

- Chapter 1 - Finding Your Breakthrough The Problem, The Promise, The Principle, The Plan We live in a fast paced, rapidly changing society where unhealthy habits easily become the norm. Lifestyle has become the number one “disease” threatening Americans today—and there are no drugs or surgeries to cure it. IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL: Discover eight timeless, scientifically proven principles that will revolutionize your life Learn what you need to know about the new number one killer in America today Find out how to add 10 more good years to your life Finding Your Breakthrough “As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.” ~ Adelle Davis How many times have you read the “ideal” book about health and healing, only to discover its program is so far beyond the reach of your daily demands that you can never attain it? You love the exercise routine advertised on television that makes you buff and trim, but $500 later you realize that the new routine won’t fit into your already packed schedule. I’ve bought more than my fair share of those TV fitness products. In fact, at one time or another I feel like I’ve owned them all: Ab-rollers, steppers, jump ropes, weights, bikes, books, and videos. One time I even bought something called a Gazelle—which is a modified rowing machine. My girlfriend and I went in on it together. It stayed in the box for over a month before we finally put it together. After that we never used it. The only thing that became trimmer in that deal was my checkbook. The Gazelle became a standing joke because we knew neither of us would ever look like one. We’ve all heard about fad diets, extreme makeovers, and get-slim-quick schemes. We’ve tried crash diets, liquid diets, low calorie diets, high protein diets, and everything in between. But in order to succeed we must know what it is we’re searching for. Good health is more than simply dropping a few pounds. To offset the effects of how we live we can no longer entertain short-term fixes; we need a comprehensive and lasting breakthrough to health. That’s why this book is about more than an exercise program or diet plan. It’s about how to get the most out of life. In this book I want to help you celebrate life fully, to discover your own tremendous power to make life changing choices. I want to guide you through a powerful program to help increase your vitality, lengthen your life and supercharge your health. I want to help you move from a health breakdown to a breakthrough. But before we talk solutions, let’s understand the problem. All too often we find ourselves anxious, stretched and prone to neglect our most important asset—our health. We may think our current condition is only temporary and that things will change eventually, but for too many of us that time never comes. In some cases, neglecting a healthy lifestyle for years can lead to serious consequences. That’s exactly where Greg found himself. After owning two businesses for more than 20 years Greg rarely felt at rest or at peace. No mater the time of day or the day of the week it seemed like there was always something that needed to be done. So he did it. Greg lived life under pressure. He was a hard worker—his employees gave him that. But his long hours and constant worries often left him irritable and short tempered with his staff. Due to the sustained level of stress in his life, Greg frequently had trouble sleeping. And even when he could sleep it was only for 4-6 hours at a time. Coffee and caffeinated soft drinks kept him going the rest of the day. Greg tried to get away from work from time-to-time to unwind, but while away he spent most of his time worry about all the things he needed to do. His family life suffered as well. After going through two divorces Greg started to think he wasn’t cut out for relationships. He began holding people at a distance. His own children found him growing increasingly aloof. They couldn’t even convince him to attend church with them at Christmas or Easter anymore. Because he spent so much time at work, he had few friends and, truth be told, didn’t worry much about it. Greg never really got the hang of cooking. Most meals consisted fast food drive through or vending machines at work. His days were so long he never even considered exercise. In fact, he liked to joke that the most exercise he got was taking the trash to the curb twice a week. When extra pounds started gathering around his middle it bugged him. But he took solace in the fact that the same was true for many of his buddies. “A sign of maturity,” he said. The extra weight made him feel sluggish during the day, especially in the afternoon. But the worst part of his weariness was how it affected his immune system. Greg started to pick up any sickness or virus that blew through town. As a result of his lifestyle choices Greg was in poor health and headed for a breakdown. It wasn’t that Greg didn’t want to make some changes in his life. It just seemed like he never had the time to consider them. With his 50th birthday approaching, Greg convinced himself to start the year on the right foot. He scheduled an appointment with a physician at Florida Hospital for his “annual” physical exam (something he hadn’t done in years), vowing that this year things were going to be different. After a series of tests the doctor came back with shocking news. News that shook Greg to the core. Before I tell you the rest of Greg’s story I want to pause for just a moment. Do you know anyone like Greg? I don’t mean exactly like Greg, but do you know someone whose life seems so busy or stressed that they have no time to care for their health? Maybe someone whose consistently poor lifestyle choices are contributing to low energy, an irritable attitude, and poor health? Are there some elements of Greg’s story you can identify with yourself. Maybe you’ve wanted to make some lifestyle changes, but they just don’t “stick” and before long you found yourself back in the same old unhealthy habits again. If so, you’re not alone. THE PROBLEM “We are living too short and dying too long” ~ Dr. Myron Wentz As a nation, we face a significant problem. On one hand, each of us is the beneficiary of never before imagined technological and medical advances, and yet, despite the scores of research, treatment and explosive technology gains, we remain as unhealthy as ever. In fact, the top three causes of death in America today heart disease, cancer and stroke remain unchanged. And all three are diseases largely related to how we live. But it hasn’t always been this way, and for you it certainly doesn’t have to be that way. LIVING INSIDE OUT If you had been born 150 years ago, the disease most likely to kill you was an infectious disease. The four leading causes of death in the U.S. at that time were pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and influenza—diseases, which attacked the body from the outside. With the advances of antibiotics, vaccines and public