Tag: exercise

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Memoirs – Coming Soon!

After two months of trying to attract the right publisher – or any publisher for that matter – I’ve decided to take the plunge! That is, take the plunge into self-publishing my memoirs with Amazon’s independent publishing company, CreateSpace. And I must say, thus far I’m quite pleased with the process and my CreateSpace team. By the looks of it, the book will be available in late January, and to say the least, I’m really looking forward to it. And for anyone not familiar with my 45 years of rather colorful stories, here’s a preview of Chapters 11-20 in, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood.

At age nine I watched the 1969 classic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. From that point on, I became fascinated with Hollywood’s “world of make-believe”. So Chapter 11, Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, is aptly named after Robert Redford’s gang of bank robbers, and sets the stage for my dreams of becoming “the Sundance Kid”. Chapter 12, The Belt, touches upon the cycle of domestic violence and the abusive grandfather I never knew and met only once, while Chapters 13 – 15, All-Stars, Going to PENN, and Just Say No, explain my early teenage years and how baseball and my parents’ “Sicilian parenting” impacted my life and set the stage for the next 30 years. In Chapter 16, Sweet 16, I unofficially become of legal drinking age and recall my not-so-virginal romance with a gal stricken with Anorexia Nervosa – a horrible disorder that rears its nasty head time and time again (as well as in my film, Boulevard Zen). Chapter 17, Jersey Shore, is quite amusing with tales of adolescent debauchery that I’m sure you’ve seen on the popular reality show of the same name, albeit, without the scripts and cameras! In Chapter 18, The Game, you’ll experience the best High School baseball game of all-time – all 20 innings worth, while Chapter 19, Dear Olde PENN, introduces you to one of the best colleges in the world, The University of Pennsylvania, as well as the gritty bars of Philadelphia in the early 80’s. As for Chapter 20, Two Minute Drill, no, it’s not about the final two minutes of a football game. Rather, imagine what it’s like drinking 8 beers in 2 minutes, and then imagine what it’s like seeing 400+ wild and crazy gals hooting it up at the hottest Ladies Club in town – with your best friend as the lead attraction!

Good stuff that makes for some fun reading! So, like I said earlier, I’m really looking forward to self-publishing my colorful memoirs in the coming months. I hope you are too. Have a wonderful day – and don’t forget to get your workout in! – R

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Simply Between Millions: Chapters 1 – 5

As readers of this blog have come to expect, I’m direct and to the point. Just like my instructional yoga fitness videos and DVDs. Likewise, in the first five chapters of my memoirs, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood, I plainly spell-out: 1) my Calling to pursue a career in Hollywood, 2) the Cycle of domestic violence and its impact on my family, 3) my Five-Year Plan to “make it” in the business before I run out of money, 4) the ever-so-illusive LA-LA Land that’s like a ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’, and 5) my formative years in the traditional, all-Sicilian neighborhood of North Trenton, and the culture learned inside my father’s old-time Barbershop. And that’s just the first 15 pages. Short, sweet and entertaining!

So enjoy your weekend and don’t forget to get your daily workouts in! And if you don’t have time for the gym or for that 5 mile walk, then at least strengthen your arms today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #86 – Terrific Triceps II. Enjoy – R

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Simply Between Millions – Preface

Over the past three years, the only business school friend I keep up with, George Graffy, has been telling me that he lives vicariously through me and that I should write my colorful memoirs because my multi-careered and multi-storied journey is worth documenting. He also said I was an “actor with a brain”, and that people like to read books. Thus, I should write one. Yeah right, just go ahead a write a book. Easy enough in concept, but who has 500 hours to write 75,000 words and proof it a couple of times? Well, if you’re an actor in Hollywood like I am, then you do. So I did.

Not to mention the support and encouragement of my dear friend and albeit, transexual roommate, Angelae Le’Chastaignier. Because without her daily reinforcement to keep my memoirs “honest and kind”, I may have defaulted to a less tactful version of the not so pleasant truth. Nonetheless, my memoirs are completely honest with X-rated subjects, but written so my 12 year-old nieces can read it. Just like my film, Boulevard Zen, and yoga and fitness DVDs – my book is inspiring and entertaining and suitable for all ages.

Between now and Christmas Day, I’ll post a short description about the Preface and the Appendix and the 69 Chapters in between. And for those of you who have requested it now, please be patient – if I haven’t found the right publisher along the way, I may self-publish with the help of Lulu or CreateSpace. Just like Benjamin Franklin, Deepak Chopra, Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain and many others did.

