Short and Sweet

Everybody knows the expression short and sweet, right?  Quite simply it means “to the point”.  And with most challenging activities in life, it’s usually best for them to be short and sweet rather than drag on for some infinite period of time.  Like working out. Because if you know what to do and have a specific game plan for any given day, your workouts will be effective, rewarding, painless and most importantly, to the point.  Well, I guess painless is a relative thing, so let’s settle with effective, rewarding and to the point.  So have fun toning your Arms and Abs with today’s short and sweet 5 minute fat burning workout #43.  Enjoy – 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

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

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

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

Be reverent

I was speaking with a friend today about the concept of being reverent vs. irreverent. Sometimes, the only way to succeed in a particular situation is to be irreverent.  To be disrespectful of your opponent, confident in your abilities to get the job done. Like a baseball hitter who’s irreverent toward the Cy Young winning pitcher staring him down, all the while knowing he’ll get a hit.  On the other hand, when it comes to working out every day, one should be reverent.  That is to say, it would be wise to respect the power of a daily fitness program because of its proven, healthy, long term affects.  So be reverent with your workouts and enjoy soft leg squats in my 5 minute Workout #29 – 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

 

21 feet of space

I just read an article in the LA Times about TV and film composer, Glenn Morrissette, who travels the country in his RV after having simplified his world to embrace a mobile lifestyle.  When Glenn composes the score for Fox’s “Family Guy”, he does so from his recording studio on wheels then beams it back to Hollywood.  And when his friends extend invitations for him to park at their homes, he says all he needs is ’21 feet of space’. How cool would that be to reduce all your worldly possessions – and not so worldly obligations – to 21 feet of space?  That can go anywhere (that’s drivable, that is).  I guess you can say Glenn’s on-the-move lifestyle is similar to having a daily fitness program that works anytime, anywhere – without the obligations of a gym or yoga studio membership. Or the significant time commitment.  5 Minutes.  Anytime.  Anywhere.   So let’s all take note of our friend Glenn and his desire to simplify.  And enjoy restoring your legs, core and abs with my 5 minute fat burning workout #27 – 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