Mindset, Nutrition
JP Siou
How Feasting Traditions Connect Us: Mindful ...

Exploring the role of feasts throughout history, highlighting how they foster connection, reinforce cultural values, and celebrate abundance, this post examines our evolutionary tendency for overconsumption during feasts and offers strategies for enjoying these occasions mindfully without compromising health. By approaching communal meals with intention, we can maintain balance and celebrate without overindulging.

How Feasting Traditions Connect Us: Mindful Eating Tips for Holiday Celebrations
Events
JP Siou
2024 BTG Baby Barkley Recap

We had a great turnout for the first-ever BTG Baby Barkley this past Saturday, with eleven people participating. The weather was beautiful, and actually was quite comfortable for most of the duration, only getting really hot in the afternoon hours. Read the full post for my recap of my (just under) 6 hours’ effort on the mountain!

2024 BTG Baby Barkley Recap
Coach JP's Journey, Training, Nutrition, Mindset
JP Siou
My Journey To Ultra - The Obstacle Is The Way

Kicking off the 2024 race season and the ultra training plan…and then getting COVID! Everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the face, as “Iron” Mike Tyson used to say. Here’s what I’m doing to keep moving forward.

My Journey To Ultra - The Obstacle Is The Way
Coach JP's Journey, Training, Nutrition, Mindset
JP Siou
My Journey To Ultra - Baseline (Day 1)

Embarking on a transformative journey in 2024, I'm taking on two monumental challenges: my first 50K mountain ultramarathon and my first Spartan Race Ultra on my 50th birthday. Despite recent health setbacks and injuries, I'm determined to reach peak physical condition. Join me as I document this journey of resilience and self-discovery - it won't be boring!

My Journey To Ultra - Baseline (Day 1)
Mindset, Nutrition, Training
JP Siou
Reality Check:  Do You Need To Lose Weight ...

One common thing people mention as a goal when we first talk about trying to eat better is weight loss.  For some, it's just "a couple of pounds" and for others, it's pretty significant.  The reasons behind wanting to lose weight may be to improve some health markers, to move better and feel less day-to-day aches and pains, to "look better naked" or for similar aesthetic reasons, or simply because of some preconceived notion of what they "should" weigh.  Some of those reasons also feed into emotional and mental well-being, and can affect our self-confidence, self-image and happiness.

The truth is, most people don't NEED to lose weight to be healthier, and with the right mindset, they don't NEED to lose weight to be happier or more self-confident either.

Read more…

Reality Check:  Do You Need To Lose Weight To Be Healthy And Happy?

Starting Over

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Starting All Over Again - My Fitness Journey

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Starting All Over Again - My Fitness Journey

Coming from a guy whose business is training others and coaching them on their nutrition and lifestyle habits, what I'm about to tell you may be a bit of a shock. I am unhealthy and out of shape, and it's exactly because I haven't been eating right or exercising enough in the last year or so. I have not been "walking the talk" as the saying goes.

Today, I bought some new pants, and in my mind, all hell broke loose.

I put on a pair of 34" waist cargo pants - barely - and thought, "WTF has happened to me?" I mean, I had to full-on suck in my gut and worry the button was going to break off squeeze those suckers on.

Great job Raina! Abbotsford Triathlon 2015

Great job Raina! Abbotsford Triathlon 2015

Great job by Raina on her return to sprint triathlon competition. For those of you who didn't know, Raina was out of commission and barely able to walk back in late January of this year with a herniated disc, and wasn't sure that she'd ever be able to run again at all, never mind get back to her favourite event, sprint triathlons.

Through great work by physio Chris Zwicker at CBI Sport & Spine Railway, and Raina's determination to get better, she came back to run a 5K at the Run for Water in May, and compete in today's Abbotsford Triathlon.

Raina was the 4th woman out of the water (swim time 15:07), 8th coming off the bike (bike time 46:39), and 12th at the finish (run time 31:54) with an overall time of 1:33:40. She was 4th in her age group.

Awesome performance, particularly considering where she was just seven months ago, barely able to walk to the end of our driveway and back - we're super proud of her!

UPDATE 2020-07-24: Copied this over from the old blog for posterity. My super-wifey continues to be super awesome five years down the road. ;)