Traveling Without Moving
June 19, 2007

Ok, well, I actually moved A LOT. The trip to D.C. was fun. I got some much-needed down time. I'm not used to traveling, (it's been years since I took a REAL long distance vacation) we didn't have the kids with us, either--so that was WEIRD. We had time to talk, go running (which is an incredible feat in D.C.--it's like running in a steam bath) and I didn't have to cook even ONE meal in almost a week. Anybody who knows me understands that is possibly the whole reason I went. Our Nation's Capitol has so much to offer as far as things to see. The Smithsonian was incredible. You could spend months there and never see everything. The Natural History portion had all the dinosaur fossils, stuffed and incredibly-lifelike animals, priceless gems (it's where the Hope Diamond is housed) you could ever imagine. It was a bit overwhelming. Then we were off to see the Capitol Building...we didn't actually go in--it took a ticket to do so, and we were too lazy to wait in a line. We went and saw the Holocaust Memorial. That was tough, it's important to learn and remember the events that took place in that dark time in history (if we don't remember, we are doomed to repeat), but to see it all together in one place was painful. I won't recount the things I saw, but Vince and I were both crying by the time we left. The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial wall wasn't any easier. I was walking along looking at all the names, all the 58,000 names and it was just heartbreaking to me that all those lives were reduced to just a small engraved name on huge black granite. This point was further brought home by a man kneeling down in front of the wall, he was touching a name--then all of a sudden he put his hands to his eyes and starting weeping with whole-body sobs. The whole day left me feeling rather introspective, and I felt small in the face of history. I'm very happy I went.

Now that I'm home (and totally exhausted) I realize how much I really value the way I live, and the things I do to be healthy. Being in shape made it so much easier to get around, hiking miles and miles to see all the sights. It had crossed my mind while I was doing it that if you weren't in shape it would be very difficult to do it all (I also realized that our forefathers were extremely fond of STAIRS, lots and lots of them). I've picked right back up with my workout routine, running about 5 miles a day and feeling strong......

While I was gone, life went on and Andy and Patrick interviewed Adam Goldberg. I was extremely bummed out that I had missed that since Andy said he had been on Entourage--one of my FAVORITE shows.......I couldn't place the name, though, in the regular cast. It turns out that he was a guest star in one of the episodes that I had seen--but if they had interviewed Vince, Turtle, Drama or Ari, I would have been really upset. Yes, I'm really into the show.....I need other good shows to be into now that The Sopranos is almost over FOREVER........don't get me started on that. I've been watching it since the beginning and will honestly miss it.

We are also chatting with Chris Shugart this week, he's the creator of the Velocity Diet--you remember, nothing but shakes for a month? Yeah. Interesting idea--I have no willpower or desire to torture myself and strongly follow the motto: "You don't have to suffer to succeed." You can't argue with the results of the diet-- 28 pounds in 28 days--it's amazing. I just love food too much!
Cassandra Forsythe is also going to talk to us about the ever popular "O" word--which seems to be Andy's favorite word at the moment (well, who can blame him, ehh?). She clarifies the "coregasm" for us--she is the brave female pioneer who discovered it! Wow, some people climb Mount Everest---this lady found out how to have an orgasm while working out......I know which activity I'd rather partake in! Maybe you really don't have to suffer to succeed--maybe this is our great reward for working out--at any rate, we'll talk to Cassandra and get all the juicy details......
Oh, and the beauty pageant is getting underway this week--my daughter and I will be going to the first meeting this Wednesday......I'm ready--and man, do I need the entertainment--after all, The Sopranos IS ending in a couple of weeks...somehow I think the Italian mafia might be easier to deal with than a bunch of pageant-hungry girls and their Moms--hopefully they'll prove me wrong. Either way, we're ready to rock the world of Miss Kingston!

Still on vacation!
May 31, 2007

Hi everybody....still on an extended vacation. I'll probably have a heck of a lot more to write about next week, I'm heading to Washington D.C. tomorrow. It's a big deal. I never go anywhere. Granted, D.C. isn't my ideal vacation destination, but it should be interesting and educational. I intend to head to the Smithsonian, The Capitol, go and have a look at the White House (wish I could redecorate). Living on the West Coast I don't get to see a whole lot of historical crap--this should satisfy. I'm a huge history buff, so I am rather happy to go. I'll give you all the details....maybe a slide show at my house next Tuesday?

I'm still working out hardcore! I'm running anywhere from 5 to 8 miles a day, getting fitter and looking forward to my daily run. I intend to run as many road races as possible this Summer, and the whole family is really excited about it. Actually, the race we ran last week had a more positive outcome for my 7 year old daughter than we had thought--she actually placed 3rd in her age group and got a mention in the local paper--which really made her happy. It's great to see the kids feeling so accomplished for their efforts. I really think that it helps them in so many other areas of life. Our son Ben is really taking it seriously, and will be running a road race while we are gone. I'm sure he'll do really well--he's been training for cross country season next Fall...it will be his senior year next year. Don't get me started, I don't want to think about how much these kids have grown up. Chloe had her 16th birthday--live band, all good. That was a ton of work getting ready for that, but it was worth it. We're still planning the Miss Kingston Pageant...and yes, it's still making me laugh just thinking about it.

