A few days ago, I noticed a Wii Football on Amazon, set to release later next month. It’s from the same company that produced the calorie-counting Wii tennis racket, and I thought it was just another cute item to add on to Madden games. But it turns out that the pigskin Wiimote skin may be the shape of things to come – a rumor has it that EA Sports is planning a “guy’s” installment in their popular Active exergame line, and it’s going to be based on football-styled training, including instruction on how to make perfect passes. Sounds like a good way to burn off those Super Bowl nachos and beer. Maybe an old Slam Man can be suited up in a jersey and repurposed as a tackling dummy.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
A new football exergame may get guys off the couch
Exercise Less, Not More!
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
If I had to pick out the number one reason most people fail to achieve good results in the gym, guess what it would be? Over-training. Exercising too much. Sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me: It’s quite real. Folks write to me all the time and say…
“Jon, I don’t get it. I cannot lose bodyfat and I’m running six days a week for an hour and training in the gym five days a week for 45 minutes!”
My answer back is usually:
“You are training 4x more than me, and I’m a fitness pro!”
Look, do you take 21 aspirin for a headache, thinking the more you take the faster your pain will go away? No? So why apply the same logic to fitness? Only a certain amount is required. Beyond that, you are spinning your wheels. When I wrote 7 Minute Muscle (available here) I exposed all the lies about training too long and why this is not the best way to achieve the results you want. Check it out if you want the facts.
One more thing: 75% of your progress will come in the kitchen, not in the gym or on the treadmill. As for me, I would much rather eat smart and train less than train all the time and be forced to eat 6-8 times a day just to recover from it all. That makes no sense to me at all. You?
Click Here! <— Less Is More!
Monday, December 28, 2009
WOD
“Turkey Buster”
1000m Row
10 Burpees
800m Run
10 Burpees
750m Row
10 Burpees
600m Run
10 Burpees
500m Row
10 Burpees
400m Run
10 Burpess
250m Row
10 Burpees
200m Run
10 Burpees
64.2kgs or 141 lb and 8.58 oz
The same weight for two days in a row. Well that’s unusual.
Today I made it back to the gym. I did 40 minutes of cardio and burnt 460 calories. I’m not sure whether I’m still ill or have become unfit, but it was hard work. Not a little bit hard, but really, really hard. When I go o the gym, I definitely believe in the motto ‘go hard or go home’. I don’t understand the people who go to the gym and read. Read??? I once saw a woman who was lying on her back whilst also reading the SMH. I doubt she was concentrating on her form.
When I go to the gym it is for the sole purpose of burning as many calories as possible and toning and honing as much of my body as I can manage. I’m not there to talk or make friends. I’m there to work – I should be breathless, on the verge of pain and sweaty (and make no mistake about it, I don’t glow or perspire – I sweat). When I first set-up on a machine, I say hello to it. For the next however many minutes, it is my partner in achieving my goal.
Anyway today was a good workout. I would much rather be playing sport (damn my knees which won’t allow me to do the things I really love like play netball and run), but at least I can still get the endorphin high from somewhere.
Today’s outfit is definitely not flattering. I can’t say when all I did was go the gym, I care today. I’ve had the shorts since I was 21. I do like the fact I can still fit into clothes from more than a decade ago. Does help a bit when it’s got a drawstring waist!
I really thought taking a shot in my underwear every day would show me more. I’m almost disappointed that I can’t see big differences in my weight, but I can’t really and that shouldn’t disappinte me, it should reassure me. What this does prove though is the fact that it’s all in your head. The way you perceive yourself isn’t really down to the scales or what size you are or what a photoraph tells you – it’s in your head. Well my head to be precise.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Addiction Recovery - How to Jump Start Your Fitness Program - Part 2
Part 2: the mind, body and spirit:
As in my last article, the recovery of a life threatening disease is detected, requires a balanced approach to body, mind and spirit. In Part 1, Charlie makes a good start to his recovery program for help. He recognizes that sport is an integral part of his recovery program and began working with a health professional to restore the structure and function of his sick body.
