RIVALRIES

 

 

 

 

 

There have been rivalries since the beginning of time.  Two groups that want the same thing.  Only one can win.  I typically think of rivalries in terms of sports.  Yankees vs Red Sox, Packers vs Bears, Celtics vs Lakers, Michigan vs Ohio State, Texas vs Oklahoma, Brigham Young vs Utah.  What is it about rivalries that get people so fired up?  Why do we seem to care about beating a particular opponent more that another?

How do you enjoy a rivalry game?  Some like to go to the stadium and mix it up with other fans (did you know that the term fan came from the word fanatic?).  Others make it a festive occasion and have a bunch of people over to their house and eats tons of food while gathering around the TV.  Some get so into it that they don't dare be around other people for fear that they will make total fools of themselves, so they sit in solitude in their den all the while yelling and screaming (and occasionally throwing things) at the TV.

What kind of fanatic are you?  Me, I want my team to win, but I don't wish any ill on the opponent.  I sat in the stands and endured every imaginable insult directed and yelled at my son while he played college baseball.  Not very pretty.  Trust me, there were times I wanted to break someones neck.  Some fans seem to forget that every player is someones son or daughter.  So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... root passionately and wildly for your team but keep your comments in the cheer/positive category.  Don't yell insults at the opponent, let their performance speak for itself.  If every fan would do this it would be so much more fun.  My family and I have been verbally abused and even have had things thrown at us at games by opposing fans.  This even happened when I was with my children when they were very young.  I had a hard time trying to explain to the little ones why complete strangers were yelling mean things at us when all we did was show up and sit in our seats.  The world has indeed become very nasty.  But that doesn't mean that you have to get sucked into that behavior.  

A few years ago I decided that I needed to send a message about sportsmanship to my kids, so after home college football games right after the contest was over we would hurry over to the opposing teams tunnel and we would specifically seek out fans dressed in the opponents colors.  We would walk up to people, thank them for making the effort to come on the road and be supportive of their team, then we would compliment them on how hard their team played and how they had played with class.  At first my kids wanted no part of this.  But once the people we approached got over the initial shock of being thanked and appreciated, their smiles, warm handshakes and kind words melted my kids hearts and they caught the spirit of what we were trying to do.  It costs no money to demonstrate good sportsmanship.

Stand out in the crowd by being friendly, positive and supportive of your team.  Maybe some youngster will observe your character and decide that he/she wants to be just like you.  I believe that someone is always watching.  May the best team win and hopefully that is your team.

Enjoy life!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Time for my first annual report...

On August 30, 2011 I decided to make some changes.  I decided that I needed to make some better choices.  To be a little more disciplined.  So with the support of my family I began to make a consistent effort to eat more complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables.  To eat foods in mostly their natural state.  I cut way back on simple carbohydrates and simple sugars.  I also ate meals and snacks at regular intervals and used some reasonable portion control.  Pretty simple stuff.  Not rocket science.  I have never been hungry.  I have never felt deprived.  I also began more consistent workouts and better sleep habits.  Little changes.  Simple choices followed consistently for a sustained period of time.  Lifestyle - not a diet.

So on August 30, 2011 I weighed 171 pounds.  On August 30, 2012 I weighed 157.4 pounds.  I've maintained this weight for 9 months now.  Am I satisfied?  No.  Pleased?  Yes.  I still have a ways to go.  I would like to gain 5 pounds of muscle and continue to tighten my waistline and abs.  Athletically I've felt like I'm in great shape.  I hit the golf ball a little farther and for baseball I am definitely hitting the ball with more pop.  I'm also running well in the field and on the bases.  My quads and hamstrings feel good.  I've had no pain or tightness in my legs.  Trust me, playing three hours of baseball in the hot sun can take a toll when you are on your feet standing, jogging, running and sprinting the whole time.  Same with walking 18 holes of golf over a four hour round.

