My Top 10 in 2017
Have you ever felt the spine of a classic novel flex under the pressure of you opening the first page.... or replied to a question in a language you couldn't speak last year... or floated on the surface of the big dark ocean with metal tanks on your back... or stood on the forests edge from a valley... or been on your knees, leaning outside of an airplane with the door above your head and a sea of cloud beneath you... or stepped off the earth onto a rock face with thousands of feet to climb above you.. have you ever tried to do something legendary.. dared to fail.. or ventured into the void in any way? YES. GOOD. ME TOO. This is my annual list and attempt to write the history of the future for myself. It's not goals or resolutions or wishes - what's wishing, but the lowest form of intention. I wish for nothing. This is my top 10 list of things I'm going to do this year.
The list comes from:
Something I've always wanted to do, but haven't.
A necessary step to achieving a bigger goal that is very important to me.
Something that will bring tremendous value to my life and those around me.
Something that will make me a much stronger, healthier or more efficient person.
Any great goal or great vision of who you want to become doesn't happen instantly. It takes a thousand little changes, day by day, year by year.
Begin!
1. Climb A Seven Summit - The 7 highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
The list comes from:
Something I've always wanted to do, but haven't.
A necessary step to achieving a bigger goal that is very important to me.
Something that will bring tremendous value to my life and those around me.
Something that will make me a much stronger, healthier or more efficient person.
Any great goal or great vision of who you want to become doesn't happen instantly. It takes a thousand little changes, day by day, year by year.
Begin!
1. Climb A Seven Summit - The 7 highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
Are you an EOTE original gang member?! You knew this was gonna make the list.
In 2015 I climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In 2016 I climbed my 2nd of the 7 summits, Mount Elbrus, in Russia (Das good...cause politics). That was a harrowing experience on many levels! Of course enough time has passed now that I completely forget about all the heck and torture and I'm promising to try another in 2017. I'm aiming to climb Aconcagua in the Andes, which is pretty tall. Like, it's high. It's about 23,000'. Oh boy!!
In 2015 I climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In 2016 I climbed my 2nd of the 7 summits, Mount Elbrus, in Russia (Das good...cause politics). That was a harrowing experience on many levels! Of course enough time has passed now that I completely forget about all the heck and torture and I'm promising to try another in 2017. I'm aiming to climb Aconcagua in the Andes, which is pretty tall. Like, it's high. It's about 23,000'. Oh boy!!
RESULTS:
Done. It happened. On December 14th around 3:30pm, I summited South America's Aconcagua (6,960.8 m (22,837 ft). That's a 7summit as it's South America's highest peak (hell, it's any America's highest). What begins as a nice bus ride from Mendoza, turns into a nice hike through the valley, up through the stream of mounting glacier and then...things start to get real. It was my most legendary adventure, accomplished with my newest, most legendary friends. It was all caught on video and in true form, I'm dragging my ass to edit it. Below are some pics.
Done. It happened. On December 14th around 3:30pm, I summited South America's Aconcagua (6,960.8 m (22,837 ft). That's a 7summit as it's South America's highest peak (hell, it's any America's highest). What begins as a nice bus ride from Mendoza, turns into a nice hike through the valley, up through the stream of mounting glacier and then...things start to get real. It was my most legendary adventure, accomplished with my newest, most legendary friends. It was all caught on video and in true form, I'm dragging my ass to edit it. Below are some pics.
2. The Wim Hof Method - Complete the 10 week Wim Hof feat
Wim is a wild Dutchman who's discovered/developed a cold therapy method that claims to produce a slew of amazing benefits for your body and mind. Cold showers, ice buckets, baths filled with ice and cold dives are required. A few of my most trusted mentors swear by the Wim-Hof method, so as much as I've been dreading/denying/hating the reality of actually doing this, I do love the idea of trying it and I have a feeling that it's right up my alley. Okay 2017..
Claimed benefits of WimHofs ridiculous cold therapy training..
Claimed benefits of WimHofs ridiculous cold therapy training..
- Increased energy
- Better sleep
- Heightened focus & determination
- Improved sports performance
- Reduced stress levels
- Greater cold tolerance
- Faster recovery
- Enhanced creativity
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
I actually purchased his video library to do this, but I FAILED TO DO IT. Thing is, it's a 10 week program and to do it, you actually need 10 weeks in a row that you can go through the program. You're building skills and endurance every week, relying on what you gained last week for the current week. I found it impossible this year to accomplish this. I did finish week 1 several times and used the breathing methods from it to keep my body warm, relaxed and oxygenated on Aconcagua. I was just travelling too much to accomplish this one this year. I really want to get this one done though. This is a skill I wish to have fo life! ....plus I already spent the dollars!
I actually purchased his video library to do this, but I FAILED TO DO IT. Thing is, it's a 10 week program and to do it, you actually need 10 weeks in a row that you can go through the program. You're building skills and endurance every week, relying on what you gained last week for the current week. I found it impossible this year to accomplish this. I did finish week 1 several times and used the breathing methods from it to keep my body warm, relaxed and oxygenated on Aconcagua. I was just travelling too much to accomplish this one this year. I really want to get this one done though. This is a skill I wish to have fo life! ....plus I already spent the dollars!
