Coach Corey's Perspective

Over the last three years I have seen some fantastic improvements in body composition and performance gains. I have gradually decreased my intake of processed foods and spoken openly about moderation. I will look down on NO ONE for not following this idea strictly. Tom, Tamara, Mr. K, Matt(s) and anyone else who has made progress lately: I am extremely proud of your efforts. It has nothing to do with me, but I enjoy being around those who take pride in their own life and abilities.

My job is taxing, both physically and mentally. I have up days and down days; I have days when coaching, motivating and doing my own workouts are easy, and other days when I have to slap some water on my face, pinch my cheek and get rolling. I see a VERY big difference when I am eating well and eating poorly. My physical recovery from workouts and my mental recovery from each day wax and wane based largely on my diet. I have been toying with the idea of going "strict" for a period of time to jump start my system. Our entire existence is a balancing act of building yourself up and breaking yourself down. This is controlled by a hormonal balance between stress and regeneration, between improvement and usage, between sympathetic and parasympathetic neuroendocrine activities. Your relative improvements and losses are based upon that balance scale. If you are perfectly balanced you remain right at your ability. If you are unbalanced to the "breakdown" , "stress", "sympathetic" and "usage" side you start to do just those things. If you are unbalanced to the "healthy", "build-up", "preparation" and "parasympathetic" side you make improvements and "get healthier".

The DEGREE to which you are unbalanced determines the SPEED at which your health improves or declines. If I have a beer or a glass of whiskey every night but couple it with a good dinner I will not decline very fast, if at all. If I wake up to a shot of vodka, drunk by noon, eat a hot dog for dinner, repeat for 10 years, I will decline quickly. My intent with this strict period is an attempt at rapid improvements. I want to shift myself on the spectrum of health rapidly and with great magnitude. I want performance gains to come quickly and steadily. I have made small gains, loved them and felt very content. I have done this for two years. FOR ME, I want a change and this is a great way for me to do it. Two years ago I would NEVER have gone "cold turkey" to a paleo-diet. I had no desire to be strict. I knew others who were, they had success, and I commended and supported them through it.

Some may look at those who are strict as "freaks". Please don't. Support them as we support those who are not. We are individuals of freedom, of choice, of balance.

Happy individuals are those who are free to make their own decisions and are content in those decisions. My only concern for you all is that you are happy in your own decisions. My decision is to be "strict" right now is easy because I want it. THAT is how I knew it was the right decision to make. Two years ago it would have been a great struggle. If you, as an individual, are making progress, improvements and performance gains then I am proud of you. It matters not your current state, only your direction.

Everything in moderation, even moderation.