Let's check in on my brothers who started this ride with me.  My brother who said he started at 215 pounds (but was actually more like 220) is now at 185.  He has stabilized there for several months but now wants to make a little push and get to 175.  At first he thought 180 - 185 would be optimal, but after allowing his body some time to adjust, he thinks that number now to be 175.  He loves the routine of swimming and is a regular at his local aquatic center.  My other brother who dropped 10 pounds from 205 to 195 is still there and loves it.  He works out in the gym five mornings a week and he and I play golf (walk not ride in a cart) and ride horses regularly.  I love that we each have maintained our lower weight.  We've not gained it back. I believe this is because of the change in lifestyle rather than trying some restrictive diet that you quickly get sick of then abandon.  If people would just do this, there would be no need for the $60 billion diet industry. 

There you have it.  What did you accomplish this past year?  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... set some specific goals and benchmarks and start making some simple changes/choices that you follow consistently for a sustained period of time.  You are worth it!

Enjoy life!

P.S.  My complete eating guidelines can be found in the very first post on this blog.

MASCOTS

 

 

This is a great time of year with back to school and football season starting, etc.  There are certainly some interesting mascots out there.  You have your ordinary Lions, Tigers and Bears.  Then you have your more thought provoking mascots like the color Cardinal (Stanford) and Orange (Syracuse).  What about some exotic mascots such as the U of Missouri Kansas City Kangaroos, the Mastodons of Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne or the U California Irvine Anteaters?   Ooooh - intimidating!  Makes it fun doesn't it?  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... gather with family and friends and cheer on your team!  Just remember to hit the gym before or after the game and take it easy on the nachos!

Enjoy life!

HERO

 

Julie is a hero of mine.  She is a 40 year old mother of seven children including three year old triplets.  Besides family, church and education, Julie has had a passion in her life.  That passion is swimming.  She was an accomplished school girl swimmer.  As a teen and adult she has spent countless hours giving back by teaching others how to swim and more importantly to love swimming.

Julie's pregnancies are most challenging - requiring the last five months be spent on doctor ordered bed rest to lessen the risk of losing the baby.  Imagine what it does to the body to be in bed day after day... week after week... month after month.  The loss of muscle tone.  The atrophy.  After the birth of a child when mothers are trying to drag themselves out of bed, Julie would do that then somehow find the will to drag herself to the pool.  There, in the soothing healing waters, her muscles would slowly begin to rebound.  Her stamina would begin to be restored.  She would slowly begin to feel like a person again.

So here we are, just a few years past the birth of triplets, and Julie is setting swimming records.  She now holds eleven Utah State records including four set just this past summer.  Some of the records she breaks have stood for decades.  She is breaking the records of swimming legends.  So how does she do it?  Unknowingly, Julie has been following the TIPS FROM A MAN guidelines to the letter.  She eats foods in their mostly natural state.  She has mastered the intake of complex carbohydrates and lean proteins.  She finds the time to work out most every day all the while balancing and juggling the caring for and loving nurturing of seven young children.  She doesn't make excuses.  When overwhelmed she pushes through it.  She simply and quietly goes about her business.

This woman is a stud.  She is a giant.  She has received help from family and friends along the way and has accepted this help with graciousness and gratitude.  So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... learn from Julie's example.  If you want to take control of your body... do it!  If you want to look like a million bucks... do it!  If you want to feel great... you can!  This is the perfect example of a person making a choice.  Julie could say that the toll on her body of bringing seven babies into the world was just too great.  She could say that she is simply too tired... or that there just isn't enough time.  But instead, she quietly goes about her business all the while inspiring and motivating people like me.  Thank you Julie!

Enjoy life!

TREAT

Hey, we are always looking for tasty treats that are fun and healthy.  This summer I have found a new appreciation for chocolate covered strawberries.  I have stressed on numerous occasions that the presentation of the food is a big deal.  The options with chocolate covered strawberries are pretty much endless.  You can use white, milk or dark chocolate.  You can mix the chocolates and add toppings and have a result that is very amazing to look at and so very delicious.

