Self-Experiment | Learning to Climb | Part 5 | NUTRITION: THE DIRTBAG’S GUIDE TO EATING CLEAN

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So you’re starting your new *insert desired goal-orientated* program. You know what you gotta do, why you gotta do it and how you’re gonna do it physically.

But what about fueling?
In my understanding, food comes 3rd in the line of existential importance;

First, Breathing. Learning how to breathe changes everything.
Second, Hydration. Loading your system with enough water is vital.
Third, Food. Learning how to fuel your body perfectly isn’t too complex.

So how are you going to fuel your new program?
Spaghetti hoops and pizza? Beer and beef? Veganism!? God forbid…

This is a photo from week 9/16.
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Self-Experiment | Learning to Climb | Part 4 | LET NATURE DO THE WORK

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When it comes to learning a new skill, training or just transforming into a BEAST in general, I like to let Nature do most of the work. After all, she’s a much stronger force than I could ever be, so why not let her take most of the load?
A little confused as to what I mean?
Read on and allow me to explain how I use Nature and the subtle, but very powerful force of Reflex Action to my advantage, whilst on this journey of learning a fantastic and complex new skill: rock climbing.
And bear in mind that this trick can be applied to learning anything new….

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Self-Experiment | LEARNING HOW TO CLIMB | PART 3 | WHY YOU NEED A TRIAL

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So the first 4 of my 16 weeks learning to climb are up.
I have used this time as a trial period for testing ideas out, noting my body’s responses to the abundance of new stimuli and using the results to set up the next 12 weeks properly.

As with any new goal or target, you’re going to increase your likelihood of success if you incorporate it into your lifestyle. This essentially forces you to look at lifestyle design; specifically, how to design your own.
If you’ve been following my LEARNING TO CLIMB series thus far, you should have already figured out your goals list. Part 2 showed you how to get your secret formula in place if you’re goal is to learn a new skill, thanks to a heroic influence of mine, Tim Ferriss, who much to my delight, actually posted part 2 on his facebook page.
Now in Part 3, we’re going to look at the importance of a 4 week trial period, how you can use it to increase your chances of success, and have a laugh at some of the lessons I’ve learnt during mine….

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Self-Experiment | LEARNING HOW TO CLIMB | PART 2 | HOW? WITH THE SECRET FORMULA

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Alright, so it’s not really a secret anymore. But it’s still a formula, and it’s been used to achieve amazing results. This is part 2 of my LEARNING HOW TO CLIMB series. If you haven’t already, go back and read Part 1 to get an idea of why I am doing this and some tips for setting goals to be smashed.

This post goes over the formula I am using to learn how to rock climb, taken from uber-man-machine Tim Ferriss. The video below gives a brief intro to this formula, but placed in the matrix of learning how to cook, instead of climb. Have a watch, specifically from 1 min 30 onwards:

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Self-Experiment | LEARNING HOW TO CLIMB | PART 1 | WHY?

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So you want to achieve a goal?
You’ve got a target in your mind, or like me, you have a few.
How are you going to manifest that goal?
How bad do you want it?
What would you do towards making it happen, right now, if money was no issue and you had NO fear of failure?
Well, I asked myself these questions, and my main answer was;
I want to learn how to rock climb.

Here’s how I’m making this happen….

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GEAR REVIEW | MARMOT ALPINIST HYBRID JACKET

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 THE BASICS
I have been wearing Marmot’s latest ninja softshell for about three weeks non-stop now. I’ve taken it to granite-carved waterfalls, hiked into abandoned quarries and even waltzed into yoga studios, every time looking, and feeling like I’ve just killed Bill. Putting the Alpinist Hybrid through its paces, here’s the lowdown on just how much I dig this insulated jacket…

Alpinist Hybrid Jacket in action at Goredale Scar Highline, UK

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LIVING IN A VAN | PART 2 | POWER DOWNS AND WARM UPS

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Winter is here, and I’m not dead yet. If you read my first post on Living in a Van, ‘The (Un)Examined Life’ you will have had a brief insight into my adventures with living in my van, The Mothership.
Part 2 explores some more, somewhat brutal revelations I’ve had since shifting my existence into 20 square feet of space, and looks at some of the philosophies as why I chose to do so.

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