tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44991215451386689782024-03-07T21:05:47.080-06:00Troy's Health & Wealth BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499121545138668978.post-4374139723047418742012-09-03T18:38:00.002-05:002012-09-03T18:38:50.296-05:00My First Year as a Runner<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thoughts and ramblings by a first year runner<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My first year as a runner….<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all, I will mention several people who have had a positive impact on my running. If you are reading this and aren’t mentioned, but ran with me or even spoke about running with me, thank you! I appreciate your encouragement, tolerance and any kind words you spoke to me regarding my pursuit to become a “runner”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The challenge…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My neighbor Mike had mentioned to me on more than one bike ride that I should take up running and run with him. I was thinking to myself, yeah right! Me, run? When I tried running as a heavy person, my knees would be on fire for days afterwards. My orthopedic surgeon admonished me not to run and ruin his work. However, now I was 70 pounds lighter. Could I Run? I took off in secret one day to run two miles. My cardio condition was pretty good thanks to spin class and bicycling. The two miles seemed painless. I waited to see how much pain I would be in the next day. Amazingly I had no knee pain or soreness as a result of the run. I added another run, then another. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pufferbilly Fun Run 2011...</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I had registered for the run not really knowing what to expect. I figured that this would be a solitary pursuit as my running had been for the past week and a half of training in secret. Much to my surprise it was very social. Kelly, Marcy, Larry, Mary Ann and Jane to name a few all contributed to this run being a fun and social experience. I got third in my age group which was a fluke. Had I been in the group five years older, I would have placed fourth. However the simple fact was that I was hooked. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Me and 7000 close friends…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">At Mike’s suggestion, I signed up for the Living History Farms race. 7 miles of cross country fun. I was a warm November and the race was a lot of fun. With 7000 people in the race, the people-watching was great. About this time I started thinking about running more. It had become more of a priority for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The first goal…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In December I decided that I would do an organized, timed race every month in 2012. I shared my goal with several people who I thought might care. Over the Christmas holiday, I got on the internet and looked for a January first race. I found a race called the Frozen Foot run in Ames. I had no idea what to expect but I showed up early and ready to run on the morning of New Years day. No one was there… So I waited and no one came… I was thinking I must have the wrong location. Finally the Lynches showed up to open the building. This was obviously going to be a home-spun experience. Once again I saw Marcy and Kelly. I met the Cottiers, Wendels, Rasmussens, Beth H. and several others. It was basically a cold five mile run followed by a party. Again, I was taken by how social running can be. I thought when all of this started that it would be a solitary pursuit. How wrong I was! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Got any red?...</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In February I did the Red Flannel Run. It is a fundraiser for the Des Moines Y, and a lot of Boone people participate. Now some of the faces I was seeing were considered in my mind to be “the usual suspects”. Larry M. and I ran the five mile race mostly side by side. We came in at about 41 minutes which I figured wasn’t bad for a couple of old guys. The impromptu Boone Party after the race was a nice bonus. I had lots of encouragement by Marcy who had unofficially become one of my biggest supporters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a calendar?...</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">February brought another Frozen Foot Run. This time it was hosted by the Rassmussens. The first thing I did was show up a week early. (Excited I guess!) Mary was nice and invited me in while gently telling me that the run was the next week. When the big day finally got here, I got to know several people a lot better. I ran with Jonathan Wendel. I didn’t realize it at the time but Jonathan and his wife Kathleen regularly run marathons. This day was a turning point for me regarding my running. You see, even though I had been running on a regular basis and was in the throws of fulfilling my goal of running at least a race per month, I still didn’t think of myself as a runner. Jonathan was asking me about my running and what I had been doing when he said it….he called me a runner. It didn’t sink in right away, but later that day I thought, he’s right, I really am a runner. This is also the point where I started to really get to know and grow very fond of some of the Ames Area Distance Runners. Namely Jonathan, Kathleen, Beth, Rolf, John P. and several others. What a great group of people. They are all a combination of caring, fun, funny, encouraging and serious athlete. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The family, part 1…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In March I did a 5K with my daughter Kate who decided that she too would like to be a runner. We ran a fun 5K which she chose, so naturally it involved dogs. I was fun to run a non-competitive 5K shoulder to shoulder with my daughter. What a great day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The second goal…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">About at this point I decided on another goal. I wanted to run a 5K at 22 minutes or less. The April 5K I did was at Ada Hayden and I was just under 24. Was it really possible for a guy with my advanced follicle impairment to run 22? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A funny thing happened at the trail… </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have developed the habit of driving to Madrid and running on the High Trestle Trail. One day after running a 10K I was standing by my car stretching and recovering. A young blonde came up on rollerblades who was apparently parked next to me. She asked if I had been out bicycling? (There’s no bike in sight.) I explained that I had just run a 10K. She said, “10K, how far is that?” I explained that it was 6.1 miles. Without missing a beat she said, “Wow! How far is a 20K?” You can’t make this stuff up!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The big day…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">May brought yet another 5K at Ada Hayden and it happened. 