Yoga, Yoga, Yoga!
Jun 20th
I did something I've never done before…..I did yoga on the beach! What is beach yoga? It's nothing more than taking a yoga class on the beach. Bring your towel (and it better be a BIG towel) and your swimsuit, because you can jump in the Gulf when you're done, which I did!
Now, if you've been following my posts, you know I'm not a big fan of yoga. But, I also know there's something to it that really helps out your body. What exactly that is I have no idea, but it does something good.
Anyway, I usually do what is sometimes referred to as "Power Yoga", which is what the P90X workout program has within it's clutches, but this beach yoga was more of a soothing type of "ahhhhhhh" kind of yoga.
I must say, I would MUCH rather do the power yoga stuff. Oh, I love the beach, but there's something about getting a bunch of sand all over your sweaty body that just doesn't work for me. Now, the cool part was doing this workout in the morning sun, with a slight breeze and listening to the gentle waves hit the shore. That was too cool!
In my area, this beach yoga class happens several times a week, all in the morning. I'm not sure if I'll go back in the near future. but I'm sure I'll do it again eventually. There's something about jumping in the water after a workout that is just ubber appealing to me!
So yes, as much as I'm not a fan of yoga, I still do it. Let that be a lesson for ya.
Turn Yard Work Into A Traditional Workout
Jun 18th
OK, summer time is right around the corner. Did you know you could have a complete workout but working in your yard? Anyone that does yard work already knows how much you sweat when doing it, so you already got that part licked! LOL!
But, if you really concentrate and THINK about what you're doing, you can get a great workout in which means you do your yard work and work on your body at the same time!
Let me give you an example. When planting flowers, most people usually bend down with their back to do this work. Now, we've all heard experts tell us to NEVER bend over with our backs, right? Do we listen? Well, kind of. But here's the catch when doing this type of activity. Think of them as squats or deep knee bends. Try this, when you bend down, try to keep your back as straight as possible and ONLY bend down and back up with your knees. There you have a basic squat. With yard work, we all know there are more then a couple of times we bend up and down, so you'll be squatting quite a bit with this "activity".
Another example: When you're raking your yard, don't just go through the motions. Actually feel what muscles are used to rake and then concentrate on those muscles. You'll be surprised how much your biceps and shoulders go into this activity.
Bottom line, if you think about how your body is moving when doing yard work activities. you can turn each yard work day into a full body workout. So, you'll actually be killing two birds with one stone. Get it?
Want to get more workout tips? Health tips? Click here to find out how.
Can You Make A Healthy Pasta Dish?
Jun 17th
Me being Italian, pasta was part of my growing up, and to this day it's still my favorite food, without question!
BUT, most people don't think of pasta as being healthy. Matter of fact, most people don't think of pasta having any other sauce than the traditional red or some sort of cream sauce.
I've eaten past with dozen of different concoctions as the primary sauce, and most of them didn't have any red or cream sauce with them.
The "non-pasta" people are now scratching their head. No worries, I'll get into a bit more details coming up.
First of all, YES, I know that whole wheat pasta is better for you. BUT, I don't like the gritty taste is has. To me, the whole wheat pasta feels like there is sand in it and just doesn't do it for me. So, THAT part of my meal may not be the healthiest, ok?
OK, try this recipe out for size……
In some sort of skillet, put a little bit of olive oil. Add some salt, pepper, garlic (hey, I'm Italian, what can I say) and maybe some onions, but that's up to you. Let that brown for a bit then add some FRESHLY WASHED spinach to the mix. Spinach you ask? Yup, that's right. As the spinach cooks, it will reduce down to a more manageable size within the pan. Thee may also be some water still on the spinach so you want to cook as much of that off as possible.
Cook you pasta in another pan, of course. Stain the pasta (when it's cooked), put it in a pasta bowl then pour the spinach sauce over it. You may have to play around with the portions of olive oil, garlic and spinach, depending on the amount of past you cook, but you'll be amazed as to how this tastes.
AND, this is somewhat healthy, right? Well, at least in my book it is. I'm sure someone with a degree in food will write and say "olive oil isn't health" or "garlic isn't healthy" or "spinach isn't healthy" etc. You know what? In my book, this is pretty darn healthy…AND DELICIOUS!
Have you checked out "The Interview Series: Fitness Edition" yet? Click here to get the scoop.
