Interesting for sure. Just because you can, should you?

Just because you can eat all the hyper-palatable foods and fit them into your day, should you?

Just because you can work out hard seven days a week, should you?

Just because you can jump off that bridge, should you?

You get the idea.

How many times did you hear your parents tell you to think for yourself?

Questions and more questions. Always asking questions. I wonder if I was like that as a kid. Or is it more like being a critical thinker?

Critical Thinking is the act of analyzing facts to understand a problem or topic thoroughly. The critical thinking process typically includes steps like collecting information and data, asking thoughtful questions and analyzing possible solutions.

Thinking for yourself.

So, yeah. Critical thinking.

When it comes to health and fitness, so many times the thought process is more is better. But in the words of the great Dan John, more is just more. If you do more of something, because it’s good, that does not guarantee more will be better. It usually guarantees a nice injury. For instance, strength training. It’s good for us. It’s good for us to strengthen our muscles. But, when we add two a days and when we think we lose all the progress we made if we don’t go hard seven days a week, that’s where the lines get blurry. That’s where more is just more. Think about it. Use that critical thinking. Analyze what is happening. How are you feeling. Collect that data and see what’s going on.

Take for instance sleep, more is not better and less is not better. There is always a sweet spot. What’s your sweet spot? Analyze what is going on with your sleep. Collect that data and then decide if you need to make some changes and then decide how you will make the changes, depending on your collected data.

The same goes for food. Can you fit in those hyper-palatable foods? Sure. But the more of those foods you eat just because you can, does not mean you will see better results in your body or in your progress. Just because you can fit those into your day, doesn’t mean you should. My nutrition consists of counting macros. That means I keep track of my protein, my carbs and my fats. It’s more in depth than counting calories. It’s counting the macronutrients that make up the calories in food. I like keeping track this way. I have an app where I record everything I eat. I weigh my food for accuracy and I like doing this. It’s interesting for me and I love to see what happens to my health and my body.

Just because I can eat hyper-palatable foods, such as potato chips, donuts, and cookies, most of the time I choose not to. You might ask why would I choose not to eat those if I can fit them into my day. I definitely eat them sometimes. But, I notice when I am eating nutrient dense foods most of the time, my body appreciates it. I feel stronger in the gym. I don’t get as tired. I am able to get through my day easier. I sleep better. I have analyzed the data for me and that is what works well. I feel strong and confident in my abilities.

When it comes to eating and working out and sleeping and jumping off bridges, you have the choice. You are the one who gets to make the choices in your life. Things are hard. Change is hard. Even thinking can be hard. You can let the hard scare you from ever doing anything about your health. You can stay the same and year after year ask yourself why you feel so crappy. Or, you can acknowledge that it’s hard, and that you want to feel better and that you are willing to do the work to get there.

I’ve done it. I’ve made those hard changes. It can be frustrating and annoying and it can feel like you will never see any positive changes. Give it time though. Think things through. Think about the reasons you want to change. Think about how you want to feel in six months or six years. That is when the choice becomes a little bit easier to make. Think about what you are doing now and how you can do things differently in order to feel healthier. Jot that shit down. Make a plan. Execute your plan.

Just because something is hard, doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. It doesn’t mean you aren’t worth it.

Critically think your way through this shit. Find your solution. Take the steps to get there. It is possible. When you think things through, there is a sense of purpose and a sense of accomplishment in your abilities. Confidence grows and knowing you can think yourself through things is such an empowering feeling.

Don’t let people tell you how you should think and feel. Think and feel for yourself. Make decisions for yourself. Especially when it comes to your health, you know your body better than anyone. Do what’s best for your body and for your health.

Hi Dad. I’m doing fine. 

It’s been 21 years. June 3, 2020. 

I still remember the last time I saw you. 

This is the first time since you left that I haven’t felt that dread around the day. It’s the first time I haven’t felt the extreme sadness.

It doesn’t mean it’s any easier. It’s not. This year just feels different. I feel lighter. I feel less heart-heavy.  I feel okay.

I know you are always around. You remind me all the time. I see the signs and I smell the smells. 

I stopped and saw you today. Your area was bering watered, so you were extremely wet. It made my laugh. You always used to tell us that at your funeral you wanted it to rain so that you would be the only dry one. So, while I stood and looked at your headstone today, I had to dodge the sprinklers and it made me laugh.

This was the first time I have’t cried when I’ve visited. I actually feel like the grief – the blackness – and the shadows have lifted. I see the sunlight and can feel the warmth. It’s probably what you would have hoped it would be all along. I know you hated to see any of us cry. 

I finally feel like it’s okay. I finally feel like I know. I feel like what I do and how I help people makes sense now. The dots have been connected. I keep watching the reel. It’s the same movie every time. As much as I want it to end differently, it doesn’t. I wish you were still here. 

Your health is why I do what I do. Because of you, my path is now clear. I always wondered why I felt this extreme pull to help people. I have been put in the track of these people because of you. 

It sounds cliche. 

Your health pushed me to be better in my own health. I didn’t want heart disease. I didn’t want bypass surgery. You had quadruple at age 48 and double at age 58. I didn’t want that. It is so young. Next year I will be 58 and I realize how young that really is. You died at age 60. I don’t want to die young. 

We have one life. That’s it. We don’t get a do over. 

You put me on the path to better health. So many people don’t do the hard stuff. So many people don’t do the things they are afraid of. I say walk through the fear. I’m doing that Dad. 

I changed my life so I would not follow that trigger pull. Genetics only go so far. It’s the lifestyle that pulls that trigger. I didn’t want that for myself. I didn’t want it for you either, but I had no say. I watched you try to eat better. I watched you quit smoking. I watched you with the all or nothing mindset. I watched you struggle. 

About 3 years ago, I got that giant kick in the ass. I really changed things. I was heading towards the heart disease. I was heading towards all the unhealthy health markers. I was heading in the same direction as you. 

I changed everything in my life and I am so much better off for it. I am so much healthier because of it. 

Because of you. I thank you for that. 

I’m doing okay Dad.