Blog – Page 3 – Daily Brainstorms

Don’t Chase Keto Numbers

Don’t go chasing numbers while on KETO.

Why?

Although it’s a great tool in the beginning, it doesn’t always contain all the needed context required to assess progress with the goal of solely being in KETOSIS.

I track numbers (Ketones, Glucose & Macros) from time to time now that I’ve been on this path for some time. I use @ketomojo to check my levels and @cronometer_official for my macros when I do track. It’s a great tool but not the only tool to measure success.

Ketosis can be achieved with fasting, exogenous ketones, which I use (@perfectketones code: “JoshPerry”), MCT oil (I use @wildfoodsco code: WildJosh12), or depleting glycoen stores from high-intensity workouts.

The goal is keto-adaptation & metabolic flexibility, meaning you take the time to lower the insulin & glucose levels/stores in your body over time and you adapt to producing and utilizing ketones efficiently.

Again, there are various ways to get into ketosis but it takes time to adapt the brain and body to this alternative and superior fuel source.

Once keto-adapted and metabolically flexible, you can enjoy the benefits that keto brings with it like body composition improvements, mental clarity and energy, reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress (free radicals), liberation from hunger and cravings, improved sports performance and recovery, and reduced risk of diseases or disease/symptom management.

You can also consume sensible “smart-carbs” and amounts, once keto-adapted and gained some metabolic flexibility, at specific times of the day and it’ll help your performance, fat burning, and sometimes put you deeper into ketosis.

Again, once KETO-ADAPTED.

Don’t worry if you have lower numbers because that may mean you’re body is becoming more efficient at utilizing ketones as you build more MCT transporters to shuttle the ketones into the cells. 💚✌️

-Josh P.

Want to learn more about making changes TODAY?

DM me or 📲 josh@joshperrybmx.com

Power of Suggestion

The power of suggestion.

I call it “noise”.

It’s the crap we hear from other people and the media.

Today’s society seems to be full of negativity suggestions and I’ve been persuaded by it from time to time. It’s not always easy but worth it to push through for what your heart truly desires.

“You’re going to fail at that”, “that’s not a safe path, don’t go that route”, “you’re not good enough”, “you’re not smart enough”, “you’re not healthy enough”, “go to college”, “get a real job”, etc.

I’ve heard them all.

But, not all suggestions are negative.

I do my best to surround myself with positive people that have a positive influence on my life and consume positive content.

I do my best to be real but authentic but always come from a place of love, gratitude, and positivity.

I appreciate all of you that love and support me 💚✌️

Want to learn more about making changes TODAY to improve your brain’s health, remove excess body fat, gain more energy, improve sleep & recovery, clear up inflammation & digestive issues, and put cravings at bay all while worrying less about food?

Hit me up! 😊

DM me or 📲 josh@joshperrybmx.com

-Josh P.

WHO Do YOU Choose To Be?

You’re only destined to become who you choose to be.

I used to be a victim. Would complain about what “isn’t fair”, “why me”, “it must be nice”, and (insert caption).

I used to carry 5-10% more body fat on me at all times and knowingly hurting my brain by making the choice to eat copious amounts of sugar, processed foods, alcohol, juice, breads, pastas, cereals, candy, etc.

I used to blame my reality on anyone and anything but me and my choices. I used to be envious of others success and talk about how “unfair” my life was.

Then one day I learned (brain tumor diagnosis) to become self aware and hold myself accountable for what I did or did not have in my life.

👉🏼I made the choice to become healthy, inside and out.

👉🏼I made the choice to prioritize my brain’s health.

👉🏼I made the choice to have purpose in my life that had an impact on the world and would leave behind a legacy.

👉🏼I made the choice to be great rather than what society told me to be.

👉🏼I made the choice become a survivor, not a victim.

I challenge you all to see the world from a survivors perspective, not a victim. The world doesn’t happen to us, it happens for us. But, we must choose to see it that way.

Choose to be great. Choose to be strong. Choose to be kind. Choose to be wise. Choose to be resilient. Choose to love rather than fear.

Choose to walk your talk. Choose to dismiss the noise saying you can’t.

Carve your path. Fall down 7 times and get up 8.

