What are some omega-3 food sources?
Ground flaxseeds
sardines
walnuts
pumpkin seeds
grass-fed beef
free-range eggs
wild salmon

If you don’t commonly enjoy these foods, an omega-3 supplement or krill oil may be beneficial. Be sure to discuss with your doctor if you have or suspect an allergy to fish or seafood.

Ground flaxseeds are an easy, affordable addition to any diet.  They can be added to yogurt, cereals, oatmeal, pancakes, and baked goods.  You can even use them as a substitute for eggs. Commissaries tend to carry them in their health food section.

In addition to consuming adequate omega-3 fatty acids, good eating habits help with stress management, including military stressors. Consume mostly real, whole foods while limiting fast and processed foods.  Do so, and you’ll feel the difference not just physically, but also mentally.

Stress and Exercise – Get Moving!

*        Exercise increases stamina, helps you keep your weight under control, lowers blood
pressure and the physical signs of stress like skin problems and wrinkles.
You might be thinking that there is no way you have time during the day to exercise.
I bet you could find time if you try something listed below.
*        When at work, get up and walk around and/or stretch for two-three minutes every
hour.
*        Designate time to work out for a few minutes at least 4 times per week.
*        Try to get outside for exercise as often as you can. Healthy minimal sun exposure
- with appropriate sunscreen naturally increases your body’s levels of Vitamin D.

Stress and Sleep

Good sleep habits are a key to stress management. Sleep deprivation shortens your
reaction times in critical situations and increases the effects that stressors have
on your normal behavior. Your goal should be to get 6 – 8 hours of sleep every night.

*        Refrain from alcohol and caffeine before going to bed.
*        Keep your bedroom cooler.
*        Don’t underestimate the value that a power nap can have. They’re not just for
the kids! Even 15 minutes during the day can increase your productivity.
*        A relaxing bath with lavender or vanilla scent prepares you for sleep.
*        Writing in a journal before bedtime can get nagging thoughts out of your head
before trying to sleep.

Stress and Nutrition

You need to take a “whole body” approach to stress management and that includes
what goes into your body. Eating the right foods feeds your brain and that’s where
stress management begins.

*        Do an inventory of your snack cache’ – Replace the sugary cookies and candy with
better options like whole-grain crackers, cut up veggies and low-fat cheese. Put
them in pre-portioned snack bags and keep some at work.
*        Eat balanced meals…especially breakfast
*        Keep a water bottle filled and carry it with you.
*        Plan your menus and shop intelligently. Go to the store with a list – it avoids
overspending.
*        Here are some foods that have been found to aid in stress relief: Green tea and
Ginger tea, raw almonds, fatty fish such as tuna, whole grain cereals, blueberries,
cottage cheese, lean beef and asparagus.
*        Control caffeine intake. Don’t worry; you don’t have to give up your morning Java!
Just recognize that too much caffeine can make you feel anxious and might cause
irritability.

Stress and Relaxation

Relaxing is not the same thing as getting enough sleep or taking a nap. It’s when
you deliberately calm your mind and body. Deep relaxation results in your body releasing
chemicals that neutralize stress. Every yoga class traditionally ends in a period
of total relaxation called Shavasana. The whole idea is to find the quiet stillness
that is within us all. Just 15 minutes a day will help and you don’t need yoga props.

Try this:
*        Find your 15 minutes and turn off your phone!
*        Lie down on your back on a padded surface, make sure you are warm enough and put
a pillow under your knees if you need support for your back. Place your hands by
your sides, palms up.
*        Cover yourself with a blanket and put an eye pillow or soft cloth over your eyes
if you want.
*        Now simply allow your breath to come in and out and be aware of it as it does.
As you relax, your breath will begin to slow.
*        Count backwards from 10 for 10 breaths and with every exhalation; feel that you
are entering an ever deeper range of comfort and well-being.
*        Now just let your breath continue in a very natural and soft manner for the rest
of the 15 minutes.

So you want to start a business, but you have no idea what that business might be. You want something fun, something creative, something that makes you excited just thinking about it. The answer might be as simple as evaluating the creative skills you already have.

