Where Integrity Dies: The Grocery Store
Article Round-Up: 10.27.24
Enjoy this week’s curated round-up of articles, videos, and more from the web to help you live a healthier, happier life.
For the first time in decades, the obesity rates in the US are beginning to decline. The new weight loss medications are definitely a big contributing factor.
But for even those folks seeing crazy success with these medications, a lingering question remains:
After you lose the weight, what comes next?
Me and my team want to build a helpful resource to help answer that question, but first we need to gather more data from the people with experience on these medications. If that is you, can you take this short, anonymous survey about your experiences? Your help is greatly appreciated!
Click here to take the survey.
Featured Thoughts:
Where Integrity Dies…
Takeaway: I can’t stand influencers who film in grocery stores, fear-mongering about perfectly reasonable foods that could make your life easier.
Sorry, “Brian,” I don’t have time to prepare a freshly made, four-course meal with foods only fit for a Michelin-star restaurant…
These marketers know people are struggling to get healthy, and they exploit those fears to sell unnecessary (and sometimes harmful) products.
This isn’t a “me on a pedestal” talk.
This is a heart-to-heart where I’m telling you, as a professional fitness coach with over a decade of full-time experience (this is the only job I’ve had since college) and the experience of losing nearly 100 pounds and keeping it off for over 15 years: it’s not THIS complicated.
Achieving your health goals will be hard. (See article on shortcuts below.) There’s no way around that. You’re battling years of bad habits and a society that makes it easy to stay unhealthy.
But it isn’t complicated once you learn to understand nutrition. Not every modern-day food is designed to poison you. (In fact, none of them are.)
Take this like advice from a loving, encouraging friend grabbing you by the shoulders and looking you in the eyes…
If anyone is shouting extremes at you (honestly, if they’re shouting period), ignore whatever advice comes next.
Much love,
~ Coach Alex
Published This Week:
Takeaway: There is a crisis happening for both men and women in society today: Loneliness.
Unfortunately, for lonely men (and maybe even more unfortunately for the rest of us), this has turned into a growing trend of hyper-aggressive, extremely self-centered, often misogynistic, “alpha masculinity” promoted by the same types of grifters that plague the health industry.
These marketers target a struggling and unhappy group of people, preying on their fears and insecurities, to sell their “solution.”
“You just have to be more of a man, and go take what’s yours!” They shout.
This loneliness, likely stemming from a hyper-online world with limited real life connections, has led to a massive overcorrection in behavior.
And as another man watching it unfold, it’s concerning.
This article does a great job of breaking down exactly what the h*ll is going on.
Standing Won’t Make You Healthier—Research Shows
Takeaway: In the 2010s, standing desks became the new leather jacket. Edgy, cool, with a bit of “stick it to the system” attitude. Turns out, standing doesn’t provide many health benefits. There is no substitute for physical movement.
In this article I share 15+ ways to get moving that don’t suck.
Takeaway: “The things that matter in life are hard to build.
It's hard to build a powerful, purpose-imbued career.
It's hard to build deep, meaningful relationships.
It's hard to build a healthy, fit body.
It's hard to build a calm, present mind.
It's hard to build a reputation worthy of respect.
They aren't supposed to be easy. If they were, everyone would have them.”
Just For Fun:
I don’t dress up for Halloween for two reasons:
Unless spending A LOT of money, they’re always uncomfortable. And they seldom enhance my party experience. More discomfort for the same amount of fun. Doesn’t seem like a reasonable ROI.
I spent the last 15 years working very hard to become the person I would’ve been inspired by when I was younger. Why would I want to pretend to be something else?
P.S. If you’re struggling to make healthy changes and want to get in shape, here are two ways I can help you right now:
Book a health assessment with my team. Speak directly with a professional coach to discuss your challenges and start developing a clear plan of action. These assessments are free to you. (Completed by phone.)
Watch this Nutrition video. Begin learning the proper way to understand nutrition so you don’t fall prey to the nonsense mentioned above.