Obama's Workout Routine

Well, unless you've been hiding in a cave, you've heard that presidential candidate Barack Obama adheres to a strict fitness routine. Are you surprised? This man leaves no stone unturned in his quest to be the best!


So, just how does Barack maintain that lean, wiry frame of his, even in the midst of a grueling political campaign? Well, he hits the gym just about every day. Yes, with all that he has on his plate these days, the man doesn't miss one workout. Now THAT's some diligence and determination. I'm impressed! I'm sure Michelle really likes it too! ;)

Here is a brief sum up of Obama's fitness routine:


His cardio:

Treadmill 15 mins, stationary bike 15 mins, elliptical 15 mins


Weight Training:

Shoulder presses - 50 lbs

Overhead dumbbell extensions - 50 lbs

lying tricep presses w/ 15 lb dumbbells in each hand

tricep push downs

step ups on a high platform holding dumbbells

heel raises (calf machine) 70 lbs

He does reps until complete muscle fatigue


This weight training routine was obviously on his tricep and shoulder work out day


Obama also engages in a bit of basketball when time permits, and when he can find a game. So, who's the man, seriously? LOL!


I'm liking the idea of a fit, lean, mean president. A role model already in so many ways, the fact that he's also a fitness guy is bound to be a good influence on more than just a few. And I wonder who would win in a street fight between him and McCain...
McCain is a tough old bird, and I wouldn't underestimate him. I bet he's got tricks! But I'd bet on Obama to win in the end! ;)

Now, if this man can keep his gym commitments even in the midst of all that he has to deal with during this exhausting and grueling campaign, while also still being a Daddy and attentive husband, what's your excuse for not getting out there and getting your fitness in?


Next time you start dragging your feet about going for a run, getting down in the floor to do some push ups, or getting dressed for the gym, just think about Obama! I bet he's working out RIGHT NOW..... :)

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Hello, Breakfast!

For the past few weeks, I've been entertaining a new love! From the moment we met, we bonded like Polygrip to dentures, and there's no end in sight. We are inseparable...
I really had NO idea that I'd be this much in love...

I also had no idea that I would EVER be pushing anything made by Dunkin Donuts!! What the??? :O

The new love that I'm talking about is their egg white, spinach and turkey sausage multi grain flatbread sandwich. Mmmmm, mmm! And here it is!

When DD first came out with their line of flatbreads, I said to myself, "yet another thing I won't be eating. Sooooo not interested". Then, one day, I decided to try the southwest chicken one. It looked pretty good on the little billboard outside the store. I was also bored, and about to take a long train ride. So, there I went. To my surprise, it was pretty damn tasty. And the thing about these flatbread sandwiches is that they're big. You can cut one in half and share it, or save half for later. DD even gives you a little plastic knife to do just that. They know what's up!

After also trying the turkey and bacon one, and loving that for a couple weeks, I decided to try out the low calorie, egg white, spinach and turkey sausage one. From that moment, it was ON! I have not turned back! The egg white one is so light yet filling that I can't even eat the other ones anymore. It's also a mere 280 calories. So, every morning, I'm right there on the line getting my egg white flatbread. Who knew?

Dunkin Donuts has smartened up a lot over the past few years, and the introduction of these flatbread sandwiches was the move of the century. People are on line in there ordering them left and right. Whoever came up with the idea definitely deserves a promotion, a raise, and a corner office!

I eat one and feel satisfied, and the multigrain bread keeps me from feeling hungry for hours, with all that fiber. Definitely a smarter choice for those of you who like breakfast sandwiches in the morning. They even have a egg white and veggie one for those of you that don't eat meat (but still do the egg thing).
Never thought I'd say this proudly, or even out loud, but "See you at Dunkin Donuts!" ;)

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Beijing Olympics Hangover...And Ice Skating

Ugh... I'm kind of sad today. No more Olympic games playing in the background while I'm on the old laptop here, giving me moments to jump up and shout, scream or cheer...
I'm a sports fanatic, in some ways, so for me, two weeks of Olympics running damn near 24-7 on TV is like swimming around in a huge vat of Haagens Dazs (Dulce de Leche flavor) ice cream with a big spoon!

