“The Jackie” Crossfit Workout
I just completed my 5 x 5 workout with a new twist, and I’m anxious to share the results. As you might remember, I recently decided to press the pause button on my squats after my right hip started cursing like an inebriated seaman. It’s been about a calendar week since I last dropped my hips back with any significant quantity of weight bearing down on my shoulders. Instead, I’ve implemented and performed Romanian Deadlifts at a pretty aggressive clip. Today, I did RDLs, bench presses and rows for five repetitions and five sets each. Somehow, without the squats,...
How to Gain Weight
Young athletes are constantly striving to be bigger, stronger, faster. Peruse professional sports and you’ll discover examples like Giancarlo Stanton to Adrian Peterson, from Lebron James to Lolo Jones. No matter what your girlfriend tells you, size matters. For that very reason, when a young man or woman approaches me about gaining weight, I take it seriously. I’m often asked by the leaner types with less muscle mass how to put on weight. Recently, in fact, a college baseball player expressed in writing that he’s tried weight gain shakes and eats like Homer Simpson but has had difficulty packing...
Sweet Thursday: Honey
I’ve learned over the course of my studies and experience that nearly all sweeteners have their downfalls, and the state in which we consume them is immeasurably important. I don’t use any sweeteners in my food anymore unless I’m purposefully indulging. I understand, however, that folks are looking for healthier options when it comes to savory’s counterpart. Every Thursday, over the course of the coming weeks, I’ll examine the virtues and downfalls of popular sweeteners in an attempt to educate and allow you to make your own decision about which to ingest. One note: I won’t be addressing artificial...
Grind Your Own Coffee
In an effort to cross the finish line of the caffeinating race with you, we started with a discussion of the French press. Now, I’m adding in one more small recommendation. Get a coffee bean grinder. We go to great lengths to produce a delightful cup of coffee for our daily fresh start. To maximize the flavor and crispness from your java, you must grind your own beans. I used to walk into my local coffee shop and soak up their exceptional selection of organic, fair trade coffee. I regularly conversed with the baristas about the flavor combinations, learning...
Showering Without Soap
There isn’t much I won’t do for my readers. I’ll be putting my body (and reputation!) on the line to experiment with showering without traditional soap. It turns out that that Johnson and Johnson, among other soap producing companies, have been selling us a form of perfume masquerading as detergent for our skin. As a general side note, I’m becoming my father. I admit that my spectacular ex-wife, Lisa, used to do the shopping for soap, shampoo, lotion, etc., for our home’s bathrooms. Since that responsibility dropped into my bathtub with a thunderous splash, I’ve been, well…meh…at remembering to...
Fred Update – 8 Weeks
Quick reminder, my friend Fred is an NBA executive who, 8 weeks ago, began the 5 X 5 lifting program and recently added sprints. For further context, check this out then rejoin us. Fred reached out excitedly to me today. Just completed my 8th week of the Kap 5×5 training system. Few items of note. My strength has increase at a nice steady pace and I am really digging the new type of workout. I think I have asked our teams Athletic Performance Director approx 1,000,000 questions relating to form and function to the 4 different exercises. He tells...
French Press
I use a French press whenever possible to enhance and inspire my personal caffeinating process. Coffee isn’t just about consumption; it should be an elegant experience. The first sip of bitter and sweet, just off the boil, should transport your racing mind to the countryside or the beach or the mountains. It’s worth adjusting your routine to make your mini morning vacation as fulfilling as possible. A French press utilizes pressure to force coffee to the base of glass cylinder after brewing, exposing and illuminating the layers of flavor. Quite simply, this is coffee in its purest form. Assuming...