Full Strength

Full Strength ROI Analysis

Recently I've been timing myself making my Full Strength shakes here at the office as well as tracking my productivity and focus following a shake.

Here's what I've found.

#1. Average time to make a shake, clean out the blender and make it back to my desk: 2 minutes 11 seconds.

sometimes a little bit longer, other times a little bit shorter depending on if I'm tossing in a little peanut butter or the ice machine took an unusual 20 seconds to shoot out the first piece of ice!

#2. Average time of highly focused productivity following a shake: 2 hours 49 minutes.

Lately I've been consuming 3 to 4 of the Full Strength shakes each day. No "whole foods" in the conventional sense throughout my entire work day. I've never been more productive, on task and focused. I've been doing this for about 3 weeks now.

Here's the basic ROI if we look at minutes invested in getting food / preparing a meal and the amount of focused productivity time following a meal.

Focused productivity has been defined and tracked as:
1. Alert and "on task" focused
2. no hunger pains & no drowsiness
3. no multitasking
4. action items are strategically aligned with the company's core strategy.

Ok just to put these figure into some statistical meaning, for every minute I spent making a Full Strength shake, on average, I received a 7,752% return on my time invested.

Currently Bat Man and SuperMan are scratching their heads wondering just what all they could have done if they had Full Strength in their Batmobile or telephone booth! Seriously, this is amazing!

I suppose I should share the other half of my little personal investigation to give you a full sense of just how amazing these results are.

Let's take yesterday as an example, instead of doing another Full Strength I took the time to go get a chicken wrap at a Wild Oats about 3 miles from my office. There's exactly 4 stop signs and 3 stop lights the way I drive there. To drive to Wild Oats, order my chicken wrap, get it made, then pay for it and finally return to the office 24 minutes had gone by before I was back at my desk with my chicken wrap in hand.

And that was yesterday when I did my 3pm meal out. When I go out to grab my 12 noon meal, I'm lucky to make it back in 32 minutes. Often I'm looking at around 37 minutes before I'm back at the office. On average though, a trip from the office to get food regardless of whether its around noon or 3 in the afternoon averages out at about 28 minutes.

Let's see what my ROI on the chicken wraps and chicken, veggies and brown rice bowls got me before I had my next meal.

On average I got 1 hour and 41 minutes focused productivity time following these "conventional meals"

Remember what I mean by "focused productivity time"
1. Alert and "on task" focused
2. no hunger pains & no drowsiness
3. no multitasking
4. action items are strategically aligned with the company's core strategy

Typically I'd have a surge of focus and productivity immediately following my meals. This only lasted for about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the day. Following this period I usually slipped into a sluggish drowsiness. I felt tired and in one occasion I actually did put my head down on my arms laying onto my desk.

Sad I know, but I did it (Sorry Shawn, you paid me a little bit too much for that few minutes).

My fogginess and sluggishness typically lasted for 30 to 40 minutes in which I would start multitasking. I wouldn't choose to multitask, it just started happening, next thing I know I'm juggling 5 things and not making a whole lot of head way on any. Sound familiar?

Much of what "cropped up" in my multitasking wasn't aligned with the company's major key initiatives, but at the time they seemed important and worthy of my time. And looking back at these times I can see how they are important, but I wasn't able to see the items that were even more important.

At any rate I would start to pull out of it and once again find a good strong focused productivity groove when I managed to get out of the mulitasking trap. These lasted for anywhere from just over an hour to almost two hours on some days.

From there I'd often find myself starting to get hungry again, my ability to align and focus intensely on one project and a few key action items at time faded away and slowly I'd start to get distracted, I'd start thinking about food, I'd start checking my e-mail and reactively responding to whatever was sitting in my inbox and there went my focused productivity.

So, here's the stats for you to compare with the 7,752% ROI with Full Strength

My ROI analysis for my "conventional whole food lunches" that I picked up down the street:

Average time to get food: 28 minutes
Average focused productive time: 1 hour 41 minutes

That's about a 361% return on my time invested going out to get my lunch. And I'm eating healthy food!

I don't know about you but my strategy moving forward is to stick with my 7,700+ ROI. I'll make the 360 ROI a once in a while occasion, but I'm not willing to stunt my performance like this in any type of a consistent fashion.

The Post Holiday “Freedom Reset”

I hope your memorial weekend was rejuvenating. That was my focus last Friday – to enjoy some nice time relaxing, enjoying family and friends and returning to "the daily rhythm" fresh and ready to roll.

You too? Well, how'd your “plan to actual” shake out?