Andy is back--and I'm leaving....doesn't that just make perfect sense? He did have a great tan...doubt I'll be so fortunate in D.C.!

We're going to be catching up with Tricia on our next show--which will be ALL NEW! We've got some great guests, too...I'll fill you in more next week. This Blog is short but sweet....I've still gotta pack!

Hail the Conquering Hero!
May 23, 2007

Well, maybe I didn't conquer, but I did really well in my five mile race at Viking Fest in Poulsbo this Saturday! I ran it in 46 minutes, which means I'm running just over a 9 minute mile. Pretty good for only really training for 3 weeks, (seriously, I've only been REALLY dedicated for that amount of time) so I feel pretty great about it. My son Ben came in 16th over-all and 2nd in his age group--he was awesome! My husband Vince also achieved a personal goal--40 minutes! My daughters also ran in the races. They did the 1 mile race instead of the 5 mile--Kat is only 7, and my other daughter who is 16 is nursing shin splints at the moment. It's all about getting out there--and it's really cool to be able to do it as a family!

Andy is still gone this week--and though I miss him I'm actually glad to have some time off! My daughter is having her 16th birthday this coming Saturday and I'm running around trying to get everything ready for it. Freaking out is a better word for what I'm doing.....I guess I'm freaking out a bit that both of my older children are almost grown up--17 and 16....Ben is looking at colleges--he'll be the first to leave the nest. It seems like only yesterday he was a tiny baby! Chloe is looking to run in the Miss Kingston Pageant. I know what you are thinking--a pageant? It is so far removed from what I'm all about it isn't even funny. Chloe isn't one to cater to that ideology, either, but she'd like the scholarship. Somewhere deep inside I think she likes the idea of showcasing her talents. She plays guitar and sings, but a pageant?? This should be MILES of entertainment...seriously. I know the type of people who are attracted to this kind of thing, and if you could be a fly on the wall I assure you you'd WANT to see this. I am so anti. I don't believe in pageants of any kind that glorify the whole beauty-myth. I know that they skim over with the guise that they are promoting strong young women, but I don't think they will have ever seen anything like us. I have taught Chloe from a very early age NOT to fall into that trap--trying to cater to the whims of fashion. Worrying about what people thought of clothing she wore or what she did with her life. I've taught her to be strong, lead with her opinions and stand by her convictions and never back down from what she believed was right. She IS a fashion plate....her favorite thing to do right now is to wear things that COMPLETELY clash--this includes plaid flannel shirts (bright red), purple tights and neon-green shorts(yes, she wears this to school--PROUDLY)......not exactly beauty contest material, right? We'll see.....if there's one thing this family loves to do it's stand out and shatter myths. I really wish that I had grown up in a family like the one we have.....I had the opposite going on. You were supposed to out-do the Jones', it was very important NOT to push the boundaries too much. You always had to have great-looking fashionable clothes--in other words, be a consumer. It wasn't until I grew up and got out on my own that I realized how ridiculous all that really was. I really used to care what people thought about what I was wearing, and basically what people thought of me. How incredibly liberating to realize that I really don't care what people think of me--how unimportant people's opinions are. You have to find your own path that makes you happy--following other people's trends and worrying about what other people think of you only gets in the way of your ultimate happiness. At any rate, the first meeting for this pageant will be in the beginning of June.....I will report back all my findings. So far, though, the very thought of it gives me endless entertainment. Oh, and I have a plan...... ;-)

Along those same lines, I find that the whole fitness obsession still has more to do with what people think of you than where you really want to go with your health. The feeling that if you just loose a few pounds life will somehow miraculously change for you and all your dreams will come true--you'll fit into the clothes you want, maybe find that hot guy you've been dreaming about, make the mate you have love you more. The list is endless. I did the same thing. As a result I was never successful trying to get back into shape. It wasn't until I set goals for MYSELF that things really started to fall into place. "I" want to feel better, "I" want to have more energy, "I" have always loved running road races and would like to be fit and healthy enough to do it again. Not this, "I really look fat in this dress, I need to loose 10 pounds before I can be happy." I think you set yourself up for disaster when you try to change negative things (perceived--remember, you may be the only one who sees them--and ONLY your opinion matters!) about yourself with negative talk towards who you are. Positive changes start with positive talk. Find the things you really like about yourself and work slowly towards improving those things, try to avoid the negative pitfalls. Make yourself this promise: No crash dieting, start small with your diet--start eating smaller, healthier portions of food. Don't kill yourself in the gym, start with a brisk walk when you get the chance during the day. Don't diet to fit into clothes, start "thinking" fit and healthy, do your minimal amount of exercise and start to eat the right things--I swear everything will fall into place and you absolutely DON'T have to kill yourself. REMEMBER--you don't have to suffer to succeed! You really don't. Changing your health begins with changing the way you see yourself. I cannot tell you how many times I've started a crazy exercise routine only to become totally overwhelmed by it--I set myself up for failure by making my goals unrealistic. Start small--you'll see improvement and that starts the chain of success--small steps--meet your goals, move to the next goal--attain it....SUCCESS! I'm telling you, it's just that easy.
Well, I miss Andy....I hope he is having a good time in the Philippines--I know his dog Maxie misses him--chasing my goats is no replacement for her daddy's love!......I'm actually going to go on a *bit* of a vacation myself--I'm heading to Washington D.C.--I've never been. It's not been one of my dreams to get there, but I'm going to make the most of it.

