PUMPING IRONY: Muscle Bind
I'm learning more about how the muscles in my body work, which is a good thing, since a lot of them are still sore today from my Wednesday workout. The most surprising news? It's the period between workouts when your…
PUMPING IRONY: The Cardio Conundrum
After about a 10-day hiatus, I'm finally feeling back in the swing of things. Winter is (very, very gradually) turning into spring, so I've been able to resume my walking commute, and last night I hit the gym for the first time in what feels this morning like a long, long time (I'm a little sore).
PUMPING IRONY: Backsliding
A nasty cold/flu bug has put me off my game this past week, plus it's been too cold for my normal walking commute, so I'm beginning to feel a little out of sorts, fitness-wise. It's fascinating to see how easily…
PUMPING IRONY: The Fountain of Youth
I’ve never been particularly obsessed about my age, partly because I’ve always looked younger than I really am (which was a huge disadvantage when trying to buy liquor as a teenager).
PUMPING IRONY: 70-lb. Weakling
I mentioned earlier that I'd never set foot in a health club before about a year ago, so it's almost goes without saying that the whole strength training routine remains pretty foreign to me.
PUMPING IRONY: The Trouble With Treadmills
Of course I didn't do any stretching to speak of last night at the gym (see previous post). I mean, I did sort of stretch my calves and hamstrings before I revved up the treadmill, but you're supposed to do…
PUMPING IRONY: Creaky Knees
In the fall of 1998, I blew out my right knee playing basketball. I remember the occasion because it happened around the same time that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham sustained a similar injury. Cunningham was back in the lineup…
PUMPING IRONY: The Little Engine That Could
That nasty northwest wind I mentioned yesterday was out in force this morning, knifing through my corduroys like a hundred icy daggers. Of course, like a good Minnesotan, I just put my head down and pushed on through. Not a…
PUMPING IRONY: A Walk in the Park
I've been a pretty faithful bicycle commuter for the past 30-some years. But, when the first big snow falls here in the Twin Cities, I typically park my bicycle in the garage and rely on the automobile to get to work. I've taken enough spills on the ice over the years to convince me that it's the most prudent approach. Usually, I'm back on the road by April.
Pumpkin Gratin With Pistachios
Recipe excerpted from Vegetable Harvest: Vegetables at the Center of the Plate by Patricia Wells.
PUMPING IRONY: Welcome to Pumping Irony
For most of my 56 years, I've considered myself to be a pretty fit guy -- athletic even. I played seven years of Little League baseball; ran cross-country in junior high, where I also made the baseball, basketball, football, and…
Reducing Inflammation: The Key to Sustaining Healthy Weight Loss
Subsisting on low-calorie foods and skipping meals is no way to lose weight - and no way to live. Instead, we should rid our diets of toxins and inflammatory irritants. As a byproduct of cleaning up our bodies, we'll shed extra pounds.
Embrace a Bold Vision: Transform Your Dreams into Reality
Envision your ideal reality. Be willing to adjust your action plan. Then harness the power of hope to build a better life - and a better world.
A Beginner’s Guide to the Health Club
Feeling adrift in a sea of fitness equipment? Not sure how to best spend your time at the club? Learn the basic components of a balanced workout program, and you’ll put confusion behind you for good.
3 Veggie Main Dish Recipes From Patricia Wells
Stuck thinking of veggies as a side dish — or worse, a garnish? Patricia Wells shows us how to put these delicious, nutritious powerhouses center stage at any meal.
Conscious Bookkeeping: Transform Your Relationship With Money
Determined to take charge of your finances? Having trouble sticking to a budget — or balancing your checkbook? Try Conscious Bookkeeping.
Resolutions Workshop: Support Tactics
You've crafted your New Year's resolutions with care. Now comes the tricky part: translating intention into action — ideally, the ongoing kind. For this, you need more than a wing and a prayer. You need pragmatic support systems and the good sense to put them to work.
A Change for the Better: Sara Snow
Natural lifestyle expert Sara Snow shares her lifelong experience of healthy eating and simple living in hopes of empowering others to make more rewarding and sustainable choices.
How to Build Your Glutes
Weak glutes can wreak havoc on your back, hips and knees, so building a strong bottom should be a top fitness priority.
The Art of Self-Care
Overcoming barriers to self-care can be difficult, especially for women. Here are some tips to make time and space for ourselves.
What, Me Worry?
Last year, I made a weird resolution. I guess it was typical in one respect - that it was intended to end a bad habit and thereby improve my life. But it was also a little odd in that the resolution only pertained to the conversations in my head. I made no commitment to change any of my outward behaviors.