Midlife Fit Club

A lot of people ask what I eat while traveling. Here’s everything I packed for our three-day drive to Idaho.

Caroline always packs real food, so we never have to choose between gas-station snacks and going hungry. For this trip, we brought homemade beef jerky, hummus, granola, Brazil nuts, cherries, apples, oranges, celery, carrots, dried pineapple, dried apples with no added sugar, pumpkin seeds, coconut water, canned tuna in a Tupperware, and Chomps beef sticks as a backup.

We usually pack hard-boiled eggs, but we ran out just before leaving my mom’s place, so we skipped them this time.

I always make my protein water, too. I use two scoops of unflavored grass-fed whey isolate, creatine, electrolytes, and a splash of ginger-lemon-apple juice. Most mornings, I also have black coffee with collagen mixed in.

One morning, the hotel offered free breakfast, so I grabbed scrambled eggs, sausage, a banana, and an orange to take with me. For dinner last night, we ate out, and I had a Caesar salad with grilled chicken, a bowl of beef brisket chili, and a plain iced tea.

When you’re sitting in a car for hours, eating gas station junk just makes you feel like crap before you even get out of the driver’s seat. If you eat like this instead, you’ll actually feel good when you arrive, not worn out.

None of this is complicated, and planning ahead doesn’t take much time. It just takes a bit more effort. It’s much better than grabbing whatever’s nearby after a few hours, then needing to stop again because you filled up on empty calories
With no real nutrition.

This approach works for any kind of travel, not just road trips. When we flew last year, our list of foods was almost the same.

If you’re traveling anywhere this summer, save this list and share it with your partner or best friend. That way, you’ll have a plan instead of relying on willpower at a truck stop or airport when you’re starving.

Ever thought of swimming laps for your workout?

I don't always have access to a pool, but since Caroline and I are visiting my mom's house in the desert and there's a community pool, I figured I'd switch things up and make today's workout a full body swim instead of my usual strength session.

Turns out swimming hits basically everything. Arms, back, core, glutes, legs, all working at the same time, and your shoulders and hips are getting loosened up too. It's just easy on the joints, which makes it a great option if you've got a bad knee, back, or shoulder and still want a real workout.

What surprised me most was how much it felt like resistance training. Pushing and pulling against the water the whole time is real resistance, and by the end, I had a legit pump in my arms, back, and shoulders, the same feeling I get after a solid lifting session.

This is exactly the kind of simple, no-gym-required workout I try to build into my midlife fitness routine when I'm traveling or don't have my usual setup.

It's always good to try something different. Movement is movement. Have a great day, everyone.

Workout: 30 minutes total
30 second-1 minute rest every 2 laps. I lost count around 25 laps, but time under effort was the goal today, not the number.

Single Kettlebell Beginner Workout that I’m doing in real time, showing 1 full round.

I call this a beginner workout because the movements are simple and most people can learn them with a little practice. If you’re more experienced, simply grab a heavier kettlebell and push this to 7 rounds. I’ve done this exact workout with a 28 kg (62 lb) kettlebell.
In this video, I’m using a 22 kg (48 lb) kettlebell.

I performed this as a kettlebell complex, meaning there was no rest between exercises. I completed 5 rounds total, resting about 1 to 2 minutes after each round.

This workout can also be done as a circuit, with 15 to 30 seconds of rest between exercises. It’s a great way to get through the workout if the complex feels a little too challenging at first.

If you’re just starting out, scale it back to 3 rounds with a lighter kettlebell and build from there.

Workout Details
5 Rounds

10 Swings
10 Overhead Presses
10 Goblet Squats
10 Two Hand Rows
10 Push Ups

If you found this helpful, please like, save, and send it to a friend. Those small actions help me reach more people and keep creating helpful, meaningful content like this.
Let’s go.

Don't know where to start your own fitness journey?

Walking is one of the easiest ways to get moving.

Get off your butt. Get outside. Start walking. Not tomorrow, right now.

Last call. TIME26 starts today, July 6th.

No more excuses. No more waiting for Monday, next month, or "when things settle down." Things don't settle down. You just decide.

28 days. Real workouts. Real food. Just do the work.

This is your sign. Challenge yourself and see what you're actually capable of.

Arms and Full-Body Workout From The Time Is Now 28 Day Challenge

Arms-focused and full-body workout. I break down exactly why I chose each movement and what it does for your body, because every exercise in my programs has a purpose.

3 Rounds

12-16 Total Plank Pull Through
12-15 Bicep Curl
12-15 Tricep Extension
10-20 Alternating Hang Clean
10-12 Double Kettlebell Swing

Rest 15 to 30 seconds between exercises. 1 to 2 minutes after each round.

Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep fighting for yourself.

The challenge starts Monday, July 6th.

A simple reminder: getting in shape does not need to be complicated.

It is really just habits done consistently over time.

The basics are not exciting, but they work.

It is also about finding a style of training you enjoy. For me, that is a combination of kettlebells, dumbbells, bodyweight calisthenics 3 to 4 days a week, and brisk walking every day.

Then find a healthy way of eating that is sustainable for you.

Do those things consistently, and over time you will build a stronger, healthier body.

I talk about food a lot, but just as often, I get the question, “What do you actually drink now that you quit the cocktails and beers?”

Here’s my go-to list to stay hydrated, healthy, and feeling good:
Water
Black coffee
Kombucha
Coconut water
Cold-pressed juices
Electrolyte water
Lemon ginger tea

No joke, sometimes when I’m drinking one of these cold-pressed juices, it reminds me of the cocktails I used to have. But there’s something liberating about it not being one, and how nourishing these juices actually make me feel.

If you are looking for a little challenge to quit drinking the booze, The Time Is Now 28 Day challenge is the perfect reset to do so. Let’s go!

In this picture on the left, I was 51, I woke up hungover, and I was literally sick of feeling sick and tired from drinking and eating like crap. I was treating my body like a garbage disposal.

My own fitness transformation started as a challenge to myself to see how ripped I could get in 6 months. That one challenge changed everything.

Obviously, this is a 28-day challenge, not 6 months. But that’s where it all starts. With the challenge to do something outside of what’s normal for you.To challenge what you thought you were capable of. To hit reset on the way you’re treating your body.

28 days. 4 full body workouts a week. A daily brisk walk. Real food. No alcohol. No processed junk. And my How I Eat Visual Meal Guide is included for free, so you know exactly what to put on your plate every single day.

You don’t need to be in shape to start. You just need to start.

The Time Is Now 28 Day Challenge kicks off July 6th.

➡️Comment TIME26 and I’ll send you everything you need to know.