We have turned into a world of sedentary people. Think about it. You most likely drive or take some sort of public transportation to work every day. You don't do a whole lot of physical activity at the office. You come home and spend time in front of the computer screen or television. You eat. You work. You go to sleep. And then you get up the next day and do it all over again. Then you wonder why heart disease is the leading killer in the U.S.!

Most people's hearts do not get the proper amount of exercise they need to stay healthy. Sedentary lifestyles increase the risk of heart attacks. The heart is a muscle with it's own blood supply and it actually needs to be exercised in a certain way to maintain optimum health. That "certain" way is called aerobic exercise.

Aerobic exercise is defined as any activity that uses large muscle groups that is maintained continuously and is rhythmic in nature. The goal is to increase both breathing and heart rate. Some examples of aerobic exercise are running, bicycling, swimming, brisk walking, fast dancing, rowing, and stairclimbing.

What will aerobic exercise do for you? Well, the number one benefit you will receive is:
A much stronger, more efficient heart.

Here are some of the other things you will experience from aerobic exercise:

• weight loss
• improved mental health (relieves stress and depression)
• improved immune system
• increased stamina
• reduction in disease
• increased life span
• improved muscle health
• decreased blood pressure
• improved digestion
• improved bone density

These benefits are really true. I am not making any of this up. Every one of them is documented. Begin aerobic exercise and you will begin feeling more healthy very quickly. The benefits actually kick in after only four weeks! Your heart muscle will become stronger, the coronary arteries will become more developed, and as a matter of fact, future exercise will require less effort.

Aerobic exercise is not difficult. In most cases it can actually be fun. You will need to perform it at least three times per week for a minimum of twenty minutes per session. For the exercise to be aerobic, you will need to get your heart to beat between 65% and 85% of it's maximum capacity for the duration of the exercise. It's easy to figure out what your maximum heart rate is. There is actually a simple formula to calculate it. Just take 220 and subtract your age.

So let's say you are 40 years old. 220 - 40 is 180. That is your maximum heart rate. So the zone you should be in when you exercise is between 65% of 180 (117) and 85% of 180 (153). How do you know what your heart rate is when you are exercising? Simply take your pulse on your wrist for ten seconds and multiply by 6. Some people like to wear heart monitors while they are exercising. They are nice but I have never have worn one. I think once you get the hang of it, you will not really have to take your pulse everytime you exercise. You will know what the feeling is when you are in the target zone!

What is my favorite type of aerobic exercise? Running! It requires very little equipment (running shoes and some clothes), I can step out my front door and begin, it's fun, it's easy, and basically most people can do it. You don't have to go fast to get your heart rate into the target zone.

Aerobic exercise is the first thing you should be doing in order to attain maximum health and look and feel your best. It is a lifestyle and NOT a fad! It is very easy to find excuses why you can't do it. Believe me, I know. I've been there. And I've heard all the excuses. But since you are reading this, you obviously are ready to take the necessary steps that it takes to start feeling better. So why don't you make it your business to find a way around any excuse and make sure you incorporate aerobic exercise into your weekly routine. That means three time a week for twenty minutes minimum. If you can do more, that is even better!

No excuses. Just find the time and do it! Your heart and body will thank you.

Next: What You Need To Do On Day Two!

Do you feel as though you are not really in the best shape you can be in? Is your health questionable? Do you look and feel a little older than you think you should? Do you ever have a feeling that your life is OK, but could be much better? Well, listen up, because you are about to read some of the most powerful information you could ever get to help you become a new, youthful vibrant human being. Too many people are walking around like all of the life has been sucked right out of them. I see them every day. Are you one of them? Maybe not, but can you use a little help looking better and feeling better about yourself? I would say most likely.

Well, as you know, there are so many books, systems, diets, consultants and experts giving out so much misinformation, it's unbelievable. The fact is that with all of the resources we have, Americans are fatter and in worse physical shape than any time in history. Don't believe me? Then simply go to any mall food court, Wal-Mart store, or McDonalds and just look around. You will see what I mean within minutes. It's pretty sick.

Maybe people don't want to be healthy and in good shape? WRONG. I believe given the choice, mostly everyone would like to look young and be healthy. But many think it's impossible or out of reach to turn their lives around and look good. So they give up.

So why should you listen to what I have to say? Who am I? Some dentist? What does a dentist know about staying healthy?

Well, I have always had a knack for taking something that is somewhat complicated and turning it into something that is simple. It has always seemed to work for me.

So over the last twenty five years or so I have been experimenting with different ways to attain optimal health. This is not some overnight idea. I have been doing this for a long time. And now I think I'm ready to teach you how to transform yourself into a brand new person that no one will recognize. You will learn how to do it in just FOUR DAYS!!!

This is not B.S. And no you skeptics... I have nothing to sell you. You will find out everything on these pages. So please check back because I will be unveiling my secrets very soon. Are you ready?

Rich and I will be taking some time off from our daily routines to make a rare appearance in Tysons Corner, Virginia in front of a very small group. This is actually something that we have just never done! We do TBSE every year in Las Vegas and of course that is a three day extravaganza with the best speakers in dentistry with non stop fun and learning. Rich and I host the whole thing but we are not actual speakers at TBSE. So for the longest time docs have been asking us to do small seminars where WE actually do the speaking, but we simply have been so busy, we have never done so. As you may know, Rich has done a small handful of private seminars in the past, but they were unannounced and closed to the "general public."

So here we are. We're gonna do this. We felt we have great stories about how we built up two family practices from scratch independently of each other. I was on one side of town doing my thing and Rich was on the other. Two very different demographics. But we had certain simple principles that we adhered to. And we became very successful by sticking to our guns.

After practicing for about ten years each, we both sold our practices for very handsome profits which allowed us to live our lives exactly the way we wanted to. Now we spend our time publishing The Richards Report, doing the CD/Tape Series, helping dentists with Promail, and of course producing TBSE!

Rich and I will be meeting and speaking to a very small group of dentists and staff on October 1, 2004. It will be very informal. Anyone in attendance will be able to spend time with us, hang out, and pick our brains!

Actually, for the most part, this seminar is unannounced and unadvertised. It's not mentioned anywhere on our website (except this blog!). We sent a few cards out to local offices (in the Virginia area) and practically filled up the small room we had reserved within days.

Seriously, we've never done a seminar like this before. I hope Rich does not see this but I've got to tell you... I am actually a little nervous, simply because I don't know what to expect. I am not a professional speaker by any means. I just know I have a LOT of great things I can tell dentists and staff members alike that would most certainly help them see the dental practice from a different perspective.

I'm really getting excited. It's just a month away. I can't wait to meet all of you that have signed up. We are going to have a great day together. Please come as informally as you like. Dress comfortably. I know we will!

For those of you that may be reading this that are from outside of the MD/DC/VA area and would like to come... call my office at 1-888-88-MADOW to see if there are any spots left. We'll let you know. If you're lucky, you can still get in.

I honestly hope this blog does not seem like an ad because it's really not. If we wanted to advertise this small seminar, we could have put announcements on our website and sent out direct mail pieces. I just started writing a few lines about how excited I am to do this seminar with Rich, but the words kept flowing. So I'm sorry... it's not an ad... but let me tell you, Rich and I cannot wait to meet anyone that comes!!!

One more thing before I leave you. Please check back soon because my next blog will have some information that is guaranteed to help you practically immediately! I promise. See you soon!