A training program onlineImpact almost every aspect of the health of Charlie.
In fact, exercise can:
• Reduce the risk of premature death
• Reduce the risk of heart disease
• reduction of high blood pressure
• Reduce high cholesterol
• Reduce the risk of many cancers
• Reduce the risk of diabetes
• Reduce body fat and improve body weight
• Develop and maintain a healthyMuscles, bones and joints
• reduce depression and anxiety
• Improves performance in work and in sport
In this article I will focus on the importance of exercise in a balanced program and complete recovery.
How it works?
Recall that Charlie is 50 pounds overweight and a little 'short of breath. He finds walking very painful, because of the lower back. But after four weeks, chiropractic,Charlie is now without pain in the situation five to ten minutes walk. He is happy with his progress and, in any case, sees light at the end of the tunnel. Discovers that has taken hold on the levels of stress and the number of its sense of vitality and wellness. He had always enjoyed walking and stretching, but the chronic pain and addiction to alcohol and drugs kept him from carrying out these activities.
The next step for Charlie is on four simple low back add enough for his daily walkRegime. If it can be more flexible, the muscles in his lower back in a better position to support him during the loading operations. Charlie's chiropractor sits two given two practical exercises, lying on his back. He has no problem with the exercises in the office and feels he can do these exercises almost anywhere.
Charlie decides that he is on foot and back pain can perform the exercises in the beautiful park nearby. He will also be able to read every day hisMeditation and spend time in silent prayer as well. In this scenario, it is within his physical body and also feed your spirit and soul. In addition, there's the movement in the beauty of nature.
This is an excellent example of a recovery program that the mind, body and balance the spirit. It should be noted that many people to minimize or ignore altogether the exercise component of their program of recovery.
Charlie asked for help, and took the measures taken to achieve its objectives. Hework to collect his recovery program consistently every day and starts, the fruits of his efforts. Not only does exercise help him recover from his addiction, will also help him to the risk of another heart attack and help him lose weight. Ultimately, it will play again in position, with her two beautiful grandchildren.
Note that fitness is an important part of any recovery program. Act now and be physically fit!
Monday, December 21, 2009
The New Years Resolution
Tis’ the season!…to make our resolutions for the New Year. So how about that commitment that we all have made at one point or another take better care of ourselves? Quit smoking, stop drinking, eat better, exercise, read more books, the list goes on and on and every year we dutifully break our promises (some of us anyway!).
This year, I started on my new years resolution early…as in September early. My goals are simple
1.) Eat healthful most of the time
2.) Exercise 3-5 days per week and
3.) Gain a greater awareness of what my body needs to be healthy and happy from the inside out.
Seems simple enough, and so far I have been reasonably strong, but flexible in my commitment. The result? I’ve lost 21 lbs. I feel 100% better and it has become easier to make good choices. The process has been long, but to be honest, making the changes over time has proven to be a blessing in disguise.
Perhaps that is the key to keeping a New Years resolution, keep it simple, achievable and don’t beat yourself up if you have to take it slow?
Alexander Technique Brighton Hove Sussex - fitness & flexibility in five minutes a day
Alexander Technique Brighton Hove sport & fitness coaching with Alan Mars
Can you really, significantly, improve flexibility in 5 Minutes a day? Yes! http://tinyurl.com/yb3uzpq
I really enjoyed this Twitter post by colleague & former fellow student Robert Rickover.
Improving Flexibility, Nien Cheng, the Cultural Revolution, Body Mapping, Alexander Technique – all in one place! http://tinyurl.com/yb3uzpq
The flexibility routine that Robert describes is one that use for myself and particularly with people who come to me for Alexander Technique, sport and fitness coaching.
