Issue #121: Playing in the Snow
Good morning. It’s Monday, February 6th. The only way it makes sense to put these guys together in one list - today is their birthday: Babe Ruth (1895), Ronald Reagan (1911), and Bob Marley (1945).
Did you miss any of our issues on GROWTH last week? Catch up on Issues #116 - #120 here.
This week we're switching gears and talking about MOVEMENT, specifically digging into the Wide World of Sports.
“You want to exercise to look good, feel good, play good.”
From the Lab: Your Own Winter Olympic Games
Take Action: Don't Be Afraid of the Cold
Speed Read: Embrace Your Full Potential
Monday Metabolic: Finding Your Quickness
Monday Q: What Sport Should You Be Doing?
Highest recorded VO2max. The top three measurements are all Olympian cross-country skiers with VO2max over 96 mL per kg per min, while Olympic marathon runners peak around 75 and swimmers around 70.
If you recall from Issue #32 - VO2max is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption attainable during physical exertion. So basically a measure of elite fitness. (source)
From the Lab
So you’ve got your Epic Season Pass and are hoping you can actually hit the slopes for more than a few days before spring.
But you don’t have to visit the mountains to have fun working out in the cold.
Cross Country Skiing - the sport we remember every 4 years when the Nordic countries showcase what they do during their 8-month long winters.
But it's probably the absolute best workout out there - see Stat of the Day (why the NordicTrack was a thing in the 80's - and still kinda sorta).
Feeling a little intimidated to get started? Here’s a Step-by-Step Guide for beginners from REI or watch the video:
Snowshoeing - if you don’t want all the hassle of the skis, then just throw on some shoes that look like tennis rackets and hit the snow (5 Best in 2023). These modern shoes make it possible to hit the trail on days when you’d be tired after a few minutes with regular boots.
Believed to have been invented around 4000 BC by the nomadic tribes that ventured from present-day Siberia to Alaska, snowshoes allowed humans to hunt and migrate during the winter.
Your fridge might be stocked, but grab some snowshoes and keep moving in the winter!
Curling - not feeling the cold? Then this last one might be for you. Find some indoor ice and simply roll a 42 lb stone 150 ft to a bulls-eye on the other end.
It might seem easy, but this Scottish sport from the 1500’s burns hundreds of calories (you’re intensely sweeping while gliding on ice after all) - plus there’s the added skill and concentration of rolling a stone to score a point (The Physics of Curling).*
Confused by the rules? I can see why it’s a 26-page book. Don’t worry - here’s your cheat sheet:
Even if you’re in sunny FL or CA - there are plenty of places to sign-up for a rousing game or league, check USA CURLING to FIND A CLUB.
*Man those Scots sure like to have fun - they invented golf, curling, the bicycle, and shinty (I didn’t know what that was either - READ MORE).
Take Action
Share on our social when you get out there!
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Sugar Limitation: The USDA (finally) proposed new nutrition standards for school meals - putting limits on added sugars, as well as significantly reducing sodium. But the reality is that this won't happen until the 2025-26 school year and lobbyists continue to block these efforts. Speak up if you want action in your district! (Learn more)
From Private Equity?: The Global Head of PE at Raymond James shares how to train our brain for mental health to success in the office and in life: #1 meditation, cognitive load reduction, visualization/savoring, breathing exercises, and gratitude. (FastCompany)
Do Video Games Make You Smarter?: Kinda. Remember Brain Games from Issue #115 - it’s great to learn new games, but once you master it, it’s no longer beneficial - it becomes more of an addiction with perceived benefit. (Knowable)
Monday Metabolic
You get me this week - quick feet today that will be a real intense 6-min workout. When you read about the benefits of Zone 5 and HIIT - this is what they're talking about!
Click HERE to view the workout on our YouTube channel.
Workout and video courtesy of Connor J. Obrochta. Check out all of Connor's workouts on Playbook!
Monday Q
What sport do you miss playing or want to start?
…stop making excuses and get back out there!
Product Recs
Impossible - my go-to after a week of poor sleep during my fast. A combination of magnesium and l-theanine powder with nothing else to help you sleep. Click HERE. 😴
TMAC Fitness - 20-min home workouts with no equipment that finishes with a quick meditation, what's easier than that? Try TMAC for 10 Days Free. 🧘
Thanks for joining us today!
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.