Specific goals are very important when lifting weights as something beyond a general means of being fit and moving your body around. I sometimes suffer from excessive goal shifting, but I don't stray too far from the main principle of getting stronger and trying to add muscle without becoming a lardass. What typically drives me …
Ketogenic Part Duex
After three years using a Cyclical Keto Diet--which I've since learned I didn't really optimize--I played around with Lyle McDonald's Ultimate Diet 2.0 for 4 weeks and then started a Carb Cycling diet to try to increase calories for muscle gain, while trying to minimize fat gain. I have gained some weight, and while I …
It’s Not the Turkey Making you Sleepy
We hear it every year without fail, and I’m confident many will utter the words again this year: “All the tryptophan in the turkey is making me sleepy.” I would like to bring this falsehood to an end and will do my minuscule part by educating my readers—and those who stumble across me via the …
Nutrient Timing Research
Nutrition is a topic that is vitally important, yet it creates a lot of confusion. Even people dedicated to fitness and wellness have widely varying positions on what to eat, when to eat it, and what happens when you do. This is especially prevalent in the gym "community" and all manner of diet programs materialize …
Testosterone Improvement Plan
Six months ago, I had my total testosterone and free testosterone checked. The results were less than stellar and I decided action had to be taken. I researched everything I could find online in terms of boosting both Total, but more importantly for me, Free testosterone. After weeding through the morass of crap and snake …
Does Coffee Really Dehydrate You?
What's the background? Caffeine is known to have a diuretic effect when consumed in high doses. Since coffee contains caffeine, is therefore widely assumed that drinking coffee leads to dehydration. However, some studies have reported that regular consumption of caffeine leads to resistance to its diuretic effects, which may mean that a regular caffeine habit …
The Batman
I am somewhat perplexed and ambivalent about the end of Christopher Nolan's Batman series of films. The Dark Knight Rises rode over the cliff of reasonable suspension of reality, even for a superhero flick. For example, with mere seconds before detonation of an atomic bomb, we clearly see The Batman in his Bat-Copter. There is …
Star Wars Review
I first saw Episode IV: A New Hope in theaters as a new release (yes, I'm that old). I had not seen the prequels, I, II and III, until now. After thoroughly researching the optimal viewing order, I watched IV, V, II, III and VI in rapid succession. I have not seen Episode I as …
Bad to the Bone
A few weeks ago, Eddie Vedder Beagle returned to live with me. It's the first time in his life he is the sole canine in the homestead, and it seems to have affected his behavior. In anticipation of his arrival, I visited the local Petland and bought him a Harley Davidson collar with Bad to …
A new beginning at the VA
The most enjoyable part about my first visit to my new primary care physician at the VA was meeting the team (the doctor has two male nurses) and answering all the questions about myself. I'm one of my favorite topics. There were some interesting moments: Carl, nurse #1: "Would you like to be screened for …
Joe's Blog 