Because I like them

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

I’ve read several reviews the past couple months about the Vibram Five Fingers athletic shoes (maybe “feet gloves” is a more descriptive term). Just about every review I read was favorable, including the one written by Justin, my cyberspace fitness son just for fun, at his blog here: Justin's review of the Vibram FiveFingers at The Bodyweight Files.

About one week ago I sought out and found a store near my office that sold these athletic feet gloves. It took me longer to find the store as I approached the area where it is located than it did for me to try on a pair and make a “business decision” to buy them. While I didn’t time myself, I’m guessing that the elapsed time of walking into the store empty handed and walking out the door wearing my new Vibram FiveFingers KSO was a whopping ten minutes.

I joined the "off the beaten path athlete crowd" and bought a pair because I like them.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Advent Sunday 2009

Today is Sunday and, as usual, Pierini Fitness is closed so the chief executive blogger can rest his body, mind and spirit.

Today is also Advent Sunday 2009. Last year about this time, here's a blogflection where I wrote about Advent Sunday.

Enjoy your Advent Sunday 2009.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Exercise with Mr. Titan

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

A cyberspace fitness sister from a different mister recently asked the question on an internet fitness forum if anyone remembered exercising with Mr. Titan. I was the only person who replied yes.

The Mighty Mr. Titan was a 1965 short-lived syndicated cartoon series consisting of 3½ minute cartoons that promoted physical fitness. The series featured exercises demonstrated by the cartoon character known as Mr. Titan. Kids watching the cartoon were encouraged to exercise along with Mr. Titan and, as a 10-year young boy, I was one of them.

Here's a sample of Mr. Titan in action demonstrating a real world exercise:



Here’s another one:



Thanks for the trip down memory lane Donna. I’m cutting short today’s Pierini Fitness blogflection because I’m off to go exercise with Mr. Titan.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

A retired runner

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Yesterday was the Run to Feed The Hungry, an annual Thanksgiving Day fun-run in Sacramento that attracted about 28,500 runner and walker participants. It’s a very popular early Thanksgiving Day activity and a major fundraising event for a local charitable organization that feeds the homeless offering both a 5k and 10k distance for runners and walkers of all abilities.

I participated in this fun run for several consecutive years and always trained hard for it and ran my guts out on race day. Every year was always about me trying to outperform my previous year’s effort. Some years I did and other years I came up short, but my effort was always my very best.

But now I am an official “retired runner”, a status that I’ve come to grips with despite many years where running was a significant and enjoyable component of my fitness training. Cardio fitness training is now accomplished by other activities, several of which I’ve written about in past Pierini Fitness blogflections.

It’s one of several fitness rites of passage I’ve gone through as I bask in the sunshine of my middle-age manhood. Been there and done it. Check it off. Chasing other fitness pursuits and having fun at it. Call it what you want. That’s what I do. Yup, my name is Pierini and I am a retired runner.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

No turkey on Thanksgiving Day

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

On behalf of Pierini Fitness, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving today and that you enjoy your day however you spend it. If you are like many Americans, it will center on a mega-meal consisting of baked or roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, other fall vegetables and pumpkin pie.

Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of the traditional Thanksgiving Day cuisine. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve eaten my fair share of traditional Thanksgiving Day meals, but mental images of a plate of that food doesn’t make my mouth water even with a belly crying hunger.

In the path that I’ve traveled, there’s been a time or two when my Thanksgiving Day meal consisted of something other than the standard turkey-centered buffet. One time was Thanksgiving Day 2001 when my wife and I exchanged hello greetings with a couple from New York City as we strolled along a street in Fatima, Portugal. A short conversation with this couple followed and ended when they wished us a “Happy Thanksgiving”.

At that moment, my wife and I realized we weren’t mindful of the day it was and that, for us, there would be no turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Eat our age and not our appetite

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Here's a rerun from last year that's good food for thought as the holiday eating season begins with tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day mega-meal.

Holiday gluttony

It's a safe reminder for us middle-age men to remember to eat our age and not our appetite.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

My little white whiskers

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Early in my blogging “career” I wrote about my little gray whiskers to keep me in check from my predisposition of seeing a 16-year old kid when looking in the mirror.