I'll be catching you up with Tricia and "Triathlon Heather" in the next few weeks......we'll see how they are progressing.....

In the meantime, please feel free to drop me a line...Tell me about your fitness goals, concerns and how you feel about it. I'd totally love to hear from you!

The Saga Continues...........
May 15, 2007

Well folks, I'm still training like I said I would (I haven't fallen off the wagon)....I stepped it up a bit--I'm up to about 5 miles a day now. I'm getting ready for a 5 mile race this coming Saturday at the Viking Fest in Poulsbo, Washington. Viking Fest is pretty much what it sounds like--a big Festifus of Viking heritage and lore. It's fun. I'm not sure what running has to do with Vikings, exactly--except I'm pretty sure my ancestors did plenty of running from them back in the day, so maybe there's some sense to it. We'll see how I do. I'm still not getting any faster, but I'm feeling a lot better. I actually look forward to my run everyday. That's a good thing. I've been known to avoid exercise if I don't like what I'm doing---running is the one activity that I really, really enjoy. There's one thing that really bothers me while I'm running, though. Why do men yell out their car windows at women running? Do they think we are flattered? Even if I could see them (which I can't as they speed by at 55+ miles an hour) I'm not sure why they think we would be attracted to guys who yell "whoo!" at the top of their lungs at someone who is obviously out there sweating it out and not really concerned about either, A.) How she looks, or B.) whether or not the opposite sex finds them attractive at that exact moment. Anyway, I digress...men are always complaining that we are difficult to understand, I'd just like some clarification on that one.

Actually, on the same topic *sort of* I am noticing a real improvement in my appearance after really getting hardcore with my workouts...it doesn't take long to see changes--and it gives me hope that where I want to go is obtainable. We women are funny....we are never really happy with how we look. I'm guilty of that, too, as much as I try to deny it. I've always had body-image issues. I had an amazing body back when I was in my teens and early twenties, but I was always trying to hide under bulky sweaters, or baggy pants. I kick myself now when I look back on it. It was totally ridiculous! I even had a killer bod after I had two kids--I have pictures of myself in a bathing suit on the beach in Hawaii right after my second child was born. I really had a great body. I thought I looked terrible! It's so funny to look back through pictures and remember what you were thinking at the time--"I'm too fat" or "I shouldn't wear that, I've got to work out more first" and the famous "if I just lose 10 pounds, I'll be perfect." We all set ourselves up like that, and it's sad now that I'm older and I can look back on it with some real clarity. With all that I know, I still do it to this day. Sure, I'm much more confident and satisfied with how I look, but I STILL say those things to myself about my appearance. So much wasted time. I have to say that I've really grown away from that, and that I feel so much better about how my body looks--even naked! That is a new concept for me. I know so many women that feel terrible about their bodies, too. It would be nice if we could just stop measuring ourselves by standards set for us by the media and embrace all the things that make us different. That's not to say that we shouldn't aspire to be in the best health that we can possibly be in, but we should keep in mind that goal, not the goal that makes us into what we see in the magazines and on TV. I think I'm finally figuring it out...I feel stupid that it's taken me this long to do so, but oh, well. We live and we learn.

This week we have some cool guests to chat with. Steve Wilkos is the head of security for the Jerry Springer Show. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Crazy stuff! He's got his own talk show coming on in the Fall and he tries to explain what he'll be doing on it. Pretty entertaining. Sounds like more Jerry Springer, but I guess people like it. I get into it with Andy and Patrick after the show about teaching kids to fight. They (and Steve Wilkos) think it's really important to teach your kids self-defense. My take on it is that you teach kids not to trust people when you do that sort of thing. Yeah, if someone is grabbing you or whatever, by all means, fight back. But how often does that actually happen? Do you need to constantly live in fear that someone is going to beat you up? Why on earth would you want your children to grow up to think that everyone that looks that them a little funny might be out to get them? I think that's what's wrong with this country. We live in constant fear--our media feeds it to us on a constant basis. Have you ever seen a news program doesn't talk about violence all the time? You say that it's what's happening, so they report it. I say it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. You get what you expect. Andy thinks I live in my own little dream world. Maybe I do......but I don't live in constant fear about bullies, rapists, muggers, terrorists......life is too short for that crap.

We also talk to Craig Ballantyne. He created what is known as "Turbulence Training," a rapid weight-loss workout program that seems to be pretty effective. It's smart--and well put together. He's got good information and knowledge that I think people will find beneficial. He doesn't like treadmills, either, so he's my buddy on that one for sure!

Tim Bishop is on to talk about being a trainer for the Baltimore Orioles.......I could act like this was entertaining and informative to me, but it was really just Andy enjoying baseball again. He lives for that stuff.....I think it's cool that he trained Cal Ripken when he broke all those records (see--I don't really know WHICH records, just that he broke records--lol!). I know who Cal Ripken is--you'd have to live under a rock not to know THAT!

We've got a "Best Of" show next week...but I'll still write a new blog.....I'll let you know How I did in the 5 mile race this coming weekend--wish me luck!

