Last Exit

I believe there's a certain mindset you can tap into and in doing so, the limits are always unknown... because you've never been there and it constantly changes... imagine staring into a tripped out little room where the walls move and change colors and shapes... you know going in will be an experience unlike any other, but you're afraid.  Why?  The unknown.  (more on the fear of the unknown later)

The mindset is this... whatever it is you're about to do, its your last shot.  Its the last time you'll ever be able to do it.  Last (fill in the blank).

The advantage is, you know ahead of time that this is it.

Give it a minute and let that thought sink in... close your eyes after reading this paragraph... close your eyes and sit in a comfortable place and imagine what you love to do.... then imagine, the next opportunity to do it, will be the end... think of how you may do it differently.... close your eyes...

How did it feel?

What did you see?

Did you envision a different outcome than that has already happened in reality?

Did it make you excited to go do it because in reality, the odds are great you'll get more chances?

Do you believe in the "unlived," life?  The one where all your what ifs and no's became glorious YES's filled with success and celebration?

What if those celebrations and all the success you ever dreamed of were just on the other side of a wall of resistance?

Imagine you loooooove lifting in a certain weight room and the next time you enter, someone tells you "hey buddy, the gym is closing after your last set..."

You loooooove running a particular trail... but as you run, it disappears behind you, never to be used again. 

You loooooove playing with your team... but you only have 8 games left and zero second chances.

You loooooove (fill in the blank)... but you've run out of time and this will be the last.

Some people think this is a cryptic mindset, entering situations as if they could be the last...

Or maybe those who criticize are lazy thinkers or afraid to approach life with any intensity and passion.

I have two situations in front of me that are attached to clocks... a season and a career.  I was about to write "If I don't go full go..." but deleted from there, because my mind is already wired this way... there is no other speed or level, its full go.  

Example I don't mind sharing, I coach for a local high school team and I treat every season as if I wont be rehired.  Because of that thought, I have to pour out as much as possible, in a timely manner, over the next 8 weeks.  Do you know what that really entails?  This is a position I keep under the radar but hold at the highest point... I have the opportunity to pass along great lessons that were passed to me.  Me NOT passing them along would be a tremendous disservice to every single person that's ever known me, ever taught me anything, the kids, the parents, the staff, everyone.  

Point?  When there's something you love to do, when there's something in front of you of great importance... you don't hold back.  You don't wait for next time, the next game, the next play.  Its now.  

And its now with your heart on fire and tunnel vision.  There's zero chance of failing because when you push like that, and you're on a level they cant touch, there's no losing.    

You have a class to take and its important you ace this class, there's no second chance.... its now.

You have a career on the line and this is the last shot, there's no more second chances!  Its now or go home and don't come back.

Something I say to the guys during practice after they half-ass something "Was that a winning, dominating, Friday night effort?"  If not, wtf are we doing here?  (I don't say the 2nd part like that but i'm thinking it in my head.  

Why don't we?   

Why are we afraid of the unknown?

Maybe we're afraid of pouring it all out there and losing... Of going full go and finding out our full go isn't enough.... 

I'm not afraid of that... The full go is actually all I want and the outcome is irrelevant.

Does Eddie Vedder get up on stage and hum "Twinkle, Twinkle?" 

No, he doesn't.  Its a frock show and its here to rock.  

You're a human and you're here to live so start doing it every day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh9PjcixRWQ

Intangibles

Needless to say, things get a little weird during football season.  All analogies revolve around football, the mood revolves around the team, my thoughts are about finding new angles to communicate a particular message and so on.
My writing always seems to be about one thing but its usually about another.  Like I said, the analogies are usually fitness based, but rarely actually about fitness.  But football to me, has given more life lessons than any other teacher or experience and it never really stops.  Every season I've coached, something new has come to light.  I think partly because I'm getting older and things change in the 7-8 months I'm away form a team atmosphere.  But just as new things show themselves to me, the old is still there, still beating away, and those are the intangibles.

