Archive for November, 2005
Body for Life
November 17th, 2005
Martin and I did this program a few years ago and it worked really well for us. The author, Bill Phillips, takes you from where you are to a healthier you in just 12 weeks. The methods he uses are simple and easy to understand. There are real life photos of what people looked like before and after the 12 weeks. It’s inspiring.
The eating principles are much like those in Mastering the Zone where you combine portions of protein with carbs (usually vegetables) and some healthy fats (like nuts or oils). So it’s three small meals interspersed with protein shakes throughout the day. (I’m still searching for a totally healthy protein shake so use what works best for you at this time.) It’s very healthy and you even get a day (or is it one meal?) a week to eat whatever you want. I tell you, when I eat that one "cheat" meal I remember why I’m on a healthy eating program. I really feel out of it when I eat a "cheat" meal.
The exercise program alternates daily between aerobics and weight training. The weight training takes 45 minutes and aerobics 20. One week would look something like this: Monday-Aerobics, Tuesday-Upper body weight training, Wednesday-Aerobics, Thursday-Lower body weight training, Friday-aerobics, Saturday-Upper body weight training, Sunday-Rest and "cheat" meal. So basically you are getting in a complete body work-out each week. Notice the upper body gets done twice in this one-week example. Well, the next week the lower body would get done twice and the upper body once. It cycles every two weeks. Sorry if this sounds confusing. The book makes it very easy to understand.
I really like the 20 minute aerobic solution. You get the most benefit out of your work-out in 20 minutes, three times a week. I remember hearing that too much time spent doing aerobics breaks down the muscles. You can see evidence of this if you watch the summer Olympics. The sprinters have amazing physiques and beautiful muscles while those doing the marathons look emaciated. Go figure, work out more and lose muscle mass. And the resistance training (weight lifting) should only be 45 minutes, no more. Abs are done on the same day as the aerobics.
If you’re looking for a complete and well-rounded exercise and eating program check this one out.
View book details at Amazon.com: Body for Life
What I’d Like to Find and Review
November 17th, 2005
Here are some products I’d like to bring to you but don’t know where to get them yet. If you know, let me know. Also, if there’s something you’d like me to review you can email me the specifics and I’ll check it out.
- Boiled wool products like washclothes, slippers, coasters,
- Products with bio-degradable latex, rubber, etc. (balloons, gloves, etc.)
Posted in Messages
Books I’ve Read
November 17th, 2005
Here is a sampling of some of the books I’ve read since starting my journey. (This certainly isn’t all of them.) I haven’t reviewed them yet and don’t know if I’ll get around to them all. But, if you’d like to see some of the influences that helped shape me, here they are. The images link to Amazon.com so you can read more about any that intrigue you.
What to do with all that Halloween Candy
November 1st, 2005
Healthier ideas
So, it’s the day after Halloween and I’ve got a bag of candy that I’m trying to get away from my daughter Marissa. When her sister, Kathleen, was of trick-or-treating age we had a deal. She would get to keep five pieces of candy and I would buy the others from her at five cents a piece. What, you think that’s cheap? You should have seen the huge piles she would come home with! She’d walk away with 10 bucks some years. And if she was feeling really prosperous she would offer to sell those last five pieces and I’d give her a dollar a piece for them. Well Marissa doesn’t have a piggy bank, an oversight on my part, so I have to come up with another idea for this year. I thought about letting her trade in two pieces for candy from the health food store and letting her get a box of something I don’t usually let her get like Cheddar Bunnies. She’ll like that. Next year I’m buying a piggy bank. And giving the trick-or-treaters money.
Men’s Health Magazine
November 1st, 2005
Martin loves this magazine and I love it too. See the article featured on this one? "Fight Fat and Win!" What’s not to love? This magazine not only has great tips for men to stay healthy, live longer and be better lovers but it also has great pictures on the front cover. Men get to see what they can look like (no steroids here) and woman can enjoy the pictures. Just healthy bodies in GREAT shape!
Whether you are the man getting it for yourself or the woman getting it for your man this magazine has great wisdom and practical advice done in a sometimes humorous but always helpful manner.
To paraphrase one reader, "It’s like having the ideal older brother to tell you the secrets of life."
View magazine details at Amazon.com: Men’s Health Magazine
Here’s the one for women. I haven’t read it yet but I’m trusting it’s as good as Men’s Health Magazine and I’m putting it on my Christmas list!
View magazine details at Amazon.com: Women’s Health
Posted in Healthy Body