Random Friday Thoughts...

It's been a while since I've blogged, but I had some time available today and I wanted to get something out...  Aside from being exceedingly busy lately (I know I always use that excuse!), I have also been short on inspiration.  This week a number of concepts have been on my mind, so I wanted to get them down in the blog before I lost them.  What follows is a quick hit list of small concepts I've been thinking about lately.

• Getting what you're paying for:

  If you're paying a professional for services, make sure you're getting what you're paying for.  I would encourage all of you to educate yourself and own your health, but if you're paying a professional you shouldn't have to do all the work.  This concept came up on two separate occasions for me this week, and I wanted to pass it along to you.  As an example if you're going to a crossfit gym, and yet you're turning to blogs or youtube channels for help, well maybe your gym isn't giving you what you're paying for.  I mean I'm all for you trying to educate yourself and take control of your health and fitness, but if you're paying someone for coaching you should be getting coaching.  This concept would carry over to healthcare professionals, anyone you're paying for nutrition/diet coaching, etc. In my mind whenever we hire a health/fitness professional, we should establish a team-style relationship.  It shouldn't be a dictatorial relationship where the professional just dictates everything you do, but the professional should be providing guidance.  In fact it shouldn't be a one way relationship in either direction!  It should be a back and fourth between you and the professional.  Don't  allow yourself to be taken for a ride, and don't allow yourself to be taken to the cleaners.
  
  Here's a link to the two places this concept came up for me this week in case you're interested in reading/listening to what got me thinking about this. Everyday Paleo Lifestyle and Fitness podcast: http://eplifefit.com/2014/07/01/paleo-lifestyle-and-fitness-podcast-episode-96/ , Breaking Muscle article by Chris Garay: http://breakingmuscle.com/crossfit/6-practical-tips-for-prioritizing-quality-in-crossfit
  

• Following your passion isn't enough:

  I read a great article series this week by one of my favorite fitness pro's (yeah I have a serious man crush!), Eric Cressy.  Eric wrote a 2-part article directed towards aspiring fitness pro's, but I think the first article is applicable to everyone.  The point of the article was that the old advice "follow your passion" isn't really very good advice, because countless people have lost their life savings following their passion.  What I took away from this article what this...  I have often said (specially in the last 1.5 years since persuing fitness as a career) we spend too much of our lives at work to not love what we do, but what I didn't realize until reading this article is that if you've built a career you may be able to leverage that career capital to do the things you love.  As Eric discussed in the article, if you've been in a career path for a while you've developed specialized skills and expertise that can be thought of as career capital.  Even if you don't love your current career, maybe there's a way to leverage that capital to do the things you love.  I'm not saying we shouldn't follow our passion, but we also shouldn't turn our back on capital we've already developed.
  
  Here's a link to Eric's article: http://www.ericcressey.com/career-capital-fitness-industry-1
  

• Stop obsessing with the shiny thing, and try mastering the basics:

  It seems to me that a lot of people have the problem that whenever they get into something, they immediately want to get into the obscure or advanced parts of their new obsession.  I have DEFINITELY been guilty of this many times.  From a health and fitness perspective, I see a lot of folks trying to get far too deep far too fast.  It's easy to look for the newest twist on diet advice, or the fancy advanced exercise or program in the gym.  I know Dan John has many articles on this concept, but I just want to reiterate that those advanced concept are for people who are advanced.  If you're "new" to the health and fitness world (meaning you've only been into it for 2 years or less), then it's a good idea to master the basics instead of chasing these advanced techniques.  These advanced techniques are not only not appropriate for a newbie, they also can potentially hinder your long term progress.
  
  Bottom Line: If you don't have a top shelf back squat, a masterful deadlift, and an excellent overhead press, you don't really need to be taking on more advanced lifts.  Likewise, if you're not locked in on eating meat and veggies at every meal, don't worry about what supplements you could take.
  

• A few simple dietary ideas to live by:

  The last bullet point is a great segue to this one...  I noticed this week that no matter how many books or articles I read or podcasts I listen to,  I rarely hear anything new.  It seems to me that all the "experts" are giving very similar advice.  There are definitely some experts out there doling out advice that is specifically for niche populations that differs from the rest of the advice, but in the spirit of mastering the basics we can ignore that stuff for now.  I've probably said all this before in the blog, but here are some very basic guidelines that seem to be in all of the books, articles, and podcasts...
  
  
  • Eat lean protein and non-starchy veggies at EVERY meal
  • Eat the bulk of your carbs at night
  • Avoid processed foods (industrial seed oils, sugar, grains, and alcohol)
  • Meals should be protien & fat, or protein & carbs...  Avoid eating fat and carbs together
  
  Those are the very basics that I see in nearly every expert's recommendations.  If you haven't implemented these basics, quit worrying about anything more advanced.
  

• Good things often come quick, but GREAT things take some time:

  One last observation today...  I'm going to make an effort to go to the movie theater this weekend, which is a super rare thing for me.  I MAYBE go to the movie theater once a year, but I'm obsessed with this movie Boyhood and I'd like to see it this weekend.  If you haven't heard anything about Boyhood, it's a coming of age story that the director Richard Linklater filmed over the course of 12 years!  A first of it's kind, it's a movie where we can actually see the cast age, and I have a feeling it will be THE MOVIE of 2014.  Now Richard Linklater is no newbie (he's done films such as: Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, and Fast Food Nation), but I have a feeling this will end up being his signature film... His masterpiece if you will...
  
  Often in the health and fitness industry we see the concept that good things can come quick, but great things take time.  For instance it's very common for someone to see immediate weight loss when they start a new fitness regime or diet, but then they stall out.   The new trainee in the gym can often see great results in their initial months of training, but we all know that making an Olympian takes time.
  
  I simply want to encourage you today to be committed to the long-haul and keep the horizon in focus.  Whether your goal is to compete on a national level in a sport, find your own peak of health, or make your life's masterpiece work, it's more than likely going to take some time.  Don't settle for good, instead search for great!  Commit to the process and enjoy the process, but be prepared to follow the process to it's long term conclusion.