Visit Robert’s world here http://twitter.com/BodyLearning
Robert Rickover
Friday, December 18, 2009
Swimsuits and smiles
So it’s frigid cold here at this time of year. Everyone knows that! So why would these brave souls embrace the new year wearing only swimsuits and smiles?
That’s the story behind our Polar Bear Club for Promontory’s Elite!
On the first of every year, we commemorate the year by doing the PHA Circuit Training Class in the pool instead of staying inside. Unlike “normal” Polar Bear clubs that move from hot saunas into cold water, we exercise in a warm eighty degree pool and then roll in the snow.
Immediately after the snow roll, you get into the Jacuzzis. Hot beverages and pastries follow and you’re then rewarded with a prestigious Promontory Polar Bear Club T-shirt.
There is no cost for this once a year opportunity. For an unforgettable experience join the thirty-three other members that have already signed-up.
Where: Ranch Clubhouse
When: Friday, January 1, 2010
Time: 7:00am
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Walking Your Way To Health - It's All About The Walking!
So yeah, walking. Walking (that’s an entire freakin site dedicated to walking…a great site I might add!) is a wonderful for of physical fitness for many different reasons. It’s a form of exercise that just about anyone can get started with and at the end of the day it’s a form of physical exercise which means that it’s an incredibly healthy activity. You see, so many people feel as though they have fallen off the ladder so to speak when it comes to their physical appearance and overall fitness level. People like this are often desperate to get back into shape and to look “good”. They want to see fast results and they think that they need to start doing some crazy fitness stuff like signing up for a gym membership on impulse alone. The fact of the matter is that getting healthy is something that will not happen in a matter of a week and it isn’t something that you need to bash your head against. Something as simple and low key as walking really can help just about anyone change their life and get healthier.
Now, walking isn’t something that is going to melt the pounds off instantaneously or give you that sexy physique you’ve always wanted in a matter of days, but it is a great gateway to overall health and well being. Instead of trying to near kill yourself by running laps around your neiborhood after doing very little exercise for a long time, walking to exercise is a better way to go. A great analogy that I have literally just thought of is gateway drugs. If someone tries out alcohol or smokes a little weed for their first time and enjoys the feeling of being high or drunk, then that person is probably going to be more open to trying out harder drugs (I have to say that this fully depends on the individual though). So, think of walking as your gateway to harder drugs. And by harder drugs, I mean more intense exercises and bigger steps towards a healthier lifestyle. If you start walking and enjoy the feelings you get from this form of exercise and enjoy doing something healthy, then you are going to be more likely to start taking even more drastic steps towards better health.
Another great thing about walking is that it is incredibly cheap and easy to do. All you really need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes (that’s a site all about getting the best pair of walking shoes) and to get yourself out there and walking. And honestly, a pair of shoes specifically designed for walking isn’t really necessary. As long as you have a pair of sneakers that are comfortable then you should be good. And that’s it! You don’t need to pay for a gym membership. You don’t need to get a treadmill. All you really need are shoes and to start walking. Personally, I don’t walk too much anymore because I’ve since moved on to more “intense” physical exercises but I will say that it was a great stepping stone activity for getting me where I am today in terms of my great health and physique. I do still go for a walk now and then just because it is very relaxing and always healthy, but just not as much as I used to. Enough reading this post though, it’s time for you to get serious about walking if you’re someone who wants to get healthier. Go walk the walk!
Body Fat
There are many of us that are interested in losing weight, but whenever we say that we are interested in weight loss what we are typically saying is that we are interested in fat loss. That is why we would all benefit from taking a look at a body fat percentage chart whenever we first start in our efforts to lose weight and keep our eye on it during that time in order to see how we are progressing.
It is fairly easy to find a body fat percentage chart on the Internet, but it really depends on why you want to see one of these charts in the first place. If you’re just trying to determine whether you could be considered to be obese, those numbers may vary to a certain extent in some of the charts that you’re going to read. For the most part, however, a man that is 25% body fat and a woman that is about 32% body fat are considered to be obese. A healthy body fat for an athletic individual would be about half of that amount and you can even go much lower than that if you want to see better results and to look even thinner.