I'm Hardcore!!!......*I'm not hardcore*
May 8, 2007

This week started out with some relative insanity. I ran a 10k Sunday...not just any 10k, but what is known as the "Roots Rock Trail Running Spring Fling." This is a really cool run that takes place on Pope and Talbot (Timber Land in the charming city of Port Gamble, Washington) trails through dense forest. This includes (as I found out the hard way) many, many hills and challenging terrain. Mud was a factor, so were rocks and roots. It was fun! I've been a lifetime runner....recently though I've really let things slide with my training routine. It's easy to do. I found out today that the Stairmaster in no way takes the place of getting your butt outside and running a couple of miles a day. Lifting weights also did not prepare me for the mountainous, mud covered fiasco that I found myself in. In my twenties (oh yes, here comes a "back in my day" speech) I used to love trail and road races. I could go for months and not bother to train at all...spend a few days before the race and actually place second or third in my age group. Well, now that I'm close to forty I find that this is NOT an effective training methodology. I had old ladies (no offense ladies, you know who you are--and you beat me fair and square!) passing me up the hills.....nothing quite like seeing a sixty-year-old woman pass you going uphill to bring you back to your sad reality...that is, that you are getting older and if you want to compete with people your age or older you better get your ass in gear...these people ARE HARDCORE! That being said, let me make sure you understand I'm not bitching about getting old....I like being older. I feel *somewhat* wiser, I take life a lot less seriously than I used to--I totally enjoy my life. As a woman reaching forty (I'm 38) I feel hotter and sexier than I did in my twenties. I just realize that I've let (fitness) things, well, slip a little...ok, a lot. I know it. I've decided that setting some realistic goals for myself is really where I need to start. I thought that I would be o.k. working out on the Stairmaster, using free weights and doing crunches and things like that....turns out that the workout that I've chosen obviously does NOT match what my goals are. If I want to run these road and trail races I'm going to have to step it up. I'm going to get out and run.....everyday. Again, no excuses! Now, running is something you either love or hate--I've loved it since I was a kid, and I've always been really good at it. I've never had any notable injuries and my body-type is such that running seems really beneficial to me. Patrick the Trainer and I agree to disagree about running.....he does agree that body-type is everything, and that some folks' bodies are just not cut out for that kind of exercise. He's not a big fan of the running thing. Anyway, my goal isn't to set fire to the course and win everything, just get out there and feel my best and compete. My fitness and health goals go hand in hand--I want my HEALTH to be top-priority. I met some cool people today--one woman inspired me a lot. Her name is Heather, and she will be competing in her first Triathlon this coming August. She's about my age, and I'm hoping to track her progress up to the date of the event. She isn't crazy about running, but she got out there and did the race with me and finished...that's what it's all about.

Our family all runs together and does the races as an activity we enjoy. My husband is finding the same thing as I am. The older you get, the harder it is to get back on track with fitness. He felt the same way I did, that he isn't where he wants to be. It might be harder for him--in high school he was a super-athlete and kicked everybody's butt when it came to running. He was a monster. Our son Ben finished the race when Vince still had two more miles to go. Ben finished the race in about 42 minutes. Vince finished at 56 minutes. I finished the race at 69:05. It was so wonderful to see them coming down the trail after they finished their race to cheer me on. Kind of a beautiful sight to see the people you love the most up the trail, knowing they are there to support you. We all need that. I did have a fantastic time, and when I passed people on the trail I told them they were doing great--and to keep on going....when people passed me, they did the same for me. I guess I realize that we are all in this together, one big race to the finish. I feel good about what BigButtRadio is doing for people, we all have different goals. Some goals are harder to attain than others. If we stick together and support each other it will be easier. I know it!

On to the guests this week. We chatted with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam about his Crohn's disease. I have some background with this particular disease. I dear friend of the family has it, and it has had a very severe impact on his life. I had never heard of it until we met Matt a few years ago. Once he explained what he had to deal with, I couldn't believe the everyday bravery he has. He never complains. It's just part of his life. Mike is the same. He is brave enough to come out and publicly talk to people about living with Crohn's. I wonder if he even realizes how much it must mean to people, especially teenagers who feel isolated anyway, to know that they aren't alone. Standing on stage in front of a 100,000 people must be amazing.....not knowing if you will have to run to the bathroom and maybe not make it in front of 100,000 might be even more interesting. Inspiring is a word that sums up the discussion we had with Mike McCready. Pearl Jam is arguably one of our generation's best bands. It was cool to chat with him and find out how down to earth he is.

We also had a chat with Alwyn (pronounced "Allen") Cosgrove. He's a strength and conditioning coach. He's trained Olympic-level athletes, football players, rugby players, ice skaters, dancers, martial artists....you name it, he's probably helped them achieve their fitness goals. He's also a former Taekwon-do international champion. The guy knows his stuff. What did Andy glean from this incredibly notable expert? WOMEN CAN ACHIEVE AN ORGASM BY DOING HANGING LEG LIFTS! Well, it is important. In the great scheme of things, after all, what could be more important? Nothing, That's what! I will say that it has gotten Andy thinking....I believe that a great experiment is in the works. I'm certain I'll be a part of this, as I'm the only woman on the show. It involves doing hanging leg lifts in a public park with some other women friends of mine.....the things I do for science! Alwyn was great though, and I hope to talk to him again in the future.....he has no idea what he has started!

