Cancer AGAIN!

I don't really know what to say here or how to be polite about it.

First, the good news. My friend John is coming to visit in 2 weeks. He finally got the go ahead to travel from his doctor (his cancer doctor). After chemo, radiation, bone marrow transplant and MORE RADIATION the docs say it is "gone." Woo hoo, so yesterday he confirmed he will be here in about 2 weeks.

This morning a friend came up to me at the coffee shop and told me a mutual friend was told to "get his things in order" and to update me about someone else that I recognized from there..they died last week. Both...CANCER!

I am sorry but the AMA and American Cancer Society have been working on this disease for YEARS and all they can come up with are 3 choices:

1- Chemo (we get that from a drug company)

2- Radiation (we get that from a drug comapany)

3- Surgery (we get that choice ONLY after the 1st two don't work.)

WHO IS DOING THIS TO US!?!

Why can't we have other choices and have them legally without interfering with health insurance? I'll tell you why...Drug company lobbyists, the FDA, and most likely American Cancer Society is going right along with them. How do I feel about it? I am tired, fed-up, mad as hell and PISSED OFF and I am not gonna take it any more.

We have to eat better and I mean more NON processed foods; more live food or raw foods. Disconnect your microwave! Try steaming food. Yeah, even the yams I microwaved for 6 minutes each side now steam when sliced in less time and taste better. Reheat food? Steam again, fast and easy.

If your doctor suggests a drug for something like arthritus WHICH HAS A SIDE EFFECT OF "CERTAIN TYPES OF CANCER".....turn to Nancy Reagan and JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS.

Our doctors are killing us in partnership with drug companies who are working for their stockholders.

CHANGE YOUR LIFE! HELL...SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Are You as Healthy as Your Pool?

Recently I have been researching more about the need to pH balanceour own body. Summer is here and everyone is making suretheir pool is a SAFE place to swim. Why? Simple, so you won't get sick.

Just like your pool, your body needs to be pH balanced, too. I do not mean by buying some bottle of water or a special system. I know those things are big on the market now but I know an easier, better and healthier way.

We all eat food. Since food is the main way we get our nutrients why not get the right ones? Did you know what appears to be "good foods" may allow dieseases such as cancer if the balance of acid and alkalide is off?

Being balanced is simple to do yet at the same time you need to pay attention and shop properly. So, I have pasted a link below where you can learn the simple facts. The link also lists food by category. Book mark it for later and print it out to read and use as a reference. It could save your life. It can definately make you healthier!

Please note, pH strips to test yourself and your loved ones via salvia and/or urine are available locally for under $20 for a dozen or so strips but you can buy 80-100 online for $10-$15.

http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/pH-balance.html

My website is www.inshapefitness.net

Palm Springs Fitness Expert Expands His Reach

I have known Dennis Mason for ten years, so it was only natural that I chose him as my web partner. Dennis is a Palm Springs resident and plans to continue his personal training, massage therapy and writing his fitness column for the Palm Springs BottomLine Magazine.

Partnering on this website will allow him another outlet to share with readers his philosophy and experience. It also opens up the door to a larger audience as he completes his book which is a compilation of thirty years of writing fitness columns in Florida and California. Look for it to be released by summer 2009.

Dennis has always had a philosophy that a fit lifestyle is more than JUST personal training. Good health must be a total mind, body and soul experience.

There are no secrets, no miracles and no instant fixes. He gives you his commitment to provide personalized and realistic goals. Dennis will teach you how your body works and why. You will then better understand your role in working out with him and when you are on your own.

Dennis has over 30 years of experience in helping others reach their goals; he can enable you to reach your goals. You will also learn how to attain your goal and how to maintain your goal.

He firmly believes that a goal must have a definitive date otherwise it is only a wish or a dream. Dennis told me, “My goal is that you reach and maintain your goal and hopefully never need a trainer again. The word trainer implies that I teach you something and if you learn it well, you have the ability to do it afterwards without me.” How many times have you ever heard a trainer say that?

He will teach you how to workout correctly, help you understand how your body works and how to eat properly. A healthy adult who strictly follows his program should have no reason not to reach their goal.

Dennis has also been a competitive bodybuilder in the NPC or National Physique Committee. He has consistently competed in his weight class or age group and has placed in the top three and has won several first place positions, as well. His current plans are to compete again in August of 2009 in the Pacific USA Naturals in Anaheim, California.

From 1990 to 2000, Dennis owned and operated his own gym in San Diego called the Hillcrest Gym. He now trains in Palm Springs from his home in an outdoor, resort style environment. His home surroundings allow him to train with weights or using boot camp style drills. The backyard pool is also perfect for pool fitness and a Watsu type of water therapy.

