How to come up with an effective fitness routine

When you’re coming up with your own fitness routine, whether it’s for the gym or in any other sporting facility, it’s very important to start out by determining your health goal.  Your health goal with lay the groundwork for what kind of exercises you have to do, and how often you need to do them.

Here’s a quick guide.

Weight loss:  Weight loss routines usually emphasize cardio exercises with a bit of weight training to strengthen your body for more cardio.  Jogging, swimming, cycling, and high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, are the main exercises for weight loss.  In a typical 4 to 60-minute routine, 30 minutes should be devoted to cardio.

Bodybuilding:  Bulking up, or the bodybuilder’s routine requires more weight training and isolation over compound movements.  These exercises build up muscles more than stamina.  The ideal schedule is to work a pair of muscle groups a day, with a rest day in between for a bit of cardio. 

Sports:   For athletes, combining both strength training and HIIT works best.  This not only boosts endurance and stamina, but it also strengthens muscles and pushes one’s heart rate to the limit, to prepare him for competition. 

John Clemenza is an 18-year-old surfer from Oahu, Hawaii, who has been exposed to all sorts of watersports in his home state. He is the typical surfer dude who dons clothes by Volcom, Quicksilver, Hurley, and O’Neill. More on John and his interests, including his fascination with New York, can be read here.

Exploring The Quiet Side Of New York

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New York is known for its busyness and overpopulation. While many people dream of living in the city that never sleeps, most of the longtime residents long to find a quiet place in it. For those who are searching for a peaceful place in the Big Apple, here are some of the spots worth visiting:

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

If you need some time alone with your thoughts, this garden will provide you with a safe place that will help you recharge. Go on a walk or take nature photos-- there's so much to explore in this place. For those who can't afford to escape to a far-off destination to relax, an hour or two at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden might do wonders for the mind and heart.

Robert H. Treman State Park Lower Falls

Located in Ithaca, the cascading falls and hiking trails just prove that New York has everything. If you're looking for a getaway that will lead you to glorious nature sights, make a trip to the state park. On a hot day, you can also dive and swim in some of the falls.

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Jefferson Market Library

Visit Greenwich Village to get some peace and quiet at the Jefferson Market Library. If you want to relax after having coffee and brunch with friends, this spot will allow you to read a book or write in your journal in peace. You can also get some work done without being bothered. It's perfect for a change of scenery.

Exploring these hidden parts of the city is a treat even for residents. While part of New York’s charm is in its buzzing energy, the quieter areas in the city provide good places where people can slow down and focus on other things.

Hello! I’m John Clemenza, a surfer from Oahu, Hawaii. I am a foodie and a New Yorker at heart. Check out my other updates on this page.

Best Surf Spots In Hawaii

Hawaii is known as one of the world’s best beach paradise, aloha bars, and its volcanoes. And for a different set of audience, it’s also one of the best surf destinations in the world. Why else would they call it the birthplace of surfing? Even though it’s quite a trip to go there, the fact that it has a lot of different surf spots could keep a surfer busy and happy for several months. Here are some of the best surf spots in Hawaii.

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"Jaws" was an iconic movie released in 1975. It is also the name of Hawaii’ biggest and most dangerous surf spot. With waves that are known to reach 120 feet, surfers can only challenge these behemoths with the use of a vehicle to tow them near the waves. This place gives even the most experienced surfers a hard time. Definitely not a place for beginners and intermediate surfers.

Banzai Pipeline is known for the most awesome tubes you can find as the waves break onto the shallow reef. And it’s also because of this shallow reef that beginners and intermediate surfers are advised to stay clear of this spot.

Canoes can get crowded in the summer because it’s one of the few spots where beginners can learn how to surf. Expect glassy waves when conditions are good. Diamond Head Lighthouse is another great spot for learning how to surf as the beach consistently provides two to six-foot waves.

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John Clemenza here. I ’ve been catching waves since I was 7. Living in Hawaii means you have to get used to the beach life and the amazing cuisine. Out of all the sports that I tried, I fell in love with surfing. But I still dream of doing other stuff especially in my next fave place, New York. But for now, for more gnarly reads on surfing, visit my blog.

How Much I Miss Cheering For My Favorite New York Sports Teams

Since I moved to Hawaii, my life has been one huge surf show. I love taking on the waves and teaching newcomers about the sport. But there are times that I still miss the Big Apple. I know it’s the polar opposite of Hawaii, but I can’t help it.

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One of the things I miss most about New York City is going crazy for my favorite sports teams. These are the teams my dad and uncles would go bananas about while watching on the television. 

I remember one time, it was the New York Knicks (and remember, these guys haven’t been successful for a while). They were against the Boston Celtics in the Garden. It was a playoff game, and our apartment was full. We were packed like sardines to watch Melo and the gang take on Garnett and Pierce. Great times. We lost the series though. 

