PEACE LOVE LUNGESPEACE LOVE LUNGESLife, Love and Health in Los Angeles, by celebrity fitness coach Sam Page. Articles
HUNK OF THE WEEK: BRADY QUINN
2008-01-08 21:09:00 CHECK OUT THE FULL GALLERY dedicated to the hunks of professional, college, and amateur athletics. This week, 232-pound quarterback Brady Quinn . A shout to ViewFromSPC for putting it on our radar. More About: Week
ARE YOU MY MOTHER?
2008-01-08 00:07:00 I?VE BEEN HAVING A ROUGH GO LATELY WITH MY MOM. And instead of pretending like I have for the last 11 years that I can somehow deal with it heroically, I need to vent. I don?t believe in airing dirty laundry in public, as anyone familiar with my New Years Resolutions will attest. But my mother does not respect boundaries. I don?t know why?and I?m not going to pretend to offer an explanation. All I know is that after the recent holidays, the e-mails and communications from her began coming at me with a renewed sense of vigor. A DISPLACED sense of vigor, I felt, after her decision not to attend Bronson and my commitment ceremony last year. After learning that she would not attend the wedding, I figured she had shown her true colors, and after spending 11 years of trying, crying, talking and hoping she?d see the light about my sexual orientation, it was time for me to gracefully throw in the towel. After all, I told myself, you can?t force someone to accept you?even if you?re their... More About: Mother
WHICH GYMS ARE THE WORST?
2008-01-07 21:15:00 JOINING A GYM IS AN EXPENSIVE COMMITMENT, so how do you know when you ?sign on the dotted line? if you made the right choice? You might try talking to friends, reading oh-so-smart blogs, or by examining the number of complaints filed against the gym through the Better Business Bureau. Well, the results are in, and Bally Total Fitness and Crunch are the gyms to avoid (complaints lodged against Bally registered in the thousands last year). LA Fitness didn?t score very well, either.It?s sad that Crunch, which used to be my favorite gym chain, has suffered such a loss of cache. But given its acquisition by the Bally behemoth, it?s hardly a surprise. The best gyms? Gold?s, Equinox, and my longtime favorite (and model for my own fitness facilities) David Barton Gym. Graphic by the New York Post. More About: Gyms
RODEO SAFETY FOR US NEW COWBOYS
2008-01-06 23:37:00 AS BRONSON & I GEAR UP FOR RODEO SCHOOL 10 days from now, I thought it might be interesting to pass on what I’m learning about getting conditioned for this rough new sport. When we decided to “tackle this horse” (so to speak) I knew that we’d have to choose between several levels of danger, with Bareback Bronc riding being the most dangerous, and “goat dressing” (putting underwear on a goat) at the other end of the spectrum. We opted for Chute Dogging, which is probably somewhere in the middle. Granted, we’re not small guys, but Chute Dogging involves bringing an 800-pound steer out of the chute to a predetermined 10-foot line and then attempting to wrestle, or “dog” the steer to the ground. It’s designed to give even novices like us a chance to compete in rodeo rough stock events. While Chute Dogging is probably more safe than most rough stock events, the chance of injury for a rodeo cowboy is broad. According to a comprehensive, 20-year-long study publi... More About: Safety , Cowboys , Rodeo
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN SKI AREA
2008-01-06 01:46:00 Naturally when we get a lot of precipitation here in Southern California, the Utah boy in me comes out full force, itching to hit the slopes. I?m a skier, not a boarder like Bronson, but yesterday after hearing that Mammoth would receive upwards of 120 inches of fresh powder, I was checking out conditions on the web when I ran across Brokeback Mountain Ski Area , up in Wyoming. Here?s the trail map.