healthcare practices toward the end of the 20th century, deaths due to infectious diseases declined dramatically. Today the disease most likely to kill you is related to your lifestyle choices. The leading killers today are chronically debilitating diseases: coronary artery disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure-- diseases birthed from within our bodies. We are literally dying from the inside out. We’re dying because of how we live. Our lifestyles are the foundation of our most devastating and threatening illnesses. The number one cause of preventable death is cigarette smoking. Obesity runs a close second and will soon overtake cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable death. Most cancers as well as heart disease are also related to lifestyle factors--primarily poor nutrition, and lack of exercise. And yet, the consequences of our choices go far beyond obesity, cancer or heart disease. Illness starts deep on the inside where we can’t see it, well before we ever see it evidenced on the outside. The pace of our living, the desire to achieve, the lack of satisfaction, technological advances which constantly bombard our senses, the perceived lack of time to rest and relax - all have created a different type of illness that affects not only our food choices and whether or not we exercise; it robs of us of our vitality and our joy. THE LIFESTYLE DISEASE Millions of people are suffering today from a condition I call the Lifestyle Disease. A simple definition: The Lifestyle Disease is characterized by a group of harmful behaviors practiced over time, which result in a decreased quality of life and ultimately the onset of chronic illness leading to premature death. These behaviors may include: Poor eating habits Little or no physical exercise Lack of sufficient or fulfilling sleep Sustained exposure to unbuffered stress Participating in high risk behaviors such as smoking or drug use Minimal or no personal play time or time for solitude Limited family or meaningful relationship time Lack of spiritual connection At the root of the lifestyle disease is a frenzied rhythm of overdrive. Even if you don’t consider yourself “ambitious,” whether or not you decide you “want it all”, our modern society demands that you pick up the pace. We’re constantly asked to do more in less time. And unless we choose to intentionally slow down and experience what’s most important in our lives, turbo becomes our natural setting – it becomes our lifestyle, and we adopt compensating, harmful behaviors to survive. Our time is short so we don’t exercise, get enough sleep, eat healthfully or deepen our relationships. We get cranky and irritable, and make more poor choices. The results of these poor lifestyle choices are two-fold. First, the quality of life is decreased. Each day this group of harmful behaviors drains your vitality. Secondly, the effect of these behaviors practiced over time develops into chronic illness and often premature death. Medications and devices simply cannot correct all of the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle. Though I’m genuinely grateful for the medical community and its ability to step in during crisis moments to ease pain and prolong life, I want you to understand the other half of the story: in large part the quantity and the quality of living is up to you. How you live affects how long you live and how healthy you live. And starting now, you can begin applying the principles and plan in this book to change how you live and help you achieve your breakthrough. THE PROMISE “He who enjoys good health is rich, though he knows it not.” ~ Italian Proverb REAL LIFE To better understand what I mean by a health breakthrough, lets take a closer look at the word “life” itself. From the Greek language we find two words, which translate into the English word “life.” The first word, bios, means “physical life.” This where we get our word, “biology.” It refers to all the cells and chemicals working together so our bodies don’t die; in other words, “the physical state of being.” Much of our attention and money is spent focusing on bios. Still, we know life encompasses much more than merely surviving or caring for this body. We are designed for much more. What makes up the element of life that goes beyond survival? “The answer we’re looking for,” writes Bill Ewing in his book Rest Assured, “is found in the other Greek word for life — zöe —a word, which carries a much deeper and mystical meaning than bios.” Zöe speaks of that life which reaches beyond the physical and is found at the core of who we are. It is the internal motivator that keeps us pushing forward each day. It is what we use to define who we are, why we do what we do, and why we have value. Zöe life is what makes our biological bios life worth living, giving us direction, vision, purpose. . .”i otherwise known as full, abundant, health. Now that we know the full definition of what it is we’re looking for, we can revisit the question, “Why do so many fitness and health plans fail?” Forgetting our internal motivator—our desire for Zöe life—most other programs focus only on external bios needs. If you’re confused about all the different health plans available, be encouraged. You are holding the guide to the health breakthrough you’ve been searching for. I want to share a health plan with you as natural as breathing. If you follow it, your vitality will increase; your spirits will be lifted; your relationships will be more vibrant; and you’ll reverse the course of the Lifestyle Disease. ADD LIFE TO YOUR YEARS AND YEARS TO YOUR LIFE Recently National Geographic published the results of a study conducted with three groups of people who live significantly longer lives. For the cover story, writer Dan Buettner interviewed more than 50 centenarians (men and women 100 years of age or better). The article entitled, “The Secrets of Long Life,” focused on longevity all-stars from three groups: mountain villagers in Sardinia, Italy, Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California and island dwellers in Okinawa, Japan. According to the article, all three of these groups “produce a high rate of centenarians who suffer a fraction of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the developed world, and enjoy more healthy years of life. In sum, they offer three sets of ‘best practices’ to emulate.” What are these best practices? The key habits practiced by all three groups include: putting family first, being active everyday, no smoking, eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and keeping socially engaged.1 Buettner notes, “A long, healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are you may live up to a decade longer.” THE PRINCIPLE “Safeguard the health of both body and soul.” ~ Cleobulus “As a scientist,” says Dean Ornish, M.D., “I live in a world of data, numbers, and randomized controlled clinical trials. Scientists believe what can be measured—blood