The Dad I Wish I Had

It amazes me that the issues of children and their fathers seem to go unheard in today's society. Not having a father in the home seems to be accepted as normal in our society. In a recent conversation with a young man in his 30's, he admitted to not having a relationship with his father, and vowed to himself that he would be nothing like his father.

The sad thing is that as we talked, he realized that he was doing things in his life that was just like his dad. It was sobering to think that a person ended up doing the exact thing that they vowed they wouldn't do.

As we talked, we realized that the void that he felt of not having a relationship with his father sent him down a path of self destruction, and he didn't even realize it until it was too late.
This is the story of too many people today. People are hurting from their relationships with their fathers and find themselves living their lives trying to cope with the pain, rejection, insecurity, and anger that it brings. It doesn't matter if someone is a grand-father, or a child. Once someone has been hurt or disappointed by their father, it can be difficult to heal and move on in your life.
Most people try to cope with the pain by forgetting about it; or diminishing the importance of the relationship and acting like it does not matter. The problem with this is that not acknowledging the pain, doesn't make the pain go away. Many people are locked in their past, and have not found a way to unlock themselves into the life that they really want.

There is good news! By the time you are finished with this book you will not only be able to be free from the pain of the past, but you will be free to walk into your future! Life is too short to live day by day coping with life. It is time to truly enjoy life, and not just endure it.

Everyone has a story. And most people, at some point in their lives wish they could have had a better situation growing up. I remember going to school and watching other classmates, and thinking they had a perfect home. I wished I could have been born into that family. What I didn't realize is that everyone has drama! What you deal with may not be what I deal with, but believe me, everyone is dealing with something!

The sooner I realized that I was not the only one on the planet that had things in my life and home that needed to be worked out. I was able to cope, heal and move on into my God-given purpose. My family, though not perfect, was not the only family that wasn't perfect. Wishing myself into another family, would have resulted in having to deal with different issues.

You do not have to be locked to your past anymore! You can be free, whole, complete, and positioned to do great things. You are not destined to repeat the cycles from your past. You are not destined to cope with the pain from the past for the rest of your life. Healing is available. Wholeness is available. Peace is available. JOY, yes JOY is available to you right NOW!

NFL Player Supports Tunguska Blast!

As a former NFL player, I am very mindful of what products I put into my body. There are many products that claim to be the solution to your dietary or health needs. The fact of the matter is that if we ate a proper diet consistently, our bodies would not break down as quickly as it does, and we would not be dealing with the health issues America is faced with today. If people will take the time to educate themselves on what their body needs nutritionally based upon their age and medical condition, they would know what to eat, how much water to drink, how much exercise to do, and what supplements to take.

Going through this process is why I chose to endorse Tunguska Blast. Tunguska Blast is a powerful dietary supplement developed as a result of the miracle of 1908 in Tunguska, Russia. What makes Tunguska Blast special is the fact that it has 10 adaptagens!

An adaptagen is a substance that helps the body's response, on the cellular level, to various stresses put upon it. This allows the body to help regulate many of the body's systems: the immune system, nervous system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system and mental functions.

The effects one can detect are an increase in mental clarity and physical energy, enhanced immunity and resistance to disease, reduced recovery time after exercise (particularly significant for endurance athletes), improved metabolism, and more restful sleep.
This antioxidant-rich infusion has the power to increase mental clarity, boost the immune system, and enhance physical performance.

As an athlete, to be able to take something that is 100% natural, and it helps my physical performance and reduces my recovery time is a tremendous benefit. Especially when steroid use is out of control, here is a natural product that can benefit athletes of all ages.

For more information visit: www.healthywize.com/eliteallstargroup

The Pain Free Workout - Part 2

Starting a workout routine after taking a break can be a challenging task. Between making the decision to change your normal schedule, and to make the investment in the home gym or local gym, people tend to stay stuck in the "I'm going to do it" mode. Unfortunately, most of those people never start working out, or if they do, they are quickly reminded on why they don't work out all the time when they wake up sore the next day. I am giving you some tips that I have learned over my NFL career that will help you get started at a pace that you will be able to maintain.

