Category: Inspirational

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Thank you Manny Ramirez

About 20 years ago my father showed me a baseball card of a rookie he said would become one of the greatest.  His name was Manny Ramirez.  My father was right.  In 19 years in the majors, Manny hit more home runs (555) and drove in more runs (1,831) than Mickey Mantle.  As a long time New Yorker and Yankee fan at heart, this means something.  And with a lifetime batting average of .312, not to mention his ability to intimidate opposing pitchers by just stepping into the on-deck circle, he’s a Hall of Famer in my book.  What I remember most about Manny was the way he electrified the city of Los Angeles and led the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series in 2008. The energy and excitement was something the whole city felt, whether at Dodger Stadium or Venice Beach.  Yes, he violated baseball’s drug policy (2 times), and yes, there was always Manny being Manny. Yet he played with such confidence and poise that it inspired everyone, especially his younger teammates.  Love him or hate him, he was the ultimate baseball warrior.  Thank you Manny Ramirez. My best always – Rich

And don’t forget today’s 5 minute workout #45 – because we all could use some Balance!

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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

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…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

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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

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What’s so special about 40?

In the Holy Bible, there’s plenty of references to the number 40:  it rained for 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the earth; Noah waited another 40 days after it rained before he opened a window in the Arch; Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days (twice); the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness – one for each day they explored the Promised Land; Goliath came for 40 days – morning and evening – before being slain by David; Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness; and Jesus appeared for 40 days after his crucifixion to speak about the kingdom of God.  In the Bible there’s also reference to your physical body as being a temple – a temple that should be respected.  Regardless of your religious beliefs, respect your temple today and strengthen your shoulders, chest & arms with my 5 minute fat burning workout #40.  Enjoy – R

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Can’t see the forest through the trees

You probably heard the expression, can’t see the forest through the trees, about losing oneself in the details (trees) so much that it’s tough to grasp – and easy to forget – the bigger picture (the forest).  Imagine that 5 minute workouts are like trees.  And each tree represents a daily fitness slice of the bigger picture – a healthy lifestyle.  So if you’re desiring a healthier lifestyle and don’t know where to start, here you go.  Whet your appetite with Workout #39 of my 5 minute fat burning fitness series.  Enjoy – R

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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

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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

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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

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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