Healthy Lifestyle Design

Imagine you’re living in a game-world and you’re the hero. To survive and thrive, you must “level up” your life by becoming stronger, faster, and more fearless. Such vitality empowers you to overcome obstacles and evil villains.

The real-world is not all that different in approach. To survive and thrive, you must seek to “level up” your life each day. Such is the crusade of the healthy lifestyle knight.

Steve Kamb is one of those knights. In fact, he’s the founder of Nerd Fitness and leader of an entire Rebel Army pitted against obesity and all manner of unhealthy darkness.

And there’s something wonderfully unique about Steve – he’s an alpha-nerd, and damn proud of it!

I’ve gotten to know Steve over the past few months. He and I recently sat down for a great chat about his philosophies and how we all can become healthy lifestyle heroes (aka nerds!). It’s my very great pleasure to share with you now that intimate chat as an exclusive interview.

Let’s get our healthy lifestyle geekiness on! Read More

Frosti’s Backflip in Lamma by Tyson Cecka

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know whatcha gonna get.” – Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump

I love Forrest’s analogy of life as a box of chocolates. It beautifully illustrates life’s diversity and unpredictability.

But instead of chocolates, I prefer viewing life as a box of crayons – an endless one with infinite colors. With this box, we are free to choose the hues that most appeal to us. There are no prescribed choices. And our canvas has no lines. We can design our life as wildly as we so dare to dream.

So you have but one question to ask yourself – “Do I color inside the lines?” I hope you don’t, because where’s the fun in that?

And yet many do. They choose the unoriginal, boring colors and carefully conform to non-existent lines. This results in a dull and unremarkable existence.

How then do you live a unique, joyous, and vibrant life?

You must think outside the box. More importantly, you must live outside the box. Precisely how is up to you. And rather than tell you further how you might do this I thought I’d show you how.

What follows is a 50 photo collage depicting a few impressive and radiant ways to live a joyous and vibrant life. They range from advanced forms of athleticism to gentle moments of serenity and joy.

Most won’t be your cup of tea – maybe none will. But the point is that meaningful happiness, health, and vitality come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Find yours!

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I’m proud to share the following guest post by Brandon Stanfill.

Pop Quiz.

America’s health is failing. US obesity rates are soaring. US health care costs are suffocating families as well as the entire economy.

What do you do?

How about adopt a little (un)patriotism?!

Mind you, America remains one of the greatest countries in the world. The opportunities and freedoms our society provides inspire millions around the world to seek better lives. Many even choose to immigrate to the US for precisely these reasons. Go USA!

But with that said, America’s poor health and declining health trajectory leaves but one conclusion – the US hasn’t figured out how to optimally live healthy.

What do you do?

You and I have the same two options. We can wait for the US government to figure out this epic dilemma for us. Or we can take our health into our own hands and pursue our own goals of vibrant health. And should we choose the later, we’d do well to heed the example and teachings of other countries around the world whose health records are far better than America’s.

Simply put – other countries from around the world can help us all lead happier, healthier lives. It’s time we listened up and got serious about our multi-cultural health education. Read More

Photo: My sister Amy and Opa, Father’s Day 2008

Total reading time: 11 minutes

The greatest man in the world has left us. He’s now walking amongst Angels in a place far better than this one. He died last Wednesday (August 4, 2010) after a lengthy and valiant battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

To most he was known as Robert (Bob) Succop Whiteside. To me and a special few, he was – and shall forever be – known as Opa.

Opa’s life and (now) legacy are epic. He achieved what most dare only to dream of – a life of remarkable purpose and influence. His contributions to life have forever changed the course of history. In all, he made the world a better place. Good job Opa!

There is no easy or satisfactory way to convey all that Opa gave and did. Thus, what follows is the briefest and most inept retelling of his legacy.

Opa was a…

• Decorated World War II naval officer for heroism in the midst of battle
• Distinguished graduate of Carnegie Tech (Carnegie Mellon) at a time when the university was more prestigious than Yale
• Successful businessman for US Steel during the height of the American steel industry
• World traveler to Egypt, Greece, Russia, the Middle East, and more

But more importantly, Opa was a…

• Loving father to six children – one son (eldest) and five daughters (the latter two twins!)
• Devoted husband to Elizabeth – my Oma
• Adoring grand-dad (Opa is the German word) to 14 grand-kids – I’m the eldest
• Lifelong Boy Scout committed to public service
• Consummate gentlemen in every aspect

Everyone who knew Opa loved him. Every life he touched benefited from his grace. Hence, per his example and in his honor, I proudly give you the 10 epic life lessons of the world’s greatest man – my Opa.

May you benefit from his legacy as we did the man. Read More

Launch sequence initiated.

Blastoff in T-minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….BOOM!

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. It’s my pleasure to announce that we have a successful launch of FEARLESS HEALTH: How to Thrive in an Unhealthy World!

This premier HLD manifesto has a simple premise – that fearless healthy living is among the few true ways of maximizing the human experience in any manner you see fit.

The objective is equally plain – to inspire you to pursue and train you to achieve FEARLESS HEALTH.

I’ve been hyping FEARLESS HEALTH now for a while. I shared an exclusive excerpt last week. And those that have joined the HLD Alliance Newsletter have already received their copy.

But now, today, this very moment, FEARLESS HEALTH has been unleashed for the entire world to receive, enjoy, and prosper from.

This is a gift from me to you – free and with no strings attached! Read More

I’m thrilled to share this exclusive excerpt from my first manifesto – affectionately entitled FEARLESS HEALTH: How to Thrive in an Unhealthy World.

I hope you enjoy this exclusive sneak peak!

Afterwards I’ll share more exciting news about the manifesto including how you can get insider access to the report before anyone else as well as receive a special bonus!

But now let me introduce you to the Glorious Holy Grail of Health!

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Let’s be honest. You didn’t come here to see me. You came here to see the true blogging masters of healthy living. And for good reason – these are the titans of health blogs that can help you gain your health confidence and live a vibrant life!

So, without further do, I invite you to come and meet the most influential health blogs in the universe and (in some cases) the brilliant minds behind them. Have fun and I’ll catch you on the other side. Read More

The path to remarkable and unconventional health isn’t an undiscovered one. In truth – it’s simple and straightforward. But when you don’t know what you’re doing – or worse, when you think you know what you’re doing – you can easily venture into a dark and dangerous universe.

That was my reality at the dawn of summer, 2002 – when I became obsessed with “getting fit”. Vanity was the bottom line. And any means to that end was justified.

It was a toxic outlook on life, and an even worse existence. But I learned powerful lessons from those mistakes. I’ve since used them to architect a remarkable healthy life. And I have them to share to you now so that you don’t experience the same darkness that I did. Read More

Landon Donovan scores the game winning goal for the US against Algeria in stoppage time during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Do you have the heart of a champion – a healthy lifestyle champion?

If you have ever felt that a healthy lifestyle was like sports, you were right. Both adhere to similar conditions and reward similar behaviors.

I know, I know – sport metaphors are a dime a dozen. And I know that they can become overused platitudes at times. But I believe that sport analogies are so popular because they are powerful communication and education vehicles.

Thus, I proudly give you this sport metaphors guide to healthy lifestyle greatness!

Truly, if you desire a fabulously healthy life, then you need to batter up and swing for the fences! Read More

(Photo credit: Indywriter)

The following is a guest post from Patrick McCrann at Endurance Lifestyle Design.

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One of the most important benefits of being a triathlete, or being an athlete in any endurance sport, is the lifestyle that accompanies your activity. Your decision to pursue your sport means that you have had to organize almost everything you do in such a way that you can actively participate to your fullest. Triathlon encourages you to exercise frequently, to eat properly, to manage your sleep, to balance recovery, to choose the right equipment. There’s so many different facets to this sport — and so many different areas within this sport where you can focus on improvement and find opportunities for growth and development — that your lifestyle is fundamentally, and similarly, impacted. Read More