In a previous article we discussed the first tip: Don't do to much on the first day. It took you a while to get out of shape, and it will take a while to get back in shape. You will not be able to get your body back after just one workout. Take your time and be patient.

Tip #2: Remember to warm up!

Too many people make the mistake of going to the gym and starting their workout without warming up first. Building your heart rate, and breaking a sweat is the first thing you should do when working out. In all my years as an athlete, I would never expect to play a game without first warming up before the game. We did not do it because it looked cool, but rather it was necessary to put our bodies in a position for the stress we were about to put our bodies through.

The Importance of Warming Up

I'll never forget the first time I warmed up to play a game at Candlestick Park, in San Francisco, CA. To jog around the field where so many memorable players played like Joe Montana, Roger Craig, and Dwight Clark was remarkable. To be able to look across the field and see Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, and Steve Young was a feeling I will never forget. I was preparing to play at the highest level, against some of the best athletes on the planet. But it all started with WARMING UP! I could not expect to do the things I needed to do in the game unless I got my body ready to perform.

Even though you may not to getting ready to play a NFL football game, you still must understand the importance of warming up and getting a good sweat going before you start your workout. You need to dedicate at least 10 minutes for warming up. If your schedule is tight, you must find a way to make sure you warm up first and cut something else out of your routine. I recommend starting on a tread mill, or a stationary bike to get the blood flowing in your body and to get your heart rate up. This will help your body to be ready to handle your workout. Your muscles will be loose and flexible, and you will find that your results will improve over the course of time.

4 Tips to Choosing the Right Supplement

In today's competitive supplement market, the question is not to convince someone to take a supplement, but rather to convince them to take your supplement. With that in mind, many people don't know where to start to determine which supplements they should take. The task can appear intimidating because no one wants to invest in a product that doesn't work, or that would be wrong for them. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right supplement.

Tip #1: What is your diet?

Your diet is the foundation of support for your body. Everything your body does, or is able to do, is directly linked to your diet. If you are not eating your daily portions of fruits, and vegetables, then the first thing you make find is a quality whole food multi-vitamin. This will give your body the necessary fuel to compensate for not eating a proper balanced diet every day. Regardless of how educated people may be, I know very few who can say they eat a balanced whole food diet every day, for every meal. Because of this, it is likely that every person you meet needs a quality whole food/organic multi-vitamin.

What good does it do someone to take any other supplement, whether it be for weight loss, or energy and stamina if their body is deprived of the vital nutrients necessary to support the body? Before taking any other product, every one must make sure they faithfully take a multi-vitamin as a foundation to their health.

Tip #2: What is your medical condition?

Do you have diabetes, or kidney disease? Are you getting treated for any disease or illness? Asking yourself some basic questions will put you on track to making sure you are taking something that will support your current medical condition. You will also be able to ask informed questions about the product you are considering to see if there are any known conflicts with your medical condition. Some products, because of the ingredients may conflict with your current medical condition. So the more you know about yourself, the more you will be able to ask questions to make sure the product will not only help you, but most importantly not cause any problems for you. A person on chemotherapy, for example, should not take any product that will boost their immune system, as it will work against their current treatment.

Tip #3: What is your goal?

Why are you purchasing this supplement? Do you need energy or stamina? Do you need stress relief, or mental clarity? What do you need? If you can't answer that question, don't buy anything! Why take something if you don't know why you are taking it? You should take products that you know are providing your body the necessary support that it needs based upon your medical condition. If your body needs help in regulating its blood sugar, then find a product that will naturally help your body do it, without any complications to your current medical condition. Having knowledge of your bodies needs, and focusing on your fitness goals will point you like a compass to the right product for you.

Tip $4: Read the label!

Most people just listen to a sales pitch, without reading what is in the food or supplement that they put in their body. I know most people don't know what they are looking at, but that should not stop you from looking. With the information at our finger tips with the Internet, all anyone has to do is research the ingredients on-line to find out what it does for the body. Your doctor or health care provider should also be able to help in explaining what is in the product you are considering.

