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  • Kaplifestyle – Page 2 – A Lifestyle and Fitness site by Gabe Kapler

    Building better teammates and creating a winning culture are intertwined. In order to build a long-term, winning culture, it takes months and years of continuous, dedicated, deliberate effort. It’s a never-ending … [Read More…]

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  • Kaplifestyle – Page 2 – A Lifestyle and Fitness site by Gabe Kapler

    Building better teammates and creating a winning culture are intertwined. In order to build a long-term, winning culture, it takes months and years of continuous, dedicated, deliberate effort. It’s a never-ending … [Read More…]

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  • Eating Locally

    Eating locally features many benefits, but is more complex than just a slogan. Yesterday, I met with a close friend.  He’s a great conversationalist and consistently inspires quality philosophical discussions. This chat was no different. He was in the market for some convincing evidence on the value of eating locally; a fair question, given the…

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  • Privacy Policy

    Privacy Policy for kaplifestyle.com At kaplifestyle.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by kaplifestyle.com and how it is used. Log Files Like many other Web sites, kaplifestyle.com makes use of log files. The information inside the…

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  • FAQs

    What are your thoughts on [protein shakes, powders, pills, etc.]? I eat and recommend real, whole foods.  Supplements should be used sparingly, if at all. How do I get muscles like yours? Do you take steroids or human growth hormone? I have never taken steroids or human growth hormone. I strongly advise against shortcuts like these…

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  • 10 Pages a Day – Chris Archer [Guest Post]

    A beautiful mind. Perhaps you’re now thinking of Russell Crowe; I’m thinking of Chris Archer. Too dramatic? Maybe, but it’s how I feel. Next time Arch is on TV or conducting a radio interview, listen closely. His thought processes, regardless of topic, are not typical for anyone, let alone an elite professional athlete. His mind…

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  • environment

    Lars Anderson was the most cerebrally unique member of the club I managed in 2007 in Greenville, South Carolina. He and I chatted about world topics with baseball sprinkled in. Even then, at just 19 years of age, he had conscientiousness unfamiliar in the pro sports world. His thoughtful post comes as no surprise to me.…

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  • Discipline and Self-Control – Drew Stubbs [Guest Post]

    At Kaplifestyle, we love spotlighting men and women who have handled adversity and are willing to talk about it. They can offer perspective and truly inspire us. Drew Stubbs is a well-accomplished man. He was drafted with the 8th overall pick in the 1st round in 2006. He’s in the midst of a long, productive…

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  • Lars Anderson – Waste Less, Change the World [Guest Post]

    Lars Anderson was the most cerebrally unique member of the club I managed in 2007 in Greenville, South Carolina. He and I chatted about world topics with baseball sprinkled in. Even then, at just 19 years of age, he had conscientiousness unfamiliar in the pro sports world. His thoughtful post comes as no surprise to me.…

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  • Discipline and Self-Control – Drew Stubbs [Guest Post]

    At Kaplifestyle, we love spotlighting men and women who have handled adversity and are willing to talk about it. They can offer perspective and truly inspire us. Drew Stubbs is a well-accomplished man. He was drafted with the 8th overall pick in the 1st round in 2006. He’s in the midst of a long, productive…

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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