Traveling in the NE

It's so hard to keep in a routine when you're traveling. But I was thinking about it....maybe that's the good thing about moving around. It makes you want to be settled someplace, and makes you want to make plans for when you get home. Even diverging from a set way of eating can have benefits if you reign it in. I find that about a month is the max I can go before I really notice weight gain. Of course, visiting Boston for my Dad's birthday and Rosh Hashanah has been challenging from the top. String cheese, beer, fruit, hummus, kugel, as well as Dunkin' Donuts, birthday cake....I didn't eat all of those things, but they're out there and tempting.

I've been rereading Gary Taubes' Why We Get Fat back in LA and Art DeVany's New Evolution Diet, and been watching some videos of them online while here. Pretty interesting...and pretty amazing the mainstream media is so adverse to covering these guys. I've also been checking out Mark Sisson's blog- Mark's Daily Apple http://www.marksdailyapple.com and almost bought his Primal Blueprint for my Dad today...So many Paleo books at Barnes and Nobles now. Pretty amazing.

Here's a video with Mark Sisson:


Not too much to add. Been stretching and have been good overall with the diet. Had an amazing time kayaking with my Dad a few days ago on the Charles. It was really beautiful to get out on water in a different way from surfing. It was very placid and still but with a gentle current, and the scenery was like marshland- almost like the Everglades. Very peaceful- and quite a change from surfing. I find I'm drawn to water these days- so very cool to interact with it in new ways. I'd love to try windsurfing when I get back.





Happy New Year to anyone reading.

Cheers-
Gabe

24 Hr Fitness and Muhammed Ali

Yup....Rebooted my 24 Hr fitness membership today. Have been feeling much better with the prescription drugs. I think the anti-inflammatant has really worked, as I'm able to stretch again. It's felt so nice the past couple days to just move again. And it's been brutally hot in southern California, which was what brought me to Hollywood's 24 Hr Fitness....namely THE POOL!!!



Did about 20 laps on a kickboard which felt amazing. It's been a while since I swam in a pool. I used to do that regularly back in Brooklyn in 2004-2005 before the mini-triathlon. So it was nice, and good to beat the heat in the middle of the day. If you have a 24 Hr Fitness membership, you know it can be a drag at peak times- like 4pm -8pm on weekdays. Also, cleanliness can be an issue. But overall, for $50/mos, you get your money's worth- and can choose gyms all over LA and around CA. Unfortunately you have to pay a guest fee in NYC, though sometimes they'll let it slide. It can be particularly useful to have validated parking (like in Anaheim during NAMM in January).

I hit the jacuzzi too, which can be nice with the jets against your back. I've been chilling with some Hydrocodone tonight, so feeling pretty cozy, and discovering whole new meanings to Pink Floyd lyrics ("my hands felt just like two balloons"). Cheers, gentle reader. Here's to rocking out this Fall. Don't let anything hold you back...

Below is my favorite from Muhammed Ali:

Injuries and Keeping On

So I had an injury and it turned out to be not so good. I hurt my ribs surfing...I just came from the doctor's office and they did an X-ray. Apparently that shooting pain in my rib cage is a series of muscle contusions and bruises. People keep asking if I hit a rock or my board. They're not realizing the size and power of those waves. I basically just got rocked and I remember holding onto my board with my arm outstretched underwater. The doctor was very insightful and empathic and explained that the ribs stretch apart when they're being pulled like that and when they snap back in place, they can lead to bruising. I resisted going to a doctor figuring it was just bruised but it actually was helpful. Here's the X ray for any rib enthusiasts:



But the question is- Where do you go from here? The doctor said I can't lift weights or surf or swim until the ribs heal up- and guess what, they're slow to heal. Good news is he gave me an anti-inflammation drug prescription and a painkiller prescription. So that's cool- and should speed the healing process. My thinking is really that anyone who's testing their limits and trying to improve is going to get injured. This is my second big injury. My first was over a year ago with a shoulder/back injury...That's when I discovered Owen Mckibbin's book- which really helped me through that period. Owen, a fitness model and former athlete, has a lot of insight about injury which I've drawn from.

His thoughts are:

Injury is really an opportunity to grow.
It challenges you to stay positive and focus on what you can do.
You choose to focus on areas that are healthy.
You can feel lucky for the mobility you do have.
Appreciate that healing takes time.
Listen to your body- and respect it.

So along those lines, I've developed a little two week program for the rest of September, consisting of walking, a tightened Paleo diet, and arm and leg exercises. I've gained some weight in just two to three weeks from eating more carbs and drinking beer. I'm now clocking in at 195 vs. 185. My pre-Paleo weight was about 205-210. But beyond that, I feel like I'm losing muscle in my arms and shoulders, and gaining weight in my lower abdominals. So walking can aid metabolism and Owen recommends it first thing in the morning for 20- 30 mins, before breakfast. Leg exercises, like body-weight squats and lunges will work your mid-section and core. Beyond that, there are other things you can do to boost metabolism- namely cold baths; also chili powders. Caffeine has some known weight-loss effects also. The key is to be maintaining muscle while increasing metabolism. Muscles and feeding them proteins helps metabolism too. Additionally, rest and keeping stress levels low are important. (When I get stressed or sleep poorly, I often crave crabs and breads and sugars.)
So there you go...RICE is the recipe (from Bill Pearl's "Getting Stronger"). Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. Hope this helps someone.

Cheers-
Gabe