Last week, I invited your questions and promised to reply to some of them on Saturday. Well, here we are. I wish we could do this in person over a cup of coffee. A man can dream. Here goes.
Kap, great news on the Q&A, I seem to only ask questions that may only be relevant to your older mass gaining train of thought, but do you or did you ever monitor total caloric intake and if so what were the ranges you shot for when either trying to lose or gain weight? I understand body types are different but what worked for you? I feel you have an extremely deep understanding of this side of exercise and nutrition that we have not been exposed to. Thanks!
Hey, Mike.
I have never counted calories. However, if I’m feeling heavy, I’m apt to remind myself to stop eating before becoming full. Here’s what I wrote in a post on the topic several months back:
The indigenous people of the Ryuku Islands, Okinawa in particular, are best known for having the world’s longest life expectancy. Theses folks have a rule known as “Hara Hachi Bu,” which essentially translates as eat until you’re 80% full. They generally enjoy better health than we western cats do.
I generally feel lighter on my feet and more energetic when I’m following this line.
On the other side of the coin, if I’m feeling weak in the squat rack or just skinny in general, I’ll add an egg and apple or a piece of humanely raised and slaughtered animal flesh to one of my meals.
This is certainly not scientific. It’s my feel and what works for me.
Do you, brother.
Kap
Kap, my question comes as a parent of an athlete. What is your opinion on how much do you push your son or daughter. With respect to training, diet and academics? My concern is getting my son to realize his full potential.
Oooohhh, Tom. This is a biggie and highly variable. I model behavior whenever possible.
Here’s an example:
I notice my 14 year old QB hasn’t been keeping up with his throwing program. Instead of jumping him with something like, “Chase, you better get out there and throw. You’re going to lose power,” I might try bringing my own workouts into a conversation with him.
“Chase, I have a goal to run the 60 yard dash in 6.8 seconds. I know what I have to do to get there. I need to practice my form daily, be consistent with my squat routine and make sure I’m getting enough nutritional density with every meal. I know that if I follow my program, I’ll reach my sprint goal. What are you training for?”
I know the answer to my question. My mission is to make him think. I know he will ponder his football career and throwing program.
The final piece of the puzzle is making sure he knows about it when I take action.
“Chase, headed out to do my squats, see you in a bit.”
I fully trust that he will follow suit. Not necessarily immediately, but in just the right time for him.
Hope this example helps,
Kap
I would love your take on the energy of foods, especially the energetic impact of different animal proteins on your body. Maybe a bit on food combining as well? I am curious about how this effects your food choices – or not. As always, much appreciated.
Hey, Susan.
I’ve paid pretty close attention to the topic of food and its energy since some folks close to me went through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition program. The curriculum is heavily focused on your area of interest (wink).
I know you’ve been following the blog for some time, and I know you’re aware that many of my opinions are science and evidence based. That doesn’t mean that I’m not very much in tune with how my body feels when I look at, smell, taste and hold food.
When I crack open an egg in the morning, I notice the subtle or obvious differences in size, color and shape of the yolk. I share the belief with you, it seems, that an animal raised on its natural diet, in a stress free environment and slaughtered humanely will inherently be healthier. Thus, I will be ingesting flesh with a more “positive” nutritional and energetic profile.
While I’m focused first on how to most effectively enjoy the experience of eating, I quickly shift to understanding how the food ‘works’ in my body. I do this through research and trial and error.
As you know, there are numerous posts on this blog devoted to the animal proteins I ingest regularly. I sense, however that I have answered your different, more pointed question.
Take care, Susan.
Kap
Lifestyle choices of MLB’er during the off-season. Are you free to do whatever (legally)? Are there contractual terms forbidding things like climbing, skiing, etc? Or does management pull a player aside and remind a player to make the right off-season choices with their body, because the player needs to “protect their asset” (no pun intended)? Just kinda curious.
Chester,
These activities are addressed in the contracts. Players are not permitted to take part in dangerous sports. This is perfectly sensible.
Imagine Clayton Kershaw decides to take a snowboarding adventure on the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He’s a great athlete, and after his second lesson, he’s ready to venture out on his own. He’s also a risk taker, so he decides to tackle a double black diamond run. When he gets off the lift, he’s scared but goes anyway. That’s courage, right? His balance is amazing, but that ultimately hurts him as he’s able to stay on his feet and pick up an insane amount of speed. He’s travelling at 42.3 MPH when he catches an edge and tumbles 145 yards before landing in a snow bank. Uh oh, he suffers an injury which forces him to miss an entire season. The Dodgers are paying him $30M for his innings, which he is now unable to provide.
Need I say more?
Kap
Friends,
I’m fully aware that many questions from our open thread remain. I will continue to get to as many as I can. Use this thread for new thoughts.
Much love,
Kap
I like making dreams come true. I’ll be in Malibu next month. I’ll bring the coffee, you bring the cup.
Thanks for responding to these questions. It benefits us all.
Dig. Thank you.