HERE ARE MY RESOLUTIONS FOR 2008
2008-01-01 22:51:00 Be here now.The idea is to become more comfortable in the present, able to enjoy and find peace in the present moment.Speak ill of no one. This will probably be my most challenging resolution. For me, measuring what "ill" means is based on my intent. This means no malicious statements. No gossip. No repeating things just because they're salacious, inflammatory or controversial. No drudging up old wounds or grinding old axes. Live and let live. Keep e-mail at bay. Once in the morning, once at night ? and that's it.Brush my teeth twice a day without fail. My dentist tells me that dental health in indicative of your overall health. Well, sometimes I get lazy, and it?s kind of gross.Start therapy to deal with some residual issues with my immediate family.Train for and compete in the Gay Rodeoin Los Angeles, summer of 2008 . On January 18, Bronson (whose nickname is "Cowboy") and I fly to Chandler, AZ to begin our rodeo training. He'll probably be learning to ride steer. I'll be le... More About: Resolutions
IT?S NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS TIME
2007-12-31 14:42:00 EACH YEAR WE MAKE THEM. and many of us end up breaking them. But what if you want to get past that? When the going gets tough, is it possible to stay focused on the resolution? Only 17 percent of people who make New Years Resolutions actually keep them, according to a British study that followed more than 3,000 individuals. Of this group, men tended to keep their resolutions more than women."Men [were] more likely to succeed when they set specific goals?losing a pound a week, say, rather than resolving generally to lose weight. They also benefit from focusing on the rewards of success, like becoming more attractive by losing weight or exercising more.Women tend to stick to their goals better when they tell everyone they know what they are trying to accomplish."The resolution that had the most compliance was "to enjoy life more" (32 percent follow-through) followed by improving physical fitness (29 percent follow-through).As a fitness coach who?s worked thousands of hours with cli... More About: Time , New Years
IT?S NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS TIME
2007-12-27 14:42:00 EACH YEAR WE MAKE THEM. and many of us end up breaking them. But what if you want to get past that? When the going gets tough, is it possible to stay focused on the resolution? As a fitness coach who?s worked thousands of hours with clients every day, I?ve learned a few things that work for other people in making and keeping commitments. Here?s what they say. It?s not a resolution. Think of your resolution as an ?anti-resolution.? In other words, your new resolution is a way of being. It?s simply who you are now. No looking back, no chastising yourself for screwing up. Making it your new way of being, rather than some edict forced upon you will help you feel powerful and in control.Take a stand. Resolution s should be powerfully stated. "I commit to losing 30 pounds this year" or "I will be a size 6 by April 30" are specific and stated in measurable ways. Statements like "I'll get in better shape" or "I'll try to make more time to exercise" are not resolutions?they're generaliz... More About: Time , Years , New Years
BEAT HOLIDAY STRESS WITH EXERCISE
2007-12-26 14:23:00 DURING STRESSFUL TIMES, we often shut off the alleviators of that stress. We "just don't have time to exercise?I have so much to do," so instead we eat, turning to "comfort foods" and drinking beverages containing alcohol or sugar. Because stress wears on our nerves and our energy, we turn to caffeine, Red Bull or "energy drinks" to stay awake to pull "all nighters."Think of stress as a situation which causes the body to encounter/overcome difficulty by compensating or "yielding" in return. A helpful analogy is a sponge and water. Like the body, a sponge "absorbs" or incurs stress (water). But a sponge can only hold so much water. If you don't squeeze the water out, (re-establish equilibrium), your ability to deal with the stress is greatly reduced. To deal with stress, we need to find a way to "squeeze the sponge" and re-establish some control and equilibrium over our lives and bodies.WORK IT OUTThe good news is that exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. So consider ... More About: Holiday , Exercise , Stress , Beat
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE PAGE BOYS
2007-12-24 19:17:00 FROM SAM, BRONSON, CHURCHILL & MAX. More About: Christmas , Page , Merry Christmas , Boys , Merry
HOT MALE GROUP INTO MILK
2007-12-21 13:09:00 A PRO ATHLETE WITH A MILK MUSTACHE IS, WELL, JUST PLAIN HOT. A few male athletes (and heroes) have taken the plunge to promote such dairy goodness. Check them out in this gallery dedicated to the hunks who definitely like the white stuff. More About: Milk , Male , Group
WHO NEEDS ABSiNTHE?