This summer I have been giving out chocolate covered strawberries to clients and service providers.  On each occasion the receiver was very surprised as this gift was so unexpected and different than what they normally receive.  I buy my strawberries for client gifts from a caterer called Berrilicious.  Their work is without compare.  Checkout their blog at  www.berrilicious.blogspot.com

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... find an occasional treat that is healthy, fun to look at, and that tastes delicious.  When I want to splurge, a couple of strawberries drizzled in a little bit of chocolate is an amazing treat that doesn't stray too far away from my eating and nutrition guidelines.

Enjoy life!

SPORTS DRINKS

When you are exerting yourself your body needs to be replenished.  The hotter the temperature or the greater the exertion, the more important it is.  Typically we drink water but most everyone knows the story behind the invention of Gatorade:

 

The first iteration of Gatorade was formulated in 1965 by a team of researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine, including Robert Cade, Dana Shires, Harry James Free, and Alejandro de Quesada.^[6] It was created following a request from Florida Gators football head coach Ray Graves to aid athletes by acting as a hydrating replacement for body fluids lost during physical exertion in hot weather. The earliest versions of the beverage consisted of a mixture of water, sodium, sugar, potassium, phosphate, and lemon juice.^[7] Ten players on the University of Florida football team tested the first version of Gatorade during practices and games in 1965, and the tests were deemed successful. The football team credited Gatorade as having contributed to their first Orange Bowl win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1967, at which point the drink gained traction within the athletic community. Yellow Jackets coach Bobby Dodd, when asked why his team lost, replied: "We didn't have Gatorade. That made the difference."^[8]

Turns out that the scientists realized that our bodies recover more quickly when we replenish the combination of water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes that we lose during workouts.  Now days there are seemingly countless choices in the sports drink category including Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water and on and on.

I've been a pretty aggressive label reader to see if there are great differences in ingredients.  I've come to the conclusion that they are now pretty much the same.  So for me it comes down to taste, calories and price.  There are now basically three distinct choices: There is a sugar free zero calorie choice, a reduced calorie (like 20 calories per 8 oz. serving) choice and regular (which is usually 80 calories per 8 oz. serving).  I watch my caloric intake so I go for the zero calorie or 20 calorie options.  If you drink a 32 oz. bottle at 80 calories per serving that is 320 calories.  Do you really need that many calories while seeking replenishment? 

Sometimes if I drink too much water when it is hot I just feel full and sluggish but not replenished.  So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... pay close attention to what your body is telling you while engaging in physical activity.  Staying hydrated is so critical and replenishing your body is key to your optimal performance.  So I think there is a place and reason for sports drinks.  But at the same time, be mindful of your caloric intake so that you stay on the course that will help you meet your health and fitness goals.

Enjoy life!

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Back of the champions jersey

Front of champions jersey

A bunch of guys who just battled for 3 hours

Championships.  Think over your life time and try to remember how many championships you have won as a youth or as an adult.  I'm not just thinking sports here.  Championships can come in debate, art, music, in any category.  But life is very competitive, so for most of us, championships are few and far between.  That is why they are so sweet.  Why they are to be savored.  The Brew Crew has been a special baseball team.  Like any team, some of the players have come and gone for a variety of reasons, but the core guys like Neil, Tommy, Jeremy & Robby have been together for several years and other guys like Colin, Hunter, Aaron & Seth for a few seasons and then guys like Brian, Kyle, Peety & Brady, new this year.  But from the very first pitch, this team had something special - chemistry.

The playoffs were set up where the regular season first place team (Brew Crew) and the second place team from the regular season played in a best of three format to determine the league champion.  The competition was so even it was amazing.  The Brew Crew pulled off game one in one extra inning by a score of 3 - 2.  Then in game two, it was the Brew Crew again, this time needing four extra innings winning by a score of 2 - 1.  You don't win the close ones without extraordinary chemistry (and amazing pitching!).

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... set your sights on winning a championship in something that motivates you.  In something that inspires you.  In something that will cause you to make a commitment and to improve.  Perhaps it is to become the golf champion at your country club.  Perhaps you have always wanted to take up arm wrestling or win your age group in a sprint triathlon.  The event isn't what's important.  The journey is.  And if you can cap off the journey by making it all the way to the championship summit - wow, the view is amazing from the top!