If my quick survey here at the office is any indicator, we may not be alone in the feeling over served, a little drained and eager to get our body’s and lives back in a consistent, energizing rhythm. Yes, that’s right, yours truly enjoyed a few too much “grill time” this weekend and feel like I could go a week without eating – while at the same time I’m feeling a not-so-subtle craving for a “double-double” with extra cheese.

If you can identify with this feeling you might consider pushing the “Full Strength Freedom Reset” button with the practice that follows. I know we were all eager to use it here at the office this morning and my wife Angie said the same thing last night – when you’ve enjoyed, just a little much, this is a great way to get your systems back on track and set yourself free from the cravings that hold us down.

It’s really very simple…

When you’re feeling that craving, in this example, let’s say for a “double-double” with extra cheese – you’ve got two choices: feed that trigger, react to it and strengthen it or try something else. This is your chance to see that craving in a new light, as no more than a distortion of a desire for healthy, balanced proteins, carbs and essential fats – for good food.

Doubt me? Try this...Next time you get a craving for a burger, fries and a coke, or worse, try fueling your body with an fully integrated, balanced Full Strength™ nutrition shake – within minutes, you’ll feel the surge of energy, a boost in focus and those once powerful craving will have vanished. Like they never existed. Why? Because you hit the sweet spot of what your body really, truly needed. You turned off the trigger, properly reacted to the signal. It’s that simple.

When your body receives a full serving of healthy, balanced proteins, carbs and essential fats along with essential vitamins and minerals the intelligent signal which you mis-interpreted as “get me a double-double, NOW” shuts off – suddenly it’s quiet inside.

In this moment, you’ve exercised your strength and nurtured your freedom rather than feeding cravings. Each time you do this you become stronger and the cravings become weaker and weaker...Every time you choose to fuel your body with intelligent nutrition you take a step towards freedom, towards a life of strength, energy and vitality.

It’s an amazing, rejuvenating and freeing practice… I welcome you to try it. I’m also interested to hear how you come back after a long weekend.

Try it for two weeks and see if you aren’t set free.

Stoking Your Metabolism : The Order of Action

Last week, during the visit with my friend Dr. Tom, at his Nutrition Treatment Center, metabolism was a hot tpic. I have to admit - I gained a renewed interest and even deeper perspective on both the importance or sustaining this “engine of life”  and on the numerous roadblocks people have.

In so many ways metabolism had been back of mind for me – I’d so long understood the “essential-eight” keys to a strong metabolism. I’d also tired of it’s connection with nearly every diet out there – and not being a fan of diets, I avoid sounding like a diet-guru at all costs. And I know that the minute you use the “M” word people hear “diet.”

What woke me up in watching Tom work with his clients is the realization that “one bad egg can spoil the whole bunch.” What I mean by that is; while Tom is urgent in seeing that his clients attend to the fundamentals of proper exercise, nutrition, water…he also understands that there are a number of underlying conditions that, if not addressed, will undermine even the most disciplined efforts.

Below is a list of the Essential-eight keys to a strong metabolism, in order of importance – generally. Why, “generally?” For two reasons :

1. There are no absolutes in this world – when it comes to the human body.
2. Because of what I was reminded of by Tom – that if one is suffering from a deficiency of an essential nutrients (be that of vitamin or macro nutrient like protein) all rules are out.

Furthermore, if that deficiency (or other chronic condition often called “life”) has impacted thyroid and thus various hormonal functions, all else is secondary. Correcting this now limiting component is of the utmost importance – it now becomes the #1 key.

I’ve invited Dr. Tom to join me on my upcoming teleconference on Super-Charging Your Metabolic Engine coming up in a few weeks. To join in the free teleconference and receive my free 44 page special report, “The 8 Keys to Super Charging Your Metabolism” click here.

The 8 Key Factors for a Strong Metabolism
(Order Of Greatest Impact To Least)

1. Muscle tissue : the more lean muscle tissue your body has the more calories will be expended regardless of activity (or not).
2. Meal frequency : the longer you go between meals the more your metabolism slows down to conserve energy.
3. Activity level : important but doesn't make any difference if you don't match your eating to your expenditure.
4. Food choices : Balanced, Energy Stabilizing Eating / Food. No extreme diets…   low-fat diets tend to result in poor hormone production which leads to a slower metabolism.  Also, stable blood sugar is an ideal environment for increasing metabolic rate.
5. Hydration : Over 70% of bodily functions take place in water - not enough water causes all your systems to slow down and unnecessary stress.
6. Genetics : Some people are simply born with stronger, more adaptive metabolisms than others… yet this is not the free pass nor death sentence that many assume it to be. You can effect your metabolism greatly!
7. Hormone production and function : The thyroid can make or break a metabolism — but low thyroid is as often missed as it is mis-diagnosed. I look forward to Dr. Tom sharing his vast knowledge and experience on the thyroid and it’s cascading impact on your hormones.
8. Stress : Stress also can slow metabolism by placing extra stress and strain on numerous systems. Plus, many people tend to overeat when "stressed out."