Guess what, for a limited time only, as the above photo indicates, they are back!

Soon I'll need to call them call them "my little white whiskers".

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Your health and wellness toolbox

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

I’ve designed a simple Pierini DIET monthly journal worksheet to record your daily bodyweight and eating time for the first month following this dietary lifestyle. It’s a one-page worksheet PDF document.

Thanks or no thanks to my occupation, I’m a “measurement junkie” and have learned that journaling is a great way to capture data that can be classified and summarized, and then turned into information that can be used to evaluate and make decisions. Currently, I journal my fitness training and have done so continuously for many years. In the past, I’ve maintained dietary journals but don’t do so currently. I wouldn’t hesitate, however, to resume dietary journaling if I ever detected slackness in my dietary discipline or needed to manage my gluttony demon.

If you’d like a copy of this simple monthly journal worksheet, send an e-mail request to pierinifitness@yahoo.com and I’ll send it to you. Think of it as just another tool in your health and wellness toolbox.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Rest in peace JFK

Today is Sunday and, as usual, Pierini Fitness is closed so the chief executive blogger can rest his body, mind and spirit. Visit tomorrow for a new blogflection about a topic yet to be determined but guaranteed to be creative and original.

If you are looking for something to read, 46 years ago today, former U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Here’s an account of my young boy memories of that horrific event: Watching my teacher cry

Rest in peace JFK.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

70 minutes to eat it all

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

In my The Pierini DIET book, I ask the question of how many minutes per day do you spend eating each day? If you’re like most people, you don’t have a clue. How do I know? Because I’ve asked people and most everyone replied that they don’t know. Quite frankly, prior to taking the Pierini DIET for a test drive, I didn’t know how many minutes a day I spent eating.

Last Saturday I kept a record of what I ate and how long I spent eating for the entire day. After beginning my day with a 6:00 a.m. cup of coffee, here’s what did the rest of the day:

Breakfast – An bowl of oatmeal with one tablespoon of flax meal added, followed by one apple – 8:15 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. for 25 minutes.

Lunch – A good-sized plate of homemade pasta with hot Italian sausage with sautéed red onions and sweet peppers in a marinara sauce – 2:25 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. for 20 minutes.

Dinner – Two large guacamole burritos made with flour tortillas followed by a two ounce bar of dark chocolate – 8:20 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. for 25 minutes.

It wasn’t a very good day in the green department but that’s what I ate, and it took 70 minutes to eat it all.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

A furlough Friday

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Since July 2009 in my part of the world, sate government employees stay home without pay for three Friday furlough days per month rather than reporting to work as the State of California uses work furlough as a move intended to save money during its ongoing fiscal crisis. This practice has become commonly known as “Furlough Friday".

While there’s no fiscal crisis at Pierini Fitness, today we are closed so I can see what it feels like to have a furlough Friday.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Thank you for your comments

Earlier this month, a Pierini Fitness blogflection announced that I wrote a short e-book named The Pierini DIET to help middle-age men eat less food and conquer middle-age fatness. Here it is in case you missed it: Introducing The Pierini DIET

Here are some unsolicited comments and testimonials from those who have taken the Pierini DIET for a test drive:

Greg M from Wisconsin writes: “Ed, I love your diet. Printed it out and am utilizing the "milkshakefying" method of consuming food and liquid at the same time. This technique, at least I find, automatically reduces the quantity one would usually consume at a meal by extending the time of mastication. It increases satisfaction too. This is one well thought-out, creative and effective diet. Had to let you know.”

Franklin H from Massachusetts writes: “Hi Ed, Nicely done! There is no doubt that your approach will work on those individuals who truly want to lose weight.”

Andrea from Milano, Italia writes: “Hi Pierini, I read the book. The good point is the “milkshakefying”. This is something I agree on.”

Tom G from California writes: “Great job.”

A person going by the name sixstringsurfer from an internet fitness forum writes: “I’ve done this eating plan for a week now . . . it really does cause me to eat slower and to take smaller bites . . . so far I like the diet.”

Rick G from California writes: “Thanks to your advice, initially with intermittent fasting and now the Pierini DIET, I’ve gone from 218 lbs. to 198 lbs. in 9 weeks.”