Although it may seem rather complex, a body fat percentage chart is really only based on a simple mathematical formula. It is figuring out the amount of fat that you have in your body in comparison to your overall body weight. For example, if you were a 200 pound man which was carrying around about 20 pounds of body fat, your body fat percentage would be at 10% which is a very healthy level. The way that you would reach these numbers is by weighing yourself and then taking into consideration the weight of your overall structure, muscles, bones and organs. There are some calculators that are available online which will make it very easy to calculate this number.
Whenever you first start losing weight, you may find that you are rather high on the body fat percentage chart and perhaps even a little bit higher than what you would have considered at first. Don’t be discouraged over this, and keep in mind that the more body fat that you have, the quicker you are going to be able to lose that body fat. It takes energy for you to carry around additional weight and if you’re watching what you are eating and eating healthfully, that extra fat is actually going to make you burn additional calories. That is why it is more difficult to lose the last 10 pounds of body fat that you want to lose but it is fairly easy for you to lose the first 10.
As you continue to lose weight and you are happier with how you look overall, your need to look at the body fat percentage chart is probably going to go away. It is still a good idea for you to keep track of it, however, as it is an interesting number to have in your head and can motivate you to keep going in your weight-loss efforts as necessary.
Get Your Dream Body In 6 Weeks With This Secret Summer Diet Plan
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Dominance of Culture. Or - Why the Healthcare Debate is Silly
My friend JR Atwood recently posted about the synchronous increase in American waistlines, and decrease in American intellect.
He was responding to an article by David Rock, called “Are Our Minds Going the Way of Our Waists?“
David’s point is that new technologies are providing distractions (mental calories) in much the same way that industrial agriculture has provided physical calories – in abundance, and with little concern for quality or nutritive value.
Are we becoming fat-heads?
In the end, David asks us to consider evaluating new technologies for their effect, before embracing them wholeheartedly.
While it’s a useful exercise to do personally, no group will ever do this, and if they do, they will never successfully enact changes to behavior based on their findings.
The nature of life is to expand. People will always seek the newer, better, faster, crazier thing out there. Depending, I think, on how their culture defines those terms.
What “causes” obesity? Is it simply “overeating,” or “an overabundance of cheap calories?”
I don’t think so. Many “indigenous” peoples throughout history have had access to an overabundance of cheap calories all the time (fruits, grains, etc.), yet didn’t tend toward obesity.
Similarly, what causes “fat-headedness?” Is it the availability of blogs, tweets, commercial television, etc.?
While I can’t think of an historical corollary here (a time when information was overabundant), there’s probably one to be had – and one where the individuals didn’t turn into snippet-junkies, but used that abundance of information to create wonderful new things. Maybe the Renaissance, following Gutenberg’s printing press, would be a good comparison.
The common denominator underlying these attitudes or approaches – the things that guide action – is the cultural context that the individual identifies with.
Identifies with – not that they are “within.” There are sub-cultures within every larger culture, and there are “iconoclasts” within every culture – people who do not go along with the larger push of that culture.
The distribution of individuals’ cultural-adherence within their culture probably follows the bell curve. Most people most likely tend to follow the status quo within the culture (hence the existence of the culture…if they didn’t, it wouldn’t exist!), and then there are people on either end of the spectrum, fewer and fewer the further away you get from the culture’s main mores and values.
Most of the modern “healthcare debate” fascinates me for precisely this reason. None of it addresses the creation of a culture of physical health.
Why is that? I asked this recently, following another author’s lead. Why is America terrified of physical education?
I’m not sure what the answer is to that question.
When you consider the power of culture, however, it becomes clear that any other action, any action that doesn’t seek to create a culture of physical health/education, is merely lip-service…it’s just talk.