Whether you are age twenty or sixty (or older) Dennis’s thirty years of experience gives him the ability to understand your body and your needs. Feel free to contact him through his website at www.inshapefitness.net

Dr. Oz promotes cancer AND prevention. "Oprah STOP HIM!"

Dr. Oz is at it AGAIN and he is using Oprah as his launch pad. Is Oprah asleep at the help of her own ship?

While reading this blog post below, remember Dr. Oz is all gung ho on using radiation (which causes cancer) to process our fruits and vegetables.

Out of THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS MOUTH he is telling everyone (on Oprah) to drink red wine or more specifically Resveratrol which is derived from grape skins. Why drink this product? The main reason is it has great antioxidant properties. What is the one major thing antioxidants do for the body? It helps prevent cancer!

One item I found says this: A new study shows antioxidant found in red wine destroys cancer cells from the inside and enhances the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy cancer treatments.

Researchers say the antioxidant found in grape skins, known as resveratrol, appears to work by targeting the cancer cell's energy source from within and crippling it. When combined with radiation, treatment with resveratrol prior to radiation also induced cell death, an important goal of cancer treatment.

To Dr. Oz I say…you can’t have it both ways!

If you Google Dr. Oz and Resveratrol you will find site after site quoting SPECIFICALLY that “Dr Oz says on Oprah that it is ok.”

Here is an example: “After Dr. Oz revealed to Oprah the health secrets of Resveratrol, the anti aging ingredient in red wine, nearly everyone has been scrambling to get their hands on these longevity supplements. Dr. Oz reports that taking Resveratrol regularly could add 20 or more years onto your life.”

How can a medical doctor believing in any part of the Hippocratic oath promote something that can help prevent cancer while still having enough nerve to tell us to use radiation on the food we eat while all along tell us to EAT MORE fruits and vegetables?

In my opinion he can do it if he is only concerned or becoming more concerned with fame and fortune rather that people.

It is time to tell Oprah to cut Dr. Oz off from her audience.

Come on people, it is OUR food join with me in a "tell Dr. Oz no" campaign and send your letters and faxes and call Oprah and get her on ourside. Oprah if you are listening...WE NEED YOU!

STOP DR. OZ Campaign

Oprah’s company is Harpo, Inc.

Write, call or fax:

Harpo, Inc.

Attention: STOP DR. OZ

110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: 312-633-1000
Fax: 312-633-1976

Dr. Oz and Dead Food, Does Oprah Agree?

Well, it has been 4 days since Dr. Oz was quoted in the Houston Chronicle telling us that food processed using radiation was good for us. During that time I have been to Dr. Oz' site on Discovery Health and on Oprah's site and can find nothing referring to the subject.

I put Oprah in the headline hoping to get attention to the subject and because before Oprah I never heard of Dr. Oz. I love Oprah. She is a powerful woman with a lot of clout. Her clout has helped Dr. Oz gain in recognition and given him a platform he probably never had before. This scares me because his platform that putting my food (fruits and vegatables) thru irradiation is a safe one is out and out wrong.

In my previous post on this below I quoted from the FDA's website that said it was done in a "shielded facility". If it is a safe process why the need for a shield unless you mean it is safe from behind a shield just like in a doctors office where they hide behind lead walls. People....THIS IS NOT SAFE! Is anyone out there listening?

I hope to have enough time to blog on this everyday until someone gets this to the attention of Oprah herself and she tells Dr. Oz that she does not want HER food irradiated. If Oprah says STOP, someone will listen, at least I think they will listen.

Come on people, it is OUR food join with me in a "tell Dr. Oz no" campaign and send your letters and faxes and call Oprah and get her on ourside. Oprah if you are listening...WE NEED YOU!

STOP DR. OZ Campaign

Oprah’s company is Harpo, Inc.

Write, call or fax:

Harpo, Inc.

Attention: STOP DR. OZ

110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: 312-633-1000
Fax: 312-633-1976

Marijuana Ingredient Kills Cancer Cells

I have a very close friend whose doctors are saying he has brain cancer and I feel they and most doctors do not stray far from the AMA recommendation...dare I say orders prevent them from treating with more than surgery, chemo or radiation related methods. Luckily outside the Unites States people are actively trying NON-TOXIC methods. Face it, while chemo and radiation may help some patients the truth is the American Cancer Society never says a person is cured but only in remission. The other truth is that if you are exposed to radiation or chemotherapy without cancer you will likely develope some form of it.

