Jim Walker’s unique perspective on politics, relationships, sex, travel, fitness and more!
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The FOUR Specifics For Fitness Goal Setting
Reader Question:
Dear Mr. Walker,
It's obvious you work out. What is your nutritional work out? I have a couple of goals. 1) To be fit and lean by August for the 30 yr class reunion. The 2nd, to be the fittest I have ever been by the time I am 50- I have 2 yrs for that. And 3rd is to run a marathon my 50th year. Any advice on the diet would be greatly appreciated!!
Dear Mr. Walker,
It's obvious you work out. What is your nutritional work out? I have a couple of goals. 1) To be fit and lean by August for the 30 yr class reunion. The 2nd, to be the fittest I have ever been by the time I am 50- I have 2 yrs for that. And 3rd is to run a marathon my 50th year. Any advice on the diet would be greatly appreciated!!
Many Thanks.
Do you have to get fat to put on muscle?
Reader Question:
Dear Jim,
I have a nutrition question for you. I'm trying to put on muscle, but don't want to gain fat in the process. Is that possible? 2. How?'
This is another one of those massive topics that entire books have been written about, but I'll do my best to answer the questions with simplicity.
Is it possible? Yes. It is likely, no. Gaining weight requires two things: Increasing your calorie intake above your normal consumption and the stimulus of resistance (lifting weight). The trick is balancing your intake with your stimulus. << MORE >>
Dear Jim,
I have a nutrition question for you. I'm trying to put on muscle, but don't want to gain fat in the process. Is that possible? 2. How?'
This is another one of those massive topics that entire books have been written about, but I'll do my best to answer the questions with simplicity.
Is it possible? Yes. It is likely, no. Gaining weight requires two things: Increasing your calorie intake above your normal consumption and the stimulus of resistance (lifting weight). The trick is balancing your intake with your stimulus. << MORE >>
Don't Let Carnival Stop The Party
The media sure enjoy hyping-up circumstances where vacations run into trouble. Maybe the headline "Vacation from Hell," is just so irresistible that they can't help themselves. Or maybe the people in
TV news are so incredibly jealous of people actually enjoying their life, they can't wait to highlight the misery when something goes wrong on vacation.
By now, you know I'm talking about the problems aboard the Carnival Triumph. I have no doubt that conditions were less than stellar with many of the bathrooms not working, and without the comforts and luxury you expect on a cruise vacation. Crapping into a bag for four days doesn't sound fun, but that aside, you have food, water and the opportunity to enjoy the sun, tan, and read a book for four days in the Gulf of Mexico. They also had entertainers and opened the bar up, serving drinks free of charge. Drink enough, and you probably wouldn't care much about the problems.
<< MORE >>
By now, you know I'm talking about the problems aboard the Carnival Triumph. I have no doubt that conditions were less than stellar with many of the bathrooms not working, and without the comforts and luxury you expect on a cruise vacation. Crapping into a bag for four days doesn't sound fun, but that aside, you have food, water and the opportunity to enjoy the sun, tan, and read a book for four days in the Gulf of Mexico. They also had entertainers and opened the bar up, serving drinks free of charge. Drink enough, and you probably wouldn't care much about the problems.
Five SILLY Reasons People Don't Like Cruises
Whenever I start talking about my love for cruises, inevitably someone who has never been on a cruise, or they went ten years ago, chimes in with some incredibly silly
reason why they can't or aren't willing to cruise again. Here is my list of top five silly reasons people say they don't like cruises.
1. "I'd feel trapped on a ship for seven days"
I would too. Thankfully, you are not on the ship for seven days. On your typical seven day cruise, at least three, if not four of those days, will be in port. You'll be able to leave the ship for at least eight hours, sometimes as much as ten and twelve to go explore on land.
2. "I'd feel claustrophobic on a ship"
Really? The average cruise ship today is about 110,000 gross registered tons, with anywhere from 12 to 18 floors.
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1. "I'd feel trapped on a ship for seven days"
I would too. Thankfully, you are not on the ship for seven days. On your typical seven day cruise, at least three, if not four of those days, will be in port. You'll be able to leave the ship for at least eight hours, sometimes as much as ten and twelve to go explore on land.
2. "I'd feel claustrophobic on a ship"
Really? The average cruise ship today is about 110,000 gross registered tons, with anywhere from 12 to 18 floors.
Shouldering The Question Of Rear Delts
Reader Question:
Hey Jim,
What do you think the best exercises are that focus on the posterior 1/3rd of the
shoulders? I'm trying to get that nice round shape but the back part of my shoulders
lack in development.
Answer:
The shoulder (also called the deltoids) is divided into three parts. The front, side, and rear (posterior). The rear delts are often neglected by many guys in their shoulder workouts, but working them is important for a well-round shoulder.
One good exercise is the bent-over dumbbell raise. Start with an extremely light dumbbell to make sure you have the form down. By light, I mean 10 or 15lbs. Turn the dumbbells so you are holding them horizontal to the body, then raise straight out to the side while you are in the bent-over position. Your arms will have a natural tendency to go back towards your body- fight this by trying to go directly out to the sides. << MORE >>
Hey Jim,
What do you think the best exercises are that focus on the posterior 1/3rd of the
shoulders? I'm trying to get that nice round shape but the back part of my shoulders
lack in development.