Here are four ideas to help get your creative business ideas flowing:

Birthday Party Performer

What little girl wouldn’t love to have a real princess come to their birthday party for tea? While stationed in Monterey, CA I was constantly hearing from other military spouses about how amazing their little ones’ birthday parties had been, thanks to a company called, Once Upon  A Princess.  While they are not a military-owned business, they did a lot of business within the local military community. They offer “princess” performers to entertain little party guests with everything from a tea party and crafts, to songs and dance. Every time I heard about them, all I could think was what a great idea for a portable business! If you like working with kids, and still have fun playing pretend, this could be a great way to have a little fun and earn a living.

Handmade Crafts

Can you sew? Do you know how to make beaded jewelry? Can you carve wood or blow glass? Put these skills to good use and think about starting a business by selling your work. Many military spouses take advantage of sites like Etsy.com or create their own sites to sell the beautiful items they make by hand.  There are so many amazing, talented crafters out there, with a wide variety of products. For example, Bizy Belle, owned by Army wife, Michelle Smith offers beautiful hand-sewn baby items. Sarah Stockwell, owner of DragonGlass makes amazing fused-glass jewelry. And veteran Glen Schumann sells handmade pens made from wood and bullets as part of his business, Glen’s Workshop. You really are only limited by your imagination.

Balloon Artist

We’ve all been that little kid, listening to the squeaky-squeaky sound of our favorite colored balloon being twisted and shaped into a flower…or a sword…or a hat. With a little bit of practice and a little bit of nerve, you could follow in the steps of Jared the Balloon Guy, an active duty soldier stationed at FT Lewis. I happened up on his story online and was more than a little impressed. If balloon animals aren’t your thing, you could also consider learning to make the balloon arches for weddings and other special events. Balloons make people happy, and they might just make you a profit.

Cake Designer

For a long time, I thought this might be the business I could do. I grew up watching my mom make cakes for people in our community. If you know how to bake a cake that’s to die for, and can spread or pipe frosting into every shape imaginable, you might consider turning that talent into a business. Military spouse, Nena Parsely, did just that when she created Nena’s Cake Boutique. Offering everything from cupcakes to wedding cakes, she’s proof that there is money to be made in frosting.

These are just a few examples, but with a little bit of thought and a little bit of work, you just might use the skills and passions you already have, to create a business that you love!

1) Treadmill to Running Outside: When you run keep the incline at 3 on the treadmill to simulate outdoor track where the ground doesn’t automatically move away from your feet. Add hills and inclines to 10 height for about 60 seconds, then back down to 3. If you like doing intervals on your treadmill, you can buy a timer. I like GymBoss​.com. Its smaller than a beeper and made for fitness interval timing.

2) Spin to Biking: Make sure you do those “hills” in spin class or if you do stationary bike alone, be sure to add hills where you have to stand up on your pedals. Outfit yourself in reflective, warm and breathable clothing. Like to read a magazine or book on the bike? Try MacMillan Audiobooks. They have a “Listen while you work out campaign” where the books like Family Pictures have timed chapter tracks so you can figure out how many calories you burn per chapter!

3) Fitness DVDs and Gym Classes to Outdoor Obstacle Course: Take your workout to a park or playground where you can do push ups, triceps dips and hop up lunges on the seat. Do pull-​​ups on the playground jungle gym, and use the slide and swing for ab work. Follow me on twitter where I put up a link to a playground workout. You can do jogging intervals between sets. Also check out my video on GMA Health.

4) Swimming: Grab the SPF for summer and maybe a wet suit for chilly spring days if you are hitting an outdoor pool or pond for laps. Visit Waterkeeper​.org for cute bracelets that remind you to take care of the environment while working out in it. The $50 dollar donation gets you a bracelet worn by lots of celebrities on the skiing festival circuit this winter. Perfect spring look in time for Earth Day on April 22!

5) Clothes: Brighten up and hide imperfections. Outdoor workouts mean more people will see you, so you want to look fashionable. For example the top I have on is from a company called “Skinny Tees” they are super bright, so drivers and other people can see you well for safety, and they also have a shapewear effect to suck you in while you are trying to lose those love handles. Change your shoes every 6 months if you are a runner. My new favorite is the Adidas BOOST from Fleet Feet Sports in Syracuse, one of the first places in the nation to get the coveted shoe that “gives you endless energy!”

CHECK OUT MY SEGMENT FROM FOX & FRIENDS HERE:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2288854973001/warm-up-your-fitness-routine/?playlist_id=2288854973001

Fitness – fit it in this season. Nikki

A: The short answer to your question is that most of the more than two million children who have had at least one parent deployed do pretty well. But there’s a significant number that don’t. Children who have a deployed parent (or parents) tend to be more depressed and do worse in school than kids in non-military families—especially if there have been multiple deployments. And a brand new study just found that children with deployed parents are more likely to abuse alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription medication than non-military kids.

The study was led by Stephan Arndt, Ph.D., a biostatististician at the University of Iowa, and analyzed data from nearly 80,000 students in 6th, 8th, and 11th grades. The team started the project with the hypothesis that a parent’s deployment would increase children’s likelihood of substance abuse. Unfortunately, as Arndt put it, “The numbers suggested we were a lot more right than we wanted to be.” The study was published in the journal Addiction.

Here’s what they found: When looking at alcohol consumption in the previous 30 days, sixth graders with deployed parents were three times more likely to have had at least one drink than non-military kids (12 percent vs. 4 percent) and nearly four times more likely to downed five or more drinks in one sitting (7 percent vs. 2 percent. The difference among 11th graders wasn’t quite as stark: 29 percent of military children binge drank vs. 22 percent of civilian children. But 11th graders with deployed parents were 50 percent more likely to have smoked dope (15 percent vs. 10 percent). And for all grades, military kids were more than twice as likely to have misused prescription drugs (15 percent vs. 7 percent).

One especially interesting thing about this study was that it also compared outcomes for military kids who lived with a parent or other relative (including uncles and aunts like you and your husband) while dad or mom was deployed with those who lived with non-family members during the deployment. And, as you might guess, being forced to live with someone outside the family made things far, far worse. “Deployment is going to be disruptive anyway, which is probably why we see the overall increased risk of substance use in these children. And then for those children where parental deployment means they end up living outside of the family, it’s a double whammy,” Arndt said in a University of Iowa press release. “[T]hat change in these children’s living arrangements grossly affected their risk of binge drinking and marijuana use.”

The best thing you can do is keep a close watch on your niece and nephew. Talk to them about how they’re doing and pay attention to who their friends are. But more importantly, do everything you can to keep them communicating with their parents, whether that’s skype, phone calls, emails, or care packages. The more connected kids feel to their parents during deployment, the less likely they’ll be to get into trouble.

I think each family should agree on a list of chores that must be done and ones that can earn money.  For my family helping with meals, laundry and keeping your room clean are things one just has to do. Other household chores, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, etc. are chores that can earn some extra bucks.  The reason I like paid and non-paid chores is because I want my child to learn that he doesn’t get something every time he gives something.  On the other hand, he learns that working and pay go hand in hand.  I also like the idea of giving an allowance each week to use to pay for school lunches, pay for a movie, presents for his friend’s birthdays and whatever else may come up.

Of course, the lesson cannot stop there.  Three S’s of being financially responsible are saving, spending and sharing.  A predetermined amount of money received each week must be saved. I propose opening a savings account at a bank and let the saved money collect interest.   Second, the predetermined amount to be spent is left available to use for school lunches and activities.  Money management skills for needs and wants will be tested and tried.  Finally, the last S, sharing.  This predetermined amount should cover tithing or giving to charity.

Having an allowance and paying for chores teaches children about finances, responsibility and consequences of decision making involving money.   It prepares them for when they will be out on their own making a living.

This month we are taking a look at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.  Fort McCoy is situated on 60,000 acres in West Central Wisconsin, located between Sparta, “The Bicycling Capital of America”, and Tomah, the “Gateway to Cranberry Country”.  Here is what you need to know about Fort McCoy!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):

Fort McCoy is home to the following units:

11th Bn (MI)/100th Div (IT)
13/100th BN (OD)
181st Infantry Brigade
86th Training Division
871st ENG DET
88th RSC
B CO, 6th BN 52nd Avn Regt
Co C 3/399th Log Bn
Det 1, 1152 Transportation Company
Fort McCoy Recruiting Company
HHC, USAG
Naval Mobile Construction Bn 25 – SEABEES
RTS Maintenance
RTS-Medical
USAR NCO Academy – Fort McCoy
WI National Guard Challenge Academy
Wisconsin Military Academy
Wisconsin State Patrol Academy

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Sparta
Tomah
Wisconsin Dells

Closest MAJOR City:

LaCrosse, WI – Approx. 1 hour
Madison, WI – Approx. 2 hours

Names of Area Colleges:

The University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse, WI
Viterbo University
Western Technical College

Weather:

“Well there is snow in April! The weather is wonderful in the summer, very humid, but because the winters are long, the humidity and warm weather is welcoming.

Average temps in the winter months are below zero temps to high 30s. The summer temps are in the 80s and 90s plus the humidity. You will defiantly get 4 seasons here.”                                                   ~ Military Spouse, Nicole Payne                  

Time Difference:  Central Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website: http://www.mccoy.army.mil/

Map:  None Found

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:

You can read more about the history of Fort McCoy, WI at this link:
http://www.mccoy.army.mil/AboutUs/history.asp

Fort McCoy Commemorative Area and History Center:
http://www.mccoy.army.mil/AboutUs/Commemorative.asp

Housing:  www.housing.army.mil/ByInstallation/Default.aspx

Major realty/rental companies in the area:

Hinnegers Rental Company
Tomah Lumber Rental

Adult Education: 

Fort McCoy Education and Learning Center:  http://www.mccoy.army.mil/Soldiers/EdCntr.asp

 Schools: 

 School Liaison Officer:  http://www.mccoymwr.com/home/school-support-services-1.html

Districts: 

Sparta: http://www.spartan.org/  (Serves on-post housing community)
Tomah: http://www.tomah.k12.wi.us/

Elementary

Cataract Elementary School – http://elementary.spartan.org/cataract
Lawrence-Lawson Elementary School – http://elementary.spartan.org/lawrence-lawson
Maplewood Elementary School – http://elementary.spartan.org/maplewood
Southside Elementary School – http://elementary.spartan.org/southside
Meadowview Intermediate School (Grades 4 & 5 Only) – http://meadowview.spartan.org/meadowview-intermediate

Middle

Meadowview Middle School – http://meadowview.spartan.org/meadowview-middle

High School

Sparta High School – http://secondary.spartan.org/

Youth Services:  http://www.mccoymwr.com/home/child-youth-school-services.html

 Army Community Service (ACS) :  http://www.mccoymwr.com/home/army-community-service.html

 PX: http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/FtMcCoyStore.htm

Commissary: http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCCAQ

On-Post Library:

The Fort McCoy Library, located in Building 2000, is part of the General Library Information System (GLIS) and the Wisconsin Library System (WISCAT).

MWR Website:  http://mccoymwr.com/home/

Hospital: 

There is a U.S. Army Health Clinic on post located at Bldg. 2669, Phone – 608-388-3025.

There is a hospital located in Tomah:  Tomah Memorial Hospital – http://www.tomahhospital.org/

Spouses Clubs:

Friends & Spouses Club of Fort McCoy: Meets every third Thursday at McCoy’s for a luncheon and program. To learn more, visit the club on Facebook or send e-mail to fsofmccoy@gmail.com.

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations: http://www.mccoy.army.mil/AboutUs/Offices/rso.asp

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Tomah:
Cancun Mexican
Pekings Chineses
Ground Round
The Hearty Platter
Burnstads European Pub
Culvers

Sparta:
Rudy’s
Ginny’s

Best place to get your hair/nails done:

CURA Salon – Sparta

Shopping/malls:

Tanger Outlet Mall – Wisconsin Dells

Hidden Gems:

“La Crosse- our lady of Guadalupe shrine- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic shrine located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Wild cat mountain, Winona Wisconsin, The drive to Arcadia Wisconsin, The drive up the Mississippi along I35

Three Bears Lodge in Warrens, WI (10 min. from Post) offers camping and indoor water parks.”

                                                                                    ~  Military Spouse, Nicole Payne

Must Do:

Skiing, Hiking, Fishing, MALL OF AMERICA in Minneapolis, Family vacation to the Wisconsin Dells.

Warrens- CRANFEST- Always the last full weekend in September – http://www.cranfest.com/

Sparta- ButterFest –  http://www.spartabutterfest.com/

Tomah- National Tractor pull – www.tomahtractorpull.com/

                                                                                   ~  Military Spouse, Nicole Payne

IMPORTANT FORT MCCOY  LINKS

Fort McCoy Area Guide – http://www.mccoy.army.mil/ReadingRoom/Newspaper/AreaGuide/index.htm

Fort McCoy MWR FaceBook page – https://www.facebook.com/mccoymwr?ref=ts&fref=ts

THOUGHTS FROM SPOUSES:

“This is not like any other post. It is very quant quiet little towns. People are friendly and they love the military.”

                                                                                            ~   Military Spouse, Nicole Payne

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Nicole Payne

If you have something to add about Fort McCoy, please feel free to add your comments below!

A friend had approached me about a training program. We started by meeting at a high school track a couple of days of week and walked a few laps. The walking soon progressed to a low jog just to get the feel.  Candy was able to complete a couple of laps. One day as we were in the middle of the workout Candy stopped and said, “I don’t like running and I am not doing anymore”.  There was no attempt to get her to change her mind and my reply could only be, “At least you gave it a try, and you know for sure that you don’t like it”.  Candy was happy with her walking.

The take away is that YOU decide what you WANT to do. There are many choices for an exercise program that is tailored for you. It is during the experimenting process that you will find what works best for you.

The inspiration of others can help to aspire all of us into action. See these stories of Ashley Olsen and Peter Lawrence.

“This race I learned that having people around you – even if they are guys- is a huge help especially in those late miles (20+).  I found myself … all by myself … late in this race, on a part of the course that was pretty desolate- back behind the ballpark (miles 20-24). It was tough.  That was also the point that the “hurt” started to set in.  I was proud of myself – at this point- for not completely letting those negative thoughts take over and give into the pain. I definitely slowed down (my split times show it) the last 10k. But, I am proud of the way I continued to push my body using positivity in my mind.  With a bit more fitness I am confident that I will eventually be able to push harder for long portions of the race and then race even more strategically against good competition”,  stated Ashley Olsen of Philadelphia, Pa. Olsen was the winner of the Rock n’ Roll USA Nation’s Capital Marathon on March 16, 2013 with a time of  2:53:28.

“Every race I learn something about myself. I push new limits and encounter different situations and tests. After you get to the next level, you see ‘hey this was not so hard, I can do more.’ It’s weird how the brain is wired and how you can re-wire it. After I run I feel like all things are possible and I feel so hopeful. I encourage everyone to seek their dreams, whatever it is. Go for it. Keep at it. It takes time, but build it up brick by brick,” Peter Lawrence (age 41) of Houston, Texas adds. Peter was the male winner with a time of 2:32:27.

The following are some thoughts from Lucy Hawkins the Fitness Consultant at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Virginia. Lucy is a retired Army Drill Instructor / Master Fitness Instructor. You can stand next to Lucy and feel a sense of fitness and here is one plan she shared:

Training two months 3 to 4x per week:
This training is for beginners and intermediate exercisers; modify to fit your level.

 Cardio: Time- 20/30/40 min  Activity- Walk/treadmill/rower/elliciptal/bleachers (steps) at track.
This is for overall weight loss.

Strength workout:  1 to 2x per week depending on your time schedule
Exercises:  Squats: 15 (seating in the chair)

Push-ups: wall, chair or bench 1 set 25(10-10-5 or 5-5-5-5-5)

Burpees: 15 (movement done all together -stand, squat, push-up position, walk hands back to feet in two to four count movement (goal is to get up with two moves walking right/left hand back to feet)

Demonstration on Burpee training:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/rossboxing2.htm

Crunches/bridge/modified plank combo:  3 set 10 each, holding modified plank for 15 sec

Stretches:  All stretches are held for 10-15 sec, and are done before and after cardio, and after strength training:  Calf stretch; hamstring stretch, quad stretch; upper/lower back stretch, shoulder, triceps, forearm stretch

NOTE:  After three weeks, increase intensity (walk faster from one point to another once you warm-up; repetitions, or do an addition cardio machine (cardio circuit). Incorporate developmental stretching increasing the stretch from 10-15 sec to 20-30 seconds.

Drink water before-during and after exercise, replenish protein especially after strength training.

NOM (Nugget of Motivation):  Your body was created for movement on a continually basis. 
The more you move it, the better you feel and your energy level goes off the chart!

The following are comments shared by Navy Commander Leslie Kindling. The 1995 Case Western Reserve University graduated was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 for Track & Field and Soccer. Kindling was named the NCAC Field Athlete of the Year in both outdoor and indoor track four times and has claimed 18 NCAC individual event titles and earned all-conference honors 24 times. Kindling won seven UAA titles and was All-UAA 16 times.

Kindling has been in the Navy 15 years and is in the Medical Service Corps with a specialty in Naval Aerospace/Operational Physiologist. Kindling hails from Erie, Pennsylvania.  There were three things which attracted Kindling to the military, the structure, the requirements for physical fitness, and the idea of serving her country.

“I had an interest in military aviation when I was younger. I considered applying to West Point, but wasn’t sure it was right for me. Then five years later, during grad school, I signed up for Army ROTC. A fellow grad student and Air Force major on Full Time Out Service Training encouraged me to look at the other services to see if I could find one which might make a better use of my degrees. The Navy recruiter told me about the Aerospace Physiology Program and I was immediately sold on becoming a Naval Aerospace Physiologist.

Kindling keeps a delicate balance between the military and fitness, “I have made staying fit a priority, and I have surrounded myself with similarly minded individuals. I joined a cross country team at one duty station, linked up with Cross Fitters in one of my squadrons and joined local running clubs at my previous and current duty stations. I have also started run commuting a couple times a week. Combining social time in commuting time with workout time is convenient, but the real benefits are the increased health and decreased stress”.

While in college Kindling played three years of varsity soccer and competed in indoor and outdoor varsity track and field for four years. There is a strong desire for road races but more of an interest in the longer events. A standard week is 10-mile morning runs five days a week with 18 miles on Saturday. The rest days shifts depending on work and weather.

Kindling shares, “The body is an incredible machine. Working out increases your energy. The more you run, the easier it gets—but you have to get up to about six miles consistently before that holds true”.

Running in events have benefits, “PCSing every few years, I have found entering races around the local area has been a good way for me to get familiar with my new town and meet people. Traveling to races is a good way for me to visit old friends. Having served with Marines, running the Marine Corps Marathon has been on my list for years. It is so well organized and I had such fun time running last year (2012 – 3:43:12), I will run it as often as I can in the future”.

To those who want to start a running program Kindling passes along, “Find a running group to join. Running with someone is extremely helpful. Secondly, it takes a while to build up to the mileage where you’ll feel the “runner’s high”. Don’t give up”.

When there is a drop in performance in an event, “I like to think I’m over that. I know that I’ve passed the peak of my strength curve and the Olympics were never in my reach. It’s not about getting a Personal Record (PR) for me; it’s about having fun and enjoying being outside and active”.

To date a memorable moment, “A recent highlight was being promoted to commander in front of my parents, siblings, and friends. I was the director of an aviation survival training unit at the time. Following the ceremony my staff gave my family and friends an outstanding tour of our training facility. My guests won’t forget that tour, and I won’t forget the pride and professionalism my staff exhibited not just on that day, but throughout my time as the director of the training unit”.

Let me add a footnote that all of can relate to and that is with the PCSing, which we can all agree that it’s not easy and it is hard on the children: Kindling did touch upon how she takes something negative and tries to make something positive. We all can agree that when we look back there are people who we meet with whom lifelong friendships have been formed.

Some of you may have heard of the Chuck Engle originally from Lancaster, Ohio but in the running community he is better known as the “Marathon Junkie”. Engle has an impressive career with deep roots to “will power”. As of the last count Engle has completed a marathon in every state and did 58 marathons in 52 consecutive weekends and had an average time of 2:49:38. Engle is a member of Team MarathonGuide.com.

Engle takes a rest to share some comments about the sport he loves, “I started running around the age of 12. It was something we did for wrestling and running served as a means to an end. I ran to keep my weight down and stay fit”.

It takes the desire to keep moving forward and staying focused as Engle comments, “My motivation stems largely from when I run. If I get bored or feel that I’m losing motivation I find a new route and change my routine entirely. A new park, a new path or driving to a new race in a town is always a great way to stay motivated.”

This is for the beginner, “One step, one block, and one mile at a time. Start off easy and work easy. Make a plan to reach your goal in several days and not all at once.”

There will be the ups and down with the running or any fitness program. “I have had so many great memories in my career that singling out one is difficult. But, winning my very first marathon is right up there with completing my 300^th this year, and winning it as well. I had an Achilles issue that I thought would be a career ending injury. I was away from running for nearly six months. I was pretty low during that time”.

What does Engle do in a week? “My training week involves a plyometric workout on Monday. (The following site offer 20 articles on plyometrics, http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Plyometrics). Tuesday is usually a speed or fartlek (http://jeffgalloway.com/resources/news_archives/may_02.html) day and Wednesday is a moderately long run. Thursday is a shorter, easier day. Friday depends on my weekend schedule of racing. I usually race on Saturday or Sunday and will run long on one of the days”.

Engle continues, “My mileage right now is 90 and 120 miles per week. It’s taken me a long time to gradually build up to that. I was excited when I hit my first 10 mile week in junior high. A double digit week of mileage, and I began to get excited at the thought of a triple digit week. It would be another 10 years before I’d get my first.”

Here is a comment which sticks and deserves to be posted on the refrigerator door when Engle was asked to answer the following question, “I am at me best when? When the chips are down and people are counting on me. I thrive in moments that most people become stressed.”

I can relate to the excitement which Engle mention about hitting the triple digit weeks, which I was able to accomplish three years ago with three consecutive 100-mile weeks. At the root was “Will Power” and that desire to hit a personal goal, not a t-shirt or medal.

A constant thought with any program, which you attempt, is that you will have to give up something? You will have conflicts with family, friends, and work. It’s a basic question in ALL that you do, “What are you willing to give up?”

WHAT IS A SHORT SALE?

It’s not a “short” amount of time, as some would wish; it’s selling for short of the principle debt.

With a glut of homes sitting at values well below what they were purchased for, banks and mortgage companies are more likely to negotiate with home owners.  A short sale is an opportunity for the bank to agree to a selling price below the actual principle pay off amount and forgive or mitigate the deficiency.  The deficiency is the amount between the agreed selling price and the principle pay off.  A short sale commonly forgives the debtors entire deficiency, but that release is determined in the negotiation between the bank and the debtor.

Creditors have their own developed list of requirements to approve a short sale contract.  Most include a need for the debtor to show a financial hardship or burden that prevents them from paying the deficiency.  Each of the lien holders, if there are multiple loans on the home, must approve their subjugation to the sale.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY CREDIT?

