Analysis of Warren Buffet Food Portfolio

I like consistency.  This is one of the reasons why Warren Buffett has an estimated net worth of $74 billion.  He is remarkably consistent, day in and day out.  Yep, he stops by his favorite fast food establishment every morning on his way to work and pays exact change for one of three predetermined morning meals, favorably priced at no more than $3.17 per breakfast.  In my humble opinion, I believe Mr. Buffett is paying too high a price.  Here are the details from my analysis of his breakfast portfolio and why I encourage him to make a change before the next crash:

Breakfast Item Audited

1 can of Cherry Coca Cola

(Not included in today's audit due to time constraints:  Sausage, Egg, Bacon, Cheese Biscuit)

Actual Ingredients of Coca-Cola, according to Coca-Cola website:

carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine.

Fine print: This product includes ingredients sourced from genetically engineered (GE) crops, commonly known as GMOs, which the FDA regards as safe.

Recommendation

Disregard FDA opinion regarding morning beverage as these statements may be influenced by outside lobbyists who lack a complete understanding of the risks associated with GE crops. Dump this beverage from your breakfast portfolio, skip your fast food stop and try the Caveman Food Experiment for 45 days.  Track results and see if avoiding processed foods and artificial ingredients improve lipid panels from last health assessment.  Share test results with followers to help them improve their stock performance.  Have a great day.

Celebrating Two Family Birthdays Today

The first-born of the last generation on my wife's side and the first-born of the next generation in our immediate family our both celebrating their birthdays today.  Inez is still youthful at 95 and Ryan is welcoming the next quarter of his life at 26.  Every one of my wife's first cousins made it to the reunion celebration yesterday.  Those of us who married into my wife's extended family are nicknamed the "outlaws" and we huddled together for our own photo with Inez.  I can't think of a better family to be a part of.  Happy birthday, Inez and Ryan.  May you have the best birthdays ever.  I would share a family picture here but they may send a posse after me so I better keep things private.  Have a great day.

Living With Two Strikes Against Me

"Strike one," I hollered while filling out my diabetes risk factor assessment yesterday.  It was only the first box on the list – family history of diabetes.  I proceeded to the next item, age greater than 45.  "Strike two," I yelled like an angry umpire.  This time I cringed while the pharmacist on duty slid over to observe the situation.

"Am I out if I get one more strike?  I asked.

"This will all be over in two minutes," the staff member helping me with the test assured.  She pricked me with a needle before counting to three.  It turns out I'm safe, even with two strikes against me.  The A1c level test result was 4.9%.  Anything below 5.6% is considered normal.  I'm sharing this with friends and family because diabetes is a serious issue and it shouldn't be ignored.  Some of your strikes against you may not be within your control, like your age or your family history.  I'm one of the lucky ones.  In fact, my risk assessment sheet once looked more like a winning blackout bingo card than a ticket to a healthy life.  I'm thankful the Caveman Food Experiment gave me a mulligan on all my strikes and a clean slate on a new bingo card.  See your physician annually and be proactive with your health.  Have a great day.

Step into My Sandbox

"You won't be able to find it," I replied to Chelsea at my day job earlier in the week when she asked how to find my blog.  I spitted out the name in a hushed tone like it was some kind of secret I wanted to keep hidden from public scrutiny.

"I give up," Chelsea said about half-way through my reply.

"Why is the name so difficult?" asked another.  The truth is I'm sitting here in a glorified sandbox just like I did in my youth with my siblings and my cousins on the beach in Bahia Bay, located in San Diego.  The texture of the sand makes it easy to create sand castles, especially when you mix the water and the salt and pepper colored sand just right to create squiggly formations with your fingers.

Visitors to this blog are still trying to make sense of the squiggly sentences I stitch together without any formal training, except for some stints in high school with the likes of Mrs. Fields who first exposed me to fancy-schmancy words, like alacrity.  Here I sit in disbelief that I actually used alacrity in a sentence.  You see, I'm haunted by my past.  I may be able to run but I can't hide.  I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe and I don't really fit in.  New tennis friends are actually retired English Professors and they're serving and volleying questions about my writing I prefer dodging.  What am I to do?  Can't I just play in my sandbox without having to share?

