Relaxation Through Observation

 

I find a great deal of relaxation from observing others. I find it extremely therapeutic, personally, to consciously enjoy coffee while watching others, studying others, and considering others. I find it is a great way to stop thinking of my own wants and needs, and ponder others. 

I think that for many people, it can feel as if their day is go-go-go and everything can quickly become about how much they can bleed out of the day. I feel that can be a stressful, close-minded approach to each day, and as a result life in general. One way I combat that is by meditating, and one form of meditation I find helps is simply watching others walk by.

Watching others is enjoyable because it's nice to join them for a glimpse of their life. I am not saying I can read minds, but based on their fashion, their gate, and their mannerisms, I feel you can get to know someone. You may not know their hopes and dreams, but at least a little bit about them. 

One aspect I am extremely intrigued in is someone's gate. Their stride, their speed, their movement, possible injuries, it is really interesting to observe and speculate hypotheticals.

In considering others, I wonder who they are, where they are going, what they like, even what kind of person they strive to be, even what they dislike. 

This is one way I relax, in the peaceful, distant observation of others.

If you are interested in trying this out yourself, here's what I would recommend.

1. Find a coffee shop with a window in a foot traffic area

2. Buy something, like coffee

3. Drink it black, healthier :p

4. Put some music in, and start relaxing.

Things to not do

1. Put a trench coat on

2. Sit at a park bench

It goes without saying, but obviously one should be mindful of how they go about observing others.

Stay happy friends

Sugar in "healthy" snacks

Sugar; the great debate. On one side of the spectrum of opinion, it is viewed as a highly addictive chemical designed to weaken our society for control. That is the extreme side. On the other side, some say it is simply a sweetener to make food taste better. Obviously, there are a lot of views in between. While I am not writing my opinion today, I am suggesting it is in a lot more than one might suspect, even when healthy eating is the goal. 

I frequent "health food" stores, for the simple fact that they normally have the things I eat or are interested in trying out (crickets is next up on my experimentation plate). Today, I was feeling some coconut as a treat. In this store, It took me ten minutes to find a snack without a type of sugar in it. Every power bar, every snack, every "natural", "organic", and "non-gmo" thing I could find had sugar hidden in the ingredients list. I find it intriguing, because I often run into this problem when looking for snacks or treats. 

I am currently avoiding sugar additives, so while I can enjoy strawberries, I cannot enjoy strawberry flavoured products.

For your own health, start looking at the healthy things you are eating. Check out if there are sugar additives, natural flavours, or weird names you are not familiar with. If there is, is it really that healthy? Would there be better, truly healthier ways to eat and snack? Do not fall trap for words like natural and non-gmo.... The food industry adapts as we do, stay ahead of the curve! 

Love Your Grandma? Make Her Carry Her Own Groceries

   I feel that as a society, the older people get, the easier we try to make life for them in an attempt to soothe the aging process. We soothe the process is by creating structural conveniences, such as closer parking spots, ramps, elevators, escalators, and preferred seating. Another way we soothe the process is by cultural expectations, like carrying groceries, giving our seat away, running errands for, and the overall approach of having our beloved elders physically do as little as possible. I feel that by attempting to soothe the aging process, we are actually speeding it up, ultimately doing more harm than good.

   Now you might be confused. Let us take the less socially considered approach to our elders.

   I want you to suspend the idea of life measured by a number, and consider it instead by one’s ability to move. For the majority, one of the main components to someone’s quality of life is their ability to move.

   I do not believe that we automatically lose the ability to bend over and pick something up, climb stairs, and hold bags because of our age. We do not lose any ability because of an arbitrary number; people take them away from us by stepping in to our movement tasks.

Even the best intentions can have immobilizing consequences.

   I think life presents us many movement tests, and our day-to-day tasks are our homework and practice. A movement test might be catching yourself from falling, running for a bus, pushing your car off a road, playing catch, or even defending yourself in a life and death situation. A movement test is something you may not have planned for, but have to complete. Our day-to-day homework is in our daily moving, stretching, strengthening, as well as other practicing our own body awareness. Without practice, we will absolutely fail our movement tests. It is a very constant idea, especially as we age. I find that we, as a society, step in and complete the day-to-day tasks, with good intentions, accidently sabotaging any chance of successfully completing a movement test. This is where copying off of someone else’s homework only works until you are tested. Anybody who has tried to cheat in school would be familiar with this unfortunate outcome.