Love your answer…Thank you, as always.
Thanks, Susan.
Thanks Kap for your willingness to take questions and and answer them. They can benefit us all in some way. I was look forward to the post. Have a great weekend everyone in the KLS family.
Is that a high school baseball diamond as the post pic? If it is what school is that? If you don’t mind telling. Thanks
Thanks, Duane. It’s a high school diamond indeed. It’s a JV field in Agoura, CA.
Thanks for the insight, Kap. This is understandable, especially for a formerly aggressive skiier who thought “Gee I should try snowboarding” only to, within 5 minutes (no exaggeration) tear a knee and break an ankle. (D—A– !)
Perfect, Chester. Thanks.
Kap-
I’d like to submit a new query to the forum should you see it fit….
You talk a lot about animal proteins…and I enjoy these quite a bit myself… I struggle though with the moderation component and would like to get your opinion on the frequency of beef consumption (of course humanly raised….) as it relates to cholesterol and heart disease.
I try to balance out my steak and ground beef intake with fish, chicken and ground turkey, but I always wonder how often in a week I can allow for beef ….
Thoughts?
Ps- Thanks again for the q&a section. Over my time as a part of the community here, I have learned a ton. I think I speak for many when I say that you are absolutely MAKING an impact.
Read you mañana.
My opinion, any amount from a healthy animal (allowed to eat it’s proper diet and humanely treated, of course), as long as properly balanced with a greater amount of various vegetables is healthy. I know you’re not here for my opinion… I’m curious how that may compare or contrast with Kap’s.
Men,
I’m going to try to post specifically on this topic. I recently read a mind bender that I’d like to riff off anyhow.
Grateful for you both,
Kap
Nice post today love. I especially liked your advice on motivating your son. I’ve found that when you tear into kids or strong arm them, they don’t usually respond very well. By seeing you commit to your own fitness program and goals and sticking to them, you are setting an excellent example for your son.
So my question today is still along those lines: do you reward your son when you see he has gotten back to his throwing program and is improving? Also if one of your sons has something to do for school that they clearly don’t want to do and the above tactic doesn’t work, what’s your plan B? I was recently asked about this by a parent of one of my teenage dance students. She tried a similar tactic to get her motivated to stick to her dance practices and it’s not working.
Thanks for your insight sweetheart!
I’ll try to touch on your questions soon, Kelebek. Thanks as always.
Thank you! I look forward to getting your take as well as suggestions from the rest of the family here.
Kap, For all the wisdom and experience you share here, I think your best attribute is the level of attention you give your readers. The commitment to respond to readers every day is amazing (I thought hard for a more descriptive adjective, but amazing will do), but must be difficult too. How do you manage on those days you’re in just no mood to interact? You had earned my respect from your playing days (I was aware of you fitness passion) but have earned some much more as I’ve followed your 264 day (and counting) journey.
I dig this question. Standby.
Kap,
I am a sophomore in college and with fall practices for college about to start I have completely lost my swing. I have been hitting everyday off the tee and facing front toss and occasionally been thrown to in the cage. Right before I left for college I was hitting great and easily would have been starting on Varsity this year. With how I am hitting now it is far from it. I have always throughout my playing changed things in my swing unknowingly to myself. Just small things would always come in and deviate my swing.
I know you obviously cannot see me and tell me what is wrong with my swing but my question is: how did you yourself not change your swing and keep it consistent? I go and hit off the tee everyday and record myself occasionally. I have never been a fluid hitter always real mechanical which does not help me in this matter but just your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Kyle G.
My man, Kyle. I was a tinkerer. Not ideal. Usually for hitters like you and I, the answer is hit less and study less in general. My rules for myself:
1. Shoot to be comfortable in the cage and get out. Do not strive for the perfect swing.
2. Keep an adjustment journal so you know where you began. If you open up, note it. If you move your hands, that goes down on paper, too.
Start with those and keep me posted,
Kap
Kap,
As someone who coming out of college out of shape nearly a year ago your blog has been immensely helpful in keeping up with the journey and losing over 50 lbs. As it the weather starts to get cold again I’m finding my motivation being sapped and a cheat meal turns into more than what it should be. Any advice on not losing sight and keeping it going? I’m not worried about a few days of being in a lull, but It’d be a real shame to fall back on old bad habits.
Keep up the incredible work on here and on Fox and thanks for the incredible posts, I’m really looking forward to seeing you and Kevin Burkhardt talk shop this October.
Thank You,
Mike S.
Hey Kap
Love the blog and have been reading since March.
You don’t have to answer this obviously if you don’t want to, and you can delete if you think it’s not appropriate.
You always describe your ex Lisa as your best friend. Were you guys friends before marriage and decided it didn’t work? And remained friends?
Or is it a matter of the mother of your children and you will always love her?
Going through a rough patch with my wife Lisa and wondering how to make it work one way or another for us and our 4 year old and 1 year old.
Ray,
Thanks for your question. Standby for an answer.
Kap