Enjoy life!

BASEBALL UPDATE

I'm heading to second base after knocking a double

My son scoring from third

Team high fives after yet another Brew Crew victory

A few months ago I wrote a post titled CHALLENGE YOURSELF.  The post discussed that the way I stay motivated to workout, eat right and stay physically focused is to play baseball.  Well, because I baited you with that post, it is time for me to man up and post the results.  The pressure has been on this season because I knew that in fairness I'd have to share my stats and if I had stunk it up, you may well have booed me.  Our team the Brew Crew just wrapped up the 2012 regular season with a 8 win 2 loss record winning the league title.  This is excellent baseball played with wood bats.  Our team is made up of a mix of current and former college players and a few holdovers like me.  We are stacked with pitching and have had eight different players take to the mound this season.

To give you a bit of an insight to the type of competition we confront, last Friday night the pitcher we faced just got released after three years in the minor leagues having reached Double A.  He pitched five innings against us and left the game up 4 - 2, but we got to his replacement and won the game 7 - 4.  Then Monday night we faced a pitcher who just completed his college eligibility at a Division I school.  It was a tight contest with the Crew coming out on top 2 - 1.  Fun stuff!

So how did I hold up this season as the 52 year old guy playing with the 21 year old kids?  I went 7 - 16 for a .437 batting average with 1 double, 3 walks, 7 RBI's, 2 strike outs, a .500 slugging percentage, a .526 on base percentage, and an OPS of 1.026.  I fielded all of my chances in the outfield cleanly while usually battling the wicked evening sun (love those 6 PM start times).

While I am happy with the stats, contributing to a team and helping the team be successful is what it is all about.  This season I got to play with my 24 year old son who just wrapped up his college baseball career.  He will soon be heading back east to graduate school so this could very possibly be the last time we play together.  Who gets to play on a competitive team with their son?  How lucky am I?  What great memories.

So here is a restatement of a TIP FROM A MAN... figure out what is YOUR baseball.  Figure out what gets you excited and drives you to stay young.  Figure out what you look forward to.  Figure out what connects you to other people where the goal is more of a group success than just a personal success.  For me it is baseball.  I love golf.  I love to ride horses.  I love to ski.  But I LIVE to play baseball.  Without a doubt the clock is ticking on me.  How much longer I can continue to play at a high level no one knows.  I certainly am not going to hang on and drag the team down that's for sure.  But I am going to fight to continue to be competitive and I hope you do as well!

Enjoy life!

SUNDAY DINNER

Sunday dinner must be good right?  Hopefully Sunday dinner is a big deal at your house.  Gather family and maybe some friends or neighbors together.  Take some extra time to enjoy one another without the pressure usually associated with other days of the week.  Can it get better than that?

Here is the dinner that we enjoyed this past Sunday that follows the TIPS FROM A MAN guidelines perfectly.  Grilled Tilapia, fresh asparagus and fresh mixed fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pineapple and grapes).  Fish is one of the best foods we can eat.  Tilapia is a very mild fish.  I know lots of people cannot handle really "fishy" flavor so they shy away from fish altogether.  But Tilapia is excellent.  It is light and is so very easy to eat.  We love asparagus at our house.  It tastes so good and is cool to look at.  It is filled with nutrients.  And everyone knows about the benefits of juicy fresh fruit.  At our dinner table, fruit disappears like it's on sale.

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... make Sunday dinner a big deal.  Make sure your entire family is invited and knows they are welcome.  Set the time well in advance so everyone can get it on their schedule.  Consider inviting friends or a neighbor that might not get out socially often.  Slow things down and enjoy one another.  Create a tradition here and this may well become the highlight of the week.

Enjoy life!

 

FLOWERS

As you can probably tell from this photo, I am not a professionally trained florist.  I've not even taken a Community Ed course in floral arranging.  But we do raise some pretty awesome flowers in our yard, so this morning I raided the garden and put together this flower arrangement for my wife who returns home today from a week on the road.  Everyone loves flowers... and my wife seems to like the dorky stuff I make for her (probably the thought more than anything) so when she walks through that door tonight, she will be greeted with this fresh arrangement of flowers.