2007-12-18 01:47:00 ONE OF MY PET PEEVES ABOUT ROCK CONCERTS is that unless you?re a dyed-in-the-wool fan, or the artist?s music is just so ubiquitous, you can?t understand most of the words. And so it went with Tori Amos last night at the state-of-the-art Nokia theatre. It was the final tour in her 48-date run, sold out to a devoted audience who hung upon her every vowel. I?ve liked Tori ever since Joe Whitmore played Jackie?s Strength for me while burning the midnight oil at HERO back in 2000. I then got a glimpse of a rougher diamond at her joint tour with Alanis Morrisette. This summer, I set her cover of ?Smells Like Teen Spirit? with a video I made of Bronson confronting a childhood demon. I appreciate her artistry, her gorgeous, shimmering intonation, and let?s face it: she?s untouchable on the piano. Her performance last night of Silent All These Years was chilling, gripping, otherworldly.So there I sat, in this gorgeous theatre with impeccable acoustics, unable to understand nine out of every... More About: Absinthe , Needs
LIFTING SOLO: HARDER, STRONGER, BETTER.
2007-12-15 00:06:00 A TRAINER WITHOUT A GYM MEMBERSHIP sounds like a contradiction in terms. But it’s been two weeks now that I’ve gone cold turkey on Gold’s, and in 14 days, I’ve restructured my personal workout and made a few observations.At the risk of losing all self respect, I think I had developed a bit of a “gym crutch” — I was going a little more for the “iSocialize, iValidate, iCandy” aspects than I care to admit (there, I said it). Now that I’m working out in my own training studio, there aren’t any aspirational visions around. In fact, there aren’t any other people around. It’s just me and the mirror, baby. So I’ve been asking myself: “Was I really going to the gym to be validated? Am I THAT shallow?” I guess everyone’s a little shallow when they join a gym. I mean, let’s face it: one of the reasons you join is for the “peer support,” right? If you think about it, the gym’s kind of like a frat house kegger. Everyone’s there for the same reason... More About: Solo , Stronger , Lifting
EGGNOG PROTEIN SHAKE
2007-12-12 02:21:00 WORKING HARD ON YOUR BODY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON but missing all the tasty yuletide creaminess, a la egg nog? Try this recipe on for size, submitted by reader Paul. EGGNOG PROTEIN SHAKE 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 1/2 packet, sugar-free vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast 1/2 TSP allspice 1 graham cracker (2 small squares) 2 or 3 ice cubes 1 TB sugar-free vanilla Coffee Mate 1 cup of skim, rice or soy milkBlend all ingredients together. Add milk to achieve desired “nog” consistency. Sprinkle with nutmeg. More About: Protein , Eggnog
INTERVIEW WITH FITNESS ICON JACK LALANNE
2007-12-08 01:12:00 PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON, Jack LaLanne embodies the ideals of a fitness coach. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview the 93-year-old legend.Jack?s staggering accomplishments, like his energy, have no end in sight. He started two hundred Jack LaLanne Fitness Clubs throughout the U.S. (which later became Bally?s) and INVENTED many of the weight machines we use today. He?s broken several world records, including swimming from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco while handcuffed, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He?s been quoted as saying: "I cannot afford to die, it will ruin my image." His answers here are short, but after combing through them the past few days, I?m reminded of Yoda?s statement to Luke in Star Wars: ?Size matters not; look at me.? Jack?s statements may be simple, but in true guru form, they resonate with clarity and depth.SAM PAGE: How has your fitness lifestyle played a role or contributed to your successful marria... More About: Icon , Interview
ALL THE PRETTY FACES
