To your continued good health...

Sure, it may seem like all meat pics and cocktails all the time, but there is a fine balance that one has to meet in one’s life, and that is the balance of health. I really don’t talk about it very regularly in social media (except a few post-Negroni indulgence Soul Cycle pics and a morning run story on my travels), but the reality is, my physical and mental health is very important to me. I have had a few inquiries on my routine and general health philosophy, so here it is:

I try to exercise EVERY day. Usually that’s a run if I’m on the road. My running shoes are a part of every pack; I wear Mizuno—they seems to work and fit well with my foot anatomy—wide toe box, narrow heel. Running, be it in Paris or South Dakota, is a great way to explore, and I have made some great discoveries running through cities or landscapes for the first time. It’s a great way to battle jet lag too. My just-off-the international flight routine is: check in, order coffee, stretch and gear up, run (I prefer outside) at least 30 min or 3 miles. Back to hotel for a hot soak, more coffee, then start the day. I usually won’t eat until lunch that first day. Honestly, I don’t really eat breakfast any more. I start the day with black coffee (drip) then there is a steady flow of espresso and more drip thoughout the day. A light lunch is my first meal of the day. I try to avoid simple carbs like bread, rice, pasta (all bets off here while in Italy), potatoes (chips are my kryptonite) etc…I eat an animal protein rich diet (organic and grass fed preferred) with the occasional veg and very little fruit. I avoid sweets at all costs (so I can drink Negronis) a martini is around 170 +/- calories and a Negroni about 190. I actually drink very few of these on a given occasion so I factor this in to my diet and I am finding avoiding copious amounts of wine is a good thing. Less sugar intake and less headaches.

The gym i.e. weight training is usually when I am in town (with a trainer) or can get to a well equipped hotel gym. It’s a pretty basic circuit training type of work out that hits all major muscle groups, and then I want to get out of there as fast as possible. I recently purchased a basic TRX system that I use up at the farm. Before the TRX I had a simple pull up bar hung in the doorway of the Brooklyn house along with kettlebells. I have kettlebells in upstate, Brooklyn and France—they are a more versatile option than dumbbells for working out. When all else fails, there is an 11 minute total body calisthenic style quick fire workout* (developed by the military) that uses all body weight that I will do pretty much anywhere. NO EXCUSES.

I also have an arsenal of doctors and specialists that I’ve acquired over the years. I see my primary physician at least once a year for a full run-up of bloods and tests to see how the machine is running. Lifestyle choices are made based on these tests, and YES, it is true I have genetically low cholesterol, a healthy non fatty liver and, some would say, a heart of an 18 year old. Some doctors I have even befriended via Wm Brown. It’s nice to have these guys on speed dial and text to address cut off finger tips (boozy cooking accidents) and general health questions like “what do you think about my echocardiogram?”. The health care providers I lean into are more holistically thoughtful doctors—Western trained, but have a balance of preventative style natural medicine. I take supplements everyday too, a series of vitamins and immune-boosting concoctions that help with all the travel and current health challenges that surround that. I take things like: Methylated B, Vitamin D, Zinc, Elderberry, Lapo-Spheric C, Russian Choice and a probiotic. Willner Pharmacy in NYC is a good source for all these, and they ship.

My dopp kit is the tell-all. It contains the basic beauty products like moisturizer, deodorant, hair product, tooth brush, razor etc… as well as any prescription anything I was prescribed over the years that includes: rash creams, antihistamines, painkillers, anti-inflammatories, bug creams, repellents, diarrhea meds, charcoal tablets and antacids. I carry a mini edited version of this in my carry-on for the plane that includes Ambien.

I hope this is helpful in some way without proselytizing. It is just another perspective that gives a slightly different point of view beyond the gallons of Negronis and pounds of meat that I show. Below is my NO EXCUSE 11 minute workout that you literally can do just about anywhere. Happy New Year and all my best for 2022.

*11 Minute Routine

Do each exercise below for one minute each:

Squats, pushups, mountain climbers, rest, clam shell, jumping jacks, rest, plank, one leg hip raise (each leg), burpee.