Jane Fonda: The return of a fitness guru

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I, David Wayne Fish of California, look up to a lot of individuals. Celebrities, sportsmen, political leaders—through example, they help me strive to become a better person. But out of all of them, there is a set of people I really like to watch out for: fitness gurus. I always get inspired by their dedication to motivating others to live a healthy lifestyle.

One of these fitness gurus is Jane Fonda.

For those of you who do not know her, Jane Fonda was the face of fitness for many Americans in the 1980s. Released in 1982, her workout program called Jane Fonda’s Workout inspired lots of people to lead fit and active lives. It got so popular that it became one of the highest-selling home videos ever, with more than a million copies sold.

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Now, nearing the age of 75, Fonda released a new DVD entitled Prime Time: AM/PM Yoga for Beginners. This new program introduces the world of yoga to baby boomers. For the fitness guru, it is a way to tell people that being healthy shouldn’t be defined by age. The program’s bound to teach its viewers that in exercising, age does not matter.

“If you can’t run, walk … If you can’t lift heavy weights, so lift light weights. But just keep yourself physically active. It makes all the difference not just for your body, but for your brain as well,” Fonda said when interviewed by CNN.

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Dude, where's my junk?! Crude test may help men trim fat

Bill Briggs of NBC News writes that what makes men, well, men may be useful in deciding when it’s time to really consider losing weight.

Fellas, you're chillingly aware, no doubt, of what goes down when cold water contacts your most precious appendage: "shrinkage."

Now, some obesity watchdogs are worried that you may be too plump to see your own private parts, a.k.a: "blockage."

This fall, British health advocates surveyed 1,000 U.K. males and found that 33 percent of guys between 35 and 60 years old possess guts so rotund, their bellies form a full eclipse of their genitalia when the men stand and take a gander down south. This blubbery blind spot leaves such men more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease and other health problems, recent research has shown. The group WeLoveOurHealth.co.uk conducted the poll.

In fact, the wellness and marketing experts behind that website recently launched a national campaign in England, using that crude-yet-quick assessment to urge bulging boys to adopt immediate lifestyle changes. They've dubbed it "The Big Check." And here we thought the Brits were so stuffy.

WeLoveOurHealth -- headed by wellbeing specialist Daryl Taylor and Dr. Sarah Brewer, a nutritionist -- conducted its survey through phone interviews and face-to-face questioning sessions, Taylor said. The small organization is privately funded (Taylor and Brewer are paying expenses out of pocket). Its mission is "all about men's health – from action plans for lifestyle to diet plans for maintaining weight to prevention to health assessments," Taylor said. "Men can ask questions about their health through our site and get answers within 24 hours. This is great because men tend to like to do things at their ease and in their own time and often often don't want to go to the doctor."

Would a similar push on U.S. soil find a receptive audience among the bulbous dudes in this country? Imagine a male doctor in the states telling his male patient: "Please disrobe and rise to your feet. If you'll now look toward your toes you'll notice you can't even see your own manhood." There's a semi-decent chance the doc won't be slapped with a malpractice suit so much as slugged in the chops.

"You’ve got to know you’re patient really well, know what they’re sensitivies are. Some men may not take kindly to that kind of approach," said Dr. Sanjay Jain, a practicing physician in the Washington, D.C. area. But while he's cautious about ensuring the proper delivery of that message, Jain said he "absolutely endorses" the big-check idea as a practical method for American doctors to perhaps finally convince certain overweight men to trim the fat.

"Are we doing a good job winning this obesity battle? No, we're losing. Clearly, we’ve tried different methods as physicans and health professionals to get the message out to lose weight," Jain said.

"If it works, why not? Every patient has a different message that they can relate to. When it comes to male patients, they don’t see the doctor that often – women tend to go more than males. But when it comes to dealing with their private parts, if there's anything at all wrong down there, men do not hesitate to go see their doctor. So I think it's interesting that in the U.K., they’re using the sensitivity that males have in that area and leveraging it to promote weight loss."

In his Utah town of American Fork (ironic, given the topic of this story), Adam Torkildson admits the routing is part of his private health maintenance.