The Divine Editor of my life says, "keep playing in your sand box and don't quit your day job."  What kind of senseless instruction is that?  Am I not qualified to write?  If you're here in this sandbox, you already know the answer.  So do I.  God doesn't call the qualified.  Do you really think those fisherman Jesus called upon were the best choices to change the world?  The answer is found in one word – results.  I'm going to keep floundering here every morning when I wake up until the day I die with alacrity.  My editor can do whatever is necessary to make sense of my squiggles and perhaps change the world, one chapter at a time.  I'm still shaking my head in disbelief that 1.5 million people visited this sandbox and that a couple of readers keep coming back daily.  All I can say is thank you for stepping into my sand box.  Your alacrity to join the fun inspires me to venture outside my sandbox and share my stories with others.  Maybe someday I can give directions to this blog address without being so secretive.  Have a great day.

Around My Writing World in 80 Days

My wife asked me this morning, "how do you come up with this stuff?"  I was sharing today's blog title with her while she pulled a scarf from her wardrobe and wrapped it around her neck.

"You know how it works, honey," I said.  "It's all part of the writing process.  The Holy Spirit wakes me up in the middle of the night and takes me on a magic carpet ride, inspiring my daily thoughts."

"Well, thank God you let me sleep," she said, giving me a kiss before spinning around in her classic Mary Tyler Moore style and disappearing into the snow flurries.   Here's the rest of the story...

80 days is the tip of the iceberg.  I'm not counting my first novel because it's fiction, even though others tell me my characters in The Caveman in the Mirror seem oddly familiar to them.  Besides, that part of my writing career turned out to be highly toxic as the sedentary lifestyle during all those days writing exposed some health issues.  The first thirty-five days are recounted in God's Black Sheep Squadron.  It's about our family time with dad during his epic battle with cancer.  From the time his plane landed until we said our final good-byes, it was thirty-five days.

The remaining forty-five days have to do with my cousin's 45-Day Caveman Experiment that forever changed my life and most likely extended my life span.  I'm sharing all the details on May 1.  That's it for now, I'm disappearing into the flurries and heading to my day job.  Have a great day.

The Secret to Winning

I like being around winners.  It's not because they win all the time.  In fact, many winners I know don't win often.  I call them winners because these folks are unshakeable in their belief that they will win – eventually.  This is the secret to winning.  Share it with someone you love who may need some encouragement today.  Have a great day.

Change Your World in Two Chapters

Are you one of those people?  The ones who skip breakfast because you're too busy.  If you keep it up, I'm guessing your world may change, only not in a good way.  All those skipped meals spell trouble.  Perhaps you're skimping on your sleep for the same reason – you believe there's not enough time in the day to get things done.  Consider your life is a book.  I want you to focus on the first two chapters.  If you get these right, I have a feeling everything that follows will be a good read.  Here goes:

Chapter One – Breakfast

Fill these blank pages every morning with a Caveman Signature Smoothie and a fried egg topped with mushroom, sliced onion, tomato and pepper, sauteed in olive oil and add some walnuts and almonds on the side.  Click on the YouTube video above showing how to make the smoothie that will give you all the energy you need for a great start to your day.

Chapter Two – Sleep

Sleep 8 hours every day.  No exceptions.  No excuses.  The End.  Have a great day.

What did the caveman eat?

There are many misconceptions about how our caveman ancestors lived.  Most falsely believe we are healthier because of our modern day advancements.  In my opinion, the one major advantage the caveman had over us is healthy eating.  They had no preservatives, no artificial sweeteners, no polluted soil or water to contend with.  They did have abundant berries, seeds and other foods we often overlook.  Our ancestors walked around and ate whatever happened to be growing naturally.  Nothing in their diet was processed.

Think about why our health care system is broken.  It's not because of our doctors.  It's because of the patients.  Yes, it's the patients.  We sit on the couch all day, eat processed foods loaded with artificial ingredients and then ask our doctors to give us prescription pills for our own food-induced ailments.  When the pills don't work, we ask for bigger doses.  Our ancestors didn't know what high blood pressure was.  They rarely got sick.  Why?  Because they ate the foods our bodies need to stay healthy.  And we don't.  Our big bellies are a symptom of just how out of control our food choices are.   Stay tuned to hear more from the latest group of caveman volunteers.  They look more like our ancestors than modern man.  One thing I know for sure – these folks are looking good.  Have a great day.

