Do Deadlifts Hurt Your Back | My Medical Case-Study

Do Deadlifts Hurt Your Back | My Medical Case-Study

Last year, as I was approaching a goal PR in the deadlift I had been chasing for a long time, my back pain was getting worse. I started to worry about all those objections to deadlifting that I mentioned earlier, and I thought, “Great. I’ve slipped a disk. They’re gonna want to operate on my back. And my lifting career is done.” So, with my sciatic pain steadily increasing and X-rays not showing anything abnormal (aside from my already crooked spine and hips), they ordered an MRI of my lower back. I anxiously awaited the call from my chiropractor with the results, and I fully expected him to tell me never to touch a barbell again (have I mentioned I tend to be a pessimist?).

Dealing with Depression | How to Fight Like a Man

Dealing with Depression | How to Fight Like a Man

Three months ago I found myself in a situation I told myself would never happen again: I had this cloud around me that I just couldn’t shake. Days were hard to get through at work. Sleep was all I wanted to do (yet it was hard to come by). I just didn’t have the same motivation I typically have for anything. 

I was depressed. 

Again. 

So when I make my thesis statement that depression is a big deal, I’m telling you from my own personal experience.

Christmas Gifts for Hunters | 5 Great Gift Ideas for the Outdoorsman in Your Life

Christmas Gifts for Hunters | 5 Great Gift Ideas for the Outdoorsman in Your Life

What do you buy this hunter that he’ll actually use, that he’ll be excited to open, and that he’ll think, “how did you know this is exactly what I wanted?!?!” Unfortunately, Christmas shopping for the outdoorsman in your life can be like taking an off-hand shot at a running buck at 400 yards…you just hope you come close. Unless your hunter keeps a detailed list with hyperlinks to the specific model-number he wants (I’ve been told that takes the magic out of gift giving for the giver), or you’ve been taking copious notes all year long as your hunter rambles on and on about the next gear purchase he’s been considering (I’ve also been told that is just annoying), then how can you possibly surprise him by knowing exactly what he wants? Here are five ideas for awesome hunting gifts that any hunter would be happy to get, and would actually use…

WHY are You Out There? | Hunting for the Wrong Reasons

WHY are You Out There? | Hunting for the Wrong Reasons

I realized that my head wasn’t in the game. I was legitimately getting worried at how dehydrated I would become if I stuck it out another night and morning with 4 miles still to hike back to the trailhead (where more water was waiting for me). I also realized I was no longer having ANY fun. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware that there are plenty of un-fun moments in any given hunt, and things should get difficult and uncomfortable along the way…it’s part of what makes the sense of accomplishment so high. But, it was no longer about adventure or the potential for success…I was ONLY out there because I hadn’t killed anything yet this fall and felt like I had something to prove. I was now officially out there for the wrong reasons!

When to Quit & When to Keep Going | Hunt Smart, Stay Alive

When to Quit & When to Keep Going | Hunt Smart, Stay Alive

I was just a half-mile down the trail, and I was already running into piles of fairly fresh bear scat. However, also by the half-mile mark, I was really starting to feel the effects of the hike on my body. By 0.8 miles I was starting to get shaky legs, general muscle weakness, and my head was starting to spin a bit. And right at the 1 mile mark, the trail opened up and gave me just enough flat ground to drop my pack and take a seat. So, I plopped my butt down to try and figure out what was going on. I hated the idea that I might have to pull myself off the mountain before my hunt even began, but I knew something just wasn’t right.

First Lite Hunting Clothes | Is Merino Wool Worth the Price?

First Lite Hunting Clothes | Is Merino Wool Worth the Price?

Quality gear won’t make animals walk out and surrender to you like the French in WWII, but it can mean the difference between staying out another day, riding out a rainstorm so you can hunt those magical moments after it passes, or heading back to the truck early because you’re just too cold, wet, and miserable to keep going. More time in the field = more opportunities with animals = greater chance of success…it’s math. So, I bit the bullet and finally invested in a full set of legit, top of the line hunting gear from First Lite. I spent six days straight in these clothes, putting in about 40 miles and more elevation gain/descent than I even want to think about. So, the big question: IS FIRST LITE CLOTHING WORTH THE MONEY???

Planning a Colorado Elk Hunt - Part 4

Planning a Colorado Elk Hunt - Part 4

Six months of planning, endless gear sorting and testing, constant training in the gym, shooting my bow as often as possible…and it all comes down to one week in the mountains of Colorado. When I first decided I was going to hunt elk in Colorado, I won’t pretend there wasn’t a voice in the back of my head saying, “can you really do this?” I think if we’re honest, most of us battle that self-doubt when we’re faced with a brand new and extremely daunting challenge. But, for all those who may be dreaming of their own first out of state elk hunt, I figured one more post reflecting on the trip, what I learned, what I’d do differently next time, and all that good stuff might be beneficial so you can head across state lines as prepared as humanly possible.

How to Win the Husband Game | 3 Things ANYONE Can Do

How to Win the Husband Game | 3 Things ANYONE Can Do

Okay, I realize I run the risk of sounding like I think I know everything about being a husband and father. I wrote just a few weeks ago about how to be a great dad, and now I have the nerve to tell everyone how I’ve mastered the husband game too??? Well, as I said in that last article, I am FAR from having this all figured out. I probably wouldn’t have even tried to write this article, except my wife kept insisting that I should (apparently, she seems to think I’m a fairly decent husband…which means my brainwashing strategy is working perfectly). So, wherever you find yourself on the relationship spectrum, here are the three ways that I try to show love to my wife every single day…

Winning the Mental Game | 3 Mindsets that Make ALL the Difference

Winning the Mental Game | 3 Mindsets that Make ALL the Difference

As the days drag on and success evades you, it can become so easy to get discouraged. “This will never work!” “What am I doing out here?” “I am just a terrible hunter and my family is going to starve!” Anyone else have these thoughts running through their head out there? That alarm goes off early in the morning, and you lie there arguing with yourself about how it’s a waste of time to even bother…why not just stay in your sleeping bag and save yourself the embarrassment of taking your bow for a hike today? But, I try to keep the following three thoughts at the front of my mind on any hunt, and it drastically changes my ability to be successful.

Budget Quiver Showdown | 3 Budget Quivers

Budget Quiver Showdown | 3 Budget Quivers

I’m a big believer in getting into the best archery equipment you can afford and that you shoot well. But, of all the accessories to improve your bowhunting experience, I have never understood the price that a top of the line quiver retails for. As long as it stays on your bow and holds onto your arrows, what on earth could possibly be worth the five-times as much you charge for your boutique arrow receptacle? I simply have not been able to bring myself to drop $150 on such a “meh” piece of gear. What I have done is use three different budget-friendly quivers over the past couple years, and I figured other people in the same boat might like to know what is the best bang for the buck. All three of these are in the $30-45 range, and I have spent actual days in the field with each of them. So, here’s the breakdown…