pressures, cholesterol, blood flow. . . . while anecdotal evidence—in other words, stories—is viewed with suspicion.” iii I would have to agree. Though this is true in the professional world, it is only half of the picture. Ornish continues, “As a physician and as a human being, I live in a world of stories. Our lives are unique, yet in the telling of stories we learn what makes us similar, what connects us all, what helps us transcend the isolation that separates us from each other and from ourselves.” PRINCIPLES FROM THE GARDEN I love Ornish’s quote, because it lends truth as we turn to one of the most well known stories that connects us all . . .the Creation story. Found in the first three chapters of the book of Genesis - The Book of Beginnings, this story is valued by three of the world’s largest faiths (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) as revealing the origins of mankind. According to the story, the Creator formed the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Part of his Creation plan included the planting of a garden where today the disease most likely to kill you is related to your lifestyle choices.” the first man and woman would live. This garden home was named Eden. Paradise. The Garden of Eden story itself is quite brief; yet, in its three short chapters we find powerful principles given by a Creator who fashioned an ideal setting for all living creatures. It’s in this environment that the first human beings were meant to not only survive, but thrive. In this book, I’ll tap into the wisdom found in the Garden. I’ll draw on elements found within this story to derive eight timeless principles of health and wellbeing. I realize for some readers this may seem rather odd. Why explore ways of achieving optimal health today based on wisdom found in an ancient Spiritual text? One reason only: because what we find at Creation, and specifically in the Garden of Eden story, continues to be validated by scientific research as being the key to living a long, healthy, disease free and joy filled life. Science will not be sacrificed. Medical research will validate each concept as we approach a model for health based on these timeless principles. WHAT IS CREATION HEALTH? Creation Health is an exciting plan for changing your life. Rightly applied, you will achieve mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well being. Each letter of the word CREATION stands for one of the eight principles drawn from the Genesis story. C – CHOICE. Choice is the first step toward improved health. Our destinies are empowered and determined in large part by our choices. Making healthy choices is the key to lifestyle improvement. People who believe they have more control over their lives tend to be healthier and live longer. R – REST. Rest comes with both a good night’s sleep and taking time to relax during the day. It includes having a weekly day of rest and enjoying a regular vacation, which allows one to slow down. Deep rest and restoration are also found in the calm of spiritual peace. E – ENVIRONMENT. Environment is the natural setting where we find peace and healing. Everything that affects the senses—sight, smell, sound, touch and taste—in the larger environment (air and water quality) as well as one’s immediate environment (light, sound, aroma and touch) influences our health. A – ACTIVITY. Activity is the gift of movement. It includes regular exercise and play. The best kind of physical activity (like a walk in a park with friends) also enhances the mind, spirit and relationships. Activity should be enjoyable and an integral part of your lifelong health. T – TRUST. Trust in Divine Power ensures that your life has a sense of purpose. It speaks to the important relationship between spirituality and your overall health and well being. People who have an active trust in Divine Power experience a host of health benefits including a stronger immune system, less heart disease, lower blood pressure, and higher life satisfaction. I – INTIMACY. Intimacy is found in those moments when one allows an aspect of true self to be shared; when we open ourselves up to the power of one heart touching another. Having confidence in the support of others who care contributes to improved health. Conversely, loneliness or toxic relationships can contribute to a downward spiral in overall health. O – OUTLOOK. Outlook is a gift given to oneself. A positive mental attitude colors our life perspective and influences how we view our world and the people in it. Attitude is more than a state of mind. It influences health in powerful ways and can even impact the progression of disease. N – NUTRITION. Nutrition is the fuel that drives our bodies. A wholesome balanced diet produces energy and overall health. Of all the nutritional choices available, two are guaranteed to improve health and enable one to live longer: eating less and eating higher quality foods. These eight essential components of health meld together to form the blueprint for health we yearn for and the life we are intended to live. Some of the concepts presented in the CREATION Health acronym will seem like common sense—because they are exactly that. Other concepts you may not have been as familiar with but will learn through the evidence of science. As the pieces of the picture come together like on a jigsaw puzzle, you’ll begin see a simple, yet profound unifying theme. We’ve tried to isolate the individual elements in the past, but they belong together for optimal living. You’ll soon discover your own picture taking shape and with it the tremendous potential to live life to the full. Remember, the CREATION Health Breakthrough begins the moment you can see the various parts of your life coming into balance and you catch a glimpse of your ultimate design. Once you’ve experienced a health breakthrough in your own life – and through these eight principles I’ll show you how - you’ll know when there’s something in your life that needs a little tweaking. With this book you’ll have the tools you need to make healthy changes for a lifetime. THE PLAN “Happiness lies first of all in health.” ~ George William Curtis The CREATION Health Breakthrough is not a one-time occurrence in which you suddenly break beyond all the bad habits you’ve ever had in the past. The Breakthrough invites you to embrace new and exciting changes as you experience life as it was intended. Yes, there will be times when you will get off balance, times when you’ll recognize the Lifestyle Disease is rearing its ugly head. But that’s what this health plan is about helping you recognize the disease and giving you the tools you need to return to your best health. If you feel there is a particular area or areas that need immediate attention, you can go immediately to that chapter, keeping in mind these three things: • Good choices are the cornerstone of all lifestyle changes. Therefore, the Choice chapter should be read first. • Creating health is about complementary changes in the mind, body