A different Thanksgiving meal a little early....

Let's get this Thanksgiving meal rolling a little early with an all-in-one pot variation of a Thanksgiving meal.

How about kitchen sink Turkey Soup?

I call it Kitchen Sink Turkey Soup cause it's got everything in it but the kitchen sink!

Here are some of the canned / packaged ingredients I'll be using - eventually.

Starting with a 12# defrosted turkey which incidentally takes 2 - 3 days to defrost!

And a bunch of fresh veggies - basically what I had left after last week's shopping trip.

Draw and quarter / cut-up the 12# turkey into manageable pieces.

Season the holy bejeebers out of it - anything that doesn't stick to the turkey will get lost in the pot - which is a good thing - salt, pepper, and a mix of curry powder, garam masala and allspice.

Get your 20 quart stock pot pretty close to smoking hot and start browning / searing the pieces.  This is the magic step that does 2 things:

1. Sears / binds those fantastic seasonings to the turkey.
2. Leaves behind that crazy good residue at the bottom of the pot that, along with the bones and skin of the turkey, make the best stock known to man.
3. The key is to not burn the residue. If it starts to get hot, add a little water to the pot to temporarily liquefy the good grunge and keep it from burning.

Turning and searing and browning is probably the most labor intensive part of this process but you will feel the love when you taste the end product.

All done with the turkey searing. Note the residue in the pot - that's a good thing.

While all that searing and browning and not burning was going on, I started on the veggies prep - sweet onions, anaheim pepper, squash, zucchini, red cabbage - I needed some celery and carrots but didn't have it - but this is a cook what you got kinda dish - so that's what I did.  The veggies get the same seasoning as the meat.

This is not an all-day thing. In fact, it took me only 45 minutes from the beginning cut-up of the chicken to having everything in the pot for a long simmer. The reason why is because I do things simultaneously - like opening up all the canned goods and getting them ready for entry into the melee or hot mess... whatever you wanna call this conglomeration.

More veggie prep - swiss chard, collared greens and kale... and of course more seasoning.  You season by entry into the pot - that way everything melds together taste-wise into a perfect harmony of yummi-ness.... can I trademark that phrase?

You see where we're going here don't ya? The veggies are getting the benefit of all that turkey grunge at the bottom of the pot.

What's this? Equal parts of fresh ginger and garlic!

Roll the veggies which will liberate their own water and dissolve that crazy goodness at the bottom of the pot and start adding in the seared turkey.

Yep - that's all 12# of turkey in that pot! Talking about feeding an army... or a homeless population - this'll do it!

Remember those canned / packaged ingredients - 

1 jar of Simply Ragu (no sugar added marinara sauce)

1 can of diced tomatoes

1/2 can of pumpkin

1 can of hominy

2 quarts of chicken broth

1 lemon

Generous sprinkle of Red chile powder and chili mix seasonings

Everybody in the pool!

And I added in a diced up already baked sweet potato.  Why? 

Because I can.

That's it folks - the work is over - let the simmering magic begin!

4 hours of low simmer later and the turkey is falling off the bone and it has the consistency of a stew - posole - soup.

Undoubtedly the best soup I have ever made and guaranteed to make you thankful for the effort and for just being alive.

Happy Early Thanksgiving from the Discovery Kitchen to yours!

Following up on Tips for Santa Fe Women.... with a Discovery Critique and Tips for Santa Fe Men!

Well - obviously I didn't qualify / preface my recent submission (that's an appropriate twist of words) regarding Tips for Santa Fe women sufficiently to avoid all criticism / avoidance of the issues that were enumerated.

I say "submission" -  not that I like being submitted or that I am a submissive person but because, based on the personal feedback I got, there are a few out there that would like to put me in an arm bar or rear naked choke (Ooh Baby Please!) and ignore the tap out.

So there's that.

But - just to keep the Santa Fe fires burning, here's a link to what I personally consider one of the best and funniest posts ever written here on the Discovery network:

http://willsonwheels.blogspot.com/2019/08/some-tips-for-santa-fe-women-from.html

Obviously, once you put something out there like this, you do get some dialog, feedback and perspective from others / readers that you may not or probably didn't consider when you put it out there.

Which - Hello - is the whole purpose of this sort of dialog.

So here's an additional list of considerations, new learnings, qualifiers and maybe even mea culpas associated with that post and the post to come:

1. One thing I didn't make clear, or at least specify, was that my observations aka "criticisms" or as one lady friend put it - "judgment" of Santa Fe women - was written from the perspective of a 57-year old "Rogue Wave" moving counter current to an Ocean of "like-aged" but not like-minded local women. What that means is I was poking good fun at the hornet's nest of women in the 50 - 70 year old range in Santa Fe NM, which, for the most part and for a lot of reasons that will not be detailed in this post, is my population of attention / interest. So, for example, #7, would not apply to the majority of those fiercely gorgeous younger generation.  I mean - come on folks - y'all are smart enough to figure this shit out - aren't ya?
2. My cutting sarcasm, criticisms and humor at the expense of this population could be considered and, in retrospect, was a pretty good "public service announcement". Let me explain. I find it really interesting that a couple of women that I do have respect for and that I think have respect for me and my opinion, used this "Critic's Best Choice" list as their own personal checklist. That is, they kinda did a self-inventory to see how many shots hit the target.  Which is kind of a circular logic thing - cause the ladies I would be interested in - would be the ones that met the least number of these criteria - right?
3. And to be honest and straightforward - which I am to a fault - which we will talk about later - my faults - the majority of men my age out there would probably be more attracted to a women of like age that personified, represented and displayed the antithesis of most of these 18 Articles of Women's Confederation.
4. So the real question becomes - for those Women or Men out there that were grossly offended by my listed opines is - do the means justify the end? Stated another way - what do you really want? Independence with these listed attitudes and attributes or a Softer Presentation that might solicit more favorable response from the Male Population?  Food for thought - that's all.  I mean - I get it - I am what I am - and I ain't changing for nobody - well that's not really true - I would clean up my act for the right lady - but that's another story.
5. Finally - I have no right to judge anybody - obviously. I am a broken record - a frustrated soul shouting from the top of a mountain into an unlistening void. The post in question was written and related with the complete understanding that I could list as many or more faults of myself in the eyes of Santa Fe women.  It was bad humor at best, but a maze bright self aware person will understand that in all humor there is some element of Truth.

So - with that introduction - let's do a little destructively critical list of observations and attributes for Discovery for the sake of Discovery and his readers:

1. I have a bad temper. I have been described as a "hot head" - an overly opinionated and overly expressive, critical, judgmental person with a pension for the dramatic and the hyperbolized. I get my opinions and ways challenged and overreact for a lot of different reasons. I have recognized this bad actor on life's stage through many plays and presentations and have worked diligently to retire his career - and thought I had made some progress over the years - until recent events have convinced me otherwise.  99% of the population can't deal with this characteristic in a person and I respect that - I don't like that part of me either.
2. I am a vain, narcissistic, exhibitionist, attention-seeking MFer.  I like to look good and more importantly, like it when other people think I look good.  Always been that way - Always will be that way.  Get the fuck over it or get away from me - either way - don't matter to me.
3. I am selfish of my own time, energy, effort and money - I've spent my whole life, prior to about 6 - 8 years ago servicing, sacrificing for and taking care of other people - to the detriment and demise of my own body, mind and spirit. Now - and for the rest of my life - is my time and I'm taking it.
4. I am #1, a Force of One and a Fierce Individualist - I have my own ways of doing things - which through years and years of failures, foibles and fallibilities - has formed a Philosophy and Practice of Life and all its Manipulations, Masturbations and Machinations - that I consider superior to 95% of the lives being lived out there. I go into every day with my eyes and mind wide open looking for ways to improve from the World around me and the People I encounter - I look for people doing things better than me and living a better life than me - in the ways and characteristics I place priority on.  The problem is that, very rarely, do I find those superior Life Hackers.
5. I am an Extremist in nearly every aspect of life - how I sleep, how I cook, how I eat, how I workout, how I think, how I write, how I express myself verbally, how I recreate and how I work.  I am not a 2%-er. I am a 0.02%-er. I have never been Mainstream or Conventional or Socially Acceptable. I challenge Conventional Wisdom and am almost always for the Underdog and find "Crowd Mentality" distasteful, disgusting and dumb ass 95% of the time.

