If you are like me, then you try to mix it up between active living workouts and the “real” workouts. If you don’t know the difference, then my guess is your workout schedule is very lopsided and includes only active living workouts (which is better than nothing, so don’t stop on account of my ranting today). How do I know this? I know because anyone who actually engages in “real” workouts already knows they are not fun and therefore would know the difference! Let me clarify something – I do actually enjoy them… immensely, but I also enjoy pain…a lot of pain! 
So for some of us, the only real difference I guess is what kind of “fun” we feel like having on that particular day.
Life is tough and so are “real” workouts
I really dislike the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” You’re probably wondering why because I am one tough SOB myself and would embrace such nonsense. The truth, however, is this somehow implies that at times life is not tough. I am going to relate this to real workouts since it is the only thing I am capable of doing well.
There seems to be some misconception as to what it takes to be extraordinary. Screw extraordinary! Let’s just say what it takes to be healthy and in shape. Individuals who have never pushed the envelope in their lives often are overwhelmed at the discipline and pain people go through to be healthy. They also like to use the copout that this “pain” is what is holding them back from achieving their New Year’s resolution. Sadly, these individuals will NEVER achieve their goals.
It’s pretty simple really. Those who fail are the same ones who believe “when the going gets tough…” This is an automatic set up for failure. If you approach a challenge believing at some point it will get tough and you must push through at that point, then you inevitably believe the challenge will start out easy. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that if it were easy and pain free to get into shape, then I wouldn’t have this blog. Nobody would need encouragement. It’s not hard to convince people to do something fun. You don’t have to enjoy pain, but you do have to realize that without it you will never get to the next level.
Here is a quick little story about TTH guy. TTH guy watched an Ironman one day. The next day he ran 5 miles (very slowly). It was painful. Four years later, after multiple Ironman finishes himself, TTH guy ran 5 miles (approx. 4mph faster than attempt #1). It was painful. That’s the whole story!
1,460 days of working out, and 5 miles is still hard. It doesn’t get easier. My legs are more toned, my abs look amazing, and I feel better than ever, but…I still know that when I enter the gym or head out the front door, it will never be easy. Realizing this will allow you to start with the correct mindset and complete any challenges you feel are worth pursuing. Unless of course the challenge you want to pursue is climbing the corporate ladder, in which case you need a whole new skill set that requires the ability to be an ass kisser (which is another way of saying sell out, not being yourself, or better known as a waste of a free mind). Actually, that’s pretty painful also, so I take it back…every challenge is painful!
For a better understanding of this subject read The Pain Scale.
Always tough and always going,
TTH Guy
There are only three things you need to do to be healthy. You need to eat. You need to sleep. You need to move. Those three things are life. Everything else we “need” to do is actually just interpretations of what you think you need to do to keep up with your neighbor (maybe instead of the neighbor you can substitute a sibling, friend, coworker, or other rival). It’s funny to look closely at the essentials and compare them to the human desire to accumulate stuff we deem necessary. In fact, it is very easy to say that everything other than the essential three (again that’s eating, sleeping and moving) directly contribute to our nation’s (or world’s) trend toward unhealthy living. I notice an awful lot of unhealthy individuals who are “successful”. They drive a BMW or a Mercedes. They have a six bedroom house with custom theatre room and decked out man caves. They have 2.3 kids, 1.25 dogs, 0.76 cats. The “they” I have just described is you…society. Why have we fallen into the pattern of school, college, career, marriage, house, pet, kid, kid, kid, etc..? It’s not healthy. It’s tiring. It’s boring.
What do all most of those “successful” individuals have in common? Well, from what I’ve seen, it is the senseless act of excluding at least one of the three requirements to be healthy. I always think it is funny when someone says, “money isn’t everything” or “you can’t buy happiness.” However, as my inexperienced youth has morphed into experienced youth, I have learned this is true! Do you think John Smith is happy he missed out on his 8 hrs of sleep last night so he could finish that report for his boss (who, by the way, will inevitably take credit for his work)? Do you think a 3% pay raise each year is worth diabetes, shortness of breath, and the lurking (almost guaranteed) heart attack? Do you think skipping a meal to achieve a workout is going to somehow actually benefit you? Obviously, when I spell it out for you the answer is no. So why do you do it?
Why you do it
You do it because rather than being taught about the importance of health first (eating, sleeping and being active), we have been taught that these are great “side goals”. It has been deemed more important for you to learn how to take instructions, follow the leader, not cause a ruckus, and offer your time and effort for the benefit of others (while others make you think you are being fairly compensated for your time). First of all, it is always hard to go against the grain. It is much easier to follow than to lead. It’s hard to ask questions when the rest of the room is mindlessly nodding their heads in agreement (even though if you asked, most wouldn’t be able to answer what they are agreeing to, only that it must be right because someone more “successful” than them just said it).
