10 Days in Italy – No Workouts. Here’s Why:
I didn't pack any workout clothes or training sneakers for our 10-day trip to Italy. Not a single piece. Why? Because I haven't taken 10 days off in 10 years. And my 52-year-old body? It's been paying the price for that kind of relentlessness.
For this trip, I wanted (and needed) something different. Time to commit to this experience fully – to being with my family, my sons and my wife, to being intentional, to being present. Sometimes an empty calendar is what you need to truly feel full.
I Committed to Simple Things This Week:
Bodyweight stretches and yoga in the morning, walking 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day through winding streets and ancient piazzas. I committed to sleeping in, to writing, to eating glorious pastas and tiramisu nightly without guilt and to a lot of hugs, laughs and love.
And you know what? We’re halfway through the trip and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Because sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to bring things back into alignment. More isn't better. Better is better.
A Few Family Observations
When we first started planning the trip, we weren't going to take my oldest son, Harper, because he’s a senior in high school. We thought he’d miss too much school and a basketball game.
And then we realized how limited our opportunities are to be together – just the 4 of us as a family – so we figured he could miss school. He's already been accepted to college, so he's got senioritis anyway — it felt like the right thing to do. We also knew we would get here without him and immediately regret not bringing him with us. So we did that, and I'm super grateful and happy we did.
Appreciating Differences
My son Harper is up for whatever comes our way. Wide-eyed, excited, doesn't matter what we're doing. Makes me smile watching him take it all in. Especially because I’m the same way.
My other son, Auden, needs to know the game plan. Always. "Why are we going there? What's the point?" He’s the thinker. Planner. Not as willing to go with the flow. Exactly like Kate.
Interesting to see the dynamic between the four of us: Harper and I can walk, wander, observe and just go, no plans needed. Auden and Kate are the opposite, but because they are, we never miss the important stuff. It works for us. Perfectly, imperfect.
NEW MEDIA APPEARANCE
I recently recorded an episode of Prevention Over Prescription with Dr. K. You can listen to our podcast conversation here. I’m a huge fan of Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng and in fact, he’s on the cover of one of our most popular issues of Midlife Male, where we discussed Men vs. Menopause. You can check that out here as well.
When in Rome
If you’re curious about the food we’ve been eating, the sights we’ve been seeing and if you’d like some of my daily observations and photos from our trip, you can see all my posts on Instagram Stories here.
In health,
Greg
Husband, Father, and Founder of Midlife Male
P.S. — I don’t go completely off the rails either. I stay grounded in what I know works for me.
The best Italian coffee still gets Bubs Naturals MCT Oil and Powder and collagen peptides. My Blokes smart supplements are washed down with 20oz of water and 5gs of Create Creatine (the travel packs are great). Walking all over Rome and Florence feels a lot better in my NADS underwear. These things matter to me. They make my life better. It’s that simple. Give em a try.
Midlife Male Approved
Here are my everyday go-to brand partners and products mentioned in today’s newsletter:
Blokes. More than blood work, Blokes offers comprehensive biomarker analysis, detailed reports and consultations. Get 50% off when you use our link.
Timeline. Nutrition and longevity supplements for those who want to play the long game. See a special offer for Midlife Male readers here.
NADS Underwear. For active guys like me who are always on the move, this underwear results in no more chafing or discomfort, even during intense workouts. Get 15% off here with code MIDLIFEMALE.
CREATE creatine gummies. A game-changer for anyone serious about their creatine supplementation. No more measuring powder, no more stirring endlessly trying to get it to dissolve, and no more finding creatine residue at the bottom of your shaker. Learn more here.
BUBS Naturals. You’re drinking coffee anyway; use it as a carrier for better nutrition. BUBS creates collagen peptides and MCT oil designed specifically to put in your coffee, and they have travel packets you can take with you on the go. Use code MidlifeMale for 20% off.
