Uh, Oh

If you've got a big gut and you start doing sit-ups, you are going to get bigger because you build up the muscle. You've got to get rid of that fat! 

Thank you, Jack LaLanne, who at the age of seventy, handcuffed and shackled, swam 1.5 miles while towing 70 boats with 70 people in the Long Beach Harbor. I'm starting to develop a media crush. 

Here. Check this out. 

48 Sit Ups

I've broken the sit ups into two sets. Is this cheating? After about 25 sit ups, I just rest for a minute and then do the rest. The Guinness Book of World Records allows five minutes of rest per hour of sit ups. I learned this from Mark Pfeltz, the King of Sit Ups, who did over 33,000 of them in 58 hours. 

Too bad no one is massaging me between sets. 

Kings of Convenience

This is my newest favorite song. I like to listen to it when I run. Yes, somehow the sit ups started the push ups and the push ups started the running. Wouldn't it be great if flying came next? 

Paul Newman

Today someone told me that Paul Newman's secret was doing 100 sit ups every day. His secret to what? Success? Beauty? Fitness? Salad dressing?

Not sure. I'm only up to 42. I'll let you know what happens after I do 100. 

Incidentally, today my seven-year-old did 100 sit ups and 50 push ups. Just to show us that she could. She is so strong. Wonder how many she'll be doing at my age. 

Push Ups? Really?

While searching the New York Times for information about the beloved sit up and finding zilch, I came across this article about the exalted push up and why it is the enduring symbol of fitness. Could I have chosen my calisthenic as poorly as I chose my college major, retirement plan, and last three cars? Really, I'm wondering, is this a trend? 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/health/nutrition/11well.html

So anyway, I checked and I can do twelve push ups, girlie style. Tomorrow, though, I now have confidence, I'll do thirteen. 

35 Sit Ups and Change

Yesterday I noticed something. While walking around. A change in the way the center of my body feels. It is stronger, bigger, more expansive. 

Today I noticed something else. While sitting up in my bedroom. Change on the floor under my bed. I picked it up and put it into my pocket.