"I have used this test so many times I can't even count it anymore," said Torkildson, 29. "It works best while in the shower. While standing fully, you (drop your) head down about 80 to 90 degrees. If you can't see your junk, you've got some work to do."

As someone who earns a living in public relations and marketing, Torkildson agrees with Jain that an American version of "The Big Check" would catch on and help some men finally see their shortcomings - dietarily speaking.

"I love quirky campaigns like this," he said, "and I would love to see American campaigns surrounding this idea. It would be super fun, and probably do some really good things for male health." Jain, who writes health blog in addition to doctoring, already advocates a similar - yet less colorful - tactic for males to monitor their stomach girth as a gauge for potential illness. His commonly-used test involves wrapping a tape measure around the hips then comparing that distance to the number of inches if takes to loop the tape around the widest part of the buttocks. To do the math, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.

The National Institute of Diabetes reports that women with waist–hip ratios of more than 0.8, and men with more than 1.0, are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution. An ideal ratio is 0.7, Jaiin said.

"But who’s doing to sit down with a calculator and punch out numbers? That takes time," he added. "So why not create real reference points? "What I like about this (junk check) is, while it may be a crude judging tool, it's certainly not a bad eyeball test."

Tofu-tastic: David Wayne Fish on how to make soft tacos with scrambled tofu and tomatoes

Many of you might frown at the mention of tofu but David Wayne Fish here thinks that the only reason why people are not in love with the idea of eating tofu is they don’t know how to cook it and make it taste good. Turning this white brick of pure protein into something scrumptious is actually really easy.

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Tofu, a great source of other minerals such as magnesium, iron, and selenium, also makes a wonderful stand-in for scrambled eggs and meat. I chanced upon this great tofu recipe for tacos with tomatoes and tofu, which I recommend my readers to try:

Ingredients:
• 1 14-ounce can of tomatoes, drained
• 2 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1 serrano or jalapeño chile, chopped and seeded, if desired (Because I, David Wayne Fish, like things really hot, I need more of these.)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 small or 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
• salt to taste
• 1 12-ounce box medium or firm silken tofu, drained
• soy sauce to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 8 corn tortillas
• salsa

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Okay, what you need to do first is put the tomatoes, garlic, and chile in a blender and blend them until smooth. Put a skillet over medium heat and cook the onions on it for about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the cumin. Stir and put in the blended tomato mixture when the pan is quite hot. For another 5 minutes, cook and stir the mixture until the sauce is thick, dark, and fragrant. Add salt to taste.

David Wayne Fish is a mountaineer and athlete hailing from Fresno, California.

Add the tofu to the pan and smash it into the sauce using the back of your spoon. Pour in the soy sauce, cook for 5 more minutes, and stir in the cilantro. Heat the tortillas and top with the tofu mixture, with salsa on the side.

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And just like that, you’re ready to have savory and healthy tacos for breakfast!

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David W. Fish: Tips for a healthier you

This David W. Fish blog explores ways to get into shape.

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Even Winnie The Pooh knows the value of exercise: “A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.” That is why, I, David W. Fish, a California-based fitness instructor, make sure that my clients stick to their exercise program. If the bear can do it, so can my clients.

Many have been written about how exercising can do wonders for your health. What bogs down many people when exercising is a rigorous routine. Most especially if it entails waking up early for a 3-mile run or hitting the gym six times a week. It is just so much easier to lie down on the couch and munch your way to a heart attack.

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That’s why David W. Fish, fitness coach, is here to guide you. Below are some tips you can embrace to get into shape:

1. Working out with the family. This is like hitting two birds with one stone. You get to spend more time with the family and exercise! Play basketball or hike up the hills together. You’ll be getting closer to each other as you shape up.
   
   
2. Making exercise more enjoyable. This means embracing a regimen that is doable and fun. For example, a brisk 30-minute walk while enjoying the sunset will burn 1,500 calories per week – that’s 78,000 calories per year.
   
   
3. Investing in a jump rope. It is a great workout you can do anytime, anywhere. Set a goal of skipping rope for 10 minutes per day and watch those love handles melt away.

Getting in shape is hard work. But the best reward is a better version of you.

