Eating Late? Go Ahead
It’s not when you eat that impacts you; it’s what you eat. Breaking bread late at night doesn’t cause any more weight gain than grubbing earlier in the day. A friend came up to me last night. “Gabe,” she said. “Can I eat this late at night?” She held up a bag of dark crackers made of quinoa or seeds or something, followed by a Quest bar, then an avocado. “Betty (her name isn’t Betty), first of all, it’s not really late for you.” It was around 10:00, and Betty goes to sleep at 2:00 am most days. She...
Protein Without Meat
Warning! I’m going to be playful in this post. If you’re feeling sensitive, go read another washed up athlete’s blog. From Norah Jones: It’s him or me that’s what he said, But I can’t choose between a vegan and a pot head, So I chose you because you’re sweet, And you give me lots of lovin’ and you eat meat, And that’s how you became my only man of the hour I’ve been pretty adamant in this blog that I’m a carnivore. I believe that our teeth are in place, in part, to tear flesh. I’m sensitive (clearly), however,...
Smoothies
Life gets crazy. When you’re out and about tackling daily activities, sometimes you need to make a pit stop and grab easy nutrition. Ideally, this should just be to tide you over until your next meal. You know that the big fast food chains are loaded down with artificial ingredients and no redeeming nutritional value, but you spy a smoothie chain up ahead. Jamba Juice, Robeks, Smoothie King and the like have done a splendid job marketing their products as “healthier” alternatives to gas station snacks and such. Fresh fruits and veggies can’t be unhealthy, right? Take a peek...
Protein Powders? Choose the Beef Instead
By now, you’re familiar with my stance on supplements. The query of whether to use protein powder continually comes up, however. The most recent example occurred in my own home! My 14 year old, Chase, came up to me the other day and asked for protein powder. I looked at him, paused, and took a deep breath before asking why. He explained he needed it after his off-season football practices and workouts, at his coach’s suggestion. In this case, my answer was the simple. “Chase, your best protein source will always be real, whole food. You’re a carnivore [the kid loves to...
Mushrooms
Before I hit the pillow each night, I look forward to my breakfast with great anticipation. Occasionally I find myself awakening, wishing I was able to speed the world’s clock up. I can’t wait to throw my robe on, march downstairs and crack open my eggs – six to eight of them, depending on my hunger and activity level for the day. The eggs alone are worth my early rise, but they have companionship in mushrooms, elevating my meal from a 9 to a 10. You know how I feel about avoiding over the counter medicine in favor of...
Physical Activity Improves Mental Performance
When gearing up for a mental challenge, physical activity improves mental performance. Strong bodies are a dime a dozen; if you want to impress me, reveal a strong mind. Often, the two are engaged in a harmonious partnership. Whether it’s an interview, test, important conversation or anything needing focus, achieving peak performance involves both your physical and mental epicenters. During a podcast or radio interview, I may need to recall advanced baseball statistics. Prior to the red light turning on, I’ll jump rope for a few minutes. Before a sit down with one of my sons, I want to...
Mental Training
As I stand in front of a squat rack staring blankly at in excess of 400 pounds, I can feel the associated physical sensation without having to actually touch the weight. The cold of the steel bar bearing down on my shoulder blades, the tightening, contracting and firing of every muscle from my toes to my nose, the awakening of an old hip injury, the increased heart rate and heavy breathing. In this moment, I have to choose – do I proceed or do I cower? I learned a very important lesson during my baseball career – the physical...