2007-12-06 23:19:00 After six months of standing my ground, I joined Facebook, the social networking site which allows you to play Scrabble with friends and take quizzes like: ?What Sex Position Are You?? One widget is ?Define Me? which allows friends to anonymously describe you. The larger the word, the more people who used it to ?define? me. I heard this quote once: ?Who you truly are is not how you see yourself?but how other people perceive you to be.? A few people have asked me to blog about body dysmorphia, but I?ve avoided it because it?s a very personal issue for me. I admit to being a bit dysmorphic. It started back in high school, when I was significantly overweight and in slack ass shape. Twenty years later, I can still see that fat kid staring back in the mirror.As I began thinking about this post and my own body image, I wondered if it?s changed over the years. The truth is, I?ve always felt very self conscious about my body, and I think it?s one of the main reasons I took a lap through ... More About: Faces , Pretty
STEP AWAY FROM THE CRACK BERRY
2007-12-05 21:43:00 The Blackberry has virtually become a third personality in many of the sessions I have each week. I?m not judging?I know that people need to be connected. But honesty I think it?s annoying, and kind of lame. My sessions typically last 50 minutes, from start to finish. That?s fifty, highly structured, planned-out minutes. Most of the time, I keep people moving from exercise to exercise to allow as little ?down time? as possible. Despite my best efforts to maintain momentum, there are a few who invariably gravitate back toward their ?Crack berry? to see if someone texted, or if there are any new emails. Then there are times during the middle of a set when I hear a faint ?beep? and they apologetically scramble over to check it. Nine times out of 10, the beeping noise wasn?t the e-mail (or text, or call) they were expecting. Look, I?m no angel. I?ve been there, done that. I used to have a Treo, souped up with an internet connection, automated e-mail?all the bells and whistles. It to... More About: Berry , Step
SAM?S RATES TO INCREASE JAN 1, 2008
2007-12-04 02:20:00 I'm proud to have provided excellent value for my clients for the past three years. You've helped me broaden my expertise and expand my practice to Glendale. My third location, downtown at 1010 Wilshire, is scheduled to open early in 2008 . These new opportunities, and experience, brings a 13% increase to my rate card beginning January 1, 2008. This increase applies only to new clients and past alumni who have lapsed. As always, clients who remain current will continue to enjoy the session prices from the rate card published during their original fitness assessment. More About: Rates , Jan 1
GET RID OF HICKEYS FAST
2007-12-04 02:12:00 Last night I had an unexpected guest over. I hadn?t seen him in several weeks, and things got kind of hot & heavy. OK, really hot and heavy. I always knew he had vacuum lips, but I?m embarrassed to say this morning I have four or five hickeys as evidence of our unscripted rendezvous. I tried on every turtleneck sweater, but none of them cover all of them up. I can?t go to the gym this way. Help! ?Covered in HickeysProbably more embarrassing than the hickeys themselves is writing to ask me, your humble trainer, for help. As someone who has a good deal of experience on both sides of the neck suck, here are a few tips for ridding yourself of those bad boys.Ice, Ice Baby. Apply ice to the hickified area as soon as after it happens as possible. Leave the ice on for about 20 minutes at a time. This will constrict the blood vessels and prevent bruising. Direct application of ice can be tricky if you?re covered in hickeys, so try a bag of frozen peas (or see Flip Flop, below). Be sur... More About: Fast
CHAD?S TREE
2007-12-02 01:55:00 Chad Presswood was Bronson?s best friend. And this is Chad?s aluminum Christmas tree, which we received as a gift a few weeks ago from our friend Christine. We put it up in our great room with little rainbow lights wrapped around the trunk. Chad was essentially Bronson's little brother. The two of them were inseparable.Chad was the consummate southern gentleman: well dressed, reddish blonde locks, ruddy skin, witty yet wise, a giant of a man standing over six feet tall, and perhaps most beautiful, the size of his heart. I know dozens of people who knew Chad, and all of them still reminisce with fondness at Chad's big laugh and the southern drawl that became more Southern with every beer he'd swill at any bar he?d swagger into.Eight years ago, two weeks before his 30th birthday, and six days before Mother?s Day, Chad contracted pneumonia and died. No body even knew he was HIV positive. Not even Chad knew for sure. After being diagnosed with HIV four years ago, my life was pretty... More About: Chad , Tree
