No Crybabies Allowed

A A A Comments (0) By Deirdra Funcheon Thursday, Dec 14 2006

As you might expect, the man named The Health Colonel knows a thing or two about fitness. “The real issue,” he says, “has nothing to do with food -- or exercise for that matter. It has everything to do with how you think.”

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When we asked the Colonel – whose real name is Bob Weinstein, who is indeed a retired lieutenant, and who, we might add, looks pretty scrumptious for a 55-year-old – whether the holidays called for any exceptional dieting tactics, he responded, “Hmmm… you mean the potential eating of additional food, and drinking, that might take place? That’s not going to have an impact on overall lifestyle.” Instead, the Colonel suggests sticking to healthy habits all year long. Just imagine! If you dropped to the floor in your office four times a day and did 10 push-ups…

But start with his Beach Boot Camp classes. Every session incorporates three elements – cardio, strength, and flexibility – but varies slightly. “It really is like a Picasso,” the Colonel says, “in that it really just depends on climate – warmer, cooler, more wind or less wind. The environment is always completely incorporated like a playground.” Some of the Colonel’s signature moves include the “Death Walk” (lunges on the sand) and the "Dirty Dog" (“Get on all fours,” he says, “and you have to use visualization skills for this – picture a dog raising its leg…”). In one class, the Colonel dangled a piece of pizza inches from that face of his “recruit” to inspire him to do crunches. “I only do that in extreme circumstances,” he laughs. Although many of the exercises are funny, “It’s like sweet and sour – we like sweetness but we also like the sour.” So you won’t get off the hook without some military-style jumping jacks, squats (they’re “romantic”), and push-ups. If you can’t make the class, look for the Colonel’s upcoming video. He’s already filmed “a funeral scene with a eulogy” about “The death of JF – JF stands for junk food.”

Classes take place on Fort Lauderdale Beach (SE Fifth Street and A1A, one block south of Las Olas Boulevard) Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Individual classes cost $15. Call 305-491-3573, or visit www.nomorecrybabies.com.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, 2006