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

Rich Tola to star in ‘Godfather’ remake

April Fools!  But really, wouldn’t it be nice if all our dreams came true?  At least in the world of make believe – and I don’t mean Hollywood – anything is possible.  Today, why not consider your world of make believe the real deal?  Like rapper sensation Drake croons in Nicki Minaj’s hit single, Moment 4 Life, “everybody dies but not everybody lives”.  So on this April Fools’ Day 2011, imagine yourself in your wildest possible dream, and just live.  Because life is short and the days fly by.  And if by chance your wildest dream includes you looking like a movie star with that perfect body, here’s your chance to get started with my 5 minute fat burning workout #37 that combines some Zen with that Warrior in you.  It’s called Peaceful Warrior.   And I’ll see you next time! -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

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

Healthy Diet + Daily Exercise = Success

We all know the meaning of a healthy diet, right?   And we all know what it means to exercise daily – or at least if you’ve been following along the past 33 days you know you can exercise for as little as 5 minutes a day.  So why is it so hard to combine the two to achieve a successful result?  Well, although the definition of success may be different for each of us, the certainty in the above referenced equation is the plus and the equals part.  If you eat healthy and workout everyday you will certainly achieve success as it relates to preserving your body for the long term.  And hopefully you’re not fooling yourself when it comes to a healthy diet and daily exercise – because there is no substitute.  So watch your diet, do something physical fitness everyday, and keep with your positive thoughts and feelings!  Enjoy shaping your legs and biceps with today’s 5 minute fat burning workout #33.  And I’ll see you next time – R

Quickie, anyone?

I met this 47 year old gal last night who said she spends a lot of time on conference calls, not speaking for long periods of time.  She also said she hasn’t worked out in about five months.  She was too busy with work and couldn’t find time before or after to squeeze in some physical exercise.  When I told her about my 5 minute fat burning workouts, she noted she could easily close her door during conference calls, mute the talk button, and follow along for a quickie – for my 5 minutes of exercise, that is.  Or two or three quickies that would certainly put a spark into her day.  So if you’re too busy with life and can’t find the time to workout, take heed and increase your productivity during conference calls with Workout #32.  And don’t forget to hit the mute button!  Enjoy your quickie – R

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

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

 

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

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