Hardwire Your Brain for More Success
Perhaps it’s not what we are thinking about, but the way we think about it. In this podcast with James Wedmore and Dr. Amen, learn the importance of our brain health (especially for entrepreneurs), and how we can optimize its performance.
How Much Exercise Do We Need to Live Longer?
We’ve all heard that exercise can help us live longer, but how much exercise do we really need to reap these longevity benefits? The quick answer is about 7000 to 8000 steps a day, or 30 to 45 minutes of exercise most days. Check out this New York Times article that explains how much exercise is necessary to actually affect our longevity.
“Nature has given us all the pieces required to achieve exceptional wellness and health, but has left it to us to put these pieces together”
- Diane McLaren
Women are Key to Post-Pandemic Leadership
Covid-19 has brought a copious amount of changes to our lives, and the business world has certainly felt these shifts. As we show our resilience through this period of tragedy and severe change, it has become apparent that the modern day leader must be more aware of the physical and emotional well being of their employees. Female leaders have taken this challenge head on and will continue to do so going forward.
Better Than Before
Happiness and habits. Have you ever considered the connection? Maybe you quit smoking, or adopted a new diet & workout plan. Or maybe you have had trouble making and sticking to these changes. This book by Gretchen Rubin teaches us how to make and see through habits, as well as finally kick some bad ones to the curb.
It’s Not About How Much You Sleep, It’s About What You Do When You’re Awake
Adaptive Athletes on the First-Ever Adaptive Season
"If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”
10 Benefits of Cycling
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Bonus:
Big Summer Sale! Coming Soon...
Road to Madison - Jeffrey Adler
Jeffrey Adler is making his 3rd straight individual appearance at the CrossFit Games. He was one of five men to compete in the in-person portion of the CrossFit Games in 2020 and took 5th overall. Tommy Marquez talks with him and coach Caroline Lambray about the experience of competing at the Games last year, expectations for 2021 and how Jeffrey is excited to get on the floor at the Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center for the first time in his career.
Does CrossFit Have a Future?
Last week, The New Yorker dropped a piece outlining the last 18 months of CrossFit as a brand and questioned whether or not there is a future for the brand. As you may know, LIFEAID was born in a CrossFit box and has been essential to the growth of our brand. So far with the sale of CrossFit to Eric Roza, we’ve seen many positive changes and are looking forward to the Roza era of CrossFit.
“When you combine extreme focus and great teams, magic happens”
—Sam Altman
Lifting Weights? Your Fat Cells Would Like to Have a Word
We all know that lifting weights can build up our muscles. But by changing the inner workings of cells, weight training may also shrink fat, according to an enlightening new study of the molecular underpinnings of resistance exercise. The study, which involved mice and people, found that after weight training, muscles create and release little bubbles of genetic material that can flow to fat cells, jump-starting processes related to fat burning.
Two-Brain Business: Grow Your Gym
Whether you own a garage gym,a CrossFit Box, or a martial-arts studio,Two-Brain Business can help you get running, get organized, and getmembers; keep people happier,and make more time for yourself. Chris Cooper of TwoBrainBusiness.com shows you how!
HindeSight | No. 67
Taking on the Giants in the Beverage Industry
Last week, I sat down with the team at Virtual Mgr on the “How Did We Get Here?” podcast. During the episode, we talk about how Orion and I started and scaled LIFEAID from an RV to global domination, taking on the giants of the industry and winning! There are many similarities in our journey alongside Virtual Mgr's despite the significant differences in our respective industries.
Why is Nutrition so Important for the Sport of Fitness
CrossFit as a training methodology has long promoted balanced nutrition. It is part of the L1 curriculum, and a great amount of focus has been placed on a low processed, whole
foods based diet as the driver to a reversal of chronic disease.
CrossFit the sport has taken a slightly different approach. While food quality is still important, there is a new focus on food amounts both on a calorie and macronutrient level. Macro tracking is the new nutrition approach du jour for athletes, and to no one’s surprise, the community has followed close behind.
“A business has to be evolving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”
—Richard Branson
Having a Growth Mindset Makes it Easier to Develop New Interests
Steve Jobs’s vision for Apple was rooted in the belief that the arts and sciences do not live in isolation. They complement and enhance each other. John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Pixar, echoed this sentiment stating, “Technology inspires art, and art challenges the technology.” But even though integrating these areas can be necessary for innovation, too many people confine themselves to only one.