Therefore, I believe every alternative should be give the highest priority by the so called protector of our health the AMA and FDA. The pharmaceutical lobby is NOT the cancer patients friend. If a drug is good for you why would it need a lobby?

The balance of this post is from an email I received about the study. If you have brain cancer or know someone who does, please forward this blog posting on to them.

A new study from Spain as reported in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation/ reports new
research out of Spain that suggests THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, appears to prompt the death of brain cancer cells.

Researchers worked with mice and analyzed THC's impact on tumor cells extracted from two patients who were diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of brain cancer, finding that THC introduced into the brain triggered a cellular self-digestion process known as "autophagy," Guillermo Velasco, from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the School of Biology at Complutense University in Madrid, who co-authored the study, said that his team had investigated and isolated the specific pathway by which this process unfolds, and noted that THC appears "to kill cancer cells, while it does not affect normal cells."

The Spanish researchers analyzed brain tissue in the two cancer patients, taken both before and after a 26- to 30-day THC treatment regimen, and found that THC eliminated cancer cells while it left healthy cells intact. They also identified and tracked the signaling route by which the process was activated, and the findings were then replicated in mice.

"These results may help to design new cancer therapies based on the use of medicines containing the active principle of marijuana and/or in the activation of autophagy," Velasco said.

Dr. John S. Yu, co-director of the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program in the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, called the findings "not surprising," and noted that this study is just the most recent of a number of previous studies which indicated that THC has an anti-cancer effect.

Dr. Yu said that the study does not suggest that one should expect smoking cannabis to cure their cancer, but rather that THC is a significance source of further study in anti-cancer therapy and treatment.

Does Oprah Have Too Much Power? Is it killing you?

This is the first in what will be a series of follow-ups I will do on this site to prevent getting cancer by eating!

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Oprah is great but does she have too much power? I ask this because powerful people can become too busy to watch the small stuff and pass that job on to unqualified staff to make decisions. I believe Oprah is one of these people too busy.

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Let me say that I went to Oprah’s site and used her site search engine to find a reference to irradiated food comments made by Dr. Oz and found none. HOWEVER, just the fact he is so associated with Oprah and therefore her viewers and followers that makes Dr. Oz dangerous as I point out below. (call or write Oprah, make her STOP Dr. Oz or DROP HIM)

.

The quote below was posted on www.chron.com the website for the Houston Chronicle Newspaper and it was written by MICHAEL ROIZEN, M.D. and MEHMET OZ, M.D.

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“IRRADIATION: Don’t be afraid of irradiated food. We believe this process, which kills disease-causing pathogens, makes meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables and fruit safer.”

What is irradiation? Irradiation is the process by which an item is exposed to radiation. The process is to “make food safe from bacteria…”

From FDA Website:

PLEASE NOTE THE PORTION IN BOLD. Many health experts agree that using a process called irradiation can be an effective way to help reduce food-borne hazards and ensure that harmful organisms are not in the foods we buy. During irradiation, foods are exposed briefly to a radiant energy source such as gamma rays or electron beams within a shielded facility. (Shielded? As in when doctors hide for protection behind a protective barrier to give x-rays or MRI’s and CAT scans?)

From the CDC website:

How can I tell if the food has been irradiated? A distinctive logo has been developed for use on food packaging, in order to identify the product as irradiated. This symbol is called the "radura" and is used internationally to mean that the food in the package has been irradiated. A written description may also be present, such as "Irradiated to destroy harmful microbes". It is not required to label a food if a minor ingredient of the food, such as a spice, has been irradiated itself.

The logo below is the “radura logo, the broken line symbolizes radiation. See how pretty it is in green.

STOP DR. OZ

Oprah’s company is Harpo, Inc.

Write, call or fax:

Harpo, Inc.

Attention STOP DR. OZ

110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: 312-633-1000
Fax: 312-633-1976

WesleySaid Stay Fit

Stay Fit, Stay Sexy. Are the two really intertwined? You bet they are!

If you do not feel you are fit, whatever that is to you. Then you will certainly not feel sexy or attractive.

Staying fit or GETTING fit is an important component to a long healthy life. It is also important to your family and your career. Why?

Fit people have more energy, think clearly, are generally more confident about them self and therefore about their decisions. Think about days when everything went right. Didn't you stand up straighter, smile more...attract more attention. Well, imagine if that were possible every day.

Being fit is pretty simple once you get started and the best way to get started is like anything...with small steps.

Take note of what you eat and how much activity you have in your DAILY life. More junk food or just plain bad eating habits combined with lack of physical activity is bad for you. Try to cut out certain foods, sugars, breads, or huge portions. Walk more, take up exercise, do pushups or sit ups at before you shower...anything is better than nothing.

