Flexing My Fitness Family Muscles

Being active has always been a major part of my life.  From climbing trees to chasing cattle, swimming in the creek to wrestling my father, I always sought a physical means of exertion.  As a youngster I associated activity as play.  As a teenager I covered up my insecurities by developing my muscles on the bench and curl bar.  It felt good to feel attractive.  And as a young adult being active lead into a career in Fitness.

The WHY I am active has shifted over time--from play, to becoming more secure, to embracing a lifestyle of health, to providing for my family.  As I've become more responsible in life, now a father and husband, I feel obligated to be proactive with my health and wellness, and to provide an environment of health for my family.  The six pack abs have been replaced with new muscles of focus.  Muscles of my heart and soul, to love my family in ways I never imagined, and muscles of my character, to become a leading example for my daughter as she grows.

I'm now flexing my Fitness Family Muscles.

Like any new regime it's tough as hell in the beginning.  My wife and I confide in one another often, reminding ourselves of how lucky we are, no matter the overwhelming nature of it all.  Being first time parents is like becoming a Navy Seal overnight.  Nothing can ever prepare you; and yet we are always ready.  And when we find ourselves head underwater, fatigued, stretched thin emotionally, we always pull through, we always survive.

The Truth about Truth

Truth is an interesting concept.  We mentally associate it to immutable realities.  A this-is-so belief that expands across all expressions of life.  The concept of Truth has played a major role in religion, science, and society since the beginning of human relationships.  Truth has given just and unjust people power and influence; Truth has challenged knowledge systems; Truth has always been a shape visible but not easily identified, like a mirage on the horizon.  And yet we find ourselves claiming to be it's captors, it's domesticators.

Our biggest error is in our assumption of claiming first dibs.  

We treat Truth like we've treated land. 

Claim a right, define boundaries, and associate a value of worth.  

Truth is a direction, a focused intention attached to hope.  Truth is behind our passions for knowledge, driving us forward.  Truth is our comforter when overwhelmed by an uncertain and chaotic world.  Truth is between the words of conversations, elusive and yet always present.  Truth doesn't stand still for long.

Everything you read or listen to has a directional weight, pulling you one way or another.  Always remind yourself to take in more than the words; take in the author, the author's employer, the potential author's intent, and consider more than what is said.  Chew what you eat but don't swallow it all.

A New Year, A New Perspective

What you are able to see in life all depends on where you are and to which direction you look.  

Looking back on my life I can recall many wonderful moments.  I can remember what shirt I was wearing, what my father said, how big the fish was, but I can never recall one thing: my perspective. Perspective is an amazing thing; it moves with you through life, and shifts as you grow.

In an earlier Blog entry I discussed My Fitness Journey, a chronological rundown of how I came to be where I am now.  Growing up on a farm, moving to San Francisco, living in Spain, training in gymnastics, Pilates, Yoga, rock climbing, bodybuilding, all of these moments in my life had a corresponding perspective.  And with all of my varying perspectives came new definitions and new value systems.  It seems discovering myself was really about expanding and exploring all my potential perspectives.

I've never been one to have a single passioned life.  In fact, I envy those that have the drive to delve so deeply into a craft or vocation.  I am more of the jack of all trades.  I become interested in something new, shift gears, and dig in until I become proficient.  Now I realize why this pattern exist in my personality.  I enjoy learning, moving, and reevaluating common themes with a new outlook.

No experience is identical to another.  All moments in life are unique.  The when, where, why, who, and how all paint different strokes on how we experience the world.  The empowerment comes from realizing our control over the these elements.

New experiences aren't necessarily tied to new things--new perspective can create new experiences out of old things.

So as the New Year approaches look back at your life with a smile and look forward with hope and excitement.  You have the ability to enjoy the world in endless ways.  We change, the world changes, and if it doesn't at least your perspective will.

Fatherhood and Fitness

On September 4th 2014 at 11:48 a.m. I became a father.

Alana Rosemary Pearman

6 lbs 6 ounces 19 inches long

Alana is 7 weeks old now.  Let me tell you, the cuteness grows exponentially.  My wife and I love her more every day.  In fact, outside of changing diapers and feeding, we stare at her and smile all day long.  And when she's asleep, and the lights go out, the iPhones flicker bright with our images of the day.  

Beyond the unparalleled happiness that follows the birth of a child, there is a clarity that follows. The heart quiets the mind as you give into complete love.  The task is clear and simple: love her, nurture her, create a home, and give her the best tools in life to be happy and prosper.  You lose the desire to be retrospective because the future lies against your chest, as you hold her, and her little heart reminds you to be present and to enjoy the moment.

Today I was asked how it feels to be a father.  My response was brief:

"Life is more simple.  Time is more precious.  Family is most important."

So what happens to my fitness career and my active lifestyle?  Many friends commented to me that my life will never be the same.  They were right.  I am a father now.  But that responsibility doesn't have to overshadow or diminish my passion to move, be active, and healthy.

The day after my wife and I brought Alana home we headed out for a hike.  We love the Presidio in San Francisco.  Huge eucalyptus trees shade you and fill the air with the cleanest, minty-wood smell. With Alana wrapped to our chest we walked holding hands, smiling into the broken sunlight, as we began our new journey as a family.

My wife and I are very fortunate.  We now work in the same space.  A wonderfully clean, large, modern gym called Studiomix.  Few parents have the luxury to create a schedule at work were they can easily pass their baby back and forth.  This freedom at work helps us balance our priorities and become a stronger team.

Alana's integration into our lives has been so much fun.  We've taken the approach of "she's coming with".  As my wife has healed from delivery we've slowly jumped back into our active lifestyles.  The only change is the +1 --our lil' miss Alana Rosemary.  Have I mentioned she is THE CUTEST!

So there you have it.  I am a father.  I am a husband.  I am a trainer.  And I am full of joy and love.  I've never been happier.  Now I can share my passions with my daughter.  And Alana can step into a future I'll never touch.