Answer:
The shoulder (also called the deltoids) is divided into three parts. The front, side, and rear (posterior). The rear delts are often neglected by many guys in their shoulder workouts, but working them is important for a well-round shoulder.
One good exercise is the bent-over dumbbell raise. Start with an extremely light dumbbell to make sure you have the form down. By light, I mean 10 or 15lbs. Turn the dumbbells so you are holding them horizontal to the body, then raise straight out to the side while you are in the bent-over position. Your arms will have a natural tendency to go back towards your body- fight this by trying to go directly out to the sides. << MORE >>
The $1 Million Dollar Question
Reader Question:
Dear Jim,
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Dear Jim,
I do elliptical and treadmill. Do you have any other suggestions to get my belly in order?
Matt
Isn't that like the $1 million dollar question? Doesn't everyone want to know have to have six pack abs, or at least eliminate the bulge over the belt? Yes indeed, entire 600 page books have been written around this very question and the multitude of approaches to it.
There may be hundreds of pages you can write about getting leaner, but it really comes down to creating a calorie deficit. When you take in fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight. It's really is that simple.
Matt
Isn't that like the $1 million dollar question? Doesn't everyone want to know have to have six pack abs, or at least eliminate the bulge over the belt? Yes indeed, entire 600 page books have been written around this very question and the multitude of approaches to it.
There may be hundreds of pages you can write about getting leaner, but it really comes down to creating a calorie deficit. When you take in fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight. It's really is that simple.
Doing What You Most Hate To Do
Reader Question:
Dear Jim,
I love working my legs . My better asset. How many sets should I do?
Could you share your leg routine with me?
Tom
Tom, you are a rare breed because most guys- indeed most people- hate working their legs. The legs are probably the most neglected bodypart among guys because they're not the "show" muscles- unless it's summer, they don't show, and even then with today's boards shorts, more than half of the leg is typically covered.
Dear Jim,
I love working my legs . My better asset. How many sets should I do?
Could you share your leg routine with me?
Tom
Tom, you are a rare breed because most guys- indeed most people- hate working their legs. The legs are probably the most neglected bodypart among guys because they're not the "show" muscles- unless it's summer, they don't show, and even then with today's boards shorts, more than half of the leg is typically covered.
With all of that said, if you're legs are already your "best asset," my question to you is: What is your worst bodypart? What muscle do you
hate training the most? In all probability, that is the area you should be putting even more focus into.
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Better Eating: How To Get Family Going With You
I recently received an email from a young man who recently started a program to lose weight and put on muscle. He shared details of his plan with me, but has a problem at
home with his mother, just like many of you may have with a spouse.
Dear Jim,
"I'm wanting to go on a strict diet. I don't mean really strict but very healthy,
something that will help me cut more and build muscle- like you and the K.
I'm just having trouble getting through to my mother. She loves the "Biggest
Loser" on TV and believes everything they say. She won't let me go on a diet
because the show tells her you just need to cut some stuff out, but you can
still eat everything you want. What do I do?"
Answer:
Take it easy on Mom. << MORE >>
Dear Jim,
"I'm wanting to go on a strict diet. I don't mean really strict but very healthy,
something that will help me cut more and build muscle- like you and the K.
I'm just having trouble getting through to my mother. She loves the "Biggest
Loser" on TV and believes everything they say. She won't let me go on a diet
because the show tells her you just need to cut some stuff out, but you can
still eat everything you want. What do I do?"
Answer:
Take it easy on Mom. << MORE >>
Big Name Musicals That SHOULD Be Movies
By Mark Pyland
Guest Blogger
With the huge success of "Les Miserables" at the box office, here are four other Broadway shows they should considering transforming into motion pictures.
Guest Blogger
With the huge success of "Les Miserables" at the box office, here are four other Broadway shows they should considering transforming into motion pictures.
1. "Miss Saigon,"from the creators of "Les Mis," is a retelling of "Madame Butterfly" set in the Vietnam War. Supposedly, this one is going to be "green-lighted" since
"Les Mis" is a hit.
2. "Sunset Blvd," by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musical version of the film about a reclusive silent screen star planning her return to the screen, unaware that her
public has forgotten her. This film project has been in limbo for years with several actresses tied to it including Glenn Close, Barbra Striesand, and Liza Minnelli. This would be another musical
that Hugh Jackman would be perfect for the male lead (He played the role in the Australian stage production early in his career).
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3. "Cabaret:" I know it is already a film. Next year is its 40th anniversary, but the film wasn't exactly an adaptation of the musical. It only used a few characters
and songs from the play and restructured 90% of the story using the novel the musical was based on.
"Les Miserables" Lives Up To Expectations
By
Mark Pyland
Guest blogger
Guest blogger
When I first saw the musical “Les Miserables” in 1989, it instantly became my all-time favorite musical. It sparked my love for live musical theatre. When they announced that the film version would be coming out in 1992, I was very excited. Now, 20 years later, this has become a reality. I went into this film with high expectations and was not disappointed.
The film is a fairly close adaptation of the stage musical. The order of some of the songs has been changed, but after seeing the film, it was for the best. A few small scenes were added from the book to enhance the story, including a key factor that leads into the song “A Little Fall of Rain” and the character of Marius’ grandfather.