Try this for a week and I guarantee you will feel better in one way or another. I hope I can offer more tips and insights here. I think WesleysaidsoOprah can be a great match.

Following Richard, Part 2

By Dennis Mason, C.P.T.

Richard and I have been working together now, for several weeks. During that time, he has made steady progress toward the personal goals he has set for himself. The three chief objectives are to drop some body fat, tone and tighten the muscle culture of his body overall and of primary focus, develop the muscles of the upper front torso which make up the general chest region.

We have been using a technique called Functional Integrated Training. This system uses movements that are designed to mimic motions that the body goes through on a regular daily basis. Some of the movements include calisthenics, power walking in a variety of directions and intensities, free weight exercises and cycling. Each workout is different from the previous one in form, intensity and interval duration. The object is to move Richard’s body out of its ‘comfort zone’ to enable it to respond favorably to the challenges and stresses placed upon it.

The human body is an amazing living, breathing machine. Tapping into its natural abilities, we can raise and lower metabolism, create new muscle and burn stored body fat. In doing so, we will be able to encourage the changes Richard desires to make. This process takes desire, determination and dedication. It also takes time and patience. That is especially so when the body catches the common cold. The best prescription for a cold is to rest, drink plenty of liquids and wait for the ‘storm to blow over.’ But, that’s not an easy thing to do.

Richard wrote in his journal, “At first, it bummed me out, for I have really been enjoying my work out times. Then, the lazy side of me wanted to kick back and not start back up again. But, by having someone working with me, I find that I can actually push those thoughts away.

We began working out again and even though I did not ride my bike to and from the work outs, I am happy that I am back. My body is just a little sore from restarting the program, but I am totally thrilled to be on schedule again and a lot sooner than I thought.”

Snickers or Vodka? Is that really the question?

Vodka, the Bedtime Snack?

Ok, so we all have bad days, stressful days or just days we had a lot going on and we just WANT TO RELAX, me included. I am not one who generally drinks at home nor do I do it often but last night I said why not? I can now answer that question.

On top of not being use to drinking, I changed what I eat and how much I eat when I changed over this blog. I now eat less carbs during the day (they used to absorb any liquor I did drink) and I eat less at night and usually no carbs after about 7pm.

Finding left over Vodka in the refrigerator I decided to make my own drink. I think bartenders use less Vodka than we at home use to make our own. To top it off it was Vanilla Vodka, eeew and I only had non sweetened strawberry Kool Aid as a mixer….eeew again. What the heck it was a tough day, why not?

Needless to say it relaxed me and put me to sleep pretty quickly and I slept most of the night rather soundly. I accomplished what I hoped but there were consequences. I did not wake with a headache but I did wake sort of foggy. I also woke feeling slight hung over regarding the amount of energy I had. Okay, so I had no energy. What’s wrong with that? Well for one thing I did not use the Ab Roller I keep in the bedroom and use every morning when I get out of bed. I ate breakfast as usual and went to my local coffee shop as usual and after drinking iced white tea felt pretty good.

A few minutes ago after knowing I should not have had that drink for at least a few good reasons I decided to Google the words Vodka calories. Based on the amount I had maybe 3-4 ounces (I hope it was less) I had up to 280 calories while in bed. Guess what, that is the same number of calories as a Snickers candy bar. Who watches what they eat and eats a Snickers in bed before they go to sleep?

So, the next time you have that drink or DRINKS, remember that you are probably doing the same calorie damage as a candy bar. The bad things you are adding to it are possible headaches, hangover, lack of energy and lack of motivation the next day because you just do not feel like being motivated. Trust me you will thank yourself for not making this mistake at least so late in the day.

STAY FIT, STAY SEXY...a new way of life.

Change Your Body? What is MY motivation?

WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION?

You have seen others lose weight, build muscle or dramatically change their body appearance. Now you want to do it, too.

There are many ways to do it, many activities, diets or even pills and surgeries that will make it happen. I will not discuss the latter two in this blog post because I think they can be unhealthy and sometimes extreme. However, I believe in changing your routine, your activity level and your diet (and by that I mean what you eat, not a starvation diet).

Changing the look of your body is directly tied to your motivation. Without motivation you will fail. Without the right motivation you may change your appearance but only temporary or soon fail all together.

Ask yourself WHY you want to change your appearance. Ask questions like, what will you not be able to do if I do NOT change. Ask what you will be able to do if you DO change. Will you NOT be able to fit into those clothes you tried from your closet last week? Will you NOT be able to go to pool parties because you feel self conscious? Then ask questions like will you be able to wear tee shirts or tighter summer clothes. Will you be able to approach someone you wanted to but didn’t dare if you were over weight or out of shape?

