Does eating organic reduce your risk of cancer?

Somebody asked me the other day, "Duncan... I haven't seen a blog post from you lately. Is everything okay?" Well, not exactly, but I'll be okay. When two loved ones are fighting cancer simultaneously it can take a major emotional toll on the body.

Within 3 months I've learned more about glioblastoma multiforma & adenocarcinoma than anyone should ever have to know. My feeling is, if you're learning about it, you've either got it or know someone who does.

I am going to apologize in advance for oversimplifying a topic that is highly complex. In fact, I'm going to challenge everyone to educate themselves on one of the biggest things you can do to protect yourself against cancer. That "thing" is what you eat and what you drink.

Too long have we accepted the ideology that, "If it is sold in a store, it must be okay to eat." We trust that someone is watching after us. Hmmm... doesn't it seem odd that the United States now has the highest cancer rate. Does it seem odd that 1 in 4 people, in the United States, will die from cancer. DIE from cancer! Do you understand what that statistic means? It doesn't mean 1 and 4 will get cancer. It means that within the 3 that live, it's because they either won't get cancer or they will get cancer, but will win the battle and die from something else.

Do you ever wonder why or how a seed that was genetically modified to resist Round Up was deemed safe. It's an ingenious invention, actually. Simply plant your corn or soybeans, don't do any traditional tilling or weeding, then douse the crops with Round Up and everything dies except the plant. In the meanwhile, you've got crops that have been soaked in Round Up. Corn in the cob anyone? Must be safe right?

Do enough research for yourself, and you'll discover that many of the things we put into our mouth have multi-billion dollar companies standing behind them. But, the government looks out for us, right? I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I do enjoy listening to them on Facebook while they rally their like minded enthusiasts. The truth is, the government consists of everyday individuals. Some of them have integrity, and some lack it like the Sahara does rain. What I'm saying is, a multi-billion dollar company can find many ways, using the right channels, to get their product to the end consumer.

There are literally hundreds of things that we do, blindly, that have been proven to cause cancer. The defense that most companies use is that there is not enough of this substance to cause cancer. In other words, the results are negligible. At what point does something no longer become negligible? And, what if we add up all the things we consume in a day that are "negligible", now we definitely have something that is no longer negligible, but now circumstantial.

Here are a dozen everyday items that you may expose to your body without ever considering the long term effects due to the ingredients that would be considered "negligible":

Chlorine in water

Mercury in teeth

Charred barbequed burgers

Raspberries

Soymilk

Salad

Eggs

Chicken

"Moderate" air quality

Refined sugar

Deodorant

Lotion

These items either contain carcinogens, pesticides, harmful chemicals, or the animal in which you are consuming was loaded with antibiotics, growth hormones, and put on a diet that actually gives the animal health problems.

Again, I encourage everyone to do their own research so that you can become equally disgusted and invoke change for yourself, your loved ones, and everyone around you.

The change does not come from trying to regulate companies, and what they put in products. That's about as effective as printing out, and marking up a "Terms and Conditions" agreement from Google and sending it back for them to consider revising it. The most powerful way to make a difference is simply to support companies that use "Natural Farming" techniques or are labeled "Organic."

What sucks right now is that naturally grown or organic product is expensive. To switch over, you will spend 1.5 to 2x more on grocery shopping. This is why we're in this mess. Foods have been created to sit on store shelves for a long time. Farming techniques have been modified to pay less workers. Pastures are too small for the number of cows in the field, which leads to infection (thus leading to more antibiotics). Forget having any grass for the cows to graze on when their standing in 6 inches of their own fecal matter and mud, therefore they are fed a genetically engineered product. The same goes for the chickens!

The more people buy natural and organic products, the more these companies will become competitive and will be able to offer a better price. For the sake of our lives, our children's lives, and our grandchildren's lives, make the decision to support the right companies. Once these companies become more supported, they too will become competitive and their prices will go down.