and spirit. For the greatest results make sure you cover all eight principles. • If you don’t have time to read the book now, you may turn to the back immediately, plan the CREATION Health 3-day Rejuvenation Therapy and follow the guided steps to reading the book during your getaway! SPECIAL FEATURES The CREATION Health Breakthrough has been designed with a number of special features to help you get the most out of the material. These features include: • MY PERSONAL STORY. I know the benefits of lifestyle change while living in the face of the tremendous challenge. In fact, I will be sharing the intimate successes and failures of my own health journey in Chapter 2. Walk with me and let my story touch yours. • LIFE IN THE GARDEN. Each chapter has an engaging look at life in the Garden of Eden and how it relates to the CREATION Health principles. Also included are timely medical facts and scientific research to support the principles of whole person health. • THE THREE M’S. Rather than embarking on too many changes at once, I recommend focusing on an area you know is out of balance in your life. Then consider three simple steps featured at the end of each chapter to bring about immediate success. The three M’s are: maximize, moderate, and minimize. Think of the 3M’s like a traffic light. Maximize is a green light. Move full speed ahead on these healthy habits. Moderate is your yellow light. Continue moving but proceed carefully on these behaviors. Minimize is your red light. Try to stop these unhealthy habits as soon as you can. • BREAKTHROUGH STORIES. At the end of each chapter I have included a case study that illustrates the personal struggles and triumphs of real people who have applied the CREATION Health principles in their own life and have been transformed by the experience. I call them Breakthrough Stories and I hope they encourage you. • CREATION HEALTH BREAKTHROUGH SELF-ASSESSMENT QUIZ. Once you understand the powerful principles behind CREATION Health you may wonder how to start implementing them in your life. This self-assessment tool helps you understand which areas of your life need the most attention and where you need to concentrate your efforts. For each letter of the Creation acronym you will be asked five questions. Each question is rated on a scale of 1-5, then your CREATION Health Score is tallied. A key is provided to help you understand your score and what areas you may want to work on. (Appendix A). • 3-DAY REJUVENATION THERAPY. For many of us, our lives are so wildly out of balance we can’t even remember what it feels like to be calm, peaceful and clearheaded. To help you gain this vital experience I have put together a 3-day Lifestyle Rejuvenation Therapy that will slow you down enough to experience peace, rest and a taste of balance. This plan is meant to completely structure a 72 hour period so you can experience first hand the benefits of CREATION Health. Some have called it a lifestyle detox weekend. I believe you will see immediate benefits from doing it. Detailed instructions for planning and experiencing this program can be found in Chapter 11. • 8-WEEK LIFESTYLE TRANSFORMATION PLAN. This is a step-by-step approach to incorporating healthy behaviors into your life. It is a gradual approach that can be used after the 3-day therapy to slowly integrate all the practices of whole person health (body, mind, spirit, and relationships) into your daily life. (See Chapter 11) • CREATION HEALTH FOR LIFE. Once you understand the concepts, behaviors and habits behind the 8 principles you can use them independently to bring your life back into balance when necessary. This section of the book will show you how to use the CREATION Health Breakthrough whenever you need it most for the rest of your life. GREG’S STORY Do you remember Greg from the opening of the chapter? With his 50th birthday approaching, Greg scheduled an appointment with his doctor and received some shocking news. He had cancer. The news shook Greg to the core. He wasn’t expecting it. He wasn’t ready for it. He wasn’t even 50 yet. After the diagnosis, Greg decided it was time to make some serious lifestyle changes. He was willing to do all he could to live well – now. Greg sold one of his businesses and cut back on his hours at work. Though weakened by his chemotherapy treatments he read all he could about healthy lifestyle habits. When the cancer went into remission Greg regained enough strength to start exercising. He stopped drinking coffee and avoided alcohol as much as possible. He changed his diet by cutting out all red meat and sticking to mostly fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains. He decided to take the weekends off completely and spend one of those days visiting with his four kids and two grandkids. He even agreed to attend church services every so often with his grandkids and started reading from scripture. Two years into his remission Greg remarked he had never felt better in his life. Despite the diagnosis of cancer, his stress level had decreased considerably. He could not believe the energy he now had and how much better he felt about himself, his family and just about everyone he met. Though many of his relationships had suffered, he began reconnecting with the people that were important to him. Even his sense of humor returned. “If I’d known life could be this good I would have started living it years ago,” he said. “I have more energy now than I did in my 30’s.” Greg had three good years in remission. Sadly, his cancer returned when he was 54 and he died just before his 55th birthday. But even to the end Greg was not bitter. “I’ve had three great years that were probably the best of my life,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish cancer on my worst enemy, but it’s taught me how to live. Life is precious. That’s a lesson I might not have learned any other way.” PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER “Optimal health is not based on the sculpture of your physique; but on the sculpture of your lifestyle.” ~ Dr. Myron Wentz Without question, Lifestyle is the number one “disease” that threatens the lives of Americans today—and there's no drug, surgery, or procedure to cure it. The good news is there’s a health plan that will. Achieving your health breakthrough will increase your vitality, lift your spirits, prolong your life, increase your fulfillment and minimize the risk of life-threatening illness. In the pages ahead you will discover that plan and how it can help you achieve a health breakthrough to fully experience life as it was intended. But before we delve into the details of CREATION Health, I want to tell you the story of the most difficult patient I’ve ever had to work with – me. You may have heard the expression that physicians make the worse patients. It’s true. Let me take you through some of my own struggles. Perhaps the story of how I achieved a CREATION Health Breakthrough will encourage you as you pursue your own.