Should the creditor report the debt reduction to credit reporting agencies, it can adversely affect a person’s credit report. After a short sale, borrowers may find it difficult to obtain a new mortgage because lender’s underwriting guidelines might reject lending to a borrower who has obtained a short sale in the past. Reports from credit agencies note that a short sale could impact a person’s credit score by 150-400 points dependant on the number of late or missed payments previous to the sale.  It is clear that it is easier to recover from a short sale that is negotiated without previous late payments, but conversely the debtor may not be apt to agree to the “short” without financial hardship.

As of 2011, national and state laws and industry standards for both real estate sales and lending are in an ongoing and rapid state of change. No debtor should consider entering into short sale negotiations without consulting with a mortgage professional, attorney and debt specialist.

WHAT ARE THE TAX IMPLICATIONS?

At the end of the tax year, the debtor will send a 1099-A that reflects the forgiven deficiency as income to the debtor, in short, whatever you were forgiven from in principle amount, will be reflected as income in the next tax year.  The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 says that for foreclosures, short sales and mortgage restructurings for less than the current balance on the mortgage, there will be no tax on the forgiven debt, if…

• The debt relief was incurred between 2007 and 2009
• The debt was for purchase and improvement of the house
• The debt was secured by the borrower’s primary residence
• The amount forgiven was no more than $2 Million for a married couple

Congress has moved to extend this relief through 2013 to further encourage the housing market recovery.

The Extension of Exclusion from Gross Income of Discharge of Qualified Principal Residence Indebtedness extends the relief through January 1, 2014.  This news is a great relief to both housing professionals and home owners that are forced to sell their upside-down homes.

Sequestration. Until a few months ago, I’d never heard of the word. Now, it’s a regular part of my vocabulary. There’s something to be said for a little repetition.

That’s the same approach my wife and I have taken with our kids in a quest to build their financial acumen. We — OK, I — have repeatedly blasted them with financial terms and definitions, hoping something would stick. Oh, if it was only that easy. The reality is, words can be effective, but nothing works as well as true life experiences to hone these skills.

Now we’re emphasizing hands-on training with our teenagers. It’s not like we’ve ignored this approach in the past. In fact, a couple of years ago, I shared a tale of my son’s first exposure to the cutthroat financial world.

But, with money management top-of-mind at a national level, my wife and I are laser focused. Here are three ideas we’re using to bring words and concepts to life with our teens.

Learning to budget. Wanna go out with your friends? Better check your bank account. Think that new shirt for red day at school is a must? Better check your bank account.

We still cover food, clothing and shelter, but any extras now come out of our teens’ allowance. The result? That bag of candy doesn’t taste quite as sweet when it puts an outing with their friends in jeopardy. Last week, my daughter scowled when we told her a trip to the movies was coming out of her wallet. Oh well, economic decisions can be difficult. But if the result is that they understand the concept of spending less than they earn, it’s a win.

Being a smart consumer. The truth is, impulse buys, lack of research, bad timing and human nature have all led Team Montanaro down the path to bad purchases at one time or another. But we want our kids to do better. Not to date myself, but my research used to begin and end with catalog browsing. Today, our kids are doing a great job comparison shopping, evaluating reviews and checking prices using the internet before making a big purchase. Since they have to save up to make any major purchases (no credit for them!) it gives them time to confirm that their purchases make sense. While it may be detrimental for the U.S. economy, we figure more smart consumers is a good thing.

Paying yourself first. My kids can’t even fathom what a powerful weapon this is in the quest to build financial security, but we’re working hard to get them to understand it. We set up savings accounts for them. To encourage them to save, we match any money they put in the account. Grandma’s $10 check for Halloween magically morphs into $20 with a simple decision. Granted, the “return” they earn on their decision is ridiculously high, and they can’t tap the account until college. We’re trying to teach them a lesson here, so we need to get their attention. I’m not sure they’ve fully grasped my discussion of employer-matching contributions, but we’re really working on this one.

So there you have it. These aren’t the only lessons our kids need to be successful, but I’m certain they do need a mix of knowledge and practice to meet the world head on. Don’t fret, I haven’t thrown in the towel with the book knowledge part. You should have seen my daughter roll her eyes yesterday morning when I hit her with, “What’s a bond?”