Podcast #24 – 5 Things I changed my mind about in 2019, and 5 Thing things I didn’t.
What I mostly or entirely changed my mind on:
Sugar – I used to think it was benign and empty calories but now I realize that it is pretty inflammatory
Therapy/Permission/Stories – Therapy gives you a chance to verbalize unconscious thoughts and stories and hear them back objectively. You get to choose what you do with them. Therapy isn’t magic but being in a place to actually hear yourself and setting up accountability to change can be incredibly powerful.
Weight Loss – More about Mental/behavior change than foods. Slapping a meal plan on bad habits may mask them for a short period of time but will not fix them. I spend more time asking about the emotional reasons for WHY than I do about the actual logistics of what people eat. I believe that if you change the motivation you will change the behavior. How you treat yourself is a reflection of how you feel about yourself than anything else.
Mental Recovery/Processing – You can’t “GO GO GO” all the time and not build in time for deloading mentally. The big change here is understanding the point of structured deloading time, not just mindless activities like TV or social media. Meditation, silence, journaling are all great options.
Drugs – Psychedelic drugs and the power to change. Incredible work being done with anxiety, depression, PTSD, hospice patients. These drugs force you to reconcile your hidden stories and trauma instead of masking it all. They are incredibly anti addictive and can help you reframe your life your thoughts and your internal narrative.
What I didn’t change my mind about and in fact double down on:
Drugs – Caffeine covers up bad life choices, poor sleep, and being out of shape. Alcohol numbs the brain and lowers inhibition – alcohol covers up being out of touch with your thoughts and self.
Feet – Dysfunctional feet really mess up how your body moves with the world. Poor balance, stiff ankles, knee pain, bad running, tight calves, hip tightness…
We have to take care of our feet, put them in shoes that support natural movement, and strengthen them to do what we want in life.
Movement – Daily movement is an essential part of life. Non exercise movement is how our joints and muscles stay healthy and useful. Without movement we will die.
Intermittent Fasting – IF is a great tool for systems for eating. It takes some time to get used to, but I can’t see going back to 3-4 meals a day. IF maximizes simplicity, health benefits, and behavior change.
Sleep – I’ve always known that sleep is important, but this year I truly realized how important. I tried the getting up early thing for a while but realize that sacrificing sleep for more waking hours is always a loss. I need 7.5+ or I’m not at my best. It has to be a priority if you want to perform.