We also check in with my friend Tricia....I mentioned her in a previous blog. She's starting to exercise and work on her diet to achieve her health and fitness goals. Patrick has taken her under his wing and will be helping her along the way. Her life hasn't slowed down in any way, things are still a rat-race for her juggling family and job demands. She's made the promise to stick to what she starts, and I hope that she'll inspire some of you to realize that it's tough for everyone....sometimes it's just a matter of making the choice to make the positive changes in your life.
I'll let you know how my new training routine goes...I'm looking at starting out running about 3 miles a day, rain or shine. After that race today I'm totally exhausted.....I'm glad I did it, though!

The Fantastic World of Do-It-Yourself
May 1, 2007

This Blog topic is a bit different than usual--but that's ok, because I have a rhyme and reason for where it's going to go. It actually has to do with one of our guests this week, John Ratzenberger. He has an organization he founded called The Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajig Foundation that helps kids learn how to do things with their hands--you know, work on cars, build things, basically get your hands dirty! Fun stuff for kids.
The lessons learned are bigger than that. America has lost it's edge in that respect. We just don't build and create things the way we used to. The do-it-yourself attitude that put us on the map has largely been lost in favor of easy, disposable crap....that includes cars, household appliances--even houses. Craftsmanship and skills that really create things that last are largely gone--not altogether, but it's definitely rare and not encouraged in our younger generations. We don't even have any high school shop classes anymore!
In chatting with Mr. Ratzenberger I found a kindred spirit! We agree that in order to save our country, we need to be pro-active about teaching kids how to build, create and work jobs that are being lost to workforces in other countries. Outsourcing our jobs and importing all our goods (and I use that term loosely because a lot of the products coming to this country aren't that "good", and could be made in this country with better quality at an affordable price). There is merit in a job well done--it is admirable to work with your hands and get dirty everyday. It's what built this country, what made us great! I know how to work on cars, fix appliances, work on a farm, build houses, restore wooden boats--all of these things are important to society. All jobs are important, but I don't strive to become a CEO of some corporation that sends U.S. jobs overseas to absolutely exploit every avenue of commerce to make as much money as possible for their shareholders, all I want to do is be creative and raise children who are creative and self-sufficient. The other reason I really love to work with my hands is the "pride" factor--there is nothing quite as cool as building something, or restoring something and saying--"I did that!" In the coming weeks, I'll share some of the projects I'm working on--boats, home improvements, things like that. I want women to know that they can do things for themselves--it's so important! Heck, it's important for everyone! Also, just so you know I practice what I preach--I barely EVER buy anything new. If I do I try and make sure that it was made here in America if I can. I go out my way if I have to.
John has also raised an incredible amount of money for research for a cure to early childhood diabetes--so cool to see a guy actually do good things with his fame and influence.
John Ratzenberger also dances in "Dancing With The Stars." I always love it when people do things that you don't expect--and excel at them! I was surprised I had so much in common with John....even the "Big Joe Polka Show".......to find out about that, you'll just have to watch it. I couldn't possibly explain it to you.

Dan John is also on the show this week...what an interesting guy......He had a "pregnant belly" which is extremely unhealthy for men, it's a precursor to heart disease and heart attacks. He did something that I was really wary about--he drank protein shakes for 28 days--having only ONE solid meal a week. At the outset it sounds like a terrible idea. Well, he lost 30 pounds in 28 days--and the "pregnant belly" fat. One can't argue with the results he obtained. He managed to keep the weight off, too. He definitely improved his chances for living longer by getting rid of that belly fat. I'm still on the fence about it. I'm thinking that most people wouldn't be able to actually follow through with the diet--think about only having shakes to eat for 28 days....bleech! I'm out already! I love food too much!
Dan John also pointed out the difference between "health" and "fitness".......sometimes the people you think are the most healthy AREN'T. Your typical marathon runner might possibly not be at the peak of health--but they are at the peak of fitness. So what is more important to you--fitness or health? For my money, I'd much rather be at my healthiest. That is one of the reasons I'm not going to use a scale to determine if I am succeeding with my health goals or not. I am going to judge how I feel, how my muscles look to me and how I feel about my body--not what I weigh. I will never weigh myself again. I'd like all people, especially women, to throw out their scales in favor of my methodology......stop measuring yourself to the standards of what we have been taught to believe and listen to your body. Fitness should not be the ultimate goal--your health should. I always remember what my Grandma used to say: "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything at all." Wise words.
Also, I'm sticking to my goal of working out everyday.......I haven't taken a day off. It's too early to tell about the toning I'm trying to achieve--but I do feel better! Remember, all I'm doing is 45 minutes on the Stairmaster, about 15 minutes of free-weights and some stomach crunches--about 5 reps of 20. I totally hate working out...if I can do it anyone can.....seriously.
More next week...and check out the BigButtRadio MySpace, I'll be posting some pictures of my boats and other cool stuff so you can see what I'm up to.