All coaches have fancy little playbooks with crazy terminology that can sound like a tongue twister.  Words often rhyme or start with "L's," or "R's" and have even numbers for play on the right and odd numbers for plays on the left.  That's serious but I say it kind of sarcastically, because coaches can sometimes take their plays a bit too serious.  I don't mean that to minimize anyone's work.  Its incredibly hard to create a unique playbook from scratch that is competitive on the weekends.   But with football, I'm kind of caveman sometimes and I like to run straight and make things go boom. :)  I like to line up and see who's who, who has the stones to hit and grind and drive and not give up... like I said, the intangibles.

#1 Effort
     Its very easy for me to see this during conditioning.  Somethings you just cannot fake and effort is #1.  You can fake being a tough guy.  You can fake being hurt.  You can fake having a certain skill.  but you cannot fake effort.  You can try and try, but it will always be there.  Make your face grimace all you want, pump those arms like mad and come up gasping for air... I still see fresh legs.
     I told the guys today, the two hardest things to learn as young players is "What FULL GO, really means," and "learning what their bodies are truly capable of," both are things I struggled with when I was younger.
     I do not believe FULL GO effort, can be achieved while thinking.  I believe it happens with confidence and then instincts.  If I'm in a position that I've never experienced, I'm probably thinking "Am I OK?  Am I doing this right?" and therefore not moving the way I could or should.  Why?  Inexperience.  Its not a fault or a negative, it is what it is.
     But when the coin is flipped, and I'm in the opposite position where I have experience, I am comfortable, what excuse is there to not go FULL GO?  Whats excuse is there to not put forth 150% effort and energy?
The analogy:  What position have you been in where you may have pulled back, when you should have or could have pushed ahead?  Why?

#2 Vision
     Do you know what you want?
     Do you know why you want it?
     Do you truly know why you want it?
     Lets take it to the football team, doesn't matter the team.  They'll all say the same thing "To win the championship."  OK, the goal is to win a championship.
     What are you going to do to make that happen?  And the answers form here head all over the place, "I'm going to train hard, I'm going to eat right, I'm going to study film, I'm going to be a better teammate, I'm going to listen to my coaches, I'm going to practice in the off-season," and all of those answers fit.  That's the vision.
The analogy:  Have you ever known you wanted something but had no idea how to achieve it?  What did you do?

#3 Preparation
     So you know what you want... so what?  You cant just fly out there and do it, living off of your vision and imagination.  You have to prepare.  You have to prepare your mind more than anything else.  Our bodies are our magnificent tools and we have the ability to shape them and use them as we see fit, if we choose to do so.  Its our minds that control that.  Our minds control what we do with our time.  Our minds control what we eat.  Our minds control whether we sign up for a class at a local community college or just talk about.  Our minds decide if we go for a run or sit on our butts.  So whatever it is we have a desire to achieve, that vision, our minds must be willing to make that commitment.
     We play every Friday night.  The preparation starts Saturday morning (actually the prep work started last January but that blog will take about 80 pages worth), we watch film, we stretch, we ice a little, we talk about things we can improve on, we talk about things that went well and so on.  In films, we watch the opponent and look for ways to take advantage of mismatches or to prepare for certain formations and plays out of them that may give us a hard time.  That's part of the preparation.  From there, we take it to field and go through these plays and practice what we'll do in certain situations vs certain plays or players.  All part of the preparation.  This goes on and on, until Friday night where the preparation is on display.
    One memorable moment I had that I was pretty proud was a few years ago.  I was coaching a defense and we were matched up with a pretty arrogant team with an even more arrogant offensive coach... let me pause and say this, I'm a defensive coach.  I've coached all defensive positions from the D-Line to Linebackers to the secondary... I instinctively dislike offenses and offensive coaches.  I think they're sneaky people :) Anyway, going against this arrogant little Napoleon figure, I wanted to whoop his butt and show him real fast that we were ready for his tricks.  I watched probably 3 seasons worth of his calls and I noticed something.  He had a massive ego.  And when pressured, he would call some goofy obscure formation and play like something a kid would draw up in the back yard with his friends... and we knew it was coming.  We practiced all week long and we knew they would try something like this.  By some crazy coincidence, they did the exact thing we practiced for... total guess :)  and it worked for us.  Preparation.
The analogy:  Have you ever been in a position where you were confident just because of your preparation?
     
