Fitness

As I was walking to work the other morning, a lady with ankle weights and dumbbells in her hands power-walked right on by me.

First off, this added resistance during aerobic activity strains the joints and can cause injury to the ligaments and tendons. Secondly, it just silly.

So, if you are guilty of this, please do your joints and your body a favor by hitting regular non-weight/resistance bearing cardio followed up by your weight training.

If you had to think of the single best example of what the epitome is of exercise as a way to longevity, it would have to be Jack LaLanne. I can’t recall why, but his name came up in a conversation not too long ago, and I was taken aback by the fact that the man is still alive and kicking… at 95!

And Jack isn’t just surviving, he looks as vital as when he was a young whipper snapper in his 70s.

So what’s the secret? There may not be one simple answer. To most people in the last few decades of his life, they know him for his juicer infomercials. But, LaLanne originally gained recognition as a successful bodybuilder. He owes his vitality to the power of strength training.

A few days ago, I was flipping through the current issue of Shape magazine, which features actress Jennifer Love Hewitt on the cover, and I noticed a rather cool-looking piece of at-home workout equipment. It was this surf-board meets step-board workout device created by The FIRM, a best-selling, at-home workout program that uses a cardio-plus-body-sculpting fitness hybrid, known as Synergy Training.

Over the years, The FIRM has created a line of best-selling workout videos that are designed to tone, strengthen and burn calories using the company’s  trademarked Synergy Training system. Their latest project is the Wave, which was the device that caught my eye as I was thumbing my way through the magazine.

Sometimes, you make plans to work out. You might do all of the prep work: you pack your gym clothes the night before, make sure you have your water bottle and a healthy snack, you clear your schedule, and then, boom! Something happens and your carefully constructed plans vanish in smoke. What’s an intrepid gym rat to do? Don’t worry, there are many things you can do at home that will give you a great workout, even if you don’t have access to free weights or a treadmill! Here are some great options:

• The Power of 50 – 50 squats, 50 push ups, 50 sit ups and 50 lunges. It’s guaranteed to get your blood moving!
  

This upcoming Sunday, October 15, some familiar faces will be running at the Detroit Marathon. I’ll be running the half-marathon (one full was more than enough for me) alongside fellow Biggest Loser Season 7 contestants: Helen, Damien and new lovely wife Nicole, Carla. Some faves from Season 6 will also be running: Coleen, Amy C. and Shellay; and from Season 2, Pete Thomas.

Pops (Ron, my dad, if you didn’t know) is going to be doing the 5k, but is having knee surgery this month, so its all still up in the air. Renee, mother of Michelle from season six, will also be doing the 5k.