Fitness Men Model Elliot Tittensor

Amasing nylon legs in heels :-)

Curing the Obesity Epidemic One Beatdown at a Time

In a shocking display of honesty or hubris (both?), the immensely likable Robert Verdi recently said, "A lot of women say 'I should've been alive when Ruben was because I'm Rubenesque.' So times have changed. There are different cultural norms and values and beauty identities, and the fact that thin is in — who cares? It's why I stopped eating. I think food is for fat people and poor people. Rich people don't eat. They get dressed up and go shopping." [Emphasis mine.]

Dear Robert,
I adored you on Trading Spaces. And The Fashion Police was a guilty pleasure of mine for quite a while. I've heard (though not seen as I have a policy of never watching the movie version of a book I have enjoyed) that you were utterly charming on The Devil Wears Prada. If there was ever a man I would want to give me a much-needed makeover, it would be you! You are the rare makeover artist who can transform a person - or their personal space - without making them feel bad about themselves. That's a gift, sir. But even all of that love for your spunky knits and weird headware cannot make me overlook this.

Because this is a serious problem. See: Food is for people people. All people. This attitude that eating represents a loss of self control and is only for the déclassé is abhorrent. With one fell swoop you hurt poor people, fat people, eating disordered people, normal-weight-but-afraid-of-becoming fat people and pretty much everyone else within the sound of your voice that isn't part of the pill-n-party LA culture. As a woman of normal - sometimes even "low" - weight, I must tell you that your statement makes me sick to my stomach. Not from revulsion. From fear. I live in constant terror that were I to gain weight, I would no longer be deserving of love. It's was a primary factor in my eating disorder and remains a great source of income for my therapist. (That's me, stimulating our economy one mental health professional at a time!)

You may think you are just stating the facts ma'am but the problem is that we have created a culture where people would rather die than be fat. Why? Because it has become acceptable, praiseworthy even, to abuse, belittle and humiliate people for their weight. Take the recent case of Marsha Coupe, a British woman who was beaten to a bloody pulp by another woman for the crime of taking up two seats on a train. There are so many horrible things about this incident: First, that the attacker was another woman; Second, that the train was practically empty; Third, that the motive for the attack was clearly and specifically targeted to the victim's weight as evidenced by the attacker screaming, "You big fat pig" before kicking Coupe in the face.

Coupe explains, "The government and the press have created an atmosphere where people think they have a legitimate right to go up to an overweight person and tell them how to live their lives. To them we are all the anonymous pictures of fat people they see in the papers and are the cause of all society's ills, as well as a drain on the NHS. We deserve what we get. We're not people with feelings."

So back to you Robert - your statement that fat people are not deserving of one of the most basic human rights, food, is exactly how we get to thinking that overweight people deserve whatever abuse people see fit to heap upon them because in the end it's "for their own good." If only we all had the self control to just blithely give up food like you! Psychologist Ros Taylor takes on this sadly prevalent attitude saying, "There is true aggression towards overweight people and it comes down to fear and a complete lack of understanding of the issue. People think 'I can control what I put in my mouth so why can't they'. But we're not all the same, we don't all start from the same point."

I'd like to think you were just being glib and silly, in the way that you so often got people to laugh at the silly and unflattering clothing they were hanging on to. Except that your statement and the attack on Marsha Coupe are two sides of the same soul-destroying coin. This time people are getting hurt, really hurt and it's not entertainment anymore. So I say with love: Please shut up.

Sincerely,
Charlotte

Miguel Cotto's training diary

Cotto: "I am a more mature fighter".........both on a personal and professional level -- for his Nov. 14 clash with Manny Pacquiao. Cotto offers intimate details of his training camp in Tampa Bay, Fla., and opens the doors to his gym for a look at his intense daily routine.........By Miguel Cotto

I am training very hard. The camp's going great. We are only three weeks away, or about 19 days away from the fight. What I do basically is run, I run a lot in the morning and then I rest. I train in the afternoon and then I rest again. On Tuesdays and Fridays I have a massage session. The rest of the time is about resting and trying to have a good time in the house.


We rented a house -- a big house -- and that's where we're staying. The gym that we go to is about 10 minutes away from the house.