We all have our own motivations and you need to find yours. Without detail, my reasons are part about being self conscious in certain situations and part jealousy. The jealousy isn’t real jealousy but more of why not me. I have been helping out with personal trainer marketing for sometime. In researching for that role I am always looking at pictures of hot muscle studs. Some are young, some are older but they all cause the same question. Why isn’t that me?

What keeps you motivated? Is it that the date of that pool party is getting closer and closer or someone is coming to town and you have only weeks left until they arrive? Will those reasons get you motivated? Will those reasons get you motivated? You bet they will! Will they KEEP you motivated? NOPE! You won’t stay motivated because sooner or later the party is over and the out of town visitor has gone back home.

So, what will keep you motivated? Maybe realizing there will be other pool parties or other out of town visitors will be motivation enough. However, better motivators are that when you take care of yourself through better nutrition and more exercise activity you are actually healthier. You get sick less often, you have more energy, you are in better moods and you live longer. Imagine looking good and being in a better mood all the time.

Looking better in your own mirror and knowing you just feel healthier everyday may be enough to sustain your new fitness and nutrition program. You may find something in addition to that factor that keeps you motivated. For me I find when I try to motivate others it helps me stay motivated. Some close to me when they hear I want to be a motivator may say, “You?” “Hey, I can’t always be a happy pappy person.” Yet when I try to help others stay motivated or stay positive it helps me stay on track. Remember the saying “garbage in garbage out?” Well, it works pretty much the same way.

So, how am I deciding to keep myself motivated? Easy, by creating this blog site to help others and offer information that can change our lives. Content will also be provided by longtime personal trainer, speaker and fitness columnist, Dennis Mason of www.inshapefitness.net So, get with it, stick to it and let’s do this together. Life begins NOW!

Personal Note from Wesley

On a personal note. When I started this new change of life a few days ago one of the things I did was to start drinking only water at home. I was giving up sweet iced tea so heavily ingrained in my Southern roots. Of course, I could also drink up to a gallon of it per day. So, I gave up both a source of white sugar and caffeine…argghh. This meant my only source of iced tea I now allowed myself was white tea at my local coffee shop where I was a daily regular. Even there I used as little Splenda and/or liquid sugar as possible. I can already see and feel a difference. You will, too. DRINK WATER, LOSE WEIGHT… Yeah, yeah, right! No matter how well you eat and how much you exercise if you are not drinking enough water you are doing yourself an injustice and a big one. Why water? The job of the liver is to convert stored fat to energy. The liver also backs up the function of the kidneys. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver works overtime to do two jobs which and then it can't metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently. You are therefore forcing your liver to store fat. Yes, drinking more water is hard to do. After all, the more water you drink the more often you are heading to the bathroom. Too many times and many people just give up. Be patient. Your body is just flushing out water stored for years. It will take awhile but do not give up it took years to store water throughout your body but in the end it is worth it. The more you drink water the more stored water leaves your body leaving you clean and renewed. Bathroom breaks will become less frequent. Stop drinking caffeine or at least cut down. Caffeine dehydrates you which will work against fat burning and if you drink caffeine to rev you up before the gym you are depriving your muscles of water needed to function. Drink water before, during and after the gym instead. Skin lotions or water? Water of course. Water flushes out impurities in your skin. Water makes your skin look younger. Water plumps up wrinkles and makes it supple. It also improves muscle tone. How much water do I drink each day? Everywhere I read they said the same thing…about eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water for the average person. However, you should drink another eight ounces for every 20-25 pounds of excess weight you carry. Drink or sip water all during the day. Do not try to drink it in just a few periods of time. The key is sip regularly through the day. Spread it out throughout the day. It's not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet. If you wish add fruit slices, or lemon or lime juice. "How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning. Other benefits of drinking adequate amounts of water are regulate appetite, boost energy, alleviate some headaches, help reduce blood pressure and high cholesterol and ease joint pain. It will also lessen the chance for kidney stones and decrease the risk of some cancers. A Caveat: People with kidney problems or other conditions were fluid intake needs to be limited should follow their doctor’s recommendations with correct sodium intake. One potential but rare side effect of fluid intake can be hypoatremia in which electrolytes become imbalanced. Always seek advice from your doctor before trying any new diet or changing eating and drinking habits!

Health...Don't Forget the Water

Desert Hot Springs, CA (March 30, 2009)…The Hotelier’s Association of Desert Hot Springs has hired the services of marketing, public relations and event management firm Total Marketing Partners (TMP) of Palm Springs, California.