- Chapter 1 -
Finding Your Breakthrough
The Problem, The Promise, The Principle, The Plan

We live in a fast paced, rapidly changing society where unhealthy habits easily become the norm. Lifestyle has become the number one “disease” threatening Americans today—and there are no drugs or surgeries to cure it.

IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL:

Discover eight timeless, scientifically proven principles that will revolutionize your life
Learn what you need to know about the new number one killer in America today
Find out how to add 10 more good years to your life

Finding Your Breakthrough

“As I see it, every day you do one of two things:
build health or produce disease in yourself.”
~ Adelle Davis

How many times have you read the “ideal” book about health and healing, only to discover its program is so far beyond the reach of your daily demands that you can never attain it? You love the exercise routine advertised on television that makes you buff and trim, but $500 later you realize that the new routine won’t fit into your already packed schedule.

I’ve bought more than my fair share of those TV fitness products. In fact, at one time or another I feel like I’ve owned them all: Ab-rollers, steppers, jump ropes, weights, bikes, books, and videos. One time I even bought something called a Gazelle—which is a modified rowing machine. My girlfriend and I went in on it together. It stayed in the box for over a month before we finally put it together. After that we never used it. The only thing that became trimmer in that deal was my checkbook. The Gazelle became a standing joke because we knew neither of us would ever look like one.

We’ve all heard about fad diets, extreme makeovers, and get-slim-quick schemes. We’ve tried crash diets, liquid diets, low calorie diets, high protein diets, and everything in between. But in order to succeed we must know what it is we’re searching for. Good health is more than simply dropping a few pounds. To offset the effects of how we live we can no longer entertain short-term fixes; we need a comprehensive and lasting breakthrough to health. That’s why this book is about more than an exercise program or diet plan. It’s about how to get the most out of life.

In this book I want to help you celebrate life fully, to discover your own tremendous power to make life changing choices. I want to guide you through a powerful program to help increase your vitality, lengthen your life and supercharge your health. I want to help you move from a health breakdown to a breakthrough.

But before we talk solutions, let’s understand the problem.

All too often we find ourselves anxious, stretched and prone to neglect our most important asset—our health. We may think our current condition is only temporary and that things will change eventually, but for too many of us that time never comes. In some cases, neglecting a healthy lifestyle for years can lead to serious consequences.

That’s exactly where Greg found himself.

After owning two businesses for more than 20 years Greg rarely felt at rest or at peace. No mater the time of day or the day of the week it seemed like there was always something that needed to be done. So he did it. Greg lived life under pressure. He was a hard worker—his employees gave him that. But his long hours and constant worries often left him irritable and short tempered with his staff.

Due to the sustained level of stress in his life, Greg frequently had trouble sleeping. And even when he could sleep it was only for 4-6 hours at a time. Coffee and caffeinated soft drinks kept him going the rest of the day. Greg tried to get away from work from time-to-time to unwind, but while away he spent most of his time worry about all the things he needed to do.
His family life suffered as well. After going through two divorces Greg started to think he wasn’t cut out for relationships. He began holding people at a distance. His own children found him growing increasingly aloof. They couldn’t even convince him to attend church with them at Christmas or Easter anymore. Because he spent so much time at work, he had few friends and, truth be told, didn’t worry much about it.

Greg never really got the hang of cooking. Most meals consisted fast food drive through or vending machines at work. His days were so long he never even considered exercise. In fact, he liked to joke that the most exercise he got was taking the trash to the curb twice a week. When extra pounds started gathering around his middle it bugged him. But he took solace in the fact that the same was true for many of his buddies. “A sign of maturity,” he said. The extra weight made him feel sluggish during the day, especially in the afternoon. But the worst part of his weariness was how it affected his immune system. Greg started to pick up any sickness or virus that blew through town.

As a result of his lifestyle choices Greg was in poor health and headed for a breakdown. It wasn’t that Greg didn’t want to make some changes in his life. It just seemed like he never had the time to consider them.

With his 50th birthday approaching, Greg convinced himself to start the year on the right foot. He scheduled an appointment with a physician at Florida Hospital for his “annual” physical exam (something he hadn’t done in years), vowing that this year things were going to be different. After a series of tests the doctor came back with shocking news. News that shook Greg to the core.

Before I tell you the rest of Greg’s story I want to pause for just a moment. Do you know anyone like Greg? I don’t mean exactly like Greg, but do you know someone whose life seems so busy or stressed that they have no time to care for their health? Maybe someone whose consistently poor lifestyle choices are contributing to low energy, an irritable attitude, and poor health? Are there some elements of Greg’s story you can identify with yourself. Maybe you’ve wanted to make some lifestyle changes, but they just don’t “stick” and before long you found yourself back in the same old unhealthy habits again. If so, you’re not alone.

THE PROBLEM

“We are living too short and dying too long”
~ Dr. Myron Wentz

As a nation, we face a significant problem. On one hand, each of us is the beneficiary of never before imagined technological and medical advances, and yet, despite the scores of research, treatment and explosive technology gains, we remain as unhealthy as ever. In fact, the top three causes of death in America today heart disease, cancer and stroke remain unchanged. And all three are diseases largely related to how we live. But it hasn’t always been this way, and for you it certainly doesn’t have to be that way.

