Posted on: Monday, November 22, 2004
FITNESS PROFILE
Bicycle saves gas, sheds pounds
By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer
Peter Forman, who was a pilot and taught flying for many years, is now racing to complete a history of Hawai'i's airlines. His schedule is a little crazy, but he says he's the fittest he's ever been — just two pounds off his target weight of 162.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Name: Peter Forman. Age: 49. Profession: Author/publisher. Height: 5 feet 11. Weight: 164. Workout habits: "For aerobics, I run, swim, or bike about 25 minutes every day. I hit the gym three times a week and do a round of warm-up exercises with lighter weights before one rep to failure (meaning the muscles can't take any more) with heavy weights."
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser My biggest motivator: "My friend Laureli gave me a Birdwell swimsuit with a 31-inch waist and almost no stretch in the waist. If I take a break from exercising or scarf up too many extra helpings, the swimsuit advertises my abuses. Not only does it work as an early-warning device, the mere thought of putting on that swimsuit thwarts many an eating binge." My biggest roadblock to fitness: "Sometimes appointments or distractions keep me from getting my desired work done. Do I cut out the exercise or do I accept a substandard work day? Usually I do my aerobics but drop the gym when time is precious." What saves my sanity: "Exercise itself. I use my workouts as rewards for meeting my goals. After six hours in front of a computer, nothing feels better than diving into the ocean or feeling the burn in the gym. Exercise also stimulates my thinking, and some of my best ideas come during a swim." My next challenge: "Bicycling enough that I can go one month on one tank of gas." Advice for those in the same boat: "No matter how busy you get, there's always room for a half-hour of exercise a day." Success secrets: "Avoid injuries and have fun. Warm up, alternate types of exercise, wear good shoes if running, and don't overdo it. For fun, I swim with a mask and snorkel. I enjoy checking out the coral heads off Lanikai Beach, but my favorite swim is Lagoon 1 at Ko Olina, where I often share the water with sea turtles."
His secret? He believes in making his workouts fun. When swimming, he uses a mask and snorkel so he can check out the fish and other creatures of the sea. He often substitutes a hike up to the pillboxes above Lanikai for his neighborhood run. He sets himself little goals such as riding his bike enough that he can make it through a month on one tank of gas.
Peter Forman says a snug swimsuit that advertises when he skips his fitness routines is one of the best incentives to keeping him fit.
My good foods/bad foods: "Ice cream is my nemesis. Until recently, I was often lifted right out of my home office chair by a cookies-and-cream tractor beam emanating from the kitchen freezer. My solution: treat ice cream like liquor: Never consume it while alone."
Peter Forman, a former pilot, keeps fit with swimming and bicycling at Kailua Beach Park.