 #4-#5 Focus-Determination
     These two are nearly the same, different, but too similar for me to separate.
     You have your vision... you're ready to prepare... you have effort pouring out of your ears!  but...
     Whats going to happen when you catch a cold?  Or pull a muscle in your back?  Or your teammates aren't stepping up the way you thought they would?  Or your diet is too hard to keep on track?  Maybe you aren't picking up the material the way you thought you would?  What are you going to do?
     Now we're talking about focus and determination.
     Maybe you need to go back to your "why."   Maybe you need to step away for a moment and breathe, check the landscape and go back in.   Maybe you're not really working as hard as you thought you were....
     You have to know what you want and you have to stick with it, to have the focus to fight through the rough spells, and to have the determination to not give up, no matter how hard it gets.
The analogy:  Have you ever had a rough spell on your quest and your focus and determination kept you strong?
   
#6 The "X" Factor
     I recently had some car trouble and it turns out one of the fixes was pretty simple.  I apologized for wasting Marks time (excellent and honest mechanic on the corner of Wilson Mills and Richmond Rd).  He said "Don't apologize. This is my expertise and you have your expertise."  True.
    We are all great at something, maybe even a few different things.  True greatness.  Something that's just in us and we just kick ass at it.  That's our "X" factor, that's what we're here for.
Have you found yours?  Maybe you have but you've pushed it aside?  Maybe it didn't make enough money?

Personal note:
Mine... I'm very good at lighting fires under asses :)   and I love doing it.  I dont even think it matters where I am.  I can be with a team or working with some insurance salesman, makes no difference.
I pretty much always have a team or two i'm working with, and after one of our first sessions we were about to break out for the night and one of the kids said "Arent you going to say anything?"  I said what do you mean?  She said "last year, you always pumped us up after a workout... we want that."   I thought... wowwwwwww, and some goose bumps popped up.  I was thinking, hey this was a chill night, we're just getting to know each other again and these kids we're already like "Um no, lets do this right now." So it was on from there.  From then on, I started noticing, that's what they were coming for and it definitely made me step it up.

And when you have a vision and you have a "why," and you focus and prepare and work with effort, anything can happen, whether its football, volleyball, sales, production, management, acct management, relationships, life, building a camp fire, washing your car, taking a class, anything big or small or whatever, anything can happen.

People ask me, "What do those hoops mean under your arm?"

Never give up.

Why I Train Hard

Written by Alex

I was hunched over, hands on knees, stomach in my throat, panting. Hard.

 

“This is so dumb—who does this to themselves?” I thought.

 

I was in the middle of a “Primal Boot Camp” –a fitness class designed to ‘tap into our primal selves’ and to ‘get off the treadmill like lab rats.’  The class was held on the beach and involved lots of sprints to and from the water to a nearby picnic table, along with lots of other high intensity activities. Don’t get me wrong—I know what I signed up for. I knew it would be hard and I knew I would most likely struggle. But I thought, “Hey, it’s only an hour, right?” I know that a good, realworkout does not just mean hopping on an elliptical for 40 minutes with a PEOPLE magazine in tow. So dripping sweat and covered in sand, I came back to the question, “Why am I doing this? Why do I care so much about being fit and healthy?” The people I passed lounging in their beach chairs, soaking up the last of the hot summer sun, certainly seemed to pose the same question as well. It’s not the first time the question has come up for me, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. However, after a conversation with my friend Holly later that evening, my answer became a little clearer.

