TVV #026: Ozempic Caution, Blue Zones, and Fierce Intimacy
10 things worth sharing
Hey friends,
To continue our morbid conversation on death, I have a book I want to share with you that won’t take longer than a day to read.
I discovered a cool group/couples therapist, a neat Netflix documentary on blue zones, some new insights from Dr. Attia on Ozempic, and more.
Enjoy :)
When Breath Becomes Air - Was inspired to read this book for a 3rd time. It’s one of those books I find myself returning back to often. When I feel something is missing in my life, it’s probably because it’s been too long since rereading this book. It is short enough to be read in a day but inexhaustible in reflection on the big three: Time, Death, and Love. Paul reminds us of the limited time we have here, yet how love and meaning transcend that limitation into something more beautiful and divine. Our death-avoidant culture could use a little shot of When Breath Becomes Air. I know I do.
James Clear Book Rec List - My favorite book recommendation list thus far. James has great taste. In fact, the book at the top of his list is When Breath Becomes Air, and inspired me to reread it.
Terry Real - I was chasing rabbit holes on YouTube and landed on this podcast episode with Tim Ferris and Kevin Rose talking about the healing power of men’s groups. Kevin mentioned how helpful Terry Real is with his men’s groups. He recommended listening to his audiobooks on communication and connection, especially Fierce Intimacy. I have been listening to it on my commute to school in the mornings and it has been insightful, yet practical. He has exercises at the end of each session to actually apply the tools he is suggesting. He mainly helps you work with the different parts of you that are either shameful, grandiose, boundariless, and/or walled off. Very interesting and would highly recommend it.
Secrets of the Blue Zones - The highest-rated blue zones packed with centenarians are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. The common habits found in these blue zones are the following: a) moving frequently by tending gardens and daily walks, b) having a strong sense of purpose and social connection via singing and dancing with friends/family, and c) eating plant-based foods in moderation, along with 1-2 glasses of wine per day. The documentary on Netflix covers more, but this is the gist.
Cool Blanket - Alex introduced me to this blanket that thermoregulates to stay cool for those who are hot sleepers.
PR on Bench - Hit a new PR on bench @ 335 lbs. This is a 10 lb. increase from 24 weeks ago and was the metric I wanted to hit for this year. Dad benched 405 back in the day, so that will be my ultimate goal for the next decade. I have been running Jeff Nippard’s programs religiously for the last couple of years, but I’m really liking this annual periodization. My progression/periodization has been broken up into 4 phases, each lasting for 12 weeks:
Phase 1 - Powerbuilding focusing on 50/50 size and strength
Phase 2 - Powerbuilding focusing on more size than strength
Phase 3 - Powerbuilding focusing on more strength than size
Phase 4 - Powerbuilding focusing on more size than strength.
Dr. Attia on Ozempic - Attia confirms Ozempic’s efficacy in catalyzing weight loss in his patients, but is concerned with what you also lose along with the body fat. Attia is concerned with his patients losing a significant amount of muscle mass. The FDA refuses to accept DEXA scans as a primary outcome in weight loss studies; instead, they focus on pounds loss. Body composition is a better indicator of overall health than the amount of pounds lost. If someone wants to lose weight fast, perhaps a solution is to get on Ozempic but balance out the muscle loss with a high protein diet and resistance exercise 3x /week.
Coffee Set - An expensive coffee set I would buy if it was within my budget.
Quote of the Week
“Will having a newborn distract from the time we have together?" she asked. "Don't you think saying goodbye to your child will make your death more painful?"
"Wouldn't it be great if it did?" I said. Lucy and I both felt that life wasn't about avoiding suffering.” - Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes AirSong of the Week
Stay Weird,
Cam
