Combat Calm

Risk failure, but learn from it.

Chris DeMuth Jr

Jun 07, 2024

… success is mostly just a combination of pain

tolerance and willingness to implement feedback.

- Mark Manson

Reflecting

Sometime this week take the quarter of an hour to hear Jocko read about D-Day.

The plan involved big risks and many of the specifics didn’t work (bombing was off target and many defenses remained intact by the time troops landed). But the combat leaders were scrappy. They saw what was happening and they improvised. Risks are to be managed not avoided. But stay observant so that you can constantly adjust. Fail once, then fix that problem without any consideration of sunk costs. Manson, above, gets at the crucial combination. Be able to take enough pain to be patient and consistent enough to keep going when something is hard but effective. Throughout, react when you get sound advice or circumstances change to let you know that it is time to change course. Combat calm is the right mindset for both pain tolerance and mental flexibility – enough energy to fight but energy that’s detached, contained, and stoic enough to stay observant and perceptive about everything going on around you. This calm energy is the way to fight but also the way to invest, compete, and live life.

Training

This morning’s whiteboard:

Bike 50 Cals

...then...

21-18-15-12-9-6-3

Hang Power Cleans 135 lbs.
Toes to bar

Next run:

Fueling

Caffeine is my drug of choice. It is very helpful for anyone intermittent fasting. I chew mastic gum and drink a lot of sparkling water and black coffee outside of eating hours. As long as I cut it off by noon (when I eat) then it doesn’t impact my sleep. Next meal is coffee and eggs at Mimi’s Coffee House in between trail running and CrossFit.

Supplementing

Trying a new collagen for joint health. I try to get it from beef bone broth, but want to try something else in summertime.

Measuring

I offered three June challenges for some friends at the very beginning of their fitness journey. The idea was the minimally effective dose to give them a taste of what enough sleep, bodyweight exercise, and clean eating feels like after 30 days.

Challenge #1: June 2024 — 240 hours of sleep. 8/day. No exceptions. No excuses. Make it a priority for 30 days. In July, see what you missed and see if it is worth continuing on your own.
Challenge #2: June 2024 — 3,000 strict push-ups. 100/day before you do anything else. Keep them pure -- full range of motion from the floor to full lock out. Fully engage your entire posterior chain as tight as possible. Don't cheat yourself. All reps matter.
Challenge #3: June 2024 — Outer aisle only. One month. One ingredient. Fish made out of... fish. Steak made out of... steak. Eggs that are just eggs. Water that's just water. Berries. Zero ultra processed food. Don't even look at it. Clear it out of your home in May. See how you feel after one pure month. Are the downsides of sugar bombs real? Are you an alcoholic? Seed oil as bad as it seems? I don't know. Find out. Controlled 30 day experiment with zero. Carry on beyond that at your pleasure.

So far people are claiming consistency — 48 hours of sleep, 700 push-ups, and 0 bread or beer. If you’re already active this would be in addition to what you already do.