Now - with all that Bad Discovery Press in hard ink, let's throw a little Good Discovery your way:

1. When I'm on your side, you have the most loyal, caring, giving, selfless SOB I know. I will bend over backwards, give you the shirt off my back, climb the tallest mountains and leap over tall buildings for you.  When I got your back, you'll get the best back rub you ever had (if you're a woman) and you'll get all that bad shit listed above going for you. Which is kind of a scary thought or perspective if you're on the outside looking into that cage.
2. I ain't the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer or the Smartest Guy in the Class, but as the saying goes for the last one - it don't take long to call roll. And I've been doing a lot of shit for a long time and I put a premium on application and practice of theoretical knowledge over philosophizing about quantum physics and the nature of life and such.  In others words, I'm a fucking do'er, so if you want someone that gets shit done - you're talking to the right guy. If you want someone to talk about it or nurture or comfort you - then talk to somebody else.
3. I got one of the most badass bodies and minds of any 57 year old I know - think about riding that horse and where it will take you.

That's enough Discovery conviction and bullshit for one post.

Let's move on to the real Meat of this Mind Matter.

Let's take the Discovery perspective of the Men in Santa Fe and throw a few darts at that board!

And surprisingly - or maybe not so - I'm pretty much gonna use the same list for the Santa Fe Men as I did the Santa Fe women - with a few twists - so here goes - here's my Tips for Santa Fe Men from a Country Boy from Texas!

1. I'm not gonna make too big a deal about the Masculine version of the "Natural Look" in Santa Fe because I think it's a little more Natural "looking" for a Guy to do the Natural thing than a woman however I will expand on this as the list progresses.
2. Ok - Santa Fe men in the 50 - 70 year range - listen up - I don't expect you to put on make-up but holy shit - trim those fucking eyebrows, nose hairs, ear hairs and all the other extraneous hair you got growing out of all the orifices of  your body. Nothing disgusts me more than to see some 3" hair growing out of some old dude's head in some location where there shouldn't be a 3" hair.  Have some goddamn respect for yourself and for the rest of us worthless souls that call ourselves men - and buy a Wahl trimmer or a new razor or something and get the fuck after the Weedeating!
3. Yes - do something with your hair - if you have any - if you don't have hair, do the Kojak thing - women seem to love a bald head - Hmmm. If you have hair count yourself lucky and get it styled and yes - maybe even colored. Your stock will go way up in the eyes of most Santa Fe women that have a decent account.
4. Don't eat something! Jesus - lose the carb gut you got hanging over your belt by saying no to the grains, bread, pasta, potatoes, high sugar fruits and all the other shit processed food that is sabotaging your older body. You'll feel better, look better and regain some of that youthful look and energy and probably get laid in the process.
5. Yep - work out a little bit applies to you too Dude. What's Good for the Gander is Good for the Goose and will likely get you more Gander! There is growing and mounting evidence, scientific, medical and physiological studies that have been done recently that confirm that sarcopenia - https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/sarcopenia-with-aging#1 - can be reversed with the proper combination of a low bad carb - high good fat - moderate protein eating plan coupled with intermittent fasting and HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training.  So quit your bitching and get at it.
6. That new body and new face and new hair style is gonna need some new clothes to keep the positive vibes going and complete the presentation. So don't hesitate to trade down a few years in style - i.e. wear some younger looking clothes to fit / finish the new you.
7. Wear a Bra - Please! OR do some push-ups or better yet - as listed above - cut the carbs and the body fat level.  That's really the secret to lifting those sagging man boobs.  I'm amazed when older guys at the gym ask me what exercises to do to get that undercut and lift of the chest and you know what I tell them...... Push away from the Table!
8. You don't have to be a Coppertone baby, but again, a well managed and measured exposure to the incredible benefits of Vitamin D from its best natural source - the Sun - will do more for you than all the supplements you can shove down your throat.  Combine that with a high intake of cruciferous vegetables - which are high in sulfurophane - a natural cancer-fighting agent and you'll reverse any past skin cell damage done by the sun and set yourself up for that appealing healthy skin look. Google all this shit and you'll see what I'm talking about.
9. Smile and Act Happy - and put your best foot and smile forward in all interactions with Women, Men and Beasts. You would be amazed at the reaction random people have when you flash them a genuine ear to ear smile from the heart.  Invariably, most smile back at you and that's a pretty good start for anything to come.
10. Ok - I don't have one for the "Don't Smile So Much" for Men because frankly, I have rarely seen that in Men, compared to Women.  So - if you're an older man - go back to #9 and smile more.
11. Cook a Meal for a Woman - Holy Good Will Hunting Batman - this may be the single most important thing you can do to be attractive to the Opposite side of the Gender Race or the same side of the Gender Race - if you are so inclined.  And for Pete's sake or Patricia's sake - find out what the other Party likes to eat and doesn't like to eat and generate your menu and home dinner table offerings based on that.
12. Do I really need to say that talking about Politics and how bad this Country is is a Universal No-No?  Now if that's your baily-wick and you can find a like minded Woman in Santa Fe to participate - which is a 100% probability - then get after it.  Running this Coon up the Discovery Tree and barking at it is something that is a waste of time for This Ole Coon whether you're a man or a woman.
13. There are 3 kinds of people in the World: 1) Those that Know that they Know. 2) Those that Don't Know that they Don't Know. 3) Those that Know that they Don't Know.  Seek to be #3 in most things and you'll end up a lot better off especially with the women.
14. Geez - you wouldn't believe how many older guys I see stumbling around in the local bars / restaurants stoned out of their minds. They can't even put a fucking sentence together.  On the other hand or joint, they're probably getting more women than I am so who the fuck am I to criticize?  Oh yeah - I'm the one with the blog writing this shit. Anyway - I actually think that in Santa Fe, if you're a man with a bag of weed, you probably will attract a lot more women than a man without a bag of weed.  Is that a good thing?  I don't know.
15. Guys don't seem to have the same hang-up with Dogs as women do and in all honesty I would be better off with a dog.  But it would be a bad ass dog not some little heel nipper.  One thing I will tell you is there is no chick magnet like a guy with a dog. So guys - if you don't have a dog, get one I guess.
16. Ok - do as I say do not as I do on the structured dancing thing.  Probably one of the top 3 things you can do to draw more feminine attention is to be good at 2-step or swing or salsa in Santa Fe so if you don't know how - reverse that field on the dance floor.
17. Quit worrying about women taking advantage of you or being a financial burden to you and your fixed income - shit or get off the pot - in other words, either commit to upping the monthly budget for a woman and what it takes to entertain one with wine, dinner and song or just don't go there. But don't half ass it with this "going Dutch" shit or I pay one you pay one bullshit.  Where I come from - if you ask someone out - you pay. Period.
18. Try acting like a Man instead of a Woman - Holy Shit - this goes more for the Men than the Women in Santa Fe. I've never seen so many Pussy-Packing Men in my life. Be a leader, Be a Gentleman, Be a Servant to Women (yeah you heard me say that!) - open the fucking door, pull out the chair, help them on and off with their coat, tell them how good they look, ask them if they want something to drink, let them order first, go down on them even if they don't go down on you - Guys - we know what most women want - they want to be treated like a Queen - they want you to be their Knight in Shining Armour - so Man the Fuck Up and Start Shining!

