Today we’re talking about the 580,000+ homeless people in America, most of those individual males and the rest single moms with children. That’s way too many, and with the help of those of us who are not homeless – including my bodybuilding idol from 1979 and seven time Mr. Olympia champion, Arnold Schwarzenegger, we need to end this epidemic now. Plus a special RIP shout-out to Man’s World Gym owner and mentor from my childhood, Joe Dodd, as well as the legendary football coach turned world-class TV broadcaster, John Madden. Not to mention more weightlifting tips from my workout today, and of course, some inspiring talk about holding the line when it comes to your cryptocurrencies…like I’m doing, even as they plunge even further.
Antibody Treatment – Ep 3 – Tola Talks Texas
Today we’re talking Omicron (again) and how antibody treatment plagues government bureaucrats even though it cuts the risk of death by 80% (with quotes from Rep. Rand Paul); the comparison of the virus narrative, testing and positive cases to several examples including 1) the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s as well as the shrouding of the marijuana plant with politicians touting a “War on Drugs” and 2) baseball’s batting averages, slugging percentages and on-base percentages. Plus there’s wackiness and wackos in the air with an ex-Raiders cheerleader punching an 80 year-old man over wearing a mask, and on a better note, a special shout-out to a British woman for losing 118 pounds in 11 months – inspired by last year’s Christmas photo of herself wearing pajamas. Not to mention more talk about feeling discouraged as cryptocurrencies plummet 6% after yesterday’s show.
Omicron and Retailer Woes – Ep 2 – Tola Talks Texas
In our second episode of Tola Talks Texas, we’re talking cool Texas trivia about Dr. Pepper, frozen margaritas and that famous Bugs Bunny catchphrase, “What’s Up Doc”. As for current events it’s all about the Omicron variant and the difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of the virus – with a family from New Jersey experiencing both. There’s also talk about 1400 more airline flights cancelled today and major retailers like CVS, Macy’s, Walgreens, Target, Home Depot and Best Buy closing more stores with some declaring bankruptcy (JC Penny & Neiman Marcus), plus cryptocurrencies and how wash sales – and the anticipated changes in 2022 tax laws to prohibit them – will affect volatility going forward. Not to mention some stock picks including Tesla, Plug Power, Apple and Alibaba, with a special shout-out to Matthew McConaughey and his new book, Greenlights.
Tola Yoga on Zoom – Saturdays in 2020
We had such a great time on Halloween that I decided to teach a weekly Tola Yoga class on Zoom every Saturday from 9-10a (LA time), through Christmas 2020.
No doubt if you take the class – and read my book – you’ll be that much closer to Drinking from the Fountain of Youth. Go to Zoom.us and “join a meeting”
Meeting ID: 917 1004 1603 Passcode: tolayoga
Have an awesome week and I’ll see you on the mat! Peace – R
Change is Good…New Studio & Zoom classes!
Just like it’s best to always think positive and never give up when it comes to How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth, the same goes for change: best to embrace change as “a good thing” when it comes to, well, just about anything.
So get ready for some exciting changes with a new podcast studio for Tola Talks 2.0 and some free Tola Yoga classes on Zoom…coming soon!
Get your workout in everyone, and I’ll see you on the mat. Peace – R
Reward yourself for Embracing Tough Love!
Who says you can’t reward yourself for losing weight by eating cookies?
Another Tola Talks discussing Step 4 – Embrace Tough Love from my new book, How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth. We also talk about what it means to be held accountable for your actions and to be resilient and determined and strong – with all your commitments. Plus there’s a Happy Anniversary shout-out to my parents for their 60 years of marriage…and for teaching me how to “respectfully” stay young forever!!
Thanks for tuning in everyone, now get your workout in! Peace – R
Embrace Tough Love…like we did in the 1960s!
Need I say more, except that growing up in the 1960’s taught us to be strong with ourselves and to embrace tough love in order to get the job done. Enjoy!
Love the Scale…and change your life!
