Wordless Wednesday: 6 AM Companionship

Testing a Japanese Tea Named Healthya - Gonna Burn Some Fat

Look for These Bottles

It's a little more expensive than most green teas -160 or more Yen per bottle.

The taste is kind of bitter. One bottle a day is what's recommended.

It's only been about a week since I've started drinking the stuff.

KAO Corporation, the manufacturer has a website for Healthya Green Tea.

It's all in Japanese but Google Chrome will translate (somewhat) for you.

When's a good time to drink this special green tea? I had to take a screenshot.

Drink some at work, when you're chatting or, even when going down!

You don't have to drink it when you exercise but, you should exercise anyhow.

Companies in Japan may spend 3 years getting health products endorsed by the government.

So, I know this tea isn't some sort of snake oil. It's approved by scientists.

Apparently, 14 healthy fat people were used in this controlled experiment.

The ones who drank healthy tea lost 140% more fat than the unfortunates.

Not a large selection of the population but, it's hard to find lots of fat people around here.

They should take this tea to the USA, where people aren't so skinny.

Eight Weeks We'll Give It a Try

Not very scientific but, saving lots of money I used to spend on coffee and beer.

The doctors have me monitoring weight, blood pressure and oxygen daily.

So, after two months of drinking this nasty tasting tea, I'll see what happens.

Along with the consumption of tea, exercise and diet are important, too.

Well, I eat lots of salads, exercise like a nut and get plenty of sleep.

If this healthy green tea does anything noticeable for me, I'll let you know before Xmas! 

Read more about healthy green teas:

Benefits of Green Tea

Clouds and Cardio -- Think It Was an Easy Day ?

Beautiful Skies Over the Island

Typhoon Talim, is way north of Okinawa probably, in Hokkaido by now.

This island got some wind and rain but, was spared the full strength of the storm.

Sore from lifting weights on the rainy days, I decided to just do cardio stuff today.

Getting Rid of Fat Ain't Easy

Over the past several months, plenty of inches disappeared, off of my belly.

People noticed and, have been asking me, how I got it done.

Changing my diet was half of the solution and exercises, did the rest.

Some folks want to learn the techniques, I've been using. I'll show some of my favorites, here.

Popsugar Says "Skip the Crunches"

She'll show you 7 abs exercises, you can do standing at Popsugar Fitness.

A medicine ball or dumbbells, aren't really necessary, just get creative, use anything.

Cement blocks, 2 liter PET bottles and, gallon jugs full of water, are in my mini-gymnasium.

Do everything, she does, with whatever weight suits you and, feel the burn.

In the photo above, she's writing the alphabet, using a medicine ball.

It's been so long, since I've handwritten a letter, I forgot how to write cursive !

Maybe, I should get a wall chart. Dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" and "j." 

Someday, I'll have to look that up. Do "j's" get a dot over them? I do it, anyway.

Anyhow, I get a good burn, from this workout. It melts fat and, builds abs, too.

People Get Too Hooked on Technology

They have gadgets, to measure heart rate and all kinds of fitness whatnot's.

Smart phone heart monitors and junk on Smartwatches, you don't really need.

A big pile of sweat on the floor and, you're breathing hard, while your hair sweats.

That means, it's time to take a little break. Slow down and cool-off for five minutes.

What I do, is go outside and, when the breathing gets easier, climb some stairs.

The clouds, had moved around a little bit. I grabbed a smoke and the camera.

No Girly Exercises Here

Killer exercises for the abs and core by Yamon Figurs F16 on Facebook.

Hopefully, he won't get pissed because, I screenshot some of his video.

The first time, I tried this, I did everything he does, only slower.

No dumbbells are required.  I use a couple of 2 liter PET bottles, filled with water.

After doing, everything on the chart he provides, with the video, I couldn't stand up !

If, you're out of shape or, way older than him, take it easy. It's killer exercise.

The video is popular, over 7, 647, 929 views, RIGHT HERE.

I bet, a few million of those views, were people just watching, to breakout in a sweat.

Starting out, I recommend, doing only 10 repetitions of each exercise. You'll see.

The Side Oblique, you can do, with anything heavy. A backpack or, gallon jug of cider.

Last Peek at the Beautiful Sky

To keep doing these sort of fitness, crazy things, you have to make sure it's fun.

Out side for a breather and a smoke, is fun, to me. I take a camera and climb the stairs, again.

The way the weather looked, I was tempted, to quit and go for a long hike.  But, no.

There was something, I'd bookmarked and, had to try today.

Best Exercises to Ditch the Beer Belly

Right off the bat, they'll tell you, "Quit drinking beer!"

Supposing, it's against your religion?  What are you gonna do?  Switch back to whiskey?

Seven of the best fitness trainers, were asked, which exercises they'd recommend.

Some of them, I already do. Others, you wouldn't catch me doing. I'm stubborn.