3. First Aid / CPR & AED Certified
This is a real challenge for me. I've been talking about getting re-certified for a bunch of years and I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. The list will make it so! I see a lot of hurt people in a year.. I get hurt a bunch too. Having this will make me feel a whole lot better about myself because I'll be able to help others and myself too!
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
Psyched. I really loved every minute of this class. This is a pretty simple challenge, but it's also something I put off for years. I'm really happy I got this done and I'd love to keep going with training. Maybe I can help someone some day..or at least stop someone from taking Nitroglycerin if they're just coming off a Viagra high:)
I did my training of 'Emergency First Aid / CPR A / AED at St.John's Ambulance.
Psyched. I really loved every minute of this class. This is a pretty simple challenge, but it's also something I put off for years. I'm really happy I got this done and I'd love to keep going with training. Maybe I can help someone some day..or at least stop someone from taking Nitroglycerin if they're just coming off a Viagra high:)
I did my training of 'Emergency First Aid / CPR A / AED at St.John's Ambulance.
4. Make Every Recipe in a Cookbook
In the past year, I've really been into cooking. One thing I've noticed that sucks about finding recipes and cooking as a hobby, is that there's so much information and so many recipes and styles out there. I'm lost in a sea of guy ramsey oliver who gives a wolfgang puck?! Ahem... So I decided to find 1 resource that shares my food philosphies, a world of ingredients I enjoy and a style that I can latch onto.
I went through about a zillion cookbooks and was originally thinking of following a celebrity chef, but when I found this book, I was like YEAH. It's a colloborative project, with food truck style homemade goodness. It's all vegetarian, which I enjoy and it says the word 'fuck' a lot, which of course, is most enjoyable.
Thug Kittchen Cookbook Here
Criteria I used before selecting a book:
* Must have breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & beverages
* Preferably vegetarian
* Preferably meals I can make in less than an hour
* Creative and original
* New recipes that are rad and match my hairstyle
I went through about a zillion cookbooks and was originally thinking of following a celebrity chef, but when I found this book, I was like YEAH. It's a colloborative project, with food truck style homemade goodness. It's all vegetarian, which I enjoy and it says the word 'fuck' a lot, which of course, is most enjoyable.
Thug Kittchen Cookbook Here
Criteria I used before selecting a book:
* Must have breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & beverages
* Preferably vegetarian
* Preferably meals I can make in less than an hour
* Creative and original
* New recipes that are rad and match my hairstyle
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
Oh man.. What a life changing experience. Flipping through these pages, I remember where, when and with whom each of these 100+ recipes were made. These recipes are all 100% vegan, packed with flavour and really unique. I didn't buy meat in a grocery store one time in 2017. Same for dairy. Ever heard of Nutritional Yeast? Okra? Liquid Smoke? Millet? Bragg's? Me neither, but now they're my secret weapons (except okra..that's not secret anything). The book also enjoys utilizing the seldom cookbook word know as 'fuck'. Not just like 'fuck' this or 'fuck' that, but a joyful, well placed, hilarious 'fuck'. Relate, it's my favourite word. i.e.
"The beans are done when at least five of them taste tender and are cooked through. One bean can be a fucking liar so taste a few. Keep simmering until you get there. Simple shit.”
― Thug Kitchen,
Cooking has become a way of life for me now. I love the ritual of finding and collecting the ingredients, laying them all out, putting on a podcast or audio book and getting to work. I do my best relaxing and best thinking in the kitchen now. It's all about making weird shit that tastes awesome. It's also introduced me to the beauty of collecting raw, weird, eclectic ingredients and preparing real food, from not animals. I'm not vegan, or really vegetarian, but definitely more so now. Life's too short to not try to not make others's shorter'r..hmmmk everybody? hmmmmk.
Oh man.. What a life changing experience. Flipping through these pages, I remember where, when and with whom each of these 100+ recipes were made. These recipes are all 100% vegan, packed with flavour and really unique. I didn't buy meat in a grocery store one time in 2017. Same for dairy. Ever heard of Nutritional Yeast? Okra? Liquid Smoke? Millet? Bragg's? Me neither, but now they're my secret weapons (except okra..that's not secret anything). The book also enjoys utilizing the seldom cookbook word know as 'fuck'. Not just like 'fuck' this or 'fuck' that, but a joyful, well placed, hilarious 'fuck'. Relate, it's my favourite word. i.e.
"The beans are done when at least five of them taste tender and are cooked through. One bean can be a fucking liar so taste a few. Keep simmering until you get there. Simple shit.”
― Thug Kitchen,
Cooking has become a way of life for me now. I love the ritual of finding and collecting the ingredients, laying them all out, putting on a podcast or audio book and getting to work. I do my best relaxing and best thinking in the kitchen now. It's all about making weird shit that tastes awesome. It's also introduced me to the beauty of collecting raw, weird, eclectic ingredients and preparing real food, from not animals. I'm not vegan, or really vegetarian, but definitely more so now. Life's too short to not try to not make others's shorter'r..hmmmk everybody? hmmmmk.
