Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, save money, and make day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable.
All comments and follow-up questions can be posted directly below, on my Facebook page or emailed to me at zach.griffith1@gmail.com!
Mindset I’m Embracing:
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Each person who looks at this image can uniquely place it in the context of their own life.
The most unlikely being a person who mines for diamonds who has yet to strike but hey, you never know.
Or, maybe it’s someone striving for a job promotion that has yet to come after years of hard work.
Maybe it’s a person fighting an internal struggle that doesn’t seem to be resolving even after hours trying to “solve” the issue.
Maybe it’s not seeing the results of a new exercise and diet regimen after months of dedication to a structured plan.
Whatever it is, the picture above makes clear that progress is often invisible.
All too often we get caught up in the desire for immediate results without taking into consideration the baby steps we’re making along the way.
And once whatever arbitrary result is met, we often attribute it to the final push, the last week of workouts in the gym, or our latest talk with the boss but rather it’s the months/years dedicated that really mattered.
“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at the stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before” – Jacob Riis
Delayed gratification is key… the reason why many plans don’t pan out is due to a failure of persistency and weathering the unavoidable storms that come along the way.
As my grandma told me time and time again, never never never give up.
Caffeine Detox Update:
Alright so the brutal caffeine cleanse has been conquered and it’s time to give an update.
First, it’s been confirmed. Having a partner to hold you accountable does indeed help.
My brother and I (both self-admitted caffeine abusers) decided to go the 3-day cold turkey route rather than taking the easy way out and tapering down.
I’ll be the first to admit that day 1 was rough.
It was psychologically taxing to throw off my morning cup of joe routine so I even caved and went to Starbuck’s for a decaffeinated Americano… black.
I was quite surprised I wasn’t arrested right then and there.
Around 10 am, the headache and tiredness came on which was to be expected.
The rest of the day it was simply tiredness and lethargy that got the best of me but I found going for a slow and steady Zone 2 run pulled me out of the depths and gave me a little jolt. Although nothing like a cold brew I’ll be the first to say.
After day 1, days 2 and 3 were honestly a piece of cake.
Just a cup of hot herbal tea in the morning and I was fine for day… although I absolutely would’ve preferred to have a cup of coffee for an extra boost of happiness.
One hugely positive outcome my brother and I did notice was that we were sleeping better than ever. This is likely because caffeine, even when only consumed before noon, can linger around and have a negative impact on sleep… especially REM sleep.
If you are in the upper ranges of caffeine intake (400+mg daily), I highly suggest tapering down and taking a little break.
While you’ll absolutely miss that morning cup of joe, think about how much better it will be in 3-5 days when you’ve reset your sensitivity.
Believe me, it’s magical.
New Seasoning I’m Using:
Tajin Classic Seasoning.
As their punch line goes, a unique blend of chili peppers, lime, and sea salt that makes everything you eat even more bueno.
I couldn’t put it any better.
If you’re anything like me and consistently season with the ol’ classic SPG combo, it’s exciting when you stumble upon something new to mix it up.
I’ve been throwing Tajin on my protein bowls, vegetables, and even egg scrambles and it’s been transformative.
Give it a try!
What else?
For those that opened up their pools Memorial Day Weekend, yes, a pool is great for lounging, but it also doubles as a terrific place for exercise. Look into purchasing pool weights and utilizing YouTube pool workouts to guide you!
Post #100 coming soon which means another round of Q & A. Use this link and code 16392 to submit!
Keep hammering even when the results aren’t visible, they’re compounding behind the scenes.
Buy some Barbell Apparel fitness clothing through my link here!
If you enjoy this weekly bite of information, please share it with a coworker, friend, and/or family member!
DISCLAIMER
- This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.