Feeling Good, Feeling Great, How are you?

It’s me, Norm again, back to report more wonderful news about my life-changing program at Southwest Age Intervention Institute. At Southwest Age Intervention Institute, their motto is "Make the rest of your life the best of your life." Well, they had their work cut out for them in me. My spine tumor surgery in 2004 left me with a drop right leg. As a result my fitness and physical levels were below average. As I began my yearlong program with Southwest Age Intervention Institute on May 10, my weight had been slowly edging up. My strength and agility had slowly declined. I didn't sleep as well. I blamed it simply on theprocess of aging. However the day I walked into the Southwest Age Intervention Institute's office in Arlington, I was downright excited when I saw the plan designed specifically for me! It’s a few months later and let me tell you, the numbers are in and they are very good. 



Now the first three months have officially concluded. I've lost 24 pounds of fat. My body fat percentage has dropped seven percent. My cholesterol has plummeted from 176 to 123. The insulin levels in my body, previously very high, are now well within acceptable range. I am no longer deficient in vitamin D or DHEA. The inflammation in my body is down. I could go on and on and on because there simply is good news everywhere.

I have regularly scheduled physical workouts designed exclusively for my body’s limitations. This doesn't mean I'm even near where I want to be. Nevertheless, I'm stronger, sleep better, have better balance and to be honest, I feel younger. I love what Southwest Age Intervention Institute has done for me and look forward to seeing what they can do in the future. You will too. I am ecstatic to continue this program and promise you I will update you on my progress. Join me in making the rest of your life the best of your life by checking out this wonderful place. Call 1-800-AGE-EXPERT and be sure to tell whomever you talk to that I recommended you to call.

Time for new pants

I'm nearing the three-month point of my program designed specifically for me at the Southwest Age Intervention Institute. I've still got nearly nine months left in the program, but I can’t express in words how much better my life has already become. I'm sleeping SO much better. Gone are the afternoons filled with naps, because I have a lot more energy.

Now a drum roll please---I'm going pants shopping this weekend! My weight has dropped to the point where even my former "tight stuff" is too loose. I started this comprehensive program of diet, supplements and exercise with a waist measurement of (GULP!) 48! I'm now a REAL 44! I need new pants to accommodate my new energy. Hopefully a few months from now these pants will need to be taken in too. In fact, the way my lifestyle has changed, I feel certain my pants will be altered down the road. But, for right now, I need new, smaller pants. Thank you Southwest Age Intervention Institute!

Age Intervention, nine weeks in.

Lets start with a number that'll catch your eye, 15 pounds! That's what I've lost in the nine weeks since beginning my individually designed age intervention program by the Southwest Age Intervention Institute.

For weeks, I've been telling you about this marvelous program that consists of proper eating, hormone supplements and a workout regimen. Last week, I spent more than an hour working out with Vanessa, the staff exercise physiologist. Before starting the series of exercises I asked if I might be weighed. I hadn't weighed myself since early May, the day I began my program at Southwest Age Intervention Institute. Then I tipped the scales at over 264. Ugh! I'd been "inching" upward for a few years now, but 264 was a lot for me. On July 11, I weighed 249.

But don’t be distracted by that weight loss. This isn’t a weight loss program. It is about the total health of the body. I haven't been this healthy in years. I no longer gobble antacid tablets. I sleep better. I almost never need a nap in the middle of the afternoon. I just have so much more energy. I've learned a much healthier way of living and the rest of my days will be so much better for it. Join me at Southwest Age Intervention Institute. They will make the rest of your life the best of your life. They're doing that for me.

I turn 67 next week and I feel GREAT

I don't know when I've felt this good before. I'll turn 67 on July 5 and I've been slowly gaining weight, but I rationalized this was just part of getting older. I wasn't sleeping as well, but I figured that was just part of getting older. Activity would wear me down quicker, but I figured that was just part of being nearly 67. There were so many things that I swept under the rug and attributed them to "just getting older," but then Southwest Age Intervention Institute entered my life.

The program they developed for me and the education they gave me has truly have changed my life. I feel so much more energetic. I have no idea how much I weigh and don't care. I've donated my old "fat pants," because they don't have fit anymore. And now, the pants I replaced them with are also getting too big. I'd guess I've lost 12 -14 pounds, but I've also converted some of my mass to muscle...THIS IS NOT A DIET! It IS a change of life. I'm here to tell you, you don't have to "age gracefully." So join me at the Southwest Age Intervention Institute. My life, my approach and my view of my future years have all changed.