Top 5 Best Recipes Of The Book:
1. Pad Thai "Vegetable Pad Thai w/Dry-Fried Tofu" (p.153)
2. Burger - "White Bean & Red Lentil Burgers" (P.170)
3. Peanut Butter Buckeyes - "Crispy Millet & Peanut Butter Buckeyes" (p.186)
4. Burritos - "BBQ Bean Burritos w/Grilled Peach Salsa" (p.172)
5. Minestrone Soup - "Warm the Fuck Up Minestrone" (p.93)
1. Pad Thai "Vegetable Pad Thai w/Dry-Fried Tofu" (p.153)
2. Burger - "White Bean & Red Lentil Burgers" (P.170)
3. Peanut Butter Buckeyes - "Crispy Millet & Peanut Butter Buckeyes" (p.186)
4. Burritos - "BBQ Bean Burritos w/Grilled Peach Salsa" (p.172)
5. Minestrone Soup - "Warm the Fuck Up Minestrone" (p.93)
I SUCKED at, but longer do so much at:
A) Attention to Detail!
Collecting EVERY ingredient and other vital recipe information.. My worst was going back to the grocery store twice and then still not having everything. That's when I came up with a unique idea (patent rejected), I later found out was common. Someone coined it as a "grocery list". Pffff.. Other details I learned came in the form of teaspoon vs tablespoon, baking powder vs baking soda (I can now taste the difference) and to read the whole recipe ahead of time so when it says "and let that chill in the fridge for 3 hours before serving", you're not "oh fuck'ing" at the 11th hour when you planned on desert.
B) Fucking shit up
Oh boy did I ever screw up some of these recipes. You spend hours gathering ingredients, spending dollars and getting everything together, then bam, you miss an ingredient, get the temperature wrong, drop something, spill something.. or think you did everything perfect, but it just sucks and tastes bad without you knowing what happened. It can be frustrating and boil your fragile lil blood cells. I learned to laugh and scrape into the garbage, or if it could be saved, try hard to save it. Today I try and make it perfect, but if it all goes to hell, I'm totally happy with that too. FUCK. SHIT. UP and smile.
C) Tasting and Adjusting.
I have learned that all recipes require some personal adjustments - TRUST yoself. It never really dawned on me that you should taste things while and even after the recipe says your done. That's definitely some basic knowledge for some people, but I never thought of it. Now I know what I like to add or where I want the recipe to go by experimenting.
D) Flavours.
The what's what and who's who of the game. It's a game you can only learn with experience. Just like tasting and adjusting things, the more you cook the more you get to know flavours and what they should be. Thug Kitchen isn't the most conventional recipe book, so I'm sure it wasn't a great display of the classic flavours, but maybe that helped speed up the process.
$Dollars$
I would say the absence of meat and dairy really brings down the costs of all the recipes in general. There are a handful that probably cost less than $10 and could feed 4 people. If you're new to cooking a lot, then you're going to be spending a bunch on getting some basics and getting a bunch of the weird staples in this book. Once you're past that, I would say everything is pretty cheap.
Full disclosure, there were a few recipes I didn't do - I chose about 10 not to do, because as the year came to a close, I just didn't have time. I picked ones that I didn't like/probably wouldn't eat and had been avoiding the entire time.
I most likely spent 100's of hours in many grocery stores hunting down the eclectic ingredients in these pages. I never realized how many people don't work in grocery stores..jerks. I really favoured small specialty grocery stores and Whole Foods. All the others would seldom have all the little weird ingredients I needed. Two times, I left half full grocery carts in the store and walked out because I become too frustrated, tired and too hungry to finish. Honest to God left the grocery store and got pizza slices and went home. How fucking weird is that?! My patients and dedication to making a recipe has grown immensely. Today, I can easily spend a couple of hours in a grocery store getting everything and getting things right. Getting the ingredients, following the recipe, making your own changes, all of it is about being dedicated to it, managing expectations and being cool when you fuck shit up, cause you will. So that's that in 2017. I'm on to the next thug kitchen book and also recently discovered Rich Roll's cookbook.
A) Attention to Detail!
Collecting EVERY ingredient and other vital recipe information.. My worst was going back to the grocery store twice and then still not having everything. That's when I came up with a unique idea (patent rejected), I later found out was common. Someone coined it as a "grocery list". Pffff.. Other details I learned came in the form of teaspoon vs tablespoon, baking powder vs baking soda (I can now taste the difference) and to read the whole recipe ahead of time so when it says "and let that chill in the fridge for 3 hours before serving", you're not "oh fuck'ing" at the 11th hour when you planned on desert.
B) Fucking shit up
Oh boy did I ever screw up some of these recipes. You spend hours gathering ingredients, spending dollars and getting everything together, then bam, you miss an ingredient, get the temperature wrong, drop something, spill something.. or think you did everything perfect, but it just sucks and tastes bad without you knowing what happened. It can be frustrating and boil your fragile lil blood cells. I learned to laugh and scrape into the garbage, or if it could be saved, try hard to save it. Today I try and make it perfect, but if it all goes to hell, I'm totally happy with that too. FUCK. SHIT. UP and smile.
C) Tasting and Adjusting.
I have learned that all recipes require some personal adjustments - TRUST yoself. It never really dawned on me that you should taste things while and even after the recipe says your done. That's definitely some basic knowledge for some people, but I never thought of it. Now I know what I like to add or where I want the recipe to go by experimenting.
D) Flavours.
The what's what and who's who of the game. It's a game you can only learn with experience. Just like tasting and adjusting things, the more you cook the more you get to know flavours and what they should be. Thug Kitchen isn't the most conventional recipe book, so I'm sure it wasn't a great display of the classic flavours, but maybe that helped speed up the process.
