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March 10, 2026

FEAR of Failure vs. The HARD Choice in a Man’s Mid-Life: LIVE COACHING - 88

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In this episode, we dive into the practical strategies that can transform your approach to health and wellness.

As a seasoned health coach with over 20 years of experience, I've guided thousands of individuals towards achieving their goals.

Today, we focus on the power of mindset and the impact of small, consistent habits.We'll explore how the language you use and the mindset you adopt can significantly influence your progress.

Whether you're dealing with the challenges of travel, a hectic schedule, or simply trying to overcome self-doubt, this episode provides actionable insights to help you stay focused and resilient.

Key topics include:

The role of language in shaping your actions and mindset
Viewing life's challenges as opportunities for growth
Maintaining consistency with small steps, even during busy times
Tools for managing stress and planning effectively
Shifting your mindset to embrace positive change

This episode is designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and driven men who are looking to enhance their health, boost energy, and improve productivity.

Join us to learn how to make informed choices that support your journey towards better health and well-being.

The Call To Rise is a 100-day Fat Loss Transformation Experience designed for driven men ready to get back to a healthy body, boost their energy, and lead as a powerful man.

If you are struggling with some form of chronic illness such as high blood pressure, cholesterol or even Type 2 Diabetes - this program is designed for you too.

Through a proven system of strength training, personalized nutrition, and radical accountability, you’ll drop 20–30 pounds and rebuild confidence from the inside out and even improve chronic illness issues. It’s more than a fitness program, it’s an body transformation experience with a Brotherhood of like-minded men committed to showing up, leveling up, and leading in a body they are excited about.

This is your wake-up call to rise.

www.thecalltorise.com

Want help applying this to your own health, weight, energy, or lab numbers?

Coach Brian Parana offers Health Hot Seat coaching segments for men who want a clear next step with nutrition, fitness, weight loss, blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C, or daily consistency.

Learn more about The Call To Rise, a 100-day coaching program for driven men over 40 who want to lose weight, improve their health, and rebuild confidence:

www.thecalltorise.com

To connect with Coach Brian:
brian@brianparana.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for education and coaching support only. It is not medical advice. Always work with your physician before changing medication, treatment, or medical care.