Do right by your mind, do right by your body, do right by your spirit. Anyone can and should…LOVE THE SCALE. Now get your workout in! Peace – R
Self-Correct…anytime you get Off-Track
Whenever you find yourself getting off-track when it comes to your fitness regime or worse, your body weight, no worries. Simply Self-Correct.
Anyone who has read my memoir knows that Chapter 67 is one of my favorites and is called just that, Self-Correct. Because it’s all about getting back on-track ASAP as soon as you start to deviate from your daily fitness responsibilities as well as from your ideal weight.

Case in point: Last month I gained the COVID 5, that is to say, 5 pounds of extra weight due to the overconsumption of food (mostly cookies) during this crazy pandemic. Not sure about you, but the prolonged ‘safer-at-home’ decree has really put a damper on my fitness routine, not to mention my usually good eating habits. So rather than get mad or frustrated, I confidently chose to Self-Correct and I’m right back where I started…5 pounds lighter.
How did I do it? I increased my aerobic exercises to 8 miles of walking per day (up from 7 miles/day last month) and decreased my weight training exercises by about 50%. Thus, I kept my total monthly exercise percentage the same (12%) while increasing my total calories burned. That said, with a little time and energy and discipline (of course), anyone can make the right choice versus the easy choice. For more self-correcting details, check-out my book on Amazon.
Here’s my exercise report card for May 2020:
- 20 minutes/day of Abs/Stretching and Tola Yoga = 10 hours
- 20 minutes/day of bodyweight training = 10 hours
- 25 flights of stairs/day = 750 (about 3 hours)
- 8 miles/day of fast-paced walking = 250 miles (about 60 hours)
- 7 minutes/day of standing balancing poses = 3 hours
Have an awesome June everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R
Keep Moving…Forward
Hey everyone, hope you’re staying strong, safe and sane during these crazy pandemic times. No doubt a great time to stay calm and to feel positive, as well as to keep – yourself and your dreams – moving forward.

When it comes to empowering your physical being, it’s always best to Keep Moving. All throughout your day, you gotta keep your body moving as much as humanly possible. Especially when all the gyms and health clubs and wherever else you fancy are closed to the public. I should know, I lift weights every single day and it’s been three weeks since the lockdown shut us down. Safe to say I’m really missing my daily dose of iron, not to mention I’ve had to be even more creative with my workouts during these “safer at home” times. Likewise for you, I’m sure, and hopefully you’re getting creative and getting it done.
And if you need a little help with ideas around-the-house, check out my Stay Zen – Web Series. Made them in 2014 for anyone who can’t find the time to exercise . Fun, fast and effective.
Stay Zen Web Series – Episode #4 – 10 Ways to Workout with a Stool
And I don’t know about you, but I’ve also gained 4 pounds in these past three weeks. The good news is, I wanted to gain 2 pounds to power up my immune system and stay even stronger in the face of the ‘invisible enemy,’ aka, Coronavirus. But 2 pounds became 4 pretty quick – you know how that goes.. So today I’m fasting and expect to be 2 pounds lighter by tomorrow when I get on the scale – another cool Stay Zen episode, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Scale. That’s right, all I’m having is unlimited coffee and one apple (already had it) and bam, I’ll be back on track. A concept I refer to as Self-Correct in my memoir, plus it’s also the final chapter of my new book. Coming soon!
As for the second meaning, Keep Moving Forward, especially during shutdowns and more spent time at home, you gotta stay focused and keep the ball moving up the field. Day-in-day-out. As in your studies, your profession or your dream career. Keep moving forward. And unfortunately, hanging out on the couch drinking beer or wine all day may sound nice, but it doesn’t move the ball up the field. Unless, you’re a beer and wine distributer. LOL.
Stay strong in the face of adversity everyone, and remember it’s easy as 1-2-3: 1) keep moving your body, 2) keep working out, and 3) keep moving toward your respective goals. We may be halfway through the woods, but no doubt we’ll get through them.
Peace – R
PS – more workouts, try my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts: 100 Days in a Row.