Anyhow, here's one, that caught my attention and, it seems simple enough.

Get down, in a position like that gal, elbows shoulder width apart and, up on your toes.

Keep the back rigid and as straight as it will go. Look straight forward.

Hold yourself like that and, try to pull your elbows, towards your feet, for 20 seconds.

If, you can't hang-in for twenty seconds, not a problem. Relax and, do one more, later.

Well, I did it once for twenty seconds. Then, did one more. Done for the day.

It's called the Low Plank. Soon, I'll be doing 20-30 of them. I just had enough fun, for today.

More of these weight loss exercises are at Eat This, Not That.

Remember: Exercise Should Be Fun !

Trying to Shake Off One of those Evil Days

Writer's Block Is One Thing

Supposedly, it may happen to anyone, involved in the writing business.

Recurring spells are a regular thing, with me mostly because, I hate writing.

No blog was posted yesterday. I did plenty of preparation for today's post and, was worn out.

Pouring rain this morning got my day off, to a crumby start. It would get better, I thought.

On the way to the office, I usually manage to get a few people smiling and it lifts my spirits.

Maybe, I left for work too early. No one was walking in the rain but, me.

On top of the disorganized pile of papers on my desk, I placed a blank paper and a pen.

That would remind me, something had to be done today, bright and early.

The brain wasn't ready for scribbling yet so, I did some calisthenics and weight training.

Then, decided to walk down the street and get a bento for breakfast.

Things Went Downhill

It was raining cats and dogs and a strong wind blew but, that didn't bother me.

A huge umbrella, large enough for three of me, wind resistant and, I was good to go.

It's a few minutes walk so, I lit a smoke to enjoy, along the way.

That bento has enough food in it to feed me for an entire day, breakfast through supper.

Besides the rice, there's carrots, potatoes, yakisoba, spicy chicken and pork tonkatsu.

Plus, eggs, sausage and goya champuru and, some tofu. It usually costs around four bucks.

I set it on the counter next to the wrong gal.  I even helped her put the lid on.

Most of the young ladies charge me 400 yen, no matter how much food I took.

Well, the ugly girl, weighed my meal and told me, it would be 450 yen. So, I gave her 500 yen.

She handed me my food, wrapped up in a plastic bag and, thanked me.

Being, I was trying to stay in a good mood, I didn't say anything about the 50 yen I, didn't get.

Maybe, she was just having a lousy, rainy day, too.  No need to make it worse.

But, I hope she slips and falls in a big puddle, on her way home. Hah !

Back in the shop, that blank paper was staring at me so, I set my hot meal on it for a photo.

Of course, I moved it and had some breakfast, while it was piping hot.

Some eggs, yakisoba, spicy chicken, goya and rice, are a good way to start the day.

My brain still wasn't ready for writing. I decided to go outside for a cigarette.

There's a corrugated roof in the alleyway. That's a good place to smoke and stay dry.

The sound of rain, beating on that roof is relaxing. I started to forget about the fat girl.

Back inside the office, I figured the meal was cool enough, to place in the fridge.

Then, decided I'd rather do some more physical stuff than, sit down and start writing.

Remember, when you were a kid and, went to the beach with your family ?

When, you got done eating, parents would tell you, you have to wait an hour, before swimming.

That's a myth, I believe. Look at Jaws. The guy was always in the water, swimming.

He'd eat people and, keep right on swimming. You, don't need to wait one hour !

So, I wasn't going to wait before, going back to my exercises and weightlifting.

It was so invigorating, I bet I spent four hours doing physical training today.

Every time I went and looked at my desk, that stupid blank page was there. I wasn't ready.

It was starting too look like a Butsu-metsu (bad luck) day.

So, this afternoon I rolled out my sleeping bag and, took a nap.

It was getting late in the afternoon and, I hadn't written one word, yet.

With creativity at an all time low, I remembered these junk toys, I keep in the shop.

They come in plastic bubbles, on top of coffee cans at convenience stores.

They aren't for me. I buy them, in case any kids come by my office.

Maybe, spreading them around on that page, would give me some ideas.

The thought had occurred to me, "That girl's hair, should be black."

There's a can of black spray paint out behind my shop but, nah.

During rainy season, it would take a few hours to dry or, I'd make a mess.

The story, I'm supposed to be doing, is about how Okinawans first came to the islands.

With all the research, I've done, 1,500 words could easily be written. I'm just not ready.

Start Simple with a Rough Draft

Writer's block is something you have to deal with. It's like having some sort of brain cramp.

Rearranging things a little bit, helped me formulate the story, to where it might work.

Of course, when it gets typed, spellcheck and punctuation, will be utilized.

I'll try to get some photos or sketches to give readers a better understanding of my creation. 

Er maybe, just take another week off from writing.

Good and Bad Days in Japan