Press firmly to seal

Wherein the USPS takes its own ‘press firmly’ printed unstruction VERY seriously… “Neither rain nor sleet nor accidentally wedged packages shall stay these couriers from their appointed rounds.”

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Not useful

Just because you are unique does not mean you are useful.

~ unknown

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Max heart rate 189

This entry is part 27 of 72 in the series My Journey

New personal best out running with Tracy this morning. The traditional “220-age” formula for me is 177. The newer “217-(0.85*age)” model yields 180.

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What is “intermittent fasting”?

This entry is part 5 of 14 in the series John Briffa's "A Good Look at Good Health"

Quelling insulin will help protect against these conditions, and will facilitate fat loss too. One way to quell insulin levels is to eat a diet largely devoid of the foods that cause surges in blood sugar such as those [of] added sugar as well as starchy ‘staples’ like bread, potatoes, rice pasta and breakfast cereals. Another way, though, to moderate insulin levels is to extend the time between eating. This, in essence, is what intermittent fasting is about.

~ John Briffa from, «http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/03/01/my-times-piece-on-intermittent-fasting/»

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Winning small battles with honor

Masculinity is not something given to you, but something you gain. And you gain it by winning small battles with honor.

~ Norman Mailer

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The calorie principle

This entry is part 4 of 14 in the series John Briffa's "A Good Look at Good Health"

There are a number of potential mechanisms that explain why nuts may not be fattening which were explored in a recent review that appeared in the Journal of Nutrition recently. I’ve summarised them (along with one mechanism that is not discussed but I think is important) below:

Studies show that nuts tend to be effective at satisfying the appetite, which can mean that individuals just end up eating less of other foods. The percentage of calories that come from nuts that are compensated for by eating less of other foods varies from study to study, but comes in at around 70 per cent.

~ John Briffa from, «http://www.drbriffa.com/2008/10/06/why-the-evidence-on-nuts-and-weight-makes-a-mockery-of-the-calorie-principle/»

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The bars they are a’changin!

Tracy’s moving her turn-vault bar up inch by inch. My new project is bar-to-bar, near ground level and just slide them farther and farther apart. sketchy. (for me anyway)

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Stop hacking your life

Many people have had success using these life optimization tools and tricks, and they’re not necessarily a bad thing. Their effect all depends on which of two relationships someone has with hacking:

Hacking approach can be beneficial; every man should have a little MacGyver in him and keep some duct-tape solutions in his back pocket. And if there’s a better way to cut an onion, by all means, go for it.

But hacking approach invariably leads to a life that’s less optimal, not more. The damage results not so much from the actual hacking practices themselves, but from the mindset their pursuit and adoption begets.

~ Brett McKay from, The Pitfalls of Life Hacking Culture | The Art of Manliness

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Trying not to try

My guess is that we have all experienced this combination of effortlessness and effectiveness at some point in our lives. While we are completely absorbed in chopping and sautéing, a complex dinner simply assembles itself before our eyes. Fully relaxed, we breeze through an important job interview without even noticing how well it’s going. Our own experiences of the pleasure and power of spontaneity explain why these early Chinese stories are so appealing and also suggest that these thinkers were on to something important. Combining Chinese insights and modern science, we are now in a position to understand how such states can actually come about.

~ Edward Slingerland from, Trying Not to Try – Nautilus

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Growing old

Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.

~ unknown

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