Last week I watched an episode of Jeopardy and winced as a contestant blew a chance to secure his lead on a $2000 Double Jeopardy answer. Oh, he knew the right question, but couldn’t push the button fast enough. Too bad because during that one-tenth of a second pause, another contestant beat him to the punch and used the additional $2000 to ultimately win the match. Is there anything that you can do to amp up your reaction speed? [...]
A few weeks ago, a 40-something client asked me if I could design a new exercise routine to sculpt her arms and shoulders in preparation for beach season. Yikes, Memorial Day is less than two months away! After three weeks of training, her guns are starting to morph from Olive Oyl peashooters into Dirty Harry Magnums. That got me thinking…everyone should have the right to go sleeveless by Memorial Day. If you start to pump iron now, you can [...]
One and Done A few days ago I was listening to ESPN Radio about 8 AM on my way to a training session. The morning hosts, Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg (AKA Mike & Mike) had the Duke men’s basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, (AKA Coach K) as their guest. But as fate would have it, Mercer cancelled Duke’s ticket to the next round. Coach K remarked, “…In a one-and-done elimination tournament, anything can happen. One loss and you’re out.” [...]
A few days ago two separate events highlighting the triumph of attitude over age. Each brought a smile to my face. One was pure fiction, the other real life. First the fiction: My wife and I rented the DVD “Last Vegas.” The premise of the movie was that three late-sixty-something friends, played by Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline and Morgan Freeman, want to throw their other long-time single friend, played by Michael Douglas, a bachelor party in Las Vegas. [...]
Last week my wife and I met with a new company to process our payroll. The sales executive we met with was great, very professional, knowledgeable and personable. And young…perhaps mid-thirties. After our meeting, I smiled as memories of my second job after graduating Seton Hall University washed over me. Was I ever that young? Six months after joining Fidelity Union Trust Company’s Marketing Department as their product manager for checking and loan products, I was promoted to Assistant [...]
Exercise accidents can happen, even to a personal trainer. Earlier this week I tore an extensor tendon in my left pinky while strength training. As a result, my ability to grasp heavy dumbbells is compromised by the new aluminum splint my pinky sports to help the injury heal. Beyond the discomfort and medical expense, I felt distraught about the prospect of not being able to train my upper body using weights for several weeks. This injury could be quite [...]
While the title of my recent book is Leave the Cannoli Take the Weights, the subtitle, Practical Guidance on Eating, Exercise and Empowerment really tells the reader what the book is about. Of all three themes in the subtitle, the most important by far is empowerment. Without empowerment, self-empowerment in particular, you would not have the ability to grow and change as a person. It is self-empowerment, combined with a toolkit and plan that transforms being overweight to lean [...]
I've heard variations on the same weight management theme four or five times already this holiday season. The concept goes something like this, "...Look at all these treats I still have left at home: (fill in the blank with one or more of the following) Pies Cakes Cookies Candy “I'm so proud of myself, I had small portions of only my favorites. I really ate mindfully. To remove all temptation, I'm going to: (fill in the blank with all [...]
I wear many hats in my effort to help clients become more fit and eat mindfully. All my days are good days. Some are great ones. Last week I had a health and lifestyle coaching session that falls into the latter category. A fit and attractive Baby Boomer client named Katelyn tasked me with analyzing her options for choosing a desert at a dinner party she will be attending soon. Having recently lost a few pounds in anticipation of the [...]
There is an old joke that goes something like this…Question: Why did God create retirement? Answer: so there would be enough time for us to go to all of our doctors’ appointments. But does it have to be this way? Can we age gracefully, stay active and maintain our health well into our golden years? Here is a typical day in the life of John H, a soon to be 72-year-old client who has been training twice a week [...]