If you'd like to learn more about how to stoke your metabolism, register to join me on my free teleseminar and receive my free special report: “The 8 Keys to Super Charging Your Metabolism” by clicking here.

McDonalds, Ethics & Health Care

Three years ago McDonald's stock had tumbled 56% in 10 months. The company reported it first quarterly loss and sales in its biggest market, the good old USA, were not growing and were in some cases loosing ground.

Not a pretty picture for a company. And as you know, desperate times call for desperate measures. McDonald's desperate move: the "Dollar Menu." The Dollar Menu brought 36 consecutive months of sales growth to all McDonald's locations open at least a year. Revenue increased by 33% and its stock rocketed up 170%.

Why?

McDonald's is helping low-income individuals save money. The Dollar Menu has been explicitly marketed to teenagers, young adults and minorities - all who just happen to be watching their wallets. And as far as the amount of food you get for $1. It's a good deal.

So why do I consider this a desperate measure?

In terms of looking at how many nutrients you're getting for a dollar, it's the least economical choice for eating. At least that's what Connie Schneider, a nutrition advisor for Fresno County in California says and just about any nutrionist anywhere will tell you fast food like McDonald's is one of the worst things in the American diet.

It's high in calories and trans fats, lacks fiber, has lots of added sugars and procesessed carbohydrates all add up to a meal that's largely devoid of the vital nutrients the body and mind need to function well.

Personally, I think this quality of food is a sad choice to market to a group of low income customers who are already plagued with a particularly high incidence of obesity and its related health problems. But hey, Bill Lamar, the chief marketing officer for McDonald's United States business says "We're proud of the choices we offer customers."

Perhaps he's talking about the more healthy eating options at McDonald's, but I don't know how you can be "proud" to serve the Dollar Menu to anyone, especially in a country who's suffering immensely from obesity and its related diseases.

Just to give an example, we loose over 1000 human beings every single day in the US because of obesity. Yes that's right over 1000 of our fellow Americans die every day, largely it's because of our American diet and lifestyle. Forget about the thousands who've died in Iraq. At least they died for a reason, a purpose and vision - whether you agree with it or not is another story, but our soldiers died for a reason. The 1000+ fellow Americans that will die to day because of obesity and its related diseases, Why did they die? Did they die because of the glorious taste of a double quarter pounder with cheese, french fries and a soda?

But as Bill Lamar says, "People can make the decisions about how to eat for themselves." He's both right and wrong. Yes everyone has some degree of freedom to chose. However, if they don't have much money, habitually eat convenience foods or "fast" foods and are largely unaware of their eating choices and the following consequences, the scope of freedom to choose starts to look a lot like the Dollar Menu.

Now I'm not one to point at a company and paint it as an evil entity that's the sole cause of all the problems in the world. But I'm also not one to point only at the consumer and say, they have their own autonomy must take complete responsibility for their decisions.

Companies need to have a code of ethics and a sense of moral responsibility that includes but goes beyond the bottom line of profits. Personally, I have a slanted bias against McDonald's because I don't know how they can actively market nutrient deficient foods to people in compromised positions. That's just me though.

Fortunately I work for a company that holds a high standard of ethical responsibility to its customers.

I've been apart of a beautifully difficult path of redefining fast food. We've created Full Strength, a premium nutrition shake that is a "fast performance food." It's a food that's both highly affordable (under $4 per serving) and it turns the tables on conventional forms of fast food.

Instead of getting less nutrients in more food (the Dollar Menu is just one example) Full Strength has successfully engineered the nutrition shake to deliver more nutrients in less calories that fuels your body and mind for longer than just about any other meal you can find.

Considering this nutrition shake costs less than $4 yet delivers more nutrients than an intelligently prepared $12 meal comprised of lean chicken breast, steamed broccoli and brown rice this might just be the most economical form of fueling your body and mind on earth.

Perhaps the conventional fast food companies will learn a few things from us, deliver food that ultimately serves the health, well being and performance of their customers with a taste that can rival the most delicious foods. Perhaps then these companies wouldn't have to aggressively market their food to young consumers in disadvantaged positions. Why? Because in a few decades their once customers won't be hospitalized or dead, instead they'll be alive, healthy and strong living on your service instead of dying from it.

NYTimes Article on McDonalds HERE

Learn more about Full Strength HERE

Learn about Full Strength & How it stacks up against the healthiest of meals HERE