Thank you for your comments.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Colorful, delicious and spicy fajitas

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

With all I’ve written about middle-age man training ideas, reflective ramblings and occasional economic and political thoughts, some might not know that I have other talents.

While I’m not a gourmet chef, I do have some cooking skills that definitely go beyond heating up a slab of spam in the microwave or boiling some Ramen noodles. I can cook when needed and periodically do so. I’m also good at cleaning as I cook, a trick I learned back in my teenage job days of working in restaurants.

Years ago I got into making homemade soup, starting from scratch with the broth. My best creations, in my opinion, were minestrone soup and chicken corn tortilla soup. I haven’t made either of these soups in several years as I’ve become increasingly lazy with middle-age manhood. It’s very time-consuming to make homemade soup from scratch and do it right.

My latest culinary efforts include a pasta dish with Italian hot sausage, sweet peppers and red onions sautéed together in a pan of olive oil along with basil and oregano spices for accent flavor. That effort came out so delicious that I just about ate the entire dish myself, something I’ve been known to do.

I like my cooked food to be colorful like another dish I recently prepared about two weeks ago. It’s a beef fajita dish made with tri-tip sirloin steak cooked in a sizzling hot pan of olive oil along with sweet peppers, red onions and green beans. I use some basil, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano and a dash of salt to give the steak some fire, flavor and punch. I like to eat my homemade fajitas with flour tortillas but they’re just as good with corn tortillas.

All middle-age men athletes in training need to eat like athletes and that’s what I do when I cook and eat my colorful, delicious and spicy fajitas.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

My friend Tom

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Sunday I returned to California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) to watch my friend Tom compete in the 46th Annual Golden West Open Olympic Weightlifting Competition. I graduated from CSUS in 1979 before Tom was born. Tom is my “fitness son just for fun” who was born around the same year as my son – circa 1980.

I met Tom at my alma mater gym, Bodytribe, a little over one year ago. He was about 135 lbs. dripping wet when we first met and hadn’t begun his Olympic weightlifting journey. What motivated him to go that route I’m not sure but maybe it was him watching me in my clumsy efforts with the Olympic lifts.

During one of my last workouts at Bodytribe, I brought a friend as a guest to train with me. His name is Rick and he’s the person doing that Sprint 8 workout featured in yesterday’s Pierini Fitness blogflection. I introduced Rick to Tom by telling Rick that when I met Tom about one year ago I was stronger than him but now he is stronger than me. I then went on to say that when I met Tom I was better looking than him and still am one year later. That drew a laugh from both of them.

Anyway, Tom is now about 15 pounds heavier, stronger, and his Olympic weightlifting performance continues to improve by the day. He had a great day at the competition and I have the video to prove it below:



You did great Tom. Keep up the good work, train smart and be safe. Even though I don’t train at Bodytribe anymore like you do, you’ll always be my friend Tom.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

The super-tough Sprint 8 workout

On Saturday, I visited my former neighborhood for some business and a friend who I am mentoring in his health and wellness journey accompanied me. For lack of a better term, I'm his "official coach". He's making good fitness progress and is always willing to test my training ideas. Recently, I told him about a hill sprint workout I use to do when I lived in my old neighborhood - with its rolling hills - called Sprint 8. This Sprint 8 workout is explained in the book Ready Set GO! Synergy Fitness by Phil Campbell.

Sprint 8 is basically a high-intensity sprinting workout consisting of 8 rounds of 30 second sprints followed by 90 to 120 seconds of walking recovery. Each round of sprinting is suppose to be a little more intense than the previous round. Doing the sprints on a hill guarantees this progressive intensity.

Here’s a short video of my friend in action:

Watching him in action reminded me of how tough this workout is. I’m a retired runner but cheering him on and reflecting on my “good old days” makes me want to give it another try, the super-tough Sprint 8 workout.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Repeat of Never on Sunday

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Regular readers of Pierini Fitness know that predicable blogflection they'll find when knocking on the front door on Sunday; you know, the standard "today is Sunday and Pierini Fitness is closed so the chief executive blogger can rest his body, mind and spirit".

In reviewing my Sunday blogflection archives, I was reminded of this one, from last year, that is among my favorites: Never on Sunday.