This is Your Brain on Food
When it comes to diet, most people’s concerns involve weight loss, fitness, cardiac health, and longevity. But what we eat affects more than our bodies; it also affects our brains. And recent studies have shown that diet can have a profound impact on mental health conditions ranging from ADHD to depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, OCD, dementia and beyond.
HindeSight | No. 66
Jacob Heppner on the Make Wods Great Again Podcast
CrossFit Games and Team FITAID athlete Jacob Heppner joined the Make Pods Great Again podcast back in March to discuss his retirement from competitive CrossFit, his new training barn, his work with teen athletes, new business ventures, and some hints to his new sporting pursuits. Spoiler alert: he’s boxing Josh Bridges in September.
Physical Therapist Advice for Athletes
Taking care of your body means you can tackle your next adventure sooner. Abigail Stanislaw, a physical therapist in Santa Fe who specializes in sports rehabilitation, answered our most burning rehab questions.
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”
—Sheryl Sandberg
FITAID Strawberry Lemonade is Here!
We've made athletic recovery simple. Now we've made it even more delicious for summer. As our first flavor extension, FITAID Strawberry Lemonade checks off all the boxes for a refreshing finish to a hard workout. Stacked with anti-inflammatory goodness and great taste, this is my new favorite in our roster.
7 Habits of Highly Successful People
One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has captivated readers for nearly three decades. It has transformed the lives of presidents and CEOs, educators and parents--millions of people of all ages and occupations. Now, this 30th anniversary edition of the timeless classic commemorates the wisdom of the 7 Habits with modern additions from Sean Covey.
HindeSight | No. 65
Recapping the German Throwdown, Lowlands Throwdown and Brazil CrossFit Championship
After two weeks of in-person competition the CrossFit Games semifinals go virtual. Sean and Tommy recap the CrossFit German Throwdown, the CrossFit Lowlands Throwdown and the Brazil CrossFit Championship. Who impressed, who surprised and who emerged as potential podium contenders at the Games? Plus, WIT signs a multi-year deal to operate an official online CrossFit store, sell CrossFit-branded gear and have a retail presence at the CrossFit Games and other CrossFit events.
The Benefits of Creatine Supplementation for Women
Last week, Morning Chalk Up published an article by CrossFit Games athlete and Owner of Tactic Nutrition, Meredith Root, outlining the benefits of creatine supplementation in women. Although creatine is one of the most extensively researched supplements, like most, it has traditionally been researched in men, but can offer some overwhelmingly positive results (beyond fitness) for women, too.
“I may be over the top on this, but I just don’t want to like my competitors. I want my people to believe that whenever he and our other competitors succeed, we will be less able to do all the things we want to do.”
—Phil Knight
How to Harness the Pain-Blocking Effects of Exercise
Pain isn’t like heart rate or lactate levels—things you can measure and meaningfully compare from one session to the next. Every painful experience is different, and the factors that contribute to those differences seem to be endless. A recent study in the Journal of Sports Sciences, from researchers in Iraq, Australia, and Britain, adds a new one to the list: viewing images of athletes in pain right before a cycling test led to higher pain ratings and worse performance than viewing images of athletes enjoying themselves.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller, this business book argues that one of the most valuable skills in the world is quickly becoming rare—the ability to focus without distraction on a demanding task. Author Cal Newport explains that by mastering this skill, you’ll be able to more effectively process complicated information and deliver better results in less time as a result.
HindeSight | No. 64
The Whoop Podcast: John John Florence
On this episode of the Whoop podcast, world-champion surfer John John Florence (and brother to Team FITAID athlete Nathan Florence), shares how mindset prepares him for elite performance.
Our Australia/New Zealand Partners are Officially LIFEAID
This week, we completed the acquisition of our Australia/New Zealand distributors, Fit Trendz, officially welcoming them into the LIFEAID family. They have been flying the LIFEAID flag in the land down under since 2015 and we’re excited for them to help us continue to grow our global footprint.
