Have It Your Way... In 2011!

Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce... "Have it your way"!  Can I get mold with mine???

I have been conducting an experiment and reporting on it in my other Blog "Terry' Notebook". It started with hamburgers 63 days ago because I saw a presentation that included as a prop, an eleven year old McDonald's hamburger. Being the skeptic that I am, I had to see for myself whether a hamburger could actually last eleven years without molding, so I started the "Terry Guinn, Hamburger Experiment".  It was soon followed by the "Terry Guinn, French Fry Experiment".  After researching the processing of these fast foods and finding no real excitement (and very little mold) in these experiments, I started the "Terry Guinn, Mold Watch Experiment".  

I spent 63 days so far, watching and waiting for 4 hamburgers to mold.

Now I have 4 hamburgers that will likely outlive me and be passed on to future generations of Guinn's... It could happen!  

I am excited to say that there is now mold to see.  What I am reminded of from this experiment is that I have had the control of the outcome all along... To "Have it my way".   I could have changed the outcome of my experiments with temperature, humidity, environment, lighting, air, ect.  We can achieve any goal with persistence, enough preparation and if we create the right circumstances. That is not to say that it will be easy.

Of course, as with anything, we can have or do anything we set our mind to. We control our own destiny and can change course anytime if we don't like the current heading. Change can be difficult at first, but in time it will become a part of our routine.  

The new year is fast approaching. Do you have the patience, drive and tenacity to do what it takes to make changes in your life? To "Have it your way"?  Sounds like a good New Year's resolution.

No one can be truly successful, who does not enjoy good health.  And good health does not come in a bottle.  It starts with proper diet, exercise and a healthy environment. Ridding your home of unhealthy toxins is a great start and Shaklee can help with many great products for the laundry, kitchen, household and they also have many other natural products, including personal items such as shampoos, conditioners, antiperspirants, baby care, ect. Shaklee-ize your home today.  If you need help with weight loss, wrinkles, age spots, vitamin D deficiency... The list goes on and only a visit to the Shaklee On-Line store can reveal the true opportunity available to you and your family.    

December is a great month to treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.   Several promotions available, including the "Free Membership" offer below. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

"2011" The Adventure Begins

5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Happy New Year!!!  Are you ready for a new adventure?  A new year means new opportunities and new goals, but perhaps there is still much life and opportunity in the current adventure.

With only 4 days remaining we need to gather our thoughts, determine our goals and create our plan of attack for the upcoming year.  What is it you intend to do differently?  What goals have you set?  Where do you want to be at the start of 2012?

Maybe we should first recognize our accomplishments for the current year, to get a better perspective on the things we can build upon in 2011.

I accomplished a lot in 2010 thanks to a friend with a lot of experience in business, marketing, internet & social media and, who also happens to be a doctor.  Thanks to my friend, who has become my mentor, one of my biggest accomplishments was in changing my eating habits and as a result, improving my health. This is not something I set out to do.  My goal was to help my daughter Kirsten, through a better understanding, get the most out of life. For all that read my Blog, you hear over and over about my daughter Kirsten who has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  Kirsten is the reason for all the research I have done on:

• the bodies chemistry and processes 
• the effect of the environment on our children 
• the way our food is processed 
• the chemicals going into our food and it's packaging
• GMO's and the FDA's GRAS stamp of approval
• proper nutrition and the supplement industry 

Looking at this kind of stuff is enough to send anyone on a lifelong fast.  I of course could not learn everything there is to know about these things in such a short time, but I did gain a better understanding than many who are not in professions associated with such things. 

For my daughter, I stopped eating most junk food.  For my daughter, I started eating a lot more fruits & vegetables. For my daughter, I gained a better understanding of how I could help her.  What started as a demonstration for my daughter, has become a good routine for both of us and I haven't felt this good in many years.

Most of my life I have been on the go, working or on call 24/7.  This year has been a wake up call. While looking for work and learning new skills, I have been able to spend more time with my family and find new ways to improve their lives.   I have also found new ways to help others and one of those ways has turned out to have great potential for building a full time income... Just by helping others, and through their success I am empowered to help many more.  

There is no secret to my new found success in health.  We have worked hard to Shaklee-ize our home by using Shaklee healthy home products, daily essentials and supplements. We also exercise more, eat more fruits & vegetables and we have cut way down on unhealthy "junk" foods.