21:35. It wasn’t even summer yet and I had just hit my summer goal. The guy that won it with a 15 something told me I had a great run. I laughed out loud as the guy who beat me by six minutes was trying to give me props. That is the kind of thing that makes the running environment fun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The beach….</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">June arrived and I had a business meeting in Hollywood Florida. They were having a beach run for the meeting attendees, so I figured this would be my June run to count toward my goal. Of course the “fun run” on the beach turned into a “fun race” the moment the first guy took off. It was 6:30 in the morning and it was so humid we were all melting. When I finished one of the hotel employees, a rather large guy went out of his way to tell me how impressed he was with my time. Again I smiled and thought that apparently people in their 40’s must not be expected to be fast! As with all of these runs, the best part was meeting the people after the race. There is obviously a camaraderie among runners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The family part 2…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By the time we were rolling through July my youngest son and wife had decided that they too liked to run. Surge picked out a race that was being put on by LifeServe, our local blood center. He has become a regular donor and decided we should do that race. The three of us went to downtown Des Moines bright and early one August morning. When we took off I couldn’t help but think of Traci M. and her joke about when you are running, “it is just you and your negative thoughts.” We were running straight up hill to the state capital. For a few moments it was miserable. It got better and I finished in 22 flat. I was 12<sup>th</sup> overall and thinking I needed a new goal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My long run…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Later that month I did a small group run with Jonathan, Kathleen, Beth and Rolf. It was my first 13.1 mile run. It was a big deal to me, but entirely routine for the four of them. Of course they encouraged, and congratulated me as if I had just finished a marathon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The big finish…</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">September 1, 2012 was an important race. Not so much that the race itself was significant, but in that I had now been a runner for one full year. As usual, my running mates were there making it look easy. Joe and Nancy ran and proved once again that runners are among the nicest and funniest people in the world. Some ran 15 miles, but most of us ran the five miler. The funny thing is we all placed in the top three of our age categories. What a great way to complete my first year as a runner! Beginning next week when I run in my second Pufferbilly Fun Run it will be the start of year two. I look forward to another year of challenges, fun, stress relief and camaraderie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks to all of you for your encouragement, advice and support. Let’s go for a run!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Troy<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499121545138668978.post-10657589292962991832012-02-07T11:14:00.001-06:002012-02-07T11:14:53.989-06:00Amanda's Journey<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Greeting fellow Weight
Watchers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Looks like winter finally
decided to arrive for us. That means we have one final stretch of getting
creative with our physical activity in order to maintain and achieve good
health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I hope you all survived
the Super Bowl and stayed on plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have a special interview
for you. Below is an interview with one of our successful members, Amanda J.
Amanda was nice enough to agree to let me give her some questions about how it
is going for her regarding Weight Watchers. So here we go…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: You have lost close to
70 pounds. You have been making great progress in your journey to a healthy
weight. Did you have an “aha“moment that got you started?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: I had been going to
Weight Watchers meetings for months and I didn’t really have an “aha” moment. I
just woke up one Saturday morning in July and said to myself, “I’m going to
quit drinking pop” (which was a huge task!) I made it through the morning and
afternoon and by that evening I had such a headache I gave in and had not one,
but three Dr. Peppers! The next day I decided to try again and haven’t had any
pop since. Along with that, I decided to work in eating better and exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: Are there things about
the WW plan that are easier than you thought they would be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: The fact that you can
eat whatever you want makes it easy. All the tools available to help figure
points also make it easy. Well, as easy as this can be. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: Are there things that
are harder than you thought they would be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: The hardest thing was
making food choices that are healthy for me and leave me enough points at the
end of the day to not be starving to death. It is getting easier now, however. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: I’ve noticed that you
seem excited to weigh in each week. How important is the weigh in regarding
staying on track?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: Weighing in weekly
keeps me motivated, lose or gain. The times I lose makes it that much more
motivating to keep doing what I’m doing and keep losing weight. The time I gained,
it motivated me to get back on plan and work harder the next week. Weighing in
is just as important to me as staying within my daily points target. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: What are a couple of
the most important things that you get from coming to the meetings? (Other than
the awesome jokes told by the Leader – that’s a given!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: The information
received during the meetings is helpful. I also enjoy hearing the other
members’ victories and struggles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: You are in the journey
working toward your goal. Are there any
positive life changes that you have already noticed? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: I have gone down 2-3
pant sizes. I find it easier to go workout than before; I actually enjoy it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: Do you break your
goals down into small increments, or just think of staying on track toward your
ultimate goal weight?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: When I first started,
I broke my goals into small increments. My first mini goal was when I got to 20
pounds I would get the Brazilian Blowout done to my hair. Since then, really, my goals have been to get
to the 5 pound mark. I will probably
reward myself with something when I hit 75 pounds and then at 100 but I haven’t
decided exactly what that will be </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.