My Fitness Journey

Farm Raised Fitness

I've never been more at ease with my fitness and health.  I've reached a point in my life where I am certain and confident that I am doing the right thing.  I work in the best city in the world for fitness.  I am a top trainer in San Francisco.  And I've kept a good name along the way.  No complaints here.  Only gratitude.

As I type late into the night, I want to share with you my journey from the beginning.  Why? Because I am in a very retrospective mood.  You'll understand more in my next blog post.

I grew up with strong male role models.  My father and grandfather were construction workers and farmers.  As a boy I remember watching the turtle move in my dad's arm.  Only later to learn it was not a turtle but actually his bicep.  I remember my grandfather having a legendary grip.  He could drop any man to his knees with a handshake.  My grandfather's face may have aged but his arms were immortal, holding a Greek statuesque shape his entire life.

My Grandfather (Papaw)

In Kentucky your family name sets the tone for your existence.  I had certain small-town societal pressures to live up to.  You would, in a sense, surely follow the steps of your forefathers.  Strength begets strength, friendliness begets friendliness, ad infinitum.

In the South there are two types of strength: stout and soft.  Stout was my specialty from a young age.  Because I was one of the smallest boys in my class I had to make up for the size differential.  For what my frame lacked in size my nervous system, tendons, and muscles made up for.  

Stout is associated to those who's strength outplays their size.  An ant is a great example of stout because an ant can lift 50 times it's weight.  Soft is the inverse of stout.  You may look the part of being strong, but when put to the test you underperform.  

So here we are in the beginning.  

Johnny was a small, stout, young man.  

Farm Work

Farm work was never easy but it helped me develop a respect for manual labor.  Nothing beats putting in a hard days work and actually seeing the fruition of your work.  Planting a garden, putting up a fence, square bailing hay, or feeding cattle, all of these task reconnected me to the source of living off the land.  

Black Belt in Taekwondo

Taekwondo was my first true passion.  I was introduced to it because of having issues with being sick often as a child and having asthma.  My doctor said to my mother: put him in a martial arts class. A few weeks later, bam, I started what would be a 3 year intensive Taekwondo track that ended with me achieving a black belt at the age of 12.

Football

My football story is an interesting one.  In high school I was more interested in Sports Medicine than actually playing sports.  During the summers I would attend Sports Medicine camps and learn about anatomy, injuries, and sideline care.  It wasn't until college that I decided to go for it.  I walked on my college football team with a few friends and proved, to myself, that I was an athlete and could do anything I put my mind to.

Bodybuilding

After quitting football I needed a new athletic focus.  The energy spent working out for 2-3 hours a day in the gym needed to be directed toward a new goal.  A friend mentioned doing a bodybuilding show and I said why not.  Six months later I shaved all the hair off my body, put two coats of tanning lotion on, shaved my head, and won my first bodybuilding show at The Bluegrass Muscle Classic.

Bodybuilding was another great discipline for me but it had negative affects on my personality.  The drive to always look for improvement didn't allow for much contentment.  I was hungry and grumpy often.  Over time, this didn't suit who I was as a person, so I moved forward and moved West to San Francisco.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics was introduced to me by my great friend Carl Paoli.  Gymnastics turned my world into a playground with endless potential for fun.  My inner child would scream with excitement when Carl would show me what was possible with the human body.  This played a pivotal roll in my development as a trainer.  I grew a deep appreciation for understanding the principles of human movement.  And, when juxtaposed to my bodybuilding years, I began smiling again.  I was happy.

Running

I always joke that my running development was aided unfairly.  I moved to Spain for over half a year and forced myself into a long-distance running regimen.  My Spanish friend Miguel wanted to run a marathon so we signed up for one in Gothenburg, Sweden.  Everyday after school, and after my siesta, we would chase the sunset along the Mediterranean sea.  Nothing is more motivating than running along castles and beautiful coastline in a foreign land.  

Yoga

Gymnastics quickly showed me my weaknesses.  Flexibility was a major issue for me.  I could barely touch my knees.  Who cared if I could squat 500lbs but couldn't touch the floor with my hands?  I knew if I wanted to be a better mover I needed to work on my mobility.  That's when Yoga presented itself.  I was working at Equinox at the time so I had classes I could easily attend.  Yoga class was perfect for me because all I had to do was show up and follow instructions.  Yoga taught me patience, how important breathing is in movement, and that slowing down is a great thing.

Pilates

My biggest influence in the last 4 years was Pilates.  My now wife, Robyn, completely overhauled my views on what true strength is.  Small cues suddenly were gigantic challenges for me.  I had become more flexible but I clearly lacked the ability to articulate my spine and engage my muscles on a deeper level.  Pilates has become a strong base to anything I do now.  It's principles apply to all movement.

Rock Climbing

Few things have been really challenging to me.  When I went to a climbing gym for the first time I became very frustrated with my inability to climb proficiently.  I began with bouldering, which is climbing short routes without ropes, and initially thought I would crush it.  The routes are numbered from V0, the easiest, to V15+.  Each step up V1, V2, V3 is a significant difference in difficulty.  I did a few V0s and quickly developed the dreaded forearm pump.  I was using my upper body too much and not using my legs.  No matter how strong you are your arms will not have the endurance to hold up to repetitive climbs.  So, naturally, I fell in love.  My stubborn self got a membership and began climbing incessantly.  Gradually my smooth technique developed.  The biggest thing I've learned from rock climbing is the importance of body position, how to coordinate all four limbs, how to use the push pulls of your body, and that you must breath and stay relaxed to perform maximally.

