I think people are genuinely surprised when they realize that I purposefully design my daily routines to be as easy as possible. No friction, no resistance, very little decision-making. Onlookers might see the way I attack training and assume that I always have that same intensity—that I’m constantly redlining in every facet of my life. In reality, it’s intentionally the complete opposite.
For the past few months, I’ve been putting in 30 to 35 hours of training each week through an aggressive combination of boxing lessons, sparring, and strength and conditioning. I typically box in the morning, then swing back around to the gym in the evening to round out the day with full-body circuits focusing on explosive strength and stamina. Needless to say, if I want to perform my best as I prepare for my first amateur fight, I need to know when and how to save both my physical and mental energy. Therefore, when I’m not training, my other habits need to be on auto-pilot.
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on this concept of optimizing routines and habits. People have this idea that those who are competitive in the realm of sports and fitness are blessed with incredibly high doses of motivation and self-discipline, that they wake up day in and day out feeling this powerful magnetic pull to make all of the right choices that will carry them toward their goals.
In truth, those who appear to have unshakeable self-discipline are actually those who need to use it the least. Successful people design their routines and environments to work for them, not against them. The temptation to make a suboptimal choice in terms of nutrition, training, supplementation, or recovery is simply not present. The only options available are those that are conducive to the goals at hand. All that BS about “variety is the spice of life” is the enemy. The more choices you have available to you, the more likely you are to deviate from the plan. If you’ve ever been to an all-you-can-eat buffet, you know exactly what I mean. More options, less control.
At this time in my life, I need fewer options. I need streamlined routines and sound habits. I need consistency and predictability. No hesitancy or trivial decisions to make. What should I eat today? When should I train today? What supplements should I take today? I need to be able to flip my fighter switch “on” when I grab my gloves and step into the ring and not worry about anything else. I need to flip that switch “off” when it’s time to recover. Simplicity.
When you’re so focused on efficiency, it’s easy for some boxes to be left unchecked or for certain things to fall through the cracks. I’ll admit, sometimes I’m in such a rush or training for so long that my nutrition isn’t picture perfect. But when you’re burning over a thousand calories in a single training session and filling buckets with sweat, those omissions can really come back to bite you in the ass.
I don’t have a personal chef. Hayden doesn’t send me on my way in the morning with a lunch box packed full of goodies. I do all of that myself, and during the toughest weeks, I need to fall back on that simple efficiency. Having Animal Pak in my corner has really helped in that arena. I know that when I grab my Pak in the morning, I’m patching up any holes that might be present in the fabric of my nutrition practice on my craziest training days.
If you know a little bit about me, you know that I’m not one for gimmicks. Keep your detox tea and 30-day fad diets. I’m about evidence and results, and I’m thankful that Animal abides by a similar code. From the amino acid profile to the digestive enzymes to the energy focus complex, Animal Pak is helping this old dog train and feel like a real boxer. When my micronutrients are in check, I know that I can continue to wake up, choose violence, and do what it takes to achieve greatness.
Don’t get me wrong—it’s not about taking the “easy road.” It’s about making the hard road easier to take. Stack the cards in your favor and stop relying on endless motivation. If you’re willing to optimize your habits and put them on auto-pilot while still giving your body what it needs, get Animal Pak in your corner.