Wooooo.... I am pumped - can you tell!!!

I have stomped on everybody including myself - Discovery is an Equal Opportunity Offender.

Hey - seriously Santa Fe - you know I love ya!

So sit back and read this shit and laugh or get mad or get happy - you know me - it don't matter.

It's just another post of sublime and opine...

In the Wacky World of -

Discovery.

The Best Summary and Description of the Clean Ketogenic Diet I have seen so far

This post will be short but not sweet, that is, it's purpose is to get you off the sugar that is rusting your body from the inside out.

Clean Keto is the eating plan I have been following for the last 8 months and the effects and results have been mind and body blowing.

As alluded to in previous posts, I am in the best shape of my life - in body and mind - at 57 years of age.

A lot of that has to do with the intense research I have done on all aspects - concepts, details, studies, alternatives, risk / reward, history, benefits, versions, etc. - of the ketogenic diet.

I have watched literally hundreds of YouTube videos, podcasts, read medical and physical performance / longevity / life extension / disease prevention studies / papers, etc.

One of my "Go To" sources on this subject matter are the YouTube videos produced and presented by Dr. Eric Berg DC.

Of all the folks knowledgeable on the subject matter of the Ketogenic Diet and Lifestyle and putting it into practice (literally - he runs a clinic to help people with a variety of conditions by applying the principles in this video), for me, this guy has the best combination of Science vs Layman Description and Common Sense Explanations and Approach of anybody I have heard so far.

And this video is his Best Summary and Description of the "Clean" Ketogenic Diet I have seen so far.

Clean Keto combines the concept and practice of consumption of low processed carbs, higher good fat, moderate protein with the missing link - consumption of large quantities of cruciferous and leafy green vegetables to get the critical micronutrients and trace minerals so important in many body mechanisms and functions.

If you've seen me walking around at 5 - 6% bodyfat or working out like a 25-year old mad man in the gym and wondered how I got this way - this is the answer and video for you.

OR

If you just want to try an eating plan and lifestyle that will sustain you for a lifetime and repair your body from the inside out -

This is the Video for You.

It will be an Incredible Discovery to You what Your Life can be like when you quit consuming so many carbohydrates.

Hope you enjoy!

https://youtu.be/iQTvvqFp7IU

Throwing the Baby out with the Bathwater

It's one of those Old School sayings and likely associated with the Deep South, that has those that don't grace either region - Old School Sayings or the South - either scratching their head and looking at you weird when you say it or Google-ing the number for the local CPS when they hear it.

It comes from an era when people who used to take a bath or wash their babies in a #2 washtub - as my Daddy would describe it.

When people got done with the bath, the dirty water was thrown out.

"Throwing the Baby out with the Bathwater" literally means discarding or getting rid of a situation or a person with a lot or preponderance of good attributes or potential because of a few undesirable traits or perhaps - for the purpose of this blog post - a few socially unacceptable characteristics, practices or non-majority minded "dirt".

It seems to me in today's society and culture, the definition and characteristics of this "dirt" have grown, mainly because of the narrowing boundaries of acceptable behavior and / or personality traits.

I've used the term "Cookie Cutter" society before but it really has meaning and application for the theme of this post.

Possessing any practices, personality traits or exhibiting any perturbations in Society's "Six Sigma" data set literally serves you up as a data outlier that sets off alarms, isolation and quarantining from the masses.

What am I talking about here?

Ok - fine - let me give you a few examples:

1. Based on my experiences - if you consistently voice an informed, data-based opinion on any "controversial" subject matter that offers a differing or opposing opinion to the "huddled masses", you will soon find yourself lying in a pool of water in the dirt off the front porch. Pick your poison - global warming vs long term temperature cycles of the earth, the historical cycle of war and peace, organic vs inorganic food, gun control vs mass shootings, illegal immigrants vs the rising cost of health insurance, vegan vs meat eater, blah blah blah and waaa waaa waaa... if you cry in the wrong direction, you will find yourself lying in that puddle of dirty water.
2. If you speak or express yourself in a confident, emotive way with greater than normal volume or use your hands when you talk or don't talk in a monotone "lecture" mode of verbal expression (that frankly puts me to sleep when I hear it done to me), you will be labeled with some sort of psychiatric disorder or "EQ deficiency" - man if that ain't a "If you can name it You can Tame it" label, I don't know what is - and moved quickly to the "Do Not Talk To" list.
3. God forbid you cuss or use any course language in any conversation - that's a No-No in today's fucking "proper" society - OOPS!
4. Even worse - don't ever get mad or say or do anything in anger.  You could save 100 old ladies, kids and dogs from burning buildings but Goddammit if you get mad one time, you just wiped out all those merit badges.  My Daddy used to call this the "Atta Boy - Ah Shit" ratio.  You do 500 things right and people pat you on the back and say "Atta Boy" - good job - way to go but you fuck up one time - that's an "Ah Shit" and that wipes out those 500 Atta Boys. Getting mad about anything and expressing it in any way in today's society is one of those "Ah Shits".
5. If you express yourself in any way that draws public attention such as having an extremely fit, lean and muscular body or wearing clothes, colors or accessories that buck or challenge the local trend, watch out - you're either gay or have some self esteem issues or some other psychological or societal fit deficiency or anomaly - funny how envy and jealousy often seems to be the precursor for criticism and pre-conceived and unsubstantiated and isolation-generating biases.
6. Oh and here's a sure fire Zinger that'll get you a flick of Society's Middle Finger - text more than 3 thoughts in a row to someone.  You are quickly labeled "Married to your Phone" or "Have nothing better to do".  And here's 2 middle fingers right back at ya World on that one.

I've been thrown out with the Bathwater so many times over what I consider such stupid shit that it boggles my mind.

My value system and I mean what I value in people - Intelligence, Communication, Loyalty, Trust, Tolerance, Open-mindedness, Absence of Confirmation Bias, Work Ethic, Respect for Data-based Information and Due Diligence, Having a variety of interests and the Energy, Passion and Self-Discipline to Pursue Excellence in them, Expression of and Conviction to Ideas and Principles, Priority of Good Health and Fitness just to name a few - is so skewed from what Society, Community, Culture and Individuals around me value that....

I have voluntarily thrown myself out with the Bathwater.

For the most part, I have voluntarily removed myself from dealing with this World and the Self-Serving Attitudes and Cookie Cutter judgments that seem to be at the core of its population and structure.

I have become somewhat of an Outcast - by the way I've been treated - especially here in Santa Fe.

Am I crying about this? Do I want anybody's sympathy or "understanding"?

Fuck No - as far as I'm concerned - it's their fucking loss.

It's historically my preferred comfort zone to be removed from the World - I've always been a Party of One anyway -

https://willsonwheels.blogspot.com/2017/12/william-party-of-one.html

And before all you self-appointed psychiatrists / counselors / social workers out there feed me the line - 

"Well - you just need to recognize your deficiencies and weaknesses and work on changing them so you fit in better - you know it will help you in the long run."

Let me just follow that little piece of unsolicited shit advice with these 2 ass-wipe responses:

1. A Leopard can't change his spots. He can roll in the mud and cover his spots but then he's just a Dirty Leopard. 
2. As far as I can tell from my perspective looking back at the World - the World is pretty fucked up and I'm a pretty good guy.  On about 95% of the issues and daily machinations of Life - I got it right and those looking at me with the raised eyebrows and the "Exit Here" signs in their hands have got it wrong - https://willsonwheels.blogspot.com/2017/01/worshiping-at-altar-of-william.html

So - what that leaves me with is the conclusion that it isn't me that needs to change.

It's the World around Me that needs to change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIxScJ5rlY

Suck on that Little Lollipop World.

