Despite the inspirational words that come from motivational speakers and flashy Instagram quotes, sometimes you have to realize that certain fitness feats will never happen. I accept, for example, that I will never be able to dunk a basketball, qualify… read more
Ted Spiker
Ted Talks: How Do You Measure Strength?
Strength —like beauty and perfect guac— is in the eye of the beholder. After all, one person’s strong is another person’s weak. Sure, there are universal standards for some medical categories (blood pressure, cholesterol and the like), and those benchmarks… read more
Ted Talks: The Stress Solutions
Right now, my mind feels like yours. Swirling with too much to do, too much to think about, just too much. Oh, I have my to-do lists and my priorities and my plans of action, but sometimes it feels so… read more
Ted Talks: An Epic Question
Last issue, I said something I shouldn’t have: “In January 2025, I will announce an epic-for-me goal.” While I have already sketched out some doable benchmarks this year that involve running, yoga-ing and whittling down the whiskey, I am missing… read more
Ted Talks: Game On … Or Off?
For years, my favorite weekly workout has been our old-guy pickup basketball game. Though I can get hotter than a habanero every once in a while, I am not very good (I have the vertical leap of a street curb,… read more
Ted Talks: Sole to Soul
On the 1–10 adventure scale (1 being snuggled in bed, 10 being an Everest attempt), I would probably rate myself at about a 4. Try new things? Yes. Do so when there is a high chance that you will plummet… read more
Ted Talks: One Small Switch Made All the Difference
For me, fall usually leads to a fail. Every year, it’s my busiest time at work, so three things typically happen: I let my schedule get in the way of my workouts, I let my stress talk me out of… read more
Ted Talks: Staying on Track: What are Your Best Tips for Sticking to Your Healthy Habits?
In my history of training, dieting and yo-yoing, my list of routine busters runs long. A sample: I’m stressed I’m tired I’m injured Taco Tuesday (and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) Too many temptations Too many taps of the snooze… read more
Ted Talks: Quitting Time
I think I can put my gastrointestinal résumé up against most folks’. When I was 12, I ate 12 tacos out of a 20-shell family pack. I once ground through 76 ounces of steak in the name of journalism. My college nickname? Hoover, because of… read more
Ted Talks: In the Swing of Things (Why oh why did I take up this sport?)
One year ago, I stupidly decided to take up golf. I mean, I really hate like it. Because, you know, hitting balls into the water, sand traps, trees and everything except the hole is really so freaking bad for my… read more