Some of you may have noticed my absence last week. On Friday April 3rd at about 2:00 am I got up out of bed too fast and passed out from the lack of blood flow to my brain. I have always had a history of falling when I get up too fast, but it's never made me pass out. This condition is known as orthostatic hypotension. It was especially bad before I started lifting. I hadn't had this problem for years now and didn't think it was an issue until that Friday. On the way to the ground I hit the left side of my head and the base of my neck, almost tearing my ear in half in the process. The result? A concussion and four stitches. As well as a major red flag that my thyroid medication is underdosed. This is the first concussion I've ever had. I'm hoping it's the last as well. But it has taught me some valuable lessons that I needed this year. So here is what I've learned: 1. Your brain needs idle time We spend a tremendous amount of time over consuming information. I realize now that I constantly bombard my brain with inputs. From podcasts to books there are very few of those precious moments where my brain can sit still. For some of you this might sound like a kind of hell. For me it took a bit more adjustment than I would have liked. I spent hours staring at my boring, white ceiling. I couldn't read, I couldn't listen to anything, I couldn't get up. It was just me and my brain. It was quality time with the only person in I should know best: me. It's amazing what staring at a ceiling or taking a walk without a podcast can do when your brain is already healthy. When you're concussed, it's mandatory. I realized that this idle time is what allows your brain to reconnect with the world around it. So many of us buy into woo woo nonsense like "grounding", or "chakras" when the answer is staring us in the face. The whole time it was just sitting with the silence that brings you back to the world around you. There is no need to live forever when there is an eternity in every moment if you'd stop to find it. That, by the way, is me getting a little woo woo.

I'm so excited to introduce the next group of wonderful people who've taken up the courage to get started on their goals of being healthier. Please welcome @Linda LaRue, @Marsha Akins, @Jen Harper, @Mother Sophronia Hofstead, @Christine Daggett, @Jo Ann Zenger, @Terry Lewis, @Donna Hall, and @Kathy Del Guidice to our adventure! The road ahead will be difficult, but you will get stronger with each day and those who fall in love with the journey get the most rewards in the end!

For those of you who don’t know, I struggle to eat and I struggle to work out a lot. It’s ironic because I own a gym but the truth is I have a history of skipping meals and workouts when I am stressed and this year especially has been one hard lesson after another. But since I have lost weight this year instead of gaining like I had planned I can see it’s time to enter a new chapter for my health. So I am making it a point to go into 2026 with the goal to never skip a meal or a workout. Now if you think this is easier for us because we enjoy it— the truth is that this has always been hard for me and that is precisely why I work with people like you. So let’s grow together, my friends. Let’s become the people we want to be. Let’s keep moving forward.

Where we’re at: The Richardians: 100,495.2 lbs The Gavinites: 70,515 lbs The Triumvirate: 206,337.4 lbs It’s still too early to tell who will win. A single workout can get your team tens of thousands of points! Keep at it!

Thank you to everyone who donated for the polar plunge! This year I matched your gift card donations and Bjorn was able to add $350 to the pot and our team’s total donations came to $2000 Ind if you’re wondering Yes, I jumped into the St. Lawrence River! I give it 0 out of 10 stars. Loved it! Also, something amazing is happening tomorrow—stay tuned for the Yule Quest!!