Welcome to our weekly open thread. Let’s get to it.
I know that your “go to” animal proteins are humanely raised grass fed cattle and chicken. Do you ever change it up and consume bison, lamb, ostrich etc.?
Chris,
Thanks for the question.
I don’t discriminate. I eat all of your illuminated animals and more. Deer, elk, rabbit gator, boar, all sorts of sea creatures…the more wild and less farmed, the better, in my opinion.
Kap
Mo:
Kap, what breakfast meats do you dig on? Bacon? Sausage? Canadian bacon?
Mo,
I’m happy to eat all humanely raised and slaughtered or hunted animal flesh for breakfast. However, I generally opt for 5 whole eggs, a big Japanese yam and some shiitake mushrooms sauteed in butter and seasoned with salt and cayenne pepper. I could very easily repeat that breakfast (don’t forget the organic, black coffee) every day for the rest of my life and die a happy man.
Mike:
Kap - after reading this blog last year I started the 5×5 over the winter and it has gone very well switching from a more traditional program. The question is it is going too well and the weights are going much higher than expected (mid 3s for squats, mid 2s bench, etc). Not sure when to say when on increasing weight. I suppose I could continue to increase but as I get older I don’t want to risk injury (mid 30s). Do you still try and increase or do you stick with an overall range? If you are not consistently increasing are you technically no longer building muscle and strength and just maintaining? Any insight would be helpful.
Mike,
You’re in your mid 30s; I’m in my late 30s. I had a similar experience with increasing weight and moving heavier plates than seemed reasonable or natural. I suggest sticking with it. Your body will clearly indicate its boundaries if you’re paying attention. There is a method to this madness. From livestrong.com:
Heavy lifting can have a profound effect on the ability of your body to produce steroidal hormones, particularly testosterone. You must lift heavy for this occur. Testosterone is another hormone whose production decreases as you age, and it is important in maintaining lean muscle mass, wound healing and repair, sexual function and immune function. Light training will not achieve this, but heavy, compound exercises with high intensity and short rest periods will.
Regarding “maintaining,” strength gains are not only a result of your workouts, as you know. They are influenced by nutrition, sleep, stress and many other variables. My most powerful counsel is to pay close attention to your body’s messages and respond appropriately for you.
Kap
What questions do you have?
