The Soloflex Story
Soloflex revolutioned the home fitness industry with the introduction of the Soloflex Muscle Machine in 1978.
Read more about Soloflex’s values, history, and plans for the future.
Archive for April, 2009
DANGER: High Fructose Corn Syrup
The consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup has increased 10,673% in the past 35 years.
High Fructose Corn Syrup is almost all made from genetically modified corn which has its own health problem side-effects. Genetically modified corn increases the risk of developing corn allergies – even to healthful organically grown corn. Food and drink manufacturers switched to HFCS in the early 70s because it is cheap and much sweeter, 20 times sweeter. Four companies control 85% of the $2.6 billion business – Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, Staley Mfg and CPC International. 16 plants in our corn belt manufacture the stuff, huge vats of murky fermenting liquid, fungus and chemical tweaking.
The number one source of calories in America is from HFCS in soda pop. Studies have shown these high calorie drinks are causing Americans to gain large amounts of body fat. One study eliminated HFCS drinks and the subjects lost weight. No other diet item eliminated made ANY difference. 35 years ago, American soda’s were made with sugar, just like Mexican Coke is today. 35 years ago our obesity problem began growing out of control.
Consumption of HFCS is not only making us fat, it also damages organs like the liver and pancreas, leads to bone loss, anemia and heart problems. Diabetes has increased 90% in the past ten years. High blood sugar now affects one in four of us. HFCS is not just used to sweeten pop, it’s now used in punch, fruit juices, processed pre-packaged foods (which account for 90% of the dollars we spend on meals). It is also now found in cereals, salad dressings, cheese spreads, yogurt, jam, peanut butter, crackers, ketchup and ice cream, to name a few. Most people get MOST of their calories now from HFCS, mostly from soft drinks. Drinking only one soda a day adds up to 15 pounds a year.
HFCS creates insulin resistance. Low insulin levels are a co-generator of most diseases, including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and premature aging. The liver does not process HFCS like ordinary sugars. Most fats are made in the liver. When sugar enters the liver it can store it, burn it or turn it into body fat. HFCS bypasses this process and goes directly to fat. There is strong evidence indicating that HFCS does not become blood glucose. Consumption of the stuff leads to decreased signals to our central nervous system from leptin and insulin. Leptin and insulin help regulate how much food we eat. Without healthful levels, we increase food intake and of course, get fatter.
HFCS contains high levels of reactive compounds that trigger cell damage. Natural sugar does not contain reactive compounds. Triglycerides, the chemical form of fat found in foods and in our bodies increases dramatically when we eat or drink HFCS. Bad cholesterol increases as well. This increases the risk of heart disease. HFCS can interfere with the heart’s use of minerals like magnesium, copper and chromium. HFCS does not contain any enzymes, vitamins or minerals. It actually leaches nutrients from the body. A study with two groups of rats, one given large amounts of sugar, the other large amounts of HFCS turned out badly for the one group. The high sugar group was unaffected. The HFCS group male rats did not survive to adulthood, suffering from anemia and high cholesterol, their hearts enlarging until they actually exploded. Their testicles also did not develop normally which was the least of their problems. The females were not so physically affected but none could bear live young. The livers of the rats on the HFCS diet looked like the livers of alcoholics.
Don’t get confused about “fructose.” Fruit contains natural fructose. Fruit also contains minerals and vitamins. Eat a wide variety of fruits, especially berries. They are loaded with antioxidants.
Soloflex owns the trademark on the slogan “Exercise and Eat Right.” Part of our due diligence is to inform our customers about both. Start reading the labels on pre-packaged foods and drinks. If they contain HFCS don’t buy them and complain to your grocer. You needn’t be polite about it either. This is serious stuff. We would also like to plug Michael Pollan’s new book, In Defense of Food. He’s a wonderful writer. If you haven’t read The Botany of Desire, you’re really missing out on some fun and enlightening stuff.
Hey Ladies……..
