Big Balls, Treadmills for All and The Fountain of Youth

When I wake up to morning news that says “exercise is the magic bullet for maintaining youth,” it brings a tear, as Mitch says, to my heart.  It’s not yet 7 am and already one news story was about how mice on treadmill routines regained their youth, and another about dogs on underwater treadmills (just their head’s above water) kept from getting arthritis, hence keeping them much more youthful.  I recently mentioned that I am certain my bigredguy, Blaze, remains as youthful as his puppy days from his very, very daily walks.  While I realize it’s very hard to squeeze exercise into busy days and weeks, it has become more and more obvious that it IS the magic bullet for maintaining or restoring youth and health.  Without our health we are nothing, so that better health results in happiness.

And speaking of better health and happiness, Biggest Losers are always winners.  Last night’s episode found the teams competing in a challenge with big, heavy balls that needed to be punched down a field and into the goal.  8 of them.  Red team made it look like child’s play, while black team struggled and never quite got the hang of it.  Again, a clear case of a stacked team with Olympic winner Rulon playing on the red team with his buddy Justin, several other men and just 2 women, while the black team’s, mostly “girls,” found the balls heavy and hard to manipulate with the boxing gloves on.  Believe me, I am not saying men are better athletes than women, but they ARE stronger.  That’s just science and reality.  So, of course the red team wins and the prize is a 3 pound advantage at the weigh in.

There is some talk amongst the 3 parents on the black team.  Marci (I love her!) wants to make sure NONE of the “kids” go home.  Deni agrees and I never really understand Jesse.  At the weigh in, it’s quite clear that the 3 parents were all on the same page, each gaining weight.  Marci was up a pound, Jesse 2 and Deni 8!!!! How much water did she drink before the weigh in???  Jen also gained 2 pounds, which I didn’t understand but sometimes woman fluctuate A LOT.  Thankfully, the parents did what they did, not only to save their own children, but every one’s children.  Since there was a red and a yellow line last night, Deni’s 8 pound weight gain puts her beneath the red line and black team is left to eliminate one more.  They all vote for Jesse and black team is down 2!

We see Jesse looking great at 227 pounds and Deni at 170.  Everyone seems to do well at home which always makes me believe that BL gives them some excellent support once eliminated.  Biggest Losers are always winners.  Regained youth and health…and happiness.  All of them.  Brings a tear to my heart!

Yesterday I decided it was warm enough to try to hit the pool and after almost 3 months of not being in it, it felt unbelievably awesome.  I did about 20 laps and could have stayed in forever, but I knew I had to go back to work so I had to save some energy, even though swimming really is so effortless and just being in the water, my muscles and joints were screaming “THANK YOU, THANK YOU.”  If you have access to a pool, weather permitting, I can’t express enough how much I think you should try swimming this year.

How cool is it when you get to work and someone brings you homegrown lettuce from their garden.  Thanks, Judy A.  It WILL be the base of tonight’s salad.  I can’t wait to reciprocate and spread wealth from the Zipp gardens.  Yesterday I saw the first of the strawberry plants flower and the butter-crunch lettuce seems to grow while I look at it!

A decision was made this past weekend to take my work schedule down from the site.  If you are interested in taking a class or interested in personal training, please contact me directly through this site.  Have an awesome day and remember, the more you move, the younger, healthier and happier you will be…not preaching, just sharing morning news!