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
—Theodore Roosevelt
8 Reasons Sleep Is Crucial for Entrepreneurs and Leaders
In the gym business, nutrition and training are paramount to what we do. So is sleep which sometimes can be the first to go when life gets hectic. There were many nights while building LIFEAID, that I didn’t get proper sleep (and I’m sure there will be more as we continue to expand). However, I’ve experienced the benefits of getting proper sleep for myself and it continues to be a focus for me.
Dare to Lead
Brene Brown is a New York Times Bestselling author, researcher, and professor who has spent the last two decades studying shame, vulnerability, courage, and empathy. In this book, she lays out the road map of how to be an effective leader by taking ownership, asking questions and staying curious.
HindeSight | No. 60
CrossFit Open Wrap Up with MisFit Athletics
On this bonus episode of the MisFit Athletics podcast, the “Goon Squad” recaps the first phase of the CrossFit season, the CrossFit Open and look ahead to Quarterfinals which kick off this week.
There Are No Rules to Healthy Eating
As CrossFit athletes, we learn that the foundation of health is nutrition. When the methodology first was introduced, the Zone Diet was the prescription. That has changed over time and while I am a proponent of healthy eating (hence, the origin of LIFEAID), there is a lot to consider when it comes to diets versus lifestyle with nutrition.
"You don’t learn from following the rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over."
—Richard Branson
How to Say 'I Don't Know' with Confidence
When Orion and I started LIFEAID, there was a lot that we didn’t know. We had never started a beverage brand before! If we tried to build the company without acknowledging those blind spots and seeking the answers to those questions, there is no way we would have made it to the 10 year mark as a brand.
Screw Business as Usual
One of the things I love about Richard Branson is that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He leads his businesses with conviction and is celebrated for it (as he should be). In this book, Branson argues that people, communities and the planet are perhaps more important than focusing on profit in business.
HindeSight | No. 59
Over the Wall with Rob LoCascio
Ron Aniello joins Rob LoCascio on Over the Wall from the studio in New Jersey for an inspiring conversation about how to surround yourself with talented people who can boost your creative process and set you off towards success. There’s tons of helpful knowledge in this one for anyone experiencing creative frustration, self-doubt, or issues answering the call of their own curiosity.
Unhealthy Foods Aren't Just Bad For You, They May Also Be Addictive
Orion and I started LIFEAID because we saw a trend in kids consuming high sugar, high caffeine beverages. We wanted to provide people with a healthier alternative without all of the junk. More and more we’re seeing people adopt healthier lifestyles, but as this article suggests, there are still strides to be made.
"Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom."
—Sandra Day O’Connor
What Business Leaders Can Learn From Tom Brady and Serena Williams
Every quarter we establish our goals as a company and individually, putting them into a vision statement that is shared weekly in present tense. This has been a big reason why we’ve been able to push LIFEAID forward for the last 10 years. Good to know that we’re in good company.
Think Again
In this book, Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant lays the groundwork of why it’s so important to always listen like you’re wrong. It allows us the opportunity to approach situations with a new perspective; especially those that we are closest to.
Are You Willing to Rethink and Unlearn?
-No. 57-
Mindful Productivity: The Power of the Pivot
Feeling like you want to make a huge change in your life? Feel like something needs to change or that your energy levels are drastically different than they were a year ago? Maybe it's time for a pivot.
Don't Underestimate the Power of a Walk
Technology is a great tool especially in this day and age, but it also has an overwhelming ability to suck us in. I don’t know about you, but there have been days where I realize I haven’t gotten up from my desk all day and I can feel the difference. Especially now, I have gotten into the habit of taking some of my meetings while on a walk to get some movement.
"No matter the risks we take, we always consider the end to be too soon, even though in life, more than anything else, quality should be more important than quantity."
—Alex Honnold
Is Two Hours Outdoors the New 10,000 Steps?
With the cooler weather and government shutdowns across the country, getting outdoors and enjoying nature may not be as easy as it once was. In a 2019 study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports showed that participants who spent two hours or more in nature had a better chance of reporting better health and well-being than those who spent less than two hours outside.
The Art of Impossible
Bestselling author and peak performance expert Steven Kotler decodes the secrets of those elite performers—athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs and more—who have changed our definition of the possible, teaching us how we too can stretch far beyond our capabilities, making impossible dreams much more attainable for all of us.
HindeSight | No. 56