Dance

Without every discipline before me I would have never had the opportunity to appreciate dance.  Dance has always been an ambiguous discipline to me.  I, like many other people, assumed dance was just some thing people did in dance clubs and musicals.  I didn't fully understand the history and influence dance has had on all forms of fitness.  Recently, I've taken on modern dance with my friend James Graham and ballet with Andre Cravens.  These two dance techniques are so different from one another but equally challenging.  Similar to Pilates, dance has shown me the years of practice and work that goes into great positions, beautiful transitions, and fluid, effortless movement.  And now Dance is my latest challenging passion.  My goal is to retrace it's evolution so I can further evolve myself.

Thanks for following me through my fitness journey.  My best advice to you is to always be open to developing new relationships.  Life is too quick to be stagnant.  New friendships are the best way to challenge your mind and body.  When you share passions with one another new life develops between you.  And you'll grow in ways you could have never imagined. 

Always be you but don't be afraid of changing.  Reflect on your life's journey and get excited about writing the next chapters.

The Upside/Downside to "The Biggest Loser"

Recently I read an article about the TV show "The Biggest Loser".  The article covered the future success of past participants and asked the question: Did They Keep Off The Weight?  The article answered it's own question confusedly, some did and some didn't.  The contestants weren't nearly as inspiring without the lights and glamor of television drama.

Outside of the vast popularity of "The Biggest Loser" lies the incredible task of creating a healthier America.  Are reality shows that highlight dramatic, fast weight loss "real" enough? Today I want to discuss the Upside/Downside of "The Biggest Loser" and how it affects our ideals of health and what's achievable.

Lets start with what makes "The Biggest Loser" so popular.  Contestants are selected based on their level of obesity.  The more you weigh the more potential you have for weight loss.  The contestants' ability to loose weight rapidly is the major draw for viewers.  But is this draw accurate to reality and fair to our individual hopes for weight loss and health?

I believe dramatized, hyper-realistic weight loss is detrimental to

 viewers and the contestants for many reasons. 

Viewers live vicariously through the contestants of the show.  We develop emotional bonds with certain characters and grow an empathetical attachment.  We place ourselves in their struggles and get pulled into their reality.  But this reality isn't real.  We must remember it is entertainment.

Entertainment is staged, edited, and wrapped around commercials and marketing.  Reality is random, non-edited, and wrapped around your day-to-day choices.  With entertainment, you are more than a viewer.  You are a consumer.  This is a major point to hold onto.

Between the sweat and tears of contestants commercials air. 

Watching entertainment is like reading only the bright-neon highlighted sentences of a novel.  Much of the depth of the story is lost to major plot points and climatical scenes.  What we don't see is the work behind the scenes.  The support the contestants have with doctors being on hand, nutritionist setting the caloric tone for what they eat, and contracts binding the contestants to follow every order.  This is the real story.  

The truest reality lies behind the curtain and the stage, out of sight.

This lack of transparency is covered up with hard exercises, sweat, and tears.  Viewers become transfixed by the entertainment of weight loss success and failure.  And we begin to believe extreme weight loss is not only achievable but easily within reach for ourselves.  A if-they-can-do-it-so-can-I mentality develops.  

Your ability to succeed isn't what I am questioning.  I believe you can!  I worry about the false hope for rapid weight loss the show promotes.  And how this ideology demotivates us to make immediate changes to our lifestyle.  

Why watch success passively when we can experience for ourselves?

"The Biggest Loser" is the actual winner for the television show.  But the show doesn't stop there.  Contestants are under contract to keep the weight off.  They are representatives of the show and have a constant spotlight on their lives.  

That is a kind of pressure we can't relate to.  No one is holding us to contract.  We didn't punish ourselves through filming with nutritionists and doctors on hand.  And we didn't face America once a week on a scale that promulgated our weight in bold, white font to millions.  So how are we expecting ourselves to fair similarly in such a dissimilar position?

The winner of the show isn't only "The Biggest Loser" but is anyone and everyone who takes on this challenge in their lives.  Be proud of yourself for accepting where you are, acknowledging it doesn't reflect who you actually are, and stepping forward to improve your life with long-term healthier life choices.  

The glamour of extreme exercise for weight loss is a major highlight of the show.  But exercise is only a small part of a larger equation for health.  The same can be said for food, sleep, stress, relationships, work, family life, and general activity.  

Life itself is the equation.  

Seeing positive value in yourself and believing it wholeheartedly is the real goal.  When you fully embrace your worth and your desire to fulfill it, great decisions will follow you anywhere you go.  Your appetite for knowledge and self-improvement will become insatiable.  And your focus on your health will surpass weight loss and move into realms of self-exploration you never thought possible.

Why Fitness Will Never Be Owned

Thrusting a flag into the ground is a profound American image of pride.  "This land is ours!"  We defend and protect our ideals and philosophies with fever-pitched passion.  This passion is a beautiful testament to why we've done so well for ourselves.  But our defend and protect, militant perspective presupposes ownership, and with ownership comes the necessity for clear boundaries.

Land is only the beginning.  Philosophies, theologies, and beliefs are the new frontier.  And to wrangle up these epistemological entities we need words, we need definitions.

Before we dive into Fitness as a frontier lets look at Religion.

Religion is a beautiful, diversified, ever-changing organism in society.  It's roots reach deep into the fabric of humanity.  And as a frontier, no map has changed boundaries more often.  Religion is a mother to countless babies.  And her offspring have become parents to us all.

Fitness is an ever-expanding family.  Never before have we had so many perspectives shared at once--which gives rise to an incredible excitement for the future! And never before have we had so many neighbors disputing territorial rights.

So what is Fitness?  And to whom does it belong?

Fitness is an individual's experience shared with the community.  It belongs to us all.  And in each of us, individually, we own whatever we choose to experience.  We should focus on the experience and guard and protect the individual's right to have their own working definition.  A living definition just as alive as we are and just as evolving.

We should have the freedom to attach ourselves to broader spectrums of Fitness and to pull away at any time.  Let's learn to explore Fitness in a open-minded, conflict-free way.  And step into a future of sharing and growing.