Every single day someone is being told that a deadline is the most important item on the to-do list. I doubt very much that your boss has ever asked you if you made sure to eat, sleep, or get healthy before finishing the project. Think about that for a second…are you starting to see you aren’t actually compensated fairly? How can a presentation be more important than your well being? It’s because you are a number. You are thought of as a machine. You are the means to an end….and the end is a pretty penny…for someone else! I have a little secret for you…lean in a little closer…THIS ATTITUDE WILL KILL YOU!!
Stop making the essentials your “side goals”. It is unacceptable to think about how it would be nice to get 8 hours of sleep. It is unacceptable to think that if you get home at a decent hour maybe you will squeeze in some push-ups or sit-ups. News Flash: It is never acceptable to “squeeze in” your life. If anything, live your life and then if you have time, “squeeze in” a little something for the corporate machine.
Also, please don’t email me about paying bills. I have way too many opinions about why you have unnecessary bills and how to avoid such stressors (you may not know it, but the health of your wallet will likely affect your overall health). Don’t worry, we’ll tackle this on another day and include the solution to the problem! Kind of a financial health lesson for the fiscally irresponsible! Ok, back to the topic of discussion…
In the right order
I’m going to break it down for you so you have no excuses. In order, this is how a healthy individual thinks about his/her day:
#1) Eating. You can’t do anything without being properly fueled. If you skip a meal for ANY reason, then you are sacrificing your health and trust me, the reason you skipped it was not worth it. Nothing is!
#2) Activity. A life without movement is like slapping your mom in the face. Listen, she (okay I won’t exclude dad)… they gave you the ability to move. Every joint & muscle are there for your pleasure. Why wouldn’t you take advantage? Do you really hate life that much? DO SOMETHING!
#3) Sleep. If you plan on repeating the first two on this list, then you can’t ignore #3. I don’t care what all those gurus tell you about being efficient on 4 hours of sleep; your body needs to recover and the only way to do that is to sleep.
Work always comes second
Simple as that! Work always comes second. TTH is my “work.” It is my job to get you healthy. But this website always comes second to my essentials. Lucky for me I love to educate, motivate, and hopefully flat-out change somebody’s life (hopefully it’s more than just you, but I’ll take what I can get). Also, because we base a lot of our articles on the “try it before we buy it” idea, there is no way I could keep you fit without doing all of the suggested items myself (everybody wins).
I need you to understand that I know firsthand what it is like to think you “need” to follow a specified path set up by society. I tried it…I don’t buy it!
Obviously this entry was intended to reach a certain group of people. If you can’t relate to what I am saying, then congratulations – you are living a healthy life (or at least on a better path than those who can relate)! If you can relate to what I am saying, then we have some work to do. Your attitude needs to change from 95% work and 5% self preservation to health first! Eat, sleep, and be active doesn’t mean you forget about work. It means you prioritize each one of your actions and decisions to better your mind and body. Then, when you are healthy, feel free to dedicate your extra time to lining your boss’s pockets!
Going against the grain,
TTH Guy
I have thought long and hard about what I’m about to say, and many of you are going to disagree STRONGLY. Others will come to realize what is being said is groundbreaking. An unfortunate truth is that what I know will only be discovered through my ability to prove to others what is possible. Many will pass on the opportunity to understand longevity because it is unreasonable. Others will pass because they are “normal.” There is nothing wrong with being normal. It’s comforting. It’s proven. It’s average. It’s thoughtless. But for those of you willing to open your mind just a little, TTH is about to explain why maintaining a healthy balance between mind and body will allow you the chance to establish new parameters in life.
Unreasonable
I mentioned that understanding longevity is unreasonable for some. First, let me say that people, lots of people, believe in unreasonable things…so much so in fact, that we (society) have created a multi-billion dollar business out of it. Heck, some will even donate 10% or more of their income to said business because of their belief in the unbelievable. I’m not saying this is right or wrong, or that I believe or have no faith in this particular issue. It is not my job to guide you spiritually via this site. I’m simply trying to establish the fact that if the human mind believes strongly enough in something, then it can remove or set aside doubt. Removing doubt is step one to establishing new parameters.
Those of you who are regulars here at TTH might have noticed I use Lance as an example for a lot of my “mental health” articles. This is because his inexplicable recovery, in combination with the triumphs that followed, exemplifies the belief factor. If you had seen Mr. Armstrong lying in a bed near death, you would have probably believed (with good reason if you are “normal”) he was a goner. What you couldn’t have known was that a new parameter was about to be set. And so it was. The story is well documented, so there is no need for the details. But what has been left out is the audience (that’s us) and the attitude change toward cancer in general. Lance Armstrong single-handedly established new parameters in life for everyone. Before Lance the diagnosis of cancer was a death sentence, but after Lance we found reason to believe that there is a chance. I believe (and will prove) humans have created their ultimate timeline based on what has been taught and observed, and therefore this timeline is simply accepted and held to be true.
