Life Optimization Blueprint

When my foray into personal improvement started it was because I had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis with all the biomarkers of Ankylosing Spondylitis. With a general life expectancy range of 5-10 years from diagnosis of the disease, it was my ONLY purpose. It is what started me on the paths of research, experimentation, and adoption of eating, lifestyle, and fitness practices.

I was about 35 years old when I got the diagnosis. I’m now 49 and will be 50 in March of 2019. I’m the happiest, fittest, healthiest, and most productive I’ve ever been in my life. Because of my choices, I am right now fully capable and happy with being a full time IT Manager position, a part time Health and Life coach (I just finished my Primal Health Coach Certification 12/15/2018), and getting the most out of every moment of life that I have been gifted with.

So, what’s my idea of an optimized life? In order of importance to me:

1. Happiness
   In the present moment being truly happy with myself, my environment, and my situation.
2. Health
   Feeling pain free, strong, energetic, and mentally clear.
3. Professional Success
   Continually learning and being engaged in what I’m doing. Creating new solutions as well as maintaining and optimizing what’s been created. Being appreciated both socially and monetarily.
4. LGN (Look Good Naked)
   The confidence of knowing that I am muscular, lean and healthy. I’m just as comfortable naked in a locker room shower as I am fully dressed outside of it.

So what do Lifestyle, Eating, and Fitness look like for me?

Lifestyle

• Sleep enough to make sure that I wake every morning refreshed and ready to meet the challenges and joys of the day.
• Prioritize and make time for novelty and play. This keeps my brain and body engaged and refreshed.
• Get adequate sunlight. From circadian rhythms to Vitamin D creation, sunlight is some pretty awesome stuff.
• Being present moment aware and appreciative of myself. That means I’m engaged in the now and avoid dangerous things.

Eating

• Eat lots of vegetables and meats.
• Focus on eating high fat whole foods.
• Avoid (from most aggressive to least aggressive)grains, sugars, industrial seed oils, soy, and processed foods (the more processed the more I avoid it).

Fitness

• Move regularly at a normal or slow pace throughout the day.
  • An absolute minimum of 10,000 total steps per day.
  • 5-10 repeats of a 5-10 minute walks (easy to remember) spaced throughout the day, not exceeding more than 1 walk per hour.
  • 1 30 minute spirited walk to really move my body around and lubricate the joints.
  • I’ve been very grateful my FIT (Fitness,Intensity, Total) device with its buzzing reminder to go for a walk 53 minutes after I completed my last walk.
• Sprinting Every 10-14 days.
  • When I’m feeling especially awesome I’ll do a sprint session.
  • 6 sets of 15-30 seconds of all out effort with enough rest in between to get back to normal breathing.
• Workout 1-3 times per week
  • This is a 10-30 minute all out session with medium to heavy weights or body weight only exercises.
• Brain challenges. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, learning,and studying. Mental fitness is something many don’t pay attention to until someone let’s them know that they no longer have it.

That’s it! Thank you for reading! If you’re looking for more help in optimizing your own life and would like to engage my services, or have an idea for a blog post, feel free to contact me.

Wishing you happiness, health, and success!

-Gregg