I watched the closing ceremonies (until I could watch no more...did they ever end?), and it was awesome. Simply awesome. Big up to the Chinese for engineering and pulling off such a monumental display, both the beginning and the end.

Now it's back to life as usual! I guess the big news stories now will center around the big Obama vs McCain election coming up in a few months. Let the mud slinging continue!

My big event of the day is that I'm going ice skating again this afternoon. I actually went yesterday after work, and man, I BELONG on the ice! Why didn't I figure that out years ago?

I guess it was because I was so busy kick boxing, boxing, learning karate, biking, blading and being all about the gym. Damn! I've been missing out!


A fan of figure skating for many years, I tend to pattern my moves after what I've seen the amateurs and pros do. Loved watching Michelle Kwan, Suriya Bonaly, all of the Russian skaters and Rudy Gallindo. Do you know that yesterday, on ice skates for only the 3rd time EVER, I was already skating backwards, doing some spins, and also some arabesque leg lifts!? I can skate on one leg like it's nothing (just like on my roller blades) WHAT??! Oh my GOD! I have to call my parents and ask them WHY they didn't get me on ice skates when I was 5. I coulda been an Olympian! I coulda been a contenduh...... Why, Mommy, why?? lol

But seriously, I felt so graceful, amazing and light on those skates at the rink yesterday. I regret not having gotten into ice skating years ago.
But hey, as long as you have breath, you can always discover something new to learn and enjoy. And that, my friends, is what my life is, and always has been about.
And as long as I have life in me, it will continue to be!

Hope you all are having a fabulous Monday! ;)

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Who Decides What Is Beautiful?

I have a guest poster today! A very good friend of mine, strongblkwmn, who is also a wonderful writer.
I read this post on her blog and decided to share it with you guys. Check it out, and please post any replies you might have to her blog:


WHO DECIDES WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL?

So, I was watching the news and they were talking about the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. The topic was the little girl who was not allowed to be on camera singing because it was thought that she wasn't pretty enough. This little girl is seven years old.


Here she is:

Here is her replacement:

They're both very cute. It makes no sense that this is already starting. Females are judged at such an early age. It really made me sad to think of how that little girl must have felt. To make matters worse, she was told a few minutes before she was suppose to go on. How disgusting is that? And people wonder why young girls have so many self-esteem issues.


I was in the beauty parlor the other day and as I was about to sit under the dryer when an older woman touched my cheek and said, "You have such a pretty face, baby." I politely said thank you and sat down. I was bothered the entire time I was under that hot ass dryer. Why do people not know that statement is nowhere near being a compliment? If I was smaller would I just be pretty? Sure I would.


Who decided smaller was prettier? Who says that a little girl with a chubby face and missing teeth isn't beautiful?


How did we get here? Do we not care about our children's feelings anymore? I've seen this topic discussed on a few different shows and, for the most part, people don't seem to think it's a big deal. What about the little girl who thought she was going to be a part of the ceremony? I can only imagine what she's going through, but not many people seem to care.


For the most part I'm a pretty confident person, but now and then self esteem issues creep up on me. There was a time when I wouldn't wear bright colors because I thought they would make me look bigger. I still don't wear sleeveless shirts because I think my arms are too big. Don't get it twisted, I love myself. What people think doesn't really bother me, but there are times when it makes me sad that most people would never think i'm beautiful because I have a few extra pounds on my body. How could it not? I'm a human being with feelings. (read the rest here):

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USA Men's and Women's Relay Team BOTH Drop Baton

In an unprecedented occurrence, both the men's and women's track and field Olympic relay teams drop the baton during the anchor leg of the race. First, in the men's 4 x 100 meter relay, Tyson Gay takes off in the last leg with his hand outstretched to receive the baton. Darvis Patton, running furiously in the 3rd leg, misses his hand and drops it! Just like that, the US, who was among the favorites to win the gold medal, is suddenly completely out of it.

Gay, who has already been having a quite disappointing Olympics since he didn't make the finals in the 100 meter men's, can now add this to the pile.

In what can only be described as a nightmarish bit of deja vu, the women's team drops the baton in the exact same leg of the race as Torri Edwards flubs the pass to Lauryn Williams. Unfortunately for the women's team, this is a repeat of what happened to them in Athens, 2004.