Set goals. Have a clear vision and purpose. Eat healthy food to nourish your brain (I follow a ketogenic lifestyle). Believe in yourself and take action. Don’t ever give up.💚✌️

📸 @jciake

Want to learn more about making changes TODAY to improve your brain’s health, remove excess body fat/weight, gain more energy, improve sleep and recovery, clear up inflammation and digestive issues, reduce disease risk factors, and put cravings at bay all while worrying less about food? 💚✌️

HIT ME UP 😊

-Josh P.

josh@joshperrybmx.com

Hop Whips Fueled By Ketones

This hop whip in Hawaii was fueled by ketones and an 18-hr fast. 🔥

Never did I imagine I’d ride BMX for a living let alone travel the world to ride my bike.

This hop whip by the beach in Hawaii has me feeling so much gratitude and appreciation for all my hard work, dedication, sacrifices, and passion in life. 🙏🏼

I also never thought nutrition, fitness, fasting, and ketosis would be as a big part of my life as is it today.

A brain tumor followed by 4 more brain tumors and an ACL injury changed my perspective real quick. I’m grateful for those experiences because I’m now nurturing my brain and body while helping others and connecting with people in BMX & KETO that I look up to to collaborate with.

It’s my passion to share my experiences and help others so they don’t need a catastrophic event to prioritize their brain like I did. 💚✌️

HIT ME UP 😊

-Josh P.

Josh@joshperrybmx.com

Keto- If I Can YOU Can

I used to eat fast-food, soda, candy, and sushi and now my brain and body actually crave meals like this. Funny how once you make changes externally, changes occur internally you may not believe until you experience it.

Grass-fed burger with some @kerrygoldusa grass-fed cheddar wrapped in lettuce with some @primalkitchenfoods mustard and @chosenfoods mayo and a side of asparagus sautéed in @kerrygoldusa with spices. I believe some avocado was in there after this photo too🔥

Full of healthy fats, moderate protein, and very low-carb. If you’re new to a high-fat or KETO way of eating, you can easily add a side of sweet potato, carrots, beets, berries, or quinoa for some carbs as you transition to fat-adaption.

Although it possible to jump right into KETO, it’s advised to transition into “primal” or “paleo” by eating “smart carbs” as you taper down the carb count to not shock the brain and body. It’s all context, though.

If you’re coming from anywhere close to my old diet (2liter side/day, only fast-food and sushi, candy, pastries, and alcohol daily) then I’d suggest you ease into KETO by lowering your carbs from let’s say 400+g/day to paleo carbs, which will put you at 50-150g/day and be a good transition phase for a few weeks. 💚✌️

Want to learn more about making changes TODAY to improve your brain’s health, remove excess body fat/weight, gain more energy, improve sleep and recovery, clear up inflammation and digestive issues, and putt cravings at bay all while worrying less about food?

HIT ME UP 😊

-Josh P.

Josh@joshperrybmx.com

They Think I have Neurofibromatosis

I live with 4 separate brain tumors. They estimate I have what’s called “neurofibomarosis”, which is just a fancy way of saying I have a genetic disorder that causes brain and spinal meningioma tumors.

Luckily I just have brian tumors. The only way to know for sure, though, is through a biopsy but I don’t need the risk and toxins of opening my skull. I just do what the research shows as ways to stunt and prevent cancer and tumors growth. Hence, my passion for holistic health and nutrition.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that health is internal. Not just numbers on a scale or piece of paper. Had I followed the ER and urgent care doctors advice, to take pain pills, and not fallen and hit my head in 2010, I’d never had received an MRI or found the tumor.

My surgeon said I most likely wouldn’t have woken up one day soon if it were not fall and hitting my head due to the size of the giant mass taking over my brain.

If you feel as if something is wrong regwrdless of someone telling you “you’re fine” without looking deeper, push to get the testing done to gain clarity rather than suffering both mentally and physically like I did believing I was “normal” and that’s what I had to look forward to the rest of my life. 💚✌️

-Josh P.

Keto Friendly Beverage

16 months ago I was diagnosed with 2 new brain tumors, totally 4 in my skull.

That’s when I took the “ketogenic diet” serious and started studying and applying it 100% in my life.