Have you ever noticed the women at the gym in the cardio section, sweating through the agony of a 45 minute run on the treadmill while their untoned arms, legs and bellies strain to keep up? Oh, the pain! It’s a sight all too familiar for those who workout at a gym. If those women spent half that time lifting weights they would be stronger, leaner and prevent injury from high impact exercise, like running. Weight lifting can increase your metabolic rate for as long as 24 hours and cardio exercise only 5-6 hours. I’ll take that extra 15-20 hours of additional calorie burn at no extra charge ;) Yet many women have still not gotten the message. According to the National Center of Health Statistics only about 20 % of women are incorporating resistance training to their workouts. The simple fact is….IF YOU WANT A BEAUTIFUL BODY, YOU MUST LIFT WEIGHTS!
I have complied several articles from very reputable sources. Here are but a few: WomenHealth.com, About.com, WebMD.com, FitnessMagazine.com and Ezinearticles.com.
Send this to your mom, your sister, your aunt, your cousin, neighbor….. help spread the word!
We have been touting the benefits of weight lifting for women since the beginning…….
The Most Inspirational Movie Competition
Damin: The magic happens when the movie captures the imagination and evokes real emotion. Molly may be well intentioned but there is an art to selection. Her intent is pure but her judgment is questionable. I am therefore challenging her to an duel. I know that my top notch capacity for choice shall, through an open and transparent vote, validate the spirit of competition with sweet and lasting bragging rights. I’m sure this could turn into a man vs woman competition but I’d hope to provoke an honest vote. If we are all true to the original challenge…the most inspirational movies of all time…I am going to kick her cute butt!
Molly: It’s been quite the pissing match. I stand by my choices. Tell us which list you think is a better list ;)
Molly’s List……
To Kill a Mocking Bird
In today’s world, the film still offers immense meaning. It’s beautifully haunting and having been made at the height of the Civil Rights movement, it makes us stop and take the time to truly ’see’ what the human race is and what it can and should be. A touching story of sincere honesty and purpose. The goodness that sits in the hearts and minds of humankind.
Shawshank Redemption
Considered one of the best movies ever made. ..it’s about overcoming all odds, a testament to the human spirit.
Goodwill Hunting
Despite its coarse exterior, Good Will Hunting proves to be a rather positive and motivational movie. Gus Van Sant’s direction… and his excellent style make it a hugely entertaining and effective film.
Romancing the Stone
This was a childhood fav! A high-spirited mix of action, comedy and romance. It one of those rare movies with something for everyone.
A Beautiful Life
Even in the most unbearable circumstances people have an unbelievable capacity for compassion. Benigni’s message, made with sensitivity, is that a child’s innocence is worth protecting.
School of Rock
One of the best comedies for kids in years, I have a ten year old who has watched this at least 20 times. It’s funny and heartfelt and it never sells out. Jack’s exactly like the guy in school that you always wanted to hang out with.
Erin Brockovich
A movie about a seriously crazy woman who hits her stride by trying to make a difference in the world. Entertaining, instructive, emotional and funny.
Shirley Valentine
Shirley’s is not an unfamiliar story, but Shirley is an exceptional person! She’s melancholy, but never self-pitying. She doesn’t just grumble; she smartly observes, wonders, and hopes. She desperately for a change and can’t wait to get away from her abusive husband, but is without the courage to risk it — until a friend wins a trip to Greece, and Shirley flies away.
Schindler’s List
The film is hugely important. The acting is excellent. This is no sudden reversal of philosophy, but a matter of conscience that slowly dawns on the man. With a keen sense of Schindler’s character, Neeson depicts the tranformation from self-centered businessman to a messiah.
Damin’s List………
Rudy
This movie brings tears to Damin’s eyes every time he sees it. It really is a heart warming flick. The scrawny kid who never gets to play until the last down of the last game. The only player in Notre Dame history who got carried of the field by his team mates.
Braveheart
Braveheart’s a true epic, even if it is both bloody and bloody long. For pure, “guy flick” grandeur, few movies can touch this one.
Hoosiers
One of the greatest sports movies ever made! Basketball movies don’t get any better. The movie works the underdog formula so expertly that it’s no surprise the film still has the ability to make this list.
Gladiator
It’s just one of those movies, they don’t make anymore. Gladiator is a guts and glory epic with swords and sandals, spectacular action sequences, a seriously good hero.
Victory
An exciting World War II action film. It’s a rousing soccer game where a prisoner of war, once a member of the German national soccer team, decides to put together a soccer match between a team of Allied prisoners.