In the meantime, don’t let the holidays fatten you up without doing something fitness related every day. At the very least, start with 5 minutes a day, everyday, and before you know it you’ll be loving life with a daily fitness program. And for anyone not sure where to start, how about with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout # 87 – Dancing Warrior. Enjoy – R

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Time’s Up

OK, so I gave you an extra day on the 2% challenge. Did you lose 3 measly pounds or 2% of your body weight? I did, plus an extra one for good measure. Today I tipped the scale at exactly 149 (down from 153). And I saw my Cookies and Ice Cream gal in the gym this morning, and we’re both sticking to that challenge too. Albeit, that’s a tougher one. But no worries, Labor Day’s around the corner so we can splurge! Have a great weekend everybody, and don’t forget your to exercise – all three days. And enjoy today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #90 – Shoulders & Arms. – R

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Cookies and Ice Cream

This morning I made a deal with a 46 year-old gal friend from the gym. I know she’s exactly that age, because after demonstrating some cable ab crunches for her, we talked about our respective ages. Not only does she have the best body in the gym of all the ladies in the morning crowd, she doesn’t look a day over 30. And she was quite impressed with my 48 – as she said I looked 30. So we got talking about how difficult it was to keep your abdominals looking good, especially if you eat anything sugar-based, like cookies and ice cream. Well if you really know me, you know I’ve always loved cookies. That’s right, I admit, I eat cookies. Yes, and rather frequently, but when I do, it’s never too many. Just a few to fill that sweet tooth I’ve had since I was a little boy.

Now my friend on the other hand, well she said she likes ice cream. And since we’re both trying to get back our respective six-packs (which I’ve certainly lost over the past few years), we decided to make a deal. Starting today, no cookies or ice cream for either of us until Labor Day. Now that’s only 10 days of no cookies and ice cream. On the 11th, we can splurge! So what do you think? Wanna join us? We could use some reinforcements. You can do it, just like we can. And by the way, in case you were Challenging Yourself with losing 2% of your body weight or 3 measly pounds like me (see blog posted August 18th), well I hope you’re getting there because I already did. Today I weighted exactly 150.

But no worries if you’re not there yet, we have another week to go until the challenge is up on September 1st. So make that two challenges: lose 2% of your body weight and no cookies and ice cream until Labor Day. You can do it if you set your sights and try! And here’s a little help getting you focused and balanced today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #91 – Standing Splits. Enjoy – R

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Take off the Cruise Control

If you have a tendency to use the same exact equipment every time you workout, especially anything cardio, try mixing it up a bit. Because your body becomes accustomed to specific rhythmic exercises and activities, which can put you on cruise control. And if you’ve ever driven your car on cruise control, you know that sometimes you’re going too fast or too slow, depending on the traffic flow and road conditions.

So take your workouts off cruise control and try something different today. Yesterday I traded in my 2 mile run for 30 minutes on the StairMaster. And boy did I sweat! Something I usually don’t do when I’m running or practicing yoga. And since I’m trying to lose those 3 measly pounds – see my previous blog – mixing things up certainly gives my body a chance to work hard on something I’m not accustomed to, i.e., not the same level of tolerance. That’s why my Fat Burning Workouts are so good. Whether it be my 15 minute or 5 minute workouts, each one is completely different from the next. So take off the cruise control today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #92 – Killer Thighs.

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Challenge yourself

Now I’m not going to rant about how everyone in the world should challenge themselves in everything they do…blah,blah,blah. No, this “challenge yourself” is more of a challenge yourself along with me as I lose exactly three pounds of fat over the next two weeks. That’s right, lose 3 measly “lbs” with me from now until September 1st.

Call me crazy, but over the past six weeks I’ve bulked-up about five pounds to do this study. That’s right. And I call it a study because in my opinion, anybody can burn fat if they just commit to it. Today I weighed exactly 153, and on the first of September I’ll weigh exactly 150 (or less). That’s only a 2% reduction in 2 weeks. So how about it? Weigh yourself today and commit to weighing 2% less on September 1st. Anybody can do it – assuming you’re not starving yourself and you have the 2% to lose. Whatya say? And if you need some help getting there, start doing my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts everyday, and don’t forget that brisk walk after lunch or dinner! Let’s get you kick-started with some great ab-work in Fat Burning Workout #93 – Extreme Abs. Enjoy – R

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Exercise study finds 15 Minutes = 3 Years

Click to Purchase
Researchers in Taiwan studied 416,000 participants for 13 years, analyzing health levels and reported levels of physical activity each year. They found that “just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day increased the life expectancy by three years compared to those who remained inactive.”