Are you looking to be adventurous or working on an adventure of your own.  Achieving goals in life, especially those related to improved health, can be quite an adventure and having a solid base of support can be invaluable. I want to help you achieve those goals if I am able.  How can I help?

December is a great month to treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.   Several promotions available, including the "Free Membership" offer below. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

Twas the... Are you Nuts???

Less than 24 hours until Christmas!  Is you're shopping done?  Reports are that tomorrow will cap a great year for stores and quite possibly a new sales record.

If you are like many others who have waited until Christmas Eve to do last minute shopping, I have just one thing to say to you... Are you nuts!!!

Twas the day before Christmas as I sat in my house, 

busy on my computer, pointing and clicking my mouse.

My shopping not done, which gave me a scare, 

as I scribbled and stared at my shopping list there. 

The children still dreaming and warm in their beds,

while visions of electronic gadgets filled up their heads.

I'm off to fight traffic, now where is my cap,

I thought to myself, realizing they'll be no time for a nap.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear, 

six inches of snow, how am I getting out of here???

Away to the tool shed I flew in a flash,

grabbed me shovel and cleared me a path.

Then off to the mall with the speed of a snail,

to fight with the crowds for I certainly can't fail!

With the patience of angels and the rhythm of the wise,

making every second count... Who are those guys?

Next year I'll start early to avoid this plight,

for now, Merry Christmas and to all... Good Night!

For a healthy approach to what could turn out to be a very stressful day, might I suggest you start early with a good breakfast and have a plan in hand. If you're the adventurous type, I am sure you will not be disappointed. 

What ever the day brings, remember that most of those in traffic or in the stores fighting for space and time right a long side of you... Are probably just as stressed as you!

To all of my faithful readers, friends and supporters.  Have a very Merry Christmas, full of love and joy that lasts for years to come. 

Digging Deep for Christmas Joy

There is less than 100 hours until Christmas... Ho, ho, ho my goodness me!  

With unemployment consistently high, foreclosures on the rise, lots of retirement funds depleted or nonexistent and health insurance an unhealthy choice for many because of the costs...  Many are wondering, where is the joy in the holiday season?  

My family has been hit hard this year by the current economic conditions and is going to be affected especially hard this Christmas.

There won't be dozens of toys & gifts under the Christmas tree. The refrigerator won't be stocked with lots of treats & goodies. It isn't even likely that we will be able to continue a family tradition of going to a movie on Christmas day.  We may have to spend family time at home and give thanks for what we do have. How will we ever survive??? And we aren't the only ones! Too many people I know are already cutting  corners so tight they don't even know where the corner is anymore.  

It is the same everywhere. People are stressing over christmas gifts, almost as if it were a competition or compensation.  Will they think I'm cheap, will they like someone else's gift better than mine or, did I get them enough gifts? Even the christmas cards can get out of hand.  Family photos are big and many go to professionals to get the perfect shot. Then they worry about leaving someone out in the mailing.  My family photo attempt is posted above, with little cooperation from the twins... Don't tell my wife I posted it for the world to see!  

Take a deep breath!  Stress and worry are very unhealthy activities and could lead to complications during the holidays.  Consider what you have and remember that there are many people out there struggling, who may not have a place to stay on Christmas.  Many more families than in past years are in temporary living conditions, weather that be in shelters, with friends, or with family... And those are the lucky ones.  

Consider wrapping a special gift and placing it under your tree... For a struggling family or an organization that cares for those in need. Discuss this with your family as a part of your gift exchange and give thanks for how fortunate you are.  

While you think about those in need, please keep my family in your prayers.  If you need or know of anyone in need of healthy home, natural nutrition or any of the many high quality products that Shaklee has to offer, please keep me in mind.  Between part-time work and my role as a Shaklee Independent Distributor, this is how I support my family.  A Healthier You Too - Shaklee Distributor Products Page

My family is fortunate to have a roof over our heads and a special needs child who has taught us the real meaning of family, joy and celebration.  Most couldn't imagine a life with a special needs child. My seven year old daughter has Prader-Willi Syndrome, and I couldn't imagine my life without her. 

I wish you all real joy and happiness during the holidays and all year round.

