Upgrade Your Health and Happiness with Gratitude

November 24, 2015 Erik Till

Upgrade Your Health & Happiness with Gratitude

Skimming through your social media feeds during the holiday season, especially the week of Thanksgiving, you might think that every one of your peers is constantly brimming with joy and thankfulness due to their countless blessings. But, let’s be honest, this is only a once-annual occurrence for most people. Thanks to the obligatory status updates and bombardment of turkey day marketing, we’re all reminded that it’s time to express our gratitude.

Over-commercialism and Hallmark-ism aside, I think it’s great to have a national holiday in which we are encouraged to be thankful for what we have and those around us. The tradition of sharing this day with family over a large meal is one I truly enjoy (in particular, the socially acceptable binge eating), and I’m sure I’m not the only one that really looks forward to it. However, there is mounting evidence showing that expressing gratitude regularly has a profound impact on overall health and happiness. Perhaps giving thanks should be a daily ritual as opposed to a yearly tradition (minus the food coma).

The Winter Reboot: Deload, Detox, and Indulge

November 17, 2015 Erik Till

It’s again that time of year where the days are overcast and short while the nights are frigid and seem to begin even earlier than years past. Many people look forward to the winters for the “cuddle weather” (Netflix and chill weather?), while others increase their calorie intake with reckless abandon in the name of “bulking season”. The holidays bring more gatherings of family and friends, which in turn bring plenty of opportunities to binge eat (and drink), and it’s generally not on the healthiest of foods. This could result in feelings of guilt, shame, and certainly bloatedness. Long-term, it could also lead to breaking many good habits you formed over the year, sabotaging your nutrition, and derailing your path to any fitness goals previously set. However, I use this time of year to allow my body to rest and recover while giving my mind a chance to relax and reset all the while enjoying the indulgences of the holidays (without feeling guilty about it), and being more ready than before to take my fitness to the next level come the new year.

Ash vs Evil Dead: Return of the King

November 5, 2015 Marc Aces

THE KING IS BACK BABY! The first episode alone is an incredibly intoxicating short film from a master storyteller. It builds with a rush of fire, delivering scene after scene in a tsunami-like punch of sure-to-be iconic images that fall right into place with the first three films in this legendary horror franchise. It delivers exactly what fans have wanted and waited for these past thirty years. And it does so at a hectic trot that never slows down. The episode comes to its crescendo with an action packed encore that is better than anything I’ve seen on premium cable this year (though the white walker invasion scene in the new Game Of Thrones series is up there).

Goosebumps Movie Review

October 24, 2015 Marc Aces

In today's day and age, there are films, like the new Fantastic Four, that people seemingly want to be bad. Though, in their defense, that film was bad. Like holy hell that was bad. Then there are films, like The Amazing Spider-Man 2, that want to be good, but are still no better than before. Goosebumps, however, is one of those rare films that looks bad based on all empirical evidence that I’ve seen, but is actually quite enjoyable… for the most part.

Do Less (Working and Jerking), Get More with HIIT & Adaptive Resistance Training

October 20, 2015 Jordan Bowditch

I used to hit the gym pretty hard virtually every day. Unless you’re a competitive athlete or training for something specific, that’s just silly. Most of us aren’t in either of these camps. Not only is there a distinct point of diminishing returns (think bell curve), but research indicates that excess exercise negatively impacts longevity. That’s right – too much of a seemingly good thing isn’t best for the long haul. Minimum effective dose is what we’re talking about here...

Hacking Your Hangover: A How-To Guide for Prevention and Recovery that Works

October 14, 2015 Erik Till

Brace yourselves... The holidays are coming. All those upcoming celebrations and gatherings - Halloween (the entire weekend for many people), Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and more - bring with them many opportunities to consume copious amounts of alcohol with friends and family. It's true that drinking alcohol, especially on a regular basis, can sabotage your health, performance, and longevity goals. However, enjoying yourself on the infrequent special occasion won't completely derail your ambitions, especially when done right. Inevitably, after an evening of enjoying alcohol, hangovers ensue sapping us of our energy, health, cognitive performance, and holiday spirits. Follow my advice, and you will minimize your headache, hangover, and regrets while still having fun.

Bulletproof Biohacking Conference 2015

September 29, 2015 Erik Till

If you're interested in the topics of health, technology, or culture (the cornerstones of AlphaNerd), then the Bulletproof Biohacking Conference is like an adult playground where all of these areas intersect. This is the third year Bulletproof has organized this conference in Pasadena, California and is "the community's foremost live event celebrating groundbreaking work in the optimization of human mental and physical performance." In other words, it's like Disneyland for biohackers and AlphaNerds alike. In fact, I attended last year's Bulletproof Conference and it was a big part of the inspiration and motivation behind the launch of this site. I'm very excited to be going to the Conference again this year to see how Dave Asprey and his team have made it "bigger, better, and upgraded."

Black Mass Movie Review

September 23, 2015 Marc Aces

It’s no small compliment from me when I tell you that I believe Scott Cooper’s Black Mass can run with Scorsese’s mob trilogy of Goodfellas, Casino and, especially, the South Boston-flavored The Departed. It's that dirty, nasty and compelling. Now there’s no question that Cooper is retracing steps that were laid in the blood-soaked mud by Scorsese’s enormous shoe. But if you dialed into the madness and menace of those aforementioned crime sagas, then Black Mass is right up your alley.

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