Rocky
It’s essentially a fairy tale about a down-and-out tough guy who gets a chance at the fight of a lifetime, and, at the same time, wins the girl. Rocky certainly didn’t invent all the sports movie clichés but it applied them in a way that captivated audiences and didn’t seem over-the-top. Just about every film featuring a big sports comeback has been inspired by and/or compared to Rocky.
Miracle
It’s a great sports movie that recreates an amazing moment in sports history with no frills. Thumbs up for this uplifting and inspirational movie about one of the great upsets in sports history.
Karate Kid
A great underdog story, and you gotta love the flying crane. The Karate Kid belongs so irredemiably to its time that you can’t feel anything other than affection toward it.
Silverado
An awesome western that never got the recognition it deserved. A sweeping, glorious-looking western that’s at least a full generation removed from the classic films it brings to mind.
The Natural
Well done with feeling and sincerity that really captures the mystique of old time baseball. Arguably the best baseball movie ever made.
Animal House
Obscene, absurd and hilarious. Animal House is a genre classic. This was the first of those crazy college movies and remains, in most ways, the best.
20 Disturbing Facts About US Healthcare that Everyone Should Know
1) 46 Million American have NO health insurance.
2) 9.4 Million children have No health insurance.
3) Insurance costs are outpacing income by eight-fold.
4) Every year one Million Americans lose their coverage.
5) The cost of health care causes bankruptcy every 30 seconds.
6) By the end of 2009 1.5 Million people are going to lose their homes due to illness.
7) America spends twice as much per person on health care as other rich countries.
8) Americans spent $2.2 Trillion on health care in 2008.
9) 1/3 of the US population under age 65 has NO health insurance.
10) US Health care costs are twice the GDP of India.
11) Americans life expectancy is 2 years less than Europeans.
12) Projected health care costs by 2012 are $3.1 Trillion a year.
13) Health care cost are 4 times higher than our national defense.
14) America spent 17% of it’s GDP on health care in 2008.
15) By 2017 Americans will be spending 20% of GDP on health care.
17) Premiums for employer based health care went up by 5% in 2008, small employers premiums went up 5.5%, small business with less than 24 workers went up 6.8%.
18) Annual premiums for family coverage eclipsed the gross earnings for a full time, minimum wage worker ($10, 712) per year.
19) Health insurance is the fastest growing expense cost component for employers, health care costs will over take profits.
20) Health insurance premiums have grown four times faster than wages.
Am I Pretty Yet?
What is beauty? We all think we know, but do we? Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder? We’ve pulled together some photos of folks that are at the extremes of the pursuit of beauty.
Note: Some of the images may be considered disturbing to some of our readers, so please use discretion before continuing to read.
Starting Soloflex
The original Soloflex logo
I have been urged by friends to blog about the beginning of Soloflex. They have insisted there are many of you out there who would enjoy the story, or at least parts of the story. I find it interesting but then again, I lived it.
My first memory of Soloflex began when Jerry, my husband, started looking high and low for a home weight lifting machine. He had me on the look-out for anything that was similar to a Universal machine but one that was small enough for a home and cheap enough so we could afford one. There just wasn’t anything like that so he decided to try his hand at designing just what he wanted.
Jerry was a jet charter pilot at the time and we lived in Las Vegas. Jerry started obsessing about this and drew possible designs everywhere, mostly on napkins when he was on charter trips. He did come up with his design but only after speaking with a lot of serious weight lifters to get their prospective on weight machines. They all told him they much preferred free weights and explained to him why. One very important point was the bar must be “free.” This makes one’s weaker side work harder to balance the body’s symmetry. Thus Jerry incorporated a “floating” lever arm, not fixed. The result was a machine that later obtained the endorsement of Arnold Schwartenagger. Arnold said it was just like lifting a free weight bar.
For Jerry another big consideration was safety. When you lift free weights you should always have a spotter in case you get into a jam like being pinned down by the bar. With his design, Jerry built in safety. The bar can’t fall on you thus no spotter needed. His machine was the best of machines and the best of free weights.