Coming back to you in episode 88, Driven for Health podcast. I hope that you enjoy all these. I spend a lot of good time thinking up quality engagement activities, things that you can learn, topics that hit hard for you. Now, today's episode is the live coaching session of the call to rise. I love sharing these with you so you get a real time perspective of what men that are basically you are dealing with and the struggles, challenges, successes that they're having. So listen in.
I started recording this one a little bit later than I intended. I to be honest I forgot to press record and it's like oh shoot I better record this because it's a lot of good juicy parts to it. So sit back, relax. So, got some new guys in the group and you're more than welcome to join. Check out the calltorise.com.
If you need some actual help, a game plan strategy and you want some actual real coaching support along the way. Catch you in this episode. One more. Hardest thing for me is like self-control when it's when it's in front of my face. Uh especially when you have a long day. But, you know, I just got to stay stay grounded is is uh you know, what's working so far and either skipping the events or going there briefly and just drinking a [ __ ] ton of water or diet sodas to kind of help with any of that.
Yeah, it's a big been a the opportunity for you to be in those situations is great frequent and it is a challenge that you've had to manage and overcome and things that we're constantly still working through to get you to the next level and your physical transformation and and body changes for you. So, something that we'll keep focusing on.
Hope hopefully the the the fighter pilot will just have a come some nuggets of inspiration as well. You've got some big life changes coming up that you want to make and your future. The thing I opened up with on that from the guy he said it and I was like oh this is actually pretty good. I had heard it really expressed like this but you are let me let me find it so I quote it properly.
Five. Is it? There he is. All right. The opener was, "What if I told you that your kids are 80% likely to become the adult that you are now, not the adult that you want them to be?" And then also, "What if you learned that you set your children's inner monologue for life?" Those are some big juicy nuggets that I that I expressed in the very beginning of that conversation.
So, it's pretty powerful that way. So, just have to pay attention to that stuff. So, one thing also, uh, Bren, we'll go over some of the things trying to figure out the food stuff, but some of the language, I would encourage you to change in your head or how you say it or think it because all of us have the the control over what we say, what we think, and how we then take action off of that stuff.
Even me, I can be, say, a Debbie Downer about my podcast streams not doing what they did last week. I have no control over that. I have literally none, right? I could even spend thousands of dollars on ads and it's still not perform. So, I have to just do my best and keep recording and keep creating content that my ideal client would like and I have to get better at storytelling and story.
No worries, man. So, uh, anything you want to share and then I'll I'll jump back into that. >> Yeah, sorry, Brandon. Um, Brandon, keep keep at it with with Brian. He's um, you know, I I I have a background of like being a former athlete. I played football in the college level and you know I always thought I knew about my nutrition and working out until I had my first encounter with Brian and he like literally changed the way I I I I think of food into in the sense of like you know eating whole foods but also being
able to maximize your your your calorie eating. Um I don't I don't like saying I'm on a diet anymore. I say I'm like on a lifestyle kind of trend, right? because diets are only temporary and lifestyles forever. Uh and you know, even even days where I know I [ __ ] up, you know, it's the the day after I'm like, you know, like I just need to reset because I know my body.
Um and just texting Brian like a maniac and letting him know like what's going on and having him, you know, be that the reason of the voice of reason has always been helpful to me. And you know, the the the [ __ ] that he he tells me and like how to maximize my calorie eating has has been so phenomenal and has been helping me now and and um I'm going to continue doing that.
Right. It's it's it's been it's been game changer for me on seeing the progression of of where I was before and where I'm at now. like I've lost 30 pounds with Brian the last like four or five months and then you know my goal right now is to drop down to another 30 30 lbs and then just be there for another year just stay consistent right and then kind of build off of that and you know Brian's been very helpful in that >> Yep. Thank you.
>> Yep. One day one choice keep cranking man. >> Y and sharing >> thanks of course >> nice to meet you man. >> Yep. We'll see if Chris is gonna hop on. Let's see if Danny Oh, Danny's got Yeah, Danny won't make it. Let me get this. All right. So, Danny's going through interesting challenging situation. It's not him.
It's someone else in his life and uh someone missing. So, he's pretty stressed out about that and the impact that that's having on his uh mental situation is challenging, right? And he's like, "Hey, I had a friend. Now I don't know where my friend's at." That's that's a big big deal. So, and Martin, we had a lot of success before we worked together two or three years ago.
We got him down like 60 70 pounds and unfortunately he had regained a bunch through just not paying attention. He is he I call it the football fumble. It was Super Bowl and when it was in San Diego or something a couple years ago and I I realized it that weekend that every time he gets into a social situation that he fumbles the ball. He'd be good.
He'll run he'll run the ball all the way down 10 yard line, five yard line and fumble it and then the other team runs it back and he has to start over again. And and that's the challenge that we've had to overcome. So all these food situations that he's exposed to, pair that with the stress and the time and and all that stuff and his coping mechanisms around food or the desire just to eat because he's snacky or hungry or in the situation.
Why not? Then those are the things that we are constantly trying to evolve to get him. I remember for weeks I would send them football fumbling gifts like don't fumble the ball, man. don't fumble the ball. And that's what I would send to him as a result of of it all. So, uh, going back to some of the language and stuff for all three of us, going back to I was talking about the the inputs, I control the inputs I have on my business, on my life, and and those are the only things I can do to then keep at it.
