[SB 205] Fitness sanity, national parks, family milestones

Hi, I’m Matt. Welcome to Steady Beats. If you like to walk for a better life, and also like Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life,” you just might like this newsletter.

After three incredible weeks in Michigan and Canada, we are home. I’m feeling grateful for family, friends, and co-workers, and I’m ready to get dialed in for fall.

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Fitness Beats

What are you struggling with in fitness? Let’s talk.

Grab a free 15-minute 1:1 call slot and let’s discuss fitness. Whatever you might be struggling with — strength training, cardio work, finding time to exercise — let’s chat. I don’t have all the answers but I love exploring these issues and ideas.

Book a free 1:1 fitness call here.

Play long games—but enjoy the ride

Loved this wisdom from Mark Sisson on his 70th birthday:

Sisson writes Mark’s Daily Apple, owns a fitness empire, and looks like this:

Health and fitness is important, but life does go by fast. We need to smell the roses, also.

That’s why I just can’t get into the biohacking and fitness purity contests on Twitter. Nothing ever seems to be enough. You can find people arguing spinach is “bad,” or for heaven’s sakes.

(Popeye disagrees. Anyway …)

Nothing will make us immortal. Build great fitness habits but don’t turn them into religious rituals.

I come back over and over to the same things:

• Do Zone 2 cardio (jogging!), preferably a lot of it (5+ hours a week)

• Strength train at least 2X a week

• Prioritize protein in your diet

• Chase meaning in your life

If you already do these things, congratulations. You’re ahead of 95%+ of your peers. So take time to enjoy the things you love in life, also.

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Travel Beats

When I was younger, I only wanted to explore America’s cities. Now I want to go anyplace but.

So I’ve missed out on America’s national parks.

Last week we took family day trip to the Painted Rocks National Lakeshore, situated in Michgan’s Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior. The area features waterfalls and 200-foot sandstone cliffs.

(Pedantic note: national lakeshores are not the same as national parks, but are part of the same system.)

Being from Michigan, I often take the state’s incredible natural beauty for granted.

At the risk of turning this into Matt’s Vacation Slideshow, here are a few shots from the park lakeshore:

One weird thing I noticed:

I didn’t feel the most peaceful when looking at Lake Superior’s sweeping views or the mesmerizing waterfalls.

It was when we were walking on a trail through the woods to the Miner’s Falls.

The Japanese call this “forest bathing,” which is a fancy term for walking in the woods. Forest bathing provides a range of mental and physical health benefits.

Another great thing about exploring national parks: lots of steps. Painted Rocks offer treks of varying degrees of difficulty. The two waterfalls we visited, for example, each offered two views. One view was more accessible, and a second was available from a higher vantage point after climbing plenty of stairs.

Awesome exercise, incredible views, and great family time.

I want to get to Yellowstone in the next few years. What’s your favorite National Park?

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Photo of the Week

My oldest daughter scored a huge W this spring when she completed her high school equivalency. Last weekend, we celebrated with family and a few friends and threw a graduation party.

I’m so proud of what she has fought through to get to this point, and am hopeful — and prayerful — about her future.

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Thank you for reading.

Let’s keep the Steady Beats going. 💚

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