WHAT I?M EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEK
2007-11-29 04:37:00 A couple little developments at PLL and Sam Page Fitness I want to tell you about. BlogBurst, an aggregation and syndication service that brings high-quality, topical blogs together with high-traffic web sites will begin delivering PEACE LOVE LUNGES content to these major news outlets: Reuters, USA Today, Gannett, Rodale, FOXNews, and several regional newspapers to further expand my reach and exposure in mainstream media. On the specialty news front, I?ve been asked to join the editorial team at PlanetOut Inc.?s HIV Plus, a 6X/year magazine relating to issues of HIV and health as contributing editor for health & fitness. My first piece will appear in the January 2008 issue, which has a national circulation and is distributed with The Advocate and Out Magazine. PlanetOut Inc. is the leading global media and entertainment company exclusively serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Horizon Barcelona is expanding its editorial operations into London n... More About: Week , Excite
THE CAVEMAN WORKOUT
2007-11-28 23:10:00 For every person, there?s a gym to match. Muscleheads like Gold?s Gym for its nostalgic, serious quality. Neighborhood ?rats? support their smaller, local gyms like Easton?s in L.A. Jet-setters and hipsters often favor upscale mega-chains such as Equinox and Crunch. Gyms have been targeting these niches for years, but now a new, even more individualized trend is sweeping the country: highly specialized workouts.PumpOne and iTrain are two leaders in iPod-based training systems which allow the participant to match a workout to his/her personal goals and follow along while listening to an instructor through headphones. The emergence of ?ripped, jacked & cut? as a baseline body type in movies such as 300 has resulted in workout routines based on the film. There?s no end in sight?there are seated workouts for seniors with limited mobility, Strip Tease Cardio (for the pole dancer in you), even routines for cavemen.You heard me right: cavemen. Dan Hamner, a 67-year-old physicia... More About: Workout , Caveman , Cave
BIG NEWS
2007-11-27 04:37:00 A few developments here at PEACE LOVE LUNGES and Sam Page Fitness that I?m really excited about. I?ve waited until they were ?final? before posting, so here goes.BlogBurst, an aggregation and syndication service that brings high-quality, topical blogs together with high-traffic web sites will begin delivering PEACE LOVE LUNGES content to these major news outlets: Reuters, USA Today, Gannett, Rodale, FOXNews , and several regional newspapers to further expand my reach and exposure in mainstream media. On the specialty news front, I?ve been asked to join the editorial team at PlanetOut Inc.?s HIV Plus, a 6X/year magazine relating to issues of HIV and health as contributing editor for health & fitness. My first piece will appear in the January 2008 issue, which has a national circulation and is distributed with The Advocate and Out Magazine. PlanetOut Inc. is the leading global media and entertainment company exclusively serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) ... More About: Big News
THE CAVEMAN WORKOUT
2007-11-26 23:10:00 For every person, there?s a gym to match. Muscleheads like Gold?s or World Gym for its nostalgia and musty smell. Neighborhood gym rats support smaller, local gyms like Easton?s in L.A. or Move in New York. Jet-setters and hipsters favor upscale mega-chains such as Equinox and Crunch. Gyms have been targeting these niches for years, but now a new, even more individualized trend is sweeping the country: highly specialized workouts.PumpOne and iTrain are two leaders in iPod-based training systems which allow the participant to match a workout to his/her personal goals and follow along while listening to an instructor through headphones. The emergence of ?ripped, jacked & cut? as a baseline body type in movies such as 300 has resulted in workout routines based on the film. There?s no end in sight?there are seated workouts for seniors with limited mobility, Strip Tease Cardio (for the pole dancer in you), even routines for cavemen.You heard me right: cavemen. Dan Hamner, a 67-y... More About: Workout , Caveman
IT?S NOT ME, IT?S YOU.