Can you believe Norm loves his new diet?

It's been more than a month since I've been on my custom program from Southwest Age Intervention Institute. I feel fantastic! I've been terrific at adjusting to my new life style eating program. In fact, I've done so well, I've actually made a major decision about my future eating habits. My nutritionist, Judiann Van Beest, taught me how the body actually uses food as a fuel. Her step-by-step information was a revelation for me. The first 28 days, termed the "induction phase," called for me to focus on eating only specific foods. Good foods. Tasty foods. Satisfying foods. It's not some weirdo diet plan, but the idea was to change the way my body got nutrition and to eliminate those foods that actually were counter-productive. That first 28 days went SO WELL that I'm, for the most part, going to continue eating that array of foods. After 28 days, the program allows me to re-introduce certain foods (some potatoes, corn and certain fruits), but I'm so happy with the results and how I'm feeling I've decided to continue with the foods in the induction phase indefinitely.

Now, a criticism of myself, I've got to be more faithful to my workout program. My incredibly busy schedule simply does not allow me enough time to do the specially designed workout plan every day. Now that the Mavs have won the NBA title, that has got to change. If it doesn't change, my exercise therapist Vanessa's not gonna be very happy with me.

But for now, I'm happy!!!!!!!

Four weeks in and wow!

June 7, was the four week anniversary starting the Southwest Age Intervention Institute's custom designed program and to steal the quote from McDonald's, "I'm lovin' it". I haven't felt this good in years. In fact, there's real proof of what's happening to me. I went to my regular doctor, Dr. Phil Aronoff, for an EKG. He took my blood pressure measurements. In just under three weeks, my readings had gone from 148 over 81 to 130 over 70! Remarkable! People are beginning to notice and have asked what I'm doing to lose weight. They've commented on my thinner-looking face. On Monday, I went back to Foundry Big and Tall Supply and exchanged a pair of cargo shorts for a smaller size, the waist was simply too big. I wore them to the Rangers game last night and realized that in a another few weeks they might be too large also.

But this ISN'T about weight loss. It's about feeling better and having more energy. My life is better and it's only been four weeks. The Southwest Age Intervention Institute program, the one they designed for me and the one they'll design for you, really, really works! I can't wait (weight?) to see what the next few weeks bring because the last four have been terrific!

Not bad so far

I'm loving the program Southwest Age Intervention Institute has designed for me. Last Thursday I spent a sweaty, difficult hour and fifteen minutes with Vanessa who created a workout regimen especially for me and my very bad right leg. There simply are several exercises I cannot do because of a lack of strength and balance in the leg. Vanessa put me through a series of exercises aimed at increasing my core strength. What a workout! And that was HALF of what she's designed for me! I'll get the other half when I visit Southwest Aging Intervention Institute later this week.

Right now, I'm halfway through the eating induction period. I'm amazed at how easy it has been to make the change to a much healthier eating program. Now, that doesn't mean I wouldn't still enjoy a terrific burger, but I'm pretty proud that I'm now giving my body the proper nutrition. More to come later this week.

And say a prayer that the second half of Vanessa's workout regimen doesn't just wear me out.

And so it begins...

Last Tuesday I learned more about my body, my bad habits and my personal medical situation than in any previous day in my 66 years on earth. Weeks ago I'd given my blood and for the following 2-3 weeks Southwest Age Intervention Institute was determining exactly what kind of shape I was in. And not just physical shape, but total shape. I arrived in their Arlington offices at about 12:45 and didn't leave until well after 7p.m. Does that sound like a long day? It was! But what an incredibly informative, insightful afternoon learning how I could defy aging.

The afternoon began with mental agility tests (that's not what they called them, but they tested whether or not doing sports talk for 36 years had significantly rotted my brain. Thankfully it had not!) Such tests also gauged my manu

al dexterity.

Then it was back to the meeting room for a terrific lunch of scallops and snow peas while watching a video explaining the basis of their nutrition program. I'm 66 and I learned basic info I wish I'd had known 40 years ago---except that it didn't exist then.

Next came a 75 minute meeting with nutritionist Judy Van Beest. Her husband, Johann, has basically walked me through this program as kind of overall program guide. Judy, who looks to be about 45 years old, took me through WHY the nutrition program worked, how it was designed and that my personal eating habits had created situations that could be problematic in the near future if I didn't address them.