So, here is a TIP FROM A MAN... people you have or want to build a relationship with like and need to be remembered.  That is why a handwritten note, flower arrangement, gift, or other act of kindness is so important and appreciated.  Do not take any relationship for granted.  Huge mistake.  Like a plant baking in the summer sun, relationships will wither away without nurturing and attention.  Do not let this happen.  Make the effort to invest in those who are important to you and the return on your investment will be astounding.

Enjoy life!

THE LAKE

 

Here is what life is like at the lake...


 http://vimeo.com/27059789


2012 video is on the way!

Enjoy life!

THE COMPOUND EFFECT

When I go to the lake for a week each summer, I challenge myself to take an extraordinary book to read while I am there.  This year I treated myself to the book THE COMPOUND EFFECT by Darren Hardy, publisher of SUCCESS magazine.  Before I read a book like this I have a habit of thumbing through the book looking for little nuggets.  I happened on this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge."  I was immediately hooked.  Please read the following:

 Do you want success?

More success than you have now?

And even more success than you ever imagined possible?

That is what this book is about.
Achieving it.

No gimmicks. No hyperbole.
Finally, just the truth on what it takes to earn success.

As publisher of SUCCESS magazine, author Darren Hardy has heard it all, seen it all, and tried most of it. This book reveals the core principles that drive success. The Compound Effect contains the essence of what every superachiever needs to know, practice, and master to obtain extraordinary success. Inside you will find strategies on:

• How to win—every time! The No. 1 strategy to achieve any goal and triumph over any competitor, even if they’re smarter, more talented or more experienced.
• Eradicating your bad habits (some you might be unaware of!) that are derailing your progress.
• Painlessly installing the few key disciplines required for major breakthroughs.
• The real, lasting keys to motivation—how to get yourself to do things you don't feel like doing.
• Capturing the elusive, awesome force of momentum. Catch this, and you'll be unstoppable.
• The acceleration secrets of superachievers. Do they have an unfair advantage? Yes they do, and now you can too!

If you’re serious about living an extraordinary life, use the power of The Compound Effect to create the success you desire. Begin your journey today!

-----

This is a very easy read of less than 200 pages.  My mind is now swimming with ideas of how I can improve.  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN, take a few hours and attentively read this book, then share what you have learned with at least two other people you care about.  Then do what is hard to do!

Enjoy life!

 

BLUE LEMON

There is a restaurant in northern Utah USA called Blue Lemon that has three locations.  If you find yourself in downtown Salt Lake City at City Creek, Cottonwood Heights or Highland, you owe it to yourself to visit this establishment.  This may have been the tastiest salad that I have ever eaten.

Pear and Gorgonzola Spinach Salad 8.5
with grilled chicken, crispy turkey bacon, red grapes, candied pecans and balsamic vinaigrette. 

The atmosphere was great.  The food came on a real plate with real flatware.  The line at lunch time was a little bit long but the food came surprisingly fast.  As you can see, the price for this salad was $8.50.  They have a lengthy menu and I'll bet that most if not all of their selections fit the TIPS FROM A MAN guidelines.

Fortunately, restaurant owners are recognizing the growing number of people that are choosing to eat fresh healthy foods and that we are not willing to sacrifice flavor.  So here is a TIP FROM A MAN, when you eat at a place that offers the types of food that fits your lifestyle, be sure to seek out the owner or manager and express your satisfaction and appreciation.  This honest and positive feedback may lead to more choices for all of us in the future.

Enjoy life!

SPARE TIRE... GONE

If you have been following TIPS FROM A MAN for a while, you know that the motivation for the healthy eating and workout guidelines came about as a result of the experience I had while at the lake in the summer of 2011.  Most people probably wouldn't have considered me to have been overweight.  But when I got to the lake and put on my swimming suit, I didn't like how I looked around the middle and I figured if I didn't like it, others probably didn't need to see my "Spare Tire" either, so on came a tee a shirt while hanging around the house boat and even under the life jacket while water skiing.