In fact, it's already starting to happen. Mega giants like Wal-Mart and Costco are selling tons of organic products. Products you had to pay out the nose for at organic grocery stores. Believe me, these companies didn't decide on their own that selling natural and organic product that was more expensive was a brilliant idea. They did it because they are listening, and responding to the momentum that is being started by people like you and me!

Respectfully,

Duncan Richardson

Vice President of Bodies in Motion

Chief Master Instructor of The Academy of World Taekwondo

Ph: 208.381.0587

http://www.BodiesInMotionIdaho.com

http://www.facebook.com/bodiesinmotion

http://www.facebook.com/academyofworldtaekwondo

Work Expands Time

Occasionally, I am responsible for a profound thought. It may not be profound to anyone else, but at least it's profound to me. I was reading an article in the latest Entrepreneur magazine on Burnout. Not the type of burnout I'm usually yelling about in the Ultimate Body Challenge.

This burnout is in regards to work. It's very similar to an exercise burnout. For instance, this morning at our 6 am Thai-Robics class, we burned out with pushups... "3 minute max." This is 100 pushups, in your own count, within 3 minutes. For some, it's a 2 minute max. And, then there is the 100 pushups in 1 minute. Well... let me tell you, no matter which max you're shooting for, your muscles burnout to "Total Muscle Fatigue." A term known in the fitness industry as TMF, or as many of our students will say... "Too Many Freakin'" pushups.

Anyhow, the same burnout can hit the body, not in the way of exercise, but in the way of work. Duh... It's something we've known for years. It's something I've known for years, but may have chosen to ignore it. The profound statement that really hit home with me in the article I read was, "Work expands time."

My heart and soul is in The Academy of World Taekwondo and Bodies in Motion. Not a minute goes by where I am not thinking about students, instructors, curriculum, marketing, finances, customer service, and on and on and on. If I allow it, it will literally consume my day, my night, and even my sleep.

If this work expands to enough walls, there is no longer room for the things that mean even more than the success of a business and that is 1) My health. 2) My family. Work expands time. Give work time, and it will expand in it. In fact, the statement is so true it should be a law in modern physics or something.

From my past blogs, you may have noticed that I like to leave you with something that is helpful. If you can relate to this statement of Work Expands Time, try this:

1. Define your workday. Whether you work an 8 hour, 10 hour, or 12 hour day... you must define it. For instance, once that final hour is up, you're done. Laptop stays at work, and Blackberry, iPhone, or Droid gets shut off. I promise, the feeling will be amazing!

2. Write on a sheet of paper your biggest roles in life. I use a Franklin Covey planner, so my roles were easily defined in the page separator. For me, I wrote:

- Husband: Share workload in the house. Define workday so that I can take the kids to give Rachel some down time. Schedule weekly date nights.

- Father: Define workday so that I can be home at a reasonable time to play games and do activities with my kids.

- Leader: Continue to organize our new operation to define rolls and to develop a general manager.

And, for your information, my roles will shift from week to week. Although, 2 are always on there (Husband and Father), the description changes according to how I feel my focus needs to change. I will usually have more roles, but this week, I only want 3 while I work on defining my work day.

Cheers!

Duncan Richardson
www.BodiesInMotionIdaho.com

Why do they call them Southpaws?

A student asked me this morning why a boxer with their right foot forward is called a "Southpaw." You'll be surprised to know that the word southpaw never originated from boxing. In fact, it's a baseball term.

In the United States, baseball fields are typically designed so that the batter is facing east, so that the evening sun is not in his eyes. The Hawkes stadium in Boise, Idaho is actually facing northeast. Nonetheless, the batters eyes are always facing away from the sun.

Most pitchers are right handed, subsequently making the right arm on the north side. So, it was coined many years ago, that a left handed pitcher is a southpaw. The person that coined the name was Chicago based author- Finley Peter Dunne.

Respectfully,

Duncan Richardson
www.BodiesInMotionIdaho.com

Fighters Glossary to a Better Business

About a year and a half ago, I was the speaker at a YPO (Young President's Organization). Just the other day, the person who invited me to speak had asked me if I still had the Fighters Glossary to a Better Business that I put together for everyone.