LIVING INSIDE OUT

If you had been born 150 years ago, the disease most likely to kill you was an infectious disease. The four leading causes of death in the U.S. at that time were pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and influenza—diseases, which attacked the body from the outside.
With the advances of antibiotics, vaccines and public healthcare practices toward the end of the 20th century, deaths due to infectious diseases declined dramatically. Today the disease most likely to kill you is related to your lifestyle choices. The leading killers today are chronically debilitating diseases: coronary artery disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure-- diseases birthed from within our bodies. We are literally dying from the inside out. We’re dying because of how we live.
Our lifestyles are the foundation of our most devastating and threatening illnesses. The number one cause of preventable death is cigarette smoking. Obesity runs a close second and will soon overtake cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable death.
Most cancers as well as heart disease are also related to lifestyle factors--primarily poor nutrition, and lack of exercise. And yet, the consequences of our choices go far beyond obesity, cancer or heart disease. Illness starts deep on the inside where we can’t see it, well before we ever see it evidenced on the outside. The pace of our living, the desire to achieve, the lack of satisfaction, technological advances which constantly bombard our senses, the perceived lack of time to rest and relax - all have created a different type of illness that affects not only our food choices and whether or not we exercise; it robs of us of our vitality and our joy.

THE LIFESTYLE DISEASE

Millions of people are suffering today from a condition I call the Lifestyle Disease. A simple definition:
The Lifestyle Disease is characterized by a group of harmful behaviors practiced over time, which result in a decreased quality of life and ultimately the onset of chronic illness leading to premature death.

These behaviors may include:

Poor eating habits
Little or no physical exercise
Lack of sufficient or fulfilling sleep
Sustained exposure to unbuffered stress
Participating in high risk behaviors such as smoking or drug use
Minimal or no personal play time or time for solitude
Limited family or meaningful relationship time
Lack of spiritual connection

At the root of the lifestyle disease is a frenzied rhythm of overdrive. Even if you don’t consider yourself “ambitious,” whether or not you decide you “want it all”, our modern society demands that you pick up the pace. We’re constantly asked to do more in less time. And unless we choose to intentionally slow down and experience what’s most important in our lives, turbo becomes our natural setting – it becomes our lifestyle, and we adopt compensating, harmful behaviors to survive. Our time is short so we don’t exercise, get enough sleep, eat healthfully or deepen our relationships. We get cranky and irritable, and make more poor choices.

The results of these poor lifestyle choices are two-fold. First, the quality of life is decreased. Each day this group of harmful behaviors drains your vitality. Secondly, the effect of these behaviors practiced over time develops into chronic illness and often premature death. Medications and devices simply cannot correct all of the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Though I’m genuinely grateful for the medical community and its ability to step in during crisis moments to ease pain and prolong life, I want you to understand the other half of the story: in large part the quantity and the quality of living is up to you. How you live affects how long you live and how healthy you live. And starting now, you can begin applying the principles and plan in this book to change how you live and help you achieve your breakthrough.

THE PROMISE

“He who enjoys good health is rich, though he knows it not.”
~ Italian Proverb

REAL LIFE

To better understand what I mean by a health breakthrough, lets take a closer look at the word “life” itself. From the Greek language we find two words, which translate into the English word “life.” The first word, bios, means “physical life.” This where we get our word, “biology.” It refers to all the cells and chemicals working together so our bodies don’t die; in other words, “the physical state of being.” Much of our attention and money is spent focusing on bios. Still, we know life encompasses much more than merely surviving or caring for this body. We are designed for much more. What makes up the element of life that goes beyond survival?

“The answer we’re looking for,” writes Bill Ewing in his book Rest Assured, “is found in the other Greek word for life — zöe —a word, which carries a much deeper and mystical meaning than bios.” Zöe speaks of that life which reaches beyond the physical and is found at the core of who we are. It is the internal motivator that keeps us pushing forward each day. It is what we use to define who we are, why we do what we do, and why we have value. Zöe life is what makes our biological bios life worth living, giving us direction, vision, purpose. . .”i otherwise known as full, abundant, health.

Now that we know the full definition of what it is we’re looking for, we can revisit the question, “Why do so many fitness and health plans fail?” Forgetting our internal motivator—our desire for Zöe life—most other programs focus only on external bios needs. If you’re confused about all the different health plans available, be encouraged. You are holding the guide to the health breakthrough you’ve been searching for.

I want to share a health plan with you as natural as breathing. If you follow it, your vitality will increase; your spirits will be lifted; your relationships will be more vibrant; and you’ll reverse the course of the Lifestyle Disease.

ADD LIFE TO YOUR YEARS AND YEARS TO YOUR LIFE

Recently National Geographic published the results of a study conducted with three groups of people who live significantly longer lives. For the cover story, writer Dan Buettner interviewed more than 50 centenarians (men and women 100 years of age or better). The article entitled, “The Secrets of Long Life,” focused on longevity all-stars from three groups: mountain villagers in Sardinia, Italy, Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California and island dwellers in Okinawa, Japan.

According to the article, all three of these groups “produce a high rate of centenarians who suffer a fraction of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the developed world, and enjoy more healthy years of life. In sum, they offer three sets of ‘best practices’ to emulate.” What are these best practices? The key habits practiced by all three groups include: putting family first, being active everyday, no smoking, eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and keeping socially engaged.1 Buettner notes, “A long, healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are you may live up to a decade longer.”

THE PRINCIPLE

“Safeguard the health of both body and soul.”
~ Cleobulus

“As a scientist,” says Dean Ornish, M.D., “I live in a world of data, numbers, and randomized controlled clinical trials. Scientists believe what can be measured—blood pressures, cholesterol, blood flow. . . . while anecdotal evidence—in other words, stories—is viewed with suspicion.” iii I would have to agree. Though this is true in the professional world, it is only half of the picture. Ornish continues, “As a physician and as a human being, I live in a world of stories. Our lives are unique, yet in the telling of stories we learn what makes us similar, what connects us all, what helps us transcend the isolation that separates us from each other and from ourselves.”