Some tips for Santa Fe Women from a Country Boy from Texas

I gotta laugh a little at this title as I begin this post because it's already starting out about like hitting a hornet's nest with a stick.

First off, from what I've experienced, Santa Fe people in general don't like people from Texas.

To which when I hear that attitude coming my way, I reply real quickly....

"Yep - you don't like people from Texas - but you goddamn sure like our money.  Hell - if it wasn't for people from Texas spending their money in this beautiful desert called New Mexico and especially Santa Fe, the State of New Mexico would've been bankrupt a long time ago."

That seems to shut their ass up real quick - cause they know it's true.

Now that I've gotten this post off on the wrong foot, I might as well back foot it a little more with a song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7ZQytOqmCk

Maybe I'm always on the backfoot cause I write blog posts like this or at least think in a way that generates ideas and content for blog posts like this.

Regardless, I'm not smart enough to NOT write blog posts like this, i.e. keep my thoughts like this to myself, but I am smart enough to provide a list of conditions and qualifications at the beginning for reader consideration:

• I am not a Woman Hater - in fact, as far as I'm concerned, I love, respect and adore women and a woman's company as much or more than any man I know.
• I do realize I have as many or more faults, foibles and failures than any 10 people out there and that I, in no way, have any right, privilege or position to point at, pontificate or personalize any criticism for anybody else - but that ain't gonna stop me from doing it.
• This information is presented in a sarcastic, tongue in cheek, dry humor kind of way, however it is based on nearly 5 years of attentive observations, experiences, encounters, episodes and actual events.
• It is also presented in the same way that I receive similar critical information about men in general and myself specifically, and this is a many splintered, multi-faceted consideration, so just hear me out.
• When people critique me, my initial and spontaneous internal reaction is to defend myself or rebut how that individual's criticism is WRONG, however, in nearly every criticism I receive, there is something to be learned - either about myself because most, some part or derivative of what the person is saying is true - OR it tells me something about the person who is delivering the criticism, i.e. they are revealing how they think or perceive the World around them and the people in it - like me.
• So either way - there's data there - whether it's usable, meaningful or actionable - usually depends on the source AND how willing I am to "let the information in".
• I, personally and personality and relationship-wise, am No Cake Walk.  In fact, I'm downright weird - or should  I say - Fringe! https://willsonwheels.blogspot.com/2016/06/are-you-fringe-person.html - so take all of what follows with and in consideration of the understanding of where it's coming from.
• Finally - probably the main driving force for writing this post is that I hear so many Santa Fe women bitching about the fact that there are No Good Men around in Santa Fe or the "low humidity" of dating in Santa Fe, to which I kinda have to back up and marvel, because my first thought is "Hey Honey - while you're bitching about the Men in Santa Fe - why don't you take a look in the mirror of your body, mind and spirit and look at what the other side is looking at."

So, I guess what I'm saying is, that if you experience any feeling of being singled out or identifying with any of these funny little finger points, just relax about it.

I derive the most amount of comedy and humor in life in laughing at myself.

But sometimes, in the comedy or hopeless helplessness of being the dumb ass that I am about myself, the people I come in contact and interact with and my existence on this earth in general, I learn something....

And that learning / emerging awareness gives me pause and consideration and every once in a while - I make an adjustment / change based on that.

So if any of the following characteristics hit home with you - if you look like it, act like it and / or identify with it, then Own It.

If you don't like it but realize it to be true, then give it thoughtful consideration and perhaps consider doing something about it.

Without further bullshit, product disqualification or conditions, I present to you, in no particular order of importance or priority, the top 10 or 20 or 100 Tips for Santa Fe women from this dumb ole country boy from Texas:

1. I have found that a lot of the Santa Fe women have tended to over embrace the "Natural Look". I'm not really sure what the Source of this is or why they choose to pursue this but the Net Effect is IMHO, not so good. Part of this, I think, is this whole Feminist "I am Woman - Hear me Roar" attitude / perspective that a lot of women embody in Santa Fe.  I mean, I try to get this and understand and empathize with it, but frankly, based on my experience and observation, the World has over compensated for this whole downtrodden women thing.  I know personally, I have been taken advantage of by women far more times than vice versa and I have witnessed and been detrimentally affected by Women being favored over men in the workplace and in common social situations.  Anyway - points 2 - 8 address the whole "Natural Look" thing.
2. Put on some fucking make-up for God and Man's sake will ya?
3. Do something with your hair - and I'm not talking about cutting it any shorter - Jesus - you already look like a man anyway with that short hair - how about growing it out a little bit and spending some time on it?  There are a few men out there that like women with shorter hair but for the most part - and I think I'm right on this - there's nothing like a woman with shoulder length or longer hair. And I know - it takes time, effort and money to deal with longer hair but believe me, it's worth it in the eye of this beholder.
4. Eat something. I mean like some real food. I ain't gonna get off on the whole Vegan bashing thing. Hell I eat more fresh and cooked veggies than any 10 vegetarians I know but I see so many of these women in Santa Fe look like something from an Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Hey - if that's attractive to you - then Rock the Fuck on. Me? - I want a little meat on them bones and in my Meals.
5. Work out a little bit - and Geez - I'm not talking about Yoga - I'm talking about Resistance Training or Progressive Weight Training or HIIT.  Put a little intensity into your body and make it look like it could handle more than a 5 mph wind blowing it over.  Let me tell ya something folks, there is nothing more attractive to this DOCB (dumb ole country boy) than a woman working out - doing squats or deadlifts or shoulder presses or any sort of structured weight training. And I will say I work out with a lot of Fiercely and Exotically Gorgeous Women at Anytime Fitness in Santa Fe, mostly of the Hispanic persuasion - which I am so partial to - problem is they're either too young for me or already married or with partners or whatever - or just probably see me for what I am - this weird old Gringo who likes to work out.
6. Wear some attractive form-fitting clothes assuming you have a form to fit which goes back to #4 and #5 if you don't. And not some drab colored mono chrome earth tones or black or gray or whatever. Show some legs, some arms - lose the long sleeve blouse thing in the summer. Santa Fe is a Community of the colors of the Southwest which are bright, vivid, contrasting and attention grabbing.  Think about that when you dress.
7. Wear a bra - PLEASE!  Preferably a push-up supportive bra.  Do I need to say more about this? No - I don't think so.
8. Get some sun - put some color on that skin - and before you lecture me about skin cancer - realize I'm talking about reasonable and measured exposure (based on published tables / studies for Age, skin type, geographical location, season, etc.) to one of the most important, body critical nutrients available - Natural, from the Sun Vitamin D.  And all the research and recent studies that I've read and studied and seen data on suggests and specify that natural exposure to the sun and the resulting absorption of Vitamin D is ANTI-CANCEROUS and more importantly, Cancer, in general and in the proportion of cause, is Created, Sustained and Grown from consumption of too much sugar, i.e. carbohydrates, so exposure to the Sun is not what most people should be worried about - it's exposure to and consumption of too many "bad carbs" aka grains, bread, pasta, high sugar fruits, high-glycemic index and "hidden sugar" processed foods.  I guess some people consider pasty white a "Natural and Healthy" look - I am not one of them.
9. Smile and Act Happy - this is a tough one for me to describe or expand on because I see the 2 extremes but not much in between.  For the most part, a lot of these Santa Fe Women who are not happy with the Men in Santa Fe, don't look happy, which is kind of a vicious social and surface circle, I guess.  Maybe if they acted and looked happier aka Fake it to Make it, they would get more positive masculine attention - I don't know.  
10. Don't Smile so Much - On the other hand and on the opposite end of the spectrum is the population of Santa Fe women who run around with this fake angelic, shit eating grin on their face.  Holy Shit - you talk about a 100% contra indicator for internal happiness and normality - that's it if I've ever saw and experienced one.  In fact, I have created a "Never" approach / red flag / don't go there scorched earth policy on this characteristic.  In a nutshell, if a woman has an eternally blissful smile on her face, I turn and run the other way.
11. Cook a Meal for a Man - Oh boy, Wills - you just stepped off in it on that one.  I mean - Come on Folks - there is nothing sexier or more attractive to a Man than having a woman take and make the effort to plan, prepare and cook a good sit down meal. And it is so fucking rare in Santa Fe.  What is wrong with that picture and how on God's Green Earth are women missing that important element to nurturing a relationship with a man so badly?  I am shocked, amazed, disappointed and discouraged at the lack of Women in Santa Fe making this effort.  Gotta move on from this one because it is so near and dear to my stomach and heart and my stomach and heart are pretty empty because of it - or lack of it. And FWIW and FTR, I have cooked 10 times more from scratch, 4 or more course meals for Women in Santa Fe than vice versa.
12. Quit talking about Politics and how bad this Country is and how the World is going to hell in a handbasket.  Geez - that is the most attraction-killing thing you can do.  I, and to be truthful and realistic, most men, don't wanna hear you bitch about Trump and border immigration and about how so many classes and races of people are being oppressed by our government and how we need better gun control.  Just STFU about all that and talk about something positive and uplifting - like the workouts you're not doing - see #5 and the bra you're not wearing - see #7.
13. If you are gonna insist on talking about all the Bullshit of the World from #12, do some actual research and due diligence on all these controversial subjects you are so fucking passionate about and wanna bitch about - and get some facts, some real scientific or non-bias, non-CNN, media-driven sources and I mean multiple, repeatable, consistent sources - so you actually know WTF you're talking about.  My bullshit meter is pretty good - and I, personally, don't talk about shit I haven't done my due diligence on - and I expect that and am attracted to that from the Women I come in contact with.  Situation Critical on this one!
14. Quit smoking so much weed!  Geez - this fucking town is eat up with potheads.  I'm still on the fence on the benefits / detriments of the whole CBD / THC thing.  I haven't done enough of the in-depth due diligence research, per #13 above, to intelligently support / criticize its use.  And I do understand that it has a long list of supposed benefits for pain and inflammation and other body compromising conditions / diseases - I got it - you don't need to keep telling me all that.  One thing I do know is that THC is processed through the liver and, as such, compromises and or occupies liver function for other important bodily functions so that's not good.  In addition, based on my own experience and many and ongoing observations of others under the influence of Weed and all it's derivatives and forms - It makes you fucking stupid and slow and less than reasonably coherent.  It slows down / impairs my mind, body and spirit function and that's not a good thing.
15. Treat the Men you meet or are interested in as good or better than you do your dog. Don't even get me started on this one cause I could run this hound till the Cows come home.  It simply shocks and amazes me that so many women in Santa Fe give so much more attention, priority , status, effort, time and consideration to their dogs than they do their male company.  Let me tell you something - Women of Santa Fe - when you're with me - your dog is just that, a dog - not a person - which means it's below me in status and existence and priority of your time and attention - so act accordingly.  And control the dog - make it mind.  Any woman or person in general that has a dog with no discipline and no obedience is not doing themselves or the dog any favors, and frankly, exhibits characteristics of lack of self-discipline themselves.  Not attractive.
16. Lose the "snootiness" and high brow attitude about "structured dancing". Oh boy - have I had a lot of experience and I mean bad experiences with this one.  First off, let me explain - Santa Fe is famous for its "dancing community" and by dancing community, I'm talking about Swing, 2-Step, Salsa, Tango blah blah blah.  And if you don't know how to do any or all of these kinds of dancing, there's a lot of women in Santa Fe that discount you and literally, will criticize or shun you just based on that - which is fucking mind blowingly amazing to me.  I mean I can dance like a MF'er to freestyle, unstructured, dance with the beat type of dancing and to me, that is much more difficult and artistic and athletically challenging than the same old step over and over again aka structured dancing.  But me and the Women in Santa Fe are so far apart on this specific element that I just don't think there's any use trying to address it.  It's a real pity because live rock / alternative and freestyle dance music listening and appreciation and the dancing that goes with it is WAY up there on my Core List of Life Priorities and it is so missing in the population of the Women of Santa FE.
17. Quit worrying about Men taking advantage of you - I'm not one of them.  Geez - you wouldn't believe how many women have told me their "horror" stories about men trying to take advantage of them by trying to get money out of them or "tricking" them into buying dinner or whatever.  Frankly - I wanna find out who these "Men" MF'ers are and kick their asses and tell the women - you know what - if you're gonna be Miss Independent and purport and strut the whole "I am Woman - greatest thing on earth" walk then pony up every once in a while and just drop the "Oh - let's go Dutch" thing and buy dinner for me. It ain't gonna kill ya - believe me, you're gonna get a lot more out of me in the long run adopting that attitude than you are the other one. I mean - whether you want to admit it or not - it's expensive for a man to date a woman in Santa Fe - I've written about this before - https://willsonwheels.blogspot.com/search?q=rising+cost+of+loving - and I've been on the receiving end of women of taking advantage of me financially my whole fucking life - so if you're looking for some sympathy from me on this subject - DON'T!
18. Try acting like a Woman instead of a Man - if you don't know what this means and what it looks like and acts like and talks like - GOOGLE IT!

I think that's enough of a list to get me exiled from Santa Fe or at least generate enough negative opinion or hate mail from the SF Feminine Population to keep me isolated and dateless for the next 5 years....

Just like I've been for the last 5 years.

Hey - don't get me wrong - I love Santa Fe and love living here.

I love the weather - except the summer afternoon hailstorms.  

I love the livable 4 Seasons. I love the proximity to the mountains and variety of terrain and all of the outdoor opportunities that provides.  I like the size of it, the relative infrastructure - lack of traffic, hike and bike trails, existence of stores, fitness facilities, architecture, etc. -  and especially the live music and dance scene and availability of all that.  I am not a huge art appreciator but acknowledge and understand the Mecca Santa Fe is for that sort of thing.

What else?

I guess one more disclosure is in order.

I have met a Few Good Women in Santa Fe - I guess they were just too "good" or normal for me or I was too "bad" or abnormal for them.

So there's that.

And more importantly - I didn't come to Santa Fe looking for a relationship or basing my move to Santa Fe on the anticipation of finding one -

And that's probably a good thing.

Cause a Huge Discovery for Discovery is.....

It's slim pickings for that sort of thing in Santa Fe.

Proposing / Planning a Path through the Pain

Let me get right to the point on this post and talk about the ultimate life arbiter besides DEATH and let me also say this post is an extension, a post-script and a follow-up to the previous post -

"You Can't Handle the Truth!" or the Pain

Because based on quite a few discussions with different people over an extended period of time on the subject of eating plans, exercise and general lifestyle to support and promote a more vigorous, longer and fulfilling life, this subject keeps coming up time and time again, especially when it involves a discussion of WHAT I DO and WHY I DO IT.

Of course, I'm talking about Pain.

Mr. Pain to Me - because I do respect this MFer and have spent a lot of time with him historically in an unmanaged or mismanaged way and continue to exchange blows with him on a daily basis but on a field of pain of my choosing.

As I said - Historically, his influence on my Life has been greater than it is now, which is a significant statement because it opens up a dialog and suggests a positive path in dealing with Mr. Pain.

Indulge me for a paragraph or 8 with some Motherhood and Apple Pie statements and general observations and specific recommendations on the subject of Pain and other related thoughts and items that hopefully will highlight a less torturous hike up Mt. Pain.

So here's my list of not so random thoughts about navigating a path / signing a treaty / reaching a cease fire or detente with Ambassador Pain.