It took a little bit to find it since it had to be extracted off my dead laptop. I opened it up to re-read it, and actually enjoyed it. Then I started thinking... Something like this should be shared with everyone. Although, it's impact is less without the speech that went with it, I still think some will find it fun and somewhat useful. Enjoy!

Fighters Glossary to a Better Business, Family, and Personal Life

• bare-knuckle(d) –Rolling up your sleeves, getting serious, and making things happen, and happen now!
• beat (someone) to the punch –To be assertive make the first decisive move.
• blow-by-blow –Keeping good records and stats of your success.
• come out fighting or come out swinging –The spirit of a champion CEO or entrepreneur who will never back down.
• down and out –Lacking money or prospects; penniless or destitute. A term used to describe the competition.
• down for the count; out for the count - To be defeated. Again, a term that is used to describe the other guy.
• glass jaw –Being vulnerable to life’s setbacks.
• go the distance –Carrying out your goals to full completion despite all setbacks and trials one might face.
• have someone in your corner –To have the support or help of someone that you can turn to such as a mentor, a spouse, or an organization.
• heavy hitter –You!
• heavyweight –A person or organization of great importance or influence.
• hit below the belt –A down economy or recession.
• K.O. –Another turn to refer to competitors. You can never have too many.
• lead with one's chin –Moving forward with decisions without protecting yourself.
• low blow –A recession or down economy.
• on the ropes –A temporary setback in business or life.
• pull one's punches –To be gentle or lenient.
• punch-drunk –Your state of mind after putting in an 80 hour work week.
• roll with the punches –A time when you or your business is hit unexpectantly and you take things in stride.
• round –A work day.
• saved by the bell –Everyday, when you go home to recuperate and prepare for the next round.
• sparring partner –Colleagues.
• throw in the towel –Quitting. A term we’re not too familiar with.

Respectfully,

Duncan Richardson
Chief Master Instructor
The Academy of World Taekwondo
Ph: 208.381.0587
www.FreeKarateLesson.com

What Does King Solomon & The Ultimate Body Challenge Have in Common?

A couple days ago, I was at the Library. Since the main Library is closed on Sunday’s until after Labor Day, I was at the Hillcrest location. I have never been there, but liked the cozy feel. Unlike the main location with the kids stuff on the first floor, and adult stuff on the second floor, it gave it more of a Barnes & Noble feel, which is right up my alley.

Normally, I’m reading self help books on business, leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, marketing, fitness, and martial arts. Today was different! I went there and took the kids, to specifically find a fiction book. I feel it’s important to read fiction once in a while, especially if you’re always going 90 mph in the right hand lane (metaphorically speaking of course).

Since the selection was not nearly that of Barnes & Noble, I found myself picking up books that I had always skipped over. One book that has stared at me for years, but I had always looked past it, probably because of the title, was The Richest Man Who Ever Lived. To my surprise, this book spoke to me in the first few pages in a way that I could respect the author and be intrigued by the history of King Solomon.

I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know who King Solomon was. Fortunately, I was at the library and could read up on this interesting person who took the thrown at the age of 12. Anyhow, long story short… the message that struck a chord with me was a statement in the book about everyone having all the qualities for success except diligence.

The author continues to explain that it is not human nature to be diligent. It’s human nature to “take the path of least resistance.” Are you familiar with a book called The Secret? The book sold millions upon millions just before the recession. The whole premise of the book is that you can have abundance, and all you have to do is think hard enough about it, and it will manifest itself.

The author of The Secret also tells you specifically to not create a plan for success, because your planning will just get in the way of the universe. I sometimes joke to people that the reason why we went into a recession is because everyone stopped working and began dreaming because they read The Secret. Get this… the author also tells you that you can eat anything you want... simply realign your thoughts and you will become lean and fit.