 

I do it because sure, it helps how I look on the outside and I’m vain enough to admit that I like looking toned and fit. But more importantly, I do it because of how it makes me feel on the inside. If I could bottle up the feelings I have after a tough workout or yoga class, I would. The feelings of confidence, accomplishment and sometimes even a little surprise are unparalleled. The, “Wow, I can’t believe I just did that!” To be able to recognize that at one point in life, that type of workout was not even an option, and to realize how far I’ve come, is another reason. Yes, my heart sometimes feels like it’s beating out of my chest, but its pumping empowerment through my blood and veins. I leave feeling exhausted, but knowing that I can do anything I work really hard at. I am filled with gratitude for feeling strong in my own body AND mind. And with each workout, I get to know myself a little better—“How far can I go? Do I need to pull back a little bit tonight?” Putting myself through a physical workout forces me to live in the present moment—tuning into the nuances of my body and connecting my movement with my breath.

 

And in case you’re wondering, I have bad days too. I have ‘lazy days’ where peeling myself off the couch seems like a horrendous idea. I have days where mac and cheese AND pizza seem like great dinner options. But I also know that usually, there’s something else bothering me behind these cravings. Sometimes I’m just tired, and that’s okay. I have learned the difference between allowing myself rest and finding refuge in food or self-pity—and it’s a constant practice to overcome these low points.  On these days, I know that the feelings I mentioned above are waiting for me, if I trust the process and push through by heading to the gym or studio, even when I don’t feel like it.

 

So the short answer to my question of why I do this really boils down to one thing:

 

Because it makes me feel alive…and isn’t that why we’re all here?

She asked "What is this Primal thing?"

I recently heard someone say "Our bodies were not designed to sit on our asses in cubicles for 40 hours per week," and that kind of stuck and hit home with some things I've been going through lately.  

If you check in with this blog, you know I was a pretty strict vegetarian for quite a while.  For a long time, it worked.  I felt great, my energy was high, and my cardio was strong so I stayed with it.  And to be 100% honest, I wasn't a vegetarian for the health factors.  The health factors were just a nice bonus on the side, the main reason was to "alleviate pain and suffering," as Thich Nhat Hanh would say.  I found a lot of comfort and peace in my nutrition and I still do.  However, as I'm getting older, I noticed things changing a bit.  I no longer had that gear I once did and it hit me like a brick wall.  For a long, long time I measured my strength the exact same way and for a long, long time, it never dropped.  My bench was always in a certain range, regardless of how often I trained.  I was just kind of lucky with that.  Then one day, I went in and it was cut by 50%... I thought "Bad day."  I came back two days later... same thing.

Time to reexamine whats going on.  So that was my first "push," towards upping my protein.  Its very hard, and probably not 100% healthy to take in 130-160+ grams of protein powder everyday, which was what I required to maintain where I was.  

I then heard a lyric  "Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed, May not live another life, May not solve a mystery," and I thought "maybe I'm a little uptight... maybe I'm taking things a bit too serious... maybe I need to relax... maybe I need to just accept that this ride could be it and all that karma work is great but c'mon... settle down here."  (Yes, I actually talk like that to myself  "Hey dummy, settle down here..." 

So all the sudden, "The Law of Attraction?"  Everywhere I go, I'm hearing the same messages... "Calm down.  Stop being so uptight with all these beliefs.  You can still be a good person and eat chicken!"  does that read as crazy on your screen as it does mine?  :)  

That lyric above and the entire song pretty much says that to me... calm down, relax, have fun, treat people great and finally learn to play that guitar completely!  Stop holding back the urges and finally own who you are.

Someone said "Isn't it hypocritical to go back on all that now?" referring to the veggie thing, and I really, really struggled with it.  I still am a bit.  My ultimate deciding factor is my body.  I'm kind of a large guy who likes to do things.  I like to be physical, I like to run and jump and climb and flip tires and swing kettle bells and push weight and yoga and all that.  I truly love moving my body.  If I sit for too long, I get real grumpy.  If I'm not doing something physical, I kind of get angry. I'm basically a boy trapped in a mans body :) 

Remember a few blogs ago where I referenced an urge I had to find some weekend time to go camping and get lost for a while?  I think that feeling/urge was just the beak starting to peck out of that shell.  I'm just feeling pretty much done w all this nonessential bullshit, and I'm hunting for real in every moment... That's my air.  That real is the guitar, it's yoga, it's running, it's climbing, its power, its freedom, it's full expression... It's like being held under water and dammit I want to rocket to the surface and feel that sun!