Why the Weekend Warrior Isn't Enough

Fitness has officially escaped the confines of gym walls.  Gym Rats are evolving into Weekend Warriors, leaving their towels and benches behind for mountain bikes and surf boards.  People are escaping their day-to-day lives by seeking adventure and new stories to share.  But there is a downside to being only a Weekend Warrior.  When you push away your desk chair for a kayak, and bypass the gym, you might find yourself losing a few battles.

A Sedentary Week Isn't The Best Companion 

to an Athletic Weekend.  

You can't expect yourself to move from a chair at work to a mountain bike and not have a lack in performance.  Outside of underperforming you are also putting yourself at risk for injury.  Too many people are finding themselves coming back to work with crutches because their bodies are under conditioned.

A more balanced approach for training during the week needs to be established to compliment a safer, more enjoyable weekend.  Once a compromise is found the Weekend Warrior can hit it hard every weekend, and come back to work with a smile and a bucket of stories to share.

Look at Exercise as The Foundation to All Activity.  

Training can establish a strong base of strength, endurance, agility, power, and coordination.  These skills are like fingers to a hand; they add dexterity and precision to perform at a higher level.  With the proper foundation of skill development Weekend Warriors can continue to challenge themselves to new activities every weekend.

Don't Go From 0 to 100 Too Quickly!

Another error of the Weekend Warrior is jumping into an intense activity too quickly.  The body needs time for proper warmup.  Again when you move from a motionless, seated position to a 60mph downhill biking scenario there is a huge gap in function.  If the body isn't warm and primed for an activity you run a major risk for injury.  This is where training comes in during the week.  You practice a routine for warming up, the body adapts, and when you apply it outside you are ready to go!

Progression is Key.

We must always adopt an attitude of training progressively.  Progression is a directional line that connects "where we are" (skill wise) to "where we want to be".  Not all of use need to take 99 progressive steps to get to 100.  Some of us start at 50 and some of us skip 5 steps at a time.  But no matter who you are, we all follow the same path to progress forward.

Our Ultimate Goal is Effortlessness and Total Enjoyment.

Take time out for yourself during the week to train so that you can have a safer, more exciting weekend.  You don't have to be a Gym Rat but you do have to be active during the week.  Your fitness level needs to match your living level.  

Excel with Your Fitness So You Can 

Excel in Your Life and All of its Adventures.  

The Value of Fitness Information

Working in the fitness industry inspires me daily.  Most of my inspiration comes from the experiences I have with my clients.  Breakthroughs and success fill me with confidence and push my passions forward.  I must admit, though, that I am not always excited about how the fitness industry expresses itself.

Earlier today I wrote on my Pearman Fitness Facebook Page:

"Information isn't Education until you apply it."

So what did I mean?

This morning I asked myself, "Why do you become so cranky at times with Fitness?" Instantly, two words popped up: Information and Education.  But why?  I began thinking about the differences of the two words in the Fitness Industry and BINGO! Education inspires me and Information, at times, bores me.  

Now lets not dog Information, totally.  Information can also be a great step forward in learning and growing.  The problem lies in the value of the information.  It can be priceless or worthless.  And the value of the information is only truly known when we cash it in.  This is what I meant when I said that Information isn't Education until you apply it.

There is a constant NOISE that inundates our senses daily.  And we can't simply turn it off.  Our best chance is to grab what we like, wrangle it in, apply it to our lives, and decide on our own it's true value.  Move information through the filter of your life and become educated.  

My First Time Floating Weightlessly

My body gets used and abused daily.  One key to my success with staying healthy is the time I take out for myself to decompress and do body work.  I nap.  Do Yoga. Read. Stretch.  Foam roll.  Get a massage.  But something always felt like it was missing.

There are many ways to rejuvenate the body.  There is a trinity to speak of with self-care; we must address our physical self, our mind, and our spirit.  Recently, I addressed all there in a dark, lightless, soundless box.  Where I floated, weightlessly, for one hour completely sensory deprived.  This was both a challenge for myself and a moment of discovery.

-THE DAY OF THE FLOAT-

After a quick shower I wrapped my naked body in a robe, slid on my flip-flops, and walked toward my float tank.  Pulling the curtains for privacy, I hung my robe and opened the door to the tank.  The walls were painted black and a salty, humid warmth reached out to envelop me.  I stepped forward, raising my knee, and slid my foot into the darkness.

The water was a warm 94 degrees and it's saline grittiness crackled beneath my feet.  Hunching over, I crawled forward and shut the door.  Lowering my butt, extending my arms and legs, I relaxed and tilted my head back.  An elliptical ring of water circled my face and stopped at the edges of my eyes. I was floating.  It was dark upon dark.  So it began.

My first thought was time.  1 hour.  No stimulation.  No sound.  No light. This was going to be tough.  With my eyes closed I felt myself touch the edges of the tank.  At first, a hand then a foot.  With the easiest of efforts I would slightly extend a finger or toe to glide back to neutral.  I immediately thought of an astronaut in space doing the same thing.  Gravity had lost it's embrace on me.  Once I was centered then I allowed myself to relax and move my awareness onto other matters.

The sensation of spinning overwhelmed me.  I felt as though I were afloat at night in the sea, stuck in a spin between currents.  I spun counterclockwise endlessly.

Gaining control, the spinning subsided, leaving my focus on my breath.  Breathing through my nose I listened to the air entering my lungs.  My chest and body would lift ever-so-slightly higher, and sink as I exhaled.  The rhythm was hypnotic and of the only sensation available.

My heartbeat stepped in next.  Reminded of being back in my mother's belly, I was embraced in warm amniotic fluid, where there was no separation between me and my environment   This was my first introduction to music through the rhythm of my heart.   Boom.  Boom.  Boom.

Each beat extended itself out into the water and I felt my heart's true, subtle power.  My boundaries were extending.  I was becoming more than a body.