Another time, my Uncle Jeff and Uncle Lou visited us from Brooklyn, and they brought burgers and bratwursts and watched the Jets game with us. The three of them with dad all got drunk. It was the first time ever I was allowed to drink beer in the house. Mom wasn’t home, so it was all good. 

Speaking of mom, surprisingly for a girl who grew up in Vermont, she really did love the Yankees. I guess that’s why she married a New Yorker. Yeah, I love the Yankees, too. 

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Hi, I’m John Clemenza, a surfer from Hawaii. I’m training every day to prepare myself for the semi-pro scene. I’d also like to visit New York some time and maybe retire there. Visit my blog for similar updates.

Must See And Eat In New York’s Chinatown

Chinatown is excellent to be explored at one’s own pace, with a wealth of attractions, restaurants, and things to do that won’t leave couples, groups of friends, or families in want of an excellent adventure. Here are some must-have sights to visit – and food to eat – in this district. 

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The Visitor’s Kiosk provides free copies of Time Out magazine and pocket-sized foldable subway maps to help one in exploring. Popular attractions include Baxter Street and the Manhattan House of Detention, once the sight of a swampy area called Collect Pond and provided drinking water to Colonial New York. It became the site of New York City’s jail. 

Manhattan Criminal Court Building is next to the House of detention, and the criminal courthouse is open to the public. Columbus Park and its surrounding streets are a sight to behold for those seeking a taste of Chinese culture. The Museum of Chinese in America offers a crash course of the relatively short history of the Chinese in the country. 

Chinatown’s restaurants are more than just dim sum and Pecking duck, although one would definitely enjoy the tastes at restaurants like Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Mission Chinese Food, Royal Seafood Restaurant, and Spicy Village. 

The area is also a melting pot of French and Chinese fusion restaurant Aux Epices, or the playful SoCal-inspired café Dimes, where the lineup changes weekly. 

Find a visual feast of brick tenement apartment buildings on Pell Street, or get your fix of sweets at Aji Ichiban Candy Store. The choices for a unique Chinatown experience are all yours. 

Image source: TimeOut.com

John Clemenza is a surfer from Oahu, Hawaii, who enjoys eating and is fond of New York and its rich diversity of tastes and cultures. More on his interests here.

Best Tourist Destinations In New York

New York City is one of the most popular cities in the world, and if you’re visiting for the first time, here are must-visit places that should guarantee that you’ll get a big bite of the Big Apple. 

Statue of Liberty

No other NYC attraction is arguably more iconic than Lady Liberty, a gift by the French government to the United States.  A climb to the crown will give visitors a panoramic view of New York harbor.  There’s also a must-see museum on Liberty Island that showcases the rich history behind the making of the towering structure.

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Central Park

The U.S.’s first landscaped park, envisioned by designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is an 843-acre plot depicting the harmonious balance of pastoral, formal, and picturesque scenic elements.  Just consider the open lawn of the Sheep Meadow, the tree-lined mall, and the wooded paths of the Ramble.

Brooklyn Bridge

This bridge is an elegant reminder of New York’s history of architectural innovation.  Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first structure to cross the East River and, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world.  It attracts thousands of visitors for its spectacular views of lower Manhattan and other city landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island.

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Empire State Building

No photo of the NYC skyline will be complete without the spire of the Empire State Building.  The 1,454-foot Art Deco emblem was the city’s highest building upon completion in 1931.  It is considered by many as the beating heart of the Big Apple.

Hi, I’m John Clemenza, an 18-year-old surfer from Hawaii. I’ve been catching waves since I was seven, and I hope to bring my surfboard to the Big Apple soon. For more on my hobbies and interests, drop by this page.

The Best Beaches Down Under

If there’s a country that doesn’t get enough props for its beaches, it’s Australia. There are over 10,000 beaches that will take every visitor’s breath away. Here are some of the best ones.

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Byron Bay Beach

Byron Bay Beach can be found in New South Wales and can be reached from Gold Coast and other areas in the city. It is a long island filled with surfers and beach lovers. There are a lot of things to do such as hang back in cafes, visit markets, and yes, surf.

Bondi Bay

One of the most popular beaches in Australia, Sydney’s Bondi Bay is quite a historic beach. Over a century ago, the Surf Life Saving Club was founded.

Wineglass Bay

Found in the exotic Tasmania, Wineglass Bay is every bit as picturesque as its contemporaries. The sand is white. The sea is deep blue. And when not riding the waves, visitors have the opportunity to hike on the beach-side trail.

Noosa

For decades now, Noosa in Queensland has been a haven for surfers, marine biologists, and just about everybody who loves the sea. The marine life is exquisite with dolphins and other lovable sea creatures claiming the waters around here as their home.

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The name’s John Clemenza. Since I left New York, I’ve been all about surfing. More on the stuff I’m passionate about here.