And, yes… that is my lead in to talk about the Ultimate Body Challenge (UBC). I too believe that we struggle to be diligent. Having the Ultimate Body is a “Challenge.” In fact, having HALF an Ultimate Body is a challenge. We are not afraid to tell people that our program is not for sissy’s [smile]. If you’re out of shape and fed up with how you look and ready to do something about it, our program may be what you’re looking for.

We enjoy training one type of person- someone that is driven. Or, as the author of The Richest Man Who Ever Lived says, “diligent.” It doesn’t matter if you’re in shape, out of shape, or somewhere in between, it’s the driven people that we are focused on and committed to.

The Ultimate Body Challenge is a killer program that works you out in an exciting manner, and gives you the nutritional skills to shed the unwanted fat, and reveal the sculpted muscle underneath. Here's the caveat... It requires diligence. Unfortunately, there are many pills, workout devices, and even workout programs that feed on the weakness of human nature- the need for an easy way there (path of least resistance). Unfortunately, millions of people are left discouraged because of clever marketing and a program weak in principle.

If you go the entire 10 weeks in our program, and didn't see any improvement, we will refund 100% of your investment. Even if you go 10 weeks and completely blow the nutritional aspect, our guarantee still stands. Granted, you'll see better results with the nutrition. We are that confident in the success rate of just the exercise portion alone!

To get started, you'll need to know a few things:

1. We need to know if you're serious, right away. If you doddle, we may not have a spot for you.

2. The program begins Sept. 13th at 6 pm, at our Boise location- 2475 Apple St. Suite 104 Boise, ID 83706

3. The program is $299, and that includes your manual, boxing gloves, jump rope, nutritional coaching for 10 weeks and 3 body compositions.

4. Call us today at 381-0587, and ask for Kendal, to reserve your spot. While you've got Kendal on the phone, ask her how the UBC changed her life.

See you soon!

Respectfully,

Duncan Richardson

Chief Master Instructor

The Academy of World Taekwondo

Ph: 208.381.0587

http://www.FreeKarateLesson.com

Camping with 4 Kids

"Are you doing that?"

"NO!!!"

I can't remember the last time I've seen Rachel give such a nervous look. And, a well warranted nervous look. You see, we were being pushed down a muddy hill by a 7,000 pound camping trailer full of atv's, with all 8 wheels locked up and caked with mud and clay. The view ahead was absolutely stunning. It's the turn and drop off that was about 40 yards away that made us nervous.

We were on our way to Lake Owyhee. The bad part was that we took a wrong turn. In fact, several wrong turns, thanks to the Google map that was linked directly to the campsite. Rachel and I used to ALWAYS have an Atlas in the car, especially when travelling. For the past several years, it sat there doing nothing since we have GPS navigation on our phones and step by step directions from Mapquest is so easy to come by. Well, GPS navigation, on your phone, doesn't work so hot when you're out of range. And god forbid Google maps to be wrong! Not just a wrong turn here and there, which they are notorious for, but full on... 100 miles out of the way wrong.

We knew something wasn't right when we entered a dirt road. What the heck, right? We trekked on and on, and on. Probably 20 miles on this dirt road with not a soul to be found. We discovered later, that during thunder storms, you take cover in these parts. The roads get so muddy and slippery that it's impossible to drive. We found out.

It was about 8 pm when we finally maneuvered through some pretty hairy turns and slopes going about 3 miles per hour in 4 wheel low. Then, we found ourselves at the bottom of a hill and

Rachel and I just looked at each other. I said, "There is no way we will get up that hill." We were nervous that we were going to have to park right in the middle of the road and camp until morning.

We decided that I would pull an atv out and ride ahead to see just how far away we were from any civilization. I ended up riding for about 3 or 4 miles and discovered a beautiful campsite called Succor Creek. We thought it was a joke from ReserveAmerica.com for us falling for their bogus directions [Sucker Creek].

There were only 3 groups on the campsite, and spoke to one gentleman who seemed to know the area pretty well and the issues with the road during heavy rainstorms. His suggestion was to leave the atvs on the road to lighten our load, and he would go back with me to help grab them. That's the plan!