Then she asked "Whats with the Primal thing?"

For one, its probably an outcome of everything above and everything I'm tinkering with.  That top quote stuck with me, "We weren't designed to sit in cubicles..."

We're built to move.  We're built to learn to use our bodies to our maximum, whatever that may be.  This "Primal mindset," fulfills a true need.

I think all the time "They could be so much more if they weren't trapped in that shell..." I know that reads judgy but it comes from a truly empathetic place. I don't want to see you trapped... I don't want to be trapped.  I want us to be awesome!  I want to see us able to express our insides with our outsides... does that make sense?   Its like an electric guitar (especially a sweet, sweet Johnny Mayer blues solo)... the insides are being expressed.  Same with our bodies and our movement, our achievements, our goals, our appearances, let it be your expression... that would be an amazing feeling.

Whats this primal thing?  We're turning back the clock... We're stepping forward by stepping backwards and turning in a new direction.  Its going to be safe but its also going to be harder.  We're removing the mental hurdles and all those bullshit voices saying "Eh, I cant... Eh, I'm too old... Eh, I'm too weak..."  No more.  We were made to move and feel and sweat and run and lift and go off... 

Imagine all these securities and comforts were taken away... who would you be?  What could you get done with no car, no computer, no electronics, no fancy little gym machines :)  If the only thing you had was exactly what you have when you wake up in the morning... just yourself.  

This isn't a change... its evolution.  
It feels exciting and refreshing.  

  

Number 1 FAQ (what is blue chip?)

"What is Blue Chip?"
A fitness and training company that offers personal training, power yoga, bootcamps and other services...

"Yeah, I get that... but what is Blue Chip? What does it mean?  Whats it all about?"

I hear this question often and I usually create a distraction to not answer... I do that often with personal things.
We had dinner with my good friend and his wife last night and he shared a story about when someone asked him that question and he probably answered it best, but still not fully... but still better than I've ever bothered to.  "Its training at a certain level of intensity."
As I wrote that, I guess that is the best definition.

I've been using the phrase "That was Blue Chip," in the training aspect for as long as I could remember.   When I used to train in corporate gyms, my sessions were at another level and my client would do something awesome and I'd say "that was a Blue Chip session right there," or "that was one serious Blue Chip set, awesome."  It just started popping out.

In my head, it represents training with a plan, limited thinking outside of form, no outside thoughts to distract, yet fully aware.  Its about finding the zone.  When we're in the zone and training how I just described, special things happen.
I train athletes, I work with teams, I train regular people like us, I train beginners, I train advanced, I train people who are looking for another level.   For me, when you train with a bunch of commotion or talking or things going on around you, its very hard to move freely and train the way you want to.  Getting the space to move and being comfortable enough to let loose a little, that's important.
Somehow, some way, I don't train average people... or maybe the training and environment bring something out.  I think when people train with me, they know I don't care about the BS (aka excuses.)  Everyone learns that pretty much on day 1.  Its not a harsh thing, I think I actually make it kind of entertaining (or annoying depending on your view).
"I dont think I can do it."
Oh no?  Thats ok, your body thinks you can so go right ahead.
Then it happens and wallah... trust is formed.

annnnnnd.. I'm already losing my thoughts :)

"What goes on there?"
Which was a question I actually just answered (sort of) earlier today.  A few people asked me last week to post the workouts and I kind of responded in a dicky way.  I left it bland with very little detail.
Why?
Because I could write it all out (maybe) but you wouldn't feel it.  On paper, it probably doesn't look like much.  But on that particular night, I knew we were training for 60 minutes with no equipment.  Had I written that, people may have thought "ummmm that sucks, I'm going to the gym," and I cant really blame them.  I always post a pic of notes spread out across the... i don't know what its called :)  I thought it would come to me.  Notes.  I Google the notes the Jimmy Hendrix "Little Wing," which for me is just the most amazing guitar I've ever heard.  And my point is on paper, you have no idea what it is, how it sounds, how it feels, anything.... Its just paper.  You have to feel it and experience it to "get it."  That probably reads super ego, but its just an analogy.

