Michael Jordan, one of basketball’s greatest players, once said, “I’ve missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot – and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” No doubt. Because if you never try you’ll never succeed. And by trying you learn, experience and mature into a do-er and not a talk-er. One who’s not afraid to take the next shot, whatever the outcome of the previous one. So if you’ve tried before, to exercise a little bit each day, and just it didn’t stick, well then, be like Mike, and try again today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #99 – Core Power II. Enjoy – R
Arsenal of Exercises
For the past 98 days, I’ve been coming up with different fat burning workouts that are uniquely challenging, simple and short. No special equipment or anything else required. Just yourself, a device with internet access, and a space about the size of your bathroom. Clothes optional. So check out the cool arsenal of exercises you now have at your disposal with the past 98 workouts. And enjoy blasting your thighs from the Ground to the Penthouse with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #98 – Elevator Squats. – R
Longer days for better bodies
In exactly three weeks (June 21st), the summer solstice will occur when the days are longest and the nights are shortest. I’m not sure about you, but I certainly prefer the daytime when it comes to working out or doing anything fitness related. With longer days and the hot summer weather, it’s a great time to go for that after dinner walk or scenic bike ride. And why not consider adding a few 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts to the mix to round out your evening. Either before or after, these bite-size workouts will provide you with a quick and effective warm-up or cool-down to complement your stroll. So let that extra sunlight help you achieve that better body, and enjoy sculpting your entire body with today’s 97th consecutive fat burning workout – Side Plank. – R
Remembering my Uncle Mickey
Every Memorial Day I remember my Uncle Mickey, aka, Dr. Cook. Uncle Mickey served as a cook in the Army in WWII, thus the nickname, and he was exactly 55 years older than me as we shared the same birthday. In my 20’s I got to know Uncle Mickey and respected his view of himself and the world. Because he respected everyone and everything. He was this charming bachelor who would tell folks he never married because he had to take care of his mother, he had a daily fitness routine he’d do in the spare room, and he wore a suit & tie every single day. That’s right, every single day until he entered the nursing home when he was 90. He was the ultimate citizen who respected what it meant to be an American. Someone to admire for truly loving life. And what I remember most about Uncle Mickey was our walks at the nursing home when his mind and body would barely cooperate. He always kept his dignity and his positive attitude, and never felt sorry for himself. So for everyone remembering loved ones today, enjoy! And enjoy sculpting your thighs again with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #96 – Killer Squats II. – R
Happy Memorial Day Everyone!
Maximize Gains and Minimize Injury
This week I updated my YouTube Channel home page (click HERE to check it out) and changed my Profile section. For anyone my age or even 10 years younger, this New Age internet world with all it’s social networking, websites and tags is quite a handful, right. Whatever happened to calling someone or sending them a handwritten letter. (like I’ve been doing in recent weeks). It’s also interesting how few words you use when you write a note or letter by longhand. With computers and all, we’re usually bombarded with TOO many words. Oh well, adapt and survive! Nevertheless, in my Profile on YouTube I wrote, “My style is precise to maximize gains and minimize injury.” Simply put, getting the most out of your workouts is achieved when you know exactly what to do and exactly how to do it – as in proper form and body mechanics. Plus, you’ll reduce your chances of getting hurt. Which is exactly what and how I teach. Even if you exercise regularly or practice yoga, check out my videos and expand your knowledge base. You’ll definitely learn something that will help you and that you’ll never forget. So enjoy going to the “extreme” today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #93 – Extreme Abs. – R
Remind yourself often
Samuel Johnson, the English poet, author and lexicographer who after nine years of work published the Dictionary of English Language (circa 1755) once said, “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.” I would certainly agree. Especially when if comes to working out and sticking to a daily fitness program. Because with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts, there’s expert instruction for every position and exercise that’ll take the guesswork out of it. All you need is to be reminded to hit the PLAY button and you’re good to go! So remind yourself often and enjoy slowing things down a bit as you invert yourself with today’s Workout #91 – Standing Splits. – R
Who can forget “the Nineties”?
Now who can forget the end of Modernity and the start of the current Postmodern Age? And what do you remember most? Is it the World Wide Web and the Internet Boom, MP3s and mobile phones, Amazon and eBay, AOL and Yahoo, the iMac and Windows 95, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Apartheid and Nelson Mandela, Great Britain handing Hong Kong over to China, Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge earthquake, Boris Yeltsin and the old Soviet Union, the surging Dow Jones and proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem, the Dodge Ram and the Saturn, Dolly the cloned sheep and the Hubble Space Telescope, Generation Y and the Spice Girls, Tattoos and body piercings, Princess Diana and Mother Theresa, OJ Simpson and Colombine High School, assisted suicide and Jack Kervorkian, the Gulf War and Rwandan Genocide, the blockbusters Dances with Wolves, Titanic, Pulp Fiction, The Silence of the Lambs, Forrest Gump, Pretty Woman, Ghost, and Home Alone, the lovable Friends and ER – and don’t forget George Clooney, Beverly Hills 90210, Beavis and Butthead and The Simpsons, the passing of Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Selena, Tupac Shakur, and The Notorious B.I.G., punk rock and the rave movement, Resident Evil and Laura Croft, Nirvana and Britney Spears, the Major League Baseball strike, Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong and Hulk Hogan, Jennifer Aniston’s haircut and the resurgence of the Wonder Bra, and of course, Y2K. It was also a decade of fitness fun with Taebo, Boot Camps and the Soloflex. And no worries if you can’t remember the 1990’s and lost all your Soloflex bands, because there’s no equipment necessary with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts. So enjoy strengthening your upper body with today 90th consecutive daily workout – Shoulders & Arms. RIP 1990’s – R
Try and try again
This morning I read the obituary for Dick Wimmer, a creative writing instructor and author who was turned down by publishers and agents 162 times over 25 years. His first novel, Irish Wine, was conceived in the 1960’s then streamlined in the 1980’s – after his 80th rejection – until it was good enough to be published. When finally released, The New York Times raved about it, calling it “a taut, finely written, exhaustingly exuberant first novel”. A wonderful reward for never giving up! And a pretty simple lesson to try and try again. So if there’s anything in life that feels hopeless and insurmountable, like your daily fitness program, think of Dick Wimmer and all his 162 rejections. And enjoy strengthening your legs with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #89. – R
Remembering “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”
You may not remember what you were watching on television 44 years ago today, but if you were about my age, say 2-5 years old, you were probably watching the debut of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. This first-of-its-kind “television visit” with Fred Rogers helped children develop their imagination, creativity, cooperation and self-esteem. The show was theme-based, slow and simple. However deceiving these qualities can be, the Neighborhood was a tremendous success. Interestingly, my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts are also theme-based, slow and simple. But don’t be deceived. Because you now have 88 different – and effective – workout themes to choose from, including today’s Screaming Abs II. So thanks for the memories & RIP Mister Rogers. – Rich
Be as unique as a fingerprint
Oprah Winfrey said, “I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” I love Oprah’s belief because it lets you be you, and incorporates the collective energy of everything and everyone around you as part of your destiny. So be as unique as a fingerprint today and everyday, and don’t forget your 5 minutes of fat burning with Workout #87 – Dancing Warrior. Enjoy – R