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
48 and Feeling Great
By the time you reach 48 there’s not much hoopla about your birthday, right? The true celebration is in the continued evolution of your soul. Which also applies to your body. And with that evolution of your body brings new challenges each year. Challenges that include dealing with a slower metabolism rate, a weakening of muscles and bones, and an increasing waistline. Go figure, right? So what can be done to counter these challenges? This: what I’ve been doing everyday for the past 32 years – working out. I hate to blow my own horn here, but maintaining a daily fitness program really works. Yesterday I met a 20 year old gal who thought I was 33. That’s 15 years younger folks. Plus, I’m not a fanatic about what I eat – just smart – so I must attribute my success to working out. Everyday. Trust me, it works. Here’s a few of my favorite abdominal exercises in today’s 5 minute fat burning workout #34 – Birthday Abs. Enjoy – Rich
Why procrastinate?
Did you know that today is National Procrastination Day? Well, it was actually yesterday but it was pushed off until today. Easy to do with just about anything that’s not a life or death situation. Especially physical fitness. Because exercising usually involves time and money, and of course, the rather undesirable fatigue and discomfort you experience from doing it. Everyone knows the benefits of fitness, so why procrastinate and push if off until tomorrow, or Monday, or the first of the month? Don’t do it. Don’t procrastinate. Especially with your daily fitness program. Here’s another great abdominal workout using tabletop crunches anyone can do. My 5 minute fat burning workout #31 completes a month’s worth of workouts you can do anywhere. No people. No props. No special clothing. No money. Just 5 minutes and your non-procrastinating self. Enjoy – R
30 workouts in 30 days
Today marks day 30 and workout #30 of my 5 minute fat burning web series. For those following along, you now have 30 different short workouts to choose from – covering all body parts and muscles from your fingers to your toes (check out Workout #19 for women who wear high heels a lot). No worries if you have not – so long as you’ve been keeping up with a daily fitness routine that includes anything cardiovascular and/or fat burning. For the newcomers out there, the main objective of this web series is to provide you will a super quick and painless alternative to the gym or yoga studio. However brief my 5 minute workouts may be, don’t let that fool you. They’re certainly challenging, effective and attainable for anyone of any size, weight, age or gender. Just like my 5 minutes of yoga anywhere in my Yoga Survival Guide, and my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy sculpting your butt & legs with moving squats in Workout #30. As always, keep it going and I’ll see you next time! – R
Years teach us patience
Elizabeth Taylor, one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Years once said, “It is very strange that the years teach us patience – that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.” As I myself get ready to turn the page on another year, I certainly agree with Liz’s assessment of our capacity for waiting. Especially in Tinseltown, where patience is truly a virtue. And especially when it comes to seeing results with a new fitness program. As you grow older, the need to strengthen your body as well as accept the fact that everything worth doing takes time becomes more apparent. So be patient with your workouts and your fat burning…and enjoy sculpting your shoulders & abs with my 5 minute Workout #28. And to the lovely and exquisite Ms. Taylor, thanks for the wonderful memories! Rest in Peace – Rich
Resist the temptation
You may have heard the ancient proverb, ‘good habits result from resisting temptation’. I would go one step further and say that good habits result from resisting temptation and embracing change. Because good habits are derived by doing things that are considered good for you, versus bad habits that are usually derived from the not-so-good things that constantly tempt us – like unhealthy food groups and the aversion to exercise. So if you haven’t already, get with a new habit in the form of a daily fitness program. And resist the temptation NOT to workout because who doesn’t have 5 minutes a day to respect themselves? Enjoy opening your hips and hamstrings with fat burning workout #26 – R
Spring into it
Rebirth, renewal and regrowth. That’s what Spring personifies. With Spring also comes longer days, better weather and the blossoming of all things earthy. It’s also a great time to shake off those Winter pounds with a daily fitness program. Whatever suits your fancy will work. And here’s another 5 minute fat burning workout to choose from. Have fun toning your shoulders and legs with Workout #25, and I’ll see you next time – R
Biggest and Brightest
As the sun sets in the west today, it will be the biggest and brightest it’s been in the past 20 years. According to NASA, this so-called ‘super-moon’ will appear about 14% bigger and 30% brighter. Why such grandness? Because the moon’s perigee – that point in the moon’s oval orbital path where it’s closest to the Earth – will occur within one hour of the monthly astronomical phase of the full moon. “A rarely seen spectacle of illumination and size”, says astronomer Geoff Chester at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. So if you have 5 minutes tonight, go outside and enjoy this rare spectacle. Better yet, take your phone along and try Workout #24 under a beautiful moonlit sky!
Look at the results
Sir Winston Churchill once said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results”. I would certainly agree, and when it comes to fitness and body sculpting, it’s always best to look at the results more than occasionally – like every day. Most likely you won’t see any noticeable results on a day-to-day basis, but this more than occasional acknowledgment of your daily workouts will help fuel you to do that little extra. Like going for a walk or jog after your 5 minute abs, bicep and thigh blasting you’ll get from today’s workout #22. So keep looking for results, and I’ll see you next time – R
It’s how you look at it
Sometimes words can be confusing, like in the today’s title for my 5 minute fat burning workout #21 – Thunder Thighs. Thunder thighs can be construed as a bad thing if you imagine thighs the size of thunderbolts. Or thunder thighs can be construed as a good thing if you imagine having thighs that are rock-hard like thunderbolts. So it’s how you look at it – positive or negative – that makes the difference. So always choose the positive, and enjoy your workout – R