Words, phrases, and images randomly flooded my consciousness.  The phrase "Catch Jack" was followed by the word "Dutch".  Then an image of the Broadway Tunnel moved through me.  By now my brain was stimulating itself.  I began to dream whilst being awake.  No control of my mind but aware of it's happenings.

Death, an awaiting reality full of mystery, came to my thoughts.  Being in a soundless, lightless, void over time tends to do that.  Nonetheless, I couldn't escape deaths resemblance to my situation.

I thought of deep space.
Pass the stars, pass the galaxies, pass the galatic clouds, pass it all.
There I was extended into infinity, alone.

Acceptance kept hitting me.  Accept.  Embrace.  Don't fight.  Relax.  Let go.  This was challenging. The greatest challenge of all: losing complete control.

My breath empowered me, as I became more and more still.  I let go; one muscle at a time, one memory, one judgement, one truth.  Finally, I became silent.

Knock.  Knock.  Knock.

It was over.

Will the Real Vitamin C Please Stand Up

Recently, I saw a disturbing commercial while riding in a taxi.  Bright, colorful words flashed across the screen: Healthy Works.  A smiling woman began speaking, "Here is a grape soda it has 160 calories and here is a grape juice it has 154 calories.  But the grape juice also has 120% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C.  Make the healthy choice with grape juice."  The screen fades to black and opens with Jeopardy; I immediately grumble loudly, "Ascorbic Acid doesn't make it healthy!"

Later that day I began to postulate the validity of the smiling woman's claim.  When I Googled Ascorbic Acid I saw it in parenthesis behind Vitamin C.  Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin C are completely interchangeable and describe the same thing.  But are they?

Big questions formed in mind.  Is there a difference nutritionally between getting your Vitamin C from a powder added to a sugary drink and getting it from eating an orange?  Am I wrong in assuming that adding Ascorbic Acid to food and drinks doesn't make it healthier?  

I read a few articles which addressed my questions.  Some people vehemently opposed the rhetoric established in nutritional circles.  The Doctor Within wrote:

"...Ascorbic acid is not vitamin C. Alpha tocopherol is not vitamin E. Retinoic acid is not vitamin A. And so on through the other vitamins. Vast sums of money have been expended to make these myths part of Conventional Wisdom....Vitamins are not individual molecular compounds. Vitamins are biological complexes...."  

(The Doctor Within )

This was very interesting.  Instead of isolating elements as being healthy on their own, maybe we should focus more on a broader biological story.  

I began feeling light headed and dizzy.  This is one giant circle of inquiry with confused answers abroad.  I'm not getting any REAL ANSWERS.  So I moved to using logic. 

Clearly, eating natural food for your vitamins is the healthiest way to go.  The supplement industry's name says it all: SUPPLEMENT.  Supplements are fillers for people who fall below adequate dietary standards.  Malnutrition is a real threat and supplementation is an answer.  But whole food nutrients are the REAL answer to our dietary needs.  

As Americans living in a bountiful land of produce and food, we have no excuses for not eating healthy foods.  Our problem is not related to having the right food it is related to knowing and choosing wisely.

How to read Nutritional Labels.  Firstly, look below the label at the INGREDIENTS.  If you see listed Ascorbic Acid or Sodium Ascorbate you should know the Vitamin C is synthetic.  Also, if you don't know how to pronounce an ingredient look it up.  We all have smart phones and the internet.  

http://www.vitamincandmore.com/

We used to live in a calorie focused world.  Now we need to move to an ingredient focused existence.  Know what you are consuming and then worry about portions later.  Any client that I work with I tell the same.  Eliminate the processed, chemical ridden, confused diet for a elementary, simple healthy approach to food.  How can that be confusing?

Eat to Lose Weight, Don't Diet

Good food has always been good food.  Fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean protein, these approaches to healthy eating will never change.  But diet fads will come and go.  After all they are "diets" and that always implies short-term changes.  We need to focus on the long haul, an entire life.  If you practice moderation and portion sensibility you can enjoy all ranges of food, during your lifetime, and still be healthy.

Don't demonize the food.  Demonize your abuse of food.

Diets are short term experiments.  Of course short-term changes only bring us short-term results.  There's the error with dieting.  People get a quick positive result that has a very high failure rate in the long-term.  

Success is related to confidence.  If you are a Yo-Yo Dieter, losing weight, gaining weight, losing weight, you will never get anywhere with your health.  And if you fail and backslide each time you succeed then you'll always have less faith with there being any real hope for the future.  Gain confidence by creating a new, healthy lifestyle of food and forget the diets.

Of course, it is important to understand how our individual chemistry responds to various nutritional stimuli.  That is why gastronomy exist.  Gastronomy is the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food; it is also the study of food and culture.  

We must learn to approach food with an adventurous spirit and open mind.  There are so many things for you to learn about yourself through eating.  Just as you can travel the world, so must you travel the world of food.

A quick glance at a typical Pearman Fitness Lunch.

I challenge you to go on a gastronomical journey.  It won't be easy, always.  There will be a few sour faces and yuck moments.  But beyond the fear of unusual taste there lies an open field of opportunity:  

Fruits and vegetables you have never heard of but will one day love.  

Herbs and spices you learn to cook with. 

Flavors undiscovered in your own kitchen and home.

As for losing the weight.  Here is your formula to success.

1 pound of fat = 3500 calories

Cut 500 calories of food a day for a week to lose 1 pound. 

Or add activity upwards of burning 250 calories a day and only cut 250 calories of your food.  

Pretty simple.  

1 pound a week for 52 weeks is 52 pounds.  Clearly, we can't continue to lose weight.  But you are setting yourself up not to gain.  That is the key.

We always say gaining weight is easier than losing weight.  That isn't true.  What is true is that we don't realize or commit to lose weight until we've already gained so much.  Of course, by then the task is much harder in that we must be patient and persistent longer.  

