5 Ways to Get Hooked on Strength Training
Use a Calendar. It may seem too simple but that looming wedding or vacation or
or any special date on which you know you’ll want to show off your sculpted body can be a great inspiration. Mark out at least two days each week when you’ll lift to prepare for the event.
Remind yourself. Set your cell phone to text you a reminder on strength-training days. For a visual cue, change your screen’s background to an inspiring fitness image, like an athlete whose body you admire.
Reward yourself. Do it every time you hit the weights. After a few months of regular workouts, you’ll have enough cash to buy yourself a reward, like new workout togs.
Show it off. Once you notice definition, have a friend take a picture of you in a new outfit and make it your Facebook profile picture. Show off your success and be inspired to stick with your routine every time you sign in.
Mix it Up. Don’t let your routine become routine. Find new & creative ways to vary your routine.
Music Monday
Happy Birthday Bob
In honor of not only Bob Dylan’s birthday but also what I heard was an amazing tribute last night at the Hopmonk by Old Jawbone and friends at the Hopmonk which was in one word, amazing.
Today’s Playlist is a selection from last nights songs.
“The Times They Are a-Changin’”
“North Country Blues”
“Man of Constant Sorrow”
“See That My Grave Is Kept Clean”
“Spanish Harlem Incident”
“Subterranean Homesick Blues”
“Lay Lady Lay”
“I Threw It All Away”
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
“Tangled up in blue”
“Hazel”
“Hurricane”
Or if you you just can’t get your grove on to Dylan’s vocals then check out the long list below of some of the best covers. There is something here for everyone.
Richie Havens - “Just Like a Woman”
Jimi Hendrix - “All Along the Watchtower”
Guns N’ Roses - “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”
Calexico/Iron & Wine - “Dark Eyes”
Patti LaBelle “Forever Young”
Emmylou Harris - “Every Grain of Sand” / Wrecking Ball
Johnny and June Carter Cash - “It Ain’t Me, Babe”
M. Ward, Conor Oberst & Jim James “Girl From the North Country”
Rage Against the Machine - “Maggie’s Farm”
Yo La Tengo - “Fourth Time Around”
Susan Tedeschi - “Lord Protect My Child”
Indigo Girls - “Tangled Up in Blue”
Norah Jones - “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight”
Cassandra Wilson - “Shelter from the Storm”
White Stripes - “One More Cup of Coffee”
Sufjan Stevens - “Ring Them Bells”
Ani DiFranco - “Hurricane”
Norah Jones - “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight”
Cat Power - “Stuck Inside Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again”
The Flying Burrito Brothers - “To Ramona”
The Sweat-Less Commute
In this new economy and our heightened awareness of the state of natural resources in the world so many people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and one of the biggest impacts is reducing or cutting , but in our auto-centric landscape that we have created this can be difficult to achive for all but the most avid and dedicated bikers.
If you find you can’t afford to drive your car in this “New Economy” , get yourself a hybrid that uses no gasoline. The two power sources: electricity and your thighs. The current crop of EBikes, the electric-assist bikes that appeal to urban commuters who want an alternative to their car or any other form of transportation that requires them to find parking or buy gas.
For commuters who like the idea of riding a bike to work, but who hate the idea of being sweaty on arrival, Ebikes do just that. The intention here is less on bikes for the spandex crowd and more for those pedaling to a job. Or at least a job interview. These EBikes a great alternative to getting into a car. With improvements in technology (thanks in part to developments on the electric-car front) this trend is moving toward commuters, baby boomers and those who want to shrink their carbon footprints. So when thinking of how to decrease my carbon footprint I thought of cutting out the middle portion of my commute. The small steps do count and as it gets lighter later and warmer during those early mornings you may find me out on the paths more and more.
My A2B Ebike , from UltrMotor, looks very much like a regular bicycle except that it has some very heavy-duty looking components and a wide center stem where its lithium-ion battery (recyclable) is housed. It doesn’t require any kind of license or special permit, as does a motorcycle or scooter. This means that a new buyer could jump on it and get going without any kind of bureaucratic runaround at the DMV .This is also a zero-emissions scooter that just happens to be an electric bike. And the A2B gets lots of attention. When people see me riding it they do a second take and the experience of riding is truly exhilarating.
These bikes are way too much fun. Sure, you can pedal them hard, but faced with a hill on the way home from work, who could resist switching on the juice? My Ebike, the A2B, is extremely easy to ride, stable and solid-feeling. The procedure is simplicity itself. Hop on, turn the key to A or B “on” position, start pedaling and then twist the motorcycle-type throttle and you’re off with lots of zip for climbing hills or cruising at 20 mph. Range is 20 miles, and a full charge takes 3.5 hours. The charger plugs into a wall plug and into a three-point outlet on the side of the bike. And with my new Solar Panels on top of the garage I am really…”riding on Sunshine!”