How Much Can You Bench Press?
April 24, 2007

The answer to that question remains a mystery, at least in my case. I can say that I have a hard time lifting bags of Horse/Poultry feed--those are fifty pounds. I think I'm pretty much a wimp. I'm working on changing that, though. I've recently started lifting free-weights. OK, well, I'll be brutally honest and say that the ones that I'm using only weigh five pounds a piece. I've just never understood lifting weights. It's always seemed to be such a man-thing, you know? I've never really known any women who lifted weights to get in shape. Personally I don't like the looks of hardcore women body builders--it just looks weird. I think what I'm aiming for is definition, toning basically. We recently chatted with Olesya Novik, she's a fitness model (check out her picture on the main page) and what she is doing is more along the lines of what I think women are shooting for. She's certainly at an extreme level of body sculpting--more than I will ever achieve, I'm sure. Her muscles aren't bulging out everywhere, and it looks to be all about definition--not huge over-exaggerated muscle-building. She still looks feminine. You can check out her MySpace--search for Olesya Novik, or our links from BigButtRadio.com will take you to her website, which is basically her MySpace until she gets up-and-running with her website in the next couple of weeks.

WOMEN: don't be intimidated!

This wonderful lady has been in the competitive world of fitness and body sculpting for years, she gives us all hope that we can get to some better point with out bodies--she definitely proves that it can be done! She's also extremely bright (which Andy pointed out, surprised--yes, Andy, hot women can be smart!) and is an inspiration to get up and take it to the next level. Andy said during the interview that "normal" women could never get into the type of shape that Olesya is, especially older women. I disagree. I think that you can do whatever you set your mind to.

Speaking personally, my goal isn't to have the same type of body sculpting that Olesya has, it's basically to get more toned and defined. There are certain areas that need work, and I'm doing a combination of things to reach my fitness goals......none of which are designed to be unpleasant or terribly rigorous. I find that if I hate whatever fitness activity I'm doing I will find ANY excuse NOT to do it. If I enjoy what I'm doing, I keep on doing it. My routine is simple. Forty-five minutes on the Stairmaster (at home), 100 crunches and several reps of 15 with free-weights (remember, these only weigh five pounds--so reps are pretty easy). I have committed to doing this EVERYDAY with no excuses. I may change things up here and there--running 2.5 miles instead of the Stairmaster in nice weather, but the key is actually keeping the commitment of DOING the routine.

I will say it here and now--I have NEVER stuck with a routine. My pattern is to start it, keep it up for awhile and then get lazy and let it drop by the wayside. I've been pretty lucky, I've always been pretty fit. Aside from the pregnancies (right after the pregnancy. I have three kids--17, 15 and 7) I never really had a problem with weight. After my last child I had a REAL problem. I gained 50 pounds as a result of eating for freedom. You know what I'm talking about-- "Oh, I'm pregnant, I can eat anything." Not true. All the ice cream and other crap didn't go away after the birth of our daughter. It was, to say the least, eye-opening. I didn't really get back into shape until a couple of years ago. I got tired of feeling "icky" about how my body looked. I didn't feel too great, either. I started looking around and the rest of the family wasn't doing too much better.

We all committed to getting into shape--all of us, my husband, myself, all the kids, and we did it. Both of our older kids are on the High School Track Team and are competing at a pretty high level. As for my husband and myself? Well, it's an uphill battle. You know how it goes--work and family. It's easy to loose yourself in other activities instead of taking care of your health. I did do one MAJOR thing, though. I got rid of ALL the junk food in the house. Every bit. It's a real bummer sometimes when you really have a craving for something--but it's not in the house, so I don't eat it. I would seriously kill you for a potato chip some days. I have made the connection between what you eat and how you look/feel. I live on a farm. I have fresh organic eggs everyday--it's time to get the garden going so we'll have fresh veggies all Summer and into the Fall. I know that it's a luxury to be able to eat the way we do, but I think it's so important. As for my fitness goals, I'd like to have abs of steel and some toning and muscle definition in the next two months. I know this is a monumental idea, but I'm not going to look at this fitness effort with any specific weight loss in mind. I can tell you that I could stand to loose 10-15 pounds, but that will not be my goal. My goal will be to define my body--tone it up...basically look better naked--lol! I think it's unhealthy to zero-in on weight loss rather than overall health and fitness. We'll see if by eliminating that weight loss factor from my goal setting I can have an easier time making it happen. I'll keep you posted as to my progress, see if I can keep it up!

Also on the show this week is Jeff Cirillo who plays for the Minnesota Twins. It was an interesting interview. I always love to chat with pro-sports people. It takes so much work and talent to make it to that level. I always wonder how they get there--and once they are there, how they stay there! I'll admit that I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I love to go to games and cheer for *whatever* team is playing, drink a beer and eat a hot dog at the stadium, (yes, junk food IS legal at a baseball game!). On a hot Summer day, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else--it's the most fun you can have! Andy is the big baseball-head....I swear you can ask him anything about baseball for the last 50 years and he's know it off the top of his head. He's scary-smart about sports. That's why I don't need to know anything.....just ask Andy!