So here we are about 10 months later.  My weight is at 158 down from 171.  I feel great, have more stamina, have much improved muscle tone and feel like I generally have an improved outlook on life.  It hasn't been magic, but I've enjoyed living life with a bit more of a purpose.  You are probably thinking that it was hard, but it certainly hasn't been hard at all.  Yes, there have been a few times when I had to put a little brain power into figuring out what to eat (usually when at a fast food joint or party) but I've always found food I could enjoy that was satisfying and that kept me moving in the right direction.

I've never been a fan of the before and after photos that are typically associated with diet products.  I crack up at the "before" photo of the guy sticking out his gut, white as a ghost, hairy as a beast, frowning like he is constipated and looking like he hasn't showered in a month.  Then the wonderful  "after" photo of the same guy sucking in his stomach, sporting a super dark tan, smiling like he just won the lottery and miraculously void of any body hair.  Right.  But, because you deserve to see some evidence, I have attached a photo.  These shorts were purchased last summer.  They used to fit great.  Same with the belt.  Now down to the very last notch.

So there you go.  I'm just a regular guy.  The only thing I have on you is maybe a few months head start.  So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... start now... or keep it up... live life with a purpose... doing nothing - not an option.

Enjoy life!

I am really looking forward to our annual vacation at the lake!

LIVE IT WITH VIDEO

Man there is something about video that really gets you going.  Add awesome music and it is almost like you are there yourself.  Enjoy this short video of some friends of mine who are living large while rappelling, jumping and diving in the water in these amazing canyons and totalling mastering difficult obstacles.  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... Round up some guys, grab some gear and Go For It!  But this stuff isn't child's play.  Be sure you know what you are doing.  Don't get in over your head.  We need you back in one piece!

Enjoy life!

INSPIRATION

If you are looking around for a little inspiration this summer, check out what is currently going on and what will soon be going on in Europe over the next month or so.  Two of my absolute favorite events are the Tour de France and the Olympic games.  I just love to be involved as a participant or as a spectator when people are competing at a high level.

Let's face it, we have jobs, families, charitable and civic duties.  We need to balance our lives.  Athletes that compete at this level eat, sleep and drink their sport.  They probably have significant support in terms of coaching and training/medical assistance.  That doesn't describe me.  Probably not you either.  However, when I watch them do what they do in such an amazing way, it makes me want to eat a bit better, train with a bit more focus, and generally be a bit more dedicated.  I was recently with a father of young teen and pre-teen children.  He asked me if I had been watching the U.S. Olympic trials and then related how his children have been so inspired by the performances they were witnessing.  It provided a wonderful teaching opportunity for this father to encourage his children to dream and then work to achieve those dreams.

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... get up early and watch the Tour de France... hang on every stroke, jump, run, throw, dive, takedown, lift and tumble of the Olympic games.  See if it helps you to want to be a bit better... to live your life at a higher level.  To be a better parent, coach, weekend warrior, employee, business owner, volunteer etc., etc., or any combination of the above.

I think it will.  I think we all will train a bit harder and eat a bit better.  This inspiration will help us to...

enjoy life! 

CONCEALED CARRY

 A couple of years ago when my daughter was 19 years old, she headed off to New York City to earn a degree in fashion design from a prestigious university.  She was excited.  I was terrified.  It was all my fault (OK include my wife in the blame as well).  We had taught our children to dream.  To seek their passion in life.  To work and study hard and to save money.  That there were no limits on what they could do or where they could go.  Crap, she had bought into it.  All of it.

This is one of the most difficult and competitive university courses of study in the entire USA to get accepted to, so after the wave of fatherly pride, euphoria and shock had worn off, I got down to work.  How was I going to protect my little girl when she was time zones and thousands of miles away?  I won't go into all of what we did, but I will detail in this post the one thing that gave me the most comfort.  We purchased her a handbag from www.designerconcealedcarry.com 

No, no, no, my little girl doesn't carry a pistol, but she used the lockable compartment to secure the following items:  Pepper Spray, Keys, Identification, Cell Phone, Credit Card, Subway Pass and a little Cash.  It is a proven fact that women are most vulnerable to attack when they lower their head (like when they are trying to find something in a disorganized purse) and take their eyes off of their surroundings.  My daughter kept her head up and was always alert.  Everything that she ever needed was at the ready.  This handbag gave her such a feeling of confidence and of being in control.  I bought one for my wife as well.

