mikeyv83

[mikeyv83]

#FuelUpCES!

This month’s blog will recap a wild week of exhibition (and a lil debauchery) at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It was a week that saw a good bit of our team get together for the first time as a unit, which was pretty cool in itself from a teambuilding standpoint. We got work done, we had FUN, and we made great connections that will form the basis for 2015 and beyond. One thing our Legal Advisor/Entrepreneur Jaime and I have talked about since the beginning – always take yourself very seriously, even more seriously than you ought to. Because what you project might just manifest itself.

While we weren’t strangers to trade shows by this point, we had never experienced the volume of traffic CES would bring, so we spent a lot of time prepping. Mike Boggs and I brainstormed booth ideas months in advance, and with the help of our designer Kevin Calero, we were able to realize the vision and have the appropriate banners/backdrops created for the show. We also purchased massive quantities of magnets (where else would we want a consistent reminder to ‘Fuel Up’ properly but on your fridge?) and business cards for most of the team members. A cardboard cut-out of Boggs before starting his weight loss journey showed people just how far he had come. Video equipment rounded things out, in order to visually engage folks as they walked by and give us a chance to start a conversation with them.

BeardFuel (aka Greg Puckett) and I arrived Sunday night, and stocked up the airBnB casa de FuelUp with healthful food, energy drinks…. and perhaps some vodka. The other team members trickled in throughout the week, starting with Mr. Boggs on Monday, setup day. After a long day getting the exhibit ready, Monday night afforded us free attendance at the CES Opening Party (@Marquee), highlighted by Mike climbing over ropes and evading bodyguards to give Mark Cuban our business card, and exchange head nods. Lord only knows where that card ended up, but we haven’t heard from Cube just yet.

Tuesday began the exhibition, and work we did. We met contacts from all types of organizations spanning healthcare, fitness, press, VCs and small business owners. My LinkedIn profile definitely spiked in popularity for a few days, and I am still sorting out the connections and sending emails two weeks later. We had several well-planned team dinners (thanks to BeardFuel and his affinity for Vegas restaurants – most notably Bouchon, a French staple of the Venetian that served us 5 separate times). In between, I managed to win a FitnessTech pitch competition on Tuesday and rocked yet another official Shark Tank audition on Thursday morning accompanied by JM and Boggs. I definitely passed out one of the days the second I got home (7pm) and didn’t wake up until 6am the next morning!

Mike takes on the CES Barracudas (@37:25)

Friday saw the conference come to a close and most of the team depart, although some of us lingered into Saturday for a lil celebratory gambling and partying. Then it was back to reality, and the start of my 2015 goal: to take MyFuelUp to the next level, and help a lot of people get organized and healthier along the way. My biggest a-ha was thinking back to attendance as a spectator in 2014, a week before we had raised our first venture round, and telling myself I’d be here in 2015. That seems like a much smaller accomplishment right now, looking to the grind that awaits this year. But you know what? - Bring It!    

Mike

[mikeyv83]

Fueling Up! for El Tour de Tucson – Nov2014

Two weeks ago, I challenged myself to something completely new (for me) – a cycling race. The race, held annually in Tucson, AZ, is called El Tour De Tucson. The event attracts 9,000 cyclists each year, who race around the perimeter of the city. COINCIDENTALLY, a really useful feature of the MyFuelUp app is the ability to determine caloric requirements for fueling cardiovascular activity, and I saw this as a great opportunity to put the method to the test while getting to feel like a different type of BADASS for one day (in orange & blue, of course)! Not to mention, raising money for a good cause and getting a taste of humble pie before Thanksgiving – this sport is not easy!

Many of my friends impress me by participating in half/full marathons and 50-100mi+ cycling events - our own athlete, Mike Boggs, helped me to get my feet wet with it this summer (I had rarely touched a road bike prior). IMPORTANT: these events are NOT designed for weight loss (that’s what an offseason diet & exercise program is for!), and they all require TONS of fuel, as thousands of calories are being burned, sometimes by the hour. And that fuel must be intelligently chosen. You have to think of yourself as a locomotive constantly burning (high-quality) coal as it moves along the tracks!

These events represent EXTREME examples of fueling requirements that exist for cardiovascular activities of more moderate durations, like casual bike rides or even playground basketball. But the app can help to fuel for all of it by assisting with data-driven decisions referencing the Metabolic Equivalent (MET) Database (see https://sites.google.com/site/compendiumofphysicalactivities/). You input the activity and duration, and the app provides a fueling need/recommendation. It’s that simple.