A Passing Grade for Better Health

Doctors don't have all the answers and if it takes a village to raise a child, does it also take a team of specialists to become a part of that village, to raise a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome?

Another three months have gone by and that means its time for another visit to the endocrinologist. That also means its time to work on my notes and questions, in preparation for the appointment.  Our doctors rely on blood tests, X-rays, studies, consultations with other doctors... And a parents impute.  If we fail to provide the right information, in a way that the doctors can comprehend and use this information, we may not receive a passing grade which is improved health for our children.

Twas the night before our appointment and all through the house,

everyone else was sleeping including my spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

because the children's excitement was to much to bear.

 I at my computer typing away,

preparing my notes for the following day.

For the endo would certainly be rushing about,

no time to stop and let questions come out.

Its Kirsten's health that I'm working on here,

so I'll do what it takes... I need a beer!

This is when I get excited, because I get to see just how successful we have been with Kirsten, now seven, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  It has been a real struggle to manage her diet and get the right balance of medicines.  Just like in the cartoons when someone plugs a leak in a dam, we feel like we have control and then another leak develops.  We plug that one and the initial leak burst again.  Our biggest struggle has been with weight and high cholesterol. We have managed to gain control of her weight this year and her cholesterol levels have come down some (as of 8/19).

We see many doctors in our quest to manage Kirsten's health, but it is the endocrinologist that I find most valuable.  Even though his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired, he is very knowledgable and I find I can work with him as long as I come prepared. These quarterly visits, for me, have become somewhat of a quest for approval, and perhaps a challenge to earn that approval. I have always tried to do what is right, and what is best for Kirsten, but until the last couple visits, there was never any good news.  Of course one could say that if you are overcoming obstacles, even with new obstacles emerging, you are headed in the right direction.

Tomorrow promises to be enlightening and with all that I have learned this year alone, I am prepared to take Kirsten to her endocrinologist appointment... To see how I'm doing!

Another thing that I am doing to earn a passing grade in Kirsten's health, is providing her with Shakleekids Increditives multivitamin/multimineral dietary supplement. I want her to achieve her maximum potential, so I want products that I can trust to help her get there.

December is a great month to treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.   Several promotions available, including the "Free Membership" offer below. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

A Wonderful Life...

Cameron Newton just won the Heisman Trophy!  Was there ever any doubt?  

Of course you might not have heard the news yet because you were too busy with your children, helping with homework, transporting then back & forth from an athletic event, introducing them to classics such as "It's a Wonderful Life" or working overtime to keep up with the ever growing expenses of raising a family. 

I may miss the games and awards, but watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” tonight, for the 100th time in my life, reminds me of just how lucky I am. 

My wife and I reminisce often about the days we had the time to do anything we wanted, like play Nintendo Golf at all hours of the night, eat ice cream anytime or sleep in...  Those were the days.

I'm not complaining!  Our children have added structure to our lives and with the addition of the twins seven years ago, we received the missing piece of the puzzle that made our life complete.  One of the twins was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome and has become our health coach, sort of.  Ok, perhaps more of an inspiration.  Many of us have guilt when it comes to overeating.  My guilt comes for different reasons. Because of my daughters disabilities and her restrictive diet, I have lost ten pounds over the last year.

As I look back and realize how my life could have been, without children, I have to wonder... Would I have even survived to the half century mark???  As I pop my vitamins, slurp my Vivix and sip my hot tea, the children are all fast asleep and I am enjoying my quiet time catching up on the days news &  events. 

Come Sunday I may not get to follow the day in sports, as I take time for my children, but I  wouldn't be living this wonderful life without them.  I still get my time and I can catch up on the sports excitement, but nothing compares to my children's excitement and their smiles that make life worth living.

Exercise and proper nutrition are the keys to a parents full life of children’s activities, excitement and smiles. What are you doing to stay healthy?  Did you know that our food supply is not as nutrient rich as it used to be? Did you know that more than 65% of Americans regularly take supplements? What do you know about the supplements that you use or see advertised everyday?  

This is cool!  Shaklee has a Digital Edition (click here) of their catalog (I love catalogs) that includes the “Clinical Research” section starting on page 118.  Also, clicking on the product picture takes you right to the product page in a new window. 

December is a great month to treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.   Several promotions available, including the "Free Membership" offer below. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

The Grinch Who Stole... My Unemployment Extension!