The association currently consists of twelve member hotels including: Bella Monte Hot Springs, Hope Springs Resort, Lido Palms, Living Waters Spa/Condos, Miracle Manor Retreat, Sagewater Spa, The Spring Resort & Spa, Swiss Health Resort, Two Bunch Palms, El Morocco Inn & Spa, Hacienda Hot Springs Inn and Tuscan Springs.

Desert Hot Springs “California’s Spa City”® was discovered in modern times by homesteader Cabot Yerxa who referred to this area rich in natural hot mineral water and cold water aquifers as “Miracle Hill.” The hot mineral waters are naturally heated to temperatures as high as 180 degrees by ancient geothermal forces far below the earth’s crust.

Through a scientific study of the benefits of natural mineral waters called Balneology, the hotel group along with the resources of TMP will use the information to educate the world about the healing powers of their hot mineral waters. These studies are especially advanced throughout Japan and Europe, where balneologists have analyzed in great detail the healthful effects of geothermal heated mineral waters for hundreds of years.

“The City of Desert Hot Springs is committed to becoming a world class health and wellness destination based upon its famous miracle waters, unique desert ecosystem, spectacular mountain views, and natural environment.”

The City of Desert Hot Springs has won several “Best Tasting Municipal Water” awards for their fresh and delicious drinking water. The water has been entered in the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition for the last 11 years, and has brought home six medals. They are the only water entity to have ever won all three Berkeley Springs medals - gold, silver and bronze.

www.visitdeserthotsprings.com

Following Richard's Fitness, part 1

Bottom Line Art Director, Richard Vaughn (age 48) and I have known each other for a number of years. At the beginning of this year I asked him to work with me for the next 90 days on a study of how the body responds to what is commonly called ‘functional training’ and report on his progress in each issue of The Bottom Line. Functional Training is exercising your whole body to achieve positive results in body fat loss, muscle building/toning and overall wellness. The concept uses movements that the body normally performs on a daily basis, such as pulling, pushing and bending. The program focuses on these movements three times per week plus uses other strengthening and endurance promoting activities such as cycling.

We began the program on January 21^st with a comprehensive fitness evaluation. This included a 3-minute endurance step test to measure cardio output and recovery time following the test. Other base line counts included push ups, crunches, various flexibility movements, basic body measurements, body weight and body fat readings. The first work out period began on Friday, January 30^th.

Normal work out days are scheduled to be 3 times per week. In Richards’s case, the ‘warm up’ and ‘cool down’ portions of the routine will be cycling between our homes (about a 20 minute ride each way). Each period of training will include stretching movements, cardio/aerobic actions such as power walking in all directions, ground based body weight calisthenics, free weight movements and (weather permitting) Aqua Fit drills in the pool.

I asked Richard to keep a ‘diary’ of his feelings and impressions as we progress. After only a short time of training he wrote, “I had trouble sleeping before I began, but now I fall asleep quickly. I also had low grade headaches frequently, but now they seem to have gone away. I also seem to be happier, more enthusiastic, have more energy and feel better about myself, in general.”

Total Marketing Partners Promos

Palm Springs premier marketing firm, Total Marketing Partners (TMP) is promoting their new client Cabot's Museum. While it is not IN Palm Springs but in nearby Desert Hot Springs, TMP is in Palm SPrings and that is what this blog is all about...Palm SPrings businesses. Congratulations to David Peet and Jeff Hocker on a great new client. 

 

The next Artists and Angels for Cabot’s event will be at the Friday, Feb. 6, Art Walk at the Art Place on Corporate Way in Palm Deert.

Jeff Abbott, an artist at Cabot’s Museum’s Trading Post & Gallery, will be the featured artist at the Jake Dent Gallery and will present his sculptures made from reclaimed wood from the Coachella Valley area and other regions of the Western U.S. Jeff will be discussing his mission to reduce landfill use by making beautiful and useful art pieces out of wood that would otherwise be dumped into our landfills.

Jeff has been in the tree business as a tree removal specialist for the past ten years and has emerged as an artist with a special interest in connecting helping the environment with sculptural art.

His sculptures are all one of a kind creations, smooth and sensual to the touch. The grains of the woods are highlighted to bring out the natural artistry of the wood.

He can often be found hoisting huge roots into his truck. Jeff’s pieces compliment any decor and add a sense of natural warmth and grounding to the home and garden.

Jeff can also be seen working working at the Cabot’s Pueblo Museum for most of the month of February, assisting artist Peter Toth repair the Waokiye 60’ carving from the life work art project of Peter Toth, “The Trail of the Whispering Giants,” one of 67 Native American sculptures found in each of the 50 states. Waokiye is found on the Cabot’s Museum campus in Desert Hot Springs.

