Sergeant Tony's Blog

My grandfather said, “believe half of what you see, a third of what you hear.”

Every time my family took him to the airport for his return flight home after one of his visits, he would give me a 5 dollar bill. When I was eight years old, five dollars was a LOT of money. He said that I could spend the money anyway I wanted, but with one stipulation. I couldn’t buy anything in the airport gift shop. He believed that everything in that shop was overpriced and substandard. Then again, he might have been keeping me from impulse buying.

I called him “Big Dad” because that’s what all of his other grandchildren, including my older siblings, called him. Big Dad also loved to quote James 1:9 to me, loudly in the presence of my father, his son-in-law, “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” My father’s personal approach was more like “blow up immediately, ask questions occasionally, fix the damage rarely.”

I think my Big Dad was trying to mentor my father as much as he was trying to mentor me.

Big Dad also believed in the adage, “if it looks too good to be true, it is.”

In recent days I’ve learned a new phrase: “Ponzi Scheme.” When I first heard it I thought it had something to do with “Happy Days.” But that was Potsi, I think.

Charles Ponzi was an Italian emigrant who was convicted of fraud in 1920. He wasn’t the first to use the method of swindling people that bears his name today. He was just the most successful crook up to that point. However, his fraud doesn’t even come close to what Bernie Madoff is accused of doing. Ponzi would bow before Madoff.

A Ponzi scheme is one where people invest in an instrument that reads like something from a doctoral dissertation in finance or international banking that no one really understands. But the hook is that there is tremendous faith in the swindler and the investment promises to pay off huge dividends. In fact, initial investors do make money. But it’s primarily an elaborate pyramid scheme.

Guarantees on investments in anything are zero. Zero. But everyday we invest in hundreds of things, big and small, real and mystical, practical and metaphysical, emotional and financial that have barely a 50/50 probability of success. I have rolled the dice, metaphorically speaking, on hundreds and hundreds of things that didn’t work. I’ve lost time, money, and peace of mind in the process. And I’ll bet you have too.

But the only thing that I’ve ever invested in that gave me back more than I invested, that resulted in 100% success, that paid me back everything I invested and gave me returns that would make Bernie Madoff envious, is exercise. Exercise.

You might have predicted that, coming from me.

But this isn’t a sales pitch. Seriously. Hundreds of people get this newsletter who will never join the program. Either they live too far away, their schedules won’t allow it, they’re physically unable due to injury, they’re too afraid, or the program just isn’t their cup of tea, so they think. So this isn’t an appeal to persuade the unwilling. This is a statement of fact for every human being.

Exercise works. Period.

Exercise makes you healthy. Exercise makes you stronger. Exercise relieves you of stress. Exercise prolongs your life. Exercise enhances your quality of life. Exercise gives you a sense of personal pride and power, and … the list of benefits goes on.

And what’s the catch?

There is none. No catch.

You can exercise at home. You can open your front door and go for a run. You can go to the recreation centers, the gyms, the health clubs, the fitness centers at your church or community center. And of course, you can join USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP and work out with me and my crew, which I would much prefer that you do! But if you’re not going to be a BOOT CAMPER, then commit yourself to doing something that delivers on its promises: regular, intense, and effective EXERCISE!

For a small investment of time, discipline, and money, you get a huge payoff. You get what every person confined to a hospital bed would trade their life savings for: health and fitness.

Thomas Jefferson said, “Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.”

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APPLICATIONS FOR COMBAT THE FAT CHALLENGE 3!

Sergeant Tony’s Combat the Fat $5,000 Weight Loss Challenge 3 will begin Saturday, March 7, 2009! Just like the Biggest Loser, the winner is the one who loses the highest percentage of weight.

Do you know someone who should be in this Third Challenge?
- The Third Challenge will be limited to 10 people.
- Men must be 65 pounds or more over their ideal weight; women must be 50 pounds or more over their ideal weight, each knowing that those who are heavier have more to lose and a slight advantage.
- Each Challenger chosen will be required to get their doctor’s okay to participate in the program.
- Entry fee is $1,000. Each Challenger must get at least $500 of that entry fee from at least 5 sponsors: family, friends, co-workers.
- Entry is open to ALL, Boot Campers and non-Boot Campers alike.
- The Third Challenge is a six month program beginning on March 7 and ends on September 5.

Pass the word!!

Forward this email to someone who might be interested in this highly successful, life altering, awesome program!! Did you see the full page write up about CTF 1 Winner Greg Inman in last month’s Memphis Health and Fitness Magazine?

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NASHVILLE HALF MARATHON TRAINING!

1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) Training for the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville on April 25, 2009 will begin on at 0800 on Saturday, January 24, 2009! We’ll meet at Shelby Farms.

Can you do this training? I’ll bet you can! If you can run 3 miles in 36 minutes or less, then you can do this!

Cost is $100 for “friends” of Boot Camp and $75 for active duty BOOT CAMPERS! All are welcome! Have questions? Shoot me an email!

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WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

* Eat more protein.
* Use this formula to restrict your daily intake of calories: your weight x 7 = your max daily calories to lose weight, NOT TO GO UNDER 1000 calories.
* Increase your cardio to 3 or more hours a week.

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It’s great to be back in the saddle for 2009!!!

Have a GREAT Wednesday everyone! See you on the Quarterdeck!

To your continued health and fitness,

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
4888 Southern Ave
Memphis, TN 38117
901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

www.shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main