Standing Room Only

A caveman may have invented the wheel but he was too smart to invent the chair.  Sitting is bad for your health.  90% of the people I work with at my day job stand most of the day.  If you're looking for a simple solution to help you get fit, try giving up the chair.  Your back will thank you.  Have a great day.

The Biggest Loser of the New Year

The update came in just after yesterday's story was published and it's a whopper – 16.8 pounds released thru day 21 of the Caveman Challenge.  Chris's doctor will also be pleased with his reduced blood pressure readings which decreased from 134/71 to 122/65.  Chris is hopeful his doctor will cut the bp medication as these readings continue to decline.   I'm thrilled with all the reports.  We're not even at the half-way mark and these volunteers are feeling great about their progress.

If you're curious how so many people are losing weight, it's not too late to join the challenge.  There is no cost and the payoff is huge.  I read a quote about how losing ten pounds can reduce the risk of getting diabetes by 60%.  This is important to me because it runs in my family.  Here's what the latest group of volunteers committed to in the Caveman 45-day Challenge:

• Concentrate on five foods – fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.
• Avoid processed foods or packages with artificial ingredients.
• Skip dairy.
• Limit alcohol to no more than two glasses of wine per day.
• Give up buns on your burgers, tortillas and chips.

People ask, "is this really something I can do?"  My answer is, "it depends."  Consider how risky your current situation is, including your weight, your need for prescription medicine, your lipid panel readings and your blood pressure.  Are you willing to risk your health because you're not sure you can give up certain foods?  I believe eating like a caveman for 45 days is a small price to pay in order to avoid something terrible  – like a heart attack, stroke or cancer.  Give this challenge a try and join my skinny friends today.  You may be the biggest loser of the year.  Have a great day.

Caveman Volunteers Celebrate Losses

Helen and Brittany from my day job are teaming up to lose weight and Helen reports a ten pound loss in her first week.  John is also down ten pounds.  Chris will be sending in his third weekly report this weekend, complete with weight, pulse and blood pressure readings.  Paige loves wearing her size 0 jeans.  Others are jumping on board.  Everybody's losing.  The Caveman Challenge is catching on.  I'm really happy because this is typically the time of year when most people give up on their goals and revert to their old way of life.  These folks are committed.  The caveman challenge is not only about the first 45 days of the experiment – it's about making permanent changes to your eating habits in order to live a long and prosperous life free of health issues.  I'm nuts about it.  Stay tuned for more updates.  It looks like this is going to be an amazing year for all the lab rats.  That's the skinny on today's report.  Have a great day.

Watch Your Reactions

The way you respond to the world around you affects the quality of your life.  What will it be today?  Rewards or consequences?  You decide.  I'm going to pay special attention to my reactions today.  The world is especially volatile and I'm going to make sure my reactions are polite and respectful.  Have a great day. 

Can You Pass the Sustainability Test?

Can you go the distance?  That's what sustainability means – the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.  It's what separates fad diets from permanent lifestyle changes.  Anyone can lose weight in the short term but what about keeping those pounds off forever?  The same is true with relationships.  Anyone can step up to the altar and say yes.  What about that time period after the honeymoon?  How do long-term couples stay together permanently?

I don't have all the answers.  What I do know is my faith is a big factor in my sustainability.  I believe I was created in the image of an all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving God.  He has no beginning and no end.  As God's creatures, we are designed to live forever.  Sure, there's the growing old part and a death scene we all face, but I believe there is something after that lasts forever.  This belief in eternity makes everything else seem less cloudy.  The uncertainty dissipates.  Sustainability is part of my DNA.  I believe I can go the distance.  How about you?  Can you pass the sustainability test?  Give God a try.  He will get you to the finish line and beyond.  All you have to do is ask.  Have a great day.

How You Can Change the World

It's happening.  I thought it was some far-fetched dream at first but it's really happening.  And it can happen to you, too.  It starts with an unshakeable belief that you can change the world.  It doesn't matter where you live, how old you are or what you do for a living.  You can be the difference maker.  Ready?  Here goes:

• Take an inventory of all the gifts you have.  If you're not sure about this step, ask the people closest to you to identify your best qualities.  Write everything down.  These are the ingredients for your "change the world" recipe.
• Cultivate your gifts.  They work best when they're used on a daily basis.  Practice, practice, practice.
• Never give up.
• Don't listen to the naysayers who secretly want you to fail because they're afraid you may succeed if you keep trying.
• Learn as much as you can, especially from your failures.  
• Seek out people smarter than you who are willing to share their life lessons with you.  These mentors will teach you how to survive on days when you think your idea about changing the world is impossible.
• Change the world.