   I feel one major goal for an aging individual is preserving their independence. An article I had sent to me by a friend suggested that healthier people die more quickly. At first, I was confused, but after reading it, the title made sense. As we ‘improve’ in many aspects, people are living longer, on average, than our ancestors. However, they are living many of their later years with a lesser quality of life. The article states that a healthier person’s health shifts at a much faster rate, therefore making the process much quicker. Ideally, one would be independent, living life, until they depart with us. Instead of 10 years of discomfort and waiting, one could ideally have a day or two transition. You always hear stories about older people who were grocery shopping, cooking, and even playing euchre with their friends, and then the next day, gone. I feel that mobility is a huge factor to consider in that article, as well in this.

   So, is not giving up your seat, not bending over to grab something, and not holding the door the way to live your life in the name of movement justice? No, that will undoubtedly make you look like a complete ass. In the general public, I would recommend maintaining the social norms because most people would never consider this as a concept. However, for our friends and family members, I do think it is an important conversation to have. Our bodies are incredible, and will adapt to what we guide them to do. If we do nothing, and move minimally, eventually, that is what our body will accept as the norm. Eventually, if unchallenged, even something as remedial as getting out of bed, will become a movement test. It is important to do our homework, so when we are tested, we can overcome and move well. Slow down the process, challenge immobility in our elders and we will keep them healthier longer.

Move and invite movement constantly.

Organic Broccoli

I want to give an organic-and-affordable high five to the broccoli that is sold at my local Costco. At this present time, the only food item I buy from them is their Broccoli. The reason why? The price, it is frozen, and it is organic.

So what about that price?

The only reason why I feel someone would ever decide against organic in this day and age is the price to purchase it.

Costco sells 4 500g frozen bags for just under $10.00. Personally, for me that costs just under $2.50 per day (I think it is exactly $2.37). That is within my food budget.

Why frozen?

Some people will say vegetables are healthier quick frozen, and some will say fresh. Personally, if I think my food may not be fresh, or it may be even remotely bad, it goes in the garbage. I recognize my personal food-crazy behaviour, and I consider throwing away food both wasteful and lighting money on fire. Frozen prevents the opportunity to throw food down the garbage.

Convenience.

People are busy, and in a culture where everything is go-go-go, 60 seconds of effort can decide if someone reaches for a healthy option, or a box of Oreos. I am someone who is willing to commit 20 minutes a day to prepping and cooking my food. I feel a huge thing for me is convenience. Call me lazy, but the fact that this broccoli is already separated in 500g bags and ready to drop into a frying pan – warms my heart. Also, for those who are counting their macros and micros, it is 500g every serving, no eye-measuring and second guessing.

If you want a healthy, affordable and convenient option – nature’s touch organic broccoli is for you.

Quit Weights. Movement Culture

When you work in fitness and announce you quit lifting weights, people are curious, to say the least. While I am not saying it is forever, it is definitely something I have thought about doing for a while. I feel my ‘programming’ has given me a very typical, mainstream male approach to fitness. Lift weights, be mighty, look good, etc., but how sustainable is that model, really? In my personal experiences, the healthiest and best aging people have been yogis and gymnasts (or people who spend their time moving).

While I internally questioned why my focus was increasing arbitrary numbers in the gym, to what end it served me; I always considered my way good – but not great. To me, great is something I aspire to. Previously, I was not exactly clear what great would look like for me. Now, I feel I am aware of what it looks like. I have a long way to go, but I enjoy the challenge.

From good to great

If the barbells and 45 lbs. plates in a gym could no longer satisfy me, then what?

Movement

I feel that my goal now is total body control. I feel that my focus is in my ability to move effectively. I hypothesize that after a certain percentage (to be able to accumulate enough power), squatting, deadlifting, pressing, snatching and all other movements may lose their relevance to actual life. Does someone who works at a desk all day need to deadlift 600 lbs. Maybe not.

I contemplate that it really does not matter if I squat 115, 225, or 315, anymore. The days of comparing weights are over for me. However, it does matter if I can control my body. If I can run, jump, move, swim, balance, etc., I feel I would be a more complete athlete for life. I feel strong is not determined by a weight set anymore, but by the ability to adapt to live. I want to focus on a way to live life in a sustainable model of mobility and movement.

A personal trainer friend said something a few years ago to me that stuck. It resonated not because it made sense at the time, but it was a new concept for me.

If you cannot move your own body, what right do you have moving weighted objects?

It was interesting because a lot of people who are moving weight, in fact, cannot effectively move themselves.

So, what now then?

I want to focus on different disciplines, to better understand and implement what I feel and learn to be effective for maximizing life. The areas I want to and have started slowly delving into are:

• Gymnastics
• Calisthenics
• MMA
• Swimming
• Dance

…Not quite Olympic lifting or bodybuilding, I know.

Don't only evaluate the potential downside of action. It is equally important to measure the atrocious cost of inaction. If you don't pursue those things that excite you, where will you be in one year, five years, and ten years? How will you feel having allowed circumstance to impose itself upon you and having allowed ten more years of your finite life to pass doing what you know will not fulfill you? If you telescope out 10 years and know with 100% certainty that it is a path of disappointment and regret, and if we define risk as the "likelihood of an irreversible negative outcome," inaction is the greatest risk of all.Author: Tim Ferriss, Source: The Four Hour Work Week, p. 47

I doubt when I am 40 I will care how much I can deadlift. I will be more concerned on living life enjoyable, pain free, and able to move how I would like to.

I look forward to the ups and downs of this decision, and as always, will keep my updates here.

I will now strive to become a mover.

I think that if and when I reconcile my relationship with weights, it will be in a more functional way. I feel that, as an athlete, while we always want to grow, whether it be bigger bi-ceps, more pull-ups or heavier deadlifts, by taking a break from the iron, I will be able to grow in completely new ways.

In closing, here is a video from Ido Portal. He is a very impressive mover, enjoy. #Movementculture

 

My Opinion on Food Behaviour

[Food behaviour/addiction, from my understanding, is an academically debated concept. Some minds believe it is a real thing, and others debate the quality and quantity of research available. I would recommend doing your own research on the topic, and make your opinion based on your research, at your own discretion. Below, is mine :)]

I mentioned this in my last written article, where I said I was cutting dairy from my diet. I do miss dairy, but I am able to withstand my urges because I am conscious that although it is addictive, it is my decision what I choose to eat or not eat.

In my opinion, I feel food behaviour is something that we are challenged with daily.

Here are three things to consider on the topic of food behaviour:

1.     How we rationalize what we eat.

We justify everything we do, definitely. Eating is no exception. Had a bad day? Better grab a big spoon to tackle Ben&Jerry’s from the tub. Another co-workers birthday? Better take two slices of cake, as not to be rude. Subway’s on sale? Better make it a foot-long because it is low fat.

The thing is, bad days are common, everyone has a birthday, and Subway is always going to have a sub of the day. While I am not suggesting we be perfect, because I have a big spoon too (coconut frozen dessert, for those of you who read last week), I am suggesting we become aware. Is it occasional, or is it everyday? Is it affecting our fitness goals? Can we choose not too? Are we sabotaging ourselves, long-term?

2.     How it makes us feel during and afterwards.

Sugar tastes amazing. Absolutely. So does dairy, salty chips, poutine, pizza, and unlimited bread sticks at the olive garden. What does not feel great, is being bloated, having a poor quality sleep, uncomfortable trips to the washroom, gaining unwanted weight, and even lowering testosterone in some cases. Those are some things that may happen if eating particular foods, or food groups, that we personally cannot eat or may affect us more long-term for what we want. Being aware of how we feel during, and afterwards, can help us make better decisions. It always surprises me when someone who knows what a food will do to them, eats it, and then complains about the aftermath. That would be like someone chugging 25 shots of tequila in 5 minutes, and then being surprised when they awoke in a hospital bed. Is it even a surprise?

3.     Are we in control?

If you are shaking your head about this idea, and think food addiction is a joke, or some fugazzi I made up, that is okay. Here is a test for you though, cut out all the goodies you eat, everything that is tasty, all sauces, all extras, for a month. I say month, because two weeks is just too quick. Go to a bare bones diet, essentially meat, nuts, and vegetables. No cheat days, 30 days. Consider it some sort of fitness lent challenge. Be conscious of when and if your body starts telling you to eat off diet, or you start smelling and thinking about certain foods. Mentally, you may even start rationalizing why you can eat it, or maybe just a bite, or maybe you can just cheat because why not, why are you listening to something someone challenged you about on the Internet?

That is a form of food addiction.

When you accomplish all 30 days, you will feel successful, probably a few pounds lighter, and in control. You may even decide to keep going, because you have changed your eating habits and like the results.

At the end of the day, what we put in our mouths is our business. While I am not saying perfection is the goal, awareness and moderation are realistic, controllable, and successful realities. As long as it is a choice, we are conscious.