Issue #192: Michael J. Fox Part II
Good morning. It’s Saturday, May 27th. To all who serve or have served - thank you! 🙏 We’re all about getting together with friends and family this holiday weekend - but won’t forget the debt we owe to the true heroes who dedicated themselves and sacrificed their lives for us to have the freedom to enjoy these BBQ’s.
Today’s Quick Win
Q&A: Water in Our Fridge & Pools
Inspiration: Michael J. Fox
What We’re Watching: Ted Lasso
Brain Games: Bananas, Clocks, and Math
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
The number of Americans that will be living with Parkinson’s Disease by 2030. Neurodegenerative disease is one of the four primary factors we need to fight off to keep our health as we age - along with heart disease, cancer, and metabolic disease. (Source)
This Week + Q&A
This week we reviewed the benefits of water and how to avoid dehydration.
Issue #190 - discover the power of hydration for brain, heart, and muscle health. Know when and how much water to drink, and when not to drink H2O.
Issue #191 - should you drink Gatorade? Plus 5 Pro Tips for replenishing key electrolytes - magnesium, sodium chloride (salt), and potassium.
Click HERE to check out previous issues in the Thrive25 archive.
Got a few questions from readers that we wanted to share with everyone:
🚰 Any good water filters for our fridge? The unfortunate answer is no. We’ve been researching these since my kids now love ice. Most of these filters remove odor and bigger molecules, but not all the contaminants that we need removed. That said, something is better than nothing - here’s a LIST to check out that includes brands like Clearly Filtered and EveryDrop by Whirlpool (NSF Certified)
🏊 What about water filters for the pool? Escaping the heat this summer in a backyard pool and worried about the chemicals? We switched from a chlorinated pool to a saltwater pool last year. It’s actually easier than you think. The total cost for parts/labor should be under $1,000 and just requires a Salt Cell or similar
🧂What about Stevia in those Electrolyte Powders? It’s true - most of these brands add a little sweetness. I haven’t seen any research to be too concerned - especially if you are drinking just one packet a day. We ranked the best natural sugar alternatives here in Issue #47. If it bothers your gut, then avoid it and go with direct electrolyte supplements
Got a question? We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE
Inspiration | Still - A Michael J. Fox Movie
“I don’t have any choice whether or not I have Parkinson’s, but surrounding that non-choice is a million other choices that I can make.”
Not one to let circumstances keep him down, the 5’ 4” Michael J. Fox, has not only built one of the most successful careers in Hollywood, but also become a best-selling author, activist, and fundraiser.
His valley came early.
In his 20’s he was on top of the world - starring in blockbuster hits (Back to the Future), winning Emmys (Family Ties), and getting married to his wife (going on 35 years now).
But then at age 29, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Little was known about the disease at the time and doctors told him his career would be over within a few years.
Fox grew depressed and started drinking - a lot.
One morning he woke up on the couch - hungover with a spilled beer all over himself. He looked up at his wife who asked “Is this what you want? This is what you want to be?” and walked out the door.
That’s the last beer he ever drank.
He’s worked with a therapist ever since to accept his disease, but says “Acceptance isn’t resignation. It means understanding…and there’s going to be a way through it.”
Thanks to a strong partner (Tracy Pollan), an openness to getting help, and a positive mindset - Fox completely changed the direction of his life.
He continued to act - not officially retiring until last year and he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research. He’s testified on Capitol Hill with the likes of Muhammad Ali and raised over $1B (yes billion).
Doesn’t mean it’s all roses - in 2018 he fell (he does often) and broke his humerus and just hit a wall. His normal optimism had left him. That’s when he saw the connection to gratitude. (see video)
For him that gratitude isn’t just for today - it’s for the past. As all of us age, we yearn for what we could do when we were younger. But change that frame of thinking and instead - love your past, be grateful for it, and consider the person you are now because of it.
Who is your favorite Michael J. Fox character?
Fill out this 10-sec survey to let us know! (completely anonymous)
Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties)
Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
Scott Howard (Teen Wolf)
Mike Flaherty (Spin City)
Ben Stone (Doc Hollywood)
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
It’s Saturday - you shouldn’t be in front of the computer! But if you are - make sure you’re using breathing.ai to take some breaks. It's a free browser extension that reminds you to take breaks, personalizes the color of your screen, and offers relaxing music to help you stay focused.
Best yet, Hannes and Team just dropped a new version with even more features (some pretty cool break animations!) to help you take care of yourself throughout the day. Download now - I mean it’s free!
What We’re Watching | Ted Lasso
“ ‘No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for,’ everyone knows someone or has been that person who ‘has struggled, that’s felt isolated, that’s felt anxious, that has felt alone. And it’s actually one of the many things that- believe it or not- that we all have in common as human beings.’ ”
We tune in for the wit and humor - but the genius of Ted Lasso is to use the laughs to pull us in and engage us to stay for the deeper messages related to mental health and supporting each other.
We’re all vulnerable - regardless of the rough exterior that we portray to the world. It’s something that I continue to fight myself and have found that the more open I am, the better I show up.
Enjoy the series finale!
(And no…we didn’t mean to make today’s issue an Apple TV+ commercial)
Brain Games | Bananas, Clocks and Math
What is the value of the question mark?
You got this. Dust off those math skills - you’ll feel fulfilled this weekend when you figure it out!
**For answer, scroll to the bottom of the post
Product Recs
☕ Bulletproof - I’m not much of a coffee drinker (would just mean I need to drink even more water), but they’ve got a full line of amazing products to support any nutrition plan. Click HERE.
💊 Momentous - backed with scientific research, direct clinical proof, and patented ingredients, Momentous has world-class products and protocols for high-performance seekers at all levels. Thrive25 subscribers get 15% off the entire product portfolio using code Thrive at checkout
💪 TMAC Fitness - miss the 7-day challenge? No problem - you can still sign up! It’s a quick workout that you can do at home without any equipment that includes a great sweat with a little meditation. Try TMAC today.
Thanks for another great week! A little 80’s flashback for the weekend:
Check out the latest workout videos on our YouTube channel
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** Brain Games Answer **
38 = 2 + 3 + (3 × 11)
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