We’re in that strange doldrums between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Everything’s closed, many people are out of town, and I don’t know which way is up.
I’m at home with my two girls on this lazy Saturday, who are discovering how to throw a Playstation controller and rage-quit when the game isn’t on easy mode, getting my bearings back after far too much 100-proof Absolut and cheesecake on Christmas Day.
The good news is that if you don’t count the tremendous volume of booze I put back (and why would you?) the diet stayed well under control and the workouts as consistent as I could keep them over the past week.
When you see the world as I’ve come to see it, a day or three of total derailment doesn’t add up to much.
Once or twice is a blip. It’s the pattern of behaviors over time that matters.
Your body is not only forgiving of slips to your mechanical routine. It often benefits from them.
Years ago when I was coaching figure competitors through their contest diets, we discovered the oddest thing.
After the deprivation of getting into contest shape, nearly all my ladies would go out for a junk-food bender and drinks after the fact.
They’d end up looking better the next morning than they had while on stage.
I had half a mind to tell them to juice up on candy bars and beer the night BEFORE the show… but none of them were brave enough to try that little experiment.
Maybe that’s for the best. But I’ve always had it in my head to roll out a chocolate bars and jelly shots diet package. I bet it’d be a killer (until everyone caught on that you have to spend 90% of your week eating to a nutrient-rich and calorie-controlled routine to make it work)
It’s totally counter-intuitive, but it works because your body, like everything in nature, responds to waves, shocks, and changing rhythms. The boring same-old-thing becomes a habit, and habits don’t stimulate change or growth.
I’d be irresponsible to tell you to code in deliberate breaks full of vice and debauchery, I guess… but since when have I ever been a responsible adult? The audacity.
Plus, your body rewards irresponsible behavior. It’s the extremes that make a difference and leave a mark on the world.
One thing I am learning after spending time with the extended family:
Many people are entering the later half of life entirely unprepared for what their bodies are doing and what to do about it. Over the last three days I’ve diagnosed and prescribed solutions for various aches-and-pains to no less than four relations ranging from age 25 to 70.
Sometimes I get demoralized and figure I’m wasting my time talking about health and vitality. I’ll just handle my own business and everybody else can do what they want.
That’s how it feels sometimes.
Those conversations help me see that I’ve still got something to add and that there’s still work to do in getting my message out there.
Go enjoy the remaining madness of 2025.
We’ll ramp up in January.
I’ve got big plans for myself and I want to bring along anybody who’s willing to make the trip with me.
Stop by the group if you’re so inclined. Better yet, tell a friend who might be interested and share the link:
Use this link to get your free invite into the Vital Beyond 40 group
Matt Perryman