News 3 This Morning’s Rob Starbuck paid me a visit to talk about being the “Healthiest Man in America”. Here it is!

I was recently interviewed by Men’s Health Magazine. They were on the hunt for the “healthiest man in the USA”, and well, um, they chose me. Here’s the article.

After the article was posted, I was interviewed by Landon Hall, health reporter and blogger for The Orange County Register in southern California. He wrote a great follow-up story titled “How a UCI grad became Healthiest Man in America.”

Last week I was interviewed by Rob Starbuck from Channel 3 News. This Thursday (May 5th) at 6:45AM, they will air the Healthiest Man in America story. It will also air in their 5AM hour – not sure what time. You can also catch it on their morning show Facebook page.

Plantar Fasciitis is swelling and irritation of the thick tissue (plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that starts at your heel and goes along the bottom of your foot. It works like a rubber band between the heel and the ball of your foot to form the arch of your foot. A pad of fat in your heel covers the plantar fascia to help absorb the shock of walking. Damage to the plantar fascia can be painful and make walking more difficult. Some people describe the pain like a nail was being driven into their heel. The pain is strongest first thing in the morning (just getting out of bed), and walking on tile or hard wood floors is painful.

What are some risk factors?
Obesity
Repetitive loading on the feet
Tight Achilles tendon
Sudden trauma to the foot
Shoes with poor arch support

What can you do to relieve the pain and swelling?
Rest (try to get off your feet)
Use Ice
Massage
Use heel cushions in your shoes
Stretch (see pics below)

Leading health journals recommend that all adults take a multivitamin daily. With 100% or more of the Daily Value for 12 essential vitamins and 8 essential minerals, Nutrilite Daily is a convenient way to help fill in the nutritional gaps in your daily diet. Plus it offers the added benefits of phytonutrients such as alfalfa, watercress, parsley, and Acerola cherries. So remember to “do the daily.” Click Here to order or for more details.

How would you like to support Wisconsin Public Television and get a great deal on personal training? The 5-day WPT Auction begins on Wednesday June 1st with the Sports Category (7PM – 12AM). Balance Personal Training has donated four packages of 2 personal training sessions. You can bid online or over the phone. Check out WPT Auction for more info.

My NEW Exercise Video Library is live! Click here to check it out. I currently have over 160 video demos and will be adding more soon. They are categorized by body part and type of exercise. Along with each video is a written description of how to perform the exercise safely and effectively. These videos will be part of my Virtual Personal Trainer Program which is coming soon! It’s a work in progress, and I am excited to share Phase 1 with you now. Feel free to give me any feedback. I always appreciate it.

I’ve always been a fan of BJ Penn, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. When I recently picked up his book Why I Fight: The Belt is Just an Accessory, I was hoping for a great read. I was not disappointed. In his own words, Penn tells the story of his life spent fighting, explaining what led a scrappy teenager from the rough streets of Hilo, Hawaii, to becoming, pound for pound, one of the best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in the world. Along the way, you experience both his victories and his frustrating defeats. It’s the story of how BJ Penn became one of only two fighters in UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) history to hold belts in two different weight classes. In the world of MMA he truly earned his nickname, The Prodigy.

Just look at all of those yummy spices. Can’t you just smell them? One of my favorite and most versatile rubs is Curry Powder. The flavor is complex and you can individualize your curry powder by varying the amounts of spices.

Ingredients
2 Tbsp coriander seeds
1 Tbsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp whole cloves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 Tbsp cardamom seeds
1 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
2 dried red chiles, broken in pieces, seeds discarded (or 1 tsp chile powder)
1 Tbsp turmeric

Directions
Toast the whole spices (coriander, cumin, fennel, cloves, mustard, cardamom and peppercorns) and the chiles in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, shaking the pan often to prevent them from burning. Toast for a couple of minutes until the spices smell fragrant — you’ll know. In a clean coffee grinder, grind the toasted spices together to a fine powder. Add the turmeric and ginger and give it another quick buzz to combine. Use the spice blend immediately or store in a sealed jar for as long as 1 month.
Recipe from Food Network.

Are you looking to get outside and have some fun? Madison Sports and Social Club just opened registration for their flag football and kickball leagues this spring. Flag Football starts April 10th and Kickball starts April 21st. For more details check out flag football and kickball.

Scientists at the University of Oslo in Norway recently discovered how muscles can retain memory of their former fitness. According to study leader and physiologist Kristian Gundersen, exercise early in life could help fend off frailness in the elderly. Click here to read the whole story in Science News magazine.