My team consists of Joe Santiago, Brian Pérez, my father Miguel Cotto, my mother and no one else. My family and my kids have come to see me on two occasions, and now I won't see them until the day of the fight, when I will meet them in Las Vegas.


We rest all day Sunday and train from Monday through Saturday. When we have a chance, we all go out together. We visit the malls, the movie theaters. I was unable to watch the [Argentinian soccer derby] River versus Boca game last Sunday, but I always follow River [Cotto has become a fan through his trainer, Miguel Díaz, and River's fan club in Puerto Rico. Miguel has worn River Plate's jersey in the ring prior to many of his fights]. But I spend all my time practically between the gym and the house.

I chose Tampa because we trained here for the fight against [Joshua] Clottey, our last fight. We really liked it here, and that's why we're back. The weather is practically the same as in Puerto Rico. This is one of the reasons why we chose Tampa.

Many years ago I fought in Tampa in the pre-Olympic tournament. That was 10 years ago. Now, I am a more mature fighter, a fighter that has completely changed his style since his amateur days to my current professional days. I have changed a lot; I have grown, I have gained a lot of maturity, and I have established myself as a person. Those are the main changes that I've seen in me.

Miguel Cotto will fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14.

"Twenty thing's you need to know about Harry Joe Yorgey"

"Twenty thing's you need to know about Harry Joe Yorgey"

Interview done October,25Th, 2009

1) What is the current mood of your training camp about two weeks away from fight night?

Yorgey: Extremely positive and upbeat. We are just about finished sparring so staying sharp and making weight are what we focus on from here on out.




2) Can you take us through a day of training.

Yorgey: Training can vary depending on the day and goals we set in the morning. Here is one of my typical routines:

3-5 mile distance run
sprints
gym training of either 3, 6, 18, or 24 minute straight rounds of each activity(shadow box, hit the mitts, speed bag, heavy bag)
strength & conditioning(flipping 400lb tires, sledge hammer seat-ups, speed push-ups, 1,000 punches in 3 minute rounds)



3) Boxing is guilty of hanging on to some out dated training routines, can you tell us if you incorporate any training that some would consider outside the traditional ways of preparing for a fight?

Yorgey: We hit the big tires with a 20 lb baseball bat to increase torque for both my wrists and punches.




4) Do you feel weight training has a part in boxing? Do you train with weights when preparing for a fight?

Yorgey: Yes. My camp focuses on high reps with all light weight. For example, we will do sets of 100 curls with 20lb weights or 100lbs on bench press at 21 reps with little or no rest in between sets when switching activity.



5) What is your impression of Alfredo Angulo? What do you think it takes to beat him?

Yorgey: He's tough fighter that tries to run guys out of ring with constant pressure. I just need to stick to the game plan, as keeping him turning. The keys for me are outboxing him and sticking to the body.



6) Heart or skill? Some fighters have a huge heart and lack skill like Jessie "james" Hughes. He had the heart of 3 men, Some fighters have plenty of skill but can't take a punch. What is more important in a fighter, heart or skill?

Yorgey: First of all, each and every fighter has heart to step into the ring. You can have all the guts in the world but skill will overtake that any day of the week. However, being in top physical shape can compensate for lack of skill and can lead to victory, as fighting consistently from round 1 until the end is critical.



7) Some boxing fans outside of PA may not realize how you give of yourself to the community (Forman mills event, children Baptist service & Joey Tomchick) Why is it important to you to give back to your community and individuals by making special appearances?

Yorgey: Even though I'm on TV fights and the fame is really picking up, I will never lose my desire to help others out, as that is what I'm all about. God has graced me with this talent, which has led to the opportunity to do just that. Its not all about making money, but rather using my talent as a platform to encourage others to make the right choices and always strive to make your dreams a reality. Boxing or not, I would still be helping people in some way, shape or form.


8) Your best punch?

Yorgey: Contrary to popular belief, its my jab. Its fast and hard and will be on display come Nov 7Th. I have knocked guys out using both hands with uppercuts and hooks, which makes it hard for folks to believe its my jab.



9) Describe your boxing style.

Yorgey: I'm definitely a boxer/puncher who is very smart inside the ring and can adapt to any style. I have been told that I'm like a trainer in the ring and that my boxing smarts are second to none.


10) Harry Joe Yorgey vs ?, would be your dream fight? Me personally, I would like to see you get a crack at sergio martinez.

