Tag: daily

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Change is good

For the past week I’ve had the fortunate, albeit stressful task of moving my home and office.  I say fortunate because whether you see the cup half full or half empty, change is good.  As humans, we suffer from what behaviorists call homeostasis.  Simply put, we don’t like change because our internal tendency is to maintain a stable and constant condition. So if you’ve ever moved you know how challenging it is to pack up your life, ship it another neighborhood (in my case 12 miles away which in Los Angeles is like another state), unpack and reorder everything in your new home or office, become familiar with all the retail and convenience stores, gas stations, dry cleaners, gyms and yoga studios, and most importantly, changing your address for your multitude of accounts like banks, credit cards, postal service, magazines, drivers license, health care providers, and professional organizations.  Not to mention all your family and friends.  So much for homeostasis.  That said, moving gives you an excellent opportunity to explore new markets and expand your world.  To meet new people, to experience new beginnings.  Change is good.  Especially when it comes to improving yourself and your life.  Like embracing a daily fitness program.  However stressful and challenging you may think it is to get started, it’s well worth the effort.  So if you haven’t made the change, one that truly improves your overall well being, get a move on it.  And enjoy your workout!

 

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Child obesity is a serious problem

This morning I read an enlightening article about the growing concern of California residents that believe childhood obesity is not only a serious problem, but one that nearly 60% of those polled statewide believe has become an epidemic.  I would have to agree.  Not only is childhood obesity a serious problem – the inability of parents to be excellent roll models is one that I consider even more alarming.  I should know.  One of the key reasons I created my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts is due in part to my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation.  As you know, we teach yoga to children and their moms living in domestic violence shelters.  Every time I’ve entered a new shelter to introduce our program to everyone the first question I’m asked by the moms is will yoga help them lose weight.  An interesting question for those of us who are dedicated to this 6,000 year old practice.  Because most of us didn’t start practicing yoga to lose weight.  We did so for its overall mental, physical and spiritual benefits.  Thus, I created a complete set of full body, yoga-based exercises that are brief in nature – only 15 minutes per workout- are easy to follow, affordable, attainable and available for ANYONE of any age, size, weight or gender.  Including children.  Just ask my niece who’s 11 years old.  And if you don’t believe me – try it out yourself.  And if you can’t afford the $1.99 per workout, write me a letter with your sincere interest and I’ll forward you Monday’s workout.  Because who doesn’t have 15 minutes a day to respect themselves?

 

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It gets in your head

Yesterday I spoke with an old college buddy and former baseball player like me at the University of Pennsylvania.  He recently started the 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts and simply stated he really liked them because “It gets in your head”.  What does that mean you might ask?  Well it means that each 15 minute workout not only incorporates detailed instruction on how to maximize the efficiency of the exercises you are doing, but also has a short intro and outro that reinforces the concept that fat burning doesn’t end on the mat.  Quite frankly, it gets in your head.  It’s something you take out into the world as you consciously – and subconsciously – make good choices about the foods you eat, the liquids you drink, the movements you make, and the thoughts you chose to fill your mind with throughout your daily life.  Just like the great Jack LaLanne believed it’s all about self-control, there’s no question that once you ingrain the concept of healthy choices into your subconscious you’ll be well on your way to burning fat every single day.  As long as you accompany those healthy choices with some sort of physical fitness – everyday – you will see results.  Enjoy your workout – R

 

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Making Progress with a Pass-Fail Approach

About a month ago I gave my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts to a friend in New York City.  He was actually one of my “prototype” users when I was customizing the full body low-impact exercises.  Think Tony Soprano but shorter.  He’s also late 40’s with amazing abilities in the kitchen.  Albeit, his love of food has certainly helped sustain his 70 lbs. of extra weight.  And since he’s never been much of a gym person – nor would he be caught dead in a yoga studio – the 1% or 15 minutes of your life routine works great. It’s also one that anybody can complement with power walks or abdominals & stretching.  And in my friend’s case, I’ve encouraged him to take my Pass-Fail Approach.  It goes as follows:  At the end of each day you write a P or F into your calendar, P for pass if you worked out that day (15 minutes or more) and F if you did not;  at the end of 7 days you’ll grade each week with a P or F, Pass if you have more Ps than Fs, and Fail if vice versa;  and at the end of the year or 52 weeks later, if you have 26 or more Ps, you PASSED for the entire year.  Which means you worked out at least one hour a week for at least half the year – 26 hours – which is excellent if you really don’t workout.  Like my friend who says he’s making excellent progress.  Progress with his personal Pass-Fail Approach, and progress with all the challenging yoga and balancing I’ve got him doing as he gets stronger and more confident with each workout.  So take a Pass-Fail Approach and keep on progressing.  I’ll see you tomorrow – R