You know, I I've had five I think five consultations in the last two days and I think I only got one maybe two of them out of them all and everyone else passed. I thought I had one guy locked in today. He was like, I'm ready to go. He said it like three times and then I finally went through the the offer and you just at the end I said something in the offer and it turned him off and then it's too much and he's got to think about it and that it just killed it.
I was like, uh, I'm not sure what I said. I think I know what I said, but uh, not sure. What what the heck just happened here? We were golden. I was gonna get him into the program and it just went a skew from there. So, like I can only do so much. I could definitely help the guy, but he wasn't as open to my approach as I was hoping that he would.
But um so going back to some of the language I just want to point out here. I feel that I'm restricted. You are it's just a fact of life, right? You're you're restricted. It's these circumstances and situations that you're in. But also be grateful that you're in this this sense of restriction because it's allowing you to get to the next step, >> right? In a couple months you'll be to the next step.
But you have to work through where you're at now to say earn the next step. And the restriction is actually an opportunity to prove to yourself that you're actually able to handle what life has for you. You're still in a very protected environment in a sense that you have a lot of support that is around you.
It's just that it's not ideal, right? You can't cook your food. You can't all that stuff. And maybe we will address like buying food out and stuff. Clay. Clay knows all about that. He's he's constantly trying to pinch pennies with that because he'll go on a four or five day flight trip and you have to pack, but you can only pack so much in the pack before you're you're like, you know, like anyone else like, well, Clay, you get one free bag and then you got to pay for the other one if you want to bring more or something, you know. So, so I I would love to whenever
that that that word restricted comes in to your brain, let's flip it and and look at okay all these opportunities that I have because you're you're really doing well from my initial impressions like wow he's he's he's in it. He's doing it. He's in it to win it. All right. Goal setting. Uh overwhelming feels overwhelming. Sure.
Life is life is different for you right now, right? You're you're >> you have hard any which way you look. You choose your hard. Is it the hard that is the last the prior previous life because we all live previous lives. Or is it the hard of the the future life? The hard that I have to juggle is trying to keep my business a float.
Making sure I can pay my bills. Making sure that I can provide for my four kids. Making sure that I can at some point have enough wealth to retire and not just be coaching. I can coach because I want to, not because I have to, right? Or the the overwhelm of like, am I going to be able to do this next year because of AI and GLP1? Like, is anybody going to want to coach anymore? I've already seen a drastic impact, and it's negatively impacted my income by a couple months worth of income uh than the previous years. probably three to four months
worth of income. I just didn't get in comparison to the month before. So, you know, work harder than you have and just take off three to four months of your income for the year and let me know how you feel about that. So, so um so this overwhelm is is that we're going to choose a hard and the better hard is the betterment of yourself for both of you.
For me too, my heart of showing up and doing a podcast or posting or connecting or sending the 18 million text messages I do or however much I read. So people I don't think people know that I literally read a novel every day. It's just like all day I'm reading stuff, text, images, whatever. And soaking in all of this information.
So, choosing your hard is going to be our our motto. And but the hard that we're choosing now also as another four-letter word that I already said was hope. And that's that's where you're headed. There's hope that you're physique. Hope that the that's going to change your confidence, hope that it's going to change your energy and the direction of what you can do in in your life to come.
So, that's something that I'm going to call you out on this week and say, "Hey, you know, every time that you feel those feelings and those thoughts, it's fine. You're a human. You're allowed to feel that stuff. So, let's acknowledge it." And then let's just take a pause. So, I'm I'm opening the door. Anytime that you do feel that way, just text me, message me.
Hey, life's a little hard right now. Okay. Hey, man. I feel you. I'm trying to figure out how to post 16. Look at this. Look at this. This is I don't know what to do with this, man. I do not know what to do with this. It's The obvious is makes sense, but you won't be able to see this too well, but can you see all those faces? You see all that? You see all those face? >> Yeah.
Yeah. Those are my last two podcasts and they each gave me 10 plus clips. So, I have 20 clips that I could post on social media and it's just too much. I don't know what to do with this because I I could lit it take me three hours to be able to post all these things with an appropriate caption even if I use AI for it all.
It's still going to take two to three hours to post all this stuff. And I need to I don't know what to do with it. So, it's going to sit on my phone. So, we got this chunk, this chunk. Oh, wait. Here's some more of me talking. Let's see. I don't have any more because I deleted them and I just realized that in the beginning, but there's I got like 30 images of my face of video that I need to post on social media and I don't know when to do it.
So, like, oh my gosh, I'm over here overwhelmed creating content, which is sounds so stupid, but it's my life these days, a content creator. All right, thoughts. I'll stop talking. No, I'm you know, even though like these are the last times I'm going to say this word, but I'm trying to make a point. Like even though I feel restricted and overwhelmed, I don't feel that like there's any loss of hope, right? Like I do feel like I'm doing the absolute best that I can with what I have.