I made it back to the trailer and suburban on a mission.

"Rachel, get the kids in their long sleeves and pants. You get ready also, because you, Reese, and

Isaac are each riding an atv back."

"But..."

"And, there is no time to discuss because we only have 30 minutes of daylight to make this work!"

Please understand, I have to take advantage of these "Hollywood" moments of distress since I don't get to experience them often. On the other hand, it was true. We did need to move, and move fast.

Reese rode one atv. Isaac rode a motorcycle. And, Rachel rode the other atv. I thought, if we could not only get the load of the atv's out of the trailer, but also 3 bodies out of the car and a dog, we would have a much better chance of getting up this hill.

Some people say that we are crazy going camping with 4 kids- 7 yrs, 5 yrs, 2 1/2 yrs, and 9 months. I would agree. But... I also know that these moments we experience together as a family are down right priceless.

The photo below is of two of my little troopers, the dog, and Rachel leading the charge up the hill. The last bit of the sun broke through the clouds before it dropped behind the mountain and left a magnificent view that my phone did no justice for. The teamwork that went into this effort will leave a lasting memory for me and my family.

We ended up staying only one night at Succor Creek, even though it was absolutely gorgeous there. We had some irritation knowing that we paid for a trailer site in Lake Owyhee and dog gone it, we're going to use it. So, we hit the road on a beautiful Saturday. As it turns out, everyone else hit the road to come to Succor Creek Saturday, too. See... people in these parts know that you come to Succor Creek only when the road is dry!

The rest of the trip was a ball. This is a perfect shot of Rachel wondering something... not sure what. Perhaps it had something to do with us being stuck at the dump site with the sani-hose stuck (cross threaded) to the trailer.

There is a company called Lucky Bums. Check them out- http://www.luckybums.com. They have a saying, "Grow outside and play." I love it because it has a couple of meanings. One meaning that I take from it is that you grow in many ways when you play. When you play together as a family, you grow as a father, or a mother, and a team player. Your children grow closer together and to you as parents. You grow as a family.

Respectfully,

Duncan Richardson

Chief Master Instructor

The Academy of World Taekwondo

90 MPH in the Right Hand Lane

Just last night, I'm literally walking up the stairs to head to bed when I decided that I truly dislike sleep. It's not the first time I've thought of this, but it was the first time I really agreed with it, and discovered why.

Quite frankly, I love so much of what goes on in my life that I want to experience every minute of it. We only have 24 hours in a day. Within that 24 hours, we must love our spouse, love our kids, love ourselves for that matter. We must also work, we must eat, we must exercise, we must socialize, we must learn, and we must teach. Really, there is not a lot of time to do all those things.

In fact, even with 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night, I wish I could commit more time to those things I really enjoy above. I know... we all do! If there is one thing I've learned in life, and I've learned it recently, it's to live in the present. I was told recently that I live my life going 90 mph in the right hand lane. Although, I have managed to master the art of squeezing as much out of my day as possible, I may not have always been present due to the fact that I'm already focused on achieving my next task or goal.

I really enjoy talking about goal setting, self discipline, and focus. These are traits that are huge in martial arts. Well, they are traits that should be huge if you have an instructor that lives by them. I enjoy teaching students about these things because I understand these traits and I'm good at implementing them.

What's equally important as having good goal setting skills, self discipline, and focus is having the ability to enjoy your journey through the process. A goal is purposeless, if there was no journey. I know with 100% certainty, someone who puts in hundreds of hours to achieve a Black Belt will appreciate me tying their belt around their waist more than someone we promotes straight from white belt. It's the journey from white to red belt that was rewarding.

I still will only sleep 5 to 6 hours a night. I still plan on being goal oriented, disciplined, and focused. As a master level martial arts instructor, I may be a little late in learning to enjoy the journey, but at least I'm still alive.

Respectfully,

Master Richardson

Chief Master Instructor

The Academy of World Taekwondo