Yorgey: It would be Oscar De La Hoya but he retired before I made my way to him. I only want to fight guys ranked top 10 in the world from here on out.



11) Tell us about the team you surround yourself with.

Yorgey: My camp consists of Jack and John Loew, John Hutter and my terrific cut-man Sid. They are all 100% committed to me both in and out of the gym. They have tons of experience and I feel really comfortable training with them.
Banner Promotions is also a huge part of my success over the past few years, as CEO Artie Pellulo is also personal friend of mine whom I share a great relationship. I wouldn't have it any other way, as this is third TV fight since signing with them, which gives me the opportunity to shine in the spotlight.



12) To this point in your career what was you toughest fight and what stands out to you about it?

Yorgey: Back in 2004, I fought a guy at the Blue Horizon who broke my jaw in two places in the first round. I couldn't even make a fist and had to slap my way to victory by dancing around and picking my spots. Just like back then, I still refuse to lose, as the warrior inside of me takes over in the ring during every fight.




13) Can you tell us who your sparring with in preparation for Alfred Angulo.

Yorgey: I have sparred with a variety of sparring partners with contrasting styles, including both veterans and younger guys. Our main focus is working on strategy with guys who fight just like him, coming forward and trying to will their way to victory.



14) Without giving too much away how do you deal with Alfred Angulo's stalking style? He reminds me a bit of Australian brawler Jeff Fenech, his defense is his offense and a tremendous punch out put.

Yorgey:I plan on neutralizing him with movement & and a steady dose of hard peppered jabs. I will do my best to show different angles and just adapt to the situation. Look, he's never fought me and never got hit by by me, so only time will tell what will happen. Without giving away my fight strategy, just know that I plan on landing several clean shots. It should be a great fight considering the clash of our styles.



15) Advice you would give young fighters?

Yorgey: Stay in the gym and only take 2 weeks off max after each fight. If and when you turn professional, be sure not not let somebody else run your career, as your the guy taking punches and getting in that ring. All decisions should be made together with your full team, and everyone should in agreement to do what is best for your career.



16) What does Harry do when not training?

Yorgey: I golf, coach youth football, train all types of fighters at the Renzo Gracie PA Academy in Hatfield. But most importantly, I spend time with family and kids.



17) As a huge dog lover myself and owner of two boxers and a pit bull terrier, I couldn't help notice on your web site your dog. American bulldog?

Yorgey: That was my dog Hagler, named after my favorite boxer, who died a few years ago. Since then, I had a Shepherd who died tragically but now I have a big old female Mastiff named Lexi. I love dogs and plan on getting another one soon.



18) Harry what's your weight between fights?

Yorgey: 168lbs



19) How is your weight 15 days out?

Yorgey: About 5-6 lbs higher at 159-160, but during camp we shed two pounds a week. I just started a new nutritional program called 8 weeks out, which focuses on muscle endurance, strength and conditioning. Its my first camp using it and my energy levels are at an all time high. I highly recommend checking it out.



20) Harry, tons of your fans are heading up to Hartford for this fight...any shout outs?

Yorgey: I am always happy and grateful to have the best fans in the world. The crowd in CT will sway towards me if there to see me, as was the case in TN during my Aug 2008 bout. I would like to send a big Thank-You to everyone, and rest assure that I will put 1000% into all my fights. My fans notoriously overtake the other fans in the arena, just like I overtake the opponent. Please continue to support and follow me on my website, HarryYorgey.net, as I love hearing feedback, interacting, and being visible in the community.

Harry the best of luck to you, your team and your family. Thanks for taking the time out.


Richard-
(Note) WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: CHAD DAWSON VS. GLEN JOHNSON II AND ALFREDO ANGULO VS. HARRY JOE YORGEY is presented live on HBO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (9:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. PT) from the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

The Supplement Your Personal Trainer Won't Tell You About

Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight I'd like to present to you to the 1992 winner of Molecule of the Year. (Yes, that's an actual award. No, I don't think you get a trophy or a modeling contract out of it. Yes, I know I'm a geek.)

Nitric Oxide (NO)
Tired of getting confused with it's hilarious-at-parties-but-really-vacuous-cousin N2O (a.k.a. laughing gas), this sexy little number plays a big part both in polluting our atmosphere and in running our central nervous system. It is also involved with how much hair you lose, penile erections, and acclimating to high altitudes. But aside from these nifty accomplishments, NO has another very interesting effect - it is one of the best vasodilators we have.

