Bob Dolphin

This is a picture of Bob Dolphin today. Yes, he's the gentleman sitting in the yellow with the flowers. The sign says "Congratulations on your 500th Marathon" That is not a sign-making error. He has run 500 marathons.

He ran his 400th in April of 2007 when he was 77 years old. He didn't run his first marathon until he was over 50 years old. He became a full-time marathoner at the age of 59

He's not just a late bloomer when it comes to running, either. He earned his BA when he was 29 and had already started his family. He went on to earn a PhD when he was 36.

Judy Greer

Judy Greer is the perpetual best friend in Hollywood. She's also hosting a series of videos on Yahoo about health called "Reluctantly Healthy." She talks to experts about various health topics like sleep and what to ask your doctor. There are 26 videos right now, but sadly I can't get them to embed, so you'll have to go to the link.

Hollywood Glamour and Weights

Clint Eastwood posing with weights.

Focus

Source: Uploaded by user via Marisa on Pinterest

Finally, a perfect summation of my fitness philosophy. The results will come. If you focus on eating a more healthful diet and moving more, weight loss will occur. If you increase your movement and add resistance training, you will gain muscle and lose mass.

Placing the focus on the changes makes it easier to keep on track. You can see goals being reached every day. Sometimes the ultimate result being sought is such a long journey that it can seem unreachable. That can be discouraging and lead to quitting. If achievement is occurring regularly it can encourage greater change and keeping with the new, fit lifestyle.

Hollywood Glamour and Weights

Joan Crawford & Clark Gable in a still from the movie "Dancing Lady"

Big Bang Theory

This is my favorite TV show. I will be doing this during the next rerun I watch.

Source: tvworkout.blogspot.com via tvworkout on Pinterest

Criticism

For many of us, self-criticism is a constant companion. We look in the mirror and only see the things that displease us. When we set out to change our lives for the sake of our health, we forget to change our inner voice. In fact, we just give it more opportunity. We allow it to shame us for our food choices, our lack of effort during exercise, or for skipping an exercise session.

For true success, that voice has to be tempered, if not completely silenced. Force yourself to go beyond where your brain says to go. If you think you can only do one more push-up, try for two. You may only do one and a half, but that half is a change in pattern. You have exceeded expectations. Once you've done that, you realize you can do it repeatedly. Eventually, you will think "I can do this," instead of "I can't finish."

Workout Song 3-29-12

"Rock Lobster" by The B-52s

This live video actually has Ricky Wilson on guitar.

This song is ridiculously fun.

Weighing in

I will admit to weighing myself after using the restroom, but never shaving. I'm basically Sasquatch, so maybe this would help lower the numbers some. ;)

Source: alittlewhitenoise.com via BK on Pinterest

Cadbury Eggs

They are by far my favorite part of the Easter season. Reese's peanut butter eggs are a close second.

One of my favorite online comics xkcd tackled the issue of sugar in the eggs today. It's too awesome to not share.

Source: xkcd.com via Jocelyn on Pinterest

Self-Image

You can't take care of yourself if you don't love yourself first. No matter how often other people compliment you, it won't matter until you believe it yourself.

Before you can achieve your weight loss and fitness goals, you have to believe you are worth it. For long-term success, you have to see yourself as worthy of a healthy, functional body. If you don't view yourself as worthwhile, any changes you make and any success you have will be temporary.

Marlon Brando

This photo makes me want to get my jump rope out for a few minutes. Seriously, that's about how long I can jump rope. It's a really hard cardio workout. It's a great way to get the blood flowing quickly.

Workout Song 3-28-12

"Get the Party Started" by P!nk

I'm not normally a fan of dance or pop music, but this song always gets me moving.

Athlete Artist

I love this photo. I love how the "artist" is just as muscular as the "athlete"

Source: Uploaded by user via Jordan on Pinterest

Tigers

Source: kissyfacekchealth.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I think this is a great way of looking at stretch marks. They're not going away, so we should own them. If that means talking like Charlie Sheen, so be it.

Hollywood Glamour and Weights

I loved yesterday's pic of Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh, so decided to find more Old Hollywood pictures of people lifting weights.

Workout Song 3-27-12

Queen "Radio GaGa"

Best Lyric:
You had your time - you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour

It's not their best known song at all, but when they performed it at Live Aid, it was one of the most powerful musical moments of my childhood. 72,000 people clapping and singing together. Plus, this song is the inspiration for Lady GaGa.Until I posted this, I forgot the Cab Calloway moment at the end.

Parenting an obese child

If you read any blogs for women or mothers in the last week, you may have read about Dara-Lynn Weiss. She wrote an article for Vogue about her 7 year old daughter's year-long weight-loss journey. Unfortunately, the actual article is not online, just articles talking about it with quotes from the actual Vogue article.