• First off, I realize there are all different types of Pain - physical pain from an acute injury, chronic pain from a debilitating or diseased condition, mental and emotional pain brought on by relational or environmental stresses, pain of depression, loneliness, loss, grief, the pain of being UNHEALTHY - yep that may be the biggest Pain of them all because if feeds and facilitates so many of the other pains or at least leaves you less able to deal with / overcome the many pains of life.
• It is commonly understood that any skill, vocation, career, talent, program of accomplishment if you will, requires 10000 hours of DELIBERATE PRACTICE, to achieve proficiency.  That's basically a full time job for 5 years.  How this applies to this whole subject matter of Pain and Pain Management is that to become good at the job of Managing Life's Pains and developing a healthy lifestyle - however you define that - will likely require a 5-year education and a lot of progression and practice to get your degree.  Think of it as an investment in your future because that's what it is.
• When you open up the dialog of a 5-year path to achieve a healthy lifestyle and connect the dots of my own journey and arrive at the last dot, which might be a random question and discussion about WHAT I DO and HOW I DO what I do to look and be the way I am, it is important to realize just that - that you are looking at an endpoint of a greater than 5-year journey with all of the efforts and failures and learnings and experimentation and refining and education that came along the way.
• The takeaways from this realization and consideration are many and far-reaching and significant especially to someone who has not walked this path or even begun to walk this path.
• Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts for this journey that I am aware of other than the ones I purport - which are covered / listed in the previous post.  I have already run the gauntlet so when I share the info, it is in the vein of an optimized path - one that will ensure that whoever follows it will not have to go through as much pain in the mistakes and detours of not having someone walk the path before them.
• Also, please try to avoid the trap of making excuses or psyching yourself out on the whole "bad carb restriction / high good fat consumption, intermittent fasting, intense exercise, etc." path / plan / proposal. with the argument - "Well it works for you but my body works differently.  I have to.... blah blah blah."  OK - Understood. But here's the deal - Everything I am talking about is not VooDoo, it's not conjecture, it's not guesswork - it's chemistry, body chemistry, biological mechanisms and functions - it is the science of the way the human body works - all human bodies work.  And your human body is no different.
• Now of course, as I said in the post before, you have to take these general principles and concepts and AMO - Adapt, Modify, Overcome - the obstacles and issues in your own life to implement them. Yep - that might be painful or Pain-Fool.
• Hey - I get it. People are at different phases in their lives and have different time and effort demands and considerations and priorities and schedules so prioritizing, planning, practicing and perfecting a Lifestyle Change as "radical" but reasonable as what I'm proposing can be a daunting task.
• Here's where I want to circle back to the point of where I am on my journey compared to and in consideration of where people I talk to might be.
• Begin the journey with small steps.  Eat the Elephant one Steak at a time.  Let me give you an example - I have had several people witness me doing 30" box jumps with ease in my workouts - and they have said "Oh - I could never do that!".  My response is "Nope - you can't but I bet you can do a 6" box jump and probably do it 10 times a day for a month.  And then, next month, you could move up to a 9" box jump and do it 10 times a day for a month. And then....". See where I'm going with this. Make a Plan based on Baby Steps or Jumps and then Start Jumping!
• Apply that good mind fuck, baby step progression to every aspect of this Lifestyle Enhancing Program.
• As another example - on the intermittent fasting - which in review means you basically go 16 - 23 hours from the last meal the day before to the first meal of the next day.  I tell people - Please don't try to do this in one "Cold Turkey" move.  Begin by delaying your normal breakfast by an hour for a week or 2.  Let your body adapt. Remember you are beginning to wean yourself off of carb / sugar addiction and beginning the repair of Insulin Resistance brought on by years of frequent eating - which by the way is complete bullshit.  The science and studies and medical papers that have been published especially over the last 10 years have proven unequivocally that the WORST thing you can do to your body is eat FREQUENT meals.  Time restricted eating, which is the same as Intermittent Fasting, restricts your eating to 1 - 8 hours a day, depending on how "deep" you go into it, and is the KEY to Body Repair / Life Enhancement and Extension.
• So - continuing this specific progression on implementing Intermittent Fasting - the next couple of weeks you stretch your breakfast to - say 10:00 am - and you start cutting out the between breakfast and lunch snacks and the late night snacks and before bed eating.
• Again - you see how this progression is going - so carry on with it and meanwhile, back at the Bad Carb Restriction / Good Fat Expansion Ranch, you begin transitioning your caloric intake from that steady input of Processed Foods (that contain so much hidden sugar), Bread, Grains, Potatoes, Pasta, Rice, High Sugar Fruits, and yes Santa Fe - TORTILLAS and CHIPS!, etc. to high quality meats (yes - Fat is Your Friend and Sugar is Your Enemy!), Eggs (absolutely the "perfect" food), Cheese (one shot of Apple Cider Vinegar immediately after each meal will help with all kinds of digestive issues like lactose intolerance - believe me I know - I used to fart like a GD Pasture Cow after eating cheese and now with the help of the Apple Cider Vinegar to increase the acidity of my stomach and improve digestion and assimilation of all that I eat - nothing but Eat and Enjoy!), Butter, Olive Oil, Avocados and Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans and of course, a "bucket full" of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables like kale, swiss chard, beet greens, Romaine, Spring Mix, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, brussel sprouts, squash, peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc.  Find your own way to make the veggies tastes good - I season everything I cook heavily with salt, pepper and a mix of Curry powder, Garam Masala and Allspice and then dress my cooked and raw veggies with a good dousing of Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil.  Try that - I'll bet you'll like veggies more than you realized.
• Believe me - as I stated in the previous post - there will be a "Pain" of craving what you had before and what you are now denying yourself. Satiate your cravings with "good fats". One of my little secret indulgences is a mix of salted coconut oil or butter, dark chocolate, blueberries and walnuts.  Everyone I have introduced this little concoction to has raved over the seratonin producing / palate exciting qualities (think Pleasure over Pain!) it has and how it immediately ends all cravings for "bad carbs" and sugar.  
• One last consideration / fact before I begin to wrap this Pain Prescription up and this is a really important point.  Don't view me or watch me and use me as Your Example.  I am a self-admitted Extremist! I am taking all of these concepts and programs and practices to the Nth degree - because that's what I want. That's what I enjoy - seeing how far I can stretch all this in achieving a non-linear, non-universal level of fitness and appearance.  YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT! You could do / implement 50 - 60% of what I'm doing and transform your life in a meaningful and incredible way - with much less Pain and Discomfort. So please - don't let me be a discouragement or some vestige of an Unachievable Endpoint or Goal - just look at me as a Guide or Compass to get you headed in the right direction and then make the general concepts / practical applications match Your Life and Goals.
• We all have to face different and consistent Pain in our lives.  What I am suggesting is that you "Choose Your Pain".  Introduce the pain and sacrifice of a healthy eating plan and vigorous exercise regimen that will transition your whole being and daily existence from all the pain you have to deal with in being unhealthy.  You will be absolutely amazed at how much better you feel, how much clearer you think, how much better you do at work and at home when you get off the "Sugar Train" and starting Walking the Talk of a Clean Keto eating plan and vigorous exercise schedule - and let me add - one will support the other in an incredible self-sustaining Positive Cycle - the better you eat, the harder you will be able to work out, which will leave you craving "Good Food" vs Junk to facilitate the repair of the body from the workout.
• Make creating a New You a #1 Priority because as I have said so many times - the Least Selfish thing you can do in your Life - for your spouse, for your children, for your parents, for your career, for every aspect of your Life - is to take care of you First!
• Look at it as an Investment in the Most Important Asset in Your Life Portfolio - YOU!

Ok Folks - I'm done preaching and pontificating.

Here's the Key Takeaway - I totally understand and empathize with the Whole Concept of Pain Avoidance - especially when it applies to Food and Exercise

I get it - I really do.

But here's the Cold and Hard Truth.