Examples of cultures that valued physical strength, health, or education (in an “external” fashion…cultures that valued the above in an “internal” fashion are even more numerous, but because they never explicitly stated their mores with regard to the subject, it’s much more difficult to pinpoint why they valued physical health, etc.):
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient Rome (pre-Republic)
- Sparta
- Viking culture
- Soviet culture
These are mostly totalitarian-type cultures. Or at least, cultures that demand a high degree of self-sufficiency from their populace.
Is there a link? Does “Democracy” breed fatness?
I’m interested to find out.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Health News Roundup: Coffee Makes You Drunk(er) and You May Have "Sitting Disease"
Well…
…the polar ice caps are melting, it’s 27 degrees outside and my heater is broken. As I type this, the only heat in my apartment is coming from a 6-inch tall space heater perched on my desk and as close to me as possible. But, hey, it’s the holidays. As they said on Community last night (in another hilarious episode), “Happy Merry”!
Speaking of typing at my desk, the NY Daily News cites a poll conducted by the Institute of Medicine that found Americans sit an average of 56 hours a week. Even more disturbing is that going to the gym every day won’t help to erase the damage done by a 10-hr work-day spent in front of the computer. Their advice? Get up from the computer every couple of hours and walk around. You can always bring your iPhone along with you if you’re afraid you’ll miss a tweet.
While I’m on the subject of work, a new study shows that those of us that get paid hourly are happier at work than those who are salaried employees. As a freelance, I’m just happy ifwhen I get paid. Period.
If you’re attending any holiday parties this weekend (and I hope you are!), you may not want to drink coffee to sober up. I read in the Telegraph about a Temple University study showing that coffee and even alcoholic beverages with caffeine in them may make you more drunk. Caffeine gets rid of any remaining inhibitions you might have had regarding things like driving a car, or dying your hair.
It turns out that people can identify, pretty accurately, personality characteristics just by looking at someone. A new study shows that the way you stand, the expression on your face, your mannerisms, all of these things can tell someone whether you are nice, open and emotionally stable, for example. Guess it’s not just what’s on the inside that counts?
Have a great weekend,
Amber
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Fat is energy and the best way to lose it is to use it!
Hello Ladies! I know last week was tough but you all did such an excellent job. Lets work extra hard these last couple days and please don’t let the weather discourage you. I know it’s no easy task to rise before the sun and bundle up before you head outdoors. What you really want to do – and the last thing you should do – is to hit the snooze button and pull the blankets over your head. But it’s only winter! Don’t let it throw you off your game. While everyone is at home fattening up this holiday season you are out working your butts off and you are the winners in the long run!
I am sure you know someone who’s getting amazing results from an insanely low-calorie diet. It may be tempting to severely restrict your calories in hopes of a drastic weight loss, but don’t even think about it! The honest truth is, very few people can maintain one of those crazy kinds of diets for more than a couple weeks. And to make things worse, most people on near-starvation diets gain back all the weight (and more) just a few months later. In weight-loss terms, fat is energy and the best way to lose it is to use it. You have to do it with diet and exercise. If you diet without exercise, the majority of your weight loss will be from muscle. The minute you stray from your diet, the weight will come right back on. You being at boot camp and using the tools I am providing for you is the best way to go!
While we’re on the subject of diet I’m sure you’ve all heard that your post-workout meal is actually your most important meal of the day (aside from breakfast). I’d have to agree with that for the most part because refueling your body with the right combination of nutrients is SOOOOO vastly important to repairing your muscles from the breakdown of a workout, and keeping your metabolism sky high. A recent 12-week study said that those who failed to consume a post workout meal immediately after their workouts suffered a lower metabolism, loss of fat free mass, and had clear indications of muscle loss – while their counterparts (those who consumed a post workout recovery meal) significantly lost more fat, increased lean muscle, improved their metabolism, and increased dynamic strength.
