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  • 2015 February

    Welcome to the 25th edition of our weekly open thread. Let’s get started.Zach opens:Do you have alternative exercises that fit into the 5×5 if you don’t have access to a squat rack or bench? For various reasons, the only gym I can get to has a handful of machines and free weights (limited to 50lbs),…

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  • 2014 December

    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. My…

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  • 2014 September

    Much in life is outside of our control. As a Major League Baseball player, I learned the importance of taking charge of areas within my control. Small adjustments can have major impacts.Baseball is a game of centimeters. Let’s look at a recent example.Jordan Zimmermann tossed the Washington Nationals’ first no-hitter on Sunday. Steven Souza Jr.,…

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  • 2014 August

    If it’s your last meal, forget about health and well-being. For all the other times, maintain your nutritional goals by finding a healthier substitute.If you were a fly on the wall last night on the Fox Sports Live set, you would have witnessed me tackle the following question from anchors, Ryan Field and Cole Wright.“Kap,…

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  • 2014 July

    Sometimes, adding a few calories to build muscle is a solid strategy, even if you want to become leaner and harder.Kaplifestyle readers are a passionate group. They reflect the energy of the blog beautifully with their comments and questions. This one came in on Facebook and sparked a mind-fire for me. Kap, what advice can…

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  • 2014 March

    Ask people what the word “sushi” conjures up in their minds and you’ll get a variety of answers. Some will immediately envision raw fish, others will think about deep fried soft shell crab with avocado, cucumber, imitation fish eggs and mayo. When I think about sushi, I think about perfectly cooked rice, served cool and seasoned…

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  • 2014 February

    Change is difficult. Learning new things is hard, but is the most valuable thing we can do as human beings.Samuel Smiles: Alexander the Great valued learning so highly, that he used to say he was more indebted to Aristotle for giving him knowledge than to his father, Philip, for life. The gym can be an…

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  • 2013 December

    My favorite part of playing MLB was preparing for the season. I did traditional weight training, but my repertoire also included early morning swims in the Pacific, pickup hoops, football and much more. Sprinkle that with my love for quality, flavorful food and a passion for how nutrition affects performance and you’ve got a man…

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  • Reaching Out

    When someone in your life is facing a difficult situation, don’t wait for the “right moment” before reaching out with support. From Dr. Karin L. Smithson: We pull back because we “don’t want to bother” someone who is struggling. Let me debunk that myth: Your friend needs to hear from you. If you stop connecting,…

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  • Effective Listening

    In order to be a strong communicator, sometimes you have to shut up and listen. I’ve always enjoyed the process of problem solving. My first inclination is always to come up with a solution. In recent years, however, I’ve discovered that playing a hushed role is far more effective to another working through an issue.…

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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