Rozey Thorn Trees

 In David Goggins’s Never Finished , in the chapter “The Art of Getting Hit in the Mouth,” he writes about how unbelievably difficult the Moab 240 trail run (Yes, 240 miles!) was for him primarily because of his preexisting health issues like Raynaud’s phenomenon, hypothyroidism, sickle cell anemia, and also the high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) he was suffering from (a dangerous condition in which the lungs fill with blood and plasma). He doesn’t like hearing himself whine to his pacer about all of his excuses for why things aren’t going well. He recalls the numerous people in his life over the years who were whiners: “I called upon past triumphs, push me forward. I wouldn’t let myself bitch about the fact that my body had to betray me yet again I blocked that shit out and ran on” (161). “ This is the mentality we should all strive for when we’re stuck. Because when you’re in the hurt locker, you must be your own motivator, your own drill instructor. In the darkest moments, you mus

 Me: The Engine 2 diet recommends buying food with no more than a 1:1 ratio of sodium to calories, correct? ChatGPT: Yes, the Engine 2 Diet recommends selecting foods where the sodium content (in milligrams) does not exceed the calorie count per serving, establishing a 1:1 ratio of sodium to calories. This guideline aims to help individuals manage sodium intake effectively, promoting heart health and overall well-being. However, condiments are an exception to this rule.  Adhering to this ratio can be challenging, especially when considering that many processed and packaged foods contain higher sodium levels. Therefore, it’s advisable to focus on whole, minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, which naturally have lower sodium content. Additionally, reading nutrition labels carefully and being mindful of portion sizes can assist in maintaining this balance. It’s important to note that while the 1:1 sodium-to-calorie ratio is a g

 My yearlong Fruitive WFPB SOS-Free Diet Challenge is at the halfway mark today! I started May 1st, 2024. I end it April 31st, 2025, a very different person. I hope a better, healthier, wholier person, body, mind, spirit, and future. Upside  I am disciplined regarding when, what, and why I eat I love healthy eating  I’m about 50 lbs lighter  I enjoy my workouts I have a stretching routine  My friends and family members have been very supportive  I have a daily health and fitness reading regimen to keep my mind in the game  Downside  I struggle to stay disciplined day to day I don’t always love healthy eating  I have 50 lbs to go in 6 months to reach my goal weight I don’t push myself as hard as I should to workout more  I regret not living this way all my life! Whatever! Here I am! I’m a healthier me looking forward to getting healthier beyond my 6 month plan. Gettin’ after it!

I watched a biochemist offer a cheap and easy hack to reduce glucose spikes by up to 30% and to lower your energy crash after meals.  Add a tablespoon of vinegar to 8+ oz of water a half hour before your biggest meal of the day. The vinegar’s acetic acid interacts with your digestive enzymes  and the water dilutes the acid so that it doesn’t etch away your teeth enamel.  I add apple cider vinegar to my water bottle every day anyway, so all I need to do is drink the 8 oz ahead of my big meal and see if I can tell the difference.

 Oh, wow. I spent too much time scrolling through this Kuwaiti guy’s foodie TikTok page . I’m astounded at how much calorie dense food he can put away in one sitting. The food looks great! Mostly fast food it seems but from the Middle East. It makes me want to visit some day. There was a time not that long ago where  I could easily imagine myself putting away large calorie meals. My reaction to most of his videos was not only that it’s too much food but also it’s too sweet. I can’t believe he’ll keep his weight down. I’m concerned he’s getting on the diabetes train.  In 6 more months, I’ll be free of my WFPB commitment. I prefer my disciplined approach to eating right now. I know I’ll be eating outside my boundaries when presented food like the Kuwaiti guy eats! I’m planning to partake but in sampling portions on rare occasions. MayGod give me strength to resist my glutinous instincts of times past!

I’m watching Dan Buettner’s beautiful series about the famous Blue Zones around the world where communities have the highest longevity on average in the world. He explores why researchers believe these people outlive the rest of us generation after generation. It’s true that diet and exercise has something to do with it. It’s also true that there are diverse contributing factors for why they live to 100 or more. Here are the key factors presented in episode one of four in the Netflix series: Okinawa, Japan: Medicinal Food / Caloric Density / Hara Hachi Bu / Balance / Moai / Ikigai  Always have fun, be easygoing, forgive quickly Food is medicinal Meat, eggs, fish is less than 1% of their diet Purple Sweet Potatoes that are full of complex carbohydrates, antioxidants  Mulberry leaves Okinawa Tofu lowers heart disease  No single ingredient but the range of nutritionally dense whole foods They eat 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day compared to 3,200 to 4,000 plus for Americans  They can indul

David Goggins writes about his cookie jar method of motivating himself to get through his challenges. He digs deep into his cookie jar of memories of past challenges big and small that he achieved. He admires each cookie carefully before each bite to savor its flavor.  I could use this method right now!  Our treadmill lubricant came in. Laura applied it last night. I plan to tread on it this week at night to make up for missing steps!

I’m stuck between 205 and 210 right now. Partly because that’s been my pattern. Also because it was my birthday last week so I’ve eaten a little more than I planned to. My teen made healthy birthday cupcakes for me 🥳. My wife and I ate at Olive Garden. Very little can be eaten there by me. Have you seen their calorie portions?! I settled on a soup and house salad. 

 I love how brutally honest David Goggins is in Chapter Six about how stupid it is to presume that because he was a seasoned SEAL he could run an ultra marathon without any training and then fail miserably. As honest as he seems to be with himself, he still has to learn things the hard way just like the rest of us.  I have not kept up with my PT myself for no good reason. I need to look in the mirror tonight and fess up and be real about my intentions and what I’m going to do about it. Until I get back on track, I can say goodbye to meeting my goals! I can’t let that happen!