If you follow social media, then you have probably seen the viral fitness challenge, #75Hard, making it rounds. Basically it is a 75 Day challenge where people focus on improving their fitness through 5 basic commitment pillars. These posts often come with skin clad photos of the progress for accountability.
 
For those that know me know that I am typically anti viral fitness trends. They tend to be repetitive, inefficient, and likely to hurt people due to increasing volume. I no longer get tagged in 1000 squats/day, plank across the globe, or whatever TikTok’s fitness challenge of the month seems to produce. #75Hard was no different in my opinion so I ignored it when it hit my feed…..

It’s the week of a holiday week (Thanksgiving!) and with all of the fun and busyness of the holiday, things can get a little hectic and crazy. Am I right?!
 
Run to this store … go to that place … pick this up … drop that off … get this done … and the list goes on and on.
 
The number of things you need to get done in a day (let alone a holiday week!) are INCREDIBLE.....

Okay, go ahead an get all the jokes about this title out now. Go ahead you have my permission.....Now let's get back to the subject at hand: Poke the Box by Seth Godin. I've had many friends recommend Seth's works so I was excited to see this turn up at the local library just days before I was going on a trip where I would have time to read it. Inside the book jacket featured one of my favorite quotes "When was the last time that you did something for the first time?" (I still shiver hearing Sean Corvelle ask these words at the start of each World's Toughest Mudder). I was so confident that this would be right up my alley, that I even put it in my Amazon cart for purchase. I often will start a book from the library and then purchase it so that I can mark it up (yes I'm that guy that underlines, circles, and writes all over the margins). Only a few pages in, and I LOVED the concept of this book. Seth wrote this book to put action in the world. To turn people into do'ers instead of play it safers. I was excited and nodding my head after just a few pages....

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are taking some time to rest and relax today.
 
I’ve got a fun little gratitude exercise for you if you’re up for it. (This could also be great to do with your family - and go around the dinner table and share!)
 
Grab a pen, a piece of paper, and write down 5 things you’re grateful for.
 
And then write WHY you are thankful for them....

I have a recipe for you today that’s tailor-made for busy weeknights: a plant-based chili that only takes about a half-hour to make but tastes like you’ve been simmering it all day!
 
Everyone in the family will love it. It tastes even better the next day :) It's also a great idea for any vegans that may be showing up at your Thanksgiving feast this week. 
 
Bonus: This uses a lot of canned foods which makes it a perfect “raid the pantry” dinner. Make sure you get low- or no-sodium options when possible and look for BPA-free cans.
 
I call this “pretty” perfect because all the colors make it visually beautiful!......

 I took on the Florida Xtreme Triathlon in 2019 (EDIT: I actually signed up to race it in 2018 but was so destroyed by performance at Georgia Death Race early that March that I didn't possess the mental or physical capacity to even attempt FXT. If you want to know more about how 2018 messed me up, READ HERE). It was marketed as a 300+ mile triathlon from coast to coast in Florida. My racing friend, Matt Dolitsky, had mentioned the race and I was all in. (Author's note: this is a long entry since the event spanned 3 days. If you aren't going to read it all, at least check out the video at the end to see the event in action)

Before 2017, I hadn't raced a triathlon since I was in high school (that was so long ago that Tuxedo Brothers doesn't even have archived results online, probably since it was the early days of the internet!). But like many things in my life, this adventure started with a few friends saying crazy things out loud which then snowballs into a crazy challenge. Fellow adventure racers Ande Wegner and Daren De Heras started talking after the SISU Iron about this thing called the Anvil in Virginia. It was a full size (aka Ironman distance of 2.4mile swim, 112mi bike, 26.2 mi run) triathlon that offered multipliers. The Double Anvil was 2x full distance, the Triple Anvil was 3x, and Quintuple Anvil was 4x a full triathlon (12mi swim, 560mi bike, and 131mi run)! Those numbers are crazy! And let's be clear, at the time of the conversation, I didn't even own a bike, nor had I ridden one outside of a spin class in decades! But I was all in with my buddies so I went to Performance Bike and bought a Fuji Gran Fondo road bike and went to work. I hadn't committed to doing the Anvil yet, but I wanted to get started so that I would have the ability to later on........

It's my birthday today!! Normally I would ask for you to do 37 burpees today in honor of my 37 years in this world, but this year I want to change things up and reflect before I ask you for my bday wish.
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-I have been in the field of fitness for 22 years (that's right, I started when before I was 16 by fudging the numbers on an employment application with the YMCA ;) including a full time fitness professional for 17 of those years
-I have been married for 12 years (and with my sweetheart for 18 years)
-I have been a dad for 8 years
-I have operated Change Fitness for 7 years
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Needless to say I've been very fortunate and blessed in my life. And I celebrate today, I want to give back. Normally I refuse to offer discounts because those that know me know that I am passionate about what I do so I give as much value as possible back.
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2020 has been a year of firsts. Most of those first have been very frustrating and negative. So I want to flip the script before we usher in 2021!
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As I blow out my candles, I am making birthday wish (and commitment) to spread my reach of improving fitness and challenge more people to go on a fitness adventure with me. To help make that happen, I bring to you......

The holidays are RIGHT around the corner, and I’ve got your game-plan right here to help you stay on-track, feel STRONG, and still have FUN!
 
FACT: Chances are the holidays this year are going to look a little (lot?!) different than most other years.
 
ALSO FACT: Being prepared for that difference ahead of time can help you (and your loved ones) avoid disappointment and actually enjoy yourself!
 
It all comes down to being INTENTIONAL with how you spend your time over the next month and a half. This can include planning new/different activities or changing up your holiday traditions and celebrations.