2007-11-24 03:48:00 Gold?s Gym, Hollywood is the fourth gym in Los Angeles to earn my membership. Like all things in life, there is a time to join, and a time to die. After three years as a member of Gold?s, this week I bid adieu.I?ve been a member of Crunch on Sunset Boulevard (loved those ?peek-a-boo? frosted glass showers), 24-Hour Fitness on Santa Monica Boulevard (derisive comment deleted) and Equinox, (where all the celebutantes work out). But Gold?s Hollywood has been my favorite. There?s a gritty quality, undoubtedly caused by all the gym rats and muscle heads who don?t live near enough to Mecca (a.k.a. Gold?s Venice) to work out there. It may seem ridiculous to mourn a gym breakup, but consider how much time Gold?s and I?ve spent together: roughly 5 hours a week for the last three years?or 780 hours of my life there.I?ve experienced some real milestones at this gym, like when I first bench pressed my own body weight and used 95-pound dumbbells for the first time. When I started working out...
HOW LONG DO LEFTOVERS LAST?
2007-11-23 04:46:00 Help me settle a debate I?m having with my family. My sister insists it doesn?t matter how long we leave the cooked turkey out. Isn?t this unsafe? How long is turkey okay to eat after it?s cooked?? ?Ruth, Los AngelesLeftovers shouldn?t be left to set out for more than two hours. If you refrigerate them promptly, they?ll taste better anyway. If you freeze the turkey leftovers within 2 days, they will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you reheat them, make sure the temperature rises to at least 165 degrees. More About: Long
10 HOLIDAY WAIST MANAGEMENT TIPS
2007-11-20 19:14:00 I am totally committed to staying in shape over the holidays this year, and not just staying in shape, but actually making physical strides. Here are some ?waist management? experiments I?m trying this holiday season.Move A Little Every Day. Make a promise to yourself that you?ll get out and do something physical for at least five minutes, every day, for the next five weeks. Even if it?s just five minutes. If you exercise every day, it will motivate you to make better dietary choices.Go Vegetarian One Meal Per Day. Especially dinner. Vegetarian meals are lower in calories, sugar and cholesterol. Substitute spaghetti squash for pasta, or try steaming a heaping plate of deep greens (collard, beet and dandelion) in lieu of meat. Surprisingly satisfying.Limit Alcohol. Try a little self-control this holiday season. Treat yourself to 2 beers or glasses of wine on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (your choice), and New Year?s Eve. By drinking less, you also won?t be tempte... More About: Holiday , Management , Tips
SUPER, NATURAL
2007-11-20 03:01:00 IN LOS ANGELES, a city more often associated with the material than the metaphysical, conversations acknowledging the ethereal are few and far between. But Bronson and I had dinner with Stafford last night, and one of the most refreshing topics bounced around the table was our shared belief in the existence of a supernal reality: ghosts, angels, and the afterlife. So far, I can count six supernatural experiences in my life. The third occurred in 1998 shortly after I learned that my high school Latin teacher, John Tabish, had died of cancer. Tabish was the principal mentor of my high school years, a la Dead Poets Society. I was shopping in the language section of Book Soup when I had a visceral knowledge of his presence. He showed up to say goodbye before he crossed forever into that alternate reality. It wasn?t weird, creepy or scary. Actually it felt perfectly normal. Today, the song ?Uninvited? (from the film City of Angels) looped in iTunes as our conversation last night echoed... More About: Natural , Super , Ural
THE ?300? WORKOUT
2007-11-18 17:34:00 ?SAM: I?ve heard about a workout that helped whip the actors in the film ?300? into such peak condition as Spartans. Can you detail how to perform the workout?? -Dan, Los AngelesYes, the ?300? workout was featured in the magazine Men?s Health, and here?s a visual demonstration in case you want to put it to work at home or in the gym. More About: Workout
RATES TO INCREASE JAN 1, 2008
More articles from this author:2007-11-18 02:20:00 I'm proud to have provided excellent value for my clients for the past three years. You've helped me broaden my expertise and expand my practice to Glendale. My third location, downtown at 1010 Wilshire, is scheduled to open early in 2008 . These new opportunities, and experience, brings a 13% increase to my rate card beginning January 1, 2008. This increase applies only to new clients and past alumni who have lapsed. As always, clients who remain current will continue to enjoy the session prices from the rate card published during their original fitness assessment. More About: Rates , Jan 1 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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