Spring Hatch, Swim Team, White Space...

The new cardinals are out in Atlanta! I've noticed they only come out in the evening. The older cardinals are out early and mid-day, but for some reason, the babies that are flying but small are just around in the early evening. I've got a full gym in my basement--squat rack, Olympic plates, dumbbells, balls, tubing, kettlebells, bikes, and all kinds of other stuff. I use all of it. I've got to say though that watching all the cool birds in my backyard here in Atlanta has been just as good for my health. I love watching those birds at the dining table. My twins have grown up watching the birds and other animals. It's cool. Never had much of that in California, but Atlanta is so forested there are many more animals. The twins started the swim team this year. They are only four. I'm not a fan of pushing kids early in sport programs--it screws them up more than it helps them. But this is a local team for our own subdivision--the Saratoga Sharks. The adults are there to make sure the kids enjoy swimming--that is all. It's fitness fun first, so I'm cool with it. My wife Candas is the coach for the little ones. I'm on the sidelines for a change--and LOVING it! It's nice to sit off and take photos and hang out instead of leading...refreshing actually. Speaking of refreshing, I've been taking more down time to rejuvenate before completely destroying myself--or rather--getting more white space between the lines of intensity. Y'all should take note as well. We work too much and too long and end up screwing up our performance. If I get enough rest, I then get more done and have more punch! I'm more effective at work, more inspirational to others, more positive, it's better for not only my health, but others as well. We have a lot in America--and we've paid the price for all "our stuff" that in reality has made us less happy, more depressed, and more dependant upon other countries and imports. I'm convinced that getting back to some old school simplicity is in the FUTURE--not the past. Case in point! I bought a new Z car in 2006. I specifically bought the "base" model--no extra bullshit, nav crap, electric seats I don't need, etc. There is a simple joy in adjusting the seat with an old fashioned lever or knob! My Tahoe has a fancy seat. I still can't figure the damn thing out. We both hate it! We are shopping for a more green car now. Candas told me yesterday she wants a car with NO electric seat options! Just the basics...simple, no BS...it's good for health. Enjoying HOTlanta this week, Coach RJ

Aging WELL or Like Crap!

Spent some time with my grandma this weekend who is 83. Her friend was at the party who is 95. They both are active, do volunteer work, stay busy, and are fun and sharp to talk with. Both are NOT obese...interesting to me. Tonight on the LA news they ran a story about a woman that after five years has her black belt. She's 73 years old! And wants her fifth degree belt before "she gets old"!!! A few days ago a morbidly obese woman was at the store in one of those damn electric scooters--I hate those things! She was so fat she wouldn't even get up to lower the electric scooter tray on her car by hand--she leaned out away from her scooter and worked the controls with the end of her cane! She could walk when she wanted to--she chose to sit. I keep hearing about people having breathing problems from sleep apnea which has been tied to obesity. You would think when people start suffocating themselves with their OWN fat they would have a friggin' clue! What is it going to take?! I swear it makes absolutely no sense to me sometimes...too fat to breath, too fat to walk, take more pills, or keep kicking butt after 80. YOUR choice! Oh by the way...how many medications does my grandma take per day? NONE! She's 83 years old and needs no pills because she walks her butt off and works in her garden! Take that one to the bank. Coach RJ!

Tulsa Time?

Oklahoma just passed a landmark bill mandating TWO full hours of physical education per day for elementary school children! I feel like moving there tomorrow and throwing down with this movement! It's about time our kids get a chance to actually be healthy instead of taking stupid tests that don't even validate actual intelligence. In my operating states of Georgia and California many schools don't even have PE at all--what a load of crap! I've never seen such stupidity! Thank God the people in Oklahoma have figured it out. Hopefully the other states will take note and GET ACTIVE! Rippin' it for fitness, Coach RJ!

Inside My Head...and Bike.

I'll let you inside my head--into the stream of consciousness of a champion cyclist.