Among race-types, cycling was a good choice for me due to existing neck issues. The fluid motion, with less bouncing, is easier on my joints than running, and powerful shoulders/core help support body positioning for the duration. It’s also more fun, IMO, to go FAST, feel the wind and admire the landscape. BUT, cycling is also a comparatively expensive hobby, and the amount one spends can impact performance. As a beginner, I purchased a basic road bike in May and slowly added a few toys (comfort seat and clipped shoes/pedals). Further, understanding the proper riding techniques and braking/shifting methods (and, for the advanced, even drifting in groups) can make a big difference in energy efficiency. I have plenty to improve upon!

Now, NUTRITION: In the two days leading up to the race, I started to carb up (up to 250g/day) so that my glycogen stores would be maximized. I ate things like pancakes, breaded chicken, pasta, and fruit/juice much more frequently, while cutting back on protein and fat to keep total calories fairly consistent – you can see a few of the meals below:

  For race duration, I initially had my eye on the max distance of 104mi, but ultimately opted for the 75mi route after realizing my preparation was not quite there yet. To do these distances well, it takes many months of dedicated training – something I have newfound respect for! Since my previous max training ride was just over 50mi, and my average speed was 15mph, I reasoned that I could finish 75mi in around 5 hours.

Using the MyFuelUp ‘Fuel My Cardio’ calculator, which considers my height/weight/age, I entered the sport ‘bicycling – 14-15.9 mph, racing’ and duration of 300 minutes, and was informed that I would burn approximately 3172 calories, just DURING the race (see in-app screenshot above). Fueling for cardio should primarily (>75%) consist of fast-digesting carbohydrates that replenish muscle glycogen rapidly, and moderate protein to support muscle repair from fatigue. Avoiding much fat and fiber is also useful when the activity is high intensity – both of these slow digestion. Armed with this data, I planned ahead - purchasing adequate quantities of endurance bars and energy chews/gels that I could easily eat while riding. 

I also rocked BCAAs (branch-chain amino acids), in powder form, in my thermos to ensure a consistent supply of protein as I hydrated. For an event like this, drink, drink, & DRINK some more – water, that is ;) 

As for the event, it was a chilly morning in Tucson, so my arm/knee warmers were crucial, but once the sun came out life was good! I climbed intense hills at minimal speeds (leg burning pumps!), but then was rewarded with gradual declines where one can downshift and cruise at 25-30mph+ for several minutes - FUN. The first 50mi were very productive for me, averaging just under 15.5mph and improving upon my trials. Following the fueling protocols, I split calories evenly over the hours and had little issue with hunger, trying to always eat BEFORE I felt the need.

  Miles 50-75 were new territory, outside any training I had done, and it showed. It was the toughest stretch along the I10 freeway, but I kicked up the hydration, potassium and electrolytes and stayed in a controlled pedaling rhythm to push through. I finished the 75mi in 5hrs and 20 min (although I started late, so it was actually 05:10), not too far off my 5hr projection. Not great by cycling standards (the top folks do over 100mi in 5hrs!), but I’m OK with this for my initiation J AND I was definitely not starving or energy-depleted, so ‘Fuel My Cardio’ did some good!

The best part, I have donated $5 for every mile I completed to the American Diabetes Association, in support of Diabetes Awareness Month! The El Tour event itself also sponsors the Special Olympics. El Tour was an awesome experience and I may just have an itch for this sport, now - I’d like to improve performance while always FUELING UP right! Next year? I hear I will have a few partners to ride with, if I do!

Mike

[mikeyv83]

Ready to swim with these big fish?

I have not blogged in awhile, but had an interesting experience this weekend worth something short. My buddy is leaving AZ for LA in a few weeks to start a new job, so I joined him for the house hunting adventure, which needless to say involved a lot of time at the beach. Of course, we prioritized training and eating well in spite of vacation (I’m not always so good about this, but Gold’s Gym travel passes and myfuelup restaurant recommendations are a clutch combo). One pit stop included the mecca of bodybuilding, Gold’s Gym in Venice, where DocErie was clearly feeling inspired and basically put me through the chest grinder. Great chat with the GM there, as well.