Honestly, I'd never been shown exactly how the body worked, the glycemic index of foods, how certain foods triggered the release of insulin in the body and that continuously elevated insulin levels work against a body. About 45 minutes deep in this session I wrote myself a note----"This WILL work!" Imagine how stunned I was sometime later that afternoon to find Judy was actually 60 years old! She absolutely does not look it----but then she's in this age defying program.

Next, I went down the

hall to work with physical and exercise therapist, Vanessa. We did all kinds of exercises, meas

urements, body scans and took pictures that I can assure you are not that flattering, but the Institute wants baseline information to measure your progress.

Then came the final and most vital part of the afternoon---meeting with Dr. Jacob Rosenstein, who'll oversee my progress in all areas. We began with a physical to check basics. (Yes, there was a prostate exam!) Then came the most eye-opening hour. The Institute has a virtual dossier on me. The blood work measured everything, good and bad. I'm happy to report some good areas. My cholesterol is good, but there's work to do in terms of "good and bad" cholesterol. I'm deficient in vitamin D and my insulin's way too high. If, in my current condition, I'm to rebuild lean muscle mass I'll need testosterone injunctions (Insert Gordo joke here!) The session went and on and learned more and more. The scans revealed where my extra fatty tissue is concentrated and that I have some significant build-up of plaque in my carotid artery. There's also a touch of arthritis in my back.

It was incredible! The information just kept coming then I learned exactly what MY program would consist of. I got a huge three-ring binder with all of SAII's research and my particular health plan. We reviewed old eating habits, surgeries, family medical history, supplements I'd been taking and medications I had to take. Whew!

After that meeting Dr.Johann van Beest walked me to the pharmacy---their pharmacy! All, and I do mean ALL, the supplements and hormones necessary to correct imbalances were waiting for me. Each month I'll be shipped another month's supply. And, just in case you're wondering, no---this is not special treatment. This is the way any man or woman wanting to defy the aging process gets treated at Southwest Age Intervention Institute.

I'm truly psyched. This program does what it advertises and it will do it for me. Next week comes another meeting with Vanessa, who'll outline my exercise program. I'm gonna have to give up some old, very detrimental eating habits, workout more and understand that my body needs care if it's gonna work for me for many more years.

I'll be keeping you posted. But if what I've written intrigues you why not make the call.

Will I ever get some of that blood back?

Thorough! That's the impression I got when meeting the professionals at the Southwest Age Intervention Institute---thorough. As we talked I became more and more impressed with the singular focus of this place----they were absolutely serious about defying the generally negative feelings people have about getting older. As I've aged to a now still-very-spry 66, I faced these later years wondering what they'd be like and simply hoping I could "age gracefully." But at Southwest Age Intervention Institute, they've developed a proactive program in which we (they and I) take my future into my own hands. Their program stresses both mental and physical approaches to maintaining vitality. They believe passionately in their slogan of "turning the rest of your life into the best of your life."

I walked away both impressed and revved up about starting my individually designed program. Then, the day for the blood test and filing my paper work arrived. And, boy, did I ever understand what "thorough" actually meant! They wanted to know everything about me. EVERYTHING! But then, if you're designing such a program, you've got to know all there is to know about the body and the history the patient. Yes, the forms took some time to complete. But as I worked through the paperwork I realized again how dedicated they were to finding the very best paths to send me down.

Then came the blood work. Because my schedule was ridiculous around NFL draft time, James the phlebotomist visited my office. Let me assure you, I don't like to give blood. I hate the sight of blood. So, I asked if I could simply look away, keep working and have James simply tell me when it was over (though at that point I figured I'd probably know). One stick and the process was underway. I continued to read. James changed vials and drew more blood. More reading. More blood. Five vials in all! Five. That seemed a lot to me but again that word came back to me----thorough! This is not some simple pop-a-vitamin-do-a-push-up-and-it'll-be-OK program.

When we meet again at their Arlington offices May 10 for them to go completely through the program they've designed for me, they'll know everything they needed to know about me. That gives me even more confidence in the team at Southwest Age Intervention Institute. They want me to defy aging, not simply accept decline as a "fact of life." I'll up date you next week on that meeting and the program.

Meanwhile, I'm left with only one question at this point-----will I ever get some of that blood back?

-Norm Hitzges