I hope you enjoyed this repeat of Never on Sunday.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

An introduction to Fletcherism

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Last week I received an e-mail from a person in Milan, Italy who earlier had requested a copy of The Pierini DIET. This person gave me some helpful feedback along with a comment that some of its concepts are similar to “Fletcherism”.

My Italian cyberspace friend sent me a PDF copy of a book written by Horace Fletcher at the turn of the 20th century titled "FLETCHERISM: WHAT IS IS; OR HOW I BECAME YOUNG AT SIXTY”. The book is a whopping 179 pages in length in sharp contrast to the 22 page The Pierini DIET.

Horace Fletcher (1849-1919) was an American health-food faddist who earned the nickname “The Great Masticator” by arguing that food should be chewed thirty two times – or, about 100 times per minute – before being swallowed. One of his famous saying was “Nature will castigate those who don’t mastigate.”

It’s true that chewing your food slowly to “milkshakefy” it before swallowing is one of the techniques of the Pierini DIET but there’s more to the diet than that.

One of the first things that caught my attention in reading this book is what Horace Fletcher described as the following five principles of Fletcherism for optimum nutrition:

First - Wait for a true, earned appetite.

Second - Select from the food available that which appeals most to appetite, and in the order called for by appetite.

Third - Get all the good taste there is in food out of it in the mouth, and swallow only when it practically "swallows itself".

Fourth - Enjoy the good taste for all its worth, and do not allow any depressing or diverting thoughts to intrude upon the ceremony.

Fifth - Wait; take and enjoy as much as possible what appetite approves. Nature will do the rest.

I'll share more as I read the book so today's blogflection is just an introduction to Fletcherism.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Giving my posterior chain a rest

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

During high school and college, I dodged science courses and took the path of least resistance to graduate. In college, for example, I was required to take two science classes which I fulfilled by taking a nutrition class and an ecology class; I saved the anatomy, biology, physiology and other tough courses for those who really wanted to learn science.

In my fitness journey, I’ve read a lot and learned a little about anatomy and physiology, including the common and formal names for various bones and muscles in my body. One term I’ve learned is “posterior chain” that describes a group of muscles, tendons and ligaments, on the posterior kinetic chain of the body. Examples of these muscles include the biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, erector spinae muscle group, trapezius, posterior deltoids, and so on. The primary exercises for developing the posterior chain are the Olympic lifts, squat, good mornings, deadlifts and hyperextension with the common denominator among these movements being an emphasis on hip extension.

My training thus far this week on Monday and Wednesday focused on the Olympic lifts, but I also did squats and kettlebell swings on both days. In other words, I worked my posterior chain pretty good on both of these training days. Ask my muscles and they’ll tell you.

Today is Friday and I’m debating whether I’ll train today or take another day of rest and train tomorrow. One thing is certain, regardless of when I train and what I do; I’ll be giving my posterior chain a rest.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Give me 2:02

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

As a retired runner, I have many fond memories of long and hard runs that tested my anaerobic conditioning to its maximum. Nowadays, my cardio training is short and intense, as in 5 minutes or less at the end of my workouts.

About 6 weeks ago, I finally grabbed the kettlebell, a fitness tool that I was well aware of but had avoided for reasons I don't know for sure. Since I was, and still am, sporting a bum right shoulder, my first attempt with the kettlebell was the 2-handed swing, perhaps the most common introductory kettlebell movement in that world. It's also shoulder friendly.

My first kettlebell cardio closer was a single set of 2-handed swings using a 24kg kettlebell for 54 reps to honor my current age. That was a tough introductory set but I liked it and came back for more. Here's a cardio closer workout from about 4 weeks ago, my 3rd cardio closer session, where I swing the 24kg kettlebell for 58 reps:

That swing session took about 2:02 to complete 58 reps. My plan was to complete 54 reps but I had counting problems due to stage fright.

I've since raised the bar and am now doing a cardio closer of 100 reps for time using the 24kg kettlebell. Last Monday afternoon, I completed 100 swings in 4:21 for a new personal best. It's a "tough as nails" workout for me as I continue to raise the bar and lower my time. At this point, I think I need a cheerleader to cheer me on to improve my time.