Jeff’s association with the Jake Dent Gallery and with Cabot’s Pueblo Museum comes with the understanding that both Cabot’s and the Jake Dent Gallery specialize in “Green Art.” The Gallery features natural pottery and wood art. Cabot’s Pueblo in Desert Hot Springs was built entirely out of reclaimed materials, making it America’s 1st Green Museum. Cabot’s Museum will have an information table at the event.

The Art Walk takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Art Place on Corporate Way in Palm Desert. A portion of the proceeds from sales from the exhibit at the Jake Dent Gallery will be donated to Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. The address is 41801 Corporate Way, Suite 3, off Hovely between Cook and Portola. For information, call (760) 835-6144 or (760) 776-8051.

Survive Stress with SOUP

The key to surviving economic stress and all other stress is healthy eating. "COMFORT FOOD" is many times high in carbs and fat and will put you to sleep (carb you out) and make you gain weight if too much is eaten too often. That puts you at risk for health problems. So here is my scoup for healthy soup.

It will be readyin just slightly more than half an hour. Serve with some crusty whole-grain bread and top with grated Romano or Parmesan cheese.Makes 4 servings, 2 cups each

Dennis' Healthy Chicken Soup Recipe:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
16 ounces chicken tenders, cut into bite-size chunks
2 small zucchini, finely diced
2 large shallot, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 tablespoons orzo or other tiny pasta
3 cups packed baby spinach

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

2. Add zucchini, shallot, Italian seasoning and salt and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth, wine and orzo (or other tiny pasta); increase heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the pasta is tender, about 8 minutes, or according to package directions. Stir in spinach, the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices from the chicken; cook, stirring, until the chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes.

If you're local, contact me for a nutrition program and personal fitness program that's easy to manage and easy to afford.

3~90~FIT Palm Springs

Forget the gym with its crowds, waiting lines, loud music and fluorescent lighting. Get outside, have fun, breathe fresh air, get some sunshine and work out. New from Master Fitness Trainer Dennis Mason is the best new fitness system called 3~90~FIT and is available only in Palm Springs.

3~90~FIT is a system for exercising the entire body, 3 times per week for 90 days. The technique used is Functional Integrated Training (FIT). FIT combines numerous training styles and movements designed to exercise the entire body as it was meant to work. FIT makes the best use of each body part to operate in harmony with other groups of the whole body. For example, performing a barbell curl is good, but performing pull ups on a chin bar gives improved overall results.

Some 3~90 FIT exercises are designed to increase cardio-vascular performance, while others promote muscular growth. Still others focus on burning off excess body fat. All of these movements are performed in rapid sequence from one to the other. When these different movements are combined into an exercise session, they have a synergetic effect on the whole body and contribute to a greater level of health and fitness. The results from this type of training increases your metabolic rate, thereby inducing faster muscular gains and accelerating body fat loss.

3~90~FIT utilizes the best techniques of aerobics, calisthenics, yoga, weight training, tai chi, body resistance, isometric, plyometrics, power walking and water fitness in warmer months. Agility, Size, Speed, Strength and Grace are all addressed with 3~90~fit. You will look better, feel better and have more energy than ever before. You will have more fun; eliminate boredom as well as sticking points than with any other system, gym or trainer you've ever tried.

You owe it to yourself to be in the best shape of your life...With 3~90~FIT, you can. With proper diet and adherence to the FIT plan, you can see results by spring. Video footage below (in process)shows a sample of movements from 3~90~FIT in Palm Springs. Go to the YouTube direct link and Subscribe for future videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VPtSNHFrwA

Palm Springs 390FIT with Dennis Mason from Wesley Saidso on Vimeo.

REFLECTIONS-Prepare For Re-entry

Hard as it may be to believe…another year is rapidly drawing to a close. Somewhere within the distant corners of my mind I can still hear my mother advising me that “the older we get, the faster time goes by.” Once laughing at that notion, now well along into my mature adult years, I understand how true that thought really is.

What a mysterious thing is ‘time’. It is neither good nor bad…it’s just another unit of measure in an ever changing universe. The important consideration is what we do with the time we have. There are really no rules to obey; no forms to follow; no obligations to fulfill. Yet, everything we do or fail to do will have an effect on things to come.

For example, who would have ever thought that come this festive holiday season, we would be face to face with the global challenges we are now experiencing. Wars, famine, economic chaos, unemployment, real estate devaluation, escalating crime, an expanding assortment of illnesses, health related difficulties and world wide environmental deterioration now stand at our front door. By and large almost all of these difficulties have been brought about by the choices and decisions we made or didn’t make as time went by over the years.

