There’s no better feeling than solving a problem, the sense of relief and satisfaction when the solution becomes clear, obvious even.
“Hack” implies newly obtained control, control that most do not have. You’ve fought the system and won.
A “Hack” could be anything from a bandage on a wound to an algorithm that measures the weather, what they have in common is a problem and a considered solution. The task before seemed complex but now a solution (possibly the product of years of calculation) makes it nothing more than an inconvenience.
When it comes to succeeding with nutrition, training or recovery these tips are gold dust. The best plan is the one you stick to, no discussion. To stick to a plan, you need control and this can be difficult on the bumpy canvas that is life. , both make the planned route more difficult than you imagined, you now have an unexpected obstacle to overcome.
Here are some of my favorite hacks for continued progress:
1. Tame hunger
Before any food passes my lips I do two things. I drink 200ml water with 1 tbsp of psyllium husk and half a scoop of whey isolate and I wash this down with a glass of sparkling water.
This has some physiological benefit such as attenuating insulin response from the subsequent meal, activiating the mTOR pathway and stimulating glucathione production but these are just nice additions. . If you’re like me eating rarely means stopping at 1 peice, it means the whole box. .
2. Deeper sleep
For some time now, I’ve spent 5-10 minutes before I go to sleep playing with tin foil. Believe it or not I don’t have some strange obsession, I use it to block any light coming in through my bedroom window. The result? Total darkness. I started doing this around a month ago and my morning energy and recovery seem to have improved, not to mention I just feel less tired all the time.
3. The power of scotch
Drinking and social events can become a really daunting affair for the seasoned dieter/ gym junkie. Depending on your friendship circle, tee-total tends to be the lesser accepted option and normally friends will encourage you to drink. An excellent way to quel their moans, without tipping over into the drunken abyss, is to select a more “potent” drink. Stand clutching the same pint all night and you’ll start to draw looks of dissapproval but nurse a double whisky on ice or equivalent for an hour or so and few will complain or jest, in fact, you may even draw respect and approval.
That’s all for today, I’ll be back next week with more hacks for progress.