Remember, if you know your diet, know your medical condition, know your goals, and read the label, you will be well on your way to achieving your health and fitness goals. Go to the doctor and be informed about your health, and then provide your body the necessary products to live a higher quality life.

For more information about whole food supplements and probiotics feel free to visit: www.healthywize.com/eliteallstargroup

Sports & Suppliments: What you need to know!

Sports & Suppliments
Work Hard...Play Fair

With the news of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds on the front page of news, there has been much to say about the role of suppliments and sports. As a former NFL player I can honestly say that there is no question that anyone who plays sports, at any level, needs to have a quality suppliment to take to support their body.

The question is, "What should you take"? This is where most people go to their buddy or local store and ask someone who never played professional athletics to educate them on what they need. Too many people don't know what questions to ask to determine what product to purchase. If you are an active person who plays sports, or excercises regularly, you need to be on some sort of suppliment to support your body and allow it to heal and recover quickly.

The key word is "support". If you are taking something that your body can not breakdown efficiently, then you are wasting your money. The best thing for a person to take is something WHOLE FOOD and ORGANIC. Your body will be able to breakdown the suppliment and you will be able to see measurable improvement in your recovery time and stamina.

Steriods or other manufactured suppliments, or performance enhancers will provide and short-term benefit, but will cause damaging effects to your body over the course of time. Also, taking an over abundance of protein drinks will only cause problems for your kidney if you are not on any type of "probiotic" to assist your body in processing and digesting food.

A serious athlete should also take an adaptogen. Adaptogens help the body adjust on the cellular level to the various stresses that are put on it. Adaptogens also support the circulatory system, immune system in resistance to disease, as well as reduces recovery time after a workout!

Feel free to visit www.healthywize.com/eliteallstargroup for a product with 10 adaptogens, as well as whole food/organic suppliments and vitamins to support your body.

Americal Idol Gives Back

For a second year in a row American Idol and many around the world did something very special during the "Gives Back" special. Actors and artists came out in support of the poor, homeless, and forgotten. It was a wonderful showing demonstration of what we as a society can do, if we want to make a change.

Despite rising gas prices, unemployment, and the threat of a recession, America was still able to rise millions of dollars to help people across the world. Seeing demonstrations like this proves that we do not have to live in a world that is full of hurting, poor, homeless, sick and forgotten people. We can change the world if we will just for a moment forget about the drama in our own lives and remember that there are people around us that need our help and support.

It is not good enough to simply see a need and acknowledge that someone should do something about it. We all must take it upon ourselves to do what we can to help someone, somewhere, somehow. If everyone did this, and stopped being self-centered, we will see a world that we are all proud to live in.

After compassion is an attribute that God has given all of us to share His love for those around us. There are people praying everyday for help...Will you answer someone prayer today?

Why 95% of People Fail in Network Marketing

Network marketing is an industry that has been around for years, and will stay around for years to come. There are many people who start a home based business with the intentions of being successful and achieving their financial dreams. Unfortunately, most people find themselves discouraged and frustrated with not being as successful as they hoped they would.

What's the problem?

The problem isn't the industry of Network Marketing. There are many reputable companies with quality products and/or services that can be a benefit to customers. Many of the companies have competitive compensation plans that can change peoples lives with a residual income. Others, offer great support and training for their distributors to "position them for success". This forces us to ask the question, "Why do so many people fail, if the opportunity is real?" Are we running around a track chasing a carrot that we will never catch?

I had the pleasure of spending time with a very successful entrepreneur, Peter Daniels, who shared some invaluable information with me concerning network marketing. He said there are 3 things you need to be successful in the industry: 1.) a quality product, 2.) a great compensation plan, and 3.) charismatic leadership.