First, keep in mind that your goal throughout the majority of each day is eating small whole food meals frequently that digest slowly with high fiber and a controlled glycemic response (blood sugar). These normal daily meals should also contain healthy fats and slowly digested proteins to keep a steady supply of amino acids. Well, when it comes to post-workout meals, you can almost use the exact opposite strategy of your normal meals. With post-workout meals, you actually want a faster digesting carbohydrate source to elicit an insulin response, which surges nutrients and glycogen back into your muscles for repair.
With the post workout meal, you actually want almost all carbs and protein, and very little fat if any. Fat just slows the absorption and glycemic response which is not what you want with the post-workout meal.
Post-workout shakes using a frozen banana, whey protein, water, and some real maple syrup are a great choice.
Studies show that the sooner you consume your post workout meal following your intense workout, the better your muscle recovery will be, and a higher percentage of the carbs ingested will be used for muscle glycogen replenishment instead of other uses. See you at camp!!!
Committed to your success,
Stacy Papakostas
Furloughs: Yes, you can survive them
Furloughs often feel like you're right in the middle of this place, getting ready to do battle with exotic snakes. Stay a step ahead of those snakes.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
When you’re faced with a furlough, you will want to choke the first person who says this to you. How can anyone look at losing pay — when they may already be rolling pennies for gas — in any sort of positive light?
I won’t sugarcoat it for you. Furloughs are hell. There is nothing good about them. The only iota of positivity about furloughs is that they’re better than permanently losing your job.
Life when you get the announcement, when you’re on the furlough and when you get that first cut paycheck will be horrible. However, there are ways you can make it (somewhat) less traumatic.
Save, save and save some more
I know this may be next to impossible for some of you who are already poorer than dirt. Believe me, I’m here right now. But as soon as you know a furlough is coming, start saving every single dime you can save.
First, try a set system: How about saving five bucks a week? Maybe $10 or $20 if you’re slightly more fortunate? Remember this: A little bit is better than nothing at all.
Look at what you can cut back. I’m not saying you have to starve, but there’s always some sort of little thing we’re always on which we’re blowing money. For example, I would buy AT LEAST one pop a day from the office vending machine. I’ve cut that out (except for some days when I’m desperate to wake up). Guess what? I have an extra $5 a week!
Space out the days (if you can)
One of the positives about how our company’s furloughs have worked is that we’re allowed to space out furlough days if we like. I know that our company has doled them out per quarter (three months). So if you take one furlough day every other week, for example, it’s less of a financial shock that half of a paycheck.
Keep in mind your timing versus the time you have a major expense due. My biggest expense, by far, is rent. So, when selecting my furlough days for this coming quarter, I’ve kept that in mind. I selected days that would appear on paychecks less critical that others. I sat down and figured out when pay days come for January, February and March. I then figured which days I would get the “rent paycheck”. I made sure to avoid scheduling a furlough day during pay periods for which I would get the rent paycheck. Correction: I avoided it as much as possible.
Some companies, though, do not have this option. Many of them, like the state of Oregon, are giving their employees scheduled days. Others are making them take a straight week — or two weeks — off.
Piece of advice: If you are allowed to choose your furlough days, get your requests in ASAP. In my individual department alone, our management had to schedule a combined 150 days off for everyone. If you have a furlough during the summer, you have to figure in everyone’s vacation time AND the furloughs.
Occupational therapy
Now it’s time to wake up for that dreaded day of your first furlough day. You will be very tempted to lie in your bed in a pile of Cheetos crumbs while watching daytime TV. You MAY eventually take a shower around 3 p.m.
You often get this “mad at the world” mentality. I hate to say it, but no matter what you do, it won’t totally go away. But one thing you can do to lessen the sting is serious time occupation. The busier you keep yourself, the less time you have to dwell.
Get your **** together
Pardon my edited French, but come on, everyone has that one household chore from hell or extremely daunting task that has been eating him/her alive. This is the time to get it done.