A vasodilator means that it works on the inner lining of your blood vessels to open them up by relaxing your smooth muscles and thereby increasing blood flow. It is frequently used in hospitals, particularly in pediatric units to treat babies with meconium inhalation lung problems. (For those of you who've not had a baby, meconium is the tar-like first poop that your precious little nugget excretes soon after birth. Incidentally only one of many strange substances that will ooze, spew and dribble from various orifices in said nugget. Some babies, however, poop while still in the womb. They then breathe in the meconium which can cause all kinds of problems.)

Who Cares?
You do. And here's why: it's become one of the hottest muscle building supplements on the market. That's right, one of the worst pollutants known to mankind and simultaneously a wonder pediatric drug, is being used to Pump You Up.

What does it do for you, exactly? According to one product, N.O. -Xplode, it does everything but cure malaria and solve Rubix cubes blind-folded. Bask in the unfettered (and unedited) hyperbole:

"N.O.-XPLODE is an extreme pre-training energy and performance igniter. From the very first serving you will experience elevated physical and mental energy, muscle-expanding pumps, unparalleled strength and stamina; not to mention tunnel-vision like mental focus, allowing you to zone in and have the best training session possible. By combining all of these benefits in one knock-out formula, you will experience a level of training intensity that you never thought was imaginable, getting you physically and mentally dialed in for the training session of a lifetime; leaving those days of lack-luster workouts behind. Once you train with N.O.-XPLODE, you will never train without it! NO-Xplode has the unique ability to get you dialed in and pumped up for every single workout by inducing a strong and advanced nitric oxide, creatine, and body-mind stimulating surge."

(Note to N.O. Xplode - I realize that spelling is not your strong suit but let me tell you that as a chemistry teacher it hurts me deep inside to see you punctuate N.O. That makes it sound like a rapper or a euphemism for something dirty, which amount to the same thing, I know. But. It is okay to just write NO. It is also okay to just say NO. To drugs. Just saying.)

Alter(ed) Egos
Sold under various names and formulations (such as Black Powder & MuscleTek NaNo Vapor), it is generally one of the more expensive supplements out there. GNC tries to hard-sell me on it every time I walk in their door. (Well, except they are in the mall so they don't have doors. But they do have a nice little massage chair! And now suddenly I'm rethinking my decision to buy vitamins from the mall.) Anyhow - typical retail price: $63.99-$79.99 for one bottle. Although the last time I went in the salesman tried to sell me on NO2 Black... for $103.99. Dreams of a fat commission vanished before his eager eyes as I plopped down two $13.99 bottles of fish oil. Although his frown could also have been because my kids just knocked over his entire display of vita-paks and were now riding the rowing machine like a pony.

Pros
I received this tip from a reader who wished to remain anonymous. He is a mid-20's collegiate competitive athlete who tested this out for us. Mr. X (for Xplode, NOT for XXX, sickos) seemed hesitant to talk about it at first but then waxed rhapsodic about being able to up his reps, maintain his weight through an extra set, and "push through previous barriers." He added that his perceived exertion was less for the same intensity of exercise and it also helped him stay laser-focused. He admitted that this last effect might be due to the caffeine, of which there is probably a lot although no product listed exactly how much. Mr. X added that this was one of his favorite supplements (the other being creatine) and that he felt it had provided measurable muscle gains.

Cons
Mr. X added an interesting caveat: He is a personal trainer and yet he would not recommend it to any of his clients. His reasoning was that as a highly trained athlete he knows what his limits are and what his body normally feels like so if anything fishy started happening he could back off immediately. A novice lifter would not have that self insight.

Other known side effects of NO include:
- headaches (the most often reported side effect - and a known effect of vasodilators)
- "Xplosive" diarrhea (Oh how I chuckled! I love punny people. Punny lifters? Even better!)
- dizziness, light headedness
- heart palpitations ("like I was on speed" - probably the caffeine)
- insomnia (again, probably the caffeine)
- increased flushing (getting red in the face, nothing to do with toilets people)

Conclusions
This is interesting to me. On one hand I love anecdotal evidence in the form of personal experiments. As long as the person is not getting paid to talk about the supplement (and Mr. X wasn't) then their opinion means a lot to me. Most muscle-building supplements just don't work but it sounds like this one might actually do something.

