Healthy Wealthy Boomer – Chuck Norris, A Role Model

If there were ever a healthy wealthy boomer role model, it’s Chuck Norris.

He’s actually a “pre-boomer” born in 1940 which makes him 68 in 2008. This guy is the epitome of success and health. And if fact, for many Boomers, he has been a role model for a long time.

I remember Chuck Norris as a competitive Karate professional in southern California in the late 60′s and early 70′s. In 1974, Chuck retired after six years as the undefeated World Middleweight Karate Champion at age 34. I was not yet 21 but frequented the East Bay Karate dojo 6 times a week at the time. One of the guys I worked with had studied from Chuck in So Cal and was often relaying tales of accomplishment and prowess as a first hand witness of this amazing fighter.

And of course there was the fight scene with Bruce Lee in the 1973 martial arts classic, Return of the Dragon – filmed and released while Norris was world champ. He would go on to win another championship the following year.

He set a lot of precedents over the years.

While Chuck Norris preceded the Boomer Generation by a few years, he has set a standard both for success and physical fitness that exemplifies an intelligent and applied approach to longevity and prosperity.

Coupled with a profound spiritual awareness, Norris has consistently emulated:

• a sense of fairness
• kindness
• honor
• character

woven through the many characters he has portrayed throughout his career as an actor, a fighter and martial artist, and benefactor to millions of kids and fans. Through it all is a sense of balance and respect for principle and values.

Baby Boomers can look to Norris as a torch bearer demonstrating what the individual can do on their own if they put their mind to it. At 68, in top physical condition, he’s got a long life yet to live and many things left to accomplish.

Recently Norris wrote a column for Town Hall talking about his friend Bruce Lee:

Bruce Lee vs Me

I found a number of the comments on the column to be a sad reflection of much of our society today, people speaking what they do not know.

To quote Lao Tzu, “Those who speak know not, and those who know speak not.”

In 1989 a friend of mine, Bob Gairing, took up Kick Boxing as a training practice at the age of 53. This guy was a psychotherapist – par excellence – and I guess he needed to relieve some of the weird energy he dealt with on a daily basis through his workouts. He and I became very close that year. I attended a workout with him as an observer one time, and I can tell you, I have never seen tougher training – ever.

He studied from a Martial Arts legend in Missoula, MT named Jim Harrison. You can read about him and what Bruce Lee said about Jim Harrison here.

Bob told me that Harrison and Norris were old friends and that as many times Norris had invited him to appear in movies with him, Harrison always declined and chose to stay out of the limelight and maintain a lower profle. Harrison said Chuck Norris was the real McCoy and really dangerous on the street – which isn’t too typical of martial arts actors.

The fact is we need more tough guys teaching the younger generation, accomplished experts in their fields who can help a generation – and a nation – desperately seeking direction. That is – tough guys with a heart and compassion.

For me, when it comes to listening to advice about fitness and health, I always listen to healthy people. When it comes to marital advice, I listen to people with healthy and successful marriages. When it comes to money and wealth, I listen to people who have a lot of it.

Chuck Norris has all of these things.

More Boomers would do well to emulate his behavior, his training self discipline, his health and vitality and his life and financial success – as opposed to many in Congress, in the media , on Wall Street and in professional sports.

On his official website, in the fitness category, there is simply a brief discussion about The Total Gym with a link to a couple of videos with his wife. He’s been using it multiple times a week for about 20 years. Enough said about fitness. We love The Total Gym and we have one at home that we use.

Finding Your Passion in Life and Doing What You Love

As we learn more in our lives, it is becoming imminently clear that the real key to success – living a long, healthy life and achieving wealth – is by being passionate about what you do and finding your true purpose. Chuck Norris has found his passion in life and lives it fully.

Chuck Norris is not just a healthy wealthy boomer role model, he is a symbol and an icon of the American dream and success.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer Loves the Total Gym

A few weeks ago we relocated and as soon as we got situated in our new place, we hunted down a used Total Gym 1700. I had made a commitment to start working out with a Total Gym again after reading about John Carleo‘s accomplishments as a competitive weight lifter – at age 60…

The guy’s too much…

Imagine lifting 1003 pounds – at age 60 – six times his body weight. And only using the Total Gym for training 6-8 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Wow.

By the way Chuck Norris – of Total Gym Fame – Walker Texas Ranger, turned 68 this week. I remember him as a tournament fighter in the 70′s – 6 time world champ in Karate in his weight class. He loves the Total Gym and he looks better than any 59 year old I know personally.

Except maybe for a Chinese Gung fu master I know.

Anyway, we have been getting back into a routine with the Total Gym about 10-15 minutes at a time. What a great machine.

I’ve been focused on my upper body because it needs attention. A few years back, I broke my wrist after falling from a single story roof, and fracturing it in seven places. Needless to say that took some recuperating at 50+ – not to mention my bruised male ego.

The Total Gym is by far the most effective single machine I have ever used. Sometimes it’s a hassle to change it around from exercise to exercise. But overall, I think the results are amazing.

There is already a noticeable difference in my upper body physique. And the strength is coming back into my wrist and the tricep area remarkably fast. Considering the severity of the injury, I am very pleased.

This magnitude of my upper body recovery is compounded by a separated right clavicle that happened in July 2005 .

Kind of creaky all around.

But I can tell you straight up, that the Total Gym is getting the job done and I am really impressed with this machine.

Try one if you have a friend who has one is their house.

John Carleo says that he believes every household in America should have a Total Gym and his Total Gym instruction videos. I agree.

Only I would add one other thing to that list – a Vitamix blender.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer loves the Total Gym, you will too. Check one out if you haven’t done so already, and give us your feedback. I’m sure you’ll agree. Anybody can handle 6-8 minutes a day.

TOTAL GYM TIP: Hey, fellow healthy wealthy baby boomer, if you do hunt down a used Total Gym, make sure it has all the parts and attachments…