Do vitamin pills work?

Just as I suspected:

Read this

Birthday post

Wow. 36. On the other end of middle age. 

Tomorrow is my birthday and I feel pretty good. I have to eat less and workout more nowadays, but that's life's challenge. I've learned to make my exercise more efficient and to choose carrot sticks, which are quite delicious. 

Let's mark this birthday, the Year of the Ox, as an occasion to measure myself against Wiser Health's resolutions made in entry no. 1:

1.) Eat more fruits and vegetables. (Not too bad, sweet potato frites!) Grade=B+

2.) Laugh a lot. ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") Grade=A

3.) Choose exercise that is difficult, but rewarding. (Chin-up contest, anyone?) Grade=A

4.) Read a good book. Watch a good movie. Listen to a transcendent album.  (Assembling a wedding party mix is hard work. Really.) Grade=C+

5.) Get out of the house and feel life. (C'mon, it's cold outside in New York) Grade=B

Nice and smooth

The best advice I heard about descending on a mountain bike is: Flow like running water.

Be smooth in no matter what you do. The best athletes are always in control. Lance Armstrong pioneered the fast, smooth spin as he dropped his competitors in the mountains. Even is a rough sport like mixed martial arts, top fighter George St. Pierre looks effortless flowing from jujitsu to grappling to boxing towards victory. Check out Ray Allen's jump shot.

"Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee."

Top basketball shoes

For hooping, shoes are pretty important and a very personal choice. Kobe, who lit up The Garden for 61 two nights ago, told Complex magazine that his new shoe, a low top, is light and lets him feel the court. 

I'm with him on that concept. I don't like bulky high-tops made for post players. In my experience, relying on fabric for ankle support is just hype. Give me something quick.

My all-time favorites (pictured from top to bottom):

1.) Air Jordan IIIs (simply gorgeous, almost too pretty to play in) 

2.) Air Flight Huarache  (another 1992 shoe, that has many incarnations, popularized by Michigan's Fab Five)

3.) Air Raids (1992s that are ready for battle)

Great exercise #2

Remember the squat thrust from gym class? Well, the adult version is called the burpee. There are many variations, but the one I like to do is just the same as the old-school version, but with a leap at the end of the movement.

Here's some dude's YouTube video. Since he has pretty good form, WiserHealth will endorse it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Dq_NCzj8M

Do as many as you can without pausing. Incorporate it into a circuit of exercises.

iPod Classic rules

The advantage of not jumping too quickly on the latest technology is usually the value exponentially increases on tech devices if you wait just a bit.

I just picked up an iPod Classic (my first real non-Shuffle MP3 player) for $250. For $100 more than the Nano, the Classic has 120GB of storage compared to the Nano's 16GB. That means 30,000 songs!

Why is this an entry on a health-related site? It's because music is good for the soul. Every dull moment waiting for the subway or walking to run errands is made better by Eric B and Rakim or Thievery Corporation. 

Also, always go for things that are Classic.