Top 7 Reasons To Be Fit & Healthy
Jun 16th
OK, I'll do something a bit different with this post. I'll outline MY version of the top 7 reasons to be fit and healthy. It may come across as cliche to you, but then again, it may not. You may get a chuckle out of these 7 reasons, or it may make you mad. The thing to remember is these are MY 7 reasons. Not some doctor, not some expert book, not some guru somewhere, just me and me alone. OK. All that being said, let's get to the list.
Reason #1: You can be more comfortable hanging around with other Fit & Healthy people.
Reason #2: You will never again have to eat those nasty fast food burger and fries…. Biggie Style!
Reason #3: Think of all the great tasting water you get to drink!
Reason #4: WOW! You'll look so much better on the beach than those non fit & healthy folks. Which instantly gives you more "beach-cred"….if you know what I mean. *wink-wink*
Reason #5: You can save time shopping at the grocery store because you'll eliminate the potato chip isle!
Reason #6: You'll look MUCH better wearing those muffin-top shirts than the people who aren't Fit & Healthy.
Reason #7: If you are Fit & Healthy, or on the road to being Fit & Healthy, you enjoy reading my stuff on my blog and going to
The Interview Series: Fitness Edition
There you have it, the most unique Top 7 list you may ever read!
Save Money and Eat Healthy
Jun 15th
So I was at the grocery store today and noticed something. OK, I just didn't notice it now, I've know it from quite some time, but I have never written about it.
For those of you that think eating healthy is more expensive, my question to you is "more expensive than what?"
Let's think of this eating thing in terms of meals, ok? How many times a week do you go out to eat? By out to eat, I mean breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do you stop for coffee on your way to the office? Even if you grab a cup of coffee at your local mini mart and spend $1 for it, that adds up. How about lunch? Do you get a "$5 footlong" a couple of times a week? Maybe you go out to eat with your sweetheart once or twice a week, which would be a MINIMUM $25, right?
OK, now at your local grocery store, you can buy a whole can of coffee for under $10, and that should last you for several weeks at a time, even if you get the more expensive coffee. So that right there can save you some funds in the long run.
While you're at the grocery store, why not shop around and get the ingredients for your own footlong sandwich. Heck, you'll know what exactly is in your sandwich and you can make it as healthy (or unhealthy) as you would like.
Instead of going out to eat a restaurant, while you're at the grocery store, pick up stuff you can prepare at home with your sweetheart. (I referred to this on an earlier post as well)
So there you have it, you can really save some cash and cook and/or prepare healthy meals just by going to the grocery store. Really, it's not that hard if you put your mind to it.
Don't know how to shop for healthy stuff? No worries, we'll work on that for you. We have upcoming interviews with experts in that field, along with other fields as well. Get the scoop by clicking this link.
Does Fitness and Technology Mix?
Jun 14th
Well, looks like I goofed with something, I just don't know what. I say this because my last post, about launching "The Interview Series: Fitness Edition", had some technical difficulties. Whatever it was, I'm not sure. But I do know that if you signed up, it never got registered. I'm asking if you did register, please go back and do it again because I have no record of it.
Just because we had a little snaffoo with the technology part, doesn't mean the fitness and health part of the whole process won't work for you. BUT, in order for that to happen, you have to know what it's all about.
The only way to know what it's all about is to register. So, let's cut to the chase, click this link to get the info.
“Fitness Edition”—The Launch Is Here!
Jun 13th
I've been hinting around at something big happening soon. Well, today I'll let the cat out of the bag and tell you what's going on.
Some of you know that I'm the founder and CEO of "The Interview Series" where I have been interviewing experts in their field, whatever that may be. It was fun, it was interesting and I really enjoyed it.
But I've decided to get more focused and just deal with a subject I really enjoy and something I have a lot of self knowledge on. That subject is "Fitness and Health". So, this week, the official launch of "The Interview Series: Fitness Edition" will be launched!
Still working on the exact time/date, but it will be this week! With this launch you'll be getting information on what exactly will be happening with "The Interview Series", how it will benefit you, the kinds of guests we'll be having (which is constantly being updated) and what your role as an Exclusive Insider will be. Info and updates are coming in constantly and piecing all the information together has been a challenge (which is a good thing) but it will be awesome!