For those who say that cardio is boring and time-consuming, I'll prove otherwise to you if you give me 2:02.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Salute to all past and present veterans

Folks I’m taking the day off to honor all veterans like me so today’s Pierini Fitness blogflection is a repeat of last year’s that you can read here: Veterans Day

It’s my respectful salute to all past and present veterans.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Worldwide middle-aged man obesity

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

Former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore is well known for his educational crusade about the threat of, and solutions to, global warming. He’s the author of An Inconvenient Truth, a best-selling book and top documentary film on this subject. These days, Al Gore is synonymous with global warming. I’m sure he’s made and is making millions of dollars pursuing this cause.

Less is known, however, about the quiet fitness ministry in progress - by the chief executive blogger of Pierini Fitness and the self-appointed ambassador of middle-aged men around the world - to end worldwide middle-aged man obesity. The cyberspace introduction of his first book last week, The Pierini DIET, marked the beginning of the "ambassador's" fitness ministry of conquering worldwide middle-aged man obesity.

What also isn’t known is the relationship between middle-aged man obesity and global warming. To the extent that The Pierini DIET puts a dent in worldwide middle-aged man obesity, it will also make a significant contribution of reducing greenhouse gases and, thus, global warming that will make Al Gore happy.

How is this possible you say? Glad you asked.

You see, while cattle flatulence has been identified as one of the causes of greenhouse gases and, thus, global warming, less has been said or written about middle-aged man obesity’s contribution to middle-aged man flatulence and it’s cause of greenhouse gases and, thus, global warming. While not supported by credible scientific evidence, the “ambassador” believes that obese middle-aged men produce more flatulence than other middle-aged men and, therefore, contribute more to greenhouse gases and global warming.

Additionally, obese middle-aged men sit on their rear ends more and this generates more global heat than other middle-aged men. This also contributes to greenhouse gases and global warming.

To the extent that following The Pierini DIET reduces middle-aged man obesity, a significant decrease in greenhouse gases and global warming will result.

Please join the chief executive blogger of Pierini Fitness, self-appointed ambassador of middle-aged men around the world, and author of The Pierini DIET as he joins former Vice President Al Gore in combating greenhouse gases and global warming. He’ll do so with his fitness ministry of conquering worldwide middle-aged man obesity.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Testing my overhead

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

For what seems like forever, I’ve been sporting a bum right shoulder that has prevented me doing overhead work in my training. I’m nothing more than a meathead in knowing what the problem is, but I describe it as an injured right anterior deltoid muscle. People tell me to go get it checked out, and I probably should, but my seasoned experience in training injuries is that rest and time are the best healers. I’m not foolish enough to avoid professional consultation and treatment if my body told me I was seriously injured. That’s not the case here.

Anyway, after being patient for several weeks (I’m too lazy to review my training journals and count how many), I decided to test the waters during my second workout at my new gym. So last Friday, after an extended shoulder flexibility and warm-up “investment”, I decided that there’s no better way to test my shoulders than performing the Olympic-style squat snatch and that is what I did as follows (all loads in lbs.): 45x3 – 55x3 – 55x3 – 55x3 – and then 89x1 completing 10 singles in 11 attempts.

The following Saturday morning, I accompanied my wife to the gym and decided to self-administer a second “how’s my shoulder doing?” test. This time it was the Olympic-style clean and jerk and this is what I did (again all loads in lbs.): 89x3 – 89x3 – 133x3 – 133x3 – 133x3. Afterwards, I performed a set of 3 reps of a left-handed push press using a 24kg kettlebell but did not attempt a set on my right side. My shoulder said “No!”

These loads were very light but safe and wise, and I’m glad I chose them and decided not to go heavier. My test results indicate that I’m not 100 percent yet but capable of some cautious and measured low-volume overhead work. That’s what I’ll be doing this week but will error on the side of caution.

Slowly but surely, my shoulder is on the road to recovery. I was pleased with my effort and performance in testing my overhead.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Closed on Sunday

See you tomorrow. Today is Sunday and Pierini Fitness is closed on Sunday.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

There I am

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

For the last year, I’ve trained at Bodytribe, an eclectic gym off the beaten path a stone’s throw from where I live in midtown Sacramento. Peer into its dimly lit storefront location on any random weeknight and you’ll see paintings hanging on the walls, plants surrounding a sofa in the corner, and rock music playing on the stereo.

