About Me

There’s something that I think is missing from the conversation around health. And that is enjoyment. Far too many people, when they talk about health, equate it to being really hard, or really boring. Yes, it can be hard, and it can be boring. But it doesn’t have to be.

You’re not trying to fight fat, and fend off disease, although those are benefits of being healthy. You’re trying to feel the best you possibly can, so you can get the most enjoyment possible out of life.

A rancher I had the pleasure of listening to give a talk nailed it with this quote: “You can exist without being healthy.” You don’t just want to exist, you want to thrive.

I’ve been blessed in my life to be raised, in part, by my grandfather, who always emphasized the importance of eating right, and exercising daily. There was no processed or packaged food in our house (except for 1 package of my mother’s favorite cookies). My grandfather always cooked from whole food ingredients, many of which came from his garden. I also recall many mornings walking into the living room to find my grandfather exercising in his underwear with a smile on his face.

He loved to workout, to use his body, and to feel strong. And he instilled that same passion into me.

Over 20 years ago I adopted a lifestyle of exercise and conscious eating, that has kept me healthy and active. I’ve been fortunate to never have dealt with unwanted excessive weight gain (I did bulk up to 200 lbs as a junior in high school, but that was intentional to see how big and strong I could get), or any acute or chronic illnesses. In those years I’ve tried a lot, learned a lot, and I’ve only scratched the surface. 

The one major difference I see between my current perspective and the one I carried for most of my life, is that I need to be happy, and to enjoy it.

Take a look at my meals and recipes page and see if you find anything boring there. Click around and view some of the exercises and workouts I’ve posted. Maybe they look hard, but to me they’re fun, and I assure you there is a starting point for everyone where progress and fun can be had. 

Physical health gets all the attention, because that’s the “health” we “see.” But, my 2+ decade journey has also taught me that there is no physical health without mental health. And so, as I approach 40, I’ve made mental healthy my priority. And I’ve made it a point to share the inner-workings of my brain, good and bad, to highlight the fact that we’re all going through it. 

I find joy in pursuing my health, and I’m forever grateful for all the ways that pursuit has helped shape my life. To me, the key to long term success is learning to love it, and I hope I can help you get there. The same way my grandfather did for me so many years ago.

Cheers to your practice.

James.