When he shared this with me, a light turned on as to why most people fail to make money. It's because there isn't enough leadership to lead, motivate, and inspire people to achieve a level of success that they could not with out the passion of that leader. After reading many books on leadership, you understand that there are different types of leaders. And the fact of the matter is that most people struggle to just motivate themselves, let alone motivate others around them.

This is why there is a 90 - 95% fall-out rate in the industry. People struggle to stick with their decision to start their business, and they tend to treat their business like a hobby. And if you treat your business like a hobby, it will cost you money like a hobby. If I can't motivate myself to work to achieve the goals that I set for myself., then how can I possibly lead someone else? How many diets have we thought about doing? How many work out routines have we stopped because we did not feel like working out anymore? How many books are still on the book self, or in the store? This does not mean that you can not be successful, but it does shed some light on why the goals still have yet to be achieved.

I understand that my success is not dependant upon others, and I have taken the responsibility to make my business a priority. This brings me to another major issue. Even though you must motivate yourself to do the things necessary to achieve your goals, you still have to develop a relationship with those around you who know that you truly care about their success, just as much as your own. Calling people only when they need to come to a meeting, or make an order so you can get paid, gets old and causes people to not want to answer your call.

You should not have to motivate people to do a business that they believe in! If you have people that you work with that believe in the product or service, then they should be actively seeking others that will benefit from the product you offer, not just the opportunity to make money. Because the fact of the matter is that 90 - 95% of the people that start the business, end up dropping out. Not because the product changed, or the compensation plan changed (in most cases), but because they did not make money. And if you start your pitch with money, then they will drop out of the business when they don't see it.

Don't be a part of the 95%. Motivate yourself to achieve your goal, by leading yourself, and develop real relationships with those around you that also believe in your product and believe in you.

Perfect Practice

My rookie season in the NFL, I had the best coach I could of had. He was a perfectionist, and would only talk to you when you made a mistake! So you can imagine he talked to me a lot during training camp. Coach wouldn’t just give you constructive criticism... he would GO OFF ON YOU for running the wrong route, or making the wrong read.

In 1996 we were still running the run-n-shoot offense in Atlanta, and every play had multiple options for every person. If the play called for a simple 12 yard out route, I could have a combination of routes based on the coverage of the defense, and the position of the defensive backs. My head was swimming the first week. But I soon figured coach out. He knew you were going to mess up occasionally. But as long as you don’t make the same mistake twice, or make the same mistake that someone else just made, then you were fine.

I decided to take daily notes in our meetings of my mistakes and the mistakes of others to make sure I wouldn’t do it again. This habit allowed me to make the team and play over guys who were bigger, and faster than me. To quote coach, "I’m going to cut you, before the owner cuts me. If I can’t trust that you are going to do the right thing every time, then I can’t play you in a game."

If you want to make it to the next level, start paying attention to the little things, and do the right things right every time!

Sports & Books

Over the years I have seen and played with some of the most talented athletes on the planet. I’m talking about Hall of Fame players, and people with rare God-given talent. Unfortunently, I have also seen some of these same people waste their talent and opportunity because they either didn’t prepare themselves off the field, or they felt the rules didn’t apply to them.

One of the worst things that can happen to an athlete is for them to be treated differently because of their talent. When parents and teachers stop emphasizing the importance of school and an education, it leaves a major void in the person and they are typically not ready for life during or after sports. Too many player struggle because school was something they did to play sports, not something they did to prepare them for life.

80% of NFL players end their careers broke! Why? Because they never learned the value of a $, and thought that $ will always be there. If you are an athlete, or helping to develop one, please push them just as hard off the field, as you support them on it!

Who Has Time to Eat Right?

"Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou prosper and be in HEALTH, even as thy soul prospers."

III John 2

I don't know about you, but my life is very busy from being a husband, father of 5 children, Assistant Pastor and Dean at a church, business owner and public speaker, I find it very difficult to find the time to eat a proper diet.

I know I'm supposed to eat the right things, but for the past few years I just did not do a good job in eating the right things. Either I would eat a good breakfast, and then get busy during the work day and miss lunch. Or, I would rush out of the house not eating breakfast, then still get busy at work and miss lunch. Either way, I was basically starving myself during the day until dinner.