If you need some re-assurance about today's thoughts, please bookmark this page and put a note on your calendar to come back on May 1.  Or, subscribe to this blog and we can work on this idea together, one day at a time.  Today is your day to change the world.  It's time.  Have a great day.

What an Odd Year We're Experiencing

"I'm supposed to root for the Chargers next year?  Say what?"

Nope. I'm not gonna go there.  I know the door's wide open but I refuse to write about politics, other than to say our world is about to be shaken up big time later this week.  Our political world isn't the only one going through upheaval.  Take a look at what's going on in the world of football.  My favorite rivalry is the Raiders vs. the Chargers.  It got so intense that I refused to buy tickets to these games for personal safety reasons.  The weirdness won't stop.  The Chargers are moving out of town to a soccer field in LA and the Raiders are relocating to Vegas.  As John McEnroe would say, "You cannot be serious!"

Odd year or not, I'm counting my blessings.  They tend to be more lopsided in the odd years.  My odd-year good luck streak began in '87 when I met my wife.  We married in '89 and had three kids in '91, '93 and '95.  My first business venture hatched in '05 and my first book was birthed on St. Patrick's Day, 2011.  The second semester of my latest book writing adventure is almost over and it looks like the due date of 5/1 will keep the odd years memorable.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.  Have a great day.

When a Chapter Ends

It's not the end of the world in San Diego but if you're a Chargers fan like me, it may feel like it.  My heart aches for all the fans.  It feels like losing a family member.  Even the local moving companies are refusing to participate in the relocation.  It's too painful.  While the book may appear to be closed for San Diego, life must go on for some of my favorite people including Phil Rivers, Antonio Gates,  and Charger newcomer Joey Bosa.  I will never forget the amazing Ladainian Tomlinson or "Lights Out" Shawn Merrimen.  These are the people who inspired me to give my best every day.  Now it's lights out in America's finest city for professional football.

There's always some amount of pain associated with the conclusion of a chapter.  It's okay to feel not okay.  In fact, it's part of the healing process.  My last experience with the Chargers took place at the beginning of the 2016 season when my family traveled to an away game in Kansas City.  We dared to enter Arrowhead Stadium decked out in Chargers gear.  We reveled in the magical play of Phil Rivers and company playing their best football ever in the first half.  The crowd was silenced.  Then it happened again.  The other side interrupted our fairy tale vacation with a surprise ending.  Someone turned the lights out.  It was a foreshadowing of a nightmare to come.  I must remind myself, "if it's not okay, it's not the end."  Have a great day.

The Descartes Method for Finding Your Food Solution

There's plenty of doubt out there about what foods are right to eat.  René Descartes doubted everything including his own existence.  He discovered the truth when he stripped everything else away.  That's when he found himself.  The only thing left for Descartes to doubt was his thinking.  And if he could think about doubting his own existence, he discovered he must exist!  That's what the caveman food experiment is all about – doubting everything you eat except for five items your ancestors ate without getting sick – fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  Are other foods okay?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  When in doubt, toss it out.  Toss the salad?  No.  The dressing? Only if it contains processed ingredients.  Everything else must go including your own preconceived notions about food you learned in school compliments of the people who deliberately mislead you so you would always buy from them.  It's too bad no one ever doubted these so-called experts. 

I know one thing for certain – something I was eating was causing inflammation in my body and it wasn't fruits, veggies, nuts, beans or seeds.  That's all I ate for 45 days.  There are zero doubts in my mind that these five foods are safe.  I'm glad I stripped all the other foods away and ate like a caveman.  The only doubts you will find may come from others who may not be thinking clearly. Their brains are cloudy from all the processed foods messing with the on/off switches in their bodies.  Pretend these people don't exist and doubt everything you eat until you find the truth.  Have a great day. 