I'm extremely excited (and a little be nervous) about this! You are officially invited to attend the launch!
But I Don’t Like To Work Out!
Jun 12th
When it comes to working out, I understand that some people just don't care to do it. I also believe that those are the type of people who probably wouldn't be reading the post either! LOL
No one says you have to work out to be healthy. I'm sure their are studies that show how much more (or less) healthy someone who doesn't work out is (or is not)
But, I strongly believe that the only way muscles stay strong is if you work them some how. Oh, I'm not saying go out and bench press 250lbs 50 times, that would just be silly. What I am saying is do something active just to keep yourself tone to some degree.
I also believe the human body was NOT designed to sit on the couch watching ESPN all day long. The human body is a machine that is in need of constant attention. The attention you give it will determine it's overall out put for you.
So, that in mind, if you do NOT like to workout, that's fine. BUT, do something active! Heck, go for a walk every day. There's more benefits to walking than just getting healthy. If you go outside, you have a chance to meet your neighbors. You can see what's going on in the neighborhood. Heck, make it a family thing and take the family out for a walk. Little kids LOVE this!
Now, if you don't like to walk, that's fine. Don't look at it as a physical activity, look at it as a social activity. Make it a game of some sorts. Make it a quest to talk with someone you've never talked to before. Make it a game and see how many houses you pass. For all you anal folks, see how many steps it takes you to walk a mile.
Bottom line, if you don't like to work out, then simply don't look at a walk as a workout, but more of a way of life. Hope this helps.
Healthy Cooking With “The Family”
Jun 11th
When I was growing up, going out to eat to McD's was a treat, mainly because it was so rare. Today, it's more of the norm, or the expectation. And, if you look around, we as a nation have a lot of unhealthy kids. [I will also stress this is totally my opinion].
If you're a parent, ESPECIALLY if you're a father, I truly feel it's YOUR responsibility to ensure the health of the family, as individuals AND as a family unit. Am I being harsh, yup, but too bad. You want to yell at me? Go right ahead. BUT, please look in the mirror first before you do.
Let me ask you this, how many times have you and your family gathered in the kitchen and prepared a meal together? Or, take it one step back, how many times has your family WATCHED you prepare a meal in the kitchen?
I bring this up because as much fun as going to a fast food joint may be, preparing meals at home, with the entire family, can be an even funner treat! (yes, funner isn't a word but you get my drift).
The meal doesn't have to be anything fancy, or even healthy, to start off with. I say this because once you get into the habit of doing this activity as a family unit, you as a parent will eventually think towards the healthier side of cooking, so we'll accept the unhealthy thing for now, ok?
I grew up in an Italian household so having people in the kitchen and around the kitchen table was always a way of life for me. Even to this day. When I'm at my parent's house, I'm always poking around the kitchen seeing what mom and dad (yes, my dad cooks too) have going on the stove. It's still as fun as it always was.
I talk about Fitness and Health quite a bit, as I'm sure you've guessed. Let me ask you, is having the family unit all together doing something healthy for that family? (and I'm not talking about sitting around watching TV either!) Of course it is. Then maybe you should try it and see what comes out of it.
Yoga? I Still Don’t Get It!
Jun 10th
So tonight I did the Yoga that comes with the P90X workout program (which I LOVE btw!)
I bring this up because, and I've said this before…..I DON'T GET YOGA!
I'm told it's supposed to be soothing, it's supposed to clear the mind, it's supposed to make you feel relaxed. Well, I must be the odd ball (no fair making jokes!) with this yoga stuff because I don't feel any of that stuff.
I don't feel soothed, my mind doesn't clear because I'm constantly thinking about how to do the poses, and as far as the relaxed part goes…..PAAALLLEEZE!……NOT!
Now, in all fairness, I've been told the P90X Yoga workout is more of a power yoga workout (I guess that means it's advanced). Since I didn't know the difference between a regular yoga workout and a power yoga workout, I decided to try a couple of other yoga workouts.
Guess what, WAY too slow for me. I like the power yoga workout better, but I don't get what yoga does for you.
I'll admit, yoga does something because I've never sweated so much during a workout as I do with yoga. So, that right there tells me there's something to this yoga thingy. And, also, because Coach Red tells me it's good, I believe AND trust her, so that's why I do it.
Now, be prepared for BIG announcement coming in the next couple of days! This will be HUGE!