But, it really doesn’t do anything to simply point a finger here or there; for a point in every direction is the same as no point at all. Again, what matters is what we do with the time we have. We can take a look deep within ourselves to find the place where we are free from prejudice, ego, anger, hatred, vengeance and fear. That place is where you will find Love, Understanding, Compassion and Benevolence. And, from that place, we can make wise decisions to help correct many of the problems we are faced with, today.

Best of health,

Dennis Mason, CPT

[Dennis Mason is a certified personal trainer and coach with over 30 years experience, an NPC bodybuilding competitor, charity cyclist, health and fitness motivational speaker, author, regular fitness columnist ‘The Art of Fitness’ for the Palm Springs Bottom Line magazine and Sports Massage Therapist. Contact him for information regarding his services and private studio in Palm Springs.]

© 2008 Dennis Mason All rights reserved.

On My Birthday, May 19, 1955

What happened on YOUR birthday and in your birthday year?

Just for fun I decided to see what if anything happened on my birthday or during the year of my birth. Ok, I’ll tell you May 19, 1955 but next year I want presents.

I didn’t find any celebrities listed as being born on my exact date but these were a few who share the same day. In no particular order they are Rachel Appleton, Jordan Pruitt, Kevin Garrett, Kyle Eastwood (dang he is cute, thanks Clint), Grace Jones (love her),Joey Ramone, Andre the Giant, Pete Townshend, Nora Ephron, James Fox, Malcolm X, Ho Chi Minh (boo), Jimmy Hoffa, Jr.

Allison, Clint and Kyle

Now for some of the stuff that happened during 1955. A favorite movie of mine Lady and the Tramp is released and Disneyland opens (gawd, I am as old as Disneyland), Gunsmoke debuts on television and it is STILL on tv (makes me have hope), Argentina President Juan Peron is killed (sad but love the musical, even loved Madonna in the movie), James Dean killed in car crash (talk about a loss), Mickey Mouse Club premiers on t.v. (I had the biggest crush on Annette for years, ok, ok then it shifted to Frankie).

The Austrian State Treaty, which restores Austria's sovereignty, is concluded between the four occupying powers of World War II and Austria (wow, if this hadn’t happened imagine: no Terminator, no Mr. Olympia and no Governor of California for Arnold).

That was then, this is now: General Motors becomes first U.S. corporation to earn over $1 Billion in a single year...WAKE UP G.M.

Most progressive event Rosa Parks is arrested on a bus and civil rights movement begins.

Worst thing in my lifetime history: the infamous and hateful Reverend Fred Phelps establishes Westboro Baptist Church and all its anti-gay hate. Maybe someone should make him ride at the back of the bus.

INNdulge Yourself in Palm Springs

INNdulge is one of those exceptional resorts here in Palm Springs. Deciding what to write about such a great property with so many great things to point out was so difficult that I decided to let the pros do it for me. So, I took what professional travel critics said in 2008 and included them for you to read. After you read how great it is check out their web page and see the great photos of this gay, clothing optional resort. www.inndulge.com

"It gets roasting hot in Palm Springs, so luckily at INNdulge, the clothing is "forever" optional. Twenty-four sharply decorated rooms surround a large heated pool amid gorgeous palm-fringed landscaping and a 12-person Jacuzzi that's open 24 hours - you do the math! Of all the clothing-optional resorts in the west's gay mecca, this comes off as the best."

-PLANET OUT January, 2008.

"The name says it all. This is definitely a place where you can relax and indulge in the many pleasures offered by the resort and the city of Palm Springs. This resort is clothing optional with a crystal clear swimming pool and large Jacuzzi that overlook the spectacular San Jacinto Mountains. The resort was awarded the five palms rating by Planet Out, their highest rating for gay accommodations. Close to all the bars, restaurants and shopping in Palm Springs, this resort is the perfect venue for your next vacation."

-DESERT DAILY GUIDE June, 2008.

"John and Jean-Guy are like proud parents, and we keep going back," says Mark Holt, a frequent guest. "It's like an interesting mix of people from all over the world." Besides complimentary continental breakfast by the enclosed courtyard pool, the 24-room, clothing optional resort offers a 12-person whirlpool spa, an onsite workout room and wireless Internet through-out the property.

"it's a completely different experience than staying at the Hilton, where you are incognito," states co-owner Jean-Guy. "You Don't come to our hotel to be anonymous. You have fun, meet people, and have a good time."

-IN LOS ANGELES June, 2008