$Dollars$
I would say the absence of meat and dairy really brings down the costs of all the recipes in general. There are a handful that probably cost less than $10 and could feed 4 people. If you're new to cooking a lot, then you're going to be spending a bunch on getting some basics and getting a bunch of the weird staples in this book. Once you're past that, I would say everything is pretty cheap.
Full disclosure, there were a few recipes I didn't do - I chose about 10 not to do, because as the year came to a close, I just didn't have time. I picked ones that I didn't like/probably wouldn't eat and had been avoiding the entire time.
I most likely spent 100's of hours in many grocery stores hunting down the eclectic ingredients in these pages. I never realized how many people don't work in grocery stores..jerks. I really favoured small specialty grocery stores and Whole Foods. All the others would seldom have all the little weird ingredients I needed. Two times, I left half full grocery carts in the store and walked out because I become too frustrated, tired and too hungry to finish. Honest to God left the grocery store and got pizza slices and went home. How fucking weird is that?! My patients and dedication to making a recipe has grown immensely. Today, I can easily spend a couple of hours in a grocery store getting everything and getting things right. Getting the ingredients, following the recipe, making your own changes, all of it is about being dedicated to it, managing expectations and being cool when you fuck shit up, cause you will. So that's that in 2017. I'm on to the next thug kitchen book and also recently discovered Rich Roll's cookbook.
5. Hike The East Coast Trail
The developed East Coast trail is a 300km hike from Portugal Cove to Cappahayden, along the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, Canada. I usually go to Newfoundland every other year to visit family and have been on a couple of parts of this trail in St.John's. Hiking coast trails is my favourite. I've been plotting to see more of the province, so backpacking 300km on the coast is probably a nice way to do that. Though possibly a bit wet..a bit uncomfortable..I'll be a bit hungry...bit bloody...a lot happy.
Weeeeee!
More on the East Coast Trail - www.eastcoasttrail.ca
Weeeeee!
More on the East Coast Trail - www.eastcoasttrail.ca
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
Oh boy! I started this challenge by approaching the Tourism Board of Newfoundland to try and get funding for a little mini expedition. The commitment needed to be 4-6 weeks of travel and trekking. I just didn't have the combination of funds and time to make it work without some support. I couldn't try both a 7 summit AND this one :( This hike is a monster.. The trail needs to be conquered, documented and mapped out. I couldn't find a single guide or recounting on the whole inter webs of anyway who had actually done it. Anyway, I failed, but this one has burrowed it's way deep into my heart. It will be mine...oh yes..it will be mine (insert sick Van Halen guitar riff). I grossly underestimated the vast challenge this would be. Further research and $ required!
Oh boy! I started this challenge by approaching the Tourism Board of Newfoundland to try and get funding for a little mini expedition. The commitment needed to be 4-6 weeks of travel and trekking. I just didn't have the combination of funds and time to make it work without some support. I couldn't try both a 7 summit AND this one :( This hike is a monster.. The trail needs to be conquered, documented and mapped out. I couldn't find a single guide or recounting on the whole inter webs of anyway who had actually done it. Anyway, I failed, but this one has burrowed it's way deep into my heart. It will be mine...oh yes..it will be mine (insert sick Van Halen guitar riff). I grossly underestimated the vast challenge this would be. Further research and $ required!
6. Hike The West Cost Trail
Yeah yeah...I haven't done this yet! This is the 75 km long backpacking trail following the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. People say "oh you like to hike...have you done the West Coast Trail?" I say "nooo", but now I can say .... "yessss". A rite of passage for any true Canadian hiker.. Better make it happen this year.
More info on The West Coast Trail - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Trail
More info on The West Coast Trail - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Trail
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
Yeah bitch! Wait..what? I can't say that on the internet.. Oh pleasurable agreeyance! Joyous praise, we have accomplished this challenge. Tiffany and I hiked June 20th - June 24th, 2017. We both cried when it was over, but for very different reasons.. One jovial for the accomplishment, the other saddened for the expiration of the expedition!
This was a great adventure. One of those calm, but wild rides. We carried what we needed on our backs, we drank the wild cool water of the West, we sopped through 74km of bog, mud, sand, exposed ocean bed, hidden tree root, whale corpse, and at one point..yes at one point, not one, but two roads diverged in a wood, and we -- we took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference!! Seriously though, it was Frost for hundies. We did it backwards and took some less travelled by's and it did make all the difference.
Yeah bitch! Wait..what? I can't say that on the internet.. Oh pleasurable agreeyance! Joyous praise, we have accomplished this challenge. Tiffany and I hiked June 20th - June 24th, 2017. We both cried when it was over, but for very different reasons.. One jovial for the accomplishment, the other saddened for the expiration of the expedition!
This was a great adventure. One of those calm, but wild rides. We carried what we needed on our backs, we drank the wild cool water of the West, we sopped through 74km of bog, mud, sand, exposed ocean bed, hidden tree root, whale corpse, and at one point..yes at one point, not one, but two roads diverged in a wood, and we -- we took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference!! Seriously though, it was Frost for hundies. We did it backwards and took some less travelled by's and it did make all the difference.