We all have to deal with some level of Pain and Discomfort on a daily basis in some way or another and if you don't take care of yourself, you're gonna have to deal with it more along the way and ultimately through premature aging and death than you would if you had just made some reasonable, planned, practiced, scientifically-based adjustments along the way.

So the Choice is up to You.

Let the Pain of an Unhealthy Lifestyle control, shorten and destroy your life OR

Pick a Pain of Your Choice that will ultimately benefit you in a longer, more productive, enjoyable and happy and healthy lifestyle.

I've chosen my Pain.

And that is the Greatest Discovery of my Life.

"You Can't Handle the Truth".... or the Pain!

Let's begin this little ditty with a scene from a movie.

You Can't Handle the Truth! - A Few Good Men Movie Clip

One of my favorite movies and probably because of this scene which creates a cinematic crescendo in the orchestral plot.

Now I in no way am implying or intending that the following information / anecdotes in any way parallels the subject matter or significance of context of this fictional situation in cinematic history but the Jack Nicholson outburst does kind of represent how I want to respond to people in the following situation which I will get to at the end of this post.

And let me also do my lists of qualifications, conditions and considerations for your consideration:

• I am not a medical doctor or a nutritionist or a certified trainer or anything - well I'm a chemical engineer - which I guess helps with some things but penalizes me in other things - but that's material for another post.
• As such, you should consult your own doctor before doing any of the shit I write about and practice.
• Finally, this information is worth what you're paying for it, which is nothing, so put that in your bank account and see how much interest you collect.

Ok - now that's out of the way -

Let me lay down a little groundwork here for this literary bitch - that's funny - I guess you could take that 2 ways.

I am a Literary Bitch that wants to express a Literary Bitch.

Anyway - no big secret - one of my highest life priorities and daily time and energy consumers is...

Being healthy.

And not only being healthy but looking healthy, fit, lean, muscular blah blah blah.

And I am all into pushing the envelope on what is "normal and natural and universally established and accepted" in regards to that look and the approaches, practices and long term consistency that justify the means to an end.

But I am also into exploring, researching, learning and applying new knowledge and information toward the short terms results of being healthy, having a lean, muscular, "extreme" physique but, as importantly, figuring out what it takes to maintain, sustain that condition for the long term.

In recent times - let's say the last 18 - 24 months - I have changed my perspective on longevity.

Prior to this period, I was "All In" - balls to the wall - adamant that I wanted to "burn out and drop out" probably by the time I was 70 years old.

I've written about this many times before but present these links again for my previous philosophy for your edification or sympathy or criticism....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bOKsOveYD0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4CZfac0N0E

The main reason I have changed my perspective on the desire of duration for my personal life span is because I have new data.

What?

New data?

You mean to tell me Discovery - that you have changed your mind about something as critical as how long you would like to live....

Based on new data?

How revolutionary and reasonable and counter culture of you!

Yeah - Yeah - I know - I tend to be a Life Gangsta Salmon that way - always swimming against the current.

So - spill the Beans Wills - what's this all about.

All right - here it is in a nutshell.

There is a ton of information / data / medical and clinical studies / research out there that has all come out in the last 5 - 10 years that states and concludes the FACT that consuming too many carbs / sugar destroys / rots / deteriorates your body / cells from the inside out.

I'm not going to provide umpteen links / resources to PROVE this is true.

You can do your own due diligence - just start Google-ing, doing YouTube searches, Internet searches for appropriate keywords, phrases, etc. - and then spend 4 - 8 hours reviewing the information and you'll get the picture.

In a nutshell, restricting "bad carbs" like grains and grain products, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, high sugar fruits, processed foods and other "high-glycemic index" foods, IS THE KEY to being physically, mentally and emotionally healthy AND to living a longer life - both by reducing / eliminating the risk of disease but also by making your core body components last longer.

On a same daily caloric intake basis, replacing the "bad carb" intake with "good carbs" - like cruciferous and green leafy vegetables and I mean a lot of them - like 10 - 12 cups per day on a raw basis - whether you eat them raw or cooked - ensures that you get the critical vitamins and micronutrients WITHOUT soliciting or incurring significant insulin / blood sugar responses and swings.

And Insulin Stability / fixing or reversing Insulin Resistance on a cellular level is the KEY mechanism for this entire Life Giving / Health Improving process.

I'm putting out a lot of "general" concepts and information here because, frankly, if I started getting off into the details of how all this works - I would still be writing this post this time tomorrow.

While I'm in the process of presenting terms, ideas, concepts, techniques and metabolic and body functions and mechanisms that contribute to this cellular repair of the body, let me throw a few more things at you.

Adjusting your percentage or proportion of daily caloric intake to favor a higher percentage of "good fats" - found in meats, nuts and seeds, avocados, butter, cheese, coconut oil, olive oil, etc. - will cause your body to go from "sugar burning / glycogen dependence" to "fat burning / ketosis" mode.  FYI - Ketones are an alternate fuel source produced by your liver in the absence of stored glycogen (sugar) in the muscles and liver.  So - you limit the carb intake, you go into ketosis.

And yes - I know - we're talking about the "ketogenic" diet which gets a lot of bad press and bad rep but there are many different versions of the keto diet and the one that I have researched, edited / modified and followed for the last 10 - 12 months is what is best described as a "Modified Atkins / Clean Keto" eating plan with about the following macronutrient daily caloric intake percentages:

50% good fats (as described above)
35% protein (pork, beef, chicken, fish, eggs, etc)
15% good carbs (as described above - basically a bucket of green leafy and cruciferous veggies and berries)

Combine a "high good fat / low bad carb" eating plan with Intermittent Fasting aka Time Restricted Eating and you have the Perfect Storm for Health, Well-being and Longevity.

The bottom line is Eating / Consuming Food and all the processes that go with it is destructive to your body mainly through the need to introduce insulin into your blood to control blood sugar.

In the past - again Old School nutritional technology - the way to address this was calorie restriction with many studies showing that a daily caloric intake of less than 1000 calories / day increases life span.

What the new studies are showing to be true and more effective and obviously easier to implement is to "give the body a break from eating / digesting / assimilating macro and micronutrients" through intermittent fasting / time restricted eating which basically means you skip breakfast, eat a late lunch and eat a 2nd meal if necessary within 4 - 6 hours of the 1st meal. In effect, you are increasing your daily fast from 10 - 12 hours to 18 - 22 hours.

This extra 8 - 12 hours of fasting per day induces AUTOPHAGY!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autophagy

In a nutshell, when you fast, the restriction of calories forces the body to find fuel from another source....

From Within!

In the absence of food - while fasting - the body takes diseased or damaged cells and extracts the "trash" from those damaged cells and recycles that "trash" to the liver where the liver generates ketones to be used for fuel for the existing healthy cells.

Autophagy is a critical piece to this whole life enhancing / body building process because it reverses aging and the effects of aging by making you younger on a cellular basis.

Pretty incredible - by fasting - you force the body to regenerate damaged or diseased cells and increase the percentage of healthy cells.

All right - let's throw one more wrench at this Monkey - Exercise!

From all the research I've done and the workouts I've practiced over the past several years, the studies and my personal experience have led me to the conclusion that the most effective form of exercise for short and long term health and anti-ageing is - drum roll please.....

HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training.

Especially in a Fasted State - No I didn't say Fast State - like New York - I said Fasted State.

In other words, you work out on an empty stomach.

All kinds of good shit happens when you rely on stored body fat and diet-induced ketones for fuel for your workouts vs glycogen stores in the muscle and liver.

Studies have shown that naturally created Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Testosterone rise to peak levels while doing HIIT in a fasted state.

Obviously, this whole process of adjusting your body / mind / spirit to these new eating plan / schedule and workout type and timing takes TIME.

The short term effects of weaning your body off sugar dependence is no different from quitting smoking or drinking alcohol - there will be withdrawal symptoms - the most acute occurring during the 1st 3 - 7 days after the bad carb restriction begins.

My experience with this whole process is that it happens in phases:

1. 3 - 7 days of craving bad carbs.
2. 7 days - 8 weeks - Adjustment to consistency in the eating plan to rebalance the macro nutrients to the percentages described above.
3. 8 weeks - 6 months - Getting into full ketosis, refining your eating plan, schedule and macro and micronutrient intake to coordinate with and support your daily lifestyle, schedule and physical, mental and emotional needs and feeling and experiencing the positive effects of this in your workouts and general daily life challenges is the best thing since not eating sliced bread.

So let's summarize how you can avoid falling off the cliff of aging or at least delay the effects and live a more active, enjoyable and healthy life in the meantime through a combination of scientific based and recently discovered procedures / techniques / eating plans:

1. Adjusting the macro percentages of daily caloric intake to reduce / minimize insulin response, i.e. a high good fat, moderate to high protein, low bad carb high volume good carb eating plan.
2. Induce Autophagy through Intermittent Fasting for at least 18 - 23 hours per day.
3. Exercise with as much intensity as you can with a HIIT approach especially in a fasted state, i.e. towards the end of your daily fasting cycle.  
4. There's a lot of other things you can add to this including establishing and maintaining an organized approach to stress management, restorative sleep, staying in sync with your Circadian rhythms, the incredible importance of taking in sufficient levels of critical vitamins and micronutrients / trace elements like Vitamin D, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, etc. and adding in supplements as appropriate to fill gaps, but if any of this info has piqued your interest, you'll do your own due diligence and quickly realize it's all relevant, true and does provide a pathway to a New You.

Again - all of this information is out there and readily available and presented by medical doctors, scientists, clinical researchers, health / fitness experts, etc., so please take the time to pursue excellence with your own Body and Life.  Personally, I've found the best source to be YouTube videos and podcasts.

Which brings me FULL CIRCLE to the introduction and theme of this post.

I am in the BEST SHAPE of my life - both from an internal and external fitness level.

I am leaner, stronger, more flexible, more muscular and in less pain and joint and whole body inflammation than I have ever been.

At age 57.

How is that possible?

How can I be better at 57 than I was at 45.... or 35..... or 25!

The answer is pretty simple.

I have "Discovered" the Fountain of Youth.

And it's location and contents are described above.

Now - does that mean I will live forever?

Of course not - but again - as I alluded to above - I am now convinced with all this new research, knowledge and practical application - that I can be a Kick Ass 100-year old.

And be lean, muscular and active till the day I die - whether that's 70, 80, 90 or 100 - doesn't really matter to me....

Because in the end analysis - literally - the endpoint is not what is important.

It is the Life line that is drawn between the Beginning and the End.

I want that Life to be full of Wonder, Discovery, Activity, Adventure and....

Accolades!

Ha - there's that Vanity thing again - James Dean style - right?

I wanna Live Hard, Die at a Ripe Old Age and - what's that?

Yeah - leave a Pretty Corpse.

So here's where we close the Loop.

As a result of this transition, which I feel is a true reversal of fortune in Ageing, Fitness and Health - meaning Yeah - I have turned back the Hands of Time and am and look fitter and leaner and more muscular that 90% of the 25-year old participants at the gym where I go and 99% of the population walking the streets of Santa Fe - and actually several cities in Texas - which recent trips to that Hot and Humid state have shown.

So - what happens with this State of the Physical Union?

Well I'll tell Ya.....

People are regularly and randomly walking up to me and asking me What I am Doing to look the way I do.

And not only look the way I do but physically perform the way I do - with things like 34" box jumps and Walking Overhead lunges with 70# plates and dancing for 2 - 3 hours at a time... just to mention a few.

So I tell them - what I just told you - what is written above - what has been learned and practiced.

In as few a words as possible befitting a new conversation with a new acquaintance.

And you know what the responses sound like?

"Oh - I thought bananas were good for you" (despite the fact that a banana has 24g of net carbs compared to 4g of net carbs from a teaspoon of table sugar which means when you eat a banana - on an insulin response basis only - you might as well be eating 6 fucking teaspoons of white sugar!)

And then there's the "but my doctor says I should be on a low fat diet for my cholesterol".

Well - first of all - 95% of the medical doctors have no nutritional training or knowledge - and if they do - it's based on the 1950's food pyramid.

I am amazed at how many doctors have no knowledge or consideration and no communication / recommendations to their patients for Insulin Resistance - which was called "Systemic Inflammation" 10 - 20 years ago because researchers / medical community didn't have the benefit of the specific information and mechanisms that create this condition that they know now.

And all of the downstream maladies of it...

Like being linked to nearly EVERY Chronic and Acute Condition that befalls mankind today:

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, neuromuscular and brain-degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and yes....

The Big C - Cancer.

You know who invented the Keto diet?

Hippocrates - yeah the low carb / high fat eating plan has been around for thousands of years.

And you know why he created this eating plan?

To treat children with epilepsy.

Because damaged brain cells that CANNOT assimilate glycogen (sugar) anymore can use Ketones (again - generated from the liver in the absence of stored glycogen (sugar) in the liver and muscles as a better fuel source for all body metabolic functions especially brain cells) for fuel - it allows damaged brain cells to be regenerated and restored through an alternative fuel source. So a high fat, low carb diet that induces ketosis is good for all kind of brain and behavioral dysfunctions and diseases.

You know one of the latest / cutting edge treatments for cancer?

Starving the Cancer cells of glucose / sugar / carbs.

Why does this work?

Because Cancer cells have 5 - 7 times (yep 500 - 700%) more glycogen receptors than a healthy cell.

Cancer fucking feeds, thrives, grows, expands and metastasizes on sugar!

You don't eat sugar - you starve the Cancer Cells to Death!

Amazing - right? - how many people know that right now?

Which is a travesty of the whole medical industry but don't get me started on that.

Gotta keep people sick. Why?

Cause sick people generate revenue.

What's the Key Takeaway here folks?

Yep - again - to repeat - eating too much sugar aka Carbs ROTS and Destroys your body from the inside out on a cellular basis and promotes / feeds all kind of bad conditions and mechanisms including Cancer.

Cut the Carbs - eat only those Carbs that are low-glycemic aka don't solicit a huge insulin response - and eat more good fats and restrict your eating to a 4 - 6 hour window every day and work out and exercise as hard and as intensely as your body and schedule will allow and your body, brain and spirit will soar!

And reverse its steady course of Ageing.

Now of course - all of this comes with a good dose of required Due Diligence Research and Learning, Change in Thinking, Unlearning many "Conventional Wisdoms", Self-Discipline, Sacrifice, giving up the life and eating plan you had before and some of the favorite foods and favorite confirmation biases you have had toward eating, exercising and life philosophy in general.

And all that can be Bothersome, Uncomfortable and maybe even -

Painful.

Hey - there ain't no free rides in this Roller Coaster of Life.

So that's the Truth.

But when I tell people The Truth -

Guess What?

They want to argue about it... or against it.

I feel like saying - "Geez - you asked me. You wanted to know what I'm doing. If all you're gonna do is argue with me and tell me I'm wrong about all this shit that I'm doing to look and feel this way - WTF did you ask me for?"

Or just say "Look - you see any other 57 year-olds around here that look and work out like I do? You know why? Cause I ain't doing what everybody else is doing. Duh."

There's a saying I got off a CrossFit shirt a while back that has stuck with me and pretty much encompasses this whole argument -

"To Have What Others DON'T - You Must Do What Others WON'T".

Hmmmm.... Take  a bite of that life axiom - will ya!

The Bottom Line is....

Most People Can't Handle the Truth...

Or the Pain to find and experience the benefits of the Truth.

And that is not a Discovery I was expecting or prepared for.