There really is no excuse! In college, Coach Paterno would make you run extra laps in practice if you missed breakfast. I would always eat a solid breakfast and lunch during my NFL career as well. Even though I have been educated through my NFL career and at Penn State about a proper diet, I find that eating a healthy balanced diet is difficult in today's society. In fact, if I wasn't taking good multi-vitamins and supplements, I know my body would not have the proper nutrition to function properly.

A couple years ago, I talked to a doctor friend of mine, Dr. Orville Campbell (http://www.claimwellness.com/), and he educated me on the fact that most current medical conditions can be fixed with a proper combination of diet, water, and work-out. Think about it, diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and cholesterol can all be fixed by eating the right things! He specifically mentioned making sure you are on a whole food/organic multi-vitamin. Visit his website to see articles on the subject.

I don't know about you, but I refuse to let my body shut down on me because of either a lack of knowledge, or just not eating the right things! I have recommitted myself to live the very best life that I can to the glory of God, and live it HEALTHY! That is why I am not just talking about eating healthy, but I am educating myself, and investing in myself!

For information about the products Dr. Campbell recommends visit: www.healthywize.com/eliteallstargroup.

The Importance of a Coach

In my football career, I had many important people cross my path to help me get to the NFL. My pastor, Bishop Keith Butler, played a vital role in my spiritual development. My family, loved me and provided the best support group that they could for me. But an often overlooked, but invaluable person in a child's life is a coach!

I remember during my sophomore year of high school, we had a big game against our cross-town rivals, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. Coach DeAngelo put in a play for me to score a touchdown during the week, and I was waiting for my moment. Coach called the play, and it worked! I was wide open ready to score a touchdown. Only one thing was missing...I dropped the ball! I could have just crawled underneath the grass, I was devastated.

The very next week, Coach DeAngelo called the same play again. This time the senior was in the game, and I thought I had missed my opportunity to do something special. That was until coach realized that I wasn't in the game for the play! He found me on the sidelines and insisted that I get in there. Not only did I get in there, but I jumped over the defensive back to catch the ball!

Coach DeAngelo's confidence in me allowed me to have confidence in myself. From that point on I became an All-American receiver, an All-Big Ten receiver, and ultimately a 4 year career in the NFL. This can be directly attributed to the fact that a coach saw something in me, that I didn't see in myself.

If you are a coach, or a parent, don't underestimate your influence over your child or the kids you are working with. You have the ability to instill in the child a confidence that they can do anything they put their minds to. Don't give up on them, and I promise, they will surprise you with how successful they will be in life.

The Pain Free Workout

We have been told over and over, "no pain, no gain". And many of us not only WANT to workout, but know that we NEED to workout. One of the things that I have discovered in thinking about this issue is the fact that PEOPLE DON'T LIKE PAIN!



Why rush to a gym when you know you are going to be sore, and barely move the next day? Most people have opted to attempt to adjust their diet without working out, hoping that they can still accomplish their fitness goals. But we all know that it just doesn't work.

What if there was a way to start working out, but have no soreness or pain afterwards? What if we could take away the excuse of, "I can't because it hurts"? What if you can really stick to your work out routine and see the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle?

Well if you are interested, I'll give you a couple things to think about. In all, there are 7 steps to make sure you are never sore, but let's start with step #1.

Don't Do To Much on the First Day!

Ask yourself when was the last time you worked out. This should give you a frame of reference to understand where you should start. If you were running 2 miles, but haven't run for over a year, then you should start walking! When you stop working out, and the only workout you have is the laps to and from the kitchen and couch, you program your body to do that level of exercise. To try to jump back into what you used to be able to do is not wise. You will find your body resist and protest in the form of soreness and fatigue.

Remember, it took you a while to build up to where you ended before. Make sure you remember to start slow, and build your way up to your ultimate fitness goals. If you do this, you are well on your way to a PAIN FREE WORKOUT!