7. Run two, 10K Races ...and do better on the 2nd one.
I've never done a race before. I don't even run that often, but it's something I'd like to do to enhance my hiking, climbing and for overall fitness. I've talked about it...I've pointed at flyers advertising them...and definitely lied and said I was going to sign up for one. Also, my favourite MMA fighter brothers are triathletes, which I thought was pretty badass. So here goes.. 2 10K's, better time on race 2.
This year. Go. Yeah!
This year. Go. Yeah!
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
This challenge made me a different person. The original purpose was to prepare my body for lower levels of oxygen (for climbing) by improving my VO2 max , which allows you to absorb more oxygen and keep physical output high. Mission accomplished because I felt a real difference and improvement in my body on the Aconcagua climb. Shit, I even developed a love for running and I have to say, I actually understand all those crazy people who wake up at ungodly hours, wearing lame T-Shirts that say, "I run, therefore, I am" .. Uhhh am what thoo? what?? Ohh.. AM, yeah I get it. I ran 2 10km races. My stats:
Whistler 10km - June 3rd, 2017, Time: 50:42
Collingwood 10km - October 7th, 2017, Time: 48:33
This challenge made me a different person. The original purpose was to prepare my body for lower levels of oxygen (for climbing) by improving my VO2 max , which allows you to absorb more oxygen and keep physical output high. Mission accomplished because I felt a real difference and improvement in my body on the Aconcagua climb. Shit, I even developed a love for running and I have to say, I actually understand all those crazy people who wake up at ungodly hours, wearing lame T-Shirts that say, "I run, therefore, I am" .. Uhhh am what thoo? what?? Ohh.. AM, yeah I get it. I ran 2 10km races. My stats:
Whistler 10km - June 3rd, 2017, Time: 50:42
Collingwood 10km - October 7th, 2017, Time: 48:33
Tired dumb dumb in Whistler running my 1st 10km ever.
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After months of training post Whistler. I'm running a 10km in Collingwood
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8. DNA Sequencing & Preventative Health Assessment
Sadly, I've lost loved ones this year to heart disease and cancer. It's wild how in an instant, nothing else matters but your health and by the time you're in that position, it may be too late. There is preventative action we can take above and beyond living a healthy lifestyle. Science!
I want to start a report with a private style health team that will help me achieve my health and wellness goals and most importantly help prevent, or have early knowledge, of bad things that could happen to me. I've found 2 great resources for doing just that and I want to dedicate time and the $ in 2017 for getting the process started by completeing these 2 tests.
1. Privatized Preventative Health Assessment
There's a facility in Toronto called MedCan who will spend 1 full day with you to complete a full health diagnostic to assess the health of your health. Kind of like a physical, but on steroids (not actual steroids.. that's a metaphor for amped...amped is a metaphor for jakt..jakt is....ok).
Tests:
Physical Exam
Screening of vital signs
Family history review
A vaccinations review
An abdonminal ultrasound - to ensure your vital organs are all in good shape
12 lead electrocardiogram & stress test
Measure your lung capacity
Ankle Brachial Index - Test for hardening or narrowing of arteries
Full Panel Blood & Urine
Prostate & Bone density isn't relavant to me yet, but for those close to 40, check yoself b-f you wreck yoself.
Vision Test
Audio Test
Etc.
Your assessment includes consultations with a range of health care professionals. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and probe for insight, getting smarter about your health in the process. When completed annually, your assessment will identify health trends so you have a more comprehensive picture of risks to manage.
2. DNA Personalized Service
Before doing step 1, I'm going to do this simple test that company '23&me' offers. It will give me some basic info on inherited health risks that I may want to further investigate in step 1.
I want to start a report with a private style health team that will help me achieve my health and wellness goals and most importantly help prevent, or have early knowledge, of bad things that could happen to me. I've found 2 great resources for doing just that and I want to dedicate time and the $ in 2017 for getting the process started by completeing these 2 tests.
1. Privatized Preventative Health Assessment
There's a facility in Toronto called MedCan who will spend 1 full day with you to complete a full health diagnostic to assess the health of your health. Kind of like a physical, but on steroids (not actual steroids.. that's a metaphor for amped...amped is a metaphor for jakt..jakt is....ok).
Tests:
Physical Exam
Screening of vital signs
Family history review
A vaccinations review
An abdonminal ultrasound - to ensure your vital organs are all in good shape
12 lead electrocardiogram & stress test
Measure your lung capacity
Ankle Brachial Index - Test for hardening or narrowing of arteries
Full Panel Blood & Urine
Prostate & Bone density isn't relavant to me yet, but for those close to 40, check yoself b-f you wreck yoself.
Vision Test
Audio Test
Etc.
Your assessment includes consultations with a range of health care professionals. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and probe for insight, getting smarter about your health in the process. When completed annually, your assessment will identify health trends so you have a more comprehensive picture of risks to manage.
2. DNA Personalized Service
Before doing step 1, I'm going to do this simple test that company '23&me' offers. It will give me some basic info on inherited health risks that I may want to further investigate in step 1.
- View reports on over 100 health conditions and traits
- Find out about your inherited risk factors and how you might respond to certain medications
- Discover your lineage and find DNA relatives
- Inherited Conditions
- Genetic Risk Factors
- Drug Response
- Traits
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
23 & ME:
I submitted some spit in a tube to '23 and me' in the spring 2017 to learn more about my history and health. Could 23 and me be a mechanism and a front to collect massive amounts of our information to use for nefarious reasons? A massive deed by predatory capitalists to further their collection of valuable data to later use against us? To advertise to us? To collect massive profits and create a one world government and imprison... anyway.. Could be.. but if you have a problem with that, you should have a problem with using google, having a passport, a drivers license, paying taxes, etc etc.