This company has found that many of their customers use their handbags in this way.  Too bad for the guys thinking about stealing your cash or identity.  Locked and secure.  What a great place to store prescription medication.  No children or thieves can get to the meds in there.  They also have designed handbags that can secure a full sized Ipad.  The uses are endless and of course let's not forget, if you have a pistol, the holster and lock provide a secure location for that as well.

Kate, the owner of this business is educated and trained in the fine arts and design.  She has found a huge market niche in providing handbags where you can secure valuables and pistols without sacrificing style, fashion, or quality.  The bags are made from the finest leathers and linings available.

Actual Daughter with Actual Handbag

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... get on this web site and buy one of these bags for every woman that you love.  It will be one of the greatest gifts you will ever give.  You will have peace of mind and you will be a hero... I know from experience.  By the way, she graduated with honors and lived in NYC for two years without incident.  Whew!

Enjoy life!

  

TANDEM

Teamwork is amazing.  It is fulfilling to coordinate efforts to achieve a goal.  I'm sure you can think of dozens of examples of this.  Pictured above is a married couple on their Tandem who are friends of mine.  I so admire them because they have chosen healthy activities that they can do together (they also hike, snowshoe and golf together).  Spending time recreating like this has strengthened their relationship and has brought them much happiness.  It is tempting to always go off with friends when it is time for fun.  I know, I love to be with friends.  But, consider what it might do for your most important relationship if you seek out regular activities that you enjoy doing together.  Discuss this topic with each other.  Willingly make some compromises or be brave and try something new.  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... head out the door for adventure with your significant other (if you have one).  Become a great team at something fun, (dinner and a movie is a nice date and you should do that too, but it doesn't count for this) something that isn't just a one time event, but something that can become a regular part of who you are and what you do.  I think it a safe bet that your health and relationship will both improve!

Enjoy life!

EMAIL FROM TIM

Over the past few months I have provided periodic updates about one of our blog followers and his experience with following the TIPS FROM A MAN guidelines.  Tim asked that I share the following:

Roger,

I want to offer unto you my sincere appreciation for the beneficial contents of your blog "Tips From A Man."  It has made a drastic difference in my life.  As you know, I started following your "helpful hints" in the middle of January, 2012.  It was not difficult to make your recommended changes in what I ate for the food was desirable and I was able to season it to my taste.  I especially enjoy the Vietnamese Chili Sauce that you recommended for my eggs.  Without any exercise whatever, after one month I lost 13.5 pounds!  Wow!  I was astonished that I did not have to put forth more effort or alter my diet supplementing it with some exotic blend of potions or tonics.  The first month's results motivated me to continue.  After the second month and the loss of an additional 6.5 pounds, I was a believer!  It was at this time that I decided to implement some daily low impact exercise - walking.   That activity combined with the food that I chose to eat resulted in an additional weight loss my third month.  I just finished my fifth month following your tips, I have lost a total of 37.5 pounds and I have chosen to continue exercising.  I now run 3 miles every other day combined with other strengthening activities which has made a profound difference in my appearance and energy levels.  My friends and business associates all inquire as to what I am doing and rather than go into detail I simply refer them to your blog.  The motivation for me has been in the rapid results.  What I have found is that this is easy to do but what is easy to do can also be easy not to do.  My success has come from making small, simple choices consistently followed over time leading to astonishing results.  Thank you for changing my life!

Tim

Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... if you can go through life and help just one person, then it was probably a good life.  Thanks Tim.  Glad this is working for you.

Enjoy life!