Side-note:  I hate the ME stuff.  I've said it so many times, I never wanted to run a class.  I wanted to be invisible and just help steer things from the scenes.  But now, I see where its needed.  I see where people need to know what this Bootcamp/Power Plus guy is about... maybe thatll help draw the picture and answer the question.

The advantage Blue Chip has vs competitors is in the personal training, and yet has nothing to do with personal training.
I've told this story before... I was "auditioning," for a job in Beachwood and the owner new I was a coach and worked with athletes but felt I was down playing things when working with the general public.  A client was coming in for an appt and he said "This next client is trying to get a D1 scholarship... he's a wide receiver."  So I'm think "HELL YES!"  20 minutes later, in walks Carol...
Not a D1 athletes but a 45 yr old stay at home mom trying to lose 20 lbs.  The owner says "D1 athlete, no difference."  From that day fwd, things changed for me.  I stopped trying to keep people at 6's and 7's and shot for 9's and 10's.  No more keeping one foot on the throttle, it was time to go go go go go.
But he didn't hire me and I've since thanked him for it.
I've trained along side and learned from some of the absolute best people in the business, or at least the branch of the industry I've chosen.  I've worked with coaches and trainers who are or were top professional and college trainers.  Penn State had the top in the nation up until recently (they may still, but I don't go anymore to know).  I used to go up there and ask question after question after question.  Eventually, they just started emailing me their workouts and manuals, probably just to get me to go away :)  I was like a little kid who just wouldn't stop saying "why?"  Between the National Personal Training Institute, the experiences at Penn State, all the countless shadowing I went through... with no ego at all... I thought I sucked and needed to learn and soak up everything I could.  Id ask trainers all the time "can I hang with you?  Can I watch you next session?" just to learn how they put things together.  And this wasn't in some rinky gym, this was w a guy who was recognized as a top 20 trainer in the entire nation.

So how or why does the above statement make any sense, the advantage vs competitors.  The boots, the classes, the work with the teams, its personal.  If I had a class of 50, how could I possibly know everyone names and know how to lock you in?  How could I know enough about to motivate you?  The people who train in my boots, its basically a 1 on 1 session in a group format.  

Why Blue Chip?
Because its personal.  You're not a client here, you're a member.  A real member.  You're on a team.    Your results are my results.  Your experience is my experience.  My mission is to do everything I can, any way I can, to help you become as absolutely healthy as possible.  150%.
If you need me to come to your house to talk to your family, I'm coming over.
If you need to me help you grocery shop, lets set up a time.
If your team is acting like a bunch of babies with no work ethic, what time do you want me there?
This is my life, its not a job.  I will go anywhere and do anything to make it happen.

So Andy was right... There's a certain level of intensity here... and its kind of addicting.

Let Da Monkey Out

**Just reread this and decided not to erase some sketchy areas... This is one i think the die hards and power plus people will enjoy:)

-------

Those of you who have been around a little while know, I'm not a huge fan of weight rooms (not attached to my opinion of local gyms, which I'm much less a fan of).  I see their purpose and certain elements of them I do enjoy and find extremely useful, but in general, they're too congested w crappy machines that serve virtually no real life purpose unless you're a body builder. Nothing wrong w that, just saying there aren't many reasons for a preacher curl unless your goal is too A) isolate your biceps or B) hurt your shoulders.  Inner/outer thigh machine?  Waste of iron and 20 sq ft.   

Every gym I walk into, I day dream about tossing half of their equipment out and creating space for a functional training area.  A jungle gym w pull up bars and battle ropes, sand bags and kettle bells, stability balls and space to move.  Box jumps, tires, agility ladders, a movement circuit.  Gyms try to pack every inch w iron or boring cardio machines that only 25-40% of the members will use correctly, or for more than their short lived New Years resolution.  

Obviously, this is only my slanted opinion... But it's also my blog and my website :)

Where is this headed?

