Articles and Essays

Catch up on my latest articles and essays on faith, fitness, and fortitude.

Winter country highway

My Truck / Car Emergency Kit For Cross-Country Travel

With the reliability of today’s cars and trucks and the fact that your smartphone makes it easy to get help when you need it, you might overlook the importance of a car or roadside emergency kit. Most people, including me, give little thought to what could happen until we’re in … Keep reading…

Woman holding her head in her hand in front of an apple on the table

5 Reasons Low-Calorie Diets Don’t Work Long-Term

Weight management is more than calories in, calories out. Unless you’re a pro-level athlete who needs to ensure you’re eating enough calories, there’s probably no good reason to count calories or follow a calorie-based meal plan. I know…you know someone who lost weight counting calories. Maybe you did yourself. Do … Keep reading…

Man standing in forest - forest bathing - cortisol

Cortisol: The good, bad, and fattening effects of your stress hormone

Like all hormones, cortisol plays a crucial role in your mental and physical health. Unfortunately, today’s lifestyles lead to severe imbalances in cortisol rhythms, which contribute to body fat gain, cognitive dysfunction, muscle loss, and much more. Many health and fitness experts vilify cortisol. Some ignore its effects on your … Keep reading…

Go Vegan sign on side of restaurant

Why a Vegan Diet is Dangerous for Developing Children

The health benefits of a vegan diet in adults are highly controversial. In kids, a vegan diet could be catastrophic. A new research study from Finland shows that a vegan diet creates numerous deficiencies in babies and toddlers. While I’m not surprised by the findings, I hope that the plant-based … Keep reading…

Commercial gym full of machines and free weights

21 Weight Training Questions, Answered

I get asked a lot of questions about weight training. Most questions don’t require a full article to answer. So, I decided to publish a “frequently asked questions” post with many of those questions. I hope you find it helpful. You can also get free access to many training tips … Keep reading…

2 acai bowls on white counter with berries surrounding them

The Dietary Goals For The United States, 44 Years Later

A disturbing turn of events took place on my birthday, January 14, 1977. It is one of many examples of the government attempting to influence Americans’ decisions with guidance based on opinion and politics rather than scientific evidence. I’m referring to the publication of the first version of the Dietary … Keep reading…

Man wearing mask with U.S. flag on it

Conditioned to Fear in the Home of the Brave

On Sunday, October 30, 1938, Orson Welles presented War of the Worlds as a prime-time radio show. Though the show was introduced as a fictional story, many listeners missed the introduction and tuned in to hear that Martians had landed, killed 7000 National Guardsman, and were attacking cities like New … Keep reading…