Here are 5 reasons to pick Eric (in his own words) as your Fitness Professional:

Experience. I am a nationally certified personal trainer with over 15 years of experience. My clients have come from all walks of life: 11 to 89 years of age, people with eating disorders, elite athletes, expectant mothers, people living with cancer, and everyday folks who just want to be in better shape.

Fun! While I may not be a standup comedian, I do my best to make your workouts fun and one of the highlights of your day.

Privacy. You’ll enjoy 60-minute training sessions with NO distractions. It’s just you and me. You can even pick your preferred music station, listen to a favorite CD, or bring your iPOD.

Safety. My goal is to create a safe and positive environment. Not only is the workout equipment in tip-top shape, but the exercises you learn are safe and tailored for you.

Competitive Rates. Prices are $55-$70 per session depending on the package you purchase.

Have you ever enjoyed reading a book so much that when you finished the last page you wanted to read it all over again? That’s how I felt after reading Sound and Fury: Two Powerful Lives, One Fateful Friendship. It’s a story about a seemingly unlikely partnership between heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, a Muslim from Louisville, Ky., and Howard Cosell, a Jewish broadcaster from New York. David Kindred, author and sports columnist, knew both men personally. In my opinion, he has created an insightful account that can be best described as a dual biography and social history. It will satisfy sports fan and non sports fan alike. A great read!

The list of health benefits of supplementing with Omega-3 fish oil is getting longer and longer. Lowering triglycerides, reducing heart attacks & strokes, improving thinking skills & behavior in children with ADHD, and weight loss are just a few. Nutrilite® Ocean Essentials® Balanced Health ensures the highest quality of fish oils. For more information or to order this product Click Here.

Visit the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) website Medline Plus to learn more about fish oils.

Golf enthusiasts take note! Links Golf Café is coming to Madison’s East Side next summer!
It will feature:

4 state-of-the-art golf simulators
Select golf retail
Beverages and light food
A 10-person executive boardroom

Don’t wait until next summer to join in the fun! Sign up today and you’ll be able to play golf on their simulators every Monday for free! To see everything that Links Golf Café has to offer, visit www.linksgolfcafe.com.

Buying personal training sessions just got easier with PayPal. You can now use your credit card, debit card, bank account or PayPal account. Click here for packages and rates.

I was videotaping exercises at a park while my sons had a playdate . . . and everyone joined in.
See what happened!

Promising news about omega-3 fatty acids just keeps rolling in. A new study bolsters previous data suggesting that fish oil supplements high in omega-3s may benefit critically ill people in intensive care units by quelling inflammation. Meanwhile, another study finds that robust omega-3 levels protect the ends of chromosomes from damage, which suggests a benefit against age-related diseases. Click here to read the whole story in Science News magazine.

I just took an inventory of Heather’s veggie garden: beans, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, eggplants, onions, peppers, potatoes, broccoli, and squash. Hmm, I know I’ve missed a few. The one vegetable I couldn’t miss is the zucchini. We picked four last night . . . each measuring over 2 feet. Time to make some Ratatouille!

Stretching is a key ingredient for improving physical performance, increasing mobility, and preventing injuries. I recommend Stretching: 30th Anniversary Edition to all of my clients. The illustrations are excellent, and the descriptions are easy-to-understand. What I like most is the variety of stretches for sports and everyday activities.

This fragrant, Italian-flavored soup takes advantage of quick-cooking ingredients—boneless, skinless chicken breast, baby spinach and beans. It features a homemade basil pesto swirled in at the end to add a fresh herb flavor.

Ingredients
2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 cup carrot or diced red bell pepper
1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 8 ounces), cut into quarters
1 large clove garlic, minced
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram
6 ounces baby spinach, coarsely chopped
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans or great northern beans, rinsed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3/4 cup plain or herbed multigrain croutons for garnish (optional)

Directions
Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add carrot (or bell pepper) and chicken; cook, turning the chicken and stirring frequently, until the chicken begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Stir in broth and marjoram; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken pieces to a clean cutting board to cool. Add spinach and beans to the pot and bring to a gentle boil. Cook for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, Parmesan and basil in a food processor (a mini processor works well). Process until a coarse paste forms, adding a little water and scraping down the sides as necessary.
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Stir the chicken and pesto into the pot. Season with pepper. Heat until hot.