Before I divulge the truly important information, I do want to make the usual disclaimer: Smoking, drinking, sleepless nights, prostitutes, and for lack of a better word, “dumbass” shenanigans, will not be counteracted solely by your mind. If you want to prove the body is capable of extraordinary feats, then you must take care of it.
100 year milestone
This is really where the journey takes off. I think it is astounding that society has picked a nice round number like 100 as a benchmark for a “long” life. Each and every one of us has heard it. To make it to 100 years is quite an accomplishment. Ok, I’ll buy that I guess. In fact, with all the circumstances surrounding each individual after birth, it can be considered an accomplishment to make it a single year. Lucky for us though, we have been taught 100 years is “the goal” or “good enough,” rather than one year… otherwise I most likely wouldn’t be writing this! Instead I would have been content with my successful journey past one year and given up soon after. I know the example of a single year seems a bit extreme, but I’m here to drive home a fact. That is, if we start asking ourselves why people are dying at such a young age (100 yrs), rather than applauding the milestone as the end, then we would definitely have a few more 125-150 age group athletes. (I bet someone just chuckled here like I was joking…FYI, you are the normal ones I mentioned who will sadly never see the new standards set for life expectancy.)
I’m not saying the same challenges won’t present themselves along the way…because they will. The difference will be the submissive attitude to diseases like cancer. A fight will always occur, and the strongest willed competitors will inevitably succeed. I am intelligent enough to understand that subconsciously, as we approach the milestone, we gradually become accepting of the fact that we “got close,” and therefore are willing (for reasons unknown to me) to give in.
Think of it like this, in school it is understood that 100% is as good as it gets (extra credit may get you to 105%, but that’s exemplary). Let’s assume a 90-100% is an A, 80-89 is a B, 70-79 is a C, etc… Ask yourself right now what you were happy with in school. Straight A’s? Just passing? Apply the scale to your life now with the same attitude. We are told 100 is a milestone, so getting within 10 percent is satisfactory (still an A right?). The submissive attitude creeps in when you have met your “satisfactory” requirements. If you are 98 years old and get ill, when will you give in? If you were a C student, I would say reaching 98 was luck, and you no doubt have achieved well beyond your capabilities. If you were one of those ass-kissers everyone hated because your head was so far up there we couldn’t tell where the teacher ended and you began, asking for extra credit, then you will undoubtedly put up a fight against all challengers in order to reach the next level.
The next level
Why is it that we are able to fight our way to the next level if it means reaching 100, but we can’t reach that next level…say 125 or 150? Get ready because it’s about to get scary…125 is NO DIFFERENT than 100! Is your mind blown? It shouldn’t be. Understanding the power of your mind is a hard concept to wrap your mind around…yeah. Of course the next level is impossible to reach without the proper balance of active living. Nutrition and fitness are just as important as convincing yourself that preconceived boundaries are bogus.
Why would anyone want to get to the next level? This is a very interesting question. I asked a plethora of people how old they thought they would live to be and the answers were not too surprising. Everyone was generally in the 80-100 range, which was exactly what I expected. (This is probably due to everyone checking their retirement calculators and allowing T. Rowe Price, TD Ameritrade, or H&R Block to decide their life expectancy for them…perfect example. Actually, I’ll have to double check to see if they even allow you to project 125 years for retirement age!) What wasn’t expected was the response to why they didn’t think they would make it past 100. The answer wasn’t that they didn’t think they could, but rather why would they want to!!!
Are you kidding me? Every time I hear someone tell a story or I read a blog about someone’s experiences and adventures, it creates another item on my to-do list. And for every item added to my list, I realize I need to be that much stronger mentally when I reach 122 years old. I’m okay with fighting cancer at age 103, if it means I get the chance to trek through the rainforest when I’m 124. I’m okay with running every day to maintain a healthy heart or weight and replacing my knees at age 97 if it means I get the chance to climb Everest at 114. Honestly, I hope to cross the ridiculous adventures off early so I can enjoy the more leisurely ones in my 100’s, like breaking par at Whistling Straits or eating a hot dog at Wrigley. You will never have enough time to do everything (mainly because the spectrum of “anything” is infinitely growing and changing each day), but whatever the adventure and whenever the decision is made to go for it, just remember the question should never be “why would I want to?”
This brings me to another issue which absolutely destroys our health, and that is depression. The question Why would I want to? is a response made when you are not happy. You aren’t living. No doubt you are stuck in a cubicle begging for someone to take you out of your misery sooner rather than later. You will NEVER reach the next level if you are unhappy. This topic will be explored more in a mental health series related to work, but until I get that finalized, just know that if you don’t want to live to at least 125, then you are likely heading down the wrong path! 
Taking the 125 Challenge
If you have made it this far, you are probably my key audience. You believe, as I do, that 125 is a very doable goal. We finish Ironman races once thought to be an impossible distance. We beat cancer and for an encore win the Tour seven times. We are ridiculous in every way. So the next question is how do we keep ourselves healthy enough to endure the unthinkable? Everything you need to know will continue to be posted on this site. I will keep you updated on the progress over the next 97 years (or more).
It is in the opinion of TTH guy that the best way to begin your journey to longevity is to optimize your hydration plan. Fluid intake is the #1 factor in planning for the long haul. By following the Daily Hydration Plan, you will get all the benefits from a range of proven “good for you” drinks.
A toast, to those who believe 125-130 is the new A, and anything below is failing! The strongest minds (and bodies) will set a new standard.
Looking forward to posting in 2106,
TTH Guy
Tags: longevity
The health benefits of tart cherries!
Are you looking for a fruit that tops all others? One with the highest levels of anti-oxidants (in comparison to other fruits), which are known for their disease fighting capabilities? Well, the secret lies in the Prunus cerasus, or better known as the tart red cherry. Notice I didn’t say cherries in general. That’s not to say sweet cherries don’t benefit you as well, they just have lower amounts of the anti-oxidant called anthocyanin. As I like to keep it short and sweet (or in this case tart!) for the readers,all you need to know about anthocyanins is they reduce oxidative stress. Production of free radicals is what we don’t want, so if we can find something to reduce this phenomenon we will be healthier because of it.
According to U of M (they finally got something right)
Tart cherries are said to have the following benefits:
- Positive effect on arthritis pain (to be more specific…it hurts less!)
- May help with memory loss and sleeplessness (thank you melatonin)
- Reduce the risk of diabetes
- Reduce the risk of some cancers
- Reduce the risk of heart disease (by lowering weight, inflammation, and cholesterol)
Still looking for a reason?
Here are a few other things to consider when pondering the question “Do I really want to be a healthier person?” This little treat also contains nineteen times more beta carotene than blueberries or strawberries. Plus tart cherries are a good source of fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and folate! Talk about a whole lot of goodness packed into a small delicious fruit!
The best way to enjoy tart cherries is to compliment one of your favorite, already healthy, snacking habits. Toss ‘em into your homemade granola, top off your yogurt, maybe mix it up with some cottage cheese, or complete your homemade trail mix with the missing ingredient!
*Recommended Serving Size: ½ cup dried
Reducing your oxidative stress,
TTH
Tags: anti-oxidant, arthritis, cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, tart cherries
This entry was inspired by my sore abdominal muscles this morning. I am always very excited when I wake up and am sore. If you are thinking to yourself, Triple Tall Health guy…you are an idiot, then you are not alone. But let me explain. I am excited because some part of my active living has targeted muscle groups I don’t effectively utilize in my not-so-normal daily routine. So what had me waking up with a smile? No, not that you dirty dogs! It was my afternoon of swinging the sticks! That’s golfing for all you indoor types who hate the smell of fresh cut grass!
Now this (golf) is not a new activity for me, but is one I neglect to pursue as ambitiously as the more strenuous goings-on. I bet if you were to ask Tiger Woods if he thinks he gets in a workout during a round, he would probably laugh at you and then be sure to point out that he is most definitely an athlete who is strong, both physically and mentally. True, but…eh…err…I’ll just leave it at that. Anyway, whether you believe swinging the sticks is for leisure (me) or you’re out for the most physically demanding afternoon you’ve ever encountered (that Woods character), the truth is that the movements required to engage in a round of golf will benefit your health. For me personally, it hits on an area I should engage in more often for injury prevention, but tend to sidestep due to my OCD or ADD or whatever you want to call it. What area is that? Stretching! Bottom line, stretching is important; and if you don’t believe me, then have a look at the article Is Stretching Good Time Management. Stretching provides movement, and movement equals activeness. Got it? If you can move more freely, then you may be more open to challenging your neighbor, spouse, child, or co-worker to that much anticipated badminton match, game of croquet, or round of golf.
In addition to the stretching scenario is something I believe applies to the masses more than myself (because remember I’m the most fit individual you know)…okay you caught me…myself included. I’m not just sore because I swung too hard and twisted, turned, torqued, misaligned, and corkscrewed my way into this. It may also be because I just need more cross-training and actually do have a few muscle groups that require some attention, maybe. Now you might be thinking, “cross training, what’s cross training?”
Cross training is every activity, every movement, every action dedicated toward becoming a healthier person. And to take it a step further (no pun intended), I will even venture to say that every step you take is cross training. How dare I say taking steps is cross training!?! Well folks, I’m sad to be the one to tell you this, but there are individuals out there who can’t take a step (or more correctly won’t). Now listen carefully…I’m not talking about disabled individuals who physically don’t have the limbs to make movement possible. I’m talking about anyone who has gained twenty pounds and sits around wondering how this could be…while at the same time this person yells to the kitchen, “While you’re in there how bout you snag me a beer and that bag of Lays.” Or you take the elevator for less than a five story ride. And my personal favorite (or should I say irritant), is the person who WALKS from their car to the grocery store and then sits in a motorized shopping cart! Are you kidding me? You just proved you are NOT unable to walk, so why forfeit your health because you’re so damn LAZY! Shame on you, get up and walk you faker! Do you have any idea how many people wish they could trade spots with you because they don’t have those extremities you take for granted! Sorry I’m getting off topic, but in the words of Peter Griffin, it really “grinds my gears.” So rather than yell to the kitchen, try this one on for size: get off your butt, pour a glass of wine (red, of course), and snag some cheese with whole grain crackers! Wow, you just improved your health.
Sometimes these entries get very hard to write since I am trying to help those of you who are already active and just want to improve upon your daily routines so you can get the most benefits out of life. At the same time, I’m trying to reach out to the uber-inactive to inspire, motivate, and inform. The whole point of my golf story (I know sometimes it’s hard to follow) is that if you are already active and looking for that extra edge, then find an activity that requires a different movement than your daily run, lift, ultimate Frisbee game, set-spike-dig, swim, kayak, hike,…whatever. I used to play golf for hours every day and guess what, I was never this sore. So I have decided to incorporate a little more time on the course to improve my range of motion. And if you are one of the uber-inactives who is out of breath after tying your shoes, then maybe it’s time to start taking some baby steps and realize that every step you take is an improvement over the ones you won’t!
The body is built to be active. That’s why we have joints. If you’re worried about wearing out those joints and take every precaution to avoid the slightest discomfort, then you are on the wrong website! Go back to your bubble, and the rest of us will make sure to do enough living for you.
Continue to “mix it up” with your activities for optimal health,
TTH
Tags: cross-training
How would you like to stay hydrated, healthy, aware, and most importantly happy? It’s not rocket science, in fact it’s pretty simple. This plan is currently being implemented in some of the most active athletes I know, and I’m going to provide you with the blueprint for FREE! If you read TTH frequently, then none of this information is new. Actually, it’s a cocktail of “the health benefits of…” articles all mashed up into an ordered sequence providing you with the optimal timing to ingest the best known stuff this crazy little planet has to offer.
Because I have already provided you with all the ins and outs of each of the following liquefied medicinal miracles, there will be no tutorial here. Just a plain and simple plan that TTH Guy follows to ensure each day is not only filled with activity, but each night with recovery…and every cell free from destruction. This blueprint coupled with a few other tricks of the trade (not so much tricks but rather facts proven by science) will ensure longevity for your mind and body!
In this order
Coffee: 1-2 cups. If you are really living your life and completing two-a-days, then these will be consumed somewhere around 4 a.m. If not, don’t worry…you’ll get there.
>>Two-a-day machines can insert sports drink here.
Water: Quantity is at your discretion. If you’re thirsty, drink. If your urine is not light yellow or clear, then drink more! From mid morning through lunch consume water.
Green Tea: This mid afternoon jolt will get you ready for your “after work” activity. I always add honey here.
>>One-a-day machines start inserting sports drink here.
Chocolate Milk: One large glass consumed within 30 minutes of your latest active living adventure.
Red Wine: A single glass to be enjoyed with your dinner.
Results
Because each individual is different, it is important to remember experimentation is the key to life. This is not to say that the “results may vary” tag needs to be assigned to the above blueprint. The reason is that results won’t vary in regards to benefits of each of the above drinks. Basically, science backs the benefits. However, individuality of the hydration plan comes into play when determining the timing of what you consume. In the supplied plan there is a predisposed assumption that you will be required to sit at a boring desk job for 8-9 hours out of the day. Therefore, we have given you the optimal timing to be alert and energetic throughout the day and have a good night’s sleep every night. As always, this is just another tip to help you reach your individual health goals and is no way a sure fire way to avoid disaster. Following the plan will benefit you, but it is only a small piece of the healthy lifestyle.
Is that all?
What is been provided to you here are the basics, the bare minimum. As always, there are plenty of things not touched on here, such as engineered drinks (there is nothing your body needs that you can’t find in nature but that doesn’t mean they don’t work), juices, or “juicing” (which is currently under investigation by TTH). Juicing may need to be added to the list if Jack Lalanne lives another 200 years and looks as good as he does…
The secret is out,
TTH
The health benefits of blueberries
It seems like every time I write an article about “The health benefits of…” it includes something about anti-oxidants, cancer fighting abilities, and free radicals. First, let me say blueberries are no different. All of those aforementioned benefits and characteristics lie within those delicious little blue spheres (I contemplated using the word “balls” instead but refrained, as we are here to learn how to live, not laugh…just kidding, laughing is living…so blue balls they are). Anyway, it is very important to realize that all though it sounds repetitive, it’s not! Some foods fight esophageal cancer (read Going Green Will Reduce Your Risk of Cancer and More), while others (like blueberries) help fight other specific types of cancer, such as liver or colon cancer. Therefore, eating a BALANCED diet will be your most effective weapon for fighting off disease and becoming a healthier individual.
Surrounded by a seed skin (this is my way of saying “in a nutshell” for those of you who have inactive minds), what you need to understand is that even though I say blueberries may help fight liver cancer, this doesn’t mean you should convert to the all blueberry diet! What good is it to avert liver cancer if you just end up with esophageal cancer? Get it?!?! Even though this is a “learn by doing” site, I will not embark on the all blue diet. However, if someone reading this decides to conduct a little health experiment of their own (I’m recommending against it), let me know how that turns out…!
Time to get specific
The real reason you are here is to identify which benefits will come from eating blueberries. Here is a short list about blueberries:
- Some of the highest anti-oxidant activity among fruit, according to ORAC test.
- What is ORAC? ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. And absorbing and getting rid of free radicals is good!
- Neutralize the effects of aging (thank you Anthocyanin).
- Not only is Anthocyanin in charge of giving blueberries their color, but it is also a free radical warrior when it comes to aging!
- Potential heart disease prevention from wine made with blueberries (although this is a no brainer because red wine in general is a heart healthy drink).
- Promote the health of your urinary tract.
- May help slow vision loss.
- As already mentioned in the opening paragraph, they have cancer fighting abilities when it comes to liver and colon cancer.
- Improve digestion.
- Avoid constipation.
- Heal damaged brain cells (maybe there is an answer here to Alzheimers…?).
- Reduce visceral fat, i.e. in your belly.
How to enjoy
TTH guy enjoys his blue spheres in a batch of homemade granola, thrown into the pancake mix, or straight from the bucket.
A quick tip from the pro: if you throw these balls o’blueness into the pancakes, you WILL stain your griddle! And if you follow this site frequently, then you are probably crazy-fit; therefore, your attempts to scrub said stains off will likely have the following result…the griddle surface has never encountered someone on the TTH plan, and it will no doubt concede and allow you to scrape the nonstick coating off! Just leave the stains there! Don’t give in to the OCD!
I was going to sign off with a blue ball joke, but have decided you can make up your own…
(Insert inappropriateness here),
TTH Guy
Tags: aging, alzheimer's, anti-oxidant, blueberry, cancer, granola, health
We have all heard that a glass of red wine every day is good for you. The science behind it could be considered common sense. Some of the benefits include protection against heart disease, help with blood clotting, reduction of kidney stones formation, and lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s…just to name a few. So why is it that there are so many questions regarding this subject? Well, most people, including me, like to push the limits. So the question isn’t really “is this good or bad for you,” it’s more like “how much is too much?” and “at what point will this action start to be harmful to both my health and my performance?”
Because TTH believes in learning those little life lessons by experimentation, this one has been examined extensively from every angle. What we have found is not too surprising:
- Depending on size and gender, the results vary.
- When medical personnel give a recommended amount, there is a reason.
- Consumption above the recommended serving will likely cause dehydration.
- The late nights required for most overconsumption will result in poor sleep habits, which in turn, negatively affect the workouts that follow.
- Injuries due to extracurricular activities will usually inhibit your ability to perform as desired.
- Shenanigans are best left unexplored until the offseason.
Okay, I’ll be honest; the above list isn’t likely the answer you’re looking for, but sometimes it’s fun to venture off the beaten path. All tomfoolery aside, the key to any indulgence is portion control. For all those morons who believe you can never have too much of a good thing…WRONG! Alcohol is just one example of a healthy habit that can easily be turned into an unhealthy disease.
There are some limits that should be pushed, and there are some that should not. In regards to pushing yourself physically, by all means you should lift more, climb higher, run faster, bike longer, and swing harder. But when it comes to your health and nutrition, sometimes the best thing to do is listen to the professionals, and in this case the professional opinion is overwhelming. Enjoy your glass of red tonight (just one), and for your health’s sake you should repeat this ritual daily.
Cheers,
TTH
Tags: alcohol, alzheimer's, health, heart disease
When I was younger, less muscular, and had more time available than I knew what to do with, I would take the simple art of stretching for granted. I saw it as a trivial task. While my teammates spent the first 30-45 minutes of each workout getting loose, I would spend that time goofing off, chit chatting, hitting on girls, etc…basically anything but stretching. This pretty much continued throughout my competitive collegiate years. Fast forward to the present day TTH Guy, and you have an endurance machine who can no longer put his legs behind his head just for a show. Nor can I handcuff my hands behind my back and bring them around to my lap by dislocating my shoulders. I did not lose those abilities due to my old age, but rather through my active lifestyle.
You see, it turns out that when you’re active your body builds muscles. If you refuse to loosen up, your newly formed Herculean body before activity, then you are destined to become less flexible and more likely to become injured. I guess all those coaches DID know what they were talking about when they instructed us to stretch first (I thought they just wanted to get paid for doing nothing the first 45 minutes of the session). This isn’t to say I haven’t been active all my life, but rather that I was gifted enough in this particular area to ignore it and get away with it. And that “gift” is probably best explained by my constant refusal to weight train because I didn’t want to lose flexibility…it was a vicious cycle.
How does this pertain to time management? Well, as mentioned above, you can’t stay lucky forever! Injuries are bound to take the forefront. Let me give you an example. My first adventure when I decided to “get back in the saddle” was to run a marathon (I know most would start with a 5k, but had I done that I wouldn’t be able to teach you a valuable lesson). Long story short, I got injured. I made the decision to see a P.T., hoping for some explanation of why running injuries happen, all the while knowing it was for the same reason as other injuries (15 years of a routine, and I still couldn’t get it right). What do you think the first thing I was told to do after the problem was diagnosed? Yep, that’s right – I was handed a printout of about 10 different stretches to do before my workouts. My initial thought was “this is ridiculous! It will take me 30 minutes to do this crap.” So instead I took some time off for the pain to go away and decided to run the marathon anyway… I finished in more pain than you could imagine. Some of the pain was because I had been a runner for a whole four months, and it turns out that marathons aren’t as easy as they sound. But the majority of the pain was because the injury was back!
The numbers don’t lie
I basically ended up doubling my time off from running (in the case above) because I refused to spend a few minutes each day getting loose. I have done a little number-crunching to assess my time off in the past three years due to injuries, which I believe would have been preventable had I given up just 15 minutes/day for stretching. The results are staggering! It turns out I have averaged 3-4 injuries per year, with a grand total of 10 preventable injuries. Some may argue these injuries may be the result of overuse rather than a limitation in my range of motion, but I disagree…there is no such thing as overuse. For more insight on that issue read these: Overtraining Isn’t Physical, It’s Mental and The Lazy Athlete’s Excuse…Recovery Days!
These injuries took roughly 4-6 WEEKS to heal. Now, there is no way I can sit idle for 4-6 weeks, so of course, other activities were substituted to replace the running. This did significantly decrease weekly hours though. I used the lesser of two evils and calculated 4 weeks off/injury for a total of 40 weeks of inhibited activities. My first grade teacher tells me 24 hours x 7 days per week = 168 hours/week. My college professor tells me I just wasted 6,720 hours of fun due to preventable injuries. Now inject in its place 15 minutes of stretching per day, and Mrs. Smith says I end up with 105 minutes/week for stretching. MSU tells me that’s a mere 4,200 minutes (or 70 hours) of stretching instead of the 6,720 hours wasted.
So to sum it all up…1) my math skills were pretty solid in first grade… therefore college was just a way to spend too much money by overpaying glorified first grade teachers and 2) stretching would have saved me 6,650 hours of sedentary-ism. That’s 277 days of lost time in the past three years because, get this, I didn’t want to waste valuable training time!
It’s not down time if it’s active living
I am no dummy. But for some reason, stretching still seems like a chore rather than an effective way to help me live a better life. So why not find an activity that combines stretching with some strenuous movements and a little mental health improvement as well? That’s right folks…a three’fer! How can we do all of this? Wait for it…yoga! Yoga is a great activity that has proven effective in my daily routine. I didn’t realize how effective until I removed it. Needless to say, it has made its way back, and I couldn’t be happier. For more on this healthy alternative, check out the article Even Burly Men Do Yoga. I’m not going to get too deep into that here because you came to read about whether stretching was good time management. Well, according to my calculations and what I have learned over the past 20 or so years…it is! It doesn’t matter if it’s before or after your daily activity (if you pick yoga as an alternative to just plain stretching, then I would suggest after due to the relaxation benefits). Just set aside 10/15/20 minutes per day to stay limber, and all of your activities requiring movement will benefit (and when I say all, I mean all, wink wink).
Oh yeah, don’t believe all this nonsense in recent articles saying there is no proven data to support the benefits of stretching. It is the opinion of TTH that these guys are MORONS! My math skills crunched real-life data and concluded in a single paragraph that there are benefits. I wonder if these guys/gals have ever even been out of the lab? Maybe they should become the rat for once, and they would change their tune.
Discover your inner pretzel,
TTH
Tags: stretching
Years ago I made mention to a few friends about one of my personal goals. The goal itself was outrageous. However, as the words left my mouth, I had no doubt I could eventually reach the desired outcome. Unfortunately I had surrounded myself with people who are unable to envision greatness. After very minimal effort toward my goal, I gave up. I had no belief in myself because others had expressed to me that the task was too large. They believed I had asked myself to do something that was impossible, and I quickly learned attitudes, good or bad, are contagious! This entry may be the single most important article I have ever written and also the hardest. Re-living failure isn’t always a great feeling, but it makes us who we are today.
The goal
They are the all too common phrases uttered by the most successful individuals in the world. Whether in business or sport, these words are voiced from board rooms to finish lines. “Nothing is impossible,” “you are only as strong as your mind,” “if you believe in yourself, you can do anything,” etc… I’ve heard it all before. We have ALL heard it before. So to sit here and say you don’t have the information to be one of the greatest of all time is a lie. Everything you need to know, you have already been told! If you put your mind to it, you will succeed. It doesn’t really matter what your definition of “success” is. It only matters that you actually believe the words coming out of your mouth. And to be clear, it is very important that those words actually come out of your mouth! You see, the second step of any goal (after having one of course) is verbalizing it. Tell everyone you know what you want to achieve. The more you verbally commit to your goal, the more likely you are to stick to it. For me it is a matter of not letting anyone down (maybe not the healthiest…remember your goal is for YOU and you alone). But it helps to know others are aware of what you are trying to achieve because it will get you off your ass on the days when you just can’t find any other motivation.
Years after I gave up on my first real goal, I formulated another… and then another. Have I succeeded in either of those goals yet? Definitely not, but I am much further along than I ever was in previous endeavors.
A positive surrounding
Sticking to the formula, I knew I had to verbalize my new goals, but my approach this time was much different. I only included a few individuals (at first) who I knew would be supportive and keep me on track. This isn’t rocket science! There are numerous self-help “gurus” who will tell you to surround yourself with positive and successful personalities, and this will no doubt create a “better you.” While surrounding yourself with positive people is important, I don’t 100% believe this logic alone. You still have to understand we control our own destiny. You are the only person who will actually make or break personal success, but a little reinforcement from the sidelines never hurt anyone. On the other hand, a little negative reinforcement can bring down the house with one swift kick. I guess what you need to take from this is by no means should you exclude your lifelong chums from your everyday adventures, but when you decide to divulge your ambitions, make sure you are ready for the response. I picked the wrong time to reveal my first mega-goal, and this came back to bite me.
Learn from the greatest
So you’ve decided you are passionate about something enough to set unrealistic goals and then chase them into submission. Okay, we all know they aren’t really unrealistic, just ambitious. I can say for certain you would never hear the following from those who have chased their dreams:
- Tiger Woods: When I grow up I really hope I’m a better than average golfer.
- Lance Armstrong: If I survive this battle with cancer, I’m going to try to finish in the top half of the Tour.
- Muhammad Ali: If I get knocked out, it’s okay because I tried my hardest.
- Michael Jordan: If there are only five seconds left maybe you should let Pippen shoot it.
- Mark Allen: I sure hope Dave doesn’t race today because then I can win for sure.
- Dave Scott: I sure hope Mark doesn’t race today because then I can win for sure.
- Bill Gates: Man, I really regret not finishing college…I bet I could have learned a lot.
These are more than likely the true words coming from each of the champions above:
- Tiger Woods: I will beat every major record set in golf on my way to smashing the overall major title record. Yes, I realize I’m only three years old but my dad says I can do anything and that’s what I want to do.
- Lance Armstrong: F—K cancer! I’ll come back and be the greatest cyclist of all time. So what if I’m near death in this bed…just watch me!
- Muhammad Ali: I’m the greatest of all time, period!
- Michael Jordon: Give me the damn ball, and let me win the game. I KNOW I will make the shot. Shut up, Pippen. I’m the best clutch shooter of all time…I’ve proven it to myself in the driveway time and time again.
- Mark Allen: I sure hope Dave shows up so I can prove to him I’m the new king of Kona.
- Dave Scott: I sure hope Mark shows up so I can teach him another lesson on how to win in Kona.
- Bill Gates: I’m not going to waste my time here when I can change the world! College is for suckers…I’m going to go make billions!
Just for a second imagine all the names above before they had accomplished anything. I know it’s hard to imagine, but the truth is we are all made up of the same nuts and bolts. We all, for the most part, have identical tools to get the job done. Please don’t argue that some are just better equipped or predetermined to be great. If this was true then all basketball players would be 6 ft. 11 in. and 285 lbs. FYI-they’re not! All gymnasts would be 5 ft. 4in. and weigh in at 135 lbs. FYI-they’re not! Back to the point – before they accomplished the unimaginable, they imagined it! Heck, I bet if they verbalized it in the early years they were laughed at (way to fuel the fire all you underachieving naysayers). You and I are no different than the greats I have listed above. At least I’m no different because I believe I’m no different. You may be different, and if you believe that, it is only because you lack the mental discipline to get the job done!
I mentioned we all have identical tools to get the job done, and no tool is more important than your mind. So, make sure your mind stays positive and the results will follow. And like I said, you don’t have to change your surroundings to be successful, but you damn sure better be ready for a little eye rolling. It’s inevitable. We have all been taught to look up to the greats rather than become one of the greats. Idolizing someone else is the equivalent of doubting your own abilities.
Remember this
I‘ve written numerous articles on improving your health and none are more important than understanding the role your mind plays in achieving greatness. If you are sound “upstairs,” you will conquer all challenges. If you let doubt, even a little, creep into the ol’ noggin, then you are going to fail.
Still chasing the dreams (without a doubt),
TTH