I have recently figured out my ultimate
goal weight and the fact that I’m under 100 pounds away from which has really
excited me. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: How do you stay
motivated?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: I stay motivated by not
wanting to go back to being as overweight as I was when I first started. I
realize I have a long way to go yet but being able to look back and see the
physical changes keeps me motivated to look forward and keep trucking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: We have talked about
doing a 5K together this summer. Do you have other activity plans that you are
looking forward to being able to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: I haven’t really
thought about this much. I do think it would be pretty neat to be able to
complete a sprint triathlon or something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: What are you most looking
forward to when you hit your goal weight?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: I’m looking forward to
being able to shop in the “normal” sized sections and being able to buy pretty
much anything I want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: What would you tell
someone who wants to go down the path you are on, but hasn’t started yet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">AJ: I would tell them to
go for it. The hardest part is to get started. Once you hit the 20 pound mark
you will be so motivated you will want to keep going. There will be days where
you get off plan but all you have to do is get right back on the next day (or
meal). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ML: Wow! Thanks Amanda.
All of your fellow Weight Watchers are really proud of you and are inspired by
what you are doing. I wish you all the best as you continue on your journey to
good health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Well there you have it,
wisdom from one of our own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Being overweight is hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Losing weight is hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Pick you hard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Troy (aka Macho Leader)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">February 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499121545138668978.post-46105480432854377182012-02-02T10:48:00.000-06:002012-02-02T10:48:44.457-06:00Results of Social Media Survey<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Results
of Social Media Survey by Thompson Financial:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question
#1: Do you use social media to
communicate?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yes: 92.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> No: 7.2%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #2:
Which of the following do you use?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cell
Phone: 95.5%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Facebook: 85.1%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Land
Line: 28.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Skype: 28.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Blogs: 25.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Twitter: 22.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> LinkedIn: 20.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Other: 9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #3:
If you had to pick one, which way do you prefer to communicate?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cell
Phone: 44.7%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Email: 17.1%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Land
Line: 14.5%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Texting: 11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Facebook: 7.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
Person: 2.6%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Twitter: 1.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #4:
Do you use your cell phone more to text or to make calls?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Texting: 58.0%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Making
Calls: 47.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #5:
How much personal time in a 24 hr period do you spend using social
media?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> 0-1
hrs: 36.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> 1-2
hrs: 29.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> 2-3
hrs: 19.1%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> 3-4
hrs: 5.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> 5+
hrs: 10.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #6:
At what times during the day do you most often check your social media
accounts?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> am
(before work): 33.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> lunch: 19.1%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> pm
(after work): 36.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> after
dinner/before bed: 48.5%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Other: 10.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #7:
Has your social media usage changed in the last six months?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> No: 54.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yes,
I use it more: 35.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yes,
I use it less: 11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yes,
I have changed from using Facebook to Twitter more of the time: 1.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Other: 1.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #8:
For what do you use your social media accounts? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Communicate
with Friends: 71.6%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Communicate
with Family: 64.2%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Get
Information: 49.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Give
Information: 25.5%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Connect
with Business: 11.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Other: 2.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #9:
On which of the following outlets would you be most likely to read about
Financial Products?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Website: 66.2%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Mailings: 27.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Facebook: 22.1%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Blog: 14.7%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Text
Message: 10.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Twitter: 7.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> None
of the above/Other: 7.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> All
of the above: 2.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Question #10:
In what age group do you fall?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Under
35: 59.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Over
35: 40.6% <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*some of the percentages add up to over 100% as you
could pick more than one response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thanks to all who
participated!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0