Enough talk.  I'm hungry :)

The Healing of Orange Sherbet

Healing is the bridge between being sick and being healthy.  This bridge is crossed everyday, naturally, as we sleep and recover.  But the speed of the body's natural healing mechanisms often times need a little nudge, a little help, and sometimes a little love.

When I was a sick child my mother had the best cure.  I will give you a clue--it wasn't from the medicine cabinet.  My mother would pour Sprite over orange sherbet in a bowl.  I remember the floating sherbet dissolving into an ocean of fizz.  I would spoon chunks away from the shrinking island of sweet, healing goodness, until I was left with a smoothie to gulp.  And sure enough, not soon after, I would be sitting up, feeling much better.  Sometimes all you need is a mother's love, a child's faith, and a little sugar.

Healing isn't always about reducing inflammation or lowering a fever.  And getting sick isn't always about catching something.  My uncle always said that you only got sick when your body decided to slow you down.  The choice to be healthy is in your hands first, and if you fail, your body makes the decision for you.  Stop.  No More.  You are grounded.

In Kentucky we didn't define things with terms or have academic conversations about the immune system.  Most of our reality of health came from our talk of the spirit.  We left all outcomes in the hands of fate.  It was our job to always give our best and have good faith in whatever future lay ahead.

Of course, there is a real place for medicine in our fate.  We can't be completely ignorant of the advances in medicine and its relation to our longevity.  But neither can we ignore the healing cultures we grew up with.  We can't forget our orange sherbet miracles.  

The Anatomy of Happiness

In a world of wants Happiness tops the list.  Happiness is something we all chase and dream.  Often times our pursuit of Happiness leads us astray.  But as the world continues to socially evolve, and material struggles continue to fall short in fulfilling us, more and more people are seeking and discovering Happiness.  If the end goal is Happiness we need to first, learn what it is, second, understand the Anatomy of Happiness, and lastly, apply the principles of Happiness into our everyday lives.

Firstly--What is Happiness?

Happiness is a long-lasting psychological state of joy, pleasure, harmony, contentment, love, and compassion.  It is not temporary but a constant state which grows and shrinks throughout our conscious lives.   Happiness does not decay like the body.  Rather it has the capacity to grow infinitely stronger over time.

We are born with a set Baseline for Happiness--a genetically determined start carved out by chemical, hormonal, and psychological propensities.  Essentially, we are born at a predetermined Elevation of Happiness.  Genetically speaking, some of us are born below sea level, with a propensity for depression, while others are born on top of mountains, with a propensity for elation.  But this beginning state of Happiness does not tell the whole story.

Total Happiness is the confluence of Baseline Happiness and Potential Happiness.
It is gained by the understanding of one's self and the proper use of Free Will.
The Anatomy of Happiness is the harmonious union of the biological and psychological Self.

Free Will is your most powerful tool in life.  Free Will is a creative tool that synchronistically shapes your world inside and out.  Under the guidance of Free Will there lies an ability to change your biological self and your Baseline of Happiness.  And eventually, with enough practice your Baseline will move as high as you choose to take it.

Our genetic makeup follows the code of adaptability for survival.  How we survive or choose to live affects how we biologically adapt during our lifetime.  If we choose to live a healthy life these adaptations will continue to make us happier and more resilient.  The end goal being tough skin and an unassailable smile.

Happiness starts as a temporary moment experienced by the brain's release of a chemical called Dopamine.  Activities and experiences that are new, explorative, passionate, and physical reward the brain with the release of dopamine, and the subsequent feeling of being happy.  The more often this happens the higher your Baseline.  Then you normalize at a higher, happier, psychological state.

This is why Free Will is so important.  We have the freedom and power to choose in our lives how we want to live, how we want to be rewarded, how we want to adapt, and how we want to feel.  Our Happiness is our responsibility and it is within our shaping.

Keep your life interesting.
Challenge your mind and body to new things.
Spice up your life.
Explore nature.
Take moments of stillness for yourself.
Discover harmony.
Seek some form of spiritual integration and share this with others.
Discover joy from the connection to others.
Seek activities that are demanding and difficult.
Let go of your ego.
Balance control and acceptance.
And develop a rhythm in life that is distinctly your own.

The key to happiness is the ability to--
"RECOVER FROM ADVERSITY MORE QUICKLY"

You can choose to grow infinitely happier.

So do it.

Kayaking Mendocino

It was my first time in a kayak.  After a brief how-to demo our instructor, Steve, pushed us off the beach.  I began paddling for the first time, anxious and excited.  With bent knees, I relaxed my grip and reminded myself to be one with the ocean.

As everyone entered the water I took a look around.  One of the guys from Canada had his black, scraggly dog in his lap.  The other Canadian had dreadlocks and a quite demeanor.  Robyn, had sunglasses, a beanie, and an ear-to-ear grin.  One married couple shared a kayak and a desire to go-go-go.  Our instructor seemed most at ease, no life jacket, no wet suit, only sunglasses, a pair of shorts, a white t-shirt, and a constant Stevie Wonder smile.  He pointed toward a dark entrance just off the shore.  Our first cave passage.

Gaining my aquatic bearings I was the last to arrive near the cave entrance.  While listening to the end of Steve's preparatory speech I realized the waves were not calm and placid but growing fierce.  We lined up waiting for the perfect moment to go for it.  Steve watched the breaks with his finger waiting in the air.

NOW!

The couple sharing a kayak sprinted first into the shrinking diameter of the cave.  Robyn went second, just ahead of me.  So far so good.  And the Canadians followed.  Daylight faded and my eyes slowly adjusted.  The cave walls were dark and rigid, and they smoothed out to a gloss as they neared the surface of the water.  The ocean sloshed, twirled, and created soft echoes before quieting, eerily.  Pulling my eyes toward the the activity of the water, each successive wave grew larger, as my dilating eyes followed suit.  Riding on a a giant rumbling belly before a sneeze, we felt the tension build exponentially.