The last day of the trip, instead of heading directly back to AZ, we took a detour to San Diego, a place where great men like Ron Burgundy carved their own statues with brawn and determination. I had been keeping an eye on the ABC Shark Tank audition locations until something showed up in the vicinity, and it was time. Pounded some energy drinks and a healthy breakfast in LA and hit the road early, arriving in SD in time for numbered wristbands to be handed out at 9am. Then, the waiting. People in line were very cool cats, all of whom had great ideas. My favorite had to be the guy who turns all types of wine into sorbet-like iced desserts. After sampling, we exchanged contact and I plan to be on his initial subscriber list… for cheat days.

Finally, the bands went out. With well over 500 groups waiting to audition, we ended up with band 348. Kindly, the staff asked that we come back at 2pm given our number in line. That was awesome, because it gave DocErie time to finish filling out the forms at a local Starbucks instead of in the sun, find yet another Gold’s Gym in SD, and put me through a slow-form, show-muscle back and bi workout. Postworkout was at Chipotle on the road, and we headed back to the audition rocking MyFuelUp gear and with guns blazing, literally.

As for the audition itself, there are several professional casting agents who sit at different tables, and everyone sees just one agent. We are instructed not to worry, as they are all trained to analyze talent/potential in similar fashion. It needs to be a good idea for the Sharks, and a good one for TV as well. So when the number was called, I walked up and delivered a pretty solid pitch, hitting all the important points. DocErie added fitness tidbits to ice the cake, and off we went back to AZ. From here, if it works out I don’t know how much I will be able to say… but it feels great to have had the opportunity and a national audience is what this product needs to disrupt and shock a US healthcare system that spends $3Trillion+ per year, much of it driven by lifestyle disease. Imagine what this country could do with just $0.5Trillion back… go time.

[mikeyv83]

The Calorie Tracking Paradox

Even if you’re in love with fitness & nutrition, you can’t ‘break up to make up’ with either.

I must let it be known my inspiration for writing today: technology ‘thinks’ it is adequately addressing our lifestyle management issues in America, but it is still falling short not far from the starting line. In terms of mass technology adoption, what I see today - everywhere I turn - is a reactive measure that is satisfying a culture that doesn't really mind a slap on the wrist. What they need is a kick in the behind. If the purpose of technology is to ‘do everything’ for the user, then fitness and nutrition apps need to start ‘doing’ education, too. Because leaving people on their own with a bunch of numbers is clearly not working out, no pun intended.

Calorie tracking comes in two forms. There is nutritional calorie tracking, where the user logs the food they eat all day in an app that functions like a ‘diary.’ Then there is fitness tracking, which measures, through biometrics, the number of calories a user is burning throughout the day, even at rest. Great, tons of information that could be useful – if the average person was educated to understand what to do with it. But what do we see in practice? The vast majority (90%+) place all the emphasis on calories without regard for macronutrient constitution or any alarming micronutrient values (sodium/potassium balance, vitamins, or even water intake). Further, an even greater majority take these reactive measures and spin them into a horrible form of logic I call ‘break up to make up’.

In one example, a user starts the day with a big breakfast. Maybe they take the time to choose healthful items, which is great. Next, they have a moderate-sized lunch, and after logging they notice they have now exceeded their daily caloric allotment based on standard BMR calculation (w/activity factored) by 400 calories. The solution: do not eat the remainder of the day AND burn 400 calories on the treadmill. Have a good night, genius. In another example, a user is smart enough to not skip meals, but finishes the day nearly 1000 calories over their BMR calculation w/activity factored. The next day, the user opts to set a goal for themselves to make up for the previous day’s sins by undercutting today’s BMR by 1000 calories. They likely take a similar approach to the first example to accomplish this incredibly unhealthy and grueling feat. Or perhaps they skip breakfast entirely. Hey, computers and logic can be difficult, see below:

So what is the root issue here, friends? Well, it’s simple: The human body does not function well on averages. Weight change is a 20% game. In the presence of activity stimulus, a 20% caloric surplus will lead to healthy weight gain. Likewise, a 20% caloric deficit will lead to healthy weight loss. Outside of consistently performing to those small 20% adjustments during 8-12 week periods of weight change, we should not be playing extreme games with our bodies (with the exception of those well-educated to do so). Otherwise, we are playing dangerously in the realms of anorexia or ‘supersize me.’

Please, go into the battle with a PLAN, don’t react. Eat meals that are evenly spaced throughout the day and sized such that you WILL end the day at your caloric goal. And finally, if you fall from the horse, get right back on that horse. The SAME horse. And continue just as if you had never made a mistake. Just consider it a cheat meal, and get back to the plan. You will still reach your goals and your body will thank you for it later. Trust Me.

And stop using these garbage apps.