There’s a study from the University of Florida that found working out for even a few minutes a day makes you more likely to focus on your sexiest self in the mirror while glossing over your less appreciated body parts. Succinctly put, exercise improves body image for anyone who’s fit or unfit alike. The study’s author and University of Florida exercise psychologist Heather Hausenblas also found that “Negative body image has grown to almost epidemic proportions in the past 20 years, with as many as 60 percent of adults in national studies saying they don’t like the way their bodies look.” Quite a large percentage, wouldn’t you agree? So if you’re in the majority here, consider starting a daily fitness program with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #49 – Core Power. Because who doesn’t want to boost their body image with a little exercise! Enjoy – R
Set your sights and manifest it
I was reading Architectural Digest this morning when I came across an eye-catching ad for the new solar-powered luxury car by Fisker Automotive. It’s called the Karma and I’ve been reading about it for the past year. Actually, I’ve been thinking how great it would be to own one. But since I don’t currently have an extra $100,000 laying around, I’ve opted to set my sights and just manifest it, i.e., make it happen. I even cut out the great looking ad, placing it on my filing cabinet so it stays fresh in my mind. Like anything in the world you deeply desire, set your sights and manifest it. Even a daily fitness program. You can start with only 5 minutes a day. Like today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #48 – Down Dog Chest & Arms. Enjoy – R
It’s all relative with Einstein’s Relativity
Exactly 105 years ago today Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein introduced his “Theory of Relativity”. Although his ‘curved space-time continuum‘ doesn’t really affect our lives because we travel at speeds much less than the speed of light, it was one of the most significant scientific advances of our time. When you think of relativity, it’s applicable to everything in your life. Just ask yourself a yes or no question, like whether or not you work too much. Before you answer, think: relative to whom? Because it’s all relative. Like fitness. If you exercise all the time, then working out 5 minutes a day seems like nothing. But if you don’t workout at all – and you know if you don’t – then 5 minutes a day is significant. But rest assured, 5 minutes a day becomes 15 minutes. Then 15 minutes becomes whatever your heart desires. Enjoy sculpting your body with today’s fat burning workout #47 – Crane Legs (remember the movie, Karate Kid). See you next time – R
Thwart the boredom
Last night I met a 22 year old gal who said she starting working out again after taking the last six months off. When I asked why the long sabbatical, she simply responded she was bored with her workouts. I know the feeling. After 32 years of daily workouts, who wouldn’t, right? The key to thwarting boredom is to have your mind supremely focused on the task at hand. Not that easy, you say? It is when you treat your workouts as a moving meditation with exercises attached. If you’re doing the right exercises – and exercising right – you don’t have to workout for hours on end. Keep them short and sweet (as in yesterday’s blog) and stay focused on every movement you make. Or better yet, spice it up my 5 minute fat burning workouts and you’ll have many more exercises for your repertoire. So keep it going and don’t let your mind get the best of you. Enjoy opening your hips and low back with today’s Workout #44 – Frog Legs. My best – Rich
…if we’re always doing
One of my idols growing up was Revolutionary War hero and first president of the United States, General George Washington. Washington once said, “It’s wonderful what we can do if we’re always doing”. Words that hold true no matter what the circumstance. Because in the “doing” comes results. Like physical fitness. If you want to achieve results like burning fat while positively affecting your mental and physical well-being, then focus on the “doing”. And enjoy today’s 5 minute fat burning workout #42 – Warrior Lunge. Because it truly feels wonderful to see the benefits of a daily fitness program! My best – R
Perfect example of bad role models
I read in the LA Times this morning about two parents in Michigan who beat up a 73-year old school crossing guard who tried to break up a fight between their 6-year old son and another boy. This after bringing their son to school to beat up the other boy after the two kids got into a fight last week. I would call that a perfect example of bad role models. How about leading by example and treating everyone with respect – starting with yourself. Interestingly, I would bet that neither of these attacking parents partakes in anything physical fitness at all. Just a hunch, but it seems like a lot of pent up anger and negative energy. So for these accused attackers – and anyone else who’s looking to open their heart and release some aggression via a daily fitness program – check out my 5 minute fat burning workout #41, Standing Heart Openers. Then lead by example! R
Turn down the music
American writer and Nobel Laureate John Steinbeck once said, “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” Well, much like handling rabbits, I’ve been churning out 5 minute fat burning workouts everyday for the past six weeks. Today is no different with three simple exercises that’ll make your abdominal muscles scream. At the very least, you can tell your friends you’re doing a little something to prepare your midsection for those 90 degree bikini days – which, for those of us living in LA, began yesterday. So turn down the music and enjoy listening to your soon to be ‘beach-ready’ abs scream in workout #38. Have fun! -R
Rich Tola to star in ‘Godfather’ remake
April Fools! But really, wouldn’t it be nice if all our dreams came true? At least in the world of make believe – and I don’t mean Hollywood – anything is possible. Today, why not consider your world of make believe the real deal? Like rapper sensation Drake croons in Nicki Minaj’s hit single, Moment 4 Life, “everybody dies but not everybody lives”. So on this April Fools’ Day 2011, imagine yourself in your wildest possible dream, and just live. Because life is short and the days fly by. And if by chance your wildest dream includes you looking like a movie star with that perfect body, here’s your chance to get started with my 5 minute fat burning workout #37 that combines some Zen with that Warrior in you. It’s called Peaceful Warrior. And I’ll see you next time! -R
Gotta love ‘Opening Day’
As a child, my brother and I used to play baseball for hours on end with my tireless father hitting us popups and grounders until the sun went down. To this day my father and brother coach kids of all ages from childhood through high school. My two nephews are also following in our footsteps, becoming quite the ballplayers we knew they would. So of course I’m a huge fan of ‘Opening Day‘. The smell of freshly cut grass, the sounds of the crack of the bat, the pop you hear when the pitcher fires one past the batter right into the catcher’s mitt. Hmmm, hmmm, good! There’s also that feeling of a new beginning. Because once the season starts, nobody cares about last year, let alone what happened yesterday. Everybody gets a fresh start – something we all can use from time to time. So if you’re a baseball fan like me, take this time to start something new. Like a daily fitness program. Because just like ballplayers forgetting their past seasons, you can forget about the workout you didn’t do yesterday and start anew. Why not? It’s Opening Day! Have fun getting terrific triceps with my 5 minute fat burning workout #36. Let’s play ball – R
The door is open
You may have heard the old Chinese proverb, “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” When it comes to working out, this is 100% true. Because the hard part of physical fitness is that no one can do it for you. Knowing what to do is the easy part. It is, when you’re practicing along with my 5 minute fat burning workouts. Short, effective and uniquely challenging, these workouts are meant to teach you the right exercises using the proper technique. They’ll also motivate you to do more, and serve as a confidence builder if you’re new to fitness. The door is open, but you must enter by yourself. So enter freely with some detoxifying lunge twists in today’s daily workout #35. Enjoy – R