Halfway through the cave a wave pushed Robyn's kayak sideways.  Frantically, she pushed off the cave wall to straighten herself as I slammed into her broadside.  Twisted and off angle, we looked at each other with a surge of adrenaline. We had moments to escape.  Digging our paddles into the water we let out a last effort scream, and just as the waves showed their teeth we straightened up, got sucked down away from the cave wall, and shot out like a broken bullet.

As the adrenaline subsided we turned our boats to encourage the Canadians.  But no one was there. Then Hugo arrived soaked and breathing heavily.  I didn't quite understand what he said at first but then the words sunk in: I flipped.

After another minute Steve came through with his continuous smile and nonchalant shoulders. "We lost him...no (grin) but he did get tossed."

What a beginning to our kayaking adventure.  After our faces regained their color everything thereafter was highlighted by the gift of continued life.  Herding together we headed across the bay into a field of giant kelp.  On top of the water lay big green bulbs, the size of softballs.  On top of the bulbs sea lettuce sprouted bright green.  Steve grabbed a handful and stuffed his mouth. "So good! You gotta try this."  Without hesitation, and because I was actually starving, this treat stacked up in my lap.  And from then on I ate my sea lettuce like wet potato chips.

Rounding a rock we floated up to Harbor Seals basking in the sun.  They were spotted like dalmatians and lounging on algae covered rocks.  Unalarmed, they squinted at us half asleep and feel back into a slumber.  A few words and we paddled on.

My first experience with kayaking in the ocean was full of so many new experiences.  The vacillating power of the ocean filled me with awe, fear, amazement, and a new respect for life simultaneously.  Life seemed more unpredictable in the ocean, more precious.  And the world lying beneath the surface of the water glanced through if I focused enough, if I gave it time.

When exploring nature and watching life exist outside of ourselves, we quickly see our characteristics played back to us.  The desire to live, eat, relax, be with others, love, and explore--these desires exist in all life, at every level.

Fog, Whales, and a Great Hike

My Labor Day Weekend 2012.  

Destination: Salt Point State Park Jenner, California.

I am a grain of salt in this grand scene. Pearman Fitness (bottom left)

Welcome to Northern California.  A land of fog, whales, cliffs, mountains, and breathtaking views.  Nowhere in the world does the land and ocean come together in such a magnificent way.   

***

After a 2 1/2 hour drive from San Francisco my friends and I peeled our rears from the car seats, jumped to the earth, arched our backs like cats, and lengthened our tight thighs.  Not knowing what to expect we parked on the side of the road and followed an ambiguously labeled trail sign.  The fields were golden and dry, crunching beneath our feet as we began what would become a glorious day of surprises. 

This was our first glimpse of the ocean.  The fog ebbed and flowed, covering us one moment and retreating the next.  A seagull flew past casually and I found myself standing in silence.

Turning down the coast we stumbled upon an old, tall, angular tombstone with two names.  After digesting the dates we learned a tragic story of the fate of a family in the 1870s.  A father passed away only to be followed by his infant daughter 20 days later. I can't imagine the loneliness this widow endured as she buried her husband and child.  And I can't imagine how this outlook into the ocean spoke to her as the world seemed to take so much of her life away.

And now I found myself in the same spot. 

The Fog was most refreshing. 

Once I spot a beach on a hike I instantly analyze: Can this be done?  After sliding down lose sand and rock, hanging onto plants and tree roots, I safely planted my feet on the gravel of a deserted beach.  Prehistoric boulders, smooth and tan, crept from the ocean, like lizards desperate to bathe in the sun.  And I ran to each one leaping, smiling, and climbing to the top.

  Striking a pose.

As each bend broke in a trail and a completely new scene unfolded before us, Hans, David, and I would harmonize adjectives--Wow! Amazing! Incredible! Crazy! And with a quick share of smiles no other words were necessary.

Friends make every experience more rich.  To know that you will cherish and share these exact moments for the rest of your lives, adds a instantaneous value to the experience.

The Heavenly Reach of Trees. 

Dinosaur Hill. 

Every hill is worth climbing.  Any chance you have to become a giant and gather a larger scope of your surroundings should be taken.  Get excited.  Lose the fear.  And climb up, scoot out, and take it all in.

The Incessant Urge to Climb Manifested. 

As we finished our last hike we returned to a clear sky.   Green, gold, and blue radiated all around us.  With our last blinks, staring into the horizon two puffs of water jumped from the ocean.  Whales!

We took off running, angling ourselves down the field toward the ocean, with the hope of getting a close view.  David in front, Hans in the middle, we bolted down a tightrope of a trail full sprint.  The excitement lifted our spirits and I felt like I could hold that pace forever.  The field gave way to a rocky, alien-like surface.  Jagged, porous rock slowed down our fevered run as we opened our lungs to the ocean and waited for the surface to break.

Suddenly, two dark humps peaked out of the water and two whale spouts brought a sound of life.  We stood there happy and surprised once again.  Standing on the edge of a continent, waves crashing at our feet, and whales saying their last goodbyes... What luck!

Crossfit and Gossip

I recently read an article by The New York Times entitled "A Class for Every Yoga Mood".  The article provides insight into the evolving practice of yoga, which is no longer the stretching, breathing, meditative discipline we recognize, but rather a new "fusion yoga" that is more hardcore and breathless in nature.  Fusion Yoga has led to an unending list of possibilities: Hangover Yoga, Yoga Butt Bootcamps, Shred Yoga with Weights, Yoga Crossfit...and whatever you can dream up.  Seriously anything. 

The fitness industry has become a radio with too many stations and a weak antenna.   

Across the country there is an epidemic in the fitness industry of following trends of what's new.  People's lack of success has driven them to jump boat too often and too soon.  Our attitudes of we want it quick and we want it now! continue to misguide us on our quest for health.  We follow the gossip and flux of trends and we never learn to commit long enough to promote true lifestyle change.