Not just the foods but the lifestyle around the keto benefits, which includes; proper training (no chronic high heart rate training), mindfulness practices (meditation, stress management, doing what I love every day), optimizing my sleep by getting 6-8 hours a night, eating specific foods at specific times, not having specific stimulating lights from screens (TV, iPhones, etc.) in my life at specific times before bed, and learning new things to keep my brain adapting and promoting neuroneogenisus (growth of new neurons and networks).

That said, @kevitadrinks makes an amazing low-calorie and low-carbohydrate beverage full of probiotics and flavor. It’s what helped me kick my sugar/soda habit that I had years ago and keeps cravings at bay. A great choice for those looking for a tasty beverage while watching their carb intake for utilizing keto or living in the keto-adapted lifestyle.

The ketogenic diet is not just a fad or get quick results one and done type of plan. It’s a lifestyle shift that takes time to adapt to properly and takes commitment but should never entail suffering of any kind and isn’t always a long-term plan, more like a tool to utilize when necessary. It doesn’t happen over night and can take 21-days to 6-weeks for people to adapt properly depending on their past history and genetics. The goal is not to be in ketosis. The goal is to become fat & keto-adapted and use ketosis as an annual clean up and day to day tool that can be easily implemented.

This ensures that your body and brain knows what to do with all the ketones it’s producing, burns stored body fat, no longer depends on a constant supply of carbohydrates/glucose, and helps fight disease, slow the aging process down, supports the brain, improves sleep quality, reduces inflammation, and so much more.

It really comes down to hormone control from the choices we have every day, which is what we choose to put in our mouths. 💚✌️

-Josh P.

Adversity Cultivates Success

I was 21 when I was told I would never ride my bike again.

That’s the day I was also told I would die unless my head was cut open to remove a massive tumor taking up half my brain. Even then, I still had a chance I may not make it out alive.

This was one of the many challenges I have faced in life and not the first circumstance that put the fragility of my life into perspective.

I later learned, life is full of gifts in the form of adversity and it’s all a matter of perspective. I have overcome injuries, financial instability, abuse, cancer, heartbreak, living in my car, on couches, or in hallway closets, and even depression.

What most of us don’t seem to see, is that we all have choices. We have a choice to believe the things we’re told or to dismiss them as noise. We have a choice to see all of the abundance and success within our lives, or we can choose to see the failures, set-backs, and the things we lack in our lives.

We have a choice to give up or fight back to beat the odds. Prove people wrong and prove our support right. Some choices are hard to make. But those are the ones that mold who we are today. It’s these choices that make us stronger…and wiser…and allow us to grow. I believe it’s not the cards we are dealt, rather it’s how we CHOOSE to play those cards that determine the outcome of our lives.

Sometimes we fall down in life. It’s these falls that are some of the most important learning opportunities for us. Not failures; learning lessons on the path to success.

But, it’s how we choice get back up that defines us and determines our future. Not our past times when we fell down or failed. We’re defined by how we CHOOSE to move forward in life.

Adversity cultivates success and life is all about choices.

So choose wisely. 💚✌️

Be Proactive, Not ReActive

Starting the week off strong with a PR in hang power cleans (70kilo) and some @go_exxentric squats and 3 second decent bench press.

Be proactive rather than reactive! Take care of your body and mind as they work in a uniform reactive relationship to one another. Be pro-active when it comes to your health and goals with your life.

Don’ settle for the status quo and then react to negatives. Do what you can to prevent a negative from occurring in the first place. It’s never too early to take action towards your goals and your health.

I learned this the hard way. I blew out my knee in 2013 and decided to have it fixed in 2015. 2015 was the year I started to take this fitness bing serious in an effort to strengthen and protect my legs. The more I practiced, the more I experienced benefits in the mind and body. 💚✌️

A Clear Vision

I believe a clear vision is what creates the goal, which creates the motivation and the taking of action.

Our reality is a manifestation of our actions we choose to participate in on a daily basis.

The vision is what motivates us to take action every day and is what keeps us going no matter what challenge arise and doesn’t let us give up. 💚✌️

What’s your vision for your life? Are you making choices to take action that leads you closer to your vision?

-Josh P.