Here’s to 2009!

Well, it's finally here.

It's a day that you either loathe or love and it seems like there is no middle ground for this day. I have been trying to think of why some people love this time of year or why they hate it and I have come to no conclusions whatsoever.

So I won't stress over it.

One thing I am not going to do with this, the final post of the 2009 season, is what every other person has done with their posts: top 10 things I've learned. BLAH!

Instead, I am going to do what I will call "My top discoveries of 2009". There will be no limit to what I think of but as soon as I get bored, I will stop. Also, make sure to read the whole post as I have a couple big announcements that will come at the end.

Let's begin shall we?

MY TOP DISCOVERIES OF 2009

MUSIC

• Mudvayne – While this band has been around since 1996, I just recently discovered the amazing power of this band, thanks to satellite radio. The amount of power and fury that is conveyed in their music is amazing. From blistering guitar licks, to throat destructing screams, if you like your music hard and heavy, you can do no wrong here. I highly recommend their latest two releases: A New Game and the most recent release, a self-titled album Mudvayne.
  

  
   

• Five Finger Death Punch – The only way to describe the best new band I have heard in years is holy s***. This band was another discovery courtesy of XM radio and I am thinking of sending Kayla (Octane dj) roses since she was the on the radio when I first heard this. When I downloaded (yup, I downloaded it) their album, War is the Answer, I nearly came out of my skin. The first song hits you like a punch to the stomach and it doesn't stop for the entire album. I recently introduced a friend to them and the first thing she said was "ahhhhh, angry music". If you are in need of some good, hard leg day, blow your colon out your ass while squatting music, do your butt a favor and get this album.
  

  
   

FOOD

• Goji berries -- I first heard Tony Gentilcore talk about these little morsels on The Fit Cast. They are these tiny little red things that pack quite the nutritional punch. While they look like skinny versions of dried cranberries, these little guys pack a ton of good carbohydrates to your nutritional quiver
  

  
   

• Greek yogurt – I have been listening to people talk about this form of yogurt for a couple years now and this year decided to dip my toe into the craziness that is Greek yogurt. With less carb's and more protein than normal yogurt, the addition of this power packed mini snack to your every day food intake will do nothing be help you reach whatever fitness goals you set for yourself.
  

  
   

• Almond butter – I love peanut butter. LOVE IT. Yet just recently (like within the past 5 weeks or so) I was turned onto the all powerful taste of almond butter. I was at my girlfriend's house and she had no PB and gave me some almond butter instead. Needless to say, I have not bought peanut butter since. While loaded with the all important fats that people need in their diets, it also houses good carbs and a taste that only nut lovers can enjoy.
  

  
   

TRAINING

• Renegade rows – This is a row variation that I have come to love for a couple reasons. First, it hammers your rectus abdominus and oblique's and is what I consider to be one of the best ways to train your 6-pack without actually training your 6-pack. Second, it's a row and anytime you can throw a new type of rowing movement into your training, you will only better your physique and your postural health. Finally, it acts as a shoulder stabilizer and helps work those lovely little assistance muscles. I personally love doing these with kettle bells but if you are in a pinch or have no access to them, dumbbells work just as well.
  

 

• Front squat grip reverse lunges – I believe I got this one from Eric Cressey's Maximum Strength program. This movement covers the best of both worlds: front squats and lunges (yes, I'm a little sadistic). What I love about this killer variation is two-fold: you get to work your core and stabilizers while hammering your legs. Again, this movement is what I consider a best bang for your buck type movement. By holding a barbell in a front squat style grip, you are automatically engaging your core and abdominals. Yet you will be pleasantly surprised at how hard doing a reverse lunge with this style grip actually is. The fact that you have a barbell on your chest makes this subtle little movement twice as hard as holding a pair of dumbbells. Try this movement and you will find the results are quite impressive.
  

  
   

MISCELLANEOUS

• Satellite radio – I talked about this a little under the music section but without the addition of this to my new truck, I would go insane. I hate radio and haven't listened to it in years. The DJ's sucked and talk too much and the music they play is horrible. I get sick and tired of hearing the same 3 songs over and over again. Satellite radio is quite the opposite. The dj's don't talk hardly at all and the music is ever changing and completely random. In my opinion, this is the best way to discover new bands, minus Pandora radio.
  

 

That's about it. Honestly, I just can't think of anything else off the top of my head and am going for a hike with my doggie. So with that, I will close this post with a couple little announcements.

First, this is the first year I have actually had a resolution and stuck to it. Today is the last day of the "year without fries". Yes, I have gone 364 days without French fries. Was it hard? Kind of but not really. I actually can't wait until tomorrow when I go to In & Out and get me some fries! For next year, I plan on going with no red meat, i.e. no burgers, steaks or anything else that comes from a cow. If you are wondering why, read Michael Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma. It will make you think twice about eating red meat.

I have actually contemplated not saying anything about this subject but I figured I live my life like an open book so I might as well talk about it.

Everyone knows that I drink and that I love the taste of alcohol. I love how wine can, when paired correctly, make any meal that much better. There is also nothing better than an ice cold beer on a hot summer day to quench that dry pallet. Still, alcohol is a poison to the body and I can honestly say my stubbornness and lack of ability to not drink has hindered me on my journey to reaching my physique goals.

Alcohol also impairs your judgment and your ability to make rational decisions and two weeks ago I made a choice that is going to drastically change my life for the next 10 years. Upon leaving a concert I was driving home and got a DUI. While I was lucky not to go to jail, I now have a battle in front of me that is going to be long and expensive. I think this couldn't have come at a better time, as I was drinking and driving more than I should have been doing.

It's funny the effect of getting a DUI can have on someone. Since it's happened, I feel that people now look at me like I have killed somebody, like I have done something so bad, that I can never be forgiven. Now I don't normally care what people think of me, but this is having a huge effect on me. It's very humbling to have to tell someone what happened and it is a definite learning experience, one that I don't wish on anyone.

So, with that in mind, it's about time I take a little bit of a break from the sauce. I really don't have a problem doing so right now either. It's time and it's been long overdue.

What a way to end 2009.

Here's to 2010!