Every week, my newsletter subscribers get links to some of the goodies that I’ve come across on the internets.
Here were the goodies that my peeps got their learn on in January.
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Table of Contents
Biggest Lesson of the Month
Diet matters way more than you think.
I’ve been playing with some new diet protocols courtesy of my boi Dave Rascoe because I was dealing with some health stuff after losing a bunch of weight and trying to bulk up. I’ll detail the past year in a post at some point, but it’s amazing just how making a few dietary tweaks and being militant has made an impact.
If you are dealing with any health issues, taking a pill vs transforming your life are not equal decisions. Consider cleaning up sleep, diet, and physical activity before going the conventional medicine route.
Quote of the Month
“Every moment is a decision” ~Eric Barker
Each time I go to open up my social media, check my email for the 6th time in an hour, or perform other procrastinatory activities, I think to this quote. Realize we only have a finite amount of time on this earth. Make the right decision.
Hike of the Month
Sadly, I only hiked once in January, but the hike I went on was unreal.
This time, it was Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles, located just outside of the San Francisco Bay area, was a great mix of green mountains, dark caves, big reservoirs, and outstanding flora. The best part? No one was there! Definitely a hike I will never forget for many reasons.
Rehabilitation
Can you have too much research?
I found this comic by Matteo Farinella to be incredibly salient.
Many of us discuss the need to be more evidence-based, but when you see the overwhelming amount of research (often of questionable quality) produced, how can one sift through it?
Matteo’s comic poignantly illustrates this problem, and shows us the big key that we are missing when reading research (kudos to Iordan for showing me this one).
Performance
Why it’s so hard to change professional athletes’ behaviors
It’s often our fault.
In this awesome post, Yan Le Meur discusses why behavior change is so incredibly challenging, even in the professional athlete, and what are some steps you can take to elicit good habits in not just pro athletes, but all individuals.
Mandatory viewing for runners
In this inservice, Lucy Hendricks again kills it with talking on the necessary trunk and pelvis movements one must ought to be able to do while running. Essential to pass along to your recreational running clients.
So wait, bilateral exercises can impact side-to-side asymmetries?!?!?
That’s what Yann Le Meur showed us in this new infographic titled Training Methods and Considerations for Practitioners to Reduce Inter-Limb Asymmetries.
What was interesting, aside from the demonstration of bilateral exercises improving asymmetry, was the questionability of the research surrounding chronic side-to-side differences.
My conclusion – reducing asymmetries is simply good training.
What separates the good trainers from the meh trainers?
That’s exactly what Lucy Hendricks lays out in the 5 Keys to Help you Find the Right Gym or Personal Trainer.
Catered towards the gen pop clientele first and foremost, but the qualities she says one ought to look for in a trainer are things that we should all embody with our clients. The work we do is much more than just working up a sweat, it’s about working them up to a healthier lifestyle!
Health and Wellness
Learn everything that is wrong with healthcare
It’s beyond a broken system, and that’s exactly what Chris Kresser discussed on the Joe Rogan podcast.
Here he talks about the many ways the system is broken, how this system could potentially be remedied, and a gazillion health nuggets along the way. Am really digging this podcast, and should definitely check out Joe Rogan if you already aren’t.
How to improve your life with some simple tricks
Dean Somerset wrote a simple yet extremely insightful post on Quick Fixes to Improve Your Health. The tips range from changing your pillow, to the 3:1 rule (my favorite)
Designing a sleep program for your clients
You may or may not know that I’m a bit of a sleep geek, and I often try to educate my clients on the importance of sleep.
You may know sleep is important, but are unsure as to how you can incorporate improving sleep hygience with your clients.
That’s where this great infographic by Yann Le Meur comes in. Here he outlines an evidenced-based step-by-step process to help you start this important process with your clients.
A trick to quelling your cravings
Ice cream.
That’s all that needs to be said.
One of my biggest weaknesses was passing up some good ice cream, but it’s something that I haven’t had in probably a few months.
Though I don’t attest this to willpower, and neither does Daddy-O Pops Bill Hartman in his post on overcoming cravings.
There is one quick trick to overcoming cravings, and it’s not what you think!
If you have bad habits you may want to read this
Maybe those bad habits aren’t so bad at all. In fact, according to Eric Barker’s This is How to Quit Bad Habits Without Willpower: 3 Secrets from Neuroscience, these bad habits may actually help you.
But you still want to squash them so you can meet your goals right? In this wonderful post, Eric provides the keys to doing so. All strategies he mentioned were nothing I have ever considered and found quite profound.
Are you too busy to do what you really want to do?
When Stu McMillan posts, I listen.
In Why, Stu talks about how he has been consumed with a lot of things that are not necessarily worthwhile, and how this battle has helped him focus more on being proactive with his learning and teaching.
Coming to terms with his antidote for junk consumption was a very salient point for me.
Personal Development
How to stop worrying, being perfect, and so much more
My boi Eric Barker wrote some straight fire with Changing These 4 Beliefs Will Make You Surprisingly Happy.
In this post, he outlines how to combat some of the completely irrational beliefs we often hold that get us into trouble. My favorite was by far the section on “this shouldn’t be happening,” something I struggle with quite a bit.
Learn the best time to do almost anything
So many books and articles teach you the how-to, but so few do the when-to. Eric Barker saves the say with This is the Best Time to do Anything: 4 Powerful Secrets from Research.
In this post, Eric outlines the best times to get married, make important decisions, when to be creative, and so much more.
And you know I ordered Daniel Pink’s new book, fam. So far, it’s been pretty good.
Professional Development
The dirty little secret about getting paid what you’re worth
Seth Godin always bringing that fire with his daily blog. This time, on Getting Paid What you Deserve, Seth keeps it real on what this exactly entails, and how to make this come to fruition. The point he makes is something we all need to hear.
Music
Good R&B is back with a vengeance
Musiq Soulchild’s newest album, Feel the Real, is an absolutely fantastic example of what R&B ought to be.
For those who don’t know, R&B is my second love, and I had an opportunity to see Musiq live a few years ago. The cat has an unbelievable voice, and few rival his range and falsetto skills.
Some of my favorite tracks include Serendipity, My Bad, and Hard Liquor
The greatest freestyle of all time just occurred
Black Thought from the the Roots just spit the greatest freestyle I’ve ever heard.
I’m serious, like ever.
Like seriously, I don’t need to describe this 10+ minute bomb. Just listen to it; it’ll change your life.
Which of the learning goodies was your favorite? Comment below and let us know.