So what did I learn about myself?
1) I'm part of Haplogroup H. "Haplogroup H arose among the latter group, from a woman who likely lived less than 18,000 years ago. Her descendants expanded dramatically to the north after the Ice Age, and eventually reached from Arabia to the western fringes of Siberia."
Marie Antoinette and Copernicus are apparently my ancestors.
2) I have Scandinavian DNA? Whoa. (Mostly British/Irish, Then French/German)
"The earliest people of Scandinavia hunted reindeer and seals and fished for salmon. By 4000 years ago these hunter/gatherers had been joined by cattle herders from the south. Although at the northwestern periphery of Europe, Scandinavia has never been completely isolated from peoples to the south and east."
3) I'm likely not to have back hair, a bald spot or a unibrow. Phew! Thanks mom!
4) I likely have Hereditary Hemochromatosis.. Oh drag.. It's a "disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, and joints." It can cause a whole host of problems. Something to watch out for in my diet.
5) Blood thinners aren't likely to work on me as well due to my high iron. This makes sense to me cause when I taste my blood it tastes really metallic. I guess I haven't tasted anyone else blood, but mine tastes metallic to me. Warfarin specifically isn't going to work well..but that's ok cause it used to be used as rat poison in the 40's, so I don't want it!
6) I have an unlikely chance of developing Alzheimers. There is a section in your report that you have to 'unlock' which has warnings saying "Hey, you might not want to know these things. They might bother and worry you. Maybe you shouldn't open this." Better to know your weaknesses I say.
23 & ME:
I submitted some spit in a tube to '23 and me' in the spring 2017 to learn more about my history and health. Could 23 and me be a mechanism and a front to collect massive amounts of our information to use for nefarious reasons? A massive deed by predatory capitalists to further their collection of valuable data to later use against us? To advertise to us? To collect massive profits and create a one world government and imprison... anyway.. Could be.. but if you have a problem with that, you should have a problem with using google, having a passport, a drivers license, paying taxes, etc etc.
So what did I learn about myself?
1) I'm part of Haplogroup H. "Haplogroup H arose among the latter group, from a woman who likely lived less than 18,000 years ago. Her descendants expanded dramatically to the north after the Ice Age, and eventually reached from Arabia to the western fringes of Siberia."
Marie Antoinette and Copernicus are apparently my ancestors.
2) I have Scandinavian DNA? Whoa. (Mostly British/Irish, Then French/German)
"The earliest people of Scandinavia hunted reindeer and seals and fished for salmon. By 4000 years ago these hunter/gatherers had been joined by cattle herders from the south. Although at the northwestern periphery of Europe, Scandinavia has never been completely isolated from peoples to the south and east."
3) I'm likely not to have back hair, a bald spot or a unibrow. Phew! Thanks mom!
4) I likely have Hereditary Hemochromatosis.. Oh drag.. It's a "disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, and joints." It can cause a whole host of problems. Something to watch out for in my diet.
5) Blood thinners aren't likely to work on me as well due to my high iron. This makes sense to me cause when I taste my blood it tastes really metallic. I guess I haven't tasted anyone else blood, but mine tastes metallic to me. Warfarin specifically isn't going to work well..but that's ok cause it used to be used as rat poison in the 40's, so I don't want it!
6) I have an unlikely chance of developing Alzheimers. There is a section in your report that you have to 'unlock' which has warnings saying "Hey, you might not want to know these things. They might bother and worry you. Maybe you shouldn't open this." Better to know your weaknesses I say.
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
MedCan:
MedCan is a lot of dollars! My partner Tiffany decided to do the MedCan physical. She has had a bunch of bad luck with Drs, so this process benefitted her a lot. I went with her to the appointment and it was wild bananas. Here's what happened..
What is important to note is that what allows for private health clinics like Medcan to exist is that they provide personalized healthcare options that do not exist in the conventional system. The Annual Health Assessment is a good example of such a service.
So Why did I do it:
What happened:
Appointments:
What did I get out of this:
Important results I probably would not of known:
MedCan:
MedCan is a lot of dollars! My partner Tiffany decided to do the MedCan physical. She has had a bunch of bad luck with Drs, so this process benefitted her a lot. I went with her to the appointment and it was wild bananas. Here's what happened..
What is important to note is that what allows for private health clinics like Medcan to exist is that they provide personalized healthcare options that do not exist in the conventional system. The Annual Health Assessment is a good example of such a service.
So Why did I do it:
- Serious health complications that followed me into adulthood.
- Frustrated with the conventional healthcare system
- I was not getting the answers or treatment that I needed
- To gain a better understanding of my overall health and practice preventative care
What happened:
- Valet
- Check in
- Take you to epic change rooms
- Take you to waiting area where you spend the next 5-6 hours in-between your various appointments ***Note epic-ness of amenities***
Appointments:
- The first thing that happens is they take you for a full panel of blood and urine analysis. This looks at the broadest range of indicators for any health issues you could be at risk for.
- In depth consultation with physician. The first encounter with your doctor is important as this is where you will cover the current concerns that you have / the reason for your visit. I suggest preparing a list prior to going. You will also review your family history (you provide this to them prior to your visit).