Nowadays, the average fitness consumer is looking for everything hardcore.  Type A personalities, adrenaline addicts, and fitness newbies crowd group classes aching for that aching.  The new quest for health is not guided by sweat alone but by lactic acid build up, an elevated heart rate, and a sore body.  So how did we get here?

Competition in the fitness industry has pushed a desire in developers to create a niche, so as to stand out amid all the noise. 

With so many "certified yogis and trainers" businesses and fitness professionals are pushing the limits of catchy marketing to fill their classes.  Thus Trend Blending was born.  As the ink bleeds across the lines, disciplines continue to adopt the principles of others, and classes such as Yoga Shred with Weights multiply and inundate the market.  

Aside from needing to stand out with consumers the fitness industry saw an opportunity as a little underground, hardcore community grew to be mainstream and ubiquitous.

Crossfit set the stage as becoming the most successful portal to fitness.  Crossfit became the Google search for experts in olympic lifting, physical therapy, gymnastics, endurance sports, and many other disciplines.  Essentially Crossfit sold itself as the mother umbrella to fitness, aligning subcategories of all applied athletics under it's nurturing wing.  And now the competitive athlete can be found in their garage across the street.

Crossfit exposed a few uncovered desires: we enjoy being competitive, we thrive in a community, and PRs (personal records) motivate us to be our best.  We need to be supported and held accountable, we need an environment that promotes enthusiasm and educational sharing, and we need quantitative data to mark where we are and how that relates to others.  But as great as Crossfit is we should not let this trend oversaturate our perspective.

Hardcore is ok.  As long as you understand that harder, faster, stronger isn't always better.  

And it won't initially gain you quicker access to that 6-pack or skinnier waist.  Most athletes and fitness personalities that inspire us do train hard but we have to take into account that their level of fitness has progressed over a lifetime.  And their hardcore is not your hardcore.  You should never imitate levels of fitness that you can not safely and correctly perform.

The Danger of Complacency with Success

I've been training for many years now, going through many changes in my philosophic approaches to physical fitness and health; I've had many firm stands on what is best for the body and what works best for me.  And I've always used my personal experience to leverage the best plan of attack for the success of my clients.  But as they have often times succeeded I have noticed a following lull as they reach the top of their mountain.  People lose track of the path they followed and become too content with their new vista.  What they don't realize is that this mountain they are climbing continues to sink.  And there is a danger of complacency with success.

So you've lost the weight.  You have the arms or legs you wanted.  And you've never felt better.  This motivates you even more to continue to train.  But in your success you can also lose the drive you once had.  You can forget about the struggle and your passion can atrophy.

I confess that I am a sinner of my own success.  I am confident to a fault at times.  I am happy with how I look and feel with my body and when given the choice to train or lie on the couch, well, the couch wins.  My complacency is making my decisions for me.  I could train but...I'm fine.  This is a major error.

My back and hips have been giving me problems for the past 6 months.

My Response: 

"Take it easy, give my body a break.  My clothes still fit.  And I look relatively the same."  

My Body's Response: 

"I need more activity!  I will give you new aches and pains.  And confuse you with a multiplicity of physical problems." 

Recently, I've shaken off my hesitations and recommitted to training.  Outside of the new aches and pains slowing me down I had lost the drive to lift weights; I had convinced myself that I didn't want to look too muscular--I know this must sound absurd, but you don't always want people saying that you MUST be a trainer when they first meet you.

After measuring my body composition I had a wake up call.  Not because it was extraordinarily high but because it was the highest ever for me.  My new body composition directly reflected the victory of my complacency for sitting on the couch instead of training.  And I finally realized that I was sinking with the mountain.

We all need a little forced reflection every once in a while.  And my body fat test was it for me.
"So what, I look the same."  This convincing phrase lost it's validity because the numbers told me otherwise.  The numbers told the truth.

Not that we must always be better than we were but that we must always move forward.  We must know that we have been making the best decisions for ourselves at all times.  Decisions that propel us forward and up.  Decisions that challenge us so we must adapt and progress.

I challenge YOU to join me in the following:

• Be aware of the danger of complacency with success.  
• Know when you succeed.  
• Enjoy the success.  
• But don't ever stop moving.  

Why Oprah Can't Do It

Oprah Winfrey is rich.
Oprah Winfrey has unlimited resources.
Oprah Winfrey is educated and intelligent.
Oprah Winfrey is passionate and driven.
So why is Oprah Winfrey overweight?

We live in a world with ever increasing waistlines.  Food has never been more easily accessible.  Work has never been more sedentary.  Debt has never been so common.  Stress has never been so prevalent.  And amid the cornucopia of advertisements about weight loss, people find themselves feeling confused, deflated, and helpless.  As we look around for heroes, we are left seeing the most capable people fail at losing weight.  So why is Oprah Winfrey overweight?

This is not an attack on Oprah Winfrey.  Oprah is an American Icon.  She is the perfect combination of love and power; she has touched and helped millions of people, while transcending social limitations of her race and sex.  With that said, I would like to see Oprah be a success story with her weight loss and health.

Please don't think I am being shallow.  Of course, being skinny is not "the most important" thing in life.  I am only bringing up the burning reality of weight gain in this country.  We have the answers--so we claim--with a fitness and weight loss industry that boast over $60 billion dollars a year in profits.  Clearly spending the money doesn't equate to losing the weight. So what is the answer?

Oprah Winfrey I am reaching my hand out to you.  I believe the answer to a healthier country can only be found in conversation and support.  We need to talk honestly about this obesity epidemic in America.  And no one is better at being heard than you.  Lets start this conversation and never stop.

No flashy Photoshopped images necessary.  No I lost 100 pounds in 6 weeks claims!
Just good ole' fashioned, front porch a sittin', in our rocking chairs talk.

It is never too late.  But it is increasingly nearing impossible.