PRINCIPLES FROM THE GARDEN

I love Ornish’s quote, because it lends truth as we turn to one of the most well known stories that connects us all . . .the Creation story. Found in the first three chapters of the book of Genesis - The Book of Beginnings, this story is valued by three of the world’s largest faiths (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) as revealing the origins of mankind. According to the story, the Creator formed the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Part of his Creation plan included the planting of a garden where today the disease most likely to kill you is related to your lifestyle choices.” the first man and woman would live. This garden home was named Eden. Paradise.

The Garden of Eden story itself is quite brief; yet, in its three short chapters we find powerful principles given by a Creator who fashioned an ideal setting for all living creatures. It’s in this environment that the first human beings were meant to not only survive, but thrive.

In this book, I’ll tap into the wisdom found in the Garden. I’ll draw on elements found within this story to derive eight timeless principles of health and wellbeing. I realize for some readers this may seem rather odd. Why explore ways of achieving optimal health today based on wisdom found in an ancient Spiritual text? One reason only: because what we find at Creation, and specifically in the Garden of Eden story, continues to be validated by scientific research as being the key to living a long, healthy, disease free and joy filled life. Science will not be sacrificed. Medical research will validate each concept as we approach a model for health based on these timeless principles.

WHAT IS CREATION HEALTH?

Creation Health is an exciting plan for changing your life. Rightly applied, you will achieve mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well being. Each letter of the word CREATION stands for one of the eight principles drawn from the Genesis story.

C – CHOICE. Choice is the first step toward improved health. Our destinies are empowered and determined in large part by our choices. Making healthy choices is the key to lifestyle improvement. People who believe they have more control over their lives tend to be healthier and live longer.

R – REST. Rest comes with both a good night’s sleep and taking time to relax during the day. It includes having a weekly day of rest and enjoying a regular vacation, which allows one to slow down. Deep rest and restoration are also found in the calm of spiritual peace.

E – ENVIRONMENT. Environment is the natural setting where we find peace and healing. Everything that affects the senses—sight, smell, sound, touch and taste—in the larger environment (air and water quality) as well as one’s immediate environment (light, sound, aroma and touch) influences our health.

A – ACTIVITY. Activity is the gift of movement. It includes regular exercise and play. The best kind of physical activity (like a walk in a park with friends) also enhances the mind, spirit and relationships. Activity should be enjoyable and an integral part of your lifelong health.

T – TRUST. Trust in Divine Power ensures that your life has a sense of purpose. It speaks to the important relationship between spirituality and your overall health and well being. People who have an active trust in Divine Power experience a host of health benefits including a stronger immune system, less heart disease, lower blood pressure, and higher life satisfaction.

I – INTIMACY. Intimacy is found in those moments when one allows an aspect of true self to be shared; when we open ourselves up to the power of one heart touching another. Having confidence in the support of others who care contributes to improved health. Conversely, loneliness or toxic relationships can contribute to a downward spiral in overall health.

O – OUTLOOK. Outlook is a gift given to oneself. A positive mental attitude colors our life perspective and influences how we view our world and the people in it. Attitude is more than a state of mind. It influences health in powerful ways and can even impact the progression of disease.

N – NUTRITION. Nutrition is the fuel that drives our bodies. A wholesome balanced diet produces energy and overall health. Of all the nutritional choices available, two are guaranteed to improve health and enable one to live longer: eating less and eating higher quality foods.

These eight essential components of health meld together to form the blueprint for health we yearn for and the life we are intended to live. Some of the concepts presented in the CREATION Health acronym will seem like common sense—because they are exactly that. Other concepts you may not have been as familiar with but will learn through the evidence of science. As the pieces of the picture come together like on a jigsaw puzzle, you’ll begin see a simple, yet profound unifying theme. We’ve tried to isolate the individual elements in the past, but they belong together for optimal living. You’ll soon discover your own picture taking shape and with it the tremendous potential to live life to the full.

Remember, the CREATION Health Breakthrough begins the moment you can see the various parts of your life coming into balance and you catch a glimpse of your ultimate design. Once you’ve experienced a health breakthrough in your own life – and through these eight principles I’ll show you how - you’ll know when there’s something in your life that needs a little tweaking. With this book you’ll have the tools you need to make healthy changes for a lifetime.

THE PLAN

“Happiness lies first of all in health.”
~ George William Curtis

The CREATION Health Breakthrough is not a one-time occurrence in which you suddenly break beyond all the bad habits you’ve ever had in the past. The Breakthrough invites you to embrace new and exciting changes as you experience life as it was
intended. Yes, there will be times when you will get off balance, times when you’ll recognize the Lifestyle Disease is rearing its ugly head. But that’s what this health plan is about helping you recognize the disease and giving you the tools you need to return to your best health.

If you feel there is a particular area or areas that need immediate attention, you can go immediately to that chapter, keeping in mind these three things:

• Good choices are the cornerstone of all lifestyle changes. Therefore, the Choice chapter should be read first.
• Creating health is about complementary changes in the mind, body and spirit. For the greatest results make sure you cover all eight principles.
• If you don’t have time to read the book now, you may turn to the back immediately, plan the CREATION Health 3-day Rejuvenation Therapy and follow the guided steps to reading the book during your getaway!