While being interviewed after this stunning debacle, Torri Edwards, 3rd leg runner and dropper of the baton was asked what happened. Her response was "Somebody put some voodoo on this US track and field team. I don't know what happened out there". I have to wonder about that myself. Nothing rational can explain just how crazy and unbelievable this entire situation is. As a matter of fact, with the exception of LaShawn Merritt's gold medal win in an American sweep of the 400 meters, and Dawn Harper's win of the women's 100 meter hurdles, the 2008 Beijing Olympics has been one of the worst performances of the US track and field team EVER.
The glorious performances of Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Maurice Green, Flo Jo, and Gail Deavers are distant, wistful memories. Where does the US track and field team go from here? Walking away from this Olympics with so many disappointments, it couldn't possibly get any worse than this.

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Agility and Quickness Drills With the Ladder

If you want to develop fast foot speed, the ability to cut and run on a dime and improve your agility, then ladder drills are the thing. I've been doing these with some of my clients lately, and it's not only challenging, but also a different and fun way to get in some cardio on top of all of the aforementioned benefits. I also use these in my sports conditioning classes. The only difference is, I use a ladder that's twice as long as this one. Yeah, I like to bring the pain! My class members will tell you. Just ask 'em! Looovve to see them suckin' wind after I send them through the ladder a good couple dozen rounds. Hey, it always looks fun from where I'm standing! ;)

If you see one of these in your gym, grab it, lay it out and just play around with it. Here are some basic drills that you can use to get started! Have fun, and don't forget your towel. You're going to be sweating your brains out after a mere few minutes.... :)

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Wordless.....

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Mememe

I decided to break up the usual and post a Meme today. A meme is a question, riddle, story, picture, etc. that has already been posted somewhere on the web, and you post your thoughts on it. It's also a way for me to get to know a bit about you for a change! Here's my Meme:


1) When you walk past mirrors or large windows, what's the first thing you check in your reflection?


2) When you were ten years old, how did you spend your free time?


3) What person in your life defines the word "kindness"?


4) How does the color blue make you feel?


5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture?



I'll answer first. You follow! ;)

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Active Weekend

Well, I had my sushi and sake night, and it was scandalous!!!

Fun, fun, FUN! I won't go into details.... ;)

Crazier still, was the fact that I got up to to a bit of a distance blade the following morning. Woke up at 6:30 am like a true champ!

For 3 consecutive Saturdays this month, our illustrious Mayor Bloomberg decided to close down one entire ave in the city for bikers, bladers and runners, to encourage people to get out and exercise and to rely less on public transportation for a few hours. How cool is that? They closed down Park Avenue from 72nd St all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge from 9am to 1pm. I decided that this was an opportunity NOT to be missed! So, I and a few friends did the entire run to the bridge and back, totaling a kick butt 14 miles...

On the road on Park Avenue, behind some bikers.



It was a nice, smooth ride!

This was the scene at the Brooklyn Bridge....



On our way back, we stopped at the Pinkberry on St Mark's place. Can I just say YUM? I have never been to a Pinkberry before, but every time I pass one, there's people lined up in there. Now I see why! Frozen yogurt topped with fruit. It was low on the calorie count too, compared to say, some Haagen Dazs, so I was like, bring it on!

Going back uptown was not as smooth because of somewhat bumpy streets, but it was still a ton of fun. The street will be closed off next Saturday as well, so I just might have to do it again. I'm thinkin' I burned off at least HALF the sushi I ate the night before! ;)


Today, Sunday, I was invited to go ice skating at Chelsea Piers Sky Rink. I haven't ice skated in YEARS, and even then had only done it one time. But ya know what? I was ROCKING those ice skates! I guess that roller blading as much as I do has paid off in that area. I enjoyed it so much, that I'm going back next Sunday. Hey, what could be cooler than ice skating in the middle of the summer? It wasn't much of a calorie burn, because I didn't find it the least bit tiring, but it was fun to work on and develop some new skills. If you've never ice skated before, you should try it. And don't hang onto the side rail like most newbies I saw. You have to just LET GO. That's the only way you're gonna learn! All in all, it was a pretty good weekend. Now tomorrow, it's back to the grind, and pushing all thoughts of Twizzlers and Pinkberry aside. ;). Hope your weekend was a fun one too!

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Fun With Food Friday!!

My favorite day of the week is finally here, and I'm ready to let my hair all the way down! I've been a reeeaal good girl with my power walks, some roller blading and also consuming NO processed sugar all week (with the exception of that pack of Twizzlers yesterday - my one guilty little treat) and pretty much sticking to my healthier eating plan.
I look back and see no errors. SO. Tonight I'm heading out with some buds and we are doing an ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI AND SAKE NIGHT!!!!


OMG. Can you tell how excited I am?? Yes, I knew it was coming and prepared. I hope I can eat as much as I think. I've been being so good that I might have sabotaged myself, really! ;)

Tomorrow will see me doing a few miles of blading with some folks, so all the carb loading should be good, right? That should also take care of burning off some of that sake! Yeah...that's what I'm sayin'! I absolutely believe in the reward system, and my reward will be grasped between two chopsticks in a mere few hours! Can you say SAKE BOMB?? LOL. I can! ;)

Hope your weekend gets off to a great start also. Remember, be good to yourself when you can! I'm sure you deserve it!

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Why I Love Hills

To sum it up quickly: they're better than a stairmaster!

I started a power walking group in my neighborhood for people who don't necessarily have the time to go to the gym, or who just aren't into the gym and traditional workouts. Our first few times out have been really good. Late in the evening, with our little wrist weights strapped on, we pick a different route every night and just tear a path through a few miles of New York City pavement.

The best part of a power walk is finding a good hill to power up; the longer and steeper, the better! We found some good hills in a park nearby, and started looping them towards the tail end of our walk. Talk about a good hamstring, calf and quad burn! Just a few fast paced marches up a hill really takes a considerable amount of energy and effort. Your stomach even burns, and I love that, because you can just see all those bad little calories just evaporating away into the sky.... You also wake up the next day looking DAMN fabulous!

So now, I'm ALL about the hills! I am on a mad hill hunt, and will try to plot a route that has the most hilly streets I can find to take the group on. At the end, we wind up at the park and do hill laps. The group is gonna just LOVE me for that! Too bad we don't live in San Franciso!! I'm sure power walking out there would take on a whooole new meaning! ;)

It's a pretty good, uncomplicated way to go about getting a workout in, and I'm going to keep at it. Hey, maybe some mountains would be a good next step..... ;)

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2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony

I hope that you all got to watch China present the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics last night or this morning. I have to say, without a doubt, China ROCKED IT!!! I have watched all the Olympics since I was old enough to know what they were, and China's incredibly spectacular display of pyrotechnics, performance, and purely awe inspiring displays was off the charts. Never has an opening ceremony been as monumentally opulent and magnificent. One of my favorite displays was the thousand or so Chinese doing Tai Chi in unison. Being a martial artist myself, I was especially tuned in to that one. They were flawless!

It was also heart warming to see the pride on the faces of the Chinese people for me.
Knowing some of China's history, and how they would never have been able to participate in such an event mere decades ago made it all the more poignant. This spectacular event last night was not only the debut of the 2008 Olympic games, but also a coming out party for the Chinese people, and the new China.

Having started learning to speak, read and write Mandarin Chinese two years ago, I do feel a special connection to them and this entire event. I had planned to be there at this Olympics, but because of personal circumstances and commitments, I wasn't able to make it happen. I tell you what, though, if I had actually been there, I would have probably passed out from all the excitement that was generated from this awesome display of creativity, synchronicity, pageantry and pride. It was truly remarkable!!

Watching China enter the stadium dead last and do their walk around touched me deeply. Just from knowing what it means to all of them in this new day and age for China. And seeing Yao Ming standing tall and representing his entire country almost brought a tear to my eye. By the way, am I the only one that thinks he's kind of cute? He's married now, but back in his single days, he definitely could have made it into my dating pool. Even though I would have had to stand on a step ladder to make it work! ;) LOL

I am hoping that this 2008 Olympics continues to bring us thrills, chills and excitement from beginning to end. Go, 2008 Olympians, and 'Zhu nimen 2008 Olympics kuaile, Zhong Guo!'. I will stay tuned!

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Fabulous Friday!

Yay! I looooovve me some Friday! I'm not doing anything special, but I still love it! Just got finished teaching my morning classes (Step and Body Conditioning), rocked them both, and now I get to sit down and indulge in some webbery...yeah!

Even though I love being active in the outdoors and at the gym I could soooo just sit on the computer all day. There's always so much to do and see out here. When people tell me they 'don't do the internet' or don't see the need to have a computer, I just can't relate! I think the web is the best thing ever, and anyone who's not clued into what's going on out here is really missing out! I can still remember when I got my first internet account over 10 years ago (AOL). A whole new world opened up for me! Even before the net, I had PC's. I remember saving up money to buy my very first one.... a used IBM 380 SX 40. I would keep a journal on it, use the Microsoft Word to make flyers and business cards (I've always been the entrepreneur) and learning Word Perfect and Excel. Anyone remember that? Word Perfect!! Learning that got me some cool temp jobs, and knowing the Microsoft Word kept me ahead of the curve at the old temp agencies. Having as many skills as possible is truly beneficial, I learned early on. I'm now on my 6th computer! Now, it's ALL about the laptop...

I figured out how to get anything and everything out of my comp: jobs, activity buddies, free stuff, language lessons, online classes, even boyfriends (yep...I did internet dating, and I did it WELL!). I can't see how anyone could ever live without one of these things. But then, I've always been a curious technology junkie...

I'm now going to relax, have a tall glass of iced tea and see what's going on on the 'net today! Hope you all are having a GREAT Friday! :)

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.......Wordless.......

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My Tasty Little Secret

So, in my own efforts to stay fit and keep myself in shape, I find that food is my biggest nemesis, and fighting off cravings for the bad stuff can be a full time job. I LOVE to eat! Hell, who doesn't? I've been able to pack it away since way back. My brother and I used to race to clean our plates as fast as we could so we could be the first one to get second helpings, or the last piece of food. Not wanting to be one upped by the boys, I soon learned that I could eat a plate of food as big as my Dad's....and boy, THAT was a big, heaping plate!

Well, that's all fun and cute when you're a kid or a growing teenager, but when you start getting older, that little party is sooooo over!

Now, having learned to eat to my heart's content, anything and everything, it's hard to have to pull back. I do, though, but I still make sure my taste buds get the workout they deserve via healthier munchies. Which brings me to one of my favorite little secrets: Edamame (Eh-duh-mah-may). I can eat tons of edamame and not gain weight. What's more, is I can eat nothing but them and strawberries all day, if I'm so inclined. I don't do that often, but I have. In fact, those tasty little soybeans are my healthy snack of the week! Haven't had them before? You should go to your grocer (or a sushi restaurant) and get yourself some right NOW. They are the best, healthiest snack EVER!!

Edamame are soy beans still in the pod, and you can eat them straight out of the pod raw, or boil them slightly. I buy mine frozen and thaw them in the fridge, salt them, and then just sit back and suck those beans right out of their pods one by one til the bowl is empty! Yum!

What's great about them is all the great stuff in 'em! First of all, edamame is the only vegetable that is a complete protein, and it contains all 9 amino acids. They're also a good source for fiber, vitamin A and isoflavones, which can help lower cholesterol. Edamame contains Vitamin C, calcium, iron, and essential omega 3 polyunsaturated fat (the good fat) as well.

A ton of health benefits have been attributed to soy beans. For one, reducing and helping to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure), staving off certain cancers (including breast), halting the onset of osteoporosis and also helping prevent heart disease. Studies show that soy protein might also help reduce insulin resistance, kidney damage, and fatty liver in people with diabetes. It really is one power vegetable!

Not only that, they are low in calories. That 16 oz bag you see pictured is only 300 cals for the entire bag. I try to make it into 3 servings, but usually end up doing two. No worries, though. I could eat two bags and still be chillin' on the calorie tip!

So, while I'm busy stuffing my face with them, I can't help but to think of what good I'm also doing for my body. It's a win-win situation!
So there you have it...another alternative to unhealthy snack food. When it comes to the war against unhealthy eating, you have to have as many weapons as possible so you can win. Edamame is one of my favorites ones! Try it! You'll thank me later! ;)

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