Is your un-mowed grass to the point where your yard looks so much like an exotic wildlife kingdom that Jack Hanna wants you to lease it to him? Does your fridge look like a science experiment from hell? Do you have a closet that is just ready to frickin’ explode? Does your laundry pile look like Mount Everest and smell like a backwoods sewer plant?
You have nothing else better to do now. So get something done. Trust me, you’ll feel like a whole new person. Just last month, I made the major accomplishment of cleaning out my bedroom closet. It was to the point where all the junk inside was making shelves collapse, and I couldn’t really get inside. Now, I can actually go inside, find things relatively quickly and not risk breaking my neck. That’s a great feeling.
Get it out of your system
Clearing your collection of Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and Milli Vanilli cassette tapes — and hauling it out to the heap — will definitely wear you out. You can seriously burn a lot of calories while doing super-heavy housework.
But when you get that done, don’t stop moving. I hate to sound like one of those crazed infomercial people, but exercise truly is a major stress-reliever. And what could boost your self-esteem more than fitting into your “skinny jeans” again? Heck, even immediately after a workout, you get a sense of accomplishment. You’re just proud of yourself for actually getting off your rear and doing that.
Day at the “spa”
After all of that hard housework and exercise, you’ll definitely want to clean up. But because you have more time on your hands, take more time out for yourself and your sanity.
Find some of that bubble bath you got for Christmas last year that you’ve never had the chance to use. Get all of those girly or metro (for guys) stuff out. Run some hot water in the tub and just kick back. Go ahead, let your toes get wrinkly. You deserve it.
Take in some cheap or free entertainment
You want to amuse yourself during this time, too. You can’t make it all about work because when your next furlough day comes, all you will think about is, “Great. I had to finish this damned quarterly earnings report in less than a day. Now, I go home to scrub cat puke out of the carpet — AGAIN — while I’m losing pay.”
With entertainment, I highly advise going with comedy or really, purely stupid stuff. You know? Those “guilty pleasure” shows? The ones you would be so embarrassed to let your friends know you watch — but you still watch them anyway?
Laughter is proven to have both short- and long-term health benefits. Do you not believe me? Check out this info from the folks at the Mayo Clinic. You also have the effect of “escapism”. By diving into something that’s really out-there or absurd, you suspend reality. Escaping a terrible reality for just a little while is definitely needed.
You don’t have to pay a fortune for this. First, you can catch a variety of broadcast TV sitcoms for basically nothing or, if you’re a little more fortunate, there are several great escape shows on basic cable. truTV (f.k.a. Court TV) is an excellent place for this, because there’s “Cops”, “Speeders”, shows featuring dumb criminals, etc. Do you believe your life stinks? Well, you could be that nasty drunk with mange who just got busted for assaulting his stepbrother-in-law with a broken Old Crow bottle.
Try not to face it alone — but be choosy
During any extremely difficult time, you do not want to face it alone. Make sure to surround yourself with friends and/or family. Just choose them wisely.
If it’s possible, try to schedule your furlough days with a friendly co-worker or another friend whose company is also furloughing workers. This person can say, “I know how you feel,” and really, really mean it. Make sure, though, to not make your time with them a total “bitch session”, during which you lament your furlough and blame everything and everyone who may or may not be responsible. You may also choose a (and make sure you understand this key word) SUPPORTIVE friend or family member. This person must be someone who lends a shoulder instead of pointing the finger. Don’t spend time with Aunt I Told You So, who slams you in every conceivable way because you chose a career field she hated.
***
Are all of these ideas fool-proof? No. Will they ease all of your pain? No. Losing pay bites.
Just remember this: Every morning you wake up, you were meant to be alive. Don’t act like you’re dead.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Your success will come from being passionate about what you love and want.