Functional, real life, real movement training.   This is what I enjoy, what I enjoy training, what I enjoy doing.

Real movement training doesn't necessarily mean cardio or push ups.  And functional training doesn't necessarily mean mimicking your exact movement patterns.   

How can we train our entire body, our appearance, our mindset, our cardio, heart rate, breath control, coordination AND improve our physique?

How can we train our entire body, in and out?

Isn't this what power yoga is?  Isn't this what kettle bell training is?  Isn't this what the Bootcamps are all about.

Example of sessions I run at my house: 

1/2 mile jog

Kettle warm up, usually 3-5 movements, 3-4 rounds.

Barbell Back Squat, usually 5-8 sets, failing around 8-12 for all set except first and last.  First set is 15-20, last set is 30.

Back to kettles, tires and core.  A lot of work, very high heart rate, legs trashed, abs sore for 4 days.

I may work in bicep curls but only in the 30-45 second rest during the squat circuit.

Example of a boot:

1 mile run

Dynamic warm up

Full body strength circuit w bags, tubes and/or kettles.

1/2 mile run

Sprint work

Muscular finisher

Stretch.

Tonight, I know we're training w ZERO equipment... Except our bodies.  We'll see how it goes.  

What's funny about it, is that this has been what Blue Chip has been slowly evolving too since the day I began yoga.

Full, complete, primal, natural training.

----------

I get the crossfit comparisons so I should stop being such a dick when people say it.  I just hate when people think crossfit invented training.  

-------

 

Nutrition...

I've come to a cross road of sorts in regards to my own nutrition.  For quite a while, I've been primarily a vegetarian, or non meat eater.  I wasn't eating 100% vegetables, probably 60%, but nearly 85-90% veggie/fruits.

But I've struggled recently w my performance and obtaining certain goals.  I've definitely flattened out in terms of progress.

So I vented a little and talked some things out... Turns out my diet and metonlism flatlined.  At first I said "I just need to work harder," that's usually what I say when things are flat.

Then I thought "could I be doing things smarter?"

Is it silly to not eat meat?  Let me explain, it's not a great option for me.  The idea of blood and bones... Kinda makes me sick thinking about it.  Then the whole karma thing..... Eh, maybe I'm still on the fence. But I wonder if I'm missing huge, key elements that could get me over the hump?  If I'm allll about natural, functional training, why am I ignoring our own dietary evolution?  If we look at ourselves as mammals, as primates, there's nothing wrong about eating meat... Right?  

But then where does the "mammal, primate," thought end?  If that's the reasoning, we could say that about 1000 different things, "if monkeys do it...!"

What if we look at ourselves as  a programmable  machines and to be a complete machine, we need to... Be complete and use everything we can to do so.

What if we look at ourselves like aliens?? Oh boy!

But what if we're even more evolved than we acknowledge?  And that our bodies, when geared appropriately, when completely balanced and aware and mindful of everything around us, has an even higher gear than we've known... And by limiting our experiences, we place a box around our our eyes, like horses pulling biggies... But opening it all up and exploring respectfully and w awareness, we tap in, we plug into becoming exactly what we dreamed of.

Pic courtesy of JRE

Mind Your Manners?

So I'm sitting at the Yours Truly on the corner of 91 and Wilson Mills... finishing up some football notes, having lunch, listening to music, posting some thoughts, whatever.
And as I'm going through things, I think "things have felt a little cryptic lately."

I posted an blog that was pretty much talking about getting things done before we die, I posted a pic that read "You exist - but do you live?" I posted a quote that read "The biggest mistake we make is thinking we have more time and "The human bodies were not created (or evolved) to belong on couches watching mindless television, while cutting off physical/intellectual/emotional/spiritual connections with other people and our surroundings. We weren't created to sit in cubicles or to stare at video games on our fancy telephones. We're made to move, to feel, to think, to grow, to evolve. We are not machines."

Weird.

But all true.