A handful of midtown characters, many of whom are musicians and artists, will be inside, but they won’t be drinking coffee or chatting. Instead, you’ll see them lifting heavy things and carrying them around the room. Bodytribe prides itself on its no mirrors of the wall, no cardio machines and no pink dumbbells fitness training atmosphere; instead it offers a selection of clubbells, kettlebells and other outside-the-box training apparatus to kick a tough guy’s fitness butt big time.

I’ve met great training friends at Bodytribe and challenged myself in ways that are different. Earlier this week, however, I reluctantly moved on to a different gym.

I switched to The Capitol Athletic Club, perhaps the premier fitness club in Sacramento, a stone’s throw from the California State Capitol and a longer stone’s throw from where I live. It’s a 52,000 square feet fitness compound offering state-of-the-art equipment and many personal amenities. While they have lots of stuff I won’t be using, I’ll definitely take advantage of the free shoe shine service from time to time.

My wife asked me to join with her so that we could go to the gym together. She’s not Bodytribe material. She’s had health problems and wants to incorporate more fitness training in her health and wellness journey and The Capitol Athletic Club is the best place for her.

This place has a cardio training room that reminds me of a new car dealer’s showroom. Drop in during prime time and it looks like Friday afternoon rush hour commute traffic on a southern California freeway. What matters to me is that they have an Olympic lifting platform, rubber plates and a drop environment plus kettlebells, the training tools that I’ve been using as of late.

Writing and sending an e-mail to Chip Conrad, the owner of Bodytribe, was gut-wrenching because I’ve really enjoyed my stay there and all my Bodytribe fitness brothers and sisters. But in the final analysis, I love my wife more than I like Bodytribe so I honored her request.

Deep down inside, I'm a loyalist and resist change but, by the same token, resilient.

Wednesday was my first day training at my new club and I did a combo of back squats, front squats, pull-ups and chin-ups for six rounds. Not a whole lot different than what I did a week earlier at Bodytribe. You could have blindfolded me during this workout and I wouldn’t noticed any difference except for the pink dumbells that were winking at me for attention while I was looking at myself in the gym mirror.

Life goes on. The more things change the more they seem the same. Wherever I go, there I am.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Needed health care reform

Abortion is not health care because taking the life of an unborn infant is not healing.

For over 30 years, the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding and widely supported laws have prevented federal funding of elective abortions. Yet health care reform bills advancing through Congress violate this policy.

An elective abortion is like elective cosmetic surgery such as a “face lift” or “tummy tuck” – it’s not a life-protecting and medically necessary procedure. As taxpayers, we shouldn’t have to pay for someone’s elective cosmetic surgery and we shouldn’t have to pay for someone’s elective abortion.

The current health care reforms bills would force Americans to subsidize abortions through their taxes and health insurance premiums.

We need genuine health care reform that saves lives, not destroy them.

Tell your Congressional representative and senators to remove abortion funding and mandates from needed health care reform.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

When you can stand

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

I’ve always made fun of those television infomercials - generally targeted to women - selling exercise gadgets used while sitting or lying down. You’ve seen these gadgets, like the ab roller and the classic thigh master here:



While, I’ll be the first to admit that there are many challenging and worthwhile exercises performed sitting or lying down, my fitness training workouts, including those I prescribe to others, do not include these exercises. Since I sit for a living, my preference is to be upright and standing when I train. That’s not to say that I never train from a sitting or supine position, but only that I prefer to stand or be heading in that direction.

I'll also be the first to admit that performing exercises sitting or lying down is the right thing to do for some people including injured warriors and those with physical limitations.

My current training includes barbell work rather than exercise machines that, generally, seem to be used from a sitting or supine position.

My fitness training exercises are generally selected using the rule of don’t lie when you can sit and don’t sit when you can stand.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

So you decide

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

During a recent conversation with a middle-age man in training who I’m mentoring to good fitness and health, I stressed that he focus on training and eating to be an athlete. This was my seat-of-the-pants comment to give him focus in his journey of losing bodyweight and reclaiming his fitness.

Train to be an athlete and all the benefits of that hard work will result – a healthy bodyweight, physical fitness and mental clarity to name a few.

