Category Archives: Fitness

I don’t know what to call it but I can’t call it food

on December 11, 2014 in Fitness, Nature, Tips

EDIT: since writing this post I came up with the term doof, which I describe in this podcast episode: I recommend never calling doof food or food doof. Here’s the original post: Did you know antifreeze tastes sweet? It will also kill you if you drink it. Laws require putting something in it to taste bitter because its sweetness leads kids, dogs, cats, and other pets to drink it. Like[…] Keep reading →

Hold yourself accountable with precision. It gives you freedom.

on December 10, 2014 in Awareness, Fitness, Freedom

Do you stress over eating more than your want on the holidays? I found a great way not to that applies in many other places. Since getting more fit, I’m more sensitive to smaller changes in my fitness. When I used to have more fat, eating more than I wanted for a few meals didn’t change much on my body. To go from having some fat to a little more[…] Keep reading →

Less dessert, more appreciation

on December 6, 2014 in Awareness, Fitness, Habits, Perception

I think dessert is standard after dinner in the U.S., especially at restaurants. Even if you don’t eat one, they give you the dessert menu to think about it. I read that only a generation ago dessert tended to be just a piece of fruit, and not every day. Less dessert seems like less sweets, but more overall appreciation of sweetness. That is, I think eating less or fewer sweets[…] Keep reading →

My first Community-Supported Agriculture shipment

on November 25, 2014 in Fitness, Nature

I finally got around to joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) deal. You pay for a share of a farmer’s, or group of farmers’ in my case, output for a season. You take on some risk the produce doesn’t come out well, but you pay less and get fresh produce. In my case they deliver it to my door. I’m cooking a lot, and a lot more from vegetable, so I[…] Keep reading →

100 burpees: 9 minutes 21 seconds

on November 18, 2014 in Exercises, Fitness, Habits, SIDCHAs

Over a drink the other night, a guy I met told me his record for 100 burpees was 7 minutes. He does cross-fit a couple times a week. I couldn’t help trying this morning. I did them in 9:21. I wrote him: I couldn’t help trying to see how fast I could do 100 burpees. Just did 100 in 9:21. Getting to 7 minutes seems hard, almost impossible, but now[…] Keep reading →

Now I understand meat eaters asking weird questions — they don’t know what they’re talking about

on November 11, 2014 in Awareness, Fitness, Perception

If you don’t eat meat, people ask you “Where do you get your protein?” a lot. It’s been so long since I ate meat, I don’t think about protein. I eat what I like. No problem. After nearly a quarter-century including competing at Nationals for Ultimate, running six marathons, getting a PhD in physics, and doing about 50,000 burpees, and various other mental and physical achievements, if any problems haven’t[…] Keep reading →

Joshua Spodek’s 2014 New York City Marathon Results

on November 3, 2014 in Exercises, Fitness, Visualization

I finished the 2014 New York City Marathon with my best finishing time for the race and my second best time ever! Philadelphia, where I got my best, is flatter and has fewer people, which makes faster times easier. New York, with its hills, crowds, and turns, never gives great finishing times—just an unparalleled running experience, with dozens of bands, hundreds of neighborhoods, and probably over a million fans. My[…] Keep reading →

Marathon burpees

on November 1, 2014 in Choosing/Decision-Making, Fitness, Habits, SIDCHAs

It’s just past midnight, meaning I’m about fifteen minutes into Saturday, November 1. Tomorrow, Sunday, is the marathon. I’ve trained for it pretty well for months. I’ve wondered what to about my burpees. Some people suggested skipping burpees on days I run the marathon. I see it otherwise. Those are the most important days to do them. What’s the point of doing something only when it’s easy? The benefit comes[…] Keep reading →

New SIDCHA series post

on October 30, 2014 in Education, Exercises, Fitness, Freedom, Habits, SIDCHAs, Tips

[I wrote a new introduction to my SIDCHA series. I’m happy enough with it to share it as a regular post.] Most people seem to want improve themselves, personally or professionally. Reading, watching, and listening to people tell you how you can develop yourself professionally or personally doesn’t change anything beyond give you a bit of information. People don’t succeed because they have more information. They succeed because they act.[…] Keep reading →

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