Hanging around successful people…people who are at the top of their craft and making great money at it is inspiring and exciting. Encouraging. Bryan played with musicians who have had great commercial success and we hung out with them for hours and hours: Kelly Rhoads, Kelle Garni, Carmine Appice, Michael Angelo Batio. These musicians have been a part of or worked with Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, etc. What do you think they were talking about?
Most people would think…women, sex, drugs, etc. NO! The whole night they talked about their instruments, music, technique, their equipment. They live and breathe music. It is their greatest passion. It is as much a part of them as breathing.
I believe this is an important part of why they have been successful. Music lives in them at a cellular level. I’m not sure I have done this with anything except dance in my life, but I realize to have the kind of success I want, at writing, I have to really start talking about my writing all the time. I haven’t put my focus there, so how am I going to have great success at it.
So, this is my OWN Law of Attraction homework for myself. Talk to everyone about my writing! Now, I just gotta get on my other one…and hit the yoga hard today! I barely made it past 10 minutes last night!
Namaste.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Running in the Rain
In order to make today moderately productive, I went for a 3 mile+ run throughout local conservation lands. Before you navigate from this page, this run was abnormally through incessant rain in 50 degree weather. Some of you may claim this excessive and brainless but there was a natural high that resides above the normal “runner’s high.” I can only hypothesize that the accumulation of surrounding factors that I experienced running amplified my connection to nature and increased the purity of the activity. Beads of cool rainwater accumulated on my eyebrow prior to joining the resounding precipitation falling to the saturated ground. One squishy footstep followed another as I quickened my pace dodging the large obtuse puddles. Upon completion of my cleansing run, steam swirled away from my cooling body. An enjoyable run considering the climate.
I’m not claiming the best way to break the lethargy of daily fitness is to run in poor or unhealthy conditions, but it may open your eyes to a pure experience of exerting yourself within nature. I would rather get kicked in the cojones then run on a treadmill. I believe that any physical activity performed outdoors is far more enjoyable than straining yourself within the confinements of a gym. If given the opportunity, I urge you to expose yourself to the endless alternatives of healthy activities that reside outdoors. Take the breath of fresh air!
Late Late at Night I Thus Begin
This is the beginnings of this one man’s quest to spread the word about all things cool. I hope you will enjoy what I’ve to say and will stay with me through the times to come. I’m actively involved in many web projects, local businesses and organizations. Interests of mine include web development, life styles of kings, and being healthy and active with my life; all of which I will be blogging about.
I hope you do dearly enjoy this, and i look forward to meeting you all.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Muddy Rain
Whats great on a rainy, cold day? A cup of Starbucks that is! I however didn’t get a picture 
, mostly because I enjoyed it while entering school, and most schools have rules, rule 1# no technology, lame…
When I got home after a short rainy day I opened the cupboard to find a snack. Mom bought me some new granola bars from giant eagle today! but I didn’t wanna eat one already… So I looked for some left overs and found a jar of almond butter. My cupboard currently has 3 jars of almond butter, 2 jars of peanut butter, and one jar of soy butter. one of the jars of almond butter had about a tablespoon left, and the peanut butter even less. So looks like I have 2 jars of nut butter for oats in a jar! Today’s jar contained 1/2 scoop whey, 1/2 cup oatmeal, and 1tbsp almond butter. A fun and easy snack to kill that one or so tablespoons of butter left in yo jar!
Aside from oats in a jar, rainy days, Starbucks, etc… I GOT A STREET BIKE! We bought it Sunday and hopefully will be getting it tomorrow! I’m so excited to learn how to ride! My dad rocks, he is so good to me, and loves to see me succeed. More importantly is our great relationship together, he’s like a really good friend to me, and more importantly a great dad 
. I look up to him because of his strength and will power to be in the shape he is at 50+. He withholds the determination to oversee the physical setbacks he received in the past and workout like he never even received them. And most importantly his love for his family, and friends. What a powerful, respected person!
Biking Jacket
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