Laugh-Tour Infects Belmont Shore Residents and Patrons

Gal VanIZed ready to skateLast month it was the Peace and Love Tour on 9/11. This month, we had to do it again. We spread the contagious virus of laughter to unsuspecting residents and visitors on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. We made people laugh, we got attention from the police and we visited our favorite friend at Archibald's. Here are a few of the photos, soon to be followed by video and details such as our interview with O.C. Roller Girl boodeefull #88, our run-in with Fingerprints record store owner and the laughing city worker who probably busted us up more than we did him. Trainer on the corner gets ready to skateIt started with me getting on my Gal VanIZed get-up which includes, pink wig, faux leopard hat, Derby Dolls t-shirt and lots of sequins and bling everywhere. I put on my iPod and skated to the Trainer on the Corner's house. He buckled up his skates, grabbed his video camera and we were on a roll. We posted big bright "Laugh" signs all up and down 2nd street. I broke into spontaneous bouts of laughter and some people could not resist, they caught the bug and laughed out loud too. Yes, they lol'd right there in public. It was awesome. Orange County Roller Girl and Trainer on the CornerWe ran into O.C. Roller Girl - boodeefull. We chatted with her on video for quite a while before we continued down the block. Mickey Mouse ears abound at ArchibaldsBy the time we made it to Archibald's, we only had one sign left, the one on my back. The Trainer on the Corner took it off and taped it to the window. We drank as much lemonade as we could and skated home. By the time we finished it was 2 p.m. and 95 degrees outside. Stay tuned for photos, video and the Official Laugh iPod Playlist. If you want a PDF of this exact Laugh sign, join our mailing list today. As a bonus, we'll also send you Peace and Love signs. We'll e-mail you occassionally about cool things that are happening like concerts, roller derby, fun YouTube videos, music playlists, free workouts and more.

Free “Healthy Lifestyle” Membership Forums Launched Today

For the past few weeks I've been posting the Donate Your Weight Podcast in this blog because I thought some of the readers might be interested in listening. The podcast is about loving your body, breaking free from diets and diet mentality and being liberated from food and body obsession so you can live your life in peace, happiness and contentment. If you'd like to find out more about the podcast, you can subscribe for free in iTunes Also, if you want to join the Donate Your Weight Community, we've moved to Facebook.  Come and join us by clicking on the "like" button.

The Mayor, The Dolls and Women’s Empowerment Workshops

Derby Dolls Mayor\'s Day of Service in Los Angeles CALast weekend I had the honor and privledge of participating in the Mayor's Day of Service in conjunction with the Los Angeles Derby Dolls. The Doll Factory was a meeting place and resource hub for clean up activities and recycling in the Echo Park/Hi-Fi (Historic Filipino Town) area of Los Angeles. Volunteers came to the Doll Factory to pick up brooms and shovels and help in clean up efforts. Mayor Villaraigosa addresses youth at the Doll FactoryMeanwhile, inside the Doll Factory, young girls learned to skate, bagels and coffee were served and hourly workshops were held on the topics of body image, nutrition, tai chi, self-defense and yoga. At 10:30, the Mayor Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Laker Jordan Farmar along with other local celebrities arrived to address the crowd and watch the kids skate. Sheri Zampelli leads workshop for Mayor\'s Day of ServiceI had the opportunity to co-facilitate the body image workshop with Jenny Wright. We had a nice time talking about how to love and respect your body despite it's size or shape. I used a body atlas and my personal body image crisis story to help women consider all of the wonderful things our body does for us every day. I brought index cards, markers and stickers and each participant made one to three cards with positive statements on them. I encouraged participants to take the cards home and put them some place where they can see them everyday. I also shared info about my Love Your Body, Love Yourself CD because I listened to a cassette tape just like it in the 90's and it really helped me to begin appreciating my body and to break free from self-hate. This day provided a positive opportunity for all involved, it was a win-win scenario all the way around.

Playlist for Gal VanIZed Skating

Gal VanIZed at Fresh Meat practiceWhen something is galvanized, it is reinforced and powerful. The following songs made it easy for me to get in the zone. Easy to crouch down low and thrust my legs out to each side of me while my arms pumped back and forth in the opposite direction. I wound down from my skating workout listening to Get a Shot of the Refrigerator by Stereolab off of Fab Four Suture. My cool down consisted of the "drunken sailor" drill all the way down First Street and up Orizaba to Broadway. Drunken sailor is when you cross one leg over the other and try to keep moving forward without falling down. Prior to cool down I skated and danced my little heart out on the Long Beach Boardwalk listening to the following tunes: (all links go to iTunes) itunes logoBanquet by Bloc Party off of Promo Only Canada Modern Rock Radio Tuning In by Groove Armada off of Love Box [UK] Home of the Brave by Naked Raygun off of All Rise Halfway Home (feat. Blackalicious) by DJ Shadow off In Tune and On Time Potential Rapist by Naked Raygun off Basement Screams Looking Down the Barrell of a Gun by The Beastie Boys of of Paul's Boutique Yeah by the Heavy Off the Richter compilation The Girls Say by Groove Armada off Soundboy Rock