Ahwatukee StrengthLab Personal Training 480-612-7726

Currently Reading: One Bullet Away “The Making of a Marine Officer”

The global war on terrorism has spawned some excellent combat narratives—mostly by journalists. Warriors, like Marine Corps officer Fick, bring a different and essential perspective to the story. A classics major at Dartmouth, Fick joined the Marines in 1998 because he “wanted to go on a great adventure… to do something so hard that no one could ever talk shit to me.” Thus begins his odyssey through the grueling regimen of Marine training and wartime deployments—an odyssey that he recounts in vivid detail in this candid and fast-paced memoir. Fick was first deployed to Afghanistan, where he saw little combat, but his Operation [Iraqi] Freedom unit, the elite 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, helped spearhead the invasion of Iraq and “battled through every town on Highway 7” from Nasiriyah to al Kut. Like the best combat memoirs, Fick’s focuses on the men doing the fighting and avoids hyperbole and sensationalism. He does not shrink from the truth—however personal or unpleasant.

http://www.amazon.com/One-Bullet-Away-Making-Officer/dp/B002ECETVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319286647&sr=1-1

See you there!

Results: 8th Place Overall / 291 Participants

GoDaddy.com Presents the
2011 Lincoln Family Downtown Y
1/2 Marathon & 5k Walk/Run

Arizona’s Oldest Foot Race takes place on Saturday October 22nd, 2011 at South Mountain Regional Park.  Don’t miss your chance to participate in our 43rd annual event.  Whether your a beginner or a veteran runner, you’ll love the beautiful scenic, out and back course.

Traditional culture and other outside negative influences (marketing for instance) implore us to spend more and more time working, to make more and more money, to spend more and more money, to live in ever bigger and better homes and to own and drive more expensive cars that project an image of power and influence.

Is this really a meaningful and effective way to live a life worth living… or nothing more than a short-term distraction, before getting back to the things that really matter in life?

Why do so many people willingly sacrifice so much of their lives to obtain more of what they don’t need and frequently don’t even want?

I believe that it’s a lack of awareness… 

Be aware of the choices that you make and the consequences of those choices… just staying busy and reaching goals will not make you happy or successful, especially if those goals are not yours. 

You must listen to yourself and remain aware of your needs in order to hear the direction that’s right for you.

There are no guaranteed outcomes in life – regardless of the venue. 

Those who should win… frequently do not; those who should not win… frequently do.

Plan to be your best and prepare to be your best – let the chips fall where they may.

Our lives are way too short to learn all that can be useful through our own personal experience and application; we must rely on the proficiency and competence of others until it becomes our own; then it’s ready to be shared with others. The greater the efforts in this growing and building of ourselves… the greater and more functional the benefits.

Strategic suffering, through physical acitivity and organized physical events, is not a waste of time.

Appropriate physical challenges, and even a bit of strategic self-abuse, can go a long way in making us better people.

Learning how to manage ourselves and life through these types of activities, and becoming physically and mentally stronger as a direct result, are well worth the effort.

Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit

From Publishers Weekly

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Delta-Force-Americas-Counterterrorist/dp/0385339364/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1318518958&sr=1-1-catcorr

For Ego-Rejuvenation… spend time doing what you enjoy and being with people you enjoy.

For Ego-Depletion… spend time doing what you don’t enjoy and being with people you don’t enjoy.

Simple to follow and easy to implement – a good life can be just this simple.

Human history has shown continued progress in many disciplines; this has come through dedicated work by the few among the many. This same potential can be found in each and everyone of us as we progress through our lives; our lifespans are lengthy enough to make constant improvements rewarding, while short enough to realize that there’s no time to waste in doing so.

This is not a public facility; I’m not out to win every prospective client over and not every client that passes the initial consultation process will be welcome to stay longterm. Several refunds are generated each year and many more prospective clients don’t even make it through the front door or the consultation process. 

A good attitude and a willingness to improve are welcome; if all you bring with you is money and excuses… stay home.

Generally speaking, when people in your life are losing weight and getting in shape – you will too.

When people in your life are gaining weight and falling away from fitness – you will too.

Therefore, pick your friends and associates carefully… or be strong enough to lead by example.

One of the simplest and easiest ways to increase your lifespan is by flossing your teeth; this helps minimize Gingivitis lowering your risk of a heart attack by 50%!  Gingivitis, is an inflammation of the gums surrounding the teeth caused by bacteria not cleaned away when we brush.

This is a subject that I’ve covered before and my opinion hasn’t changed… most supplements are a waste of money.

The Study:

Popping vitamins may do more harm than good, according to a new study that adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting some supplements may have health risks.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota examined data from more than 38,000 women taking part in the Iowa Women’s Health Study, an ongoing study with women who were around age 62 at its start in 1986. The researchers collected data on the women’s supplement use in 1986, 1997 and 2004.

Women who took supplements had, on average, a 2.4 percent increased risk of dying over the course of the 19-year study, compared with women who didn’t take supplements, after the researchers adjusted for factors including the women’s age and calorie intake.

“Our study, as well as other similar studies, have provided very little evidence that commonly used dietary supplements would help to prevent chronic diseases,” said study author Jaakko Mursu, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

“We would advise people to reconsider whether they need to use supplements, and put more emphasis on a healthy diet instead,” Mursu said.

The Full Article:

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/10/8256866-some-common-vitamin-supplements-could-increase-death-risk-study-finds

The majority of human beings pretend to be tough, pretend to be confident, pretend to have it together; competitive sport ends all of the delusions.

Your performance is all that matters – it’s absolute, there’s no place to hide.

You’re either full of shit or the real deal… no amount of marketing or BS will change that fact.

It’s been my experience… that the bigger the muscles, the weaker the mind; that stands true for male, as well as female.

Mental and physical talents are both assets… neither should be neglected for the other.

See you there!

Results: 6th Place Overall 2 hr 58 mins

http://www.epicrides.com/index.php?contentCat=4&contentId=9

The 16th Annual Show Low Bluff Tour of the White Mountains, scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2011 showcases some of Arizona’s best single track located in and around the Northeastern Arizona communities of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside.

At 7,000 ft. over 750 riders will discover the challenges and gratification from riding awesome smooth flowing single track among a Ponderosa pine forest backdrop while witnessing the endless beauty (and perfect distraction) of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

With the onset of fall upon us, participants, friends, family, spectators and volunteers are invited to enjoy cooler climates, witness the leaves changing colors, indulge in the area’s best food, and ride seemingly endless amounts of single track.

The communities of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside are sure to please any visitor with ample outdoor activities and plenty of opportunities to soak up local culture. Epic Rides encourages participants and their guests to spend the weekend in and around the town experiencing a vacation close to home and in the White Mountains of Arizona.