We also chat with Dave Tate. He's a professional power-lifter who has some inspirational things to say about fitness...it's good advice. Get off your ass! Wow, that's so darn crazy it just might work! Kidding aside, this guy has really seen it all, and I totally agree with him that fitness has gotten WAY too complicated for people. You don't need to go to the gym, you don't need to buy expensive equipment, you don't need to follow fads--you just have to get off your bum and do SOMETHING....ride your bike, take a walk, head down to the pool for a swim. ANYTHING! The health and fitness world has become overly complicated with this book and that book, this new fangled product and that. I agree with Dave, it's so simple EVERYBODY can do it...and they should. No excuses. Dave certainly has had a respectable career, though......he has lifted 935 pounds in a squat. That got my attention. He has a great outlook on life, and we can definitely learn from his wisdom. You'll hear what I mean when you listen to the interview.
We'll also be checking in soon with my friend I told you about a few weeks ago. Hopefully her job has slowed down and she's been able to settle into a fitness routine. If she hasn't, we'll see if we can help her get on-track!

Have a great week!

This Week's Blog...
April 18, 2007

I'm so excited!

This week we get to chat with Seattle's own favorite resident rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot! I've been a fan for a long time--and I'm sure that some of the inspiration for BigButtRadio came from Mix...... "Baby's Got Back," I can't believe how long that song of his has been around......He has other awesome songs, too--and a little known side project with The Presidents of the United States of America (remember "Lump" and "Kitty"?) called "SubSet"--that was a whole bunch of fun. Living in Seattle is great, there's still so much music and tons of talented musicians still kicking around. Talking to Mix, though, you realize that we ALL have our battles to be healthy. Even big-shot musicians have to worry about it! Nice to know that we're all in this boat together.

We will also be chatting with Shaun Ellis. This guy really shocked Andy. Shaun lives and communicates with wolves, he is part of their pack. To think that a human being could actually be accepted into a pack of wolves is almost unthinkable, but Shaun has done it. Andy can't figure out why anyone would want to go to the extreme that Shaun does, but if you look at how the man has immersed himself with the wolves you can see all the amazing things he has learned about their behavior. That will hopefully help the wolves survive in their natural environment. I have a lot of respect for Shaun. He is doing what he loves, he is helping people understand wolves. Being passionate about something can change the world.....maybe more people should think like Shaun.

Chad Waterbury is on the show, too......he's written a book called "Muscle Revolution." He has some great strategies for getting in shape, and taking your body to the next level (and couldn't we all use some help climbing THAT mountain). Chad has been a staple in the fitness world for a very long time, and the guy really knows what he's talking about. I see him posting on T-Nation.com all the time--he's always got some good advice for people who have in-depth questions about building muscle and enjoying a high level of fitness and health.
Aside from the show, I'm still getting amped for Spring.....Seattle is a fickle place to try and enjoy that, though....one day will be seventy degrees and gorgeous, the next is cold and rainy. Oh well, I won't complain......Winter is gone and we can all look forward to playing outside again!
Be sure and check out the BigButtRadio.com MySpace.......I've posted pictures and will be sending out weekly reminders when we post the new show every Tuesday!

It's officially Spring.....
April 11, 2007

How can I tell? I can't find a parking place to save my life at the marina! We take the boat out even in the worst weather all winter--but the "fair weather folks" start coming out of the woodwork the minute the temperature hits sixty or so...oh well, it's totally gorgeous this time of year--who can blame them?

This week on BigButtRadio we have an interview with the world famous Donny Osmond.....his show was on and was cancelled all in the span of a couple of weeks--that's got to suck! I have a feeling he's used to it all--he's been around since I was a kid (even before that, I'm sure). I remember when he had a variety show with his sister--The Donny and Marie Show. Yes, I watched it. I've tried explaining to my kids that we didn't have all the choices we have today--250 channels and all that. We have about 5 channels--so you had a small pond to fish your entertainment from. No VCR's either. You watched what was on.....and you liked it. If you missed it, you were out of luck---no Tivo-ing back to see what you missed. It brings forth the question: How did we survive? I have no idea.

We also have Rob Pilger on the show this week....he chats about boxing in your garage to stay fit.......and it really works. I have some deep-seeded agression to work out, I'm thinking of trying it out. I'm going to box and play "Eye of the Tiger" on my I-Pod. I'll let you know how it goes.

Last on this week but most certainly not least is Lou Schuler........I found this guy on my quest for blogs---he has been immersed in the fitness game for years--and he knows his stuff! He wrote the Men's Health Workout BIBLE...nuff said.

I'll post some pictures of the recent boat trip on the BigButtRadio MySpace.....check in with me there......have a great week!

This week feels like Spring......
April 3, 2007

In Seattle it SNOWED and the pollen is EVERYWHERE. Sneezing in the snow. Only in the Northwest!

I'll admit it, I don't know much about football.....even the Seahawks--it's just not in the scope of what I pay attention to. I did watch the Seahawks lose the SuperBowl year before last....I got mad. I had a moment of fan-dom for the Seahawks. I felt that they had lost the game due to bad calls......seems it's a touchy subject for Robbie Tobeck, too--among other things. Steroids didn't seem to be a popular subject, either. I look at those guys and I wonder who DOESN'T do steroids....I'm sorry, but the sport is hella competitive, it seems to me that guys would be looking for anything that would give them any advantage that they could get. Steroids seems like an easy fix in a country always searching for an easy way to get where you want to go. I'm hoping that we can chat with other sports people and get a better scope on use of steroids--if they'll talk about it.

