Stew Smith Fitness News

Recovery Resolution Was a Winner! Feeling Much Better Going into February For the first time in my life, I went into the new year with a clear focus to do less, breathe more, sleep better, and just recover from the end-of-the-year personal, business, social, and medical stresses.  Life is stressful. Acknowledging it is critical to your performance and health. My "New Year's Resolution" this year was to actively pursue recovery, and here is why it mattered. After Thanksgiving, the Army-Navy Game, my dog died, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, travel, another family function, and a feast at the house, I was...

Noble Calling or Eff It - I'm Out of Here? Why Did This Video Go Viral This Weekend? (link to official video 2016) Has your algorithm inundated you with the penguin walking off to the mountains, leaving behind the colony and its food source, where there is no food, water, or society? Some took it as the penguin saying, "Eff it - I am sick of this." I think we all can relate on some level to societal and people's expectations of all of us. But... Maybe the penguin is ill, either mentally or physically? Maybe this is a noble...

Important Health Tips for Cold-Weather Snow Removal Don't Do This...Be Better Prepared for the Snow/Ice Removal As the snow and ice arrive, clearing your driveway and sidewalk does not seem like a big deal, but 34% more heart attacks occur when snow is on the ground than when it is not. (Heart.org) But shoveling snow in cold weather can pose risks, particularly for older adults, smokers, individuals with heart conditions, or those not used to physical activity. The cold, combined with strenuous effort, can greatly raise the chances of a heart attack or injury. Before you start shoveling, consider: Is it safe...

Why Do Most Think Special Ops Selections are Impossible? Yet the Majority Still Underprepare? Have you ever wondered why attrition rates are so high in special ops jobs? Well, first, the numbers are relatively small compared to most units, so the number of graduates selected into these professions is smaller. Second, training is hard, requires specific preparation, and a Never Quit Mindset and a durable body. Thirdly, you must want it bad enough to endure serious discomfort through selection (and beyond).  In fact, did you know that it takes nearly 1000 candidates to get 250 SEALs into the community (on...

When You Can't Do Everything - Do the Most Important - Jim Edwards When you don’t have time to do everything, you must do the most important thing. What does this mean? Sometimes, this means missing planned events on the schedule, like workouts. Face it, life sometimes gets in the way of the best-made plans. But most of the time, we make excuses to miss workouts. There are many ways to define "most important." I usually go with the one thing I need to work on the most (my weakness). However, defining the “most important thing” can be different for...