Time to Bust that Gut

Chunk.

That's the only way to describe what we've gained since since Thanksgiving. It was fun to put it on, but it ain't pretty and it doesn't feel good.

So what are we going to do about it? There are really only three choices: 1) Diet, 2) Exercise, or 3) Diet AND Exercise. Not exactly a complicated list, but it's truly the only way to undo the damage we've inflicted on our bodies.

This column isn't going to deal with a specific diet or exercise regimen -- we'll get to that next week. Instead it's going to deal with the attitude you have to have to succeed when you do actually clean out the fridge and start exercising.

Most people I know enter into a fitness program without really understanding what they're doing. A successful fitness program isn't a short-term undertaking. If you see it as only a method to fit into shorts, pants or a dress by the end of February, you will yo-yo up and down the scale for the rest of your life. If you view it as something you will pursue and enjoy for the rest of your life because it makes you look and feel good and it just might give you many more years to enjoy your family and friends without chronic illness, then you're on the right track.

Once you reach that understanding, the next important step is to commit to mostly watching what you eat and drink and trying to exercise at least six days a week. Exercise isn't a death sentence. There are dozens of activities that count as exercise that you can choose from. For example, walking, jogging, running, playing soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball or swimming are all great ways to maintain a healthy heart, lungs and circulatory system. And there are many exercises that promote strength that can be performed in and out of a gym and with or without equipment. The trick is finding a form of exercise that you enjoy and sticking with it for the long haul. You can even swap out forms of exercise that promote the same health benefits.

The next important point is that you should gradually build up your exercise regimen. Too many people demonstrate their commitment to exercise by working full-force the first day they hit the street, field or gym. Their intent is absolutely on the mark, but their execution is a disaster. If your body isn't fit, this is a great way to hurt yourself or just plain burn out. Take your time. Enjoy the experience. Don't think of it as a bridge to something else. Maybe walk or run fifteen minutes the first month, thirty minutes the second month, and keep building from there on. Just promise me you won't jump on your brand new treadmill, go for an hour, get all sore the next day, and quit. Take your time. Enjoy your exercise. Make it as much a part of your life as eating, drinking and sleeping and pretty soon you will crave it when you miss a session.

Finally, we all have days that we just can't get off the couch. I compare this to a freight train at rest. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to jerk the wheels to life and get rolling. To overcome this inertia, I make a point of absolutely making myself exercise whenever I'm tempted to cop out for no reason. The payoff is enormous. I guarantee you that every time I've made myself get to work, I feel much more positive and energetic by the time I'm through. You will too.

None of this is meant as a lecture, but rather as a general guide to getting on a path toward a healthy lifestyle. Next week, I'll talk about the specific exercise regiment that works for me. If you want to see the equipment I use, go to RuggedReviews.com.

Oh, and Happy New You-year!

Face The Traffic?

Texters, talkers, gawkers, tourists and teens behind the wheel scare the hell out of me. When I'm running or riding my bike in my South Florida resort town, I see them turning, swerving, pulling out, pulling in and speeding without warning.

Do I really want that behind me? Nope. That's why I defy the law and face the traffic in all cases.

An accident between a bike and car I witnessed during a Sunday evening run confirmed my belief that this is the only way to protect myself from the Wild West mentality on our roads. A biker legally riding northbound on A1A in Delray Beach was about to cross a side street when a car taking a right pulled up behind him. The driver, who obviously saw the biker, hesitated for a moment before taking the right right in front of the biker.

The biker struck the side of his car, and bike and biker flipped over the hood. The biker landed on his head and shoulders. If he hadn't been wearing a helmet, he would have been dead.

The driver stopped for a second then ripped out. I was too concerned about the biker, who was still in play, to get the license plate. I also wanted to make sure that the next driver to take a right in the dim twilight didn't run him over. I helped the biker up and removed his bike and red flashing light from the road. An ambulance showed up. Paramedics treated the biker for what appeared to be a broken shoulder, put him on a gurney and took him away.

These types of accidents happen all the time in our area. I refuse to be the latest victim. Facing the traffic gives me a chance at survival that having my back to the traffic never will. If a driver heads for me, I at least have an opportunity to react by steering or running out of his way.

