Church is a part of my exercise program!!

To some church might not be a part of your life and certainly you never thought of it as a part of an exercise program. But for me your emotional health affects your physical health! And my emotional health has always been enhanced when by going to church! When I go to the Bally (the gym I work out at), it does not seem to matter how much I lift or do cardio. If my mind and emotions are not positive and in sync, all the physical exercise I do not does not make me feel good. And for me going to church and believing in God are the main reasons my emotions are positive!! To feel in tip top shape physically you have to feel 100% emotionally, and for me that means church and God!

After the gym, I feel like a new man!

I just got back from bally, which is the gym I go to here in Michigan! During the Christmas season and these winter months, it is VERY important to get to the gym!! Not only do we tend to eat more of the food that we should not, but just the cold and yucky weather makes us want to crawl in bed till spring!! One of the tricks I use is to get up, go to the bathroom and look in the mirror.. NAKED!! That always seems to get me motivated to brave the cold and ice when I look at that whale looking back at me!! Whatever little trick you need to get to the gym or do your workout at home, JUST DO THE WORKOUT!! I always remember how good I feel AFTER that gets and keeps me going too, I want that guy in the mirror to be great and feel better about himself the next time we meet!!

Fall!! Don't let it be the excuse to fail!!!

Fall is a great season, brilliant colors, pumpkins, brisk cool winds, Halloween, and of coarse, great comfort food!! But just cause it is called comfort food does not mean it has to also mean unhealthy!! One of the purposes of this blog is to tell you what I believe will get us healthy and keep us that way as we get older. That is why whenever I see a recipe that can be made healthy I like to put a link to it on here! I know from my own experience that eating unhealthy, fattening food; ironically called comfort food, is one of the major reasons getting fit and healthy fails! I love to eat, but there is no reason why I, or you, can not eat the foods we like, just good healthy versions!!

Better butt!

Everyone wants a better butt! Not only is this good for your self-esteem, but it has many health benefits! Like any other muscle in your body, the glutes, or your butt, makes your body feel and work better if it is toned and strong! Whether you're young, or as in the focus of this blog, in the mature age group, toning and muscle strengthening is very important! The main thing I want to address is :DO NOT USE BIG WEIGHT! At any age, but specifically over 60, keep the weights you use low! It is much easier to strain or pull a muscle when we get older! Here is a great exercise to firm and tighten your backside as we all enter the "backside" of our life!! Better butt!

Never be content until you reach your goal!

Here I am, basking in the sun like a beached whale!! Since this picture I have lost 60 pounds but still have more to go to reach my goal. Some say its not good to keep a fat picture around to remind you, but I disagree! When I look at this, it keeps reminding me how big and hard it was to move with all this blubber! Also for me not looking at fat pictures makes me to happy that I am a reduced weight and get to complacent so I lose sight of the final weight I want to be at!
Always remember....... it is easier to keep your goal in sight by seeing where you have been!!

Secondhand Smoke Pictures Slideshow: The Dangers and Effects on Medicinenet.com

Secondhand Smoke Pictures Slideshow: The Dangers and Effects on Medicinenet.com

When will you quit?!

I am speaking of one of the absolute worse things you can do to your body, and to the body of others!! Smoking is an awful thing to do to yourself, and as we have found out, just as bad or worse for the others that breath your smoke in! Smoking is not only the number one cause of lung cancer, it is the number one cause of ALL cancers in women! Some people are just so stubborn, even to the point of killing themselves and others! I use to smoke cigars, and while you do not inhale, they still were bad for me! I know quitting is very hard but PLEASE STOP!,not only for you but for the other people in your life! As I said many times this is a site where I welcome your comments or suggestions in order to help us all have better health!

Sweet Potato Recipe

Ingredients 2 medium sweet potatoes 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed 1 medium tomato, diced 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro Preparation Prick sweet potatoes with a fork in several places. Microwave on High until tender all the way to the center, 12 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, place in a baking dish and bake at 425ºF until tender all the way to the center, about 1 hour.) Meanwhile, combine beans, tomato, oil, cumin, coriander and salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave on High until just heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, heat in a small saucepan over medium heat.) When just cool enough to handle, slash each sweet potato lengthwise, press open to make a well in the center and spoon the bean mixture into the well. Top each with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro. Nutrition Per serving: 351 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 4 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 61 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 11 g protein; 12 g fiber; 468 mg sodium; 541 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (450% daily value), Vitamin C (45% dv), Iron (15% dv).

YES, exercise does enhance sex after 60!!

Once I turned 60, I thought my sexual activity would be greatly curtailed! The exercise that I do to lose weight will actually help, and in certain cases improved most facets of sexual activity, at least that is what most health professionals say! As I get older, exercise and diet have been a major factor in helping me lose weight and get toned. Naturally at 60. my body has to be trained slower and with less weight and less strenuous cardio workouts. But a very gratifying benefit I have found in taken better care of my body will greatly improved the sexual part of anyone's life, even us mature folks!
Now I have always had my friends tell me that this is the case with younger people, but I am here to tell you that my age is NOT a negative! Since sex is a normal part of life, I was always told that the older a person gets the less he or she would be able to, shall we say, come to bat? Ever wonder why older people seem to smile more? Have you noticed even the over 60 Hollywood crowd smiles more? I am pretty sure I have found the answer!!!

It is hard, but it feels good when I am done!!

I got up today like usual on workout days (between 5:am and 6:15am). And today was like allot of days, I did not want to go to Bally to put my body through what I call domesticated torture! But after pushing myself to do some warm-up stretches at home, I figured why not?! As is usually the case once I get to the gym, my mind and body start enjoying themselves! I have come to the conclusion that, while doing stretches is good for anyone before they work out, the older I get it is almost mandatory!!
And another thing, I do not need to have muscles the size of a VW bus!! Some people are intimidated or feel like they need to prove something by lifting, and eventually straining something! Believe me, I need all my parts working and not sidelined due, to what I like to call, misguided "big shiny muscle envy" My B.S.M.E. theory is just that, then again the acronym says it all! Go here for "senior" gym days!

This was one of THOSE weekends!!

We have all had them!! Those lazy weekends when your diet seems more like a race to see who can eat the most stuff that is not good for us!! With watching football, crappy weather, or just feeling down in the dumps; we have all been there! You know you should and you really want to, but you just can't seem to stay on the diet and exercise path that you have set for yourself! Well, this past weekend was just that for me!! It seems that the more I tried, the more shit I shoved down my gut!! NOT real shit, but was probably just as bad for me! But like I said many times before, when you know you have got off track, just hop back on!! And when you do get back on track it feels so good because you know that your goal of a thinner and a healthier you is at the end of the track!! For me, one of the hardest things to do in life is to take care of my health!! It is always hard for us to take care of our health and diet, and the older we get, the more disciplined we have to be!! Let all help each other to be get and stay in the best health!! Any recipes, tips, exercises, motivational thoughts are welcomed!! Go to this site for some great tips!!