5 Thought Friday

5 thoughts for the week:

1.       What I am currently reading, viewing, or listening to:

• Fast Mimicked Diet with Dr. William Hsu, Living Beyond 120

• Great podcast on how to fast with a small number of nutrients yet still getting all the benefits of a zero-calorie fast. While I do not recommend their purchased 5-day meal plan, I do recommend the mimicked fast concept:

• If you have limited time, check out the following clips:

  • 16:00 - 21:00: Comments about how fat is actually an organ of our bodies with hormones and how it’s being impacted by the abundance of food

  • 23:30 - 26:00 Our bodies love small amounts of cyclic stress, which you get with exercise and fasting, to be able to improve our bodies

  • 38:00 - 43:00 Discussion about how the body changes and the fasting impacts.

  • 47:00 - 51:00 Talk about mental clarity/fasting high and strength in a fasted state but Dr. Hsu does not recommend lifting weights during fasting to overstress the body.

  • 58:00 - 1:03:30 Discussion on the cycle of bad behavior when it comes to food intake and 3 biggest take-aways

2.       Gratitude Practice (for improved happiness):

• Grateful for a mini breakthrough after a recent coaching session, which reminded me to continue to focus on my sense of “why” and “greater purpose” vs. being so task-oriented (thanks, Carolina!)

3.       Wellness ideas to consider:

• A few ideas for a workout when you are really busy or maybe even some exercise while in quarantine (here is the link to the full guide from Precision Nutrition).

4. What I’m eating, drinking, buying, or whatever else is on my mind:

• 2kg (64 oz) barrel of Utz Pretzels

• I decided to treat myself with a refined carb for my upcoming 1/2 marathon run. Why not have a childhood “goodie” waiting for you at the finish line?!

5. Quote(s) I am Pondering:

• “Fasting blinds the body in order to open the eyes of your soul.”. Rumi.

• I try to explain to individuals who have never fasted how much clarity of mind you have on extended fasts. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works to “open the eyes of your soul.”

Happy Friday!

Mike