Time to Unleash Private and Personal Initiative in Health Care

A study in the current issue of Diabetes Care predicts that the number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double over the next 25 years, and that the annual cost for their medical care will triple. These are sobering numbers in terms of both human misery and societal cost.

Certainly, this is no time to cripple our health care system with a government take-over, which will inevitably ration care and squash private sector innovation. What should be done is to free up Pharma and Biotech from excess regulation and tax burdens in order to maximize their ability to develop the interventions necessary to curtail the development of diabetes and its complications. We need more of what has given us the greatest health standard of living the world has ever known, not less. In addition, insurance companies, airline carriers, employers etc. should be allowed (encouraged) to give discounted premiums, fares and/or other incentives to their physically fit and healthy customers and employees, including those that maintain a healthy weight.

As it stands, an obesity and sedentary living protection cabal exists demanding that unhealthy behaviors be subsidized by society through universal health care without stipulations, and by threatening lawsuits against those who "discriminate" against fat and self-destructive individuals.

Get active. Watch your diet and weight. The only person that should pay the consequences for not doing so is you!

Standing together to affirm Christian civic responsibilities

Preserving and protecting 1.) innocent human life, 2.) marriage, and 3.) religious liberty

These principles are firmly Biblical and consistent with our Founders intentions for America. Please prayerfully consider signing here.

Thankful Americans Re-Engaging

Despite the economic bad news nationally and locally, and the weakness being portrayed by our President abroad I find myself more optimistic about the future of America this year than last. Yes we have an incompetent leftist ideologue in the White House and probably even worse leadership in Congress, but the American people seem to be back in the game.

Last year at this time Americans had just voted for style over substance. This year they realize they got neither. Last year everyday Americans seemed to opt out of the political process being forced to decide between an empty-suit and a teleprompter or a Republican who not only did everything he could to alienate the majority center-right populace, but at times made people wonder if he actually wanted to win. This year they attended Tea Parties, protested on Capital Hill against government run health care, and generally expressed a deep and ever widening outrage at nearly every Obama Administration initiative.

This year we have not so much seen the emergence of Sarah Palin, but more importantly the re-emergence of common sense Sarah Palin Americans. We can all rejoice over Climate-Gate. The scoundrels have been exposed, and cap and trade legislation will almost certainly wither as a result. True, our military leadership seems to be PC corrupted as evidenced by its response to Ft. Hood terrorist attack and the way it treats its Navy SEALs heroes after battlefield successes. But, Americans still seem to know Islamic terrorism when they see it and it is good to know that our elite warriors are still out there killing, capturing and yes even bloodying up the bad guys.

Yes, the current leadership in Washington is a disaster. BHO and company have brought Chicago-style corruption and cronyism to the national stage, seem determined to go down the wrong track at every opportunity, and appear to be woefully inept to boot (this may be a blessing). Certainly, this will cost all of us dearly and will require diligence and wisdom to reverse. But, the American people seem to have reacquired the exceptional American mindset necessary to begin the process. The "Shining City on the Hill" will only die when its people decide to withdraw from the battle and retreat into a moribund socialistic existence. I have been heartened over the past 6 months by the realization that many, if not most, Americans are still willing to battle for their country and way of life. This is something for which we can be thankful.

Arizona Ironman 2009 Photo Gallery

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This picture of the swim start captures the incredible energy one could feel in the water and the hope we all had for the rest of the day.

Mission Accomplished

For the past year and a half I have been working out regularly, swimming 2-4 times a week, riding 2-3 times a week and running 4-6 times a week. I didn't log tremendous miles but I stuck with it faithfully mostly out of the joy I get from completing a good workout, but also partly out of fear of what was to come on November 22, 2009. That was the day I fulfilled a lifetime ambition of finishing a full Ironman triathlon. I can now proclaim "mission accomplished!" That is not to say that everything went perfectly or that I will not pursue other endurance goals in the future, but I set out to do what I intended to do and that is a gratifying.

While I am well satisfied with my accomplishment I know that this goal would likely have gone unfulfilled without the help of others. First of all, I thank God for protection, not only during the event itself, but also for the many hours I out on the road since I began this quest. I also had a remarkably long stretch of training that was free from injury that I attribute not only to a lower leg and shoulder injury prevention routine and a good pair of running shoes, but to a large dose of divine intervention. I also thank my wife who never failed to encourage me when I didn't feel my usual urge to get out the door for a workout, and who helped me find time on weekends to get in my longer training rides and runs. My two sons were also very supportive from serving as support and equipment personnel during my events to accompanying me on my rides and runs. The Arizona Ironman volunteers were numerous and outstanding. There were literally hundreds lining the course the entire day offering food, drink, medical and equipment support, and much appreciated encouragement. Finally, the everyday folks who came out to watch were wonderful. I can't even count the times I heard someone call my name (displayed with our race numbers) encouraging me to "keep it up" or "you're looking great."

When I finished 14 plus hours of exercise that day the first thing I said to my wife was "I don't know why anyone would want to do two of these", but now a couple days later I'm thinking I just might be able to trim off a couple hours if I…

Keep Moving to Avoid Diabetes

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was a landmark study released in 2002 that showed that an intensive lifestyle intervention with diet and exercise reduced the rate of new onset diabetes by 58% in high risk individuals over a 3 year period. Now, a study released online in the Lancet provides long term follow up of many of these research participants. Not surprising to the SL, suppression the onset of diabetes persisted for up to 10 years in those that elected to carry on with the lifestyle intervention. Moreover, those that were previously assigned to placebo intervention or the anti-diabetic drug metformin and who "crossed-over" to the lifestyle intervention program achieved a similar protective effect. Bottom line: it's tough to develop diabetes if you control your weight and exercise regularly.