How to Spot a Modern Day Caveman

Although the population of modern day cavemen may appear minuscule to the casual observer, there's evidence of a throwback to the days when hunting and gathering was in style.  People at my day job are asking, "what's going on?"  Paige gasped when I told her chapter one is all hers.  Chris is sending me weekly spreadsheets and they're quite revealing.  Week #2 shows 13.8 pounds released in the new year.  The story is unfolding, one chapter at a time, one changed life at a time.  How do you spot these individuals?  Here goes:

1. Don't look in the fast food establishments.  They don't hang out there.
2. They're not standing in line to buy buttered popcorn at the movie theater.
3. You won't find them in hospital waiting rooms – they rarely get sick.
4. Try checking out the produce section at the grocery store and look for the shopping carts filled with fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  They sometimes eat red meat, chicken and fish but in small amounts.
5. The best way to spot the modern day caveman is to look at his or her waistline.  It's a give-away.  These people don't carry around excess weight like I did before giving the caveman experiment a try and losing 34 pounds of body fat, mostly in my belly.

Thanks, cousin, for helping me spot a caveman in my neighborhood.  I found him in the unlikeliest of places – my bathroom mirror.  It sure beats finding him in a coffin which is where I was headed before the family intervention.  Hello, my name is Michael and I'm a caveman.  Have a great day.

Are You Feeling Lucky Today?

My dad once handed out free key chains shaped like a shamrock with the quote, "Everyone needs a little bit of luck."  His loyal patrons from the Poets society met every Friday at Mulligans in North Phoenix to share their prose and have a few drinks together.  I loved watching my dad come up with unique marketing strategies, like the lucky key chains or the green bagels smothered in cream cheese, to lure guests to his tavern, one of many dotting Cave Creek Rd.  Today is Friday the 13th.  It may be lucky or unlucky depending on your point of view.  I was lucky enough to look out the window this morning at sunrise and see the magnificent color pattern dancing across the horizon.  I can't wait to discover all the lucky opportunities waiting for me today.  My hope for you is that you carry a little bit of luck with you today.  Have a great day.

Be Positive

I joined a group of people who are from around the world and who share a common goal of living in a positive mental state.  We challenge each other with tasks designed to live a healthy lifestyle.  One of the challenges this week was to post two ideas for avoiding feeling tired during the afternoon slump period.  I wrote, "stay away from negative people."  The truth is birds of a feather do flock together.  Negative people like being around other negative people.  I find it's draining to be with them too long.  They sap energy from me.  Positive people help me be my best.  Be positive.  Make someone's day today.  Pay a compliment.  Offer a smile.  Have a great day.

Do You Have Enough?

Goldilocks explained it best when she talked about her porridge being too hot, too cold and just right; and the bed being too hard, too soft and just right.  What you have in life can be viewed as too much, not enough or just right.  It's all in the eye of the beholder.  It's taken me a lifetime to finally get it "just right."  Early in my career I had this nagging feeling I was living in the "not enough" category so I piled on the hours and stored up assets in order to one day "have enough."

Nearly five years ago the Goldilocks in my life looked around at our surroundings and said, "it's beautiful here in Southern California but it's too far from my family, I want to go home."  We decided to sell everything and move to the Midwest.  That's when I realized I had "too much."  We both let go of a lot of "things."  I wondered if I would have enough to get by.  As I reflect on my life five years later, I find myself living a real life fairy tale with my Goldilocks and our three bears.  We have enough friends to spend our time with.  We have enough money to pay our bills.  We have enough, just like Isaiah explains in this verse below.  I hope you always have enough.  Have a great day.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Why Daily Weigh-ins Matter

While most areas of my life are somewhat primitive, I've gone high-tech with my digital scale.  It automatically transmits the weigh-ins to my account for review.  If I fail to step on the scale several days in a row, I get an email reminder.  This simple act of stepping on the scale every morning is what holds me accountable to my goals.  I love the instant feedback. 

Would you like to add some accountability to your weight loss goals?  I found a link to a product similar to mine and it's on sale.  Click here to go to Amazon and get your own smart scale.  Have a great day.