This week we also chat with Susie Preston from NBC's "The Biggest Loser." We get down to the nuts and bolts of weight loss with Susie, we find out that weight has so much more to do with self-image and self esteem than just being "fat." I can't imagine losing weight in such a public forum. She did--and really won the hearts of just about everybody that saw her on TV. She didn't win, though...she married the guy who did! She and Matt Hoover are expecting a baby this Spring.....our congratulations to them both!

We also chat with Joey Atlas. His claim to fame are some really well put together DVD's that help you get into shape. I was skeptical...after watching the DVD's, though, I'm now a believer...they are pretty cool--and if you have problem areas that you want to target they really work!
We have the MySpace up and running now......I am a self-proclaimed MySpace addict, so if you add Big Butt Radio as your friend, you'll find me on there more often than not.

Next week we'll chat with Donny Osmond......Amazing how long he has been in the spotlight, and remains there even today. I guess he is a huge deal over in Europe--he has Hasselhoff status over there. Makes you wonder, huh?

Week two already?
March 27, 2007

This week has been full of excitement! We did chat with Al Roker--it took him an hour and a half to call us (he was stuck on the phone being interviewed by someone else!), but it was worth the wait....he had a lot of interesting information about childhood obesity. He has a show premiering on The Food Network this Saturday (March 31st) at 9 PM ET/PT--it's called "Childhood Obesity: Danger Zone." It really is something that concerns all of us, the topic of childhood obesity. Our country is producing the fattest, most unhealthy generation in our history! I wished I had chatted with Al regarding the rise in poverty in America and the increase of childhood obesity. It comes as no surprise that being healthy includes a healthy diet--and right now wholesome, nutritious food is pretty darned expensive. This comes as no surprise to those of us who do the family shopping! It's also hard for families to make time for exercise when parents are working long hours and just want to come home and relax in front of the TV. Getting on-track to a healthy lifestyle requires some effort to get going, and hopefully watching Al's documentary (and listening to our show, of course) will help families get motivated to get moving!

That brings me to my next topic, which is pretty much in keeping with the last. I was chatting with a friend of mine who works RIDICULOUS hours for a software company. She is a single Mom with three young kids. She just went through a divorce, moved, and has had several large projects at her job that require her to work long hours (sometimes until late in the evening) until her deadline is met. She has gained 50 pounds in the last year--she didn't even ask me for advice, she just feels hopeless about her situation. I think what she is going through is really common. Moms are putting themselves last. Kids and job come first--if there is any time left after those, you might have a shot at taking care of yourself...but it's not likely. The only way she can get a workout in is to get up at an ungodly hour before her children need to get up and moving towards school--or late at night after she is done with her work and everyone has gone to bed. That is what she has been reduced to....and realistically, who wants to give up that precious sleep? We are going to try and come up with some real fitness answers for her, and I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Back to this weeks show--I had a great time talking to TC the Atomic Dog from T-Nation.com....I read through some of his articles on T-Nation, including one about his book, "TC The Atomic Dog: The Testosterone Principles." I was prepared to do battle with this obvious "caveman," but when I actually spoke to him, it turns out that I agree with a great deal of what he says (I assure you, nobody was more surprised than me). He makes some great points regarding women, men, and how they interact and get along. I have a huge problem with a section of our society of women who seemingly care more about what purse they carry around than carrying an intelligent conversation. I have no tolerance. I think we have had a "dumbing-down" of women for far too long. There is more to life than shopping for useless crap, keeping up on useless fashion, and starving yourself to the point Dr. Phil would like to have you as a guest on his show. My point is: GET REAL. That's what I liked about TC, he says it like it is, even if it really isn't what we want to hear. My kind of guy. Zach Even-Esh was pretty entertaining, too. He has a great way to get fit and strong by using things all around your home rather than going to a gym or buying expensive equipment......I haven't pushed any cars around in my yard yet--but if I ever feel the urge, I have more than a few to satisfy my workout urges. I'll keep you posted.

Big Butt Radio.com!
March 20, 2007

Well, Big Butt Radio.com is finally here! I'm so excited for everyone to start listening to all the awesome interviews we've been doing with people. My personal favorite so far is Jack Nicholson...I've had a crush on him for years.

I'm not entirely sure what makes that man so incredibly sexy (and remember, he is pushing 70!). He was a pleasure to talk to, and in addition he sparked some after-interview debate between myself and Andy regarding Jack's fondness for 20-something women. Pretty entertaining.

John Berardi was great. He really has it together in one place for proper nutrition and exercise. I got the feeling that Andy is getting tired of eating salad, good thing John's Precision Nutrition has more to offer on the menu than that!

I am totally stoked, I get to chat with the world-famous Al Roker this week. I love that guy....he's the only weather guy I actually look forward to seeing. (Hey, I live in Seattle--we don't REALLY want to know what weather is coming, believe me) Al is a poster boy for getting his health back on track. I'm not just talking about weight here, he looks great, but I bet he feels great, too. His latest project is taking on childhood obesity, and we all know we better get that quagmire figured out. America is going to have a sad future if we don't. Maybe no future at all. It's that important. I can't wait to chat with him.

I'll be adding to my blog every week--so come back and check it to get the low-down on what's really happening on Big Butt Radio.com!

more to come...