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
Training and Competing as a New Mom with Kenzie Riley
Team MisFits athlete Kenzie Riley joins Drew and Sherb on the podcast to discuss the lessons she’s learned as a new mom trying to stay fit.
"Self-Rule" Choices You Can Make to Increase Your HRV and Immunity
Stress is often defined as an organism’s ability to adapt to environmental and psychological demands which result in biological changes that either support health, or could place you at risk for illness (Salleh, 2008). The relationship between stress and illness is complex and varies from person to person. Events in our lives collide with a host of physiological and psychological factors to either protect us from illness or make us more vulnerable.
"Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.”
—Oprah
What's the Minimum Dose of Training to Stay Fit?
This review addresses three key training variables: frequency (how many days per week), volume (how long is your endurance workout, or how many sets and reps do you lift), and intensity (how hard or how heavy). It only includes studies in which the subjects reduced their training for at least four weeks, to distinguish it from research on tapering before big competitions—although some of the conclusions are similar. And it’s focused on athletic performance, not weight loss or health.
HWPO: Hard Work Pays Off
For years, every single decision he made was weighed against the question: "Will this help me win?" If the answer was no, he didn't do it. If it would give him even the slightest edge or advantage, he would--no matter the cost. Fraser became a master of identifying his weaknesses and then seeking out training methods to improve them, and he's idolized in the fitness community for his relentless pursuit of peak performance. It's not hard to see why he achieved so much success--but how is a different question.
HindeSight | No. 63
The SharkPreneur Podcast
I had the opportunity to sit down with Seth Greene on the SharkPreneur podcast and we talked about the things that have helped Orion and I successfully build LIFEAID. Some things we discussed: how good positioning in your marketplace can lead to product distribution in conventional channels, why it’s important to hire people who are the right cultural fit and will represent your brand well, how LIFEAID is a beverage that tastes good and keeps you hydrated, how LIFEAID has different beverages to help different needs of your body, and why challenges should be looked at as opportunities to become a better entrepreneur.
How Exercise May Help Us Flourish
Our exercise habits may influence our sense of purpose in life and our sense of purpose may affect how much we exercise, according to an interesting new study of the reciprocal effects of feeling your life has meaning and being often in motion. The study, which involved more than 18,000 middle-aged and older men and women, found that those with the most stalwart sense of purpose at the start were the most likely to become active over time, and vice versa.
"If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”
—Steve Jobs
New Research Shows South Africa’s Levy on Sugar-sweetened Drinks is Having an Impact
Three years ago South Africa introduced Africa’s first major tax on sugar-sweetened beverages based on grams of sugar. The tax now stands at about 11% of the price per litre. Research shows that excess sugar, particularly in liquid form, is a major cause of obesity and is a risk factor for diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, many common cancers and tooth decay. Recognising this danger, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that individuals should consume no more than 10% of total calories from added sugar, and preferably less than 5%.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep Work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship.
HindeSight | No. 62
3 Ways to Master the Art of Sales
Gyms depend on their members to keep the lights on and the doors open. In order to build up memberships, owners, coaches, and staff have to be comfortable selling what the gym has to offer. On this episode of The Mind Your Business Podcast, host James Wedmore gives three tips on how to build the mindset of selling.
How to Get More Efficient Sleep with Dr. Allison Brager
I’ve always been an advocate for quality sleep, especially when it comes to overall performance in fitness and business. To say I was excited about the launch of DREAMAID GO was an understatement. With the introduction of DREAMAID GO, we had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Allison Brager, a sleep scientist and CrossFit athlete, to ask her all of our burning questions about sleep.
"Always deliver more than expected.”
—Larry Page
Ice for Sore Muscles? Think Again.
After a particularly vigorous workout or sports injury, many of us rely on ice packs to reduce soreness and swelling in our twanging muscles. But a cautionary new animal study finds that icing alters the molecular environment inside injured muscles in detrimental ways, slowing healing. The study involved mice, not people, but adds to mounting evidence that icing muscles after strenuous exercise is not just ineffective; it could be counterproductive.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
HindeSight | No. 61
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
Managing Time and Setting Expectations with Marcus Filly
It may feel like a lot of things aren’t within our control right now, however, we absolutely have control over how we spend our time. Former competitive CrossFit Athlete turned functional bodybuilding coach, Marcus Filly talks about his strategies in time management and how to set expectations on this episode of the Active Life podcast.
A Changing Gut Microbiome May Predict How Well You Age
In a new study in the Journal of Nature Medicine, the constantly changing and diversifying of your gut microbiome is a sign of healthy aging. How and what you eat plays a big role in this, because certain foods (mostly processed foods) can kill off some microbiomes. I talk about gut health a lot, specifically the negative effects of Sucralose to your gut microbiome which is why we do not use Sucralose in any of our products.
"A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well."
—Jeff Bezos
11 Lessons for Entrepreneurs From Jeff Bezos's Tremendous Success
At the core of Amazon’s success is it’s focus on delivering an excellent customer experience. As Jeff Bezos steps away from his CEO role at the company, Inc. lays out 11 lessons that all entrepreneurs can learn from him.
First, Break All the Rules
Ever since LIFEAID was started 10 years ago, we’ve leaned on some unconventional approaches to building the business and our employees. We have a talented team and it’s always been in our DNA to highlight their strengths and encourage them to always keep growing. This book is a product of a decade’s long management study from the Gallup Organization that debunks some myths and exposes methods of how to get the best out of your employees.
I Want to Build High-Performers
HindeSight | No. 58