Um, and I'm proud of myself for that because I'm either way negative Nancy, right? I have been my entire life. So, for me to to change that mindset's big for me. Um, >> huge. >> And that's and that's just because I'm I'm ready to actually do something about >> this feeling that I've been feeling of the right >> insecurities that I have.
So, >> so yeah, >> Clay wasn't ready until he got slapped in the face and punched in the gut like, "Hey, man, you might lose your medical license here and your career that you spent >> amount of time and a lot of dollar bills to get to to that point in in in your career, right?" And you're like, "Oh, this isn't a good idea.
This is not a good idea." >> For sure. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What are your thoughts on all that, Clay? >> Yeah. on Tuesday. Talk about your hard. Was that you that I was talking? I almost think it was >> I I told you that on my uh on your sales pitch call to me. Um >> yeah, >> and that's what my mom said. She's like, >> what's It's an opera now.
>> I'm It's an op. >> That's good. >> You know, she's always said, you know, uh just in general, you can choose your hard. It's either the quote unquote hard of working out, going to the gym when you really don't want to, or you know, uh going for the chicken salad instead of the burger, etc.
So yeah, that's hard, but so is uh type 2 diabetes and all these medical bills and all these conditions. So like you can use the type that you want. So that's kind of what my takeaway is. And she's kind of always said that about just herself or just that's why she goes to the gym when you know she just downright doesn't want to.
It's for me. I find that I find that struggle. I for me motivation's hard as well. I I feel like I live by a stopwatch and I need I need that schedule. That's kind of why I'm going a little stir crazy at the moment without a schedule. So I think this past week I've been like yeah cuz I don't know what to do without a schedule, you know? But uh I've been like look I will go to the gym.
I will have my first rep by by 12 sharp and and like that's really been kind of helping just that self-imposed schedule. But then I don't know what to do myself the other eight hours in the day Colleen's away. Like I'm I I told her tonight I'm like I cannot be a stay-at-home husband like ever. Like I want to go back to work and it's insane.
I need some purpose. >> Yeah. Yeah. I Oh my god. It It like I am I am bored. I am mentally dstimulated, I guess. I don't know if that's even a word, but I miss I miss flying planes. I miss making complex decisions, solving problems, etc. It's okay to be bored for a little bit, but that's Yeah, you back to >> Yeah. Well, and that's the thing.
I mean, you know, you know, kind of what my career goals are. So, it's like once I get those training flights scheduled and done, then um it's just going to be full throttle. Get get a thousand flight hours to get out and go to Delta United. So, >> Yep. >> Yeah. s >> then I'll then I'll be begging for this time to where I could just sit at home and do nothing and get paid for it.
>> Uhhuh. Like dang it, I'm so good. >> Yeah. Well, it's just the hard part because again, it's we're saving up for a house, you know? So, yeah, we could we could go somewhere. we could go on a really nice honeymoon, which is what we wanted to, but then it was like, well, we still need to come up with another 10 grand for the house, and then we got to move into the house, then we got to buy a new couch, and maybe a fridge or whatever the hell we got to buy, you know? So, >> yeah.
>> Yeah, it's uh welcome, Chris, to the show. ready to >> Hey guys, can you hear me? >> Yep, we sure can. >> That's awesome. I'm driving, so I'm I'm gonna stay off of video until I get home and then I'll jump on. >> No worries. This is good. So, we we do I always open up with a silly question just because it's easy to break the ice on.
What's the most useless useless talent you have? Mine was I could burp on command. There you go. So, that's my question. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's a dumb question to answer. What's a a useless talent that you have? >> I mean, it's it's um my wife might say it's useless. Um I would argue it's useful. I just remember trivial things. >> Okay. >> Nice.
That's excellent. So, a trivial pursuit or something like that, you would be the one to get to to grab for my team, huh? >> Certain domains. Yes. >> Okay. Okay, fair enough. What's the strongest domain? >> I would say music. Baseball's got to be up there. Um, you know, just sports in general, >> history, you know, tech, rando, rando, things like that.
>> What's the worst then? The one you like, yeah, don't >> probably like theater or ballet. um you know some of the classics type of art performing arts I would probably you know make educated guesses but um probably I I would score lower there. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, excellent. Well, thanks for sharing.
Well, we usually do that just to break the ice. It's easy. So, a couple things we got going on. We've gone through some successes. Uh Brandon's new. He's This is his first night, same as you. And Brandon's off to the races. I'm getting a lot of communication from him. His macros are dialed in. It's like hot diggity.
He's he's on fire doing the things. Clay is doing well with a a week free of protein supplements. I challenged him to it and and he is doing very well on that because he knows I'll call him out on it as well. >> For sure. So, you know, so those are some successes we've had. And then we're going over some challenges and we're getting ready to get into buying food.
Chris is buying food, too. Uh probably on the the company's dime because you're on travel, but um you know, Clayton, give Brandon some ideas. uh or so let Brandon paint the picture where you're at with your opportunities around fast food around fast casual around the grocery store and the context then Clay would be that he can't heat or prepare food or store it.
So it's buying it, eating it, consuming it in a controlled amount of time. So that's the that's the situation that we have to work in and and what are we picking at the grocery store or uh elsewhere to make it cheaper for the the monetary budgeting of food purchasing >> paint a picture >> what of like what's near me >> what's near you what opportunities do we have to work with so then we'll brainstorm and give you some ideas on how to be a more money efficient and and all that.
>> All right. Well, I mean there's the obvious Walmart Acme near me. Um there's >> they have food. >> I was glad. Does the Walmart have food, too? Like a supermarket or something or >> Not really. Not they have like some stuff >> Yeah, I actually I went Yeah, I went there today just to like check it out. I had a feeling because I was in there before and I had a feeling they didn't have the greatest selection, but I went anyway and I was right.
They don't really have the best selection. So, I probably have to go to like Acme or whatever. Um, but yeah, there's Acne nearby. Uh, I've been doing Chipotle and Chick-fil-A out the wazoo just because >> uh they're easy >> of >> they're easy and you can get health pretty healthy stuff there. Um, trying to think what else is near.
There is a Taco Bell. I I kind of stay clear of Taco Bell. I don't really enjoy it. Trying to think what else I did. What else I did? That's something that I'm going to have you list out, too. you know, look at your your maps on your phone and let's look at the the different categories of food that you have available from fast food, fast casual, and grocery store opportunities.
So then we can start uh plotting out what makes sense when All right. Now, Acme is We have an Acne Fresh Market. I It's just a grocery store, I imagine. Yeah, typical one. No, I I forgot. >> I forgot. Yeah, Acme is like uh Yeah, >> knows what I >> acne is around here. These parts it's grocery store. >> I live in Philly.
>> They don't live by me. All both of these is an east coast thing. >> Yeah, it is. I I guess so. Sorry, I took completely forgot. You're >> the crowd. >> You're going, dude. I'll I'll talk to like So again, like these flight crews like they all live all over and I'll just talk about going to Meyer and like the hell are you talking about? Like oh, you know, it's like a Kroger.
Huh? Like a Heinens's. Huh? Like a like I don't know. Like a It's a store, dude. >> It's got food. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's funny. So Clay, what what are we doing in that situation? So he's doing he's doing he's got Chipotle and the Chick-fil-A down pretty well. His macros and the what he's tracking is look very good.
Looking very good. But so what are the opportunities around portable food or things that he can carry in a backpack or and then eat or maybe just go to the grocery store, pick these things up to eat for the rest of the day, things like that because you have to do that in your situation. >> Do you travel a lot or what do you like what are you doing? >> No, local walking to these places.
He get Uber if you want. >> Are you able to like is it is it an issue bringing food to your work or eating at home? >> Both. >> Yeah. >> Both. Really? >> He But you My understanding is that you you can you can have food with you, but there's just literally no place to store outside. Like maybe a backpack. >> Oh, I see.
>> Pretty much. Yeah. Like no fridge. >> Like Yeah. Yeah. [ __ ] like that. You're not >> he's not putting like canned goods on a shelf behind him or something in his room like that. But I I would imagine that's probably we'll talk about, but getting stuff into a backpack and keeping handy go-to things there like a pouch of tuna or something.
>> Yeah, I have a a lunchbox. It's a it's a big one and it's made for um pilots and it's like compatible with our luggage, but I would imagine any normal good lunchbox would work. >> Yeah. No, but >> the food wise >> Yeah. >> in the store portable for you. Yeah, that's what >> Well, so that's that's what I'm saying.
So, like for me, I'll I'll drive 4 hours and then work 12 hours and it's still cold and safe to eat. So, it's normally my breakfast are protein shake and yogurt and then I just pack my dinner and my my dinners are just meal trays um of either just it's it's nine times out of 10 it's a form of chicken prepared differently with uh rotating uh array of vegetables.
So, it's like chicken, asparagus, broccoli, chicken, rice, potatoes, or I I try not to be an a-hole and stink up the plane with fish, >> but some sometimes you need something different than chicken, you know. >> Uh the occasional pork chop, but I would say 90% chicken. And then >> think about uh Clay, think about you're three days into a trip and you have no food left.
you have to go to the grocery store around the corner than the hotel. What are you grabbing that's portable that'll carry you for the nexties of stuff? So, Brandon, one thing I said, he's talked about >> we might end up looking at some frozen meals as an opportunity and you buy them in the morning and by evening time they're edible because they defrosted and that's when you eat them four or five o'clock.
that might be an op >> for us to think about in that type of situation. So, um but we'll play that out too. >> Um >> Oh, and I know some grocery stores too, like Giant Eagle, I don't know if you know what that is, Brandon. Um they have like the Gore uh what's the competitor of that? I don't know. So, it's like a Do you know what Heinens is? >> Nope.
>> Now, they have uh this Freddy made food, right? Is that what you're talking about? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it's like it's like ready to eat food. It's a >> like I'm sure you have some sort of chain out there like kind of like a Whole Foods, not as expensive. >> You go out to the counter, you say you mean a pound of salmon, a pound of asparagus.
>> Yeah. >> You know, like not not necessarily that much if you're if it's just one meal, but that could be an option if you have something near you to get you by [clears throat] now. But again, that's going to be high in sodium and stuff like that as well. So >> yeah, >> it's uh pros and cons to everything because they're always going to season it with salt. That's usually what it is.
>> Yeah, I mean I do I did grab some form of nuts. I grabbed those. >> Yeah, >> I figured that is something there are times like with with job. So I I work in the recovery field. So if like for example like today the reason why I have 18,000 steps is because some [ __ ] popped off, right? And I really couldn't eat when I planned to because I had to take care of a client.
So that's why I grabbed those nuts in case like something like that happens. I still have something. >> And I also had a protein I had a protein shake I did. But um but I only bought it for like stuff like that. like if something happens that I can't control that I still I don't want to miss six hours of a meal.
So, I figured there's something um obviously I can grab some there is a very little fridge where I work. I could definitely store fruit in there. So, like an >> apple also is you're going to be able to just not have to put in a fridge. >> Yeah. No, I but like I and sorry, I meant like vegetables. >> There he is >> cuz I need vegetable.
>> That's cuz that's one thing I think I'm missing with the diet with with this is >> vegetables. I feel like Yeah, I feel like I'm missing a lot of vegetables. Fruit I'm good. It's >> right >> the vegetables. Then we might end up buying canned stuff for you or frozen stuff and you eat it later in the day because it naturally thaws out >> and then then you'll get real good at the timing of when it actually thaws out and when it's good to eat and then you end up buying some pouches or canned meat and then you have it with the
the teeth whatever and you're good. >> [snorts] >> Yeah, >> those will be that, you know, you and I will rende here this week on a call to to organize that a little bit more for you. But those are gonna be some ideas of all right, but you're going to get really good at shopping at Acme with coupons and and what type of >> combos that you because you're going to need to look at the weekly ads of what's on sale and then you're going to shop the sales because you need to learn how to do that anyways if you want to save
money. So, it's just a learned skill and when you look at it every week, you see patterns of behavior show up in the ads and you recognize what's expensive versus what's not >> and then you start to figure it out that way and then we're we're actually good on that. Uh, so hopefully this gives you some ideas, but we're we're going to look on canned and frozen and fresh and what are the things and how long can they last and what to what degree we stuff in a backpack and to how long can we keep them in the backpack to be able
to to eat food that you can purchase at the grocery store and not just have to rely on Chipotle to because that it just gets costly if you're spending $13 for a dish or something just it adds up. >> Uh Chris, join in on some of Chris's old, >> right? Are you done traveling or you you still traveling? Like where you at? >> I'm I'm home right now.
I got home today. So yeah, it was Monday Monday outbound coming back Wednesday. So >> all right. >> How How do you think you did? >> What's that? >> How do you think you did? >> I think I did pretty good. I mean, part of it was my last trip. I came home, I was sick. I was kind of banged up last week and just low energy.
And so, when we started, I was coming out of that. And, you know, on one hand, I'm really happy with like no time like the present, let's get started. At the second part, just the time to process all the material because it's a bit of a shotgun blast. Um, I had to kind of pick and choose what I was going to prioritize because one of the reasons I'm here is I don't have a lot of room in my brain to think about all of the different things that I would otherwise have to research on my own.
And so, you know, I did here's what I here's what I did well and then here's where I can improve. Um, what I did well was in past trips, I would pretty much be somewhat mindful, but I didn't really care or, you know, I'm I'm on the road. I'm going to do what I want. I'm going to be I'm going to watch, but I'm not going to like hold myself accountable.
And this time, I felt like I did that. So, there were decisions I had to make every single day. And the mindset I tried to approach it with was make the right one. Um you know with >> think of better >> the choices that were available to me you know so the um the event that I went to they had prepared meals for 300 people right so you know you're basically stuck with you know wedding food or whatever the you know the the lunch or the the breakfast that they prepared.
So, you know, there were options that were available. So, you know, plenty of vegetables. Not really sure how they prepared it, but it's better than, you know, picking, you know, the the mac and cheese with the all the the calories involved in that. Breakfast had eggs. They had uh Greek yogurt. They had, you know, no sugar added Greek yogurt.
So there were some low calorie, high protein options in the morning and then like during lunch they had halibet, they had you know chicken. So there was protein sources that I tried to you know make sure I got enough protein and then you know vegetables. I stayed away from the breads just for now because I'm not there yet.
Um, you know, so and then last night, you know, I had a, you know, real good breakfast, real good lunch, and then last night the event they basically served bar food, right? So, you know, it was they had like little sliders, they had wings, they had um pizza. So, they had they had all this junk, right, that really doesn't align with what we're trying to do here.
Um, so basically I just had I had one slider, took the bun off and then realized that I'm gonna have to, you know, kind of bite the bullet on this one, you know. So it was more of a decision not to just get involved and realize that my macros are a little bit jacked up based on my lack of control on some of this stuff and then just not being as prepared as I wanted to going into the trip just, you know, together.
So part of it was with kind of getting on the bus quickly and not really getting my [ __ ] together to travel. I thought I did pretty well. Um >> yeah, >> the other piece is I hit my steps target um every day. So that's easier when you're traveling, especially when you're walking in airports. But I tried to tack on something else like a you know an a hotel gym workout, right? So most of the standard places have like 50s and below and then they have one cable machine and then they have treadmills and you know probably a tread climber. And so
>> right >> I've been able to since I've been traveling a lot I have some pretty good workouts that I can get dialed in and get a really good sweat going and um feel like I did something. So I did that twice and then the sleep was okay. It wasn't great. >> Yeah. that'll happen here and there. So, >> yeah.
So, you know, the goal is to get more educated on what we're doing here and get to know you guys and, you know, figure out like where I fit in and, you know, what we are trying to do together and that sort of thing. So, >> for those that I haven't really I I live in the Cleveland area, so I've heard Giant Eagle. I've heard a bunch of local references.
So, Clayton, I don't know where you're from. Brandon, I think you're from Ohio, right? >> I'm Philly. >> Oh, you're Philly. >> In the Cleveland area. >> Okay, gotcha. >> Yeah, I live in Kent right now, but I was grew up in Strongsville. >> Okay. I live in Northton. >> I'm in Strongsville every weekend visiting my parents pretty much.
>> Nice. >> Yeah. And we got to figure out if uh Mike was your kids coach here. He he's >> I mean I actually I I I knew I knew the name and I'm like where do I know this guy? And so I just I've had the same Gmail address for close to 20 years and I just searched it and I found like this old practice schedule from like 2012 and you know I'm trying to put two and two together and I'm like yeah you know what I think that was when Jack played his last year of soccer before he played started playing football and you know so
it was uh I think there's like a better And 90% chance it's the same guy. >> Yeah, probably. Mike is at the music box listening to Irish band right now. >> And then uh he's down about four or five pounds since he started. He's about two weeks in. So we're we're moving very in the right direction. >> So it's it's going well.
And then the other person that is in our area is Lucas. That's up in West Cleveland area, Lakewoodish or something. That's what I haven't. I don't know if he's actually in there, but he's in Cleveland. So, I don't know. But he he got stuck at work, so he couldn't come. And then Mike was there. Then Andy's going to be here next week, but uh Andy is in he's traveling.
And then Martin was on but you missed him. Cody's down in the south and he was unable to make it. Dany's over in Boston. He's unfortunately got is a challenging situation with a friend is missing and he's pretty about it. So those are some of the the guys that that round out the rest of the crew. I brought in two I have two Devons.
So Devin Oh, one and two. >> So uh they'll they'll be in next week too. So we we'll have a a nice party going on in here. So >> nice. >> Yeah, it's very good. Now we're going back to getting onboarded, right? It's there's a lot, right? No matter what, we're focusing on paying attention to food and water.
And when it's all said and done, Clay would tell you it's pretty basic at the end of the day. And it's we just go back to the basics of did I drink enough water? >> Did I manage my calories today? That's what it's going to be. but joining in and doing and now I'm say Mike he's down weight. He unfortunately lost his mother about two three weeks ago and he started job as well and then he did this.
I was just like dude let's just focus on taking pictures of food and practicing food balance and he's done a okay and I'm just been giving him a lot of input. So, the more that you feed me like message me a lot uh pictures or macros or anything, then I'll I'll answer and make sure that we're headed in the right direction. And cool.
>> At the very least, if you just really >> pay attention to that first call prep video and there's the there's two more that that have say meat and potatoes, the ins and outs of flexible dieting and the six must know food rules. Those that's it. If you just watch those three twice each and take good notes, memorize it.
they overlap a little bit because of the order I did them in. Uh then yeah, you'll be like, "Oh, okay. I'm I'm pretty dialed in because those are the again the basics. It's just doing the basics >> ongoing that make progress." So he's down 60 some pounds and >> wow >> and then stopped doing the basics because of life and now we're back to the basics now.
And so what are we going to do? >> Exactly where you are watching all the videos again and everything. We go back to the things that were working. >> So, I was riding a unicycle and now I am riding a tricycle with training wheels. So, [laughter] >> yeah. And we'll get you back up to speed. Uh so, Chris, what what is the let's say the challenge getting back into plat out the week for me? What's gonna happen here the next um the next three or four days? You home getting hitting settle back in? >> Yeah.
Yeah. So, my schedule I I have I'm lucky enough to work out of my house when I'm not traveling. Um so I have a lot of control over what I do during the workday. Um so that's one of the advantages I have. and you know I can eat and work around my schedule and food can easily is there's like no barriers to to doing that. So usually this time of year is when we have like higher travel volumes and as we get into the summer months it starts to taper off and then you know I travel as needed but it's not like this aggressive schedule that I'm on right
now. So, I can see sort of this period where I'm going to be home more often. Um, so the next 10 days I'm going to be home and it's a good opportunity for me to get just dialed in. Um, start building some habits around the pictures and then just getting more involved on the food side is is kind of what one of my goals is uh during this time.
>> Perfect. Yeah, that that'll be it. And the ultimate thing that I would say for your time away was, did you make better choices than the last time you you left with? If yes, then cool. We're moving in the right direction. Then hey, at the very least, it depends on how much you travel.
If it's if it travels here and there, then I wouldn't work out when you travel. I just take your walking shoes in a sense and get more steps that way >> and not sweat and get all stinky or whatever and take them exercise. >> Um, but if you do travel a lot and that's just part of the routine, then that's fine. >> That's part of the routine at this point.
>> Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, I work out enough at home and I'm consistent across the the year that just I doesn't matter if I work out when I'm away. Now, we will be going to Machu Picchu and and the the Amazon. So, I'll let you know that right now, guys. >> That'll be a workout in and of itself. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we're leaving.
I will not be here the week of the 25th or the first. Want to throw that out there. I won't uh have calls those because I'll be in South America. But, um I don't know. Maybe it depends on if I am at a hotel and nothing's happening, maybe I might hold one. But, uh, what does that mean for you guys? It's just going to mean that just give you more access weeks on the the back end for some more calls.
>> Um, so there's that. But, um, uh, I'm not I'm not working out unless we are gone that long and there are gyms, which I don't know if there are so much. When we were in Kenya two summers ago, there was a gym that I ended up going to two or three times over that two week trip, but there were none in Egypt we went.
So, I just walked and tour temples and and all that stuff. But when I'm in America, yeah, my my here's my setup. I take swim trunks and then I take one of those the swim shirt. They have swimsuits. I work out in swim shirts, swim trunks so I can wash them and then I don't have to worry about them getting stinky and cottony and all that stuff and it it works out real nice.