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Point of no return

I just visited my thirty-something year old friend who was speaking about her weight when she said, “I know what it’s like to be past the point of no return”.  She spoke with such conviction about how everyone struggling with weight loss reaches a specific point of no return.   Last week I gave her my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts and stopped by today to check in on her and to drop one off for her girlfriend.  She hasn’t started the workouts, but said she would today – after much cajoling on my part. When I asked her why not, she said it was “mental”.  Actually she’s doing quite well, mentally and physically, considering she weighed 218 lbs. two years ago.  She also said her exact “point of no return” was 180 lbs, and that once she reached that point she pretty much gave up hope – and desire – of getting the weight off and skipped right past 200 until her final stop at 218.  And can you believe this adorably funny gal started college weighing 106 lbs? The good news is when she finally reached 218 she started with a well-known weight loss program that helped get her down to today’s weight of 180.  Hmmm.  I suppose now it’s the “point of return”.  Next stop 140.  So she says.  And so I believe – as long as she believes and continues to make good choices.  Because with a daily fitness program complemented by a positive mindset and positive lifestyle choices, anything is possible.  Enjoy your workout – R

 

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Everything worth doing takes time

Have you heard of the new 787 Dreamliner that’s due to hit the market this fall?  It’s promised to be the most advanced, fuel-stingy passenger jet ever made – at a mere $200 million each.  But it’s three years overdue and billions of dollars over budget.  No worries!  Because once it’s ready, travelers will experience shorter and more comfortable trips in a passenger plane that’s the fastest, largest, brightest, lightest, and cleanest – with the purest air quality – ever made.  Sounds great to me.  Because everything worth doing takes time.  Like building a better and more durable plane to achieving a healthier, leaner and better looking body by way of daily fat burning.  That’s why my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts are designed to be effective and easy-to-follow without all that jumping around.  More importantly, I believe a simple and attainable workout program is worth doing, but also one that’s successful over time.  And I say attainable because they’re low impact exercises based on yoga principles that anyone can do for only 15 minutes a day – 1% of your life.  Unlike most high-impact fat burning programs that are more complicated and require much more time.  So take a long term approach to your health and fitness, and just like the new Dreamliner, look forward to the results you patiently desire.  Enjoy your workout – R

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30 Day Workout Challenge

So how about a little workout challenge to add to your external motivation?  If you’re not already a fan of ours on Facebook, become one today and win a complete set of my yoga and fitness videos ($50 value) as we aim for 500 fans – click logo to visit our fan page.  Or better yet, workout every day for 30 consecutive days and win a copy of my yoga-inspired film, Boulevard Zen.  We certainly hope our competitive external motivation gets you started with a daily fitness program…because who doesn’t have 15 minutes a day to respect themselves?  R

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External motivation

Let’s face it.  Sometimes you need a little external motivation to get you going to the gym or yoga studio, or for that power walk around the neighborhood.  Take me for instance.  In six weeks I turn 48, which makes it 31 years since I started driving and began my daily workouts at Man’s World gym in Trenton, NJ.  But even today, after all those years, I often require that external motivation to keep me interested and to give me that little extra something to work towards.  Fortunately, in my gym there’s this guy who’s built like Adonis, and like me, works out every single day.  Yesterday I asked him his age thinking “if this guy is anywhere close to my age I’ll retire”.  Luckily he said 31.  That makes me old enough to be his father, and since he was born the same year I started working out, I felt relieved.  Because we all know the powers of Father Time and Mother Nature, and how your body certainly slows down as the years click by.  So in the gym this guy’s my motivation.  As for the yoga studio, I started practicing in 2005, so let’s just say my internal motivation kicks in at all times!  So if you need a little external motivation to get you going, pick someone who’s got that rockin’ bod, or better yet, find that beautifully sculpted body in a magazine and post it our your vision board.  And if you don’t have a vision board, then post it on your bathroom mirror.  Because when if comes to anything fitness, sometimes we can all use a little help.  Enjoy your workout – R

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Cultivate self-discipline

The topic of my horoscope today was self-discipline and how no one is born with it, but is something that must be fostered.  I believe self-discipline is something you can cultivate everyday with conscious thoughts, feelings and actions.  And since actions lead to results, than it’s best we take positive and deliberate actions on anything in our lives that will lead to positive and desired results.  In the case of physical well being, it’s therefore important to take action that will lead to a healthier, leaner and longer life.   By embracing a daily fitness program, whether it be walking, biking, weight-lifting, yoga, or any other preferred form of exercise, you’ll be cultivating self-discipline everyday in the realm of physical well being.  Which also helps strengthen your mental well being.  So if you’ve already broken that New Year’s resolution to workout every day, don’t despair.  Leave those negative thoughts behind and start your new routine today.  Because who doesn’t have 15 minutes a day to achieve a strong body and a clear mind?  Enjoy your workout!  R

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A good hurt

I just got off the phone with my sister who’s been doing my fat burning workouts for past two weeks.  She says she loves them and after every workout she feels the burning which she eloquently calls “a good hurt”. She especially favors Thursday’s core and abdominal workout – which she usually does in addition to whatever day she’s on.  Something I highly recommend, as you can certainly tell, since I’m quite the fan of working your abs every single day!  And today she made it a family affair by having my niece (age 11) and my nephew (age 10) join her for Sunday’s workout.  They loved it too!  So if you’re looking for something the whole family can do on a rainy Sunday afternoon, well there you have it – 15 minute fat burning workouts for anyone of any size, weight, age or gender.  And I’ll see you tomorrow – R