I wrote something earlier this week that I was actually a little shy to let loose on here... I heard a conversation that has really, really bothered me.  Bothered me in that old way, that keeps me awake and annoyed and taking out frustrations in the wrong way, type of bothered.
Person A - "We've lost our value as people."
Person B - "You mean, we have no values?"
Person A - "No, I mean we've lost our worth, our actual value.  We're replaceable."

It gave me the chills and tears.

Maybe, its the weather but somethings been going on... I very badly need to be outside and productive in every way.  Physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually.   I'm having a hard time maintaining "normal."  :)  and I don't think I'm alone.

See, when I planned on writing these, i promised I wouldn't sensor them or steer away from subjects, but clearly I have as I already admitted above.

So about the conversation I over heard and the blog I deleted...
It gave me chills and tears and that combo isn't reserved for sadness.  Usually only Pearl Jam or Nack can do that, (as it just happened as I typed that).  But Ive never heard something so unique said so perfectly, yet so damn scary.

For weeks, I've been expressing my need to take some time away and go camping.  I feel its crucial for us to unplug from the laptops, the iphones, the calendars and all that bullshit and reconnect with ourselves... I dont think that connection can be made in front of Xbox's or surrounded by our electronic comforts.  I think we have created distractions to help us stay distracted... but from what?
I've had this feeling that a few days away in silence would feel very refreshing, like a cleanse.  I think some isolation  and removing your comforts can be a very good thing. You enjoy your bed, you'd priobably enjoy it alot more if you go without it for a few nights.   If you know this movie quote "Tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of Raymond K. Hessel's life. His breakfast will taste better than any meal you and I have ever tasted," then you probably agree with me.

But I haven't gone away... why?
Because we've allowed ourselves to be so dependent on money, our options and our freedoms are limited.
Somehow we've lost our connections and we're controlled by credit scores, interest rates and dollar signs.   We've seen enough brain washing commercials that we judge our level of happiness by our toys and items we "own."  We go to the doctor looking for prescriptions to help us lose weight, smile more, and sleep better... we think we can just buy it.  We think we need an suv or clothes to match our personality...  but our personalities our actually hidden behind a mask... or a laptop.  But i'm not afraid to have this conversation in person the way I once was.  Because life really is too short and unpredictable to let a label or job or bank account define you.  You think you're in control and know whats going on, but you don't, unless you've accepted "I'm not in control and I have no clue whats about to happen."

So take time... think about your life... think about what you really want to do, and not some damn career goal.  That company could be sold and then where are you?  Think about your actual life... think about where you want to live and how you want to feel... how you want to sleep... how you want to eat... how intelligent do you want to be?  How fit do you want to be?  Take care of your body... its an amazing, living, breathing, growing organism, it really is.  Most of us have no clue everything it can do... treat it well....
You see those signs for your home "Live, laugh, love," with something following like "Often, hard, daily," I dont know exactly, there a bunch of different ones, but they're all true.  Enjoy your time... enjoy your friends... enjoy conversations... connect with people and be nice... you're not as busy as you like to tell people, so stop rushing off... get off the couch and go for a walk in the woods... go camping... listen to good music that inspires... watch movies you can feel... Stop w all the bullshit you don't need...  don't talk bad about people, talk about events and real things.. .  Share your love... express your love... EVERY DAY... get a dog and walk him/her as much as you can... read books about personal growth and development... get a hobby you love... dont be afraid to feel... be passionate about things, its ok to get fired up, you're not a machine... youre allowed to feel deeply... Own it, own your true petsonality and roll w it, 1000% w effort and enthusiasm... get pissed when needed... help people... do something for no reason as often as possible and dont even look around for a thank you or pat on the back... just do it... stop going to bed at 9... Live... stop saying no... stop acting like we're going to last forever... youre wasting time and moments that can never be found again... we're getting older faster than you accept..
 but probably not as fast as i like to believe.. but please understand, that's my motivation and fear.  Take nothing for granted...

I understand much of this would come off much better in person and we've actually touched on this in the yoga room.

Peace, love and empathy.

"Self realized and metaphysically redeemed, may not live another life, may solve a mystery.
Right around the corner could be bigger than ourselves, we could will it to the sky or could be something else."
Eddie Vedder