I decided to start riding my road bike more. Got it down today...can't remember the last time I was on the road since I usually opt for my MTB these days...damn the road bike is unforgiving on my ass despite the carbon fork! I don't like the road much anymore--haven't for years. Funny--I used to live for and on my bike spending thousands of miles per year training and racing in all sorts of weather and conditions...tonight it's a struggle to pedal over the bridge down to the boulevard where I searched for a hot lap course--or warm lap course considering my "bike legs" currently...I opt for the favorite spot which I have not visited for months near I-5 in Santa Clarita Industrial Park...two hard rights with a sweeping curve and only one hard stop...about 2:00 or so around the whole loop...more tonight though...I ride to ride tonight. Heart rate, cadence, watts, %s of output, voltage, or whatever else they are using today doesn't mean shit to me--it simply doesn't matter. All that matters is that I ride. The mind of a champion--from the past. It's hard for someone like me to ride at all because I'm immediately a marked man...even with my feeble bike legs, I still look like I can race tomorrow, so anyone with any sort of bike fitness wants to knock me off...it's hard to friggin' relax! The road bike has a higher profile than my MTB...I settle in though...it's like an old friend--sort of. Off the stop sign out of the saddle getting up to speed then right over the gutter always full of water watching my line so I don't spin out then around the sweeping right towards the T intersection where no stop sign is posted so it's a traffic check and go then down to the hard right with stop sign where I do a quick stop barely enough to be legal...then 'round again. I spin it for 30 minutes--my goal. Another 10+ each way to and from...about an hour on the road...not too bad I guess.

Coming back through the market parking lot I pull up to the crosswalk. There is a family--two obese parents and their normal weight child. Hell the Dad is morbidly obese--it is what it is. The kid jogs across to clear the busy traffic. The Dad waddles because he is too fat or too lazy to run...what I caught more than the visual was his comment to his son..."Don't worry. We have good lawyers." Interesting. I felt like asking him, "Do you have a good mortician too that carries supersized coffins in case you stroke out?!" The American way man...sue with lawyers. It's always someone else's fault isn't it?

So tonight I rode...thought...listened to crosswalk comments, and spun away my chest pains from the stress of trying to save America from its "appetite for destruction." Spinning in LA, Coach RJ

Fat Foods Back in Schools!

I'm livid today--f'ing pissed! National media is breaking on increasing food costs pushing schools to return to selling "fat" foods so they can make money instead of offering healthier foods to our obese and unfit youth. Apparently, the healthy foods cost more money, and the soda and junk food crap can be sold with profits. What about our failing national health? How much is that costing us?! And our schools?! I simply cannot believe this absolute stupidity--it's total bullshit! Since I'm offended by this, it's time to go on the offense again. There are a few people in this country willing to step up for today's children and their health--I'm one of them! Putting more junk food into our schools and children is shameful and WRONG! There is no justification good enough to make SHIT smell like health--NONE!!! Heated in SoCal, Coach RJ!

Costco Exit-One Foot From the Grave

So, I finally got to Costco today after work for my seeds, nuts, and precious V8 juices...as I'm leaving, I check out all the friggin' obese people eating the crap food. Greasy-assed pizza, supersized dogs, you know the story. I look over to the other side of the aisle, and there were caskets on display. I had just been wondering what the universe was telling me today with the fat people eating fat food literally killing themselves--then the caskets told the whole story. These people were eating food on one side of the aisle that was going to put them in the caskets right on the other side! Hell, they might has well just finished the crap and jumped right in! I wonder if they could order take out one last time before the dirt hit the lid?!!! Would this be "take DOWN" pizza? The mentality of people amazes me sometimes. One guy was so fat he barely fit onto the stool, yet he was pounding down a dog...I wonder if he saw the caskets like I did, and I wonder if he thought about them?....Rollin' hard this week, Coach RJ

My Weekend in SoCal

Weather was awesome in SoCal this weekend! Did another corporate hike at East Canyon in Santa Clarita. Flowers are coming out, clean air, really pretty. Tonight I went for an easy spin on my MTB along the river bike path. I rolled up on a bobcat stalking some one's backyard. Pretty cool animal. We curiously checked each other out as I rode by the quick and agile cat. After a few pull ups and push ups at the local park, I saw the cat again on the return darting into the river brush. I've seen a couple of bobcats on East Canyon too--even a mountain lion one day! While the bobcats are cool, I can do without the mountain lion sightings! An Easter in solitude for me today. Spent most of the day working...the life of a road warrior Wellcoach. KFC announced grilled chicken today! Health-minded customers forced them to change. Keep it coming baby! The more health the better, and it's about time! From sunny SoCal today, Coach RJ