.

1010 Chris, Barkley, Pam, Jackie, Marilyn, Rose, Cheri, Lisa, Sheila, Debbie, Ross, and Pete

After a little refresher talk about 10:10 Wellness, our workout was simple and wonderful.  We all walked the Osprey Trail, which btw is about 3 miles, and the B team climbed the tower.  I know some of the A team had places to go, but if possible ya'll, please wait for us slackers, or better yet, turn around and walk back to carry us in - you'll get some bonus excercise time.

A few shots from the trail:

Here's Cheri letting us know how she feels:

I think Pete's shirt will confirm that even though it's fall, it's still hot out there.  Barkley wore a dark shirt to conceal his sweat - he's smart like that:

Here's our bridge assault:

After attacking the tower, a view from above:

And Marilyn guarded the entrance below to stop any intruders:

Why am I describing our walk like a military mission?  Over-active boy imagination I suppose.  Anyway, way to go 10:10 crew.  Another great gathering for the book, er Blog.

See ya next Saturday.  Abundance! 

I'm a Lucky Man

I'm a lucky man.  Those of you who know me well enough to know my family, my wife, my friends, my playmates, my job, my work associates, my home, my dog, my cat, my bike (this list could go on for a while), you all know that I'm a lucky man.  To be sure the credit for my luck belongs to God, and I thank him daily.

A funny thing happened on my way home from my Rotten Ralph's ride yesterday.  I got hit by a car.  So why do I feel lucky?  Before I explain the answer let me give you the skinny on the accident.

The RR ride is an out and back from my house to the northern tip of Anna Maria Island and back.  It's a scenic and seemingly safe ride as there's a bike lane on almost the entire route.  So I'm now headin' back home, about 15 miles into a 21 miler, riding in the bike lane on the "causeway", the two-lane road which takes you to the beach, when all of a sudden - THUMP!  And I'm launched, bike and all, into the air for what the police estimated to be 20 feet.

Thankfully I was sent to the right into the grass and dirt instead of into to road and oncoming traffic.  Best I can tell, I came down on my butt and back - 'cause that's where I hurt.  Plus my left rib cage is sore where I think my aerobar hit me.  So I'm layin' there, wind knocked outta me, and I'm kinda pissed, thinking "I can't believe somebody just hit me".

Two "angels" came for me.  BTW, the perp never stopped - which is becoming all too common according to the police and EMT guys.  The first angel was Kirk.  He saw me on the side of the road and stopped.  I was able to get up on one elbow but still hadn't caught my breath.  Kirk called 911, and picked up the scattered pieces of my phone - which is ok - just the battery and cover popped off.

I wasn't ready to sit up, but I thought of all of you next.  This'll make a great picture for the blog!  So I labored to reach into my back pocket and fished out my Olympus Stylus Tough waterproof/shockproof camera.  "Would you mind taking a picture?" I asked Kirk.  He obliged and snapped one. 

Look at that "you-know-what" eating grin.  I look like I'm taking a nap.  As long as I didn't move there wasn't much pain.  Then Kirk suggested "Let's get one with the bike too".  So he dragged the bike next to me, still not ready to get up, and caught this second shot.

Notice the legs in the top of the picture.  Those were the other angels.  A women named Madeline knelt beside me and asked "I'm a minister, can I pray for you?"  "Absolutely, thanks" I said.  And she did.  Then she brought me her water jug - a leftover half gallon milk container filled with cool water.  Does that remind you of the story of "The Sheep and the Goats" or what?!  (Matthew 25: 31-46).

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..."

The police arrived moments later and my angels went on their way.  I'm a lucky man.  I have angels in my life and I know it.  I could be dead.  I could be paralyzed.  I'm a lucky man.

To finish the story, I got a ride in the ambulance to Blake Hospital, a testament to our amazing health care system, where some blood and urine samples along with x-rays and a CAT scan revealed that I was ok.

My bike's another story.

I'm a lucky man!