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David W. Fish: Is there such a thing as too much exercise?

This David W. Fish blog discusses the dangers of too much exercise.

The recent hype on the Olympics has inspired a lot of my friends to go to the gym and work out. While this is not a bad thing per se (in fact, I believe it is an amazing thing), I just feel a little concerned about some of them who overstrain themselves, thinking they can achieve the Michael Phelps body overnight through high-intensity training.

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David Wayne Fish is a California - based mountaineer and fitness coach.

High-intensity training is basically a fast and forceful approach to working out. This usually consists of heavy workout routines done in short periods of time, allowing gym-goers to get more for their time investment.

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But—as I always teach others as “David W. Fish, the fitness instructor”—the problem with high-intensity training is that it can start physiological distress. Ignoring exercise basics such as variation and rest, high-intensity training may raise people’s adrenal stress levels and cortisol, a stress hormone that weakens immunity, making people more susceptible to colds and other sicknesses.

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With this, it can be said that high-intensity training routines can produce participants who have killer six-pack abs but are not essentially healthy.

That said, I’m set to visit my friends as they sweat at the local gym and teach them how to achieve fitness with smarter—and not necessarily harder—workout routines.

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David W. Fish and doing it old school: Working out with minimal equipment

For many people, keeping fit meant going to the gym. While it’s been part of the David W. Fish fitness regimen to actually go to the gym whenever I can, sometimes, whenever I don’t have the time or I need to cut back on my expenses so I can save a bit, I resort to keeping fit at home using a variety of means that I’ve discovered through the years.

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Strength training usually implies the use of either free weights or exercise machines. They can be very effective and easy to use. They are, however, not the only ways that one can build strength and muscle mass. Here are a few of the minimal equipment exercises one can utilize at home.

  • Calisthenics. These use the body’s own weight as resistance and include such exercises like    push-ups. While not recommended for serious bodybuilders, fitness buffs like me, David W. Fish, swear by them.

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  • Sandbag exercises. They can be very frustrating, but sandbags can be homemade and can offer the same amount of resistance as free weights with the added benefit of engaging both the grip and support muscles.

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  • Isometric exercises. Another means of exercising that uses the body itself as equipment, these exercises pit muscle groups against each other. Isotonic exercises include yoga and static martial arts moves. Yet another example would be planking.

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One does not need 24-hour access to a gym to stay physically fit. Strength training can easily be replicated at home, whether as the frequent or standby method of fitness. More of my health and fitness thoughts can be accessed on the David W. Fish Twitter.

David Wayne Fish: Observing proper etiquette in the gym

Hi, everyone! David Wayne Fish here to give you some guidelines when it comes to working out. This time, I will discuss just how important etiquette is inside the gym.

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Even at a gym—a place where tank tops, excessive sweating, and mild grunting are considered acceptable—rules of etiquette must and should be followed. Yes, it may be different than, say, a luxury restaurant where almost everyone is quiet, but a gym is still a public place. It is an establishment where people interact with other people, a place where individuals should remember to act as civilized members of the society. With this, I give you the “David Wayne Fish list of the most annoying gym habits:”

• In my opinion, leaving workout equipment full of sweat is one of the most irritating gym habits ever. Picking up slippery weights or lying down in a stranger’s pool of sweat can easily destroy not only the gym-goers’ appetite for working out but also their entire day. For this reason, I advise people to at least carry a towel with them every time they work out, ready to wipe the sweat that comes rolling down their foreheads. If they don’t have any towels, they can use their sweatshirt or the paper towels provided by the health club.

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• Another frustrating thing that I see almost every week is people forgetting to unload their weight bars, overlooking the fact that not everyone can lift the same amount of weight they can. People shouldn’t assume that the next person who will use the weight bars has the strength and capability needed to remove the weight plates. By removing the plates and putting them back in their specific containers after use, gym-goers can stop giving other people a hard time.

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Whenever you go to a gym, remember that you do not own the place. You share the establishment with people who are just like you—individuals who want to stay fit and to lead healthy lifestyles.

Check out this Twitter page to learn more about David Wayne Fish and his thoughts about working out.