Vision Check – 2017

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed ~ Ps. 20:4

I'm headed to the gym this morning for my weekly indoor swim.  The place will be more crowded than usual.  Sadly, it won't last long, maybe another couple of weeks.  For most, the end of this month will mean a return to couch potato land where too many Americans will roam until the next new year comes around and the cycle repeats.  My son's words still resonate in my head even though he's half-way around the world right now.  He told us, "you're 90% more likely to reach your goals when you write them down."  He was the fastest to complete his vision board, a family project we worked on while our youngest son was in town for the Holidays.  The rest of us needed more time to complete ours.  I didn't finish mine until early this morning.  It lists ten Bible quotes to help me focus on the new year ahead, including the verse from the Book of Psalms at the top of this post.  Another quote reads, time together is your rarest asset, you can't risk it being ordinary.  One section of the board is dedicated to my tennis dreams.  There's a picture of a 2013 Ford Escape with the date, 11/17, my target date for upgrading my used Honda, now at 210,000 miles.  A rough draft of my next book cover sports an Amazon.com Best Seller Sticker.  Based on sales of my first two books, that may seem far-fetched.  I know one thing – it's better to dream big than to not dream at all.  If I can change just one life with my next book I will be elated.

Today is a good day for a vision check.  Write your goals down.  Add some pictures to help you visualize all the opportunities ahead in the new year.  I hope to keep creating vision boards every year until I'm called up.  My commitment, as stated on this year's vision board, is to "be the caveman," and "to do my best every day, every time, without fail, no exceptions."  If I can still see when I'm 90 and I can still hit a tennis ball, I'm teaming up with my cousin to compete in the Men's 90's National Tennis Championships.  I have this feeling he will probably want to keep experimenting on his beloved lab rat and I'm already anticipating him staring me in the eye and saying, "let's go for the 100's, cuz.  All we have to do is outlive everybody and just show up.  Are you in?"  I'll come up with some insane answer from this year's vision board..."Every day, every time, without fail, no exceptions!"  That's my vision.  What's yours?  Have a great day.

Caveman Smoothie Now on YouTube

It's raw, unedited, and primitive but it can change your life in one minute.  The Caveman Smoothie is now on YouTube.  I drink this smoothie daily for increased energy.  Give it a try an let me know what you think.  I'll be posting more recipes in the future.  Have a great day.

First Progress Report of New Year from Caveman Volunteer

I don't recall ever getting so excited to review a spread sheet.  It happened last night when Chris texted his first report showing nearly ten pounds of weight loss.  He's committed.  Maybe that's what happens when you're confronted with a major challenge like cancer.  I'm thankful Chris is following this experiment so diligently.  It reminds me of a familiar quote that applies to any endeavor in life:  You get out of it what you put into it.

My job for the next three months is to find a way to put all these spreadsheets and progress reports together into a format that may motivate others to return to our primitive roots.  Eating like a caveman may not sound appealing to my target audience but looking like Tom Hanks after he ate like a caveman may be enticing enough to encourage others to give this challenge a try.  Remember Tom's before/after pictures from the movie?  These pictures portray the story of my life.  Congratulations, Chris.  You're well on your way to reach your weight goals for 2017.  Keep it up.  Have a great day.

Caveman Gets Shot in the Arm from Day Job Team-mate

We're meeting in the place where my Midwest blogging kicked off nearly five years ago at McDonald's.  Megan said, "we can put a plan together – they have free Wifi."  I rotated my blog writing between the public library, the outlet center and McDonald's, the three locations in my new hometown offering internet access.  Every penny was spent on relocation and home internet was not added until after I found a new day job.  It will be exciting to sit down with Megan, a mother of three who committed her life to helping others get fit.  We are both working together to improve the lives of the people we work with. 

My friends and family members are looking for creative ways to prepare foods that fit the caveman lifestyle and I believe Megan can help with solutions from her network.  We're going to customize a program that will enhance my primitive caveman challenge.  Stay tuned for the details.  I'm excited to be teaming up with someone who is so motivated to raise the bar on fitness and healthy eating.  This is a shot in the arm that won't sting.  Have a great day.

