Waistline whine May 2, 2008

Nothing soothes and signals the day’s coming to a close like my nightly glass of red wine.

In the years since I’ve discovered this lovely evening ritual, I’ve wondered/worried/felt guilty about the caloric damage. Sure, every month when I open the newest issues of my fitness mags, I see blurbs about the cardiovascular and neurological benefits. And I know that a glass of red is a better caloric deal than a pitcherful of margaritas. The reality is, though, I’m a girl trying to avoid my genetic destiny to be overweight, and one glass sometimes leads to pantry noshing that wouldn’t take place if I were sipping hot tea with lemon. It’s the collateral damage that’ll get you.

Recently, though, I stopped drinking for a month, while continuing to eat relatively healthily and exercise four or more times a week. Imagine my surprise when the scale went up about 3 pounds - by all accounts it should have headed in the opposite direction. I attributed it to other things, but this week - all variables the same - I’ve gotten back to my habit and the scale settled back where it had been.

I guess I’ll jettison that guilt now . . .

Genetically blessed, or outright liar? You decide. April 25, 2008

In the most recent issue of US Weekly, 29-year-old Josie Maran claims she maintains her 112-pound post-baby physique with only two sessions of yoga a week. That and a hefty dose of starvation is my guess. Perhaps frolicking in a bikini next to a bunch of 19- to 21-year-olds is the motivation I need to stop eating completely.

At least shoot-mate Christina Milian admits to a more realistic workout schedule - “45 minutes of cardio, plus weights, squats and 500 situps, 5 days a week!” and hints at her diet strategies of upping veggie intake, ditching Oreos, and limiting carbs.

Old-school intensity April 25, 2008

It seems like daily we hear news of how exercise delays aging, but here’s a new twist: Today Reuters is reporting that middle-aged folks and oldsters who pay particular attention to increasing exercise intensity may reap significant benefits.

In a review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers say:

“Studies of aerobic training response in older people have shown that workouts, especially more intense physical activity maintained for a longer duration, can improve aerobic power. In fact, seven studies of this type of exercise found people’s aerobic power increased nearly 25 percent — equivalent to reversing 12 years’ worth of aging-related loss of fitness.

. . . Other positive spin-offs of aerobic fitness include reduced risks of serious illness, faster recovery after injury or illness, and reduced risks of falls due to maintenance of muscle power, balance and coordination.”

Considering both of my grandmothers are still kicking it into their mid-80s despite bouts of cancer and diabetes, I figure those burpees and kettlebell swings could see me well past the 100 mark, right?

Fighting for my life April 25, 2008

After a few months of stumbling along without direction in the gym, lately I have been loving Josh Hillis’ fighter workouts - these killer workouts take just 15 minutes (not including rest time, which I guarantee you will NEED).

Hillis provides six free workouts for the email asking, but according to his website, he’s coming out with a whole book of these circuit-style strength workouts soon. For the freebie versions, all you need are a few dumbbells and a place to do pull-ups. Easy peasy.

The first two times I did these I spent the 3-minute rest period panting on the floor, especially after the burpees. Burpees! Who does those? Initially I felt like I should don my fugly 8th-grade zip-up one-piece gym uniform, some Keds, and a scrunchie.

But I did them anyway, and even with the scrunchie’s aid, they sucked. But in a good, I’m-hurting-myself-for-the-greater-good-of-my-ass way.

Just don’t plan to climb stairs afterward. Or wash your hair. Or anything else that requires leg or arm movements.