- Physical Exam with Physician. This part gets weird but its good foh yoh health. He checked my vitals. He did a full examination of my body, even in- between my toes, because as you know Bob Marleys cancer was in-between his toes! I’m sure you can figure out the rest on your own.
- Go over your history of vaccinations with your nurse. Pretty self explanatory.
- An abdominal ultrasound. They check out your pancreas, gallbladder, bladder, kidneys, liver, spleen and major blood vessels. Gotta make sure your vital organs are doins the goods.
- Meet with a Nutritionist. Essentially go over your eating habits and make adjustments based on your needs and/ or goals! I mostly eat vegetarian, so we discussed ways to ensure I am getting all the vitamins and minerals I require to do the whole living thing.
- Respiratory function test to measure lung capacity, cause ya gotta breathe good.
- Hearing and vision tests… because those are important.
- Electrocardiogram and exercise stress test. Gotta make sure the ticker is ticking good.
- Measuring fitness level. They check your muscle and joint fitness to see how they are functioning to provide movement.They check your anthropometric fitness which integrates key measures such as waist to hip ratio, BMI, as well as your percentage of body fat. They also check your cardiopulmonary fitness which measures how your heart and lungs function together. This ultimately gives you a really good baseline as to how you can better enhance your health.
- Social and mental well - being review. This part was actually amazing because they do a memory and cognition assessment. They test your executive function (ability to organize and plan), your processing speed (ability to perform mental tasks quickly), your attention score (ability to concentrate and process information) and your episodic memory (ability to recall events and experiences). Personally I think this is great information to know for your long term and overall health. Simply because as you get older these functions tend to worsen and there are many ways to improve on them.
- Review results with your physician. After completing your checklist of appointments, you will discuss the available results and revisit your current concerns. You will further discuss options and/ or treatment, etc.
What did I get out of this:
- A really great baseline of my overall health
- Reassurance
- Answers I needed
- A preventative health care plan
- Access to great healthcare without waiting
- Access to advance testing, faster
- Access to in clinic specialists
Important results I probably would not of known:
- High cholesterol .. das weird…. I’m too young
- Uric Acid level elevated… also weird.
9. Read 10 Biographies of Legends
Dead legends!! You must be dead to be on my list. I'm sorry, but if you're alive, you just haven't finished yet and aren't worthy of my eyes in 2017. You must have also contributed an astonishing amount to humanity - whether good or evil, through invention, discovery or just plain 'ol inspiration. Like last years Classic Novel binge, I can't lay dying without knowing the legendary tales of the best of our species.
1) Malcolm X
2) Tesla
3) Ben Franklin
4) Newton
5) Helen Keller
6) Rockefellar a la John D
7) Edison
8) Einstein
9) Shackleton
10) Hitler
11) Cash (Cash by Johnny Cash right? High fidelity anyone?)
1) Malcolm X
2) Tesla
3) Ben Franklin
4) Newton
5) Helen Keller
6) Rockefellar a la John D
7) Edison
8) Einstein
9) Shackleton
10) Hitler
11) Cash (Cash by Johnny Cash right? High fidelity anyone?)
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
Ah damn, this one was tough. I read the following biographies this year:
Malcolm X
Ben Franklin
Rockefeller
Einstein
Shackleton
DaVinci
Johnny Cash
That's 7/10! I'm really happy with that. Some of these biographies were huge reads. Now this may be cheating..but in light of consuming as much information as possible, I used 3 sources for devouring these 7 books. Hard copy, KOBO and ...wait....wait for it...audible. Audible has audiobooks and uhhh I listened to a bunch of this material instead of reading it. This is just my evolved pedagogy that makes the most of my time and efforts. I spend a lot of time in a year driving, hiking, running and cooking. You can't read during these activities, but you can listen. If I can consume 2-4 more books a year by listening, then that's amazing.
My favourite bio was Shackleton. I read this one while climbing Aconcagua...and I thought I was suffering... Shackleton is an inspiring, pure bred savage!! I loved this story and it made my heart pump. LEGENDARY.
Ah damn, this one was tough. I read the following biographies this year:
Malcolm X
Ben Franklin
Rockefeller
Einstein
Shackleton
DaVinci
Johnny Cash
That's 7/10! I'm really happy with that. Some of these biographies were huge reads. Now this may be cheating..but in light of consuming as much information as possible, I used 3 sources for devouring these 7 books. Hard copy, KOBO and ...wait....wait for it...audible. Audible has audiobooks and uhhh I listened to a bunch of this material instead of reading it. This is just my evolved pedagogy that makes the most of my time and efforts. I spend a lot of time in a year driving, hiking, running and cooking. You can't read during these activities, but you can listen. If I can consume 2-4 more books a year by listening, then that's amazing.
My favourite bio was Shackleton. I read this one while climbing Aconcagua...and I thought I was suffering... Shackleton is an inspiring, pure bred savage!! I loved this story and it made my heart pump. LEGENDARY.
The day I finished the 'Cash' by Johnny Cash in the Mendoza airport. I left the book right there. I'm hoping another traveller picked it up and it's now somewhere amazing being enjoyed
10. Journaling
Journal
I've been journaling on and off my whoooole life, but in the past couple of years I've discovered a cool little book called 'The 5 Minute Journal' that's been a way better, sort of guided journal method. I've been on and off the wagon with journaling, so this year, it will be my mission to journal EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
My top 3 reasons for journaling:
1) It's an easy thing you do every day that makes you happier. It shifts your focus to the positive and gives you a structure to help accomplish the things you want to do and habits you want to start and end.
2) We all have problems committing to the things we want to accomplish. There's a lot of distractions in our lives and it's simple to procrastinate and lose our passions. Any great goal or great vision of who you want to become doesn't happen instantly. It takes a thousand little changes, day by day (stole that from the top). Write'em in here. Stick to it and little changes over time will amount to major ones.
3) Slow dowwwwn. I'm a morning person. I have a lot of energy in the morning and it's easy for me to go a million miles a minute to get things done. Journaling slows me down and organizes ma crazy mind.
The way the 5 Minute Journal works, for example:
Morning Journal:
1) Three things I'm grateful for
One - My discovery of white beans to make hummus
Two - My new face scrub that makes me feel brand new
Three - My family's supportive nature in the face of ludicrous ideas & lifestyles
2) Three things that would make today great
One - I will cook 2 recipes out of my book tonight
Two - I will call a friend instead of texting them.
Three - I will procure a bubbly mixture for the bath to enjoy at a later date.
3) An affirmation
I have a lot of self confidence, which makes me believe I can accomplish anything...like jumping out of airplanes that are flying at cruising altitude. I can do that.
Evening Journal:
4) Three amazing things that happened today..
One - I went to the barber and my haircut is awesome.
Two - Someone showed me a new way to tie my shoe laces so it never comes undone..what the frig?
Three - A friend recommended a new podcast and the first episode was teight.
5) How could I have made today better..
One - I make sure I have ingredients for the recipes I want to make in the evening.
Two - I read instead of checking social media on down time.
You can find a copy of The Five Minute Journal here
I've been journaling on and off my whoooole life, but in the past couple of years I've discovered a cool little book called 'The 5 Minute Journal' that's been a way better, sort of guided journal method. I've been on and off the wagon with journaling, so this year, it will be my mission to journal EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
My top 3 reasons for journaling:
1) It's an easy thing you do every day that makes you happier. It shifts your focus to the positive and gives you a structure to help accomplish the things you want to do and habits you want to start and end.
2) We all have problems committing to the things we want to accomplish. There's a lot of distractions in our lives and it's simple to procrastinate and lose our passions. Any great goal or great vision of who you want to become doesn't happen instantly. It takes a thousand little changes, day by day (stole that from the top). Write'em in here. Stick to it and little changes over time will amount to major ones.
3) Slow dowwwwn. I'm a morning person. I have a lot of energy in the morning and it's easy for me to go a million miles a minute to get things done. Journaling slows me down and organizes ma crazy mind.
The way the 5 Minute Journal works, for example:
Morning Journal:
1) Three things I'm grateful for
One - My discovery of white beans to make hummus
Two - My new face scrub that makes me feel brand new
Three - My family's supportive nature in the face of ludicrous ideas & lifestyles
2) Three things that would make today great
One - I will cook 2 recipes out of my book tonight
Two - I will call a friend instead of texting them.
Three - I will procure a bubbly mixture for the bath to enjoy at a later date.
3) An affirmation
I have a lot of self confidence, which makes me believe I can accomplish anything...like jumping out of airplanes that are flying at cruising altitude. I can do that.
Evening Journal:
4) Three amazing things that happened today..
One - I went to the barber and my haircut is awesome.
Two - Someone showed me a new way to tie my shoe laces so it never comes undone..what the frig?
Three - A friend recommended a new podcast and the first episode was teight.
5) How could I have made today better..
One - I make sure I have ingredients for the recipes I want to make in the evening.
Two - I read instead of checking social media on down time.
You can find a copy of The Five Minute Journal here
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
I tried 3 different journaling methods and 1 stuck really well. The 5 minute journal, as described above, has been recommended to me by a few mentors. I did try it for a couple of months, but I didn't feel the impact of it and I still needed to do a separate journal to keep my tasks straight and on schedule. I then went to a daily journal using 'notes' on my phone. I kept a log of what I was doing each day, ideas I had, thoughts I had
I tried 3 different journaling methods and 1 stuck really well. The 5 minute journal, as described above, has been recommended to me by a few mentors. I did try it for a couple of months, but I didn't feel the impact of it and I still needed to do a separate journal to keep my tasks straight and on schedule. I then went to a daily journal using 'notes' on my phone. I kept a log of what I was doing each day, ideas I had, thoughts I had
11. Whoops! Do everything I didn't do on my 2015, 2016 & 2017 (that I'm still psyched about doing)
* H.A.L.O Skydive
* Inverted 50' Cliff Jump
* Show pitch
* H.A.L.O Skydive
* Inverted 50' Cliff Jump
* Show pitch
RESULTS - Wha Happon?
I didn't get to any of these this year, but I'll have them on the 2018 list:(
I didn't get to any of these this year, but I'll have them on the 2018 list:(
Ok, well, that's the list for 2017. I'd say wish me luck, but wishes are weak and luck...well luck is for leprechauns and delicious cereal!
So wish me great preparation and opportunity.
Love,
Matt
So wish me great preparation and opportunity.
Love,
Matt