Early days brochure
So now he had the mechanics done. The only problem he was stuck on was the resistance. What could he use? He built his home weight lifting machine in our garage and showed it to our neighbor who was an architect. He recommended a lighter, thinner wall steel. Seems Jerry had built a machine that could easily lift a car! It looked good-it worked good but the means of resistance was still a puzzle. In the middle of the night one night he woke me to announce he had it! He felt sure bungee cords like he had put on his little airplane landing gear would work great. Sure enough they did.
Now to sell some. We placed an ad in the Las Vegas Nifty Nickel. And he sold one to everyone who answered the ad. Jerry made all these first machines himself with the help of a very kind man named Arthur Curtis. Mr. Curtis owned a steel distributorship in Las Vegas and he let Jerry use his welding equipment and offered his experience. Jerry bought some welding equipment and a steel saw and began building the first Soloflex machines in our garage.
Jerry applied for a patent in 1976. By 1978 we were in El Paso trying to get this Soloflex thing off the ground. In that same year we excitedly flew to Las Vegas to pick up his newly issued patent.
We contracted with a company in El Paso to build 100 Soloflex machines. And we moved to Roswell, New Mexico, our home town. We decided Roswell would be a good place to start our new business because rent was cheap and grandparents could help us with our 4 kids.
We rented a small office and placed a regional ad in Playboy. Things didn’t go so well. The phone company had given us the wrong 800# so no one could call us and the 100 machines came out awful. We went to El Paso and worked on these machines till we salvaged 80. Then we ran another ad with the correct 800# and we sold all 80 machines. ( One guy wrote to ask if we had torn the porch decking off old adobes to serve as benches! Ouch!)
Old vet hospital
It had become clear we had no choice but to manufacture the Soloflex ourselves so we began in the garage (again!). Jerry hired some work release prisoners to help us. It was a struggle but we were able (barely) to keep up with orders. After a few months we rented the veterinary hospital at an old deserted air force base there in Roswell to manufacture our machines. Things went so much smoother. Almost any place is better than a garage. We hired more people. Jerrry and I worked in the factory in the evenings and week-ends. I washed steel, drilled holes in the spline and packaged the machines for shipping. This is when we placed our first ad in Sports Illustrated. Things really took off! We were on the phone non-stop. We would stay till midnight and still each morning there were hours of recorded messages from people wanting a free brochure or to place an order. We worked on making newer and better brochures and ads. You need to understand, these were things we had never done before, like creating brochures and ads and running a manufacturing plant. Thank goodness we had such an awesome product. It saved us time and again from many mistakes.
The orders were coming in so fast we couldn’t keep up with demand. The shop couldn’t keep up. One day Jerry shot the time clock off the wall. He put everyone on a quota and when they had their quota done they could go home. Within a week they met an even higher quota and were going home by 11:00. Within a few more weeks production had gone from 8 a day to 48 with the same number of people. They received raises all along the process to match their increased production.
In early 1980 we flew to New York City to talk to an advertising agency. When we got there we were told the agency did not want our business because our ad budget was too small. But 3 of their employees wanted to work on our ads and brochures.
Jerry, Stuart and me
In the summer of 1980 we moved to Hillsboro, Oregon (outside Portland) because we were having a hard time getting technical support for our business machines and purchasing our raw materials. Roswell is an isolated little town in southeast New Mexico. The closest town of any size was at least 200 miles. Our new ads hit right after we got our office and shop set up in a rented space in Hillsboro. These were the professionally done ads and they just bombed! We went to the bank for another loan and to our pleasant surprise, they gave us one. Jerry re-worked those ads and we were able to change some of the ads appearing in the magazines. It was truly touch and go but when Jerry’s ads played the calls came pouring in. Thank goodness for Jerry’s skill as an ad man.
When we decided to move from Roswell we invited our employees to move with us. Most did. We all drove up to Oregon in a big caravan meeting each night at a motel we had made prior reservations at for all the crowd. We loaded all our shop equipment like saws and welding equipment and spot welded them to our flat bed truck. At one weigh station we were told we were over-weight and had to rent another truck and re-load everything. What a mess!
Incidentally, we chose Oregon because it is so beautiful and we chose Hillsboro because it had a nice little airport. Jerry has to be close to an airport.
Anyway, we made it to Hillsboro and we did pretty good. We paid back the bank and in 1983 we bought our own land and built our own office and factory.
Lots of stories. Will share more.
First factory we owned
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