CHERRY TREE

Here at TIPS FROM A MAN, we always emphasize eating fresh natural foods.  Fresh fruits are always at the top of the list.  The only thing better than fresh fruit, is fresh fruit grown on your own tree!  Check out these cherries.  They are amazing.  We anticipate eating these cherries all year.  We are fortunate to live where we can grow fruit.  We also grow peaches, and are trying to start apples, plums and pears.  We have had success with raspberries as well.

Depending on your individual living situation and climate you may not be able to grow your own fruit.  But if you can, please, make the effort.  It is worth it.  Home grown fruit is so tasty and there is just an amazing feeling you get from growing your own food.

We are getting the hang of watering, fertilizing and pruning.  We haven't had to spray the trees.  Our biggest challenge is being able to pick the fruit before the birds figure out that the cherries are  ripe.  Apparently birds like fruit too.

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... grow all the fruit and vegetables that you can.  The work is therapeutic the taste is great and quality is without compare.

Enjoy life! 

THE CHINA STUDY

Every single person who has cancer has a pH that is too acidic.  Cancer can't survive in an Alkaline, oxygen rich environment.  This book is a bit of a tough read because of all of the technical stuff, but it is a real eye opener and well worth your time.  Fits well with the concepts discussed in TIPS FROM A MAN...  Please read the following...

Referred to as the "Grand Prix of epidemiology" by The New York Times, this study examines more than 350 variables of health and nutrition with surveys from 6,500 adults in more than 2,500 counties across China and Taiwan, and conclusively demonstrates the link between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. While revealing that proper nutrition can have a dramatic effect on reducing and reversing these ailments as well as curbing obesity, this text calls into question the practices of many of the current dietary programs, such as the Atkins diet, that are widely popular in the West. The politics of nutrition and the impact of special interest groups in the creation and dissemination of public information are also discussed.

Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... if you choose to follow a strict vegeterian diet that's great.  I am not a doctor, however, I personally feel comfortable with the guideline of eating meat sparingly.  A 6 ounce serving of lean, high protein meat with some meals seems to me to be a fine addition to a balanced healthy diet.  However, our diets should be heavily weighted toward vegetables, fruits and complex carbohydrates.  Learn to be Alkaline and not acidic.  Without our health it is difficult to...

enjoy life!

TEMPTATION

You are starting to know me by now.  You know that I am going to do everything I can to coax you off of that couch and get you out of the city to experience this amazing planet.  So here is another temptation!  At first you might look at this photo and say, "hey, enough already with the slot canyon photos."  But upon closer inspection, you will notice that my friend Dale is smack dab in the middle of expertly rappelling to the bottom of this canyon (an approximately 100' rappel).  Wow!  What a rush this must be.  How I hope to join him someday on one of these excursions and be that guy in the photo.  I'm trying real hard to be clever here, but nothing is coming, so for this TIP FROM A MAN... please, just get out there and do it.  And when you do, send a photo of your next adventure to share.

Dale is also an accomplished photographer.  Thought you would enjoy these additional scenery shots as much as I did.  Unbelievably Spectacular!

Enjoy life!

EAT LIKE A KING

This dinner was so good!  I know you are asking yourself... how can I lose weight while eating like a king?  Good question, but you can.  This amazing dinner included a 6 oz serving of slow roasted pork, quinoa, green beans and fresh cut fruit (orange, strawberry, blue berry and kiwi).  Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... keep reminding yourself that you are making a lifestyle choice.  You are choosing to eat fresh, healthy foods in mostly their natural state.  You are not blindly consuming huge quantities of whatever the big food companies and fast food chains put out there.  They are in business to make a profit.  Your objective is to fuel your body with nutritious foods that taste amazing and help you meet your weight and fitness goals.  Another factor in this meal is the presentation.  The colors of the foods are very pleasing to the eye and the aroma was mouth-watering.  Reward yourself with meals like this and you will start to believe that you are the king... the king of health and fitness.

Enjoy life!

MORE SLOT CANYON PHOTOS

Many have asked for more photos of the slot canyon adventure.  I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves.  The scenery, ancient Indian artwork, wild burros, it was simply spectacular.

Enjoy life!