One the other hand, it's air pollution. You're imbibing fruit punch-flavored air pollution. That can't be good. Plus there's the whole vasodilation thing. I kinda like my veins the way they are (even if they are a little bulge-y). I also don't like supplements much in general. And if they put it in Viagra...? Lastly - $103.99?! Egads.

Any of you try this stuff? Tell me what you think of it! I need more input!! Also, what do you think of a personal trainer who takes things he wouldn't advise his clients to?

Update: Reader FitJerk, who is a professional supplement reviewer (didn't even know they had those!) made an iteresting point about the mechanics of this product in the comments that I was worth bumping up: "There is no NO being produced in these products. They contain the ingredient L-Arginine which is supposed to be a pre-cursor to N.O but it ISN'T! Studies have proved it. In fact, the amount of L-Arginine you'd have to take to even notice minute benefits of a "pump" is about 30g. At that dose you'll have stomach cramps and upsets before a major pump. The amount of L-Arginine in N.O Xplode is a few grams... if that. So it's all insignificant. The only reason you feel anything after taking this stuff is because of the 200+ mg of caffeine (about 2 cups of coffee worth) and the fact that your body produces a natural pump while resistance training. So if that's what you want, might as well just drink a friggin' RedBull."

Only Legs Calves collection 7

Three Hollywood Halloween Trends That Need to Die

Every year Halloween provides an opportunity to let out the parts of us that we normally keep under wraps in a nod to polite society. For one day a year however, you are encouraged to be as violent, sexual, inane or un-PC as your little heart desires. Even given these lax rules there are still ways to cross the line.

Pregnant Cliches

While the rest of the world is dressing up as the Octomom for Halloween (and laughing at their cleverness), this year Octomom Nadya Suleman is sporting the ever-popular-among-drunk-college-freshman Pregnant Nun costume. That costume was old and unfunny even when I was in college. 8 years ago. It ranks right up there with dressing up as a pregnant bride, a pregnant man or a feminine hygiene product. The weird part is that she made her babies into little devils. I think most of us can agree that the roles ought to be reversed. Okay, not that babies should be pregnant nuns - that would be weird - but Suleman could definitely work the horns. I mean the only way her real-life pregnancy could have been more freakish was if she really had been a nun. Is it smart to call attention to that?

Child Hookers

With child sex trafficking being a very real and immense problem in our global society, it seems incredibly dense to me that any parent would let their child dress up as prostitute for Halloween. Sure there is an outcry every year over sluttified pre-teens in "bunny" "kitty" or "other cutesy animals that end in -y" making costumes out of lingerie and a pair of ears but Noah Cyrus (Miley's little sister) ups the ante on this trend. First, she's nine. Maybe I'm as old and lame as the Pregnant Nun costume but, um, she's in elementary school. (Well, at least I hope she's in school. For all I know she's one of those Hollywood kidlets who is "tutored" on whatever movie set she's currently working on.) The only time a fourth-grader should be this close to flashing her underoos is if she is hanging by her knees from the monkey bars. Second, as far as I can tell she's not even pretending to be anything. Other than a street walker in search of a corner. Would it have killed her to put on a witch's hat and thrown a cape over her shoulders? Or at least gave a shout-out to To Catch a Predator? (Edited: So I just noticed that she's standing on a red carpet. What if she's not attending a Halloween party like I assumed? What if she's just... dressed like this?!)

Padded Underthings... For Men

This last one isn't a Halloween trend but I'd still like to see it die. Calvin Klein jeans recently released a new line of jeans for men that promise "an enhanced profile." As in a padded fly. Journalist Michael Miller tried out a pair, concluding, "They were a breakthrough! Such comfort, such support! And yes, my confidence was bigger! It looked bigger, at least." While some women might be tempted to say this is just desserts for years of padded and push-up bras, girdles and Spanx, I'm going to say that I don't think this is progress in the right direction.

What do you think? Am I just not getting Nadya Suleman's unsubtle brand of humor? Am I being too much of a prude about wee Noah? Should men rejoice that they finally get their own line of shapewear? What's your most hated Halloween trend?

The Next Level - Update on Darell

A few months ago I posted about Darell, the winner of a three month, company-wide fat loss competition that I conducted. When the program started, Darell weighed in at 218 lbs, with a body fat level of 30% (first picture).

When the contest ended, he'd lost 30 lbs., 4 inches from his waist and half of his body fat (second picture).

Darell always came to the weekly exercise classes and group weight loss coaching sessions; sometimes the only one in attendance. He asked lots of great questions and kept in touch in between via e-mail. He was obviously committed and put the fitness and nutrition principles we discussed to the test consistently. The contest ended around April 1st of this year.

Since then, he's kept in touch and given me status update. The last one blew me away so I asked him to send me a more recent picture. That's the third one above. He's currently about 168 (sometimes lighter), and, as you can see, has clearly added some muscle as well. How much? I'd guess that he's put between 10 and 15 lbs of lean muscle on his frame. So that means his total fat loss is really somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 lbs., and his bodyfat percentage is probably about 9%. That's comparable to a professional athlete.

Darell was kind enough to leave me with this thought:

"I feel great! The hard work and time really payed off, my strenghth and stamina have both increased since the competition at work. Thanks again for helping me get the jumpstart I needed and for the additional tips and support to have a better and more fit lifestyle."

Thank you Darell, for reminding me why I do this every day and for serving as an inspiration to others.

Celebrity Calves collection 4

Bigger, Better, Faster. Five elements of a rounded training routine

Whether you're a novice taking the first steps toward fitness or an exercise fanatic hoping to optimize your results, a well-rounded fitness training program is essential. Use the five primary elements of fitness training to create a balanced routine.

1. Aerobic fitness

Aerobic exercise, also known as cardio or endurance activity, is the cornerstone of most fitness training programs. Aerobic exercise causes you to breathe faster and more deeply, which maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood. The better your aerobic fitness, the more efficiently your heart, lungs and blood vessels transport oxygen throughout your body.

2. Muscular fitness

Muscular fitness is another key component of a fitness training program. Strength training at least twice a week can help you increase bone strength and muscular fitness. It can also help you maintain muscle mass during a weight-loss program.

Most fitness centers offer various resistance machines, free weights and other tools for strength training. But you don't need to invest in a gym membership or expensive equipment to reap the benefits of strength training.

3. Stretching

Most aerobic and strength training activities cause your muscles to contract and flex. For balance in your fitness training program, it's important to stretch those muscles, too. Stretching improves the range of motion of your joints and promotes better posture. Regular stretching can even help relieve stress.

4. Core stability

The muscles in your abdomen, lower back and pelvis—known as your core muscles—help protect your back and connect upper and lower body movements. Core strength is a key element of a well-rounded fitness training program.

5. Balance training

You can be strong, flexible and aerobically fit, yet still have poor balance. Training can help you maintain and improve balance. This is important since balance tends to deteriorate with age, which can lead to falls and fractures. Try standing on one leg for increasing periods of time to improve your overall stability. Activities such as tai chi can promote balance, too.

Cover all five elements

Whether you create your own fitness, boxing or weight training program or enlist the help of a personal trainer, make aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, stretching, core exercise and balance training part of your overall exercise plan. It isn't necessary to fit each of the five elements into every fitness session, but factoring them into your regular routine can help you promote fitness for life.

Six-time world champion pound-for-pound king

Six-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao worked out Monday with chief trainer Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood during his first day training since arriving in the United States on Saturday. Pacquiao is preparing for his upcoming “FIREPOWER” welterweight championship fight against three-time world champion and the pride of Puerto Rico Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao vs Cotto is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, and will take place November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It will also be available on pay per view.

The Strangest Offer Anyone Has Ever Made Me in the Gym

Officially the weirdest offer anyone has ever made me at the gym (yes, this even beats all the Quixstar nee Amway pitches): "If you're still pregnant next week, I'll bring my gloves and I can just strip your membranes in the locker room."

Warning: Gross Biology Lesson Ahead!
For those of you uninitiated with all things uterine, "stripping the membranes" involves separating the amniotic sac from the cervix. With their fingers. Take my advice and try not to picture it. This is often done as a way to start labor although a 2008 study shows, sadly, that it doesn't work other than to give the mother-to-be mad cramps and some spotting. Having had it done in prior pregnancies I can tell you it is uncomfortable on several levels although if you are pregnant you will just have to get used to everyone short of the Channel 5 news crew checking out your cervix. I generally insist on being introduced first but I learned after my first kid not to even bother asking them to buy me dinner first.
Gross Part Over!

To be fair, the woman offering is an actual registered nurse and personal friend which made it a bit less awkward. But just a bit. Being the YMCA, I'm sure that stranger things have happened in our locker rooms but I'd prefer not to add to that list, no matter how desperate I am to get this baby out! Still, I thanked her. It was an offer made in kindness!

Countdown to B-Day
With less than 2 weeks to go until my due date, I'm definitely in that end stage of pregnancy where everything is so uncomfortable I'll go through anything just to make the heartburn, hemorrhoids, swollen feet (not that I can see them), and jumping jacks on my cervix stop - even if that means labor and delivery. Today I made all the final physical preparations by getting the nursery all ready. I even ironed all her little dresses - how neurotic is that?. I painted two walls, mopped my floors on my hands and knees (so I could get in all the corners, see), got caught up on the laundry and scraped all the melted crayons out of my heating vents. Can't have a baby coming home to Crayola fumes, right? I mean sure they say they're non-toxic...

It's official: I'm crazy.

Other Updates:
I made my pies! I did indeed use the lard. I froze two but ate one (the family didn't help nearly as much as they should have) and it tasted divine, thanks to all of your helpful tips! Sadly it looked like total crap. Who knew that rolling out dough in a circle is the baking equivalent of the Mensa exam? But all the apples were used: mission accomplished!

My mini-Experiment with my SAD Happy Light is still working out really well. It hasn't quite been a week yet but I swear I feel better already. Placebo shmamebo - I don't really care why it is working, just that it is! Although I have discovered that sitting in front of 10,000 lux does give me headaches so I've broke up my one-hour session into two half-hour ones.

Lastly, I was wrong. And I have no problem admitting when I have made a mistake. Many of you called me out this weekend for my post entitled "Coast Guard Recruits Anorexic Women in New Ad Campaign" saying that my calling the thin model anorexic was unfair and judgmental. I agree with you. It was a bad choice of words. While I still have my reservations about using overly thin women in advertising, I do offer my apologies for the way I wrote about it.

So what's the strangest offer anyone has made you at the gym? Please, someone top my story!!

What To Eat When You're Sick

Jell-O drink. That's what my mom called the concoction of red Jell-O powder mixed with hot water and served in a mug that she gave us whenever we were sick. Looking back, I'm not sure if it was an actual recipe intended to soothe and heal rather than an attempt to stop the whining of a sick kid while using only what she could find in our depleted pantry. While it won't win any health awards, it was so sugary delicious that no matter how sore our throats were she could still get liquids into us.

I was reminded of Jell-O drink this past week when my kids came down with the flu. Yes, the influenza flu. And yes, it was probably swine flu (a.k.a. H1N1 a.k.a. The Plague of All Nations if you listen to the media) according to the doctor. They put the whole family on Tamiflu in case the baby is born in the next few days and so I, fortunately, didn't get the bug! Still, I got a little panicky. I'll admit it. My eldest had a fever of nearly 104 and his zombie stare was freaking me out. So I did what any good mother does when a child is sick and you feel completely powerless to help - I tried to feed him.

Remember the old adage of "feed a cold, starve a fever"? I never put much stock in that. How are you supposed to recover if you are starving? My poor feverish sons though were completely on board with that. The more they refused food, the more I tried to get them to eat. At last, when I went back to the store for the 4th time in 2 days to get more medicine, in my desperation to get them to ingest something, anything, I bought them all the things I think of as "sick food." Popsicles, root beer, pudding, juice, ice cream, Cheez-its (um, what??) and of course Jell-O all went into my cart. (Side note: I was terrified I was going to see someone I knew and they would see all the crap in my cart and judge me.)

My kids thought the swine flu was the best thing that had ever happened to them. The last time we had soda pop in the house was when everyone had the stomach flu a year ago. You'd think they'd never seen white bread before from the way they devoured an entire loaf in an hour. Long story short, they ate nothing but cold and/or sugary confections for three days straight. My relief that they were taking in calories and the much-vaunted fluids was quickly usurped by the fact that everything they were eating was nutritionally void. The homemade chicken soup I made? Untouched. Yogurt berry smoothie? Left to rot (or become more yogurty because, you know, it's already bacteria laden). Even my whole wheat pumpkin muffins - usually a five star favorite around here - were ignored.

Ah, mother guilt. Despite the fact that everyone healed up quite nicely (and quickly - thanks Tamiflu!), my shame persists. Surely if there is ever a time a body needs healthy food, it is when it is sick! Right? And yet when I get sick generally all I want to eat are plain Cheerios and hot Tang. Seriously, Tang is like crack to me. Especially the sugar free garbage; I love me some hot aspartame.

It got me thinking, what do you all eat when you are sick? Are you all about the brussells sprouts and salmon to bolster your weakened immune system? Or do you have a comfort food too? Also - anyone else ever think that everyone is looking at what you buy at the grocery store and silently judging you??

Only Legs Calves collection 6

Breakfast in ES underwear

Hot Fitness Underwear Model

Coast Guard Recruits Anorexic Women in New Ad Campaign

Coast Guard Born Ready "Female"

(If you get this via e-mail or a feed reader, please click thru to see the video.)

First watch the above video; it's only about 30 seconds. It's an ad spot from the US Coast Guard sent to me by Reader A. She writes:

I saw a commercial last night for the Coast Guard that blew my mind, and I'd love your opinion on it/other people's opinions on it. Basically, the premise of the commercial is that this girl wasn't born to sit at a desk, she was born to push herself, challenge herself, be a stronger person, etc. They show her running out of the office and cross country - through town, across fields and bridges and woods and finally across rocks until she stops just at the water. The whole idea is she is so strong, etc. Except the girl they use in the commercial, running long-distance and protecting her country, makes a lot of the celebutantes you see constantly accused of being anorexic look healthy. Honestly, one of the first things that popped into my head was the scene from the "THIN" documentary where one of the girls (in an eating disorder IP center) says she joined the Air Force to lose weight. The funny thing is they did the EXACT same commercial with a guy, and he looks fit. Not too big or too small, plenty muscular. (And I mean it's the same commercial - same dialogue, same running out of the office and same running trail.) I still can't quite wrap my head around the irony of a size -2 skeleton advertising hey-let's-join-the-coast-

guard-and-be-physically-fit, especially while the guy version IS fit. Are they trying to appeal more to girls - trying to promote it as a way to lose weight if you join, like the girl in the documentary? Are they just buying into the "ideal" body? Could they just not find any healthy-weight models? I'm not sure what I think about it, but I'd love some other opinions.

A's questions intrigued me on several levels. I have to admit that the first time I watched the ad, I was not particularly struck my the actresses' thinness although A is right - she is definitely very very thin. There are two brief moments right after she runs through the river where you can clearly see her chest bones through the V in her top. I think this is because I am used to everyone from fitness magazines to TV shows to gym advertisements using women closer to fashion models than fitness models to sell their wares. I mean, remember this ad campaign from Men's Health? The models are certainly not what I envision the epitome of healthy woman to look like (not to mention she might possibly be missing her legs?):


The second thing that was interesting to me about A's question is that quite often the military uses weight loss and increased fitness as a selling point in getting people to join up. These days it's definitely all about talking up the self-improvement aspects and downplaying that whole "you might die" part. In which case it makes sense to show thin, fit people in the ads - aspire higher right? Except that the actress in this particular spot may possibly be thin to the point of unhealth. And I'm willing to bet, knowing many military folk myself, that were she to do any sort of boot camp she would probably bulk up a little bit. In addition to the exercise, the chow halls are not exactly renown for their healthful food options - especially if you are stationed overseas. (Active military personnel feel free to correct me on this!) All of which makes this feel like a bait-and-switch.

The last thing that interested me in A's question was the concept that "health" looks different on a man than a woman. With men, it seems like muscular definition is the first criteria for judging a man's fitness. Weight probably doesn't even show up in the top 5. Yet for women, weight is the number 1 factor people use in deciding whether or not a girl is physically fit - even though research has shown this to be an unreliable marker.

So what do you guys think of this ad? Does it make you want to join the coast guard? Anyone else not even notice the skinniness of the actress at first? How do you judge someone's - or your own - health?

Celebrity Calves collection 3