In the beginning of the year, she used the Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right program. This is a kid-friendly, kid-controlled diet that is similar to Weight Watchers. It eliminates calorie counting and teaches kids about good food choices. It's supposed to avoid public, "you're on a diet" comments to keep self esteem high. Unfortunately, Ms. Weiss ignored that part of the plan and dropped it completely after a few months. In fact, the creator of the diet, is unhappy about the article, too.

Ms. Weiss has exposed her parenting in a way that reminds me of the Tiger Mother. Both women come across as a bit cold and heartless in how they deal with their daughters being less than perfect. Ms. Weiss was told by a doctor that her daughter was obese, but didn't deal with the health issue until a boy called her fat at school. That seems to set the tone that outer issues are more important than internal. Perception is more important than reality.

I am not a parent, so I know that my take on it is a bit naive, but I was once a child and I understand how easy it is for a parent to pass along their own personal issues to their offspring. I think that Ms. Weiss was honest about her own issues with her body and weight and how she didn't know how to teach her own daughter a healthy self-image because she doesn't have one. She may have been too honest. She told stories that showed her as selfish, cold, dishonest and mean. This is why she's being denounced widely. Other moms are able to deal with the same issue in a way that earns praise.

I think many women who proclaim that all women's bodies are equally beautiful are trying to convince themselves of that truth as much as telling others. I know that many of my posts about the scale not being important and how feeling good is better than looking perfect are just as much for me as for anyone who might be reading. Intellectually, I know that when I post things like that they're true, but sometimes my emotions don't get the message. Sometimes I look in the mirror and only see the flaws.

Childhood obesity is a real issue and must be dealt with. Hopefully, parents can start earlier by giving their children healthful foods and not waiting until their child is overweight. However, if their doctor tells them their is a medical issue with weight, it needs to be addressed. Parents can't ignore the health, physical or mental, of their child. I do hope that other parents deal with the issue in a more compassionate way than Ms. Weiss.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower seems to be one of the more underrated vegetables out there. It's readily available at most US supermarkets, is relatively inexpensive and versatile. Yet it doesn't seem to get used as often as broccoli, though. A Google search for broccoli recipe turns up more than double the amount that cauliflower recipe returns. Broccoli is slightly more nutritious, but only with a bit more Vitamin A & C. Both are really high in fiber and low in calories.

The reason I compare broccoli to cauliflower is because they are closely related. They are both part of the brassica oleracea species of plants. This species also includes kale, cabbage, savoy and brussel sprouts. These were some of my most-hated vegetables as a kid, but my most loved as an adult. I am looking forward to finding even more recipes to make these vegetables in new and creative ways.

I had pinned, on Pinterest, a cauliflower 'rice' pilaf recipe a few weeks ago and had been meaning to try it. I finally made it tonight. Grating a head of cauliflower on a cheese grater is messy, but it was a super-tasty side dish. A big advantage was that an entire pan of it is fewer than 100 calories. I think I will give it another try when I'm less tired and rushed.

Workout Song 3-26-12

"You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray.

I love how upbeat this song is. It's super fast, almost impossible to dance to because of that, but it's still really uplifting and makes me want to try to dance and shake and shimmy.

Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh

Pure Awesomeness.

Nothing more needs to be said about this.

Mental Health

Source: Uploaded by user via Deb on Pinterest

Exercise will usually solve the same emotional issues that food will, and should be the "drug" of choice. If you're feeling stressed, confused or overwhelmed, a really hard work out or run can send you to a zen location and clear up the confusion. I love the ideas my mind finds after a good run. Unfortunately, there are times where that isn't possible. If you're nursing an injury, you might not be able to work out.

If a work out is impossible, not just inconvenient, I will advocate for food as substitute, because, if not abused horribly, it is much safer than alcohol, tobacco or drugs. I will fully admit to using food to treat sadness or anxiety. I have gotten much better about it, but it still happens sometimes. If I am feeling really bad, I will indulge, knowing that I'm creating a setback in my health and weight goals. There are times where those setbacks are worth it.

Please try to choose exercise, but if you do turn to food, do it mindfully. Realize why you did it and try to find healthier ways to deal with the emotion in the future. Don't berate yourself endlessly for indulging, but don't ignore it either.

Fish

I like fish in forms that most people would turn their noses up at. I like anchovies, sardines and pickled herring. I grew up eating most of these items and still enjoy them as an adult. I didn't have anchovies until I was an adult, but love them. I know that most people hate them, though, so I only eat them when I'm home alone. That means I don't get to enjoy them as often as I would like, which only increases my enjoyment on the occasions when I do eat them. They're like rare treats. Most of them are also healthful foods.

Sardines area also relatively healthy and totally natural. Other than cooking and cleaning the fish, a can of sardines is a whole food. One $1.50 can of sardines provides 19 grams of protein and 25% of the RDA of calcium. It is a bit high on cholesterol, though. I don't eat many animal-derived foods, so I don't worry about the occasional can of sardines causing too much damage. Tuna has a touch more protein, with less fat & cholesterol, but also less calcium. I do eat tuna as a diet staple, so sardines are a nice change of pace.

I love pickled herring. Only in wine, not in sour cream. Maybe it's because I love almost anything pickled. Give me pickles, pickled okra, pickled eggs and pickled spicy garden mix and I'm a happy eater. I won't eat pickled pork hocks, though. Did when I was a little kid, before I realized a hock is a pig ankle. Yuck. Pickled herring is a bit more processed than sardines, so there is sodium and sugar added, which makes it taste good, but adds calories. It's also pickled, so I can only eat a small amount at a time. A normal serving size is about 100 calories. Online searches will show more calories, but they suggest a portion of one whole cup. That's a bit much for me.

I also love anchovies. Could eat them on pizza and salad every time. An entire 2 ounce can of anchovies is under 100 calories. I can't imagine eating an entire can, unless it was on top of a HUGE pizza. That same can has 13 grams of protein, omega 3 fats and a TON of sodium. The sodium is one of the reasons I love anchovies, but also a good reason to eat them sparingly.

I know many of you stopped reading well before this because you find all of these forms of fish to be disgusting. I hope that I may have changed your mind and convinced you that they can be a great way to get protein into your diet. If not, I'll keep eating them on my own when no one is around.

Athlete

Source: loseweight-safe.com via rajaki on Pinterest

It's also not bound by weight or experience. Anyone can become an athlete. All it takes is desire.

20 minutes

Source: loseweight-safe.com via barlina on Pinterest

It's possible that 20 minutes a day won't give you the "perfect" body you desire. However, 20 minutes well-spent can make a world of difference. In 20 minutes, you can run over a mile, do the P90X ab workout, burn tons of calories on any cardio machine. 20 minutes is 20 minutes more than doing nothing. The same holds true for 15, 10 or even 5 minutes. If you don't have a large block of time to devote to exercise, squeeze in small bouts wherever and whenever you can.

Workout Song 3-25-12

"Smash and Grab" by Juliette and the Licks.

The band, fronted by actress Juliette Lewis, was together for six years before calling it quits in 2009.

Lyrics to push you to go faster, too:

Burnin rubber baby right from the start
Look for my shoes, I turn on the light
Come on baby let's fight, fight, fight yeah
Pressure's running high
Jumpin' over barracades
Oh my god I'm in a hot pursuit
Picking up on speed giving in to need
No time to lose we're in a hot pursuit
Get it in quick were in a hot pursuit

99% Failure

Sochiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Company, is credited with that quote, but he's not the only hugely successful person to believe it and espouse it. Charles Kettering, who founded Delco said, "99% of success is built on failure." Writer Elbert Hubbard said, "There is no failure, except in no longer trying."

I think Mr. Hubbard summed it up best. The word failure tends to imply finality, rather than a beginning. As adults, we don't look at it like a small bump in the road, we look at it like an insurmountable obstacle.

We should take our cue from babies. They fail constantly. Look at a baby learning to walk. They fall down every few steps. When they're not falling, they cling to steady objects to move. None of this is walking as we think of it, but none of it is failure the way we think of it either. The babies don't give up on walking the first time they fail at it. They figure out how to get up from their butt and they try again. They keep on trying over and over again until they finally learn to walk.




The only failure that can't be overcome is the failure to try. If you keep trying, you're still in the game. You're still learning the skills you need to succeed. It's at that point, that failures become mere speed bumps.

Workout Song 3-24-12

"Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones

It's one of my all-time favorite songs. Have loved it since it was the theme for the TV show "Tour of Duty" I was 12 when the show debuted, and already listening to classic rock, and this fit right into that. 25 years later and I still love it.

Cootie Queen

If you're like me, you love this Orbit commercial. I think my love for it increased exponentially with the above image. Jesse Meriwether is a beautiful person. The picture on the right is clearly an awkward moment, but I love how she's willing to show herself at that moment to prove a point.




It reminds me of when Jamie Lee Curtis did the above photo shoot in "More" magazine. She showed how big a difference all the professionals make in the appearance of people in magazines. She also showed off the fact that she doesn't have a "perfect body. Remember these two pictures the next time you look at a photo of yourself and aren't 100% satisfied with it.

And now, to brighten your day. The Cootie Queen/Lint Licker commercial. Enjoy.