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    Since we started this blog in December of 2013, I’ve mentioned repeatedly that my desire is to build a strong community. It has become our very own little family. My hope is this is a mutually beneficial relationship. I trust you get something out of it, and I most certainly derive strong benefit on a daily…

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  • The Hills are Alive

    We’re all yin and yang. Balance is key. Please see the humor (or lessons?) in this post. The word “spirituality” seems to be tossed around pretty recklessly. “Are you spiritual?” comes up nearly as often as “what’s up?” does in casual conversation. I always want to follow up with “what the fuck is spirituality?” Truthfully,…

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  • Galangal

    You know our superstar, know-it-all editor and my partner at Kaplifestyle, Stephanie. You’ve seen her guest posts and recipes. We can add a new data point to her résumé. She can flavor soup. Yesterday, she introduced me to galangal. Galangal (pronounced guh-lang-guh) is often found in Thai, Indonesian, and Malaysian cooking. It’s a rhizome – an…

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  • Rethinking Goals – Stephanie St Amour [Guest Post]

    If you don’t know our superstar editor and my partner at Kaplifestyle, Stephanie, this guest post is a great way to learn her style. She’s beyond driven and inspires me (and our readers) daily with her leadership and grit. She sent me photos of the plates she purchased today which she intends to add to…

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  • Liquid Chalk

    Liquid chalk won’t make you deadlift any more weight, but it will help your hands stick to the bar, allowing you to get the most out of your session. I hate gimmicky workout products and make fun of them at every possible turn. From the ab roller to this beauty, there is endless ammo for…

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  • Core Strength Moves

    You don’t need fancy exercises to build core strength. If your desire is to inspire the muscles around your spine and midsection to fire, squat. A Kaplifestyle reader reached out to me to ask about a good core routine for beginners. Waltz into any fitness center and you’ll find folks twisting with cables, doing various…

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  • No Rules…Except Unwritten Ones

    Today’s post is slightly different than our usual fare, because we are without rules. A reader requested that I check out his post and discuss it. You know when you’re reading an article and your mind is chattering about what you’re digesting? Yeah, that’s what mine was doing. I put those thoughts down on paper.…

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  • Karmic Reflections

    I believe in karma. I believe in it conceptually, anyway. Words are tricky, particularly in the English language where each one has multiple definitions. In a dictionary, you might find this on karma.  (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate…

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  • Nutrition and Meals

    Brining bone-in pork chops is my new thing. If you want your chops to be crazy juicy and flavorful, try my recently discovered method of preparation. Oh, and if you’re that experienced brother or sister snickering because you’ve had this in your back pocket for years, stand down. This post is not for you. Go read…

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  • Eye Mask

    If you suffer from clinical insomnia, you’ll likely need more than an eye mask. If you’re like me and simply clamoring for one additional hour of sleep but wake up with the morning light, give an eye mask a try. I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something. Some of the gimmicks…

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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