Menu

  • Kavita Channe – Unlucky Breaks [Guest Post]

    I haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet Kavita Channe in person, but I’ve experienced her powerful vibes through social media and her sharp TV persona. She’s an exceptionally hard worker and positive energy spills from her vessel. Her post is brave. Sharing personal stories with the world isn’t easy. By putting herself out there, she’s offering up her roadmap…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Praising Others

    Give others credit whenever possible. There is plenty of light to go around. You may recall this post on the downsides of publicly seeking praise. By actively spotlighting another, you both benefit. From stevemarr.org. Giving recognition and credit is great motivator, and one we lose when we take credit for others’ efforts and ideas. As…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Life Gardening

    Weight training and positive nutritional alterations are akin to planting a garden. Even if nurtured appropriately, the bounty doesn’t appear for some time. When it does (if given ample time and energy), however, it fills out stunningly. From weighttraing.com: When weight training, results are almost instant, although you may not see the results as quickly…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Praising Others

    Give others credit whenever possible. There is plenty of light to go around. You may recall this post on the downsides of publicly seeking praise. By actively spotlighting another, you both benefit. From stevemarr.org. Giving recognition and credit is great motivator, and one we lose when we take credit for others’ efforts and ideas. As…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Working Relationships

    Developing strong interpersonal relationships in the workplace contributes to culture and provides increased job satisfaction. From mindtools.com: Human beings are naturally social creatures – we crave friendship and positive interactions, just as we do food and water. So it makes sense that the better our relationships are at work, the happier and more productive we’re…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Staying on the Field

    If you’re an athlete trying to stay healthy for an entire season, heed this counsel: Eating processed foods regularly will make you sick.  From time.com: A study published in Nutrition Journal looked at the impact the Western diet and lifestyle has on people’s immune function. It found that the large number of calories in processed…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Skip the Workout Apparel

    Waiting for a complete wardrobe overhaul before starting your workouts? Don’t. When I was 22, I learned firsthand how endorsement deals between shoe companies and major league ballplayers worked. Adidas reached out to me. In exchange for donning their spikes and batting gloves, they offered me cash and a selection of merchandise. The cash part…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Open Thread: Week 15

    Welcome back to our open thread. Let’s get moving. Steve: Hey Kap – absolutely love the site and it has become a staple in my daily internet routine. Quick question for ya – I just graduated college this past May and my friends and I were huge into working out and lifting weights. Besides classes…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Conquering Challenging Work

    Conquering the work we most despise may be difficult, but provides the opportunity for fulfilling rewards. My younger son, Dane, is struggling in his Algebra class. He is a hell of a math student, but hates it with a passion. Last night in the car, he said, “Dad, when I sit down to do my algebra…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

  • Perpetual Learning

    Building your critical thinking muscle is just as important as adding lean tissue to your physique. Exactly one year ago today, I set out to write posts about health, fitness and food. You know the story of how we got started. I knew this blog would make me stronger, but I had no idea how.…

    maximios

    0Comments

    Read More

I aim to plan and consciously choose all of my indulgences. I have the knowledge and willpower to do so, but occasionally, I will have a substantial misfire.

I was in Boston, my home away from home, for the 2004 World Series reunion. I splurged nutritionally as I had intended, but I didn’t map out my large nutritional stumble while watching the game.

I had it all pre-navigated. My two men (12 and 14) and I love to experience travel through food. We think it’s the most efficient and interesting way to explore the culture of a city. We discussed the trip ahead of time and decided on three restaurants where we would fully indulge and eat like kings. We’d start with the team dinner at a fine steak and seafood house, follow it up with breakfast the next morning at a bakery, and finish it out with lunch at a tapas joint in the South End.

The first night the three of us shared bone in filets, swordfish steaks, oysters, giant shrimp, crab cakes, lamb chops, chocolate cake, apple crisps and cold vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed a few glasses of whiskey, neat, and my boys drank Sprite. We left the restaurant 1 for 1. Remember, this indulgence was planned.

The next morning, we went to a bakery suggested by a Boston-based chef friend. The boys picked up scones and French toast; I scored big with a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a crusty roll with spinach and tomato. The bite came complete with a Dijon mustard finish that struck a chord with me, managing to last all day. 2 at bats, 2 knocks.

After mobbing around on the T train all morning, making our way to Harvard and back to Downtown Crossing, we landed at our destination for lunch, Toro. Theo Epstein made the recommendation after I mentioned that my boys and I were on a food adventure. This is the guy who went out to get the “washed up” 2002 version of David Ortiz, so he’s proven his scouting mettle. If he thinks it’s a worthwhile trip, I’ll take his advice.

Back to food.

Rather than turn this post into a restaurant review, I’ll keep it simple. I had an out of body experience. Every small plate that arrived was visually captivating and stunning on the palate. We sprinted the gamut. From spicy curry beef empanadas to cauliflower with golden raisins and pine nuts to the pièce de résistance, roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and oxtail marmalade. This dish, holy fuck. Our waiter described it exquisitely as “like rich, hot, beef flavored butter.” I was now 3 for 3 and ready for my final at bat.

A theme throughout this entire trip was advance planning. My first mistake was not preparing for this final meal. I figured my boys and I would just eat at the ballpark and didn’t put much thought into it. I knew that the options would be plentiful and come in large quantities. I wasn’t necessarily wrong, but I quickly got off course.

I was running around at Fenway from this place to that, answering questions and meeting folks. My boys were on their own and already up in the suite by the time I arrived around the start of the first inning. They had eaten pizza, snacks and fruit, totally what I expected for them. I walked in starving, my second mistake.  I reached for a plate and piled on decent looking veggies, a huge mound of guacamole, and the only available protein, stale fried chicken strips. I could have reached into my bag and opened a can of wild caught salmon. I didn’t. My defenses were down. I hadn’t snacked. I ingested that garbage and suffered strike one.

You know my stance on processed foods. Those frozen chunks of flour covered meat product provide little nutritional value. I had already experienced a whirlwind day filled with emotion and exertion, and the pizza under the heat lamp began to look lovely.

I advocate indulgence, but I advocate planned, quality indulgence. This was neither. I scarfed down a piece and the drugs hit my bloodstream. I couldn’t chew fast enough. Strike two.

The final pitch of the at bat came in and I chased it. I scarfed down a few more slices, knowing even as I did so that it wasn’t my finest hour.

3 for 4. In baseball that’s a hell of a day. Nutritionally, I expect 4 for 4s from myself almost always. I’m in control, so the high bar is appropriately set. Rather than dwell on it, I’ll do what Manny tells us to do after a rough at bat. “Turn the page, papi.”

I write this from the plane the following morning. I’ve turned the page. Today, I’ve ingested steel cut oats, fresh organic blueberries, a pile of kale, a chunk of a ham steak, a few fresh scrambled eggs and organic black coffee.

In my bag, I have a large salad with tons of fresh veggies, almonds, chicken, organic Hannah yams. I also still have that wild salmon I passed over for pizza in a box.

I’m back on track. I remember last night’s at bat and will make the adjustment without carrying the emotion of yesterday over into today’s game.

I hope you’ll share your stories of strikeouts or home runs in the comments section below.

Kap