Issue #226: Don't Waste Hours at the Gym
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, August 15th.
It’s officially been a year since the launch of Thrive25!
We’ve written 226 issues (that’s over 300,000 words - or the equivalent of 6 published books), welcomed thousands of readers, and connected with hundreds of partners, health experts and people who inspire us.
We do this for you. For those that Thrive25 makes a difference - whether it’s a small tip, a new habit, or just positive words to start the day.
That really is the point of the newsletter. While we do need the engagement for sponsors to support this free newsletter, we honestly don’t care if you ever click on any of our links or if you complete one of our polls.
Of course it means the world to us when we hear from you, but we get it - life is busy and you just want to read the newsletter.
But today - in honor of our 1-year anniversary - we are asking you to please take a minute and please tell us:
1 thing you’ve learned from Thrive25
1 thing you’re grateful for
We will anonymously share all the answers back to the entire community - so you share 1 thing with us and get (hopefully) dozens of insights in return.
👉 Please CLICK HERE. 👈
Thank you for supporting us - it’s been a wild ride in this first year of Thrive25.
Oh and launching soon is a brand new product that we think will completely change how you view your health - stay tuned!
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: Think About “WHY” You Want to Workout
Speed Read: Spend $135K to Biohack Your Home
Tuesday QR: Low Carb Avocado & Bacon Salad
“When you exercise, it increases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid — these are all brain chemicals associated with feeling happy, feeling confident, feeling capable, feeling less anxiety and stress and even less physical pain.”
Size of the global fitness market - which is expected to grow a crazy 171% over the next five years - resulting in a market over $400B. Yet, we still haven’t fixed obesity or other health problems. (Zippia)
From the Lab
When we started Thrive25 it was to change the trajectory of our health as we hit our 40’s.
That’s when the body (maybe) starts “to age” - you notice slower runs, maybe some semblance of a “dad bod” in the mirror, lack of strength - the list goes on and on.
But we know there’s something we can do about this - we know we can slow down the aging of our body and our brain.
Killer Whales
One of the most striking features of orcas is their massive dorsal fin - these can be up to 6 ft tall.
But for anyone that’s been to Sea World or see pictures - these fins are limp and curled over.
Experts say the muscle and collagen in the fin get atrophied from not swimming the hundreds of miles the whales do in the wild. It’s such an obvious sign of poor health.
I was thinking about this as I look around at all of us living our modern lives.
Our bodies have become soft, inflexible, and poorly aligned. We hunch over instead of standing up straight; we get a layer of fat around our waistline; we lack stability as we move; we deal with chronic knee pain or shoulder issues.
Basically our dorsal fin is folding over.
This doesn’t happen to animals in the wild - because if you’re not on top of your game, you don’t eat and if you don’t eat you don’t survive.
I’m pretty pumped we don’t have to hunt for our food anymore - but that doesn’t mean we still shouldn’t have the ability to do it if we had to.
Think about it - all that chronic disease, all those health problems - it’s because we aren’t keeping ourselves in the best possible shape for our bodies and brains to function the right way.
Move With Purpose
It’s not enough to just “move more.” That’s a great start - but it kinda misses the point.
You don’t go into your job saying “I just need to work more.” You have a plan for how you’re going to build new skills, get more efficient, work more collaboratively - all with an eye for where it will take you in the future.
It’s the same thing with exercise.
Here are the biggest mistakes we make with our workouts:
We do it because “we’re supposed to” - but we don’t really know what we’re trying to achieve beyond “get or stay healthy.”
We do the same thing over and over - so we aren’t balanced (maybe we just work out our upper body or just run or just walk).
We let injuries win - whether we try to do too much too soon, we don’t focus on stability and form, or we give up after an injury - this time when we don’t move is what really ages us.
Thrive25 Blueprint
Instead, think about why you want to workout. How do you want to feel? What do you want to be able to do?
State your goals first - then create a plan around that.
Possible things you want to feel:
More energy in the morning
Lighter when you move
Clear headed when you’re working
No pain in your knees or shoulders
Possible things you want to do:
Run 2 miles (at a pace pushing yourself)
Touch your toes
Increase mobility in your right shoulder from a tennis injury
Hike a local trail without getting tired
Be able to surf a 3 foot wave
Whatever your goal - write it down. Then figure out what it takes to make it happen.
The more we get outside our comfort zone, the more we strengthen our weaknesses (by definition). Better to be a generalist than a specialist when it comes to being an athlete of life.
Find your slumped dorsal fin and raise it back up!
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
One way to get out of your comfort zone - check out TMAC Fitness.
This in-home fitness program requires exactly zero equipment, offers beginner and advanced options, and it combines a real workout with a powerful meditation.
Want more? You can check out his weekend retreat in Santa Barbara to get your MIND RIGHT - with community connection, ocean dips, TMAC Workouts, hiking and healthy meals from a private chef.
Get your Free 10 Days of TMAC Fitness HERE.
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Biohacking Your Home: People are spending thousands (even millions) to infuse wellness into their house - $65,000 light-therapy bed anyone? Check out all the latest hacks and gadgets money can buy. (WSJ)
Bionic Limbs That Are Cool: There is new research on a patch that gives people with prosthetic limbs the ability to perceive temperature - it’s this sensory feedback that’s the key. (WIRED)
Tuesday QR | Low Carb Avocado & Bacon Salad
This salad has avocado - the keto-friendly superfood with fiber, anti-inflammatory compounds, beta-sitosterol (for healthy cholesterol) that helps with your weight, heart, eyes and brain - and bacon!
And bacon’s not just about taste - it includes a fair amount of the RDA for selenium and phosphorus, and supports bone and heart health, and muscle strength - just don’t burn it. Enjoy!
Thanks for joining us today!
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Why Thrive25
We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
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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, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.