Posts

Week 4 Post - Bowen Blair (6.11.21)

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      My goals haven't shifted since the start of this project. While we were formatting this project, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to get out of it after our four weeks. And, upon reflecting, I am very satisfied with my progress. I have cooked virtually every meal for myself since the start of this project. I have learned how to recover and balance my soccer schedule so that I don't suffer from extreme soreness. And, most importantly, I feel much more prepared for my upcoming college preseason. This project has made me a more diligent worker, stronger athlete, and a more independent person.      Yes, I would recommend this project to another student, with the right knowledge. I think there's a lot of good to come from this type of project, but it's also dangerous if done incorrectly. Working out this much requires either significant prior knowledge and/or a strong supervisor. However, this project has been very rewarding and I'm glad ...

Week 3 Post - Bowen Blair (6.4.21)

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      Something that was a happy and challenging moment from this week was one of the runs that we went on. We were all able to break our fastest 5k runs, and mile runs. This was really exciting for us because this was one of the first tangible improvements we were able to see. We're hoping to continue to expand on this and work on improving our times, and overall fitness throughout the rest of this project.      One of the main things that I have learned is how to make the most of every meal. Since we're doing calorie counting and meal prepping, it is easy to ensure that you are satisfied with every meal you make. This was definitely a learning curve for me because I hadn't dealt much with this level of intensity when it comes to cooking. But, I have to say that it's been a rewarding change for me. I'm able to measure out each macro that I need, and what is most important after a certain workout.      My progress towards my first goal has re...

Week 2 Post - Bowen Blair (5.28.21)

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      This week, we went on one particular run that was a bit challenging. The distance and elevation wasn't exactly what we were expecting, so we didn't pace ourselves as well as we should have. This was a great learning experience for us and, luckily, we were able to adapt later in the run. I would consider this a "challenging" but meaningful experience as we are all learning how to best use our bodies during this project. We have also continued to run into some challenges in the kitchen. This week, we're still trying to perfect our "protein pancake" technique so it doesn't get burnt or undercooked: a learning process.      I think the main thing that I have learned (and haven't finished "learning") is how to best recover and accommodate exercises for my body. All three of us have dealt with different levels of soreness and fatigue, so this is a more independent aspect of this project. I have been dealing with a shoulder injury this w...

Week 1 Post - Bowen Blair (5.21.21)

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     Today marks the end of the first week of the "Wellness and Nutrition Expedition." I chose to embark on this project because I saw it as a good way to stay physically and mentally fit, while also learning a lot of new skills to take to college. I will be starting my college freshman pre-season this August, and it is vitally important that I'm in good shape, but equally, if not more important, that I learn how to cook for myself in a healthy and productive manner. Working out is the easy part: everyone in this project either does year-round athletics and/or a year-round workout circuit. The difficult part is being on our own to cook our meals, and making sure that the meals assist the workouts from that day. That proved to be a bit of a problem this week, but I’m happy with the strides we made.      For this project, I’m working with Jaden Edwards and Seby Tremblay. The main inspiration came from our common passion for fitness and nutrition. During the s...