Introduction - Start Here

Find out what Healthy in Bulk is all about!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my newsletter Healthy in Bulk. My name is Zach Griffith, MS, CSCS and I am currently a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at Northwestern in Chicago. In addition to being a full-time student, I build fitness training programs for individuals that are tailored to their goals and interests while also educating them on proper eating habits and giving them advice on supplementation .

Before my studies at Northwestern, I received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology as well as a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Illinois. In addition, I am a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) having completed the accreditation process this past summer. To understate, I’m a self-diagnosed fitness and healthy lifestyle addict and I’m passionate about sharing this knowledge with others.

How’d I become so passionate about fitness?

My fitness journey began in 2017 as a freshman at the University of Illinois. Long story short, I was a student-manager for the men’s basketball team and had the opportunity to walk-on to the team my sophomore year.  During the process of walking on, I became fixated on ensuring my body was as physically ready as possible to compete on a high-level Division 1 basketball program. For me, this meant lifting weights 4-5x a week, getting in the gym early for individual basketball workouts, and researching everything I could about the proper ways of eating to refuel and nourish my body correctly so it could recover from the stress I was putting it through.

I learned an incredible amount from the brilliant strength coaches, dietitians, and athletic trainers that I had the opportunity to work with as an Illinois basketball player. It wasn’t unusual for me to stay after-hours and have lengthy conversations with these individuals to soak up their knowledge; I couldn’t be more grateful for their willingness to share it with me. My passion was ignited, and I continue to be an avid researcher, podcast listener, book junkie, and sponge for new insights within the health and wellness realm which has allowed me to get to where I’m at today. I like to think of myself as a self-experimenter, consistently trying different styles of training, eating, supplementing, etc. to find what works best for me and my body.

My Philosophy:

I’m a huge believer in keeping things simple and prioritizing the basics or what I like to call the ‘meat and potatoes’ of healthy living. There are three main things that we ALL should be prioritizing  à moving our body regularly, eating whole foods, and getting adequate sleep. This is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle and what I believe is roughly 95% of the equation. For most, this is ALL you need. For others who are looking to optimize their performance, the additional 5% is the ‘sprinkles on top’ which includes things like supplements and other small tactics to take your health to its highest functioning level.

*here’s a graphic to help you understand this. Think of diet, exercise, and sleep as the base of the pyramid while supplements are at the very top. You can’t get to the top without having a solid base!

One of the most important things I want to share in this introductory post is my perspective on the most common response I get to the question of why an individual doesn’t exercise and that is “not having enough time” to prioritize their fitness. While I do empathize on many things, I just can’t accept this. While I don’t have kids or work an 8-5 job that requires overtime and additional responsibilities outside of work, I do lead a very busy life and I’m still able to fit in exercise, proper nutrition, sleep, and even have time to socialize, believe it or not. With this, I think it’s vital to understand that prioritizing your health is much more than structured exercise (although that’s part of the equation) which you’ll learn about in my posts. I attest there are about 50 small decisions that YOU GET TO MAKE every day that either promote good health or move you further from it. I address these ad nauseum with my clients and I will share with you in posts to come.

Important Reminder:

It's very important to note that I am not a medical doctor, registered dietician, or any type of licensed clinician at this point in my career. I’m a fitness enthusiast who has discovered through experience how exercising regularly, eating properly, getting adequate sleep and making the small health-enhancing choices each day can VASTLY improve your quality of life in a significant way. I would be remiss if I didn’t share this knowledge with others which is what has set me out on this journey to start Healthy in Bulk.

In the posts to come on Healthy in Bulk, I will share the tools necessary to acquire foundational health while also diving into many topics that cater to those of you who are looking to take it a step further. The information will be relevant and advantageous for individuals of all ages, training experience, educational background, etc. I want to warn you that the first couple of posts will be quite lengthy as I lay the groundwork for what’s to come but following that, the posts should be quick and easy to read in no more than 5 minutes.

What will you get by subscribing to Healthy in Bulk?

·       2-4 posts per month encompassing fitness, nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle (I will take requests as well!)

·       Mailbag opportunities to ask personalized questions and receive individualized answers.

·       Ability to comment and ask questions directly on each of the posts.

After this post, the content I create will be available exclusively to those that purchase a membership ($5 per month or $40 per year).

How about you take a pass on one Starbuck’s coffee each month and invest in me? I promise you won’t regret it (and if you do, the option to unsubscribe is always there).

Quote of the week: “A year from now you will wish you had started today” – Karen Lamb

I chose this quote to open my newsletter for a couple of reasons. First, it holds substantial meaning… especially for the many of us that often put off things until tomorrow and never get around to it. Often for many, exercise and healthy eating are two of the most common things that receive the “I’ll start tomorrow” treatment —don’t let this be you! Next, this is the exact quote I showed my mom a couple years ago for the purpose of challenging her to start prioritizing her physical health and kudos to her, she took initiative and has done a terrific job since then. She deserves a special acknowledgment in this initial post as she has helped me out immensely launching this platform and supporting me for the past 23 years. Mom, I can’t thank you enough.

I would also like to give a special shoutout to Emiley Briggs (@emmybriggs_ on Instagram) for designing the Fitness in Bulk logo — I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!

Without further ado, let’s get this thing rolling!

DISCLAIMER

-       This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.