Caveman 45 Day Food Challenge

I'm posting the Caveman 45 Day Food Challenge in response to requests from my FB friends who viewed yesterday's smoothie video.  For those who aren't aware of how the challenge started, my cousin, Dr. John Mulligan, asked me to be his lab rat for 45 days in order to pinpoint why my blood pressure readings were off the charts.  I was headed to the emergency room because Mama Caveman and Mrs. Caveman were afraid I was going to have a heart attack or stroke.  My cousin knew if he didn't cut me off at that moment that I would forever be a prisoner to the pills most doctors offer as permission slips to eat all the wrong foods.  My cousin was right about my blood pressure readings – they were a symptom of something else many in my age group suffer from – inflammation.  Within 72 hours my blood pressure dropped out of the danger zone.  The icing on the cake was the weight loss, almost entirely body fat, enough to fill three-and-a-half ten pound sacks of potatoes.   Unlike fad diets, this weight loss is permanent.  Why?  Because I eat the way we are supposed to eat – no processed foods, fast foods, dairy, bread or other man-made ingredients.  I eat like a caveman and I challenge you to the the same for 45 days and see what happens.  Here goes:

Caveman 45 Day Food Challenge

• NO processed foods.
• NO foods packaged in labels with ingredients you can't pronounce.
• NO alcohol unless it's wine, up to two glasses per day.
• Limit all food to fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Walk as much as you can.

Once the 45 days is up, introduce other foods in small quantities and see how your body responds.  Maintain 90% of the eating habits you developed in the first 45 days and have a great life.  Red meat is okay up to 8 ounces once in a while.  Fish and chicken are okay, too.  Stay away from dairy.  That's it.  Let me know how this works for you.

Caveman Smoothie Video

I made a video this morning for friends and family members interested in my caveman smoothie.  It's raw and unedited but it fits my primitive albeit crazed schedule.  There are new caveman volunteers to assist, a book to complete by May 1, three tennis teams to compete on, a day job, and Mrs. Caveman to cuddle with on subzero nights.  I will get the video posted on this site soon.  For those of you who want to see the unedited version, here you go:

 https://www.facebook.com/michael.mulligan.1042

Have a great day!

It's Elementary: Reunion Time in Sunnyslope

My buddy, Chris M, from elementary school is putting together a reunion for the MHT class of '74 next month on February 3, at Aunt Chilada's at 6:00 pm.  I have fond memories growing up in Sunnyslope where my mother still resides in the same house.  It was hard to say good-bye to my classmates when we parted ways.  Most attended other high schools outside of Sunnyslope after 8th grade graduation.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to reconnect after so many years.  Thanks, Chris, for setting this up.  Have a great day.

Please Welcome the Next Group of Caveman Volunteers

I'm pleased to welcome the largest group of caveman volunteers ever to our group, including Chris, a grade school/high school buddy who is a cancer survivor.  He texted me this morning letting me know he is on board for the next 45 days and he may add others from the SHS class of '78.  Many of the other volunteers come from my day job.  I would like to thank Paige for her willingness to be a great recruiter.  People keep asking her how she lost so much weight and she answers, "caveman, go see Michael."  This is not a New Year's Resolution – it's a permanent lifestyle change that will help reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol troubles, inflammation, cancer, and other food related issues so prevalent in our culture.  I have lost too many friends and there have been too many close calls.  Fifty something is too young to be in the obituaries.  It's time to go caveman!

I'm going to be in Arizona the next month and I may end up buying dinner for Chris and his buddies who decide to give the experiment a try.  Anyone who loses 20+ pounds in 45 days wins dinner from me.  I'm excited to see what happens in the New Year.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

A Disturbance in the Force

Cousin John and I visiting our Aunt Peggy, 2/16

She was the last person my dad spoke to when he uttered his final words, "I love you, Peggy."  Her departure last evening shortly before midnight on the final day of the year was unexpected by loved ones who witnessed an improvement in her condition.  Perhaps it was last call from the great tavern above that my Aunt Peggy heard faintly between the loud beeps and clangs of the alarm bells in her room at the ICU.  My Aunt Peggy accepted her VIP invitation from Jesus at 9:30 PM, MST,  just in time to celebrate the New Year and her new life in Heaven in glorious style, joining her brothers, Dickie, Jim, my dad, Pat, her sister, Mary, and two husbands, Paul and Bill, from two different time zones of her earthly life who eagerly awaited for her arrival.

There is a disturbance in the force today.  I offer prayers to my dear cousins, Bill, Debbie and Kathleen; and to my Aunt Peggy's five earthly siblings who remain on this side of Heaven to maintain some sort of balance in the force and help comfort family members who are mourning the loss of a special woman loved by many.  Earth will never be the same.  Neither will Heaven.  I love you, Aunt Peggy.  Stay close to the one who changes water into wine and save me a seat at the table.  RIP.