SPECIAL FEATURES

The CREATION Health Breakthrough has been designed with a number of special features to help you get the most out of the material. These features include:

• MY PERSONAL STORY. I know the benefits of lifestyle change while living in the face of the tremendous challenge. In fact, I will be sharing the intimate successes and failures of my own health journey in Chapter 2. Walk with me and let my story touch yours.

• LIFE IN THE GARDEN. Each chapter has an engaging look at life in the Garden of Eden and how it relates to the CREATION Health principles. Also included are timely medical facts and scientific research to support the principles of whole person health.

• THE THREE M’S. Rather than embarking on too many changes at once, I recommend focusing on an area you know is out of balance in your life. Then consider three simple steps featured at the end of each chapter to bring about immediate success. The three M’s are: maximize, moderate, and minimize.

Think of the 3M’s like a traffic light. Maximize is a green light. Move full speed ahead on these healthy habits. Moderate is your yellow light. Continue moving but proceed carefully on these behaviors. Minimize is your red light. Try to stop these unhealthy habits as soon as you can.

• BREAKTHROUGH STORIES. At the end of each chapter I have included a case study that illustrates the personal struggles and triumphs of real people who have applied the CREATION Health principles in their own life and have been transformed by the experience. I call them Breakthrough Stories and I hope they encourage you.

• CREATION HEALTH BREAKTHROUGH SELF-ASSESSMENT QUIZ. Once you understand the powerful principles behind CREATION Health you may wonder how to start implementing them in your life. This self-assessment tool helps you understand which areas of your life need the most attention and where you need to concentrate your efforts. For each letter of the Creation
acronym you will be asked five questions. Each question is rated on a scale of 1-5, then your CREATION Health Score is tallied. A key is provided to help you understand your score and what areas you may want to work on. (Appendix A).

• 3-DAY REJUVENATION THERAPY. For many of us, our lives are so wildly out of balance we can’t even remember what it feels like to be calm, peaceful and clearheaded. To help you gain this vital experience I have put together a 3-day Lifestyle Rejuvenation Therapy that will slow you down enough to experience peace, rest and a taste of balance. This plan is meant to completely structure a 72 hour period so you can experience first hand the benefits of CREATION Health. Some have called it a lifestyle detox weekend. I believe you will see immediate benefits from doing it. Detailed instructions for planning and experiencing this program can be found in Chapter 11.

• 8-WEEK LIFESTYLE TRANSFORMATION PLAN. This is a step-by-step approach to incorporating healthy behaviors into your life. It is a gradual approach that can be used after the 3-day therapy to slowly integrate all the practices of whole person health (body, mind, spirit, and relationships) into your daily life. (See Chapter 11)

• CREATION HEALTH FOR LIFE. Once you understand the concepts, behaviors and habits behind the 8 principles you can use them independently to bring your life back into balance when necessary. This section of the book will show you how to use the CREATION Health Breakthrough whenever you need it most for the rest of your life.

GREG’S STORY

Do you remember Greg from the opening of the chapter? With his 50th birthday approaching, Greg scheduled an appointment with his doctor and received some shocking news. He had cancer. The news shook Greg to the core. He wasn’t expecting it. He wasn’t ready for it. He wasn’t even 50 yet.

After the diagnosis, Greg decided it was time to make some serious lifestyle changes. He was willing to do all he could to live well – now.

Greg sold one of his businesses and cut back on his hours at work. Though weakened by his chemotherapy treatments he read all he could about healthy lifestyle habits. When the cancer went into remission Greg regained enough strength to start exercising. He stopped drinking coffee and avoided alcohol as much as possible. He changed his diet by cutting out all red meat and sticking to mostly fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains. He decided to take the weekends off completely and spend one of those days visiting with his four kids and two grandkids. He even agreed to attend church services every so often with his grandkids and started reading from scripture.

Two years into his remission Greg remarked he had never felt better in his life. Despite the diagnosis of cancer, his stress level had decreased considerably. He could not believe the energy he now had and how much better he felt about himself, his family and just about everyone he met. Though many of his relationships had suffered, he began reconnecting with the people that were important to him. Even his sense of humor returned. “If I’d known life could be this good I would have started living it years ago,” he said. “I have more energy now than I did in my 30’s.”

Greg had three good years in remission. Sadly, his cancer returned when he was 54 and he died just before his 55th birthday. But even to the end Greg was not bitter. “I’ve had three great years that were probably the best of my life,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish cancer on my worst enemy, but it’s taught me how to live. Life is precious. That’s a lesson I might not have learned any other way.”

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

“Optimal health is not based on the sculpture of your physique;
but on the sculpture of your lifestyle.”
~ Dr. Myron Wentz

Without question, Lifestyle is the number one “disease” that threatens the lives of Americans today—and there's no drug, surgery, or procedure to cure it. The good news is there’s a health plan that will. Achieving your health breakthrough will increase your vitality, lift your spirits, prolong your life, increase your fulfillment and minimize the risk of life-threatening illness. In the pages ahead you will discover that plan and how it can help you achieve a health breakthrough to fully experience life as it was intended.
But before we delve into the details of CREATION Health, I want to tell you the story of the most difficult patient I’ve ever had to work with – me. You may have heard the expression that physicians make the worse patients. It’s true. Let me take you through some of my own struggles. Perhaps the story of how I achieved a CREATION Health Breakthrough will encourage you as you pursue your own.

- Chapter 1 - Finding Your Breakthrough The Problem, The Promise, The Principle, The Plan