Lead researcher Chi Pang Wen of the Institute of Population Sciences at Taiwan’s National Health Research Institutes said, “Dedicating 15 minutes a day to a moderate form of exercise, like brisk walking, would benefit anyone. The first 15 minutes…the benefits are enormous.” Wen said the Taiwan findings were consistent with similar studies in the past using Caucasian participants, but his team was the first to come up with the minimum level of exercise necessary. “It’s for men, women, the young and old, smokers, healthy and unhealthy people. Doctors, when they see any type of patient, this is a one-size-fits-all type of advice”, Wen said.

So if you haven’t started with a daily fitness program, make it easy with my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts. 7 different yoga-based workouts anyone can do. Without ever leaving the house. They’re simple, effective and attainable. Not only will you live a healthier, stronger, and leaner life, you’ll also increase your life expectancy by another 3 years! Look and feel better longer. Because 15 minutes a day equals 1% of your life. And who doesn’t have 15 minutes a day to respect themselves…PLUS live 3 years longer!

Click HERE to Purchase for $14.99

Click HERE to Download for only $1.99 each Workout

10% of all sales are donated to my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation, teaching these yoga workouts and more, to women and children living in domestic violence shelters.

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Change one thing…like Sardines

Have you ever challenged yourself to change one thing? That is to say, to change one thing about yourself that you know would significantly benefit you in the long run. Something that you do – or don’t do – that when changed results in a positive outcome. For me it was Sardines. Yes, those small, saltwater, oily-rich, silvery soft-boned fish that feed exclusively on plankton, and therefore, do not concentrate mercury and contaminants as do other fish.

Named after Sardinia, the Italian island where large schools of these fish were once found, sardines are: 1) rich in Protein – which provides us with amino acids to create new proteins, 2) one of the most concentrated sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA – which have been found to lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels, 3) an excellent source of vitamin B-12 – which promotes cardiovascular well-being, 4) incredibly concentrated in vitamin D – which plays an essential role in bone health since it helps to increase the absorption of calcium, 5) a very good source of Phosphorus – a mineral that is important for strengthening bones, 6) a very good source of Selenium – a mineral with powerful antioxidant activity whose dietary intake has been associated with reduced risk of cancer, and 7) relatively inexpensive, low in calories and have a long storage life. Except for the fact that sardines contain naturally occurring substances called purines – which too much purines in the body can lead to an excess accumulation of uric acid, and thus, can lead to gout or kidney stones – they’re excellent for you!

So why is it that prior to this week I wouldn’t go near sardines? Because when I tried them as a youngster, I hated them. Or at least I hated them at that particular time in my life. So when my father told me he eats canned sardines regularly to help combat his cancer, I thought why not change one thing about myself and start eating sardines. No matter my pre-conceived notion that I hated them, I purchased a few cans and dove right in. Now sardines are a regular part of my diet. Quite frankly, I like them more than any other of my previously consumed canned aquatic vertebrates, like tuna and salmon.

Whether it be sardines or a daily fitness program, change one thing that will better your life today and in the long run. Just because you think you don’t like something, doesn’t mean you can’t change your way of thinking. Especially with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts. They’re so short, simple and easy to follow, that anyone with a computer or smart phone can do them in the same amount of time it takes to eat a can of sardines! Here’s a 5 minute workout from my 100 day web series: #94 – Leg Stretches. Enjoy – R

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Benefits of Yoga

The Boulevard Zen Foundation teaches the benefits of yoga to women and children living in domestic violence shelters. That’s why we’re going on the FAT BURN AMERICA TOUR: 100 CITIES in 100 DAYS, to inspire Everyone to workout with us Everyday for 100 straight days at historic sites in all 50 states! And to help The Boulevard Zen Foundation raise funds to teach women and children survivors of domestic violence, Everywhere.

YOGA
– Builds physical strength & flexibility
– Builds mental strength & focus
– Builds self-esteem & self-respect
– Builds energy & stamina
– Builds courage & self-love
– Reinforces proper breathing & posture
– Improves internal health & circulation
– Improves self-confidence & creative thinking
– Increases concentration & self-discipline
– Promotes relationship building & trust

And you don’t have to take a yoga class to get these benefits. Keep it simple and practice a little each day. And here’s me teaching the women and children living at the domestic violence shelter in San Diego. Enjoy and don’t forget to get your workout in! – Rich