>> Yeah. >> So, well that's that's my strategy. All right. Uh yeah. I with with tracking. How much are you doing that >> on my >> this next week? >> Yeah. On on the Yeah. With with the app or any >> Yeah, I'm starting >> I'm starting to um you know, so I'm below the I'm at or around the 1,800 calories.
You know, that's the one thing I've been trying to just maintain and then >> get as much protein as possible. Um, I'm trying to figure it out like just a little bit more just scanning the labels like on my yogurt this uh on the the one morning. I know there's repeat things that you can set up >> and let's say you have the same breakfast every day for you know during the work >> you can just upload that and it's easy.
So that's part of the plan now that I am home. I can get those things set up and um you know get into the routine on that. >> Right. And that'll be easy soon as you get to that point. So it won't be >> uh too hard >> at all. >> I bought one of these. I I the um that Ringcon. So I'm not a watch guy, so I've never really had anything other than your phone to track steps.
and I don't always have it on me. So, I did get this in time for to kick off Sunday. Um, and it does >> it's a Ringcon. >> Okay. All right. So, like an Aura Ring or whatever. >> Yeah, basically. Yes. >> All right. >> And it also has TR uh sleep tracking features as well, but it doesn't require a subscription. It also can be reimburseable with your FSA if that applies to you.
>> Yeah. >> Cool. Yeah, that works. Nice. All right. Yeah, we'll just get dial in. So, just communicate with me and we'll get it. You're checking all the boxes I see in the the back end uh in the app. So, that's helpful. Both you and Brandon are checking all the boxes. And to be honest, that's what makes people really successful.
So, >> big time. >> I'm sorry. Real quick. >> Yeah. >> What What does the ring ponora ring do? >> Yeah. Basically, it's a it's a um >> it's a way to track steps or it's a way to like kind of track it also tracks your your heart rate, whether you're exercising or resting. It tracks your sleep. It tracks your, you know, prop propensity for sleep apnea.
Um, it measures stress levels if you're, you know, maybe in not great health and you're prone to hypertension or something like that. So, it it and there's an app on your phone. So, this is to me like I I can't wear a watch when I sleep. It's just too intrusive just to try to relax for me. This is a lot better.
And the last like I've worn it every night since Sunday night and it doesn't bother me. The other thing too is it doesn't require you only need to charge it like once every week >> and it takes like 20 minutes to to heat up and get back to 100%. >> It's a competitor of an Apple Watch essentially >> effectively. Yeah.
I mean, you're basic they present they give you the same type of data that a Fitbit or an Apple Watch would give you. >> Looking at two to 300 bucks is the the cost of them roughly it looks like. Quick quick look. So, >> yeah, I was looking at that. >> And there's a few other ones out there, too.
The biggest thing is I just didn't want to get hit with like a monthly >> tech box that I get sucked into that I never cancel. >> Yep. Yep. Yep. That works. That works a lot. All right. Good. Good. Good. Good. All right. What else? In general, I generally start wrapping around 10:15 or so just cuz it starts getting late. But I know Chris, you were you just jumped on so I want to make sure we talked plenty.
How else can I help you guys this week? Questions, comments, things. How can I make sure that we are locked in and making progress? >> I guess for me, I just need to get that just getting my my [ __ ] together on the the tracking and the the taking of the pictures and then, you know, so the balls of my court and then my intention is to send you some Yep.
>> some photos to comment on. >> Yep. Exactly. Clay knows he's been around long enough that uh you just message me and I respond a lot. >> Magic. >> Yeah, Blake's been around for a good year or so, so he knows. He knows. >> Yeah. I guess leading off of that for on my end like again we talked about kind of coming back to basics you and I both can agree that the engagement's been there a lot more studying the photos of food um and so the the connections been there just got to keep building it up the accountability and I I suck at the
uh the call to rise app suck at it but it's like a snap I suck suck at committing to checking the boxes. So, I got to get better at that. >> Yeah, it's not a problem, though. So, for Chris and Brandon, it is they need to check the boxes. >> I'm here to build habits. >> Yep. >> Yep. Excellent.
So yeah, Chris, we'll just get in break into big start. Glad you joined in when you did and you probably had a better travel experience than you would have without starting until afterwards. You want to the last supper type of thing like, well, I'm gonna get started, so I might as well just willy-nilly it here. >> Yeah.
No, it's it's um let's rip the band-aid off, right? >> Yep. Yep. Exactly. So, we'll we'll get a lot of engagement here this week. That'll be good. And then, uh, Brandon, I sent you a link. Just click it, schedule some time, and we'll plot out some we'll map out those. So, I do want you before the call plot out what in terms of proximity, closest to farthest, fast food, fast casual, grocery stores, and then we'll come up with some ideas so that you aren't just feel like you're hemorrhaging money on food every day.
And then we're also g you got to figure out how to leverage the food situation at at the place, too. So you can leverage the the free food in a sense or the food that's included. So >> yeah, [clears throat] it's just I mean I it's it's just not >> Yeah, it is what it is. >> Like pizza, hot dog, you know what I mean? It's like >> I'm good. Like but yes, I will try.
>> Yeah, we'll figure it out. So you definitely need to rank those things to me before we get on the call and then we'll figure it out. >> All right, I got you. >> Uh anything up? >> I don't think so. I'm sure. Thank you. >> All right. Cool. Then off we go and we'll catch you guys in lots of texts. Nice meeting you guys.
>> Likewise. You guys, too. >> All right. Byebye. >> Thanks for tuning in to the round table. I hope that you enjoy these. I will keep recording them and throwing them up as episodes here and there throughout the Driven for Health podcast. I think it's really important that guys hear real guys talk about some of the challenges and situations you might find yourself in very similar ones to obviously learn take into real life and implement but also be inspired to do bigger and better things for yourself especially around
your health and those closest to you. That's it for this episode. Catch you in the next one.