Bringin’ meal time back.

For years, we have heard that America has a growing obesity epidemic.  People blame all kinds of things: Processed foods. Genetics. Sugar. Exercise (or lack there of)… the list goes on and on.

The reality is that there are many of factors involved, and all contribute to the obesity epidemic in a variety of ways.  However, there is topic that I haven’t really heard people talk about, which I think, deserves to be at least a small part of the conversation:  the loss of the family meal time.

New Year. New Me.

I wanted to get in some hiking over Christmas break from school but I didn’t really feel like driving 10 hours in a weekend to go to and from Big Bend State Park. So I opted for a quick trip to Lost Maples ( Fun Fact: I took my wife here on her first backpacking trip).  On New Year’s day I went on a quick overnight hike to Lost Maples State Natural Area. It was my first overnight hiking trip since I went on that 151-day long one this summer.   I only hiked about 7 miles, but it was a strange feeling. But this post isn’t a trip review its about something that people rarely make New Years Resolutions about.

4 Things I Learned the Hard Way (so you don’t have to)

 

So last spring/summer I went on the trip of a lifetime (most of you probably already know this, but I am hoping that I am getting some new readers at some point). I spent 5 months backpacking the Appalachian Trail.  I lost some weight, climbed some mountains, made some friends and learned a lot about myself. Since I’ve been back, people have asked me what exactly I learned on the trail, and how it’s changed my life.  While I still feel like the same person, there are a few things that have really stuck with me, and (I think) can be applied to many people’s goals in health and fitness.

Coaches: Street Cred or Credentials?

What is Credentialism?

Credentialism is a reliance on formal qualifications or certifications to determine whether someone is permitted to undertake a task or to speak as an expert.  Basically, do have the letters behind your name to be considered an “expert” in your particular field?

Is it important? Is it a necessary evil?

New Year’s resolutions…

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.- Mark Twain

 

I thought I would start this inspirational post with a inspirational quote.

Are we all inspired now?

Perfect.

Working to live or living to work?

So. I missed the blog post last week.

I know, I’m probably contributing to your abandonment and trust issues and whatnot.

But I have a good reason.

I was on vacation!

Why can’t we be friends?

I am tired.

Very tired.

So very tired.

Can we all stop being A-holes to each other already?

Wait…what?!

Education. The best investment.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin

It’s that time of year again.  A magical time of year when a jolly fat man dances from rooftop to rooftop, people buy stuff they don’t need and claim “tis the season.”  But picture this: instead of buying another pair of nanos and another pair of Lululemon shorts maybe you should put that money towards an investment in yourself… instead of on yourself. (That joke was a bit of a stretch… but you know, I like to commit to my jokes, so stick with me).

The Gambler: Coming back to the gym after an injury.

If you train long enough you are going to get an injury. That’s the wet nasty truth. Whether your injury comes from over training, bad coaching, or just some insane accident, at some point something is going to get in your way.

Now, Now, Now, don’t freak out. It’s cool. There is hope. You can most likely recover but you need to be smart about it.  Let me lay it all out for you.

The Great Outdoors: Fun, Cheap and Good for You.

Outer Mountain Loop at Big bend NP in 2013

Well the seasons they are a changing. Its mid-November here in the great central Texas, which means we are moving from one season to another.  In Texas I truly believe there are only 2 seasons:  “Hot” and “Less Hot”.