Imagine our government actually passing the Unemployment Extension without any catch or compromise.  Done for the people!  Yeah, right!!!  Don't let them steal your holiday spirit.

Many people have been scrambling to figure out what they were going to do, not just for the holidays but, going forward without an unemployment extension if it came to that. Many continue to stress over financial shortfalls, and as a result, are creating health issues that just compound their problems digging them deeper into a hole, all along thinking to themselves... Thank goodness they will pass the  extension, now I will try to do things differently to make sure I don't fall short again. Or, if I had just done this or that years ago...  Does this sound like you?

Can I make a suggestion... STOP waiting for the government!!!  Whether you are struggling or want to prepare for the uncertain future, today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Take action now, for your future! 

You probably can't make $1000 in the next 60 minutes as so many promise on the internet, but you can create an income over time with a little effort. The following are some thoughts to consider (and help you reprogram your thought processes) that could benefit your health and your wallet.  

• Have you ever been so excited about something or believed in something so much that you shared it with a friend and they became excited? Sharing your excitement about something is sales without pressure.  
• What if by sharing your excitement, you could make others happy? Sales is helping others get what they want and who doesn't want to feel good when we purchase something. 

I say this because there are many opportunities that scare people, simply because they don't have all the information.  

Consider this... If you were to share with just one person each month and they would decide to buy something from you on a regular basis, at the end of twelve months you would have 12 repeat customers. The commissions may not cover your daily trip to Starbucks, but it is more than you had twelve months ago. Year two, what if you did that again and some of your first year customers found customers of their own, making the same commissions, and you received a small commission for their sales also.  By now, you might be making enough in commissions to make that car payment.  What if you did this even faster.... 12 repeat customers each month?

This is what can be done with little effort as a Shaklee Independent Distributor and this is what I do.  Not everyone has the same results because all customers have different buying habits and God help you if your customers (I haven't seen this and it is highly unlikely) only buy the Basic H 16oz size for $10.35.  This concentrated solution is a great product and, mixed with water in different amounts, is a powerful all natural window cleaner, all purpose cleaner and degreaser... And it is more than a years supply for most households.  

All I'm saying here is, don't let the grinch or the government ruin your holidays. Consider checking out Shaklee products that are guaranteed and if you have an interest in checking out the Shaklee opportunity to become an Independent distributor, contact me through my website link below. I would love to answer any questions you have and if you choose to work with me, I will help you every step of the way. Your success is my success.

December is a great month to treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.   Several promotions available, including the "Free Membership" offer below. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

Food Safety Modernization Bull

It won't be long now before billions of people are dying from starvation!

I couldn't help but get lost tonight in a trail of video's and interesting headlines that were fueled by the Food Safety Modernization Bill.  From "Jon Stewart tackles Food Safety Paranoia" to "3 Billion will die!!!" There was speculation about anything from outlawing gardening to making nutrients illegal, including by prescription, with the goal of world domination. 

Thats the problem with these bills, even those that write these documents that can be 100's of pages long may not clearly understand them. Whats worse is that even though they are written in such great detail, they can still be vague and open to interpretation...  Feeding those who are out to make a name for themselves by interpreting these bills for us. Bless their hearts!

I think Jon Stewart said it best "The Senate passed something!"

Now we can move on and work on the next step toward food safety which by the way, logically, would include new jobs.  Think about it... A new department in the FDA, new guidelines on food safety for companies which translates into equipment/production upgrades and perhaps increased quality control personnel, and more frequent FDA inspections.  

Perhaps this could lead to tighter controls in what actually goes into our food. If the government is now actually going to take responsibility for food safety, they now actually have to understand what goes into our food... Instead of "asking" companies to insure that the food is safe, which is as we all know based on interpretation.  I know... I live in a fantasy world. 

But wait, this can't be good!!! "Foodmakers backing $1.4 billion food-safety bill".  Maybe I better take another look at that video about 3 billion dying, which also mentioned big business taking over the world and something about nutrition being outlawed!

As long as it is still legal to get the nutrition my family needs, since I can't trust my food supply, I will get it from a company I can trust. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.  

If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

Prader-Willi Syndrome Is What She Has...

Six years old... For the rest of her life thanks to modern medicine.


Has the world gone mad???  I read an article published today about a new treatment for severely disabled children... To make life easier for their parents.

The treatment is called "growth attenuation". The question is "Should parents be able to use medical means to restrict the growth of profoundly disabled children to make them easier to care for at home?"  Click here to check out the article. Having recently seen yet another child given up for adoption, simply because he had Prader-Willi Syndrome, is just another reminder of how broken our society has become. To many have gotten their priorities all screwed up and are too focused of perfection and "stuff". 


Maybe I am way off base here, but it seems to me that doctors go out of their way these days to avoid lawsuits for malpractice, in the way they treat patients. Now we want to give them another tool that, if approved, will eventually be loosely regulated and as a result of pressure from parents, will cause doctors to more frequently recommend this treatment based on expanded interpretation & opinion to benefit the parents.  Perhaps instead of exploring ways to make our lives easier, we could do research for cures or treatments that could improve quality of life for those who are disabled and perhaps lead to prevention in the future.

I don't pretend to be an expert on all disabilities and I can't imagine any disability so bad that I would lose hope for the future.

I only really know the world of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and 
despite all the negatives I had heard from doctors in the beginning who put PWS in a one size fits all box, I have met dozens of children & adults with PWS who are all different, with different levels of struggles and strengths. My daughter is not the person I would have expected her to be, based on initial doctors information. She is doing very well because the future for all of us is still in our hands. Prader-Willi Syndrome is what she has and not who she is!



Raising a special needs child is not easy, but I, like many many other parents around the world, am much stronger from it and my efforts have improved my daughters chances, and the chances for my three other children, toward living a better life.  Understanding that we are killing ourselves with all the junk food we are eating and understanding that the quality of our food is not what it used to be, is just the beginning. We need to not only insure that our children are getting the proper nutrition, but that they are as free from toxins as possible and doing their part for the future.

I am a Shaklee Independent Distributor and my family uses Shaklee products because of there high quality and for what they represent. There is no such thing as a "get healthy quick" pill.  It takes effort, exercise, proper diet and persistence.  Shaklee healthy home products and vitamin supplements are a part of our daily "effort" toward a hopeful future.

If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me through my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com

SPECIAL OFFER:
December 1-31, 2010, Free Membership (a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.

Thanksgiving Day Nutrition

When I think about Thanksgiving Day, I can't help but worry a little about the family get together for food, conversation, more food, laughter and still... More food!

Many who celebrate Thanksgiving will forgo their normal diet to enjoy the many many tasty dishes & treats.  I myself can remember many Thanksgiving days that meant picking at food all day and feeling so full it hurt. Good times!  Those days are behind me as I try to set an example for my daughter who has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  For her, food is public enemy #1. Because of her limited metabolism and low muscle tone, any weight gain is extremely difficult to lose.  Also, because of her low sensitivity and high threshold for pain, she could easily overeat without any signs or indications and risk stomach rupture.

You might think that the holidays, and especially Thanksgiving, are a time of stress for my family and me.  We have our moments, but we not only have some good routines in place, even at seven years old my daughter has some understanding of the importance of moderation. In as much as my daughter enjoys food, she enjoys just as much, making mom & dad proud through her accomplishments (weight management) and good choices.

Speaking of good choices... Some may not think about it, but for many, Thanksgiving day will be a day that most eat healthier than any other day.  We may overeat... But even if we don't overeat, with the larger selection of REAL food, we are getting more of the daily nutrients that we need and quite possibly less of the processed junk that is weakening our systems.

Be very thankful for that Thanksgiving day feast and consider the difference between what you eat on Thanksgiving and what you eat any other day.  You may overeat on Thanksgiving day, but consider the quality of that wonderful food and... Enjoy!

If you are concerned about your health and the future, check out the many products that Shaklee has available.  Shaklee products always work, are always safe, and are always green.  As a Shaklee Independent Distributor, I can help.  For more information about natural nutritional, weight management, beauty and healthy home products from the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., please vistit my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Thank You & God Bless America!

To all who serve, to all who have served and to all their wonderful families who have also sacrificed so much.... Thank You and God Bless You.

Today I will spare you of my ramblings on a healthier lifestyle and the issues we face in achieving that lifestyle, because today we recognize those that have served and fought for the freedoms we enjoy that give us the right to live any way we choose.

Veterans Day is a day to remember and recognize all who have proudly served their country, past and present.  Our men and women from all branches of service who have, are and will, fight to defend our freedom.  Freedom that has already cost many lives, with many more willing to give their lives in the fight for America.

Of course in a perfect world, there would be no need for soldiers and peacetime would be... All the time. But we don't live in a perfect world do we. There are those that would bring the fight to America if we didn't help bring peace abroad.  There are those that would flex their muscle in intimidation, if we didn't step in to provide strength to the weak.  No, the world is far from perfect. Even here at home there are those that would dishonor the very soldiers who died to give them the freedom to cause pain, to the families mourning the loss of those soldiers, through disrespectful words and protests at military funerals.

The world may not be perfect, but even as many are struggling to make ends meet, faced with foreclosure, unemployment or the loss of health insurance, there is still a strong sense of pride among Americans for our fighting men & women. Quite possibly, stronger than ever before.  Before social media, we had only the newspapers, radio and TV to rely on, with only the negative side of any story.  Today more than ever, we are seeing a strong movement to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of our soldiers.  Whether you believe in the military actions or not, things are now more personalized.  You can now see real soldiers and real families affected.  You can now hear real stories. You can now show your pride in more ways than ever before and share with more people than ever before.  Today, more than ever before, America is reaching out to our military.

And today, more than ever before, for me Veterans Day is extra special.  For I get the honor of speaking to a large group of Veterans at a Veterans Home in LaSalle Illinois. I get to share the amazing story of how social media has reached people around the world who are reaching out to offer thanks for their service.

To all who read this, whether it is Veterans Day or any other day, please:

• Take time to thank a soldier. They are all around us and most have been through quite a lot.  
• Take the time to explain to your children the true meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.  With the constant struggle over the words "under God", the real message in the pledge can be lost and the pledge itself, routine without meaning. A great description of the pledge for children was done by Red Skelton in 1969.  To see it, click here Pledge of Allegiance.
• Also, if you are like me and are moved by music, crank up the sound and click here "God Bless the USA".  Don't forget to share.

To all who serve, to all who have served and to all their wonderful families who have also sacrificed so much.... Thank You and God Bless You. 

Do You Want Fries With That?

You can only do so much... It has happened again!  I found information I wasn't looking for and as a result, I am starting a new experiment.

There are many things that knowledge and common sense will help me in, in saving time on research.  But then there is the unknown!  Knowledge of policy and common sense tells me that the government would not allow anything unsafe to be sold for consumption.  Ok, read on as soon as you stop laughing.

I can wait...

As I wrote in my last Blog, I was considering and am now conducting an experiment with hamburgers.  Four hamburgers to be exact.  A McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King and home cooked hamburger.  There are many stories of old McDonalds hamburgers, but I wanted to conduct an experiment to compare many burgers to insure fairness to McDonalds.  This includes a hamburger of my own that should provide a good control specimen.  The experiment can be followed at this link "Terry's Notebook" .

This has been a very interesting experiment for me, but my kids lost interest quickly because of the absence of excitement.  Its kind of like watching grass grow, you have to have a lot of patience.

In my research to find verifiable facts about the ingredients or processing of these burgers, I have discovered many probable myths, exaggerations and all out lies about these hamburgers.  Anything from cows eyes to human flesh to being "from" 100% Beef (the Company), not the cow.   

The search for answers has been a tough road and the journey continues, but I have come across an interesting video that has me curious about the french fries that we order with our burgers.  Check it out at this link FRENCH FRIES???

The potential of my findings, with hamburgers and especially with fries, is that we really really have no idea what we are eating. It is no wonder that so many are suffering from health issues and nutritional deficiencies. Get yourself back on track with some healthy choices.  Broccoli is a good place to start.

If you would like more information about natural nutritional, weight management, beauty and healthy home products from the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., please vistit my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com

Eleven Year Old Hamburger!!!

I talked with a woman last night at a Shaklee product fair who brought with her a hamburger that she had purchased from McDonalds... Eleven years ago!  She was using it in a heart health demonstration.

She got the idea from someone she had met many years ago and she found it hard to believe that a hamburger would not rot, mold, smell nasty or attract bugs. She had to see for herself.  Since the day she purchased the plain hamburger, she has kept the hamburger in the kitchen out of the reach of the dog. After a while it dried out and had to be moved into a bowl to keep from losing pieces in demonstrations. Still in the original wrapper, the bun was broken, hard & dry and had a very small hint of mold on one spot possibly from handling.  The hamburger itself was hard, dry and looked almost like the plastic hamburger you find in toy sets.

I am not going to speculate on exactly what that means, but I am sure many individuals have their own opinion. I have heard of these claims of old hamburgers before and seen other examples, but I too am skeptical.  And why is it that everyone picks on McDonalds?

Seeing is believing!

I have decided to conduct my own experiment.  I talked to my oldest children last night about working with me on this. We have decided to purchase three plain hamburgers from the top three fast food restaurants and grill up one of our own.  We will take pictures daily and post them to my other Blog with a brief report.  At the first sign of trouble... Foul odors or bugs, the burger is gone!

I suspect that moistness has something to do with the future of these burgers & buns and obviously I expect to find that the fast food hamburgers will out last my own creation.  We already suspect that some are prepared, packaged and shipped to restaurants for rewarming and serving.  And of course they have to taste good, so who knows what is going into them to give them that custom flavor.

How about nutrition?  I haven't a clue, but we plan to do some research as a part of this project.

Unfortunately, many of us are not getting the proper nutrition because of our hurried lifestyles. What is amazing to me is that many don't realize the energy potential from a strong foundation of natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They choose instead to rely on coffee or energy drinks for that needed boost.

If you would like more information about natural nutritional, weight management, beauty and healthy home products from the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., please vistit my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com

Would You Jump... For $10,000?

I have always said... "I'll try anything once".  Boy could that cover a lot of territory!  I guess I really should clarify that with, "almost anything".  

Imagine that someone was to offer you $10,000 to jump out of an airplane without a parachute?  For someone who used to be a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and in need of cash, my first thoughts might be of how I could make like "Rambo" and aim for some trees to slow down my decent or to consider the possibility of making a good landing to take on the impact and survive. Oops! I forgot to ask from what height. Of course no one in their right mind would consider jumping out of a perfectly good airplane without a parachute.  Or would they?  What if the airplane was a piper cub and it was still parked on the tarmac? 

It is so easy for us to make quick decisions before getting all the details and as a result we sometimes are stuck recovering from a poor decision or kicking ourselves for not looking into a good opportunity that we could have been benefiting from all along.  

My wife just showed me a big advertisement in the local newspaper that appeared to be a news article about a new, clinical strength, diet pill.  Had I not taken a closer look and read it fully, I would have thought someone had discovered a miracle pill for weight loss and that some reporter was breaking the story.  Ok, so it's an advertisement!  It still interests me because of my daughters syndrome.  In researching it further, I found a simple professional looking website with a 2010 copyright.  It listed as its active ingredient, an extract of the Caralluma Fimbriata plant from India (known to have potential). Clinical trials were conducted for four weeks with 26 participants. hmmm  No problem, I still have a lot of time left to research this before the limited time, 48 hour, discount offer expires. 

Well, you know the old saying “if it sounds to good to be true... It probably is”. In many things I read about this diet pill and the company promoting it, there were a lot of questions raised about who actually did the “undocumented” clinical trial, ownership of the so called “patented process” and whether the only ingredient listed is even included.  The diet pill in question has been around for a few years and you would think that by now they would have been able to establish a reputation or more results to back up their claims.  Obviously they still feel the need to deceive potential customers through advertising disguised as breaking stories.  

I have not shared the name of this product with you because these are only my opinions and I believe we should all form our own opinions in everything, based on our beliefs and needs.  Research is critical when it comes to our families health and that which we put into our bodies.

That is why I am such a big fan of Shaklee and all of it’s products. In the absence of government oversight in the growing supplement industry, Shaklee has gone over and above to prove the quality and safety of it’s products with over $250 million in research, over 80 thousand tests each year and over 100 scientific papers (90 of them published in peer-reviewed scientific journals) that support product safety and efficacy.  And so much more!  

Take a little time to explore Shaklee and see for yourself the potential that this 54 year old company has to offer you and your family.

If you would like more information about natural nutritional, weight management, beauty and healthy home products from the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., please vistit my website at www.ahealthieryoutoo.com