It all begins when looking in the mirror each morning, and telling yourself that you’re an athlete. It continues throughout the day in the foods you choose to eat, and how you politely tell someone “no thank you” who offers you food or a snack you choose not to eat. Like during those office holiday potlucks loaded with cakes, cookies, candies, ice cream, chocolates, crackers and chips – what I call my 7 forbidden C foods. Your “no thank you I’m an athlete” reply to their offer to “have some” is your athlete message of good fitness and health.

It continues during moments of mental weakness when you ponder skipping a planned gym workout because you’re tired. Rather than skipping that workout because you’re too weak and tired to do it all, you settle for a quick something-is-better-than nothing workout because you’re an athlete.

Author Dan Millman wrote about this much better in one of his books The Inner Athlete that I owned and read several years ago. His book looks at the psychology behind the search for athletic excellence, and shows anyone how to improve skills, accelerate learning, and unleash their athletic potential. The skills it teaches are applicable not only in sports, but in daily life -- transforming training into a path of personal growth and discovery.

The old saying that “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” applies here. Don’t be shy when telling everyone that you’re an athlete, and don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not an athlete, including YOU. Guess what? You're an athlete, whether you want to be or not – either an athlete in training or an athlete in remission.

You’re the boss so you decide.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

A poor substitute for a real life

Introducing the Pierini DIET here

An internet fitness forum I visit had an interesting topic that began with someone asking a question if obsession is the key to success. My internet fitness friend asking this question commented that he gets results when he becomes almost obsessed with a thing. He further added that it seems those who become obsessed with something, to the exclusion of nearly everything else, are the only ones who seem to have something to show for their time.

The topic discussion continued when this person shared that this question applied to his fitness because his interest in working out seems to “wax and wane”. He asked another question of what if we could predict or even regulate those peaks and valleys by choosing a period of time to stay focused on a particular area, and learn to make that our designated obsession.

Never shy of expressing my thoughts about anything and everything under the sun, I believe it is an all-or-nothing mindset that sabotages our fitness training during busy times. I've written about this self-defeating mindset before. It's the mindset that if I can't do the whole darn workout then I won't do anything at all, and contributes to continuing fitness erosion during the busy times when life gets in the way of our training.

Embracing the something is better than nothing mindset solves the problem. Everyone has time for five minutes of fitness training. Something is better than nothing.

I prefer the words desire or zeal rather than obsession with regard to success, both measured of course for sustainability.

Another fitness brother from a different mother added his perspective that drove home a point with me, sharing that he’s known individuals who were really obsessed with fitness or a given sport performance to the point where their obsession was taking precedence over the rest of their life and family. While acknowledging that their obsession sometimes gives them spectacular results, it will also eventually lead them to being on the “injured list” sooner or later.

As he once told a young judoka, a top prize in competition is a poor substitute for a real life.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

Introducing the Pierini DIET

I've written a short e-book named The Pierini DIET. It's a middle-age man's measured approach to helping you eat less food and conquering middle-age fatness.

If you're not fat and don't eat too much food then this book may not be of interest to you, but maybe for someone you know.

While written from a middle-age man’s perspective, this e-book is for anyone who wants help to eat less food.

People get fat and obese because they eat too much.  The Pierini DIET and it's measured coaxing approach helps you decrease the time you spend eating. The amount of food you eat is a function of the time you devote to eating. You eat too much food when you devote too much time to eating.

Fitness is my ministry so this e-book is free if you say please. Send your e-mail address to me at pierinifitness@gmail.com, say please, and I'll send you a free copy. The only favor I ask in return is that you give it an honest read and share your comments. If you decide to take The Pierini DIET for a test drive, I'd appreciate you sharing your experiences and success with it.

Here's a short video introducing The Pierini DIET:

Thank you for this cyberspace pleasure of introducing The Pierini DIET.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

A special announcement

Today is Sunday and, as usual, Pierini Fitness is closed so the chief executive blogger can rest his body, mind and spirit.

Today is also All Saint's Day, a holy day of obligation for Catholics like me. The Pierini Fitness blogflection for November 1st last year was about All Saint's Day and I'm presenting it again here: All Saint's Day .

Visit Pierini Fitness tomorrow for a special announcement.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum