Fitness | BobbyBluford.com

‘American Idol’ Fitness

March 13, 2011 by juliemanriquez 21 Comments

This week I made my debut on American Idol. Since I possess very little vocal talent, I suppose I should clarify. My awesome pal, Stephanie, called earlier this week with tickets to the American Idol screening in Hollywood, and although my first instinct was to pass (as I have kids to shuttle, homework to supervise, classes to teach and clients to train), I chose to drop everything and drive those hundred miles up the coast to Hollywood in search of one of my all-time idols—Season 10 judge and Aerosmith front man, Steven Tyler.

Four of us 40-something mommies giggled and chatted on the ride up as we played hookie from the minutia of our daily lives. We somehow also managed to create a sign made with bright poster board, colored Sharpies and a funny caricature cut-out of Mr. Tyler’s prominent lips and rockin’ hair. The final product was a work of multi-tasking genius. Colorful and to the point, it read: “Steven Baby…Walk This Way and just Gimme a Kiss!” with a thick arrow pointing down toward the sign holder. We elected our cute blond friend, Maureen, to wield the sign! Needless to say, our plan worked. After waiting outside the studio for hours and making friends with other Idol fans, we were assigned our seats. When the studio usher looked us up and down with her discriminating eye to assess how we’d “read” on camera if it happened to pan over us, she also read our sign. We were clearly not here to see any particular “idol,” we had a higher calling: Steven Tyler! Read more of this post

Filed under Deep Thoughts and Philosophy, Fitness Stuff, Julie M., Thoughts from Guest Posters, Uncategorized Tagged with Abs, American Idol, Fitness, Jennifer Lopez, Life Balance, Mens Health, postaweek2011, Randy Jackson, Self Improvement & Motivation, Steven Tyler, Strength Training, Weight Lifting, Womens Health, Working Out

5 x 5 in 25

March 10, 2011 by bbluford 4 Comments

When it comes to working out, last week was one of the worst I’ve had in a long, long while. You see, since 1990, my first year in college, I’ve had this 3-Day Rule. Simply put, I forbade myself from ever taking more than three days off from working out. And except for maybe three or four times, I’ve made good on that promise. No matter what– birthday, illness, holidays, even on my honeymoon as my wife would attest– when and if that fourth day hit, I made sure I did something. Whether it was going for a quick run, doing some push-ups and sprints in the driveway, or going to the grocery store to buy gallon milk containers to use as makeshift dumbbells, I made sure I got my workout in.

Fast forward–um– a few years and I’m proud to admit that, even though I seldom break that pact with myself, I’m much less restrictive now, forgiving myself for the occasional lapse. Even then, though, I make sure the workouts that I am able to get in make up for the ones I missed. Read more of this post

Filed under Fitness Stuff Tagged with Abs, Build Muscle, Core Training, Fitness, Mens Health, postaweek2011, Speed Workout, Strength Training, Volume Training, Weight Lifting, Weight Loss, Womens Health, Working Out

A Journey to Personal Well Being .. by Hao Liu

March 6, 2011 by haoliurunner 2 Comments

I started my journey to personal well being a decade ago when I was desperately out of shape physically and mentally. In 2000, I was a new grad fresh out of college starting a career as a software engineer at HP in Cupertino, CA. After years of being inactive and living an unhealthy life style, I had ballooned to nearly 200 lbs. That was hefty even for my 5’10” frame. I was not exactly happy with where I was physically and mentally. After another year of partying and unhealthy living, I randomly, quite literally came in contact with Team In Training and started to train for my first marathon. My life style didn’t really change right away, but I stuck with the goal of finishing a marathon and worked at it the best I knew how. Four months after we started our training, I crossed the finish line at the 2002 Los Angeles Marathon. I had lost a bunch of weight in the process and was feeling that I had arrived. Read more of this post

Filed under Fitness Stuff, Hao L. Tagged with Endurance Athletes, Endurance Training, Fitness, Life Balance, Marathons, Mens Health, postaweek2011, Running, Self Improvement & Motivation, Ultra Marathons, Weight Loss

What’s Your Diet Vice?

February 22, 2011 by juliemanriquez 25 Comments

Hello Friends,

A few weeks ago I reconnected with my old pal Bobby through his very informative and inspirational website. Bobby and I met 14 years ago in Silicon Valley at a start-up tech company. He took care of the money (thankfully!) and I took care of the marketing communications. Working with young, eager, and energetic innovators, we managed to have a great time in the workplace; and, because we didn’t have children or many responsibilities outside of ourselves, we found plenty of time to stay fit and healthy.

That life may have very well belonged to someone else. Who was that person? Somehow, I worked all day, and then taught group exercise classes at a gym in the evening. I found time to run and compete in races, including a few marathons. I even worked on my strength in the weight room—not Mr. Bluford-style, of course, but I did my share. And, most importantly, I consistently stoked the fires burning at home with the hubby, managed to be a staunch supporter of Girls Night Out with my peeps, and was a smiling presence at all family holidays, births and birthdays. A skilled juggler! Read more of this post

Filed under Deep Thoughts and Philosophy, Family and Friends, Fitness Stuff, Julie M., Self Improvement & Motivation, Thoughts from Guest Posters Tagged with Dieting, Fitness, Guest Blogger, Julie M., Life Balance, Mens Health, Motivational, postaweek2011, Relationships, Self Confidence, Self Improvement & Motivation, Spiritual, Weight Loss, Womens Health