Another Reason to Cut Sugar Intake

I just received my latest Endurance News from Hammer Nutrition and if you need another reason to limit your sugar intake here it is. It seems that sugar intake decreases testosterone production. If you're like me and getting older the last thing you need is one more factor decreasing your testosterone.

Sugar and Testosterone

Authors: Nancy Appleton Ph.D. and G.N. Jacobs

(Source:nancyappletonbooks.wordpress.com - Reprinted with permission from the authors)

Just say the words gonads, testosterone or any of the unprintable slang associated with testicles, sex and male virility and you’ll get a laugh or at least amused looks. Now, say those words again, but in a context that says, “you’re going to lose that capability, son” and watch what happens. The collective scream you hear is shrill enough to replace the air raid sirens America abandoned as stupid in the 1980s. Well, one way men lose that capability is to eat sugar. (read more)

The Greater Atlanta Men's BBQ Club & Support Group

The GAMBBQC&SG held its first annual party. The significance of this is that for men; if you move away from your college buddies, get married and have kids it is extreemly difficult to make new friends as an adult. I did several searches and there's not much out there on the subject of men and friendships. I did find this article Best Life:

• In June 2006, sociologists at Duke University and the University of Arizona, for instance, provided the most recent statistical analysis of the problem. Their report, "Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks Over Two Decades," announced, among other things, that the number of friends with whom Americans discuss important matters has shrunk as much as 33 percent over a span of nearly 20 years. This problem is particularly acute for young, educated men, who have lost an above-average number of "discussion partners"—down from 3.5 in 1985 to 2.0 in 2004—according to the study. Friendship, the report suggests, has taken a serious dive across the culture, and guys like us in particular are shedding companionship faster than anyone else. (read more)

This makes it more important that men have groups like the GAMBBQC&SG to have interaction and develop new friendships and not become isolated. We're fortunate to have someone in our neighborhood that has the skills and personality to take this on and keep the group together.

Thanks for your effort Kenyon.

Oh yeah, how was the party? Eric Campbell provided fantastic BBQ. Music by Chicago Joe Jones was fantastic and the side dishes were great.

The President (Kenyon) to the left of the photo.

The Party Place.

Chicago Joe Jones

End of Summer

Last week was spent on the beach at Tybee Island, Georgia. This was the hooray for Simon and Isabelle before school starts on August 10th. Tybee Island is a laid back beach town 18 miles from Savannah.

Tybee means "salt" to Native Americans, but the name of this low-key seaside resort now brings to mind words such as "sun","surf" and "fun". Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small barrier island boasts a wide, 3-mile long beach that's backed by seaoat-covered sand dunes and is perfect for sunbathing, people-watching and frolicking in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

The island's south-end pier and pavilion is a splendid venue for strolling above the ocean,people watching and fishing.

Although vacationers are lured to Tybee mainly because of what it provides in the way of recreation and relaxation, those with a love of history won't be disappointed. Tybee offers: Fort Screven, The Tybee Island Lighthouse (dated 1773), an intriguing museum, and Fort Pulaski National Monument which is just west of the island on Hwy 80. (read more)

Most of our time was spent on the beach relaxing, reading or swimming. I did however, manage to get in three good workouts. One that included a 1k swim in the ocean. My Father in law spent his time building a pile near our base camp.

We were never able to have a Mylie sighting but saw the area where the movie was being filmed on the South end of the island.

We had a great time, but we're (Allison and I) glad that tomorrow starts another school year and we can get into our fall routine.

Is Doing Good Compatibale with Making Money?

When I first read the title of this I thought it would be an article giving capitalism a hard time. After reading it I think it is something that could benefit every company.

The gospel according to Adam Smith
Is doing good compatible with making money?
It is if you practice spiritual capitalism. - by Carleen Hawn

Art DeLorenzo and I were having a hard time connecting. He’s a 67-year-old retired financial adviser in the New York City area whose budding consulting practice keeps him from settling into an easy chair. I’m a journalist in San Francisco, perpetually on deadline. Several appointments we set were moved or missed, but we kept trying. Late one evening, as we seemed finally to settle on yet another date for our interview, DeLorenzo threw out a comment that would prove as valuable as anything he said in our hour-long phone call days later.

“Wait a moment.” DeLorenzo paused. “I could say 3 p.m., but the group I’ll be meeting with before you, they tend to run over. It’s just their habit, but I know this. So I’d rather not book you right up against them. I don’t want to compromise the integrity of my commitment to them.”

The details of one man’s business schedule might not seem meaningful at first. But in that moment I realized DeLorenzo’s deliberate emphasis on a few choice words—“the integrity of my commitment”—was a straightforward yet eloquent statement of a still-fuzzy but increasingly important trend: spiritual capitalism.

Spiritual capitalism doesn’t mean prayer sessions on the shop floor and guided meditations in the boardroom. At least it doesn’t have to. What it does mean is the success of an enterprise is measured by values like “integrity” and “commitment” as much as by targets like “efficiency” and “profitability.” It’s based on the recognition that every businessperson—whether you’re the CEO of a major multinational or the head of your own small firm—is in the service industry, and the services rendered must benefit not just yourself and your shareholders, but the planet and other people as well. The first commandment of the growing spiritual-capitalism movement is: Taking care of business means taking care of others. read more

East Lake Farmers Market

The urban pioneers of the East Lake Neighborhood have started a farmers market at the corner of 2nd avenue and Hosea L. Williams drive. It's located in the parking lot and the footprint of a demolished building. On any Saturday there are usually six to eight vendors. Small now but I believe the time is here for such grass roots endeavors to succeed.

I remember as a kid going with my mom to the see the "Vegetable Man" every Thursday in the summer. The Vegetable Man was a local farmer that had a pickup truck set up with sides that closed and a tin roof. He would park on the side of the road on the back way to Jower's grocery, open the sides and hang the scale on one of the roof rafters. Right now only Isabelle is interested in going to the East Lake Farmers Market with me. Once there is more to see I can probably get them both there, but I digress.

The feature vendor of the week is Fresh Roots Farm. Fresh Roots Farm is a sub acre farm located off Howell Mill Road near the water works. They are currently working on starting a roof top garden. I'll post and add pictures when additional information is available.

I have previously purchased two kinds of radishes and carrots for them. This week I got Arugula, also available were squash, tomatoes and radish. The peaches they had were from a farm in Fort Valley, Georgia.

The market is still looking for fresh prepared food vendors (pastas, dips, jellies, etc), bread, cheese, egg, and meat vendors, and we welcome more craft vendors as well. There are specific applications for each type, but the basics include that you must be a business, carry insurance, etc, grow, craft or make the product yourself and for prepared foods, food products, and breads that you are using a commercial kitchen. If you or someone you know thinks that they meet these requirements and would like an application or discuss joining our market as a vendor, please email Doug Williams at douglasmwilliams at yahoo dot com.

Find out how to be a Food Renegade.

Horse Camp

This past Friday was the end of another great week pf Horse Camp at Ellenwood Equestrian Center. Ellenwood is about a half hour south of Atlanta in Henry County.

The way it works; the kids are divided into groups with an older (teenager) helper that has experience working around and with horses. They have a different morning chore each day that is changed each day. This helps the kids understand the benefits of working together to finish a task. After that there is time to learn the fine art of Dressage or as the kids say riding horses. The emphasis is on saftey and there is a set protocol to tacking up, untacking and entering

the training ring. The kids are responsible for tacking up with the supervision of a helper. After the "horse riding" there is free time for swimming walking the trails through the woods or just general free time.

The preparation, clothing and condition of Simon and Isabelle after the day reminds me of my first job working in a hay field when I was a teenager.

The kids are outside all day and get the same minor abrasions and exposure to animals and insects that I got when I was a kid.

Workout of the Day (WOD)

Friday Rest Day

Had a day off from work, took a day off from training.

Thursday Yoga

Yoga for Cyclist with Chaz at Yogamazing.