Month: January 2020

Comedy.

I have a twisted sense of humor. I have a Monty Python, Animal House, Ricky Gervais monologue kind of humor. The kind of sense of humor that should get me into a lot more trouble than it does. I also believe that one should not offend or be easily offended. The former is increasingly difficult in our society. People are simply too easily offended.

Personally, I prefer to laugh at myself before others get the chance. (I want to get credit for the material!) Humor directed toward other should be without malicious intent—although well-intended humor can often be misinterpreted.

In general, we have two choices with humor: accept the truth that it reveals or be offended. Sometimes people, like me, use humor to get past the awkwardness of making a point. We don’t always execute it well. Sometimes the point is not well-received. Some people are masters of satire and can expose volumes of truth with their humor. Sadly, their skills seem welcomed these days. I hope the days of classic comedy are not numbered.

Comedy should not be intentionally hurtful (e.g., I don’t favor the depiction of the severed head of a politician or comments about assassination). Humor will, however, have a bit of a sting. So be it. That sting should prompt one to self-examine—not be offended.

Maybe I laugh at things I shouldn’t. I am not comfortable laughing at another’s expense, though. Humor is tricky. It can walk a fine line, but, as long as we seek to not offend and, moreover, strive to not be offended, maybe we can allow a good laugh to be more uniting than divisive.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

The biggest lesson in life

“The biggest lesson in life: Don’t ever think it can’t happen to you…”—Unknown

A friend recently shared the above meme on Facebook. I noticed one reaction was the sad emoji, and it reminded me that life is all a matter of perspective. We can think “it can’t happen to me” or that “it can’t happen to me”. The perspective lies in the it.

On what are we focused? Do we look for evil and loss at every turn, or do we look for good and gain? We will most likely find that for which we are looking.

The biggest lesson in life could just as easily be stated as “don’t ever think it can happen to you”. If you are one who prefers to see the opportunity in one’s circumstances, this is quite depressing. If you are one who always expects the worst, this would probably still offer little comfort.

The reality in life—the big lesson in life—is that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). You don’t have to be a bible-believer to trust this statement. You just have to trust that good can come from all circumstances—if we allow it and if we trust that we are indeed worthy of good (which everyone is).

I am a big fan of James Allen’s writing (e.g., As a Man Thinketh). I am not a Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) sort of person. I believe our thoughts require effort (which I trust Hill did, as well), but our efforts follow our thoughts. “’Can’t’ never did anything”, so perhaps our biggest lesson should be that “good can happen to you”.

Be you best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

Don’t count calories.

Drs. John Berardi and Helen Kollias (Precision Nutrition) provide an excellent infographic on “The surprising problem with calorie counting”1. We have been trained to count calories (both “calories in” and “calories out”), but the reality is that this is indeed “fundamentally flawed”. This does not mean we disregard the concept to caloric balance. It just means that the equation “calories in = calories out” is not as simple as reading the food labels and trusting the calorie counters on our wearable devices and fitness equipment. It also means that precision and consistency matter more.

Berardi and Kollias also consider the effects of over-estimating portion sizes. (Along with this, we might also consider the undocumented foods we eat—e.g., a couple nuts here, a “few” M&Ms there, etc.) These calories add up quickly. An additional undocumented tablespoon of olive oil for cooking every day (120 kcal) add up to 43,800 kcal over a year (potentially an added 12.5 lb of body fat).

The best alternative to calorie counting in macro counting—weigh (nearly) everything. Over time, we get better at “eye-balling” portions and guessing (i.e., using hand estimates like a “palm”, “fist”, “cupped hand”, etc.) serving sized. Limiting the imprecision will ultimately lead to better consistency. Better consistency will lead to better weight management.

Measure! Now your macros and weigh your portions. Rather quickly—especially with meal-planning and a consistent diet—you will learn what is eucaloric, hypocaloric, and hypercaloric. With a little tweaking, you will maintain, lose, or gain weight according to your goals.

Exchange-based diets, e.g., Weight-Watchers, work only when the portions are accurate. Even calorie-counting requires measurement. So, be consistent. Be precise (at least most of the time). Know your body and your habits. Pay attention to your results—i.e., track progress!

(Don’t forget that “calories out” are imprecise—and subject to overestimation—too.)

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

1https://www.precisionnutrition.com/problem-with-calorie-counting-calories-in?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=l1presalelist-apr2020

Life = Wrestling

“When I hear the word wrestler I see a person, early in the morning, I see them cold, I see them alone, but working, they’re constantly working, constantly chasing the best version of themselves, improving in all aspects of the sport.”—Kyle Snyder

If you don’t know me or read this page regularly, I love the sport of wrestling. I was never a great wrestler (or a very good one, for that matter). I wrestled three years of varsity in high school, but never won a district tournament. Nevertheless, I gained the most of what the sport has to offer—a life ethic. I still never feel like I have truly worked out unless I can wring the sweat out of my shirt. I approach every day with the desire to be the best version of myself—a better version of the yesterday me.

Wrestlers (the athletes and those who thrive in the day-to-day struggles of life) are workhorses. They are fighters. They are overcomers.

I have learned countless life-lessons from the sport and from wrestlers. (I continue to learn.) There is a saying that “in wrestling there are no losers, only winners and learners.” So it is in life. True success in life is in what we do with the opportunity.

Being one’s best today is not necessarily winning the day. It is making the most of the moment—the opportunity that is today. It is doing everything possible to be better tomorrow. It is “constantly chasing the best version of themselves”.

Wrestling coaches teach their athletes to “leave everything in this room”. Anyone who has been in a wrestling room know what “this room” is like—it is hot, smelly, and layers in sweat. It is the product of relentless effort. What leaves the room is a stronger, more confident person who is prepared to return the next day and do it all again—only better.

What the sport gave me—and I see it give others, like my teenage son—is a better version of myself. It has given me a healthy dissatisfaction with myself. In an age of feel-good self-acceptance, I would propose a that a healthy dissatisfaction with oneself is a better alternative. It is a mix of grit and self-efficacy that not only believes in what one can do in the moment but is also confident that one can and will (and must) be better tomorrow.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!