I'm sure traffic purists will take issue with this approach and have a hundred reasons why this creates a danger for drivers, but quite frankly, I don't care. Drivers have proven they can't be trusted. Most car and bike/pedestrian accidents are due to their ignorance or state of distraction.

As for the driver who hit and ran from the biker, I hope he knows everyone in the neighborhood is looking for an Altima or Sonata with a big dent on the hood.

Uke Can Play Guitar

Cold winds, driving snow? What better time to head for the tropics. The ukulele is just the instrument to take you there. Not only that, if you're trying to learn how to play guitar and struggling with basic skills like changing chords and strumming with rhythm, then the uke is a great way to break through the wall.

I was having a tough time changing chords fast enough on a six string guitar and all the metronome beats in the world couldn't get me over the problem. Desperate for solutions, I decided to buy a ukulele. The uke only has four strings and they're made of nylon which is much easier to strum and to press strings down on the frets to form chords.

The uke was much easier to play. I'm never too proud to seek help wherever I can find it. Sometimes that leads to unexpected places. After searching for a basic beginners uke course on DVD, I purchased Ralph Shaw's excellent DVD/Book kit: "The Complete Ukulele Course for Kids."

Shaw does a fantastic job of explaining the elements of playing the ukulele with rhythm. He starts at the beginning, explaining how to tune the uke, the notes on each string, and basic chord shapes.

You'll recognize a lot of the songs -- "Row Row Row The Boat", "She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain" and "Clementine", among them. Familiarity actually worked in my favor because I knew by ear when I was playing the songs the way they should sound. Shaw's DVD also provided a valuable benchmark when he played the songs.

As I improved on the uke, I was able to transfer the skills to the guitar. Now, admittedly, chord shapes are different on the uke and guitar and the guitar is quite a bit more complex, but the skills I learned on uke absolutely helped me to increase my speed and accuracy on guitar.

Despite this revelation, I have to confess, I still love picking up the uke, reclining on the couch and strumming away. It's much more relaxing than playing the guitar, but I value both instruments. Go here to see me play an "original" score on uke.

Outdoor Activities Don't Have to Be Pain in the Butt

Numb Bum.

If you enjoy outdoor sports that involve a lot of sitting as a participant or a spectator, you know how painful this affliction can be. For the past three years, I've been an avid kayaker. I could take about an hour in the saddle before my rear was numb and Charlie horsed. I had to race to the nearest landing and walk it off before getting back in and starting the whole cycle all over again. Unfortunately, in Florida, a land of mangroves, swamps and gators, finding a convenient place to land wasn't always possible, so I had to resort to calisthenics, lifting my rear in and out of the seat trying to restore circulation. You get the point.

Unbelievably, after all these agonizing trips, I stumbled onto a sure-fire, honest-to-goodness cure that works in kayaks and just about any setting that gives you a case of sore hammies: Roho cushions. Roho created a rubber air bladder in an upside down egg-carton design that reduces contact points with your rear. The bladder can be inflated to meet your unique needs. This revolutionary design means that circulation is never inhibited.

I tried out the Roho cushion last week on a kaying tour of Collier-Seminole State Park in southwest Florida. My original intent was to go for a couple of hours, which was the absolute limit of what my rear could stand, or, um sit. The Roho cushion was so comfortable, I forgot I even had a rear. The two-hour tour was expanded to seven hours, during which I covered fourteen miles and only landed once. Unbelievable!

There's limitless potential for the Roho cushion to increase your enjoyment of paddle sports as well as boating, fishing, attending sporting events.... The cushion I use in my kayak is a Roho Airhawk Cruiser Motorcycle Seat Cushion. The motorcycle cushion is sold in several sizes. Measure your kayak seat to determine the best size for your kayak. The cushions also come in other shapes that may be better suited for your activity.

The bottom line -- so to speak -- is the Roho cushion is a great product that works as advertised. If you're looking for relief from sore, numb cheeks, you have to give it a try. If it doesn't work, get your cheeks checked out.

Go here to see the full RuggedReviews.com review of the Roho cushion.

Ahhhhhhhhh!