September 2007
In This Issue:
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
"It was a dark and stormy night" is a good description on what the weather was like at the start of the 16th Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle endurance event in France - 750 miles in less than 90 hours. The weather was the worst seen in 50 years - pouring rain, 50 degree temperatures, and a brisk north wind. And it all began at the moment Marlene Merritt started riding - 10 pm Monday night.
Imagine you’re riding your bike from Austin to Colorado Springs. Yes, you will be riding through the night, and no, you won’t be getting much sleep, since you need to finish in 3 and ½ days. Yes, that’s about 250 miles per day, yes, it’s possible to fall asleep while riding, and no, France is definitely not flat. Marlene Merritt had spent all spring qualifying for this once-every-four-years event, finishing qualifiers ranging in distances from 125 miles to 375 miles, all within certain time limits, getting used to the distances, the necessary speed, sleep deprivation, and night riding - all vital elements to finishing PBP. Nasty weather? That just requires gritting your teeth and hoping it will get better as you ride on…
Alas, that is NOT what happened. It rained off and on, mostly on, during the entire event, and never warmed up – it’s estimated that there were 5 hours of sun during the entire 90 hours. It’s also estimated that the weather added 10-12 hours on to participant’s times – pretty significant in a timed event where you MUST make the checkpoints by specific times and finish in 90 hours or less. Approximately 5,000 people started the event, of all nationalities, but with the conditions, more than 40% dropped out. After about 24 hours of slogging through the rain and dark and up and down the hills (all the French villages are, apparently, at the top of hills), Marlene decided Enough Was Enough and that more fun was to be had in the support car than sitting on a soggy bicycle seat in wet clothing. Probably the best decision made regarding this whole event, some would say. A breakthrough, other would say, in having fun vs. suffering needlessly. All in all, most people are thrilled to find out that crazy cyclists can be human too!
Despite not finishing, the Austin American Statesman did an interview with Marlene, focusing on past endurance events that she has completed, and the mentality necessary to take on such challenges, (warped might be a description here, but it could also be adventurous, open to trying new opportunities, and willing to take on things that are scary). See the full article, estimated to be out on Oct. 1!
Back to School Fall Cleanse!
This is a great time to do a Cleanse. The kids are back in school. The summer pool parties are over. Get cleaned up before the holiday season! Many people choose September to do a Cleanse! Lose that final 10 pounds, drop your cholesterol 50-60 points, get your hormones straightened out, get better energy, better sleep and better digestion. You also get three coaching calls during the Cleanse to ensure your success and great results.
Top reasons to do a Cleanse:
- Arthritis
- Allergies
- Weight
- Energy
- Sleep
- Skin
- Hormones
- Digestion
- Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Sugar/Carbohydrate Addiction
- Immune system Problems
Exposure to toxic chemicals:
- Food coloring
- Preservatives
- Trans-fatty acids/Hydrogenated Oils
- Aluminum
- Mercury
- Pesticides
- Gasoline and oil from your car
Call us to find out how a Cleanse could help you! Included in the Cleanse are:
Detoxifying herbs
Nutrition your liver needs to detoxify chemicals
A vegetable and protein powder for in-between meals
Three coaching calls
Before and after toxicity survey
Recipes
Before and after body fat testing (in office)
Antibiotics have recently been proven to cause asthma in children. The medical journal Chest (June 2007) reports that antibiotic use in children increases the risk of asthma by 20 - 50% depending on the medication and the frequency. In the US, 1 out of 13 children have asthma and 25 -30% of all children visiting emergency rooms are there for asthma. From birth to age 3 most kids get from 5-15 ear infections, which are treated with antibiotics. This is preventable with nutrition that builds the immune system. Fighting off these infections naturally builds the immune system for life. This reduces the incidence of many other diseases including autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, thyroid disease, irritable bowel syndrome). Antibiotic use damages the natural flora in the gut and this hampers the immune system, tripling the odds of another infection within the next month!
We can improve this for you by:
1) treating infections early – begin with natural solutions as soon as possible
2) avoid infections by treating all congestion and allergies
3) boost the immune system with whole food nutrition – Fred Flintstone isn’t going to work here
Call us – we can help!
