Reframing the “Alpha” Male (based on research that ISN’T BS)
A well-worn cliche in strength training and bodybuilding circles is the Alpha Male: the dominant leader of the group. Alpha stems from the theory of the pack-leading Alpha Wolf, which was famously observed by animal researchers studying pack wolf behavior. Over the years the term has been used to describe many positive characteristics of masculinity — being bold, confident, and protective — but...
I’m getting older. Again. 🎂
As the title says: I'm getting older. 🎂 This has made me self-reflect on what I've learned about training over 40. I've even come around and changed my approach on a few ideas. So, with that as the setup, here are five key thoughts: * * * 1. As I move closer to 50 than 40 (good Lord) I realize how silly most of the age-related "truths & rules" of training really are. Apparently if you're...
Anthony Bourdain: Simplicity + Perfection
It was a rainy Saturday in June. I spent it with my kid and an Anthony Bourdain retrospective on in the background. Bourdain's life was well-travelled and well-lived and, sadly, way too short. I miss him. I drew inspiration watching him grow. He seemed to become more honest while caring less about trends and, especially, what other people thought. His arc was a rare full circle: despite heralded...
I don’t like owing anyone
Very busy spring morning. I’m speeding through email when my eye catches the little calendar icon at the bottom corner of the screen. Today’s date: the 19th. As in JUNE 19. I stop mid-scroll. For one fleeting moment I think something’s wrong. I screwed up a setting, something got corrupted, my stupid Mac caught a virus. Because it’s MARCH, not June. As in: early spring. Which is why I’m extra...
The Seinfeld Method
Simple. Foolproof. Effective. The best health advice is usually the simplest. Wash your hands. Get 7-9 hours sleep. Eat plenty of protein. Drink a lot of water. Avoid eating shit.* * (Okay, but we're talking best advice, not the most nuanced or eloquent). Pictured is a "cutting edge, clinically tested apparatus based on groundbreaking research by surly Soviet scientists that will re-shape your...
Hard dieting, the “quarantine 15,” and finding a new normal
Is dieting difficult? Maybe you need to re-write your story. No, not revise your history (there's enough “truth massaging" in this field already). I just mean change the way you’d describe your relationship with food. For example, I have a client that by his own admission loves to eat BIG. But he's also in the midst of a pretty hard diet and responds to drops in calories with half-joking...
Dealing with stress and binge-eating with Covid-19 [in the real-world]
I want to talk to you today about Caroline, whom I’ve worked with before. I’ve even written about her and used her feedback as a testimonial. She’s one of my favorite people because she’s made a truly